Wednesday, October 31, 2012

RE: Step Away from the Computer

I'm often thinking about my projects as I ride the bus, sit in meetings, read the newspaper, or work on other stuff--it's on the back burner in my brain. I always doodle at that stage to think of different layouts or illustration ideas. My drawings are almost never good--if they are, it's an accident--but they give me a sense of spacing and help me figure out my concept. However, it doesn't give me a good idea of what I'm capable of. I have a lot to learn still about how these programs work, and many times a concept that I come up with is a lot harder to implement with my abilities.

I think stepping away from the computer to look at stuff around you is also a good idea to get ideas flowing. Design doesn't function in a vacuum--when thinking about projects, I google endlessly, I look at magazines, signs on the way to work, storefronts, book covers, graffiti, everything to get inspiration. You can't dive in not knowing what some of the standards are for the type of product you are creating.

I will say, however, that no amount of mapping out would prevent me from the seemingly limitless amount of time I spend moving boxes and text this way and that until they look just right--that's just the way I am.

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