Pumpkin Design...

2 things:

1) Mogi seems frisky today. I dig it...

2) here's my very own jack skellington ripoff... anyone dare to post their creations? warriors... come out and plaaaaay !

On more time

I have a filing we are running around in circles with this blog. We are discussing the same subject on more time and, yes, I agree that like and beauty are important part of design only if they communicate with the audience.

Being attached to your design is STUPID. As designers, if we want to grove we must be ready to rip a part what we designed and start from the beginning. Art history is full of such examples. Michelangelo Bounarroti was famous for doing this. We are only familiar with few artworks he created, majority never see the light of the day.

Hmm... Imagine that he is alive today, and that he has to sell The Last Judgment to some church anywhere in the world. I bet it will be the tough sell.

Graphic Design Taboos

That video from Dave was a hoot...but when those-in-the-know of Graphic Design tell you not to use comic sans, or clip art is shameful, or certain colors are off-limits. Does it make anyone else want to find just the right application to make them work? Is that the next Design Reality TV Show? Challengers would have a series of tasks where their design challenge had to incorporate "taboo" fonts and colors into their solutions. 

Challenge One, "Create a gatefold, full bleed mailer for a Mid Western Funeral Parlor using Comic Sans."

That would be good television.

It's called crit for a reason.

I definatly understand feeling like you just cant get it right. Strange as it sounds, it's helped me to not think i was a complete hack. I have pulled a few good things together, so im not hopeless, and just because this particular thing isnt working doesnt mean im clueless, just that it's not working. Failure, really, is the a huge part of the design process, dont you think? If its not pointed out, then how can it grow? Sometimes it stings, most of the time it does, but just push through. that's what i do.

Negative Crit is Positive Crit

Sometimes it is difficult to hear a piece you have been working hard on get torn apart but this is something that happens to us all. Even to people that you believe it would never happen too. Without negative crit we can never grow as designers. Don’t think of negative crit as a personal attack. Think of it as a way to step outside of your box. Negative crit can be good because you need someone to give an honest opinion about your work. If a friend ask your opinion about a new outfit and it looked like shit wouldn’t you teller it look like shit or would you let her go out looking like shit. Design is the same way.

I use to work for an advertising agency when I first came out of undergrad. The most important thing I took away from my experience was how to take crit. The owner of the agency would come into the graphic design pit and rip us a new one whenever something did not work or if something was left out. This would happen almost every other day. When it first happened I was ready to quit but I stayed for two years and I have to say that agency taught me how to look closer at my work because I knew the owner would push me beyond average design. When I left the agency the owner told me he had seen me grow from being someone that knew the applications (production artist) to being a graphic designer. I had thanked him for pushing into the designer I had become.

I do care...not to care

That was an fascinating article by Foster, because that is how I think now after 5 years or so in the workplace. The "workplace" may not be to creative but I have still learned not to take criticism personally. I am here to get a job done and need to get it done no matter what. They are paying you to give them what you want. I think that this has made me a calmer more relaxed person when taking crit from someone. I used to take it personally which put me in a bad mood.

I have heard that quote before " Design is not art, so don't treat it as such." but do not know where, probably the same place he may have, but I think it would depend on what kind of design atmosphere you are in to take things a little personally or not. Like if you are in a production environment and are spitting out ads or layouts by the hour then yeah I wouldn't take crit personally but if you are doing a marketing campaign or branding for a company and have spend countless hours or days or weeks on a project and it gets torn apart, I think it's human nature to feel a little bit.

I try never to fall in love with my pieces and if I do I question if it's actually that beautiful.

New Pepsi branding...

THIS is oddly simple for a retail packaging campaign. i actually dig it; not any unnecessary support imagery. but you have to wonder... who are they voting for?

Learning to not care

Well, maybe "not care" is a little strong, but it's definitely an acquired skill to be able to not be crushed when a crit doesn't go well...I think I'm getting to the point where a bad one doesn't totally destroy me anymore -- in class. I'm still having big problems learning to deal with it at work when a client is negative. I think earlier I blogged briefly about how a nasty client at work completely wrecked my world for a short time.

It's absolutely a tough line of work to be in, because really you're pulling something out of yourself and putting it on display for others to judge. Crits help me immensely in learning to look (more) objectively at my own stuff and get used to the idea that if it's not working, it doesn't mean that I'm a personal failure. You can't be good all the time -- it takes pain and suffering to do something well.

I'm looking forward to this book coming out, which will talk about the failed projects of great designers.

And in other, totally random news, my Project 2 director is undertaking a remake of one of my Project 3 director's movies, which is kinda cool.

and now for something less serious...

"if you don't know who Paul Rand is...well, basically you're screwed". i guess these yalies have some pull with the national media...43 seconds of it. lol

Hug it out

Thank you Carolyn! You just made my day. (group hug, again!)

Thick Skin

Some things I've heard over and over again in the classroom and in the design industry is that you have to have thick skin, don't take things personally and don't fall in love with your designs. At work I assist a graphic designer and she is a great designer and she had been working on this magazine for awhile for a client and after sending it over the client said they didn't like it AT ALL. She just brushed it off and said "Well, I guess I'll just start over." She didn't seem upset, she didn't question whether or not she was a good designer and she didn't seem to take it personally. I was thinking to myself, "I would've been in tears!" I'm learning a lot about design at my job but I'm also learning a lot about how to be a part of the design industry. Sometimes clients aren't going to like your stuff and that's just a fact. Luckily the classroom is a safe environment to be critiqued because we're all in the same boat and trying to help each other out. (Sigh. Group hug.)
Michelle, did you go after Mogi? Maybe that's why you felt so discouraged last week because he blew us all away. ; )
Don't feel discouraged, we're all in school to get better, that's why we're here. I feel like design is a constant growing process, that's why I like it. There's always more to learn.

Cameron Crowe

I've decided to switch my director for project 3 because sophia coppola...stinks? has cameron crowe been chosen? i forget. this question is more for amy than anyone. thanks.

feedback

Hi everyone. I am struggling to find a great cover for pod..found this pic and thought id give it a whirl and see if anyone had any thoughts. If you dont like it, tell me....im not married to it--just trying to find something that works. Thanks! of course, text would be added...

Extracting images with hair.

Not a big problem for images of me, I know, but for the less follicly challenged it's slightly harder. I found a few links on how to use Photoshop's Extract filter (we were discussing in class how to knock-out images of people with hair from complicated backgrounds). Not all of these images have complex backgrounds, but the technique is the same. One is from Planet Photoshop (a bunch of helpful tips here), and the other from DoPhotoshop.

Plus a handy clip YouTube:

A couple more color options. I love the Jim Krause books and they've combined them into one. --Amy

living in the attic

i feel like the unwanted step-child living in the attic. every thursday i come to class thinking it will be different, thinking "this is the one, how could they not love this?" and yet i always leave with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach-- knowing i have more work to do and not knowing how to approach it. My problem is I take things too personally. I'd like to think I have tough skin, but deep down it's always disheartening when my concepts get douched. 

There is hope in knowing every designer goes through the same ups and downs (maybe varying a little here and there). I found an article by John Foster on the AIGA website that encompasses many things we have talked about in class:

Design is not art and art is not design

Don't marry your projects

If you love something throw it away...

All great pieces of advice. I think if I (maybe you too) start remembering, or even repeating, these things each time there is a project to be done it might help clear the brain of personal drama and will force me to focus on the task at hand.

Process Color Manual

Hi - Here is the book I use for CMYK color builds, by Michael and Pat Rogondino.

Question for everyone

hello all-
Piggy backing on the conversation we had last night on color on screen vs. output-- aside from the gillion dollar pantone swatches i cant swing right now, is there a book or other good resource anyone uses or recommends that can give a much better idea of what something will look like printed? thanks

Design Crit

I too disagree with Lupton on Crit. Through my years of different design classes at different levels, I have found crit as a major influence in a designs final outcome. Everyone has a different eye and their opinion may or may not help you but at least you have have options. Crit sometimes can be painful but other than helping your design you can help someones else and broaden your design vocab.

The biggest thing that evolved from my schooling was getting down a process that works for me in creating a design. Through three different programs I had three different choices and basically fusing them together into a process throwing out what I didn't like. Also I learned to be adaptive to the design at hand because you can approach each different problem the same way but the execution will be different.

TRON DVD

Hi there, I am home sick, not fun. So here is my new Tron DVD Cover and the DVD disks 1 and 2.

With the cover I went from the lines forming the TRON to a more simple landscape of the computer world. I still need to add a tank and other items to it. Difference between two is the blur in Tron. I liked the blur because it resembled the user being beam down into the main frame. As for the font, I am open to suggestions.



And the double disk set seemed fitting with the red (bad) and blue (good) theme through out the movie. These also resemble the characters identity disk.



Still working on the Insert and back cover and spine but those should fall into place.

Any comments will be very helpful. Thanks.

this post is NOT about ellen lupton

you guys wanna write a class-generated love-letter to her? i jest...

anyway, trust me peeps... those of you who don't have undergrad degrees in design aren't missing out on the big picture (unless having the uncanny knack of criticizing typefaces in TV/Movies is a good thing). oh... and having a sentimental (nay, outdated) penchant for working in picas will really help you win over friends in your office. sike !

really in all seriousness though... i guess being super whipsnappy at production is great, and people will definitely take advantage of that (art director: "so... we need to recreate all of the art for these pop displays by monday. are you busy this weekend"). but for me, doing a lot of production in my formative years led to one thing. more production.

i wanna learn as much about everything as i can here, and maybe...just maybe, eventually i will get to be the egomaniac art director who tells the other workerbees to work all weekend. mwah ha haaa (rubbing hands together hashing-out evil plan).

see yas in a few hours.

Thoughts on Lupton

I think all of us can take something from Ellen Lupton's article and apply it to our own experiences. I believe our programs at UB address some of the issues she's presenting. With regards to social skills, the weekly critiques and mandatory blog participation creates social interaction. Especially with regards to UB, most students work and have busy lives outside of school, so even though we only get to meet once a week, the blog is a convenient way for us to interact and discuss design and even give feedback on current design projects. The design business link class along with other classes that address promotional strategies, copyright law, and portfolio development integrates the business skills that so many other programs lack. I would like to see the Integrated Design program offer a portfolio development class for MFA students, much like the one that's required of the Pub Design students. Finally, I understand that most graduate level design classes don't spend a lot of time on software and technical instruction, however, some of the hypermedia classes need to implement more technical instruction. These classes are very technical in nature and need that extra teaching component. I'm personally dealing with that this semester.

ahh..no bitching.

Lupton's article was interesting because they touched on a few points that i have discussed with some grad students here--and some that have left the program. This is the only master's program i have been a part of, so i have no frame of reference of what we are supposed to "learn." And last semester, i talked to a guy that had been in a two of my classes about the upcoming semester. "I don't know if I'm gonna stay" he says to me "I may transfer...I'm not learning anything." I couldn't argue with him. Now, don't get me wrong--I have learned--but i feel it was more self taught. The point of the teacher in the masters program class is to kind of say "ok, this is what you should know," and then points me in a general direction, pats me on the butt, and pushes me in. I learn because i force my self to google every technique i dont get, look up all the designers i can run across, and read anything design related i can get my hands on. pardon my circa 1992 phrase, but it makes me feel like a poser. The only reason i keep going is because i see my improvement and i am starting to feel comfortable with some of what i do. But i understand the friends i have that have dropped. Crits are great--but i wouldnt mind a advanced creative suite classes to execute my ideas so i feel like im getting critiqued on my design and not my lack of design because it took me three hours to figure out how to do X. that is a common complaint with a lot of people i know..great ideas and clumsy skills. Was I supposed to learn all that in undergrad? i was an english major. i even think sometimes i should go get a ba in graphic design after this to catch up sometimes. doubt that will happen though. it would feel like going backwards.

We watched some shorts on great designers in my designer survival guide class. They just did what they wanted and people loved them. it inspired me to draw my next project in that class instead of using stock or clip art--which ive always disliked. the result? i had fun. i really have a fear of illustration, but for my first real one, i think i did pretty good. and it's mine. i sharpened my pen tool skills. that rocks.

Since my last semester is in the spring, all these things have been plaguing me. I'll have a grad degree. so then what?

Skill vs Creativity

I think Lupton’s article has some valid points. It is very important to be able to execute your thoughts in some type of format. I really do think it is more important to be able to come up with a creative idea. That is one of the more important and difficult parts of our field. If you can stimulate your mind to come up with a creative and effective idea then you have leaped over a huge hurtle. I find it more difficult to come up with ideas than it is to execute that idea. If you can come up with the idea and put it on paper then you can find designers to execute your idea. I have worked with creative/art directors that have great ideas but could not execute their ideas on the computer. So, the creative/art director would do a sketch of their idea and then turn it over to a team of graphic designers to lay it out on the computer.

On the other hand when we are working on assignments for class I can understand how it can become challenging if you don’t know how to use some of the programs. In school we are not asked to just be creative. We are asked to do it all.

Programs can be taught (skill) but creativity is a talent not a skill. I also believe if something is beautiful it does not mean it works.

Concept for Project 2

Last week when I stated that I wanted to do something relating to typography, Dave suggested that I redesign the DVD packaging for Helvetica: The Movie. He was right. The cover is rather plain, and doesn't really communicate anything special about the movie. I borrowed a copy from Amy and watched the movie in its entirety including all the bonus features. What was striking to me is the ubiquity of the font. I knew that Helvetica was overused, but never to the extent that the movie reveals.

My concept involves collecting the logos of all of those companies that use Helvetica and arrange them in a tight yet varied configuration on the page. Within this hodgepodge of logos is the movie's title. Perhaps I could use a black background and apply a grey color to the logos so their importance recedes into the background, and then set the title in red, white, or any other contrasting color so that its imporance is reinforced. The tight jumbled variety of logos communicates the ubiquity of the font, but the name of the font itself informs the viewer that this is the font that was used to make all of these logos.

As for the interior book, I want to create a timeline of the font's history and somehow incorporate both modernism's and post-modernism's point of view of helvetica within the timeline. As for font usage, I of course would use, Helvetica. Any thoughts or comments on these concepts would be appreciated.

Design Education

Interesting Lupton article...I'm not sure how fine art education works, exactly, but I do know what I like and don't like about my design education up to this point. I have to agree with Lupton that technical knowledge could use more emphasis as part of design education. I very much relate to the rift between having an idea in my head and having the technical skill to execute it. It happens ALL the time. I'd like to see a greater emphasis on technical instruction in this program, and I imagine it's even more lacking in fine arts programs.

As far as critique goes, I bet it might be less helpful in a fine arts program than it is for us, but I disagree with Lupton in that I've found crit to be the by-far most helpful part of this whole program. As painful as it can be when things aren't going well, it always helps to have a whole new set of eyes looking at my work. The luxury of having time to devote to just looking at each other's work is something that isn't so common in the working world, when things come in too quickly to spend 3 hours examining stuff.

I think I'm going to go around the office and find out what other designers found helpful about their school experiences...

Eastwood Imagery

'Mates-

Working on my Clint Eastwood imagery here for my poster series. The theme/tag line is "Clint does Clint" or directs Clint, or something else. Anyway, it's three movies that he's directed AND starred in. I was working on creating this image to use in one of the posters. I am hoping the image is self explanatory (please don't be a long walk... please don't be a long walk...) Comments appreciated-

Dave

"Weird" Beauty and Lupton's Article

This post reminded me of other unconventional art (and the mixture of science and art) like the Body Worlds exhibit and artwork by Damien Hirst. I went to the Body Worlds exhibit while it was in Baltimore and it was cool in a weird way but was it beautiful? Some people would say yes. Some people would just say it's gross and morbid. Art is subjective and I guess that's the beauty of it (no pun intended.) One man's trash is another man's treasure, and all that jazz. A major part of something being successful is being the first to do it. David Carson's work was criticized for being unconventional and illegible but he is now considered one of the most influential graphic designers of our time.
On another note, I couldn't agree more with Ellen Lupton in "Reskilling the Art Student" when she talks about how art skills are the backbone of design and technical skills are very important and not something to be overlooked. In my undergrad classes and at UB there aren't any software classes (besides additional workshops) and I'm still trying to catch up and teach myself software techniques because, at least in my graphic design education, teacher's don't teach you the software, you're kind of on your own.
She also talks about how thinking is a skill that students can attain and anyone who has taken Creative Concepts would probably agree. You can learn how to think more creatively and that is part talent and part skill and definitely something people can improve upon. And as a fine arts undergrad student, I couldn't agree more with Ellen Lupton about long, tedious critiques being shortened and using some of that time to build technical skills (but this applies more to my undergrad classes). Good article.

Ethics, Advertising, and speaking with your dollars?

I was browsing one of my internet haunts this morning (and I'm posting post-ShinyToyGuns concert and pre-coffee, so pardon my rambling), and I ran across this:


It's part of a new Pepsi ad campaign, and people were pretty up in arms about the implications of the ad. I'm rather appalled myself, and I'm forced to wonder how this was able to make it through all the approvals and disapprovals and focus groups that a print ad campaign for a multi-national corporation goes through. For me, that was more telling of the "rape culture" that the blog discusses than the image.

I'm not entirely sure where I'm going with this, other than trying to figure out how to handle situations where it's my ethics on the line. (and wondering if I'm maybe over reacting a little by being offended)

It’s only Chinatown

Hi again,
Well I traced this and I think I can work with it, but I wish my style was not so uptight. I’d like to be looser and more expressive. I need to go and get some better pens. The ultra fine sharpie and brush pen I used here are lacking a fine and mid range. If anybody does graphic novels and knows the best pens to use please let me know – Thanks!

Truth, Beauty, and Skill

What is beautiful? Can it be defined? Taught? Learned? We all know when something is good or working, but what makes it really great? I appreciate the art of Kandinsky, Klee, the abstract expressionists, and the Russian Constructivist. I would appreciate the futurists more but their manifesto is just too macho. Some of Kandinsky’s abstract works vibrate a meaning that points at once to a distant past and a possible future. He tried to write a system or grammar of visual signs in his work Point, Line, Plane and On the Spiritual in Art. Many others have tried since.

I went looking for answers on our very own rock star designer, Ellen Lupton’s site to get some of her insights. Here she talks about re-skilling the design student.
She has some very interesting insights especially about critique and thinking.

From the AIGA site comes an article on an attempt to quantify the effectiveness of logos. About as easy as defining beauty.

And the truth… Some are very happy with the equation of: art + business = design. Some of us are less comfortable with that role. And some of us just want to make a living damn it. Here is a golden oldie from Salon in 1999 about a Shell Oil campaign.

Cheers!

HELVETICA

Free screening of Helvetica at the Charles Oct 19th 6pm. I am not sure if this was brought up last night.

Little bit longer

I guess I am whole my life in design and art, so I’ve never thought when was the first time I was aware of design. Perhaps, when I decided to study banking instead of design. There are so many different and better paid jobs than this one. I thing I am going to stay in design for a while, maybe few years more. Hmm, we’ll see. Who know if people continue producing staff as David showed, perhaps there is the future for us, excellent designers.

Idea changes

Ok. I've spent the last week mulling over all my ideas and concepts and doing research on my DVDs and the movie posters. I hope its ok if I change my ideas.

I think I'm going to do Metropolis for the second project, and repackage that, and the I'm going to work with Dario Argento's Three Mother's movies (Suspiria, Inferno, and Mother of Tears). I think I'll be able to create a much more unified concept for both projects that way.

Of course, Now I'm back at square one, and firmly in a rut...I need a creative jumpstart again

Haven't we already posted about this?

Ok. I thought the ebay sign thing was funny, granted. But i feel as if our little blog is in a rut. I'm really not one to bitch too much, because what good would it do? and yes, i feel really sorry for the woman who bought that new hotel logo, but, really, she didn't know any better. And that's the majority of the audience. if they did, they'd do it themselves (now wouldnt that make a beautiful world). It's the age old question of "art" against, well, everything else--and it's not just design--i see my boyfriend go through it being a chef. His hands yearn to make things like octopus jerky and pinapple caviar--but people want chicken. undistinguished palette, undistinguished sense of design. I really want to do what i want to do, of course--and there will be times when i can, hopefully. But i'm starting to think that our job is to find that happy medium, to hopefully tone down the client's comic sans and clip art infested vision into something a little less likely to make me throw up in my mouth a little when i see it. And maybe, with a little friendly, nonjudgemental steering, they may see how my idea isnt so bad after all. and maybe they might trust me next time to take the reins. that's sometimes the best you can hope for.

Film Posters: Rough Cuts

Here's what I've been working on. As a mentioned briefly in class, I wanted to create a unifying visual theme for each poster - but include all three movies on each...these are rough of course. I really like the idea of "The Kubrick Stare" which I believe has multiple meanings that work effectively in the posters. 1.Kubrick uses again and again the close-up or framing of eyes, mechanical and otherwise, in this films. Its jarring, eerie, and pulls the viewer into the character's thoughts. 2. Kubrick himself was said to have a "stare". Photos of him show his gruff and dramatic face as he peers into the camera - his eye like the lens of a camera. 3. Making the connections between the eye of the lens, the director's point of view, and audience watching. Maybe a working title for the series as I move forward - Look Again, something like that....

A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop

I have always been fascinated with album cover art. When I was 7 years old I saw a Parliament album cover called Motor Booty Affair. This album blew my mind. The illustrations on the outside cover and inside were very impressive to me. The details in the art were fabulous. The inside of the album showed a variety of detail characters, including Mr. Wiggles, in a pop up format. The artist (Overton Loyd) used characters from the songs as cartoon portraits. I look back at this cover often and notice different things about it every time. I think this album is a perfect example designing for the complete package. The album design, from the illustrations to the color palette to the font selection, shows how designers have to tell a complete story for their designs. Not just focusing on making the piece look good but also making sure it tells a visual story.



I have also always been enjoyed watching the colors surrounding me. The changing of the seasons always gives me great ideas for new color combinations. It is funny how just the changing of the seasons can change the way you see things around you. I drive the same way everyday and when the seasons change I it seems like I am taking a different route. I see design the same way. It amazes me that if you change the color of a piece it can change the effectiveness of the piece.

“The whole world, as we experience it visually, comes to us through the mystic realm of color.” —Hans Hofmann

speaking of bad design...

you can now rest in relief that you will eventually get a job in the design field (if you aren't already in it)... at least if CRAP like this is circulating. someone handed this to me in a bar over the weekend. my response was, "whoever did this should be banned from using a computer." the guy who gave it to me was shocked, and five minutes later... strolled back into the bar to present to me, the person responsible for designing it. lol. like they were gonna team up on me and vindicate this drivel.

i have meticulously scanned for your enjoyment. relax... you're not really on mescaline. i think she may have been though. i present: a waste of perfectly good paper stock.

Bad Design is Trendy

I think we’re surrounded by bad design because bad design is the standard people are used to and anything different is “weird” for “normal” people. I’ve been working with the UB gym on some different projects and it is unbelievable how un-flexible the department is with design concepts. Where there is crisp white space, they want to blast pictures everywhere in order to “minimize all that space.” People are so used to the trendiness of bad design it sometimes seems like good design is doomed. However, I think on an individual level people are more likely to take notice of good design because it does stand out, and it is different. As I was reading Adrian Shaugnessy’s words about the wine and the wine glass it made me smile because to be perfectly honest, I care about both the wine and the glass. True, I don’t want to drink a nice vintage out of my shoe but I do want a nice glass because drinking good wine is an experience. Without both components the experience is not as enjoyable. Relating this back to graphic design—when I look at a logo, a billboard, a brochure, I think about the designer behind it. These materials don’t come from nowhere—good design, bad design, I want to know why the decisions made, were made.

Unprofessional Yes

Bud Light Presents Real Men of Genius
[Real Men of Genius]
Today we salute you, Mr. Last Minute Changes Guy.
[ Mr. Last Minute Changes Guy]
While your production team works feverishly into the night to get you a draft one week ahead of time, you wait, until the very last moment to email complex changes and want them done in an hour.
[This is Bull $hit]
An extremely somewhat busy worker, you basically do absolutely nothing and never respond to emails or set up emails to respond 1 day later which never get sent.
[Oh you didn’t get my email]
Make last minute changes, ask why this can’t be done — making people loathe you.
[I can’t stand this guy]
If anyone wants a challenge, they offer their services to you, and then think about jabbing something later. Some may ask “Is anybody out there?” Well, actually no because email is overrated. And you make everyone’s life a living he11.
So crack open a nice cold Bud Light, Lazy A$$ Procrastinator. Because working with you makes me rethink my career.
[ Mr. Last Minute Changes Guy]

The Wine Glass or the Whine…

When did I first notice graphic design… My father was (retired) a plant supervisor for an in-house print shop. I started working in printing while still in high school (bindery) and then pre-press. So part of that answer is, I suppose, always. I still see things that make me smack my forehead in appreciation and marvel.

David, as always you bring us an excellent movie! While I think Ebaying while drunk would be an excellent personal essay topic; I do like the direction he goes in. But I’m picturing where that awful new sign was produced and I’ll bet the owner of the hideous Corel Draw sign business has 3 cars, a nice boat, and 2 houses. The “designer” is someone making ten bucks an hour and also answers the phone and takes care of billing. Who is to blame: the “designer”? I think not. The average person of business is not that interested in beauty, unless it’s a sports car or a golf swing, which can be beautiful, but certainly not the full range of human expression.

I think this is indicative of a lack of respect for the commons and a total respect for the dollar. The Corel Draw sign is a symptom of the bigger issue. I think that designers, writers, poets, craftspeople, thinkers and others need to change the wider culture and then beauty in our shared spaces will follow.

simple paint technique

Hi - this is my simple painting technique. I need some feedback as to the appropriateness of use of this for the movie Chinatown. I worry that it does not resonate with the movie... I do want to develop this technique in the future, but for this class the future is now! Thanks -- Pam -- PS If this is not working I'm switching to the annual report. I'm just not much of a movie buff. Thanks again.

I'm a big nerd too.

I've noticed that I pretty much ignore bad design and look past it (or at least I try to) but I notice really good design. Since I started grad school I feel like I notice design around me even more. What's funny is when I point out a really cool design to a "normal" person (that made me laugh Mike) and they're like "Carolyn, what are you talking about?" and I'm thinking "hm, I guess other people don't get really excited about cool typography/images/designs/etc?"
Anyway, I'm a total nerd too because I love seeing cleaver ads/designs, they really inspire me.

I liked what Adrian Shaughnessy said about what other people think about designers in A Layperson's Guide to Graphic Design. (Robert De Niro's quote is pretty hilarious too.) When talking to people about school, sometimes I get, "how hard can it be, it's art?"
Argh! So frustrating. I think graphic design is a very challenging field that requires people to be smart and creative problem solvers. Most people don't realize what graphic design involves.

Off topic - HDR Photography

Some of my fellow classmates were interested in finding out a little more about HDR Photography (my subject/topic/whatever for Project 2). Most photography (especially digital photography) has a dynamic range far below that of human eyesight. In other words, the difference between the brightest and darkest things is much more vast with our eyes than that with the photographic process. The result of this is that in many photos, the highlights and shadows frequently get clipped (blown out or crushed) unless lighting conditions are ideal. HDR is a process to reclaim them. To capture the perceived full values of a scene, several photos are taken of a subject at different exposure levels (otherwise identical). Some are more tuned to capturing details in the shadows, others show the same details better in the highlights. The HDR process allows you to combine the details and color from the optimized portion of each frame into a single image. Hi res version of the above photo here. Another example here. As with all software techniques, though, it's easy to over-do it. With HDR, resultant overdone files just look like fantasy photos, such as these.

Design, design, everywhere

I can't remember when I first realized the ubiquity of graphic design...At least, I can't remember never having noticed really good or clever or effective design, but it wasn't until starting this program that I began to marvel at the work that goes into really good campaigns. But I have relatively recently started to notice that bad and mediocre design is absolutely everywhere. I can't say how many times a week I look at an ad, or a billboard, or a magazine spread or a commercial, and think, "That's the best they could do? There was probably a whole group of people involved in working on this, and THAT represents the BEST of all of their ideas?!"

Part of the problem with the abundance of bad/mediocre design is probably budgetary, in that a lot of people can't afford to hire a truly qualified designer to do their stuff. And probably another part of the problem is the undervaluing of the field by non-designers with an "Oh, I can just do that myself, I've always had an eye for color" attitude. When trying to get ideas for our identity project, I was looking through a big book of logos, and I was surprised to find a lot of things in there that I found mediocre (example: I lost count of the number of logos incorporating the flowing-stick-figure-person generally employed by dance schools and stuff like that).

So stuff that disapprove of, I guess I notice now more than ever.

The article brings up an interesting point that most design around us falls into the "quiet" category: efficient but not intrusive. This is the design that, even now, I pass constantly without really seeing. Maybe I'll try paying closer attention to see what I haven't noticed.

Art is Work-Milton Glaser

Since I didn't post last week, I thought I'd share this video on Milton Glaser. There was a lot of talk last week about self doubt and I believe that self doubt is a product of creative block. When the well is dry, perhaps some inspiration is the key to filling that well back up. This short 6 minute video features Glaser's thoughts on graphic design, it's importance in society, and the larger ethical role of the designer in society as well. Enjoy.

and i thought i was angry / this guy rules. NSFW

America Is F*cked.......(Graphically at least) from Jess Gibson on Vimeo.

damn... i'm downright cheery compared to him. a lot of things he says here are so true.

Realization of Design

Sorry for posting so late, got into an accident after class then went to the emergency room on Friday night. Here it goes.

Design is everywhere as we know. When did you realize that everything is designed? I remember when I was in HS and read a book on design. I read a part about Paul Rand and his creation of the UPS and IBM logo's and was astonished that those logo's haven't changed to drastically over the years. So sitting in a Mickey D's parking lot I was starring at a handicapped sign then moved to an Exxon sign then moved to the McDonald's sign and so on. I then realized that everything around me environmentally that everything is designed. Even the sweet beaded seat covers in my 76 Yota.

The article below I ran across sums up what I was thinking. Sitting in line at the supermarket my wife show's me ads from her fashion magazines or articles from another mag. As soon as look at it I critique it immediately, ie. widows in text, misalignment of elements, no grid etc...I feel like nerd. I do that with commercials and everything I see as well. She suggested I'd start a blog and take pictures of what I am talking about, which is a great idea.

Normal people (non-designers) don't look at those aesteics of an ad or commercial. The don't notice that FedEx has that nifty little arrow etc... I wanted to do a poll at work to see who noticed that arrow. Anyways, this was on my mind when sitting in the emergency room looking at all of the different machines and logo's and chairs and ...

So when did you realize everything around is designed around you one way or another?

Here is the article "A Layperson's Guide to Graphic Design"

Here is some cool Obama Art. I don't remember as much political design for one canidate.

Again sorry for the late post.

Ethics Article

Here's an article by Adrian Shaugnessy on Design Observer about Design Ethics http://www.designobserver.com/archives/entry.html?id=22043

Growing an Evil Head

One movie that gets to me is How to Get Ahead in Advertising. Its a darkly fantastical take on the advertising business. When I got into the Pub Design program I wasn't thinking about future job moves - but at the end of my school semesters, its becoming a pressing question. Is advertising the right move? In How To Get Ahead...the ad exec is corrupt in his zeal to sell the product, with no thought to the consumer or the quality or his own "selling out"that he actually grows another "evil" head on his face to do and say what he knows is sleaze. This other head grows and grows until it finally takes him over completely. Is advertising, the sell the product at all costs machine, a corrupting field? 

My self-doubt and worry comes in thinking about my next moves. Is design the big fake? Does it ultimately pander to the client or sell something cheap or unnecessary? I have also been watching the AMC series MadMen and think to about advertising as the art of manipulation. The handsome ad exec in this says to up and coming secretary - "selling is you feeling something." I worry that the profession in most circumstances puts the proverbial lipstick on a pig. Is it just generating more stuff (paper, clutter, cards, signs) to sell more stuff.

"Keep your head up."

I think self-doubt is something that we all have at one time or another. A lot of times when one of my designs gets rejected the first thing I do is try to get as much information about why someone does not like it. This helps me to understand what the problem may be. We as designers have to keep our ears and minds open at all times. Clients sometimes give you information and ounce they see it they realize their vision was not what they wanted. Design is not a black and white science. It has a lot of grey between the brainstorming and the final product. Even the best award winning designs could have been done in a totally different way that could be just as effective. You have to remember that everyone has an opinion and different taste. It is up to us as designers to take a lot of information in and come out with an effective piece. This very rarely happens the first go around.

We as designers have to be very confident in our abilities because rejection comes our way all the time. Rejection can be a good thing sometimes because it makes you dig deeper into your creative bag. Just because you may miss the mark the first or second time does not mean the final piece want be great. Don’t let self-doubt hold you back.

As Tupac once said, “Keep our head up.”

pushups

Every art is a child of its age, and therefore the mother of our emotions, said Kandinsky.

Who knows to read between the lines will notice why self-doubt exists. There will be now art without self-doubt. As long as we question our self: is this good?, can this be better? we will make progress as designers.

Problem can be self confidence or believing in yourself (what is difference any way?). I had difficulty with it, but I realized that can be learnt as anything else. When it comes to confidence everything meters, the way we dress, we talk, how we stand, look at other person, gestures we are making etc… All of this can be learnt, it just require practice (thousands and thousands of pushups).

My stuff.

Hi everyone! Just wanting some feedback on what i have. I tweaked the logo, brought down stem of B, moved string and got rid of the clasp on the end. Changed the type for the cards. Here also are the "design reminder" pad paper--black and white, super simple since it's for them to design, not me. Also working on the bag--using cheaper/unneeded beads strung through top handle. Kind of like just the logo large, but wanted feedback--tons of color/stuff would be pricey, which im trying to keep minimal since these would be give away/very little price. But does it need more? Any feedback on any of the stuff would be great! Is anyone doing a sign? thanks!

For the love of the game

Good topic. Is the client always right? Does the stakeholder know what they want? What do they know? In the end, to get the dough we may have to swallow pride, hide our emotions and say "we can do that".

When dealing with external client's at home it is easy to swallow my pride. I did a couple designs for an unnamed school system and I thought after a few drafts I got to a point where I thought it was designed enough for a school system but wouldn't look like a school system design. Well the board reviewed it and degraded it. They said can we have it plainer and add more text and get rid of a picture, add more color etc... In the end I bit the bullet and dulled it down to xerox copying level and they loved it. I hated it and don't even keep it nor have a copy. It turned into a design we could do in word, maybe not that simple but that is my emotions knocking at the door.

As I said I bit the bullet and took the check. I did not agree with the board and stated why and gave suggestions to them but in the end they are writing the checks. I felt like a lot work time and effort went into a nice piece that the kids and parents would actually enjoy and show them the school system had class. Well they are boring. I didn't take it personally because it was work and for a check.

My wife who has her masters in Professional Writing is editing a book and the writer didn't agree with her edits and was going to get another editor. A personal shot to the heart, and she took it as such. I advised her give her further explanations as to why these edits should be made and she still says no tell her that if she's not satisfied get another copy editor. This instance was both ways of the writer taking offense thinking her writing is fine and the editor telling her items need to change.

When dealing with client I try not to take things personally and keep it professional. Yes it hurts when they don't like your design but it also feels great when they do. The client is always right but not always correct.

Images

Ok. the formatting isn't quite what I wanted, but here's a sample of what I'm working on. There's the top of the letterhead at the upper left, and clockwise we have some men's and women's tshirt designs and an oval car magnet, three different logo sizes, and a sample business card.

I tweaked the logo a bit, and i'm trying to go simple and uncluttered with designs for business cards and letterheads, so they can be printed on demand and easy to personalize. Trifolds and newsletters will be templates as well, since this is a company that won't be able to afford someone on full time publications.

My biggest problem is finding a tagline/slogan. I only plan to use it on promotional items and the banner, but I can't seem to come up with anything catchier than what I have. Any ideas and suggestions?

Posting Problems

Is anyone else having difficulty uploading images to blogger? I've tried every format and it never works; I'm even using the computers in the lab... help!

getting paid / having fun

like... whoa guys. way serious stuff being discussed on 'da blog. in my experience, most of the edgy, fun stuff is done out of love for it. like... free (or next to nothing). you gotta balance your life though, so you do it anyway. check this short clip on carson (shot by the equally awesome hillman curtis). listen closely to what he says at 2:05. he was totally broke when he did beach culture and raygun... but he had total freedom. nobody's gonna let you totally go wild if there's lots of money involved, but if you take on the low-budget stuff as well, someone might notice (as was the case with him).

Movie series

Hey Y'all- I'm looking for thoughts on my movie poster director series [lack of] ideas. I choose Clint Eastwood. He's well-known for his western-genre movies (The Outlaw Josie Wales, Pale Rider, Bronco Billy), but some of his bigger-projects as a director are not that at all. They're frequently in the "rebel/loner single handedly goes against the larger/more accomplished villain" vain. I thought it might be fun to pick three movies he directed outside of the western genre, but design and produce them in the style of old-western posters. Anyone have a reaction?

Damned Designers?

I too am ridden with self-doubt; and not just with my designs. During crits is when the self-doubt butterflies come alive in my belly. Sometimes I’m afraid to comment on other's work because I think "what do I know?" I can't even get a handle on my own work much more feel qualified to comment on another’s. When and where is the point in a designer's career when the light bulb switches to "on" and we become confident with our decisions? I will work on a piece for what seems like years, be satisfied with my creation, then take it to class and get shot down in every way. I actually don't think there's ever been a situation when this has not been the result. I'm convinced there is no such thing as a great first idea because no project is the same from beginning to end.

A funny thing happened to me on Friday afternoon: I met with a recruiter and brought a few design samples for her to see. As she was flipping through the files she complimented me on my "edginess" but asked if I had anything more practical to show her. It caught me completely off-guard because I always prided myself on being "edgier." Apparently this is not marketable. The whole thing confused me to no end and I found myself drowning (again) in the pool of doubt (and maybe a little pity). Where is the line between being myself and being "marketable?" It seems like you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. If anyone has any advice on how to avoid feeling trapped between these two situations, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Okay, now it works...

Rejection, self-doubt and what I've been working on

Carolyn's post couldn't have come at a better time for me -- I had a nasty rejection experience with a client at work last week, and while I won't go over the circumstances (just trust me that they totally sucked), it was just as you described. I gave them a plain bad design, I'll admit, and they pointed that out, and it ruined my afternoon...After considering that maybe I'm a total imposter with no design talent, I just forced myself to think about the satisfied and sometimes over-satisfied clients I've had in the past, and remember that this was an exception, not the rule. But it's a tough business, especially when it seems like clients have no clue that we put thought and care into our work when they tear it up.

That said, I was also out on Thursday, so I'm posting what I would've brought in to the blog: Revised logo to address the "cannons don't look like that" issue, info cards and letterhead.
Okay, actually the letterhead and other card aren't uploading properly in here...so maybe I'll try them in a separate post.

The other two pieces I plan to have don't on Thursday are a fold-out visitors' guide and a display sign...It's safe to say that I'm officially Fort McHenry-ed out.

tag line help

Hi- well "law for all" was not the stunner I thought it was so now I want a new tag line.
Their old tag line is "helping people help themselves" which does not really describe what they do. How about:
"breaking the cycle one person at a time"
"revolving door no more"
or simply
"helping prisoners reenter society"
writing tag lines is hard.
Back to inspiration, I just got back from AVAM and you all must go and check out the pencil lead carvings. Simply amazing. The exhibit is brilliant as always.

it's a job

This tracks back to previous discussions along the lines of “is it just a job” or “is it more than a job.” I think other professionals have self doubt, but the bad ideas they have may be reveled in a powerpoint every one forgets, but our clunkers are out there for the world to see and if it’s a logo, you’ll see it again and again. Going back to last week and thinking about getting out of the rut, I often find that I get into the most trouble with a design when I try to get out of the rut and do something different just for the sake of it. This often happen with schoolwork as I think it should, somehow, be different. So you make something really terrible, but then, hopefully it leads to something better later.
I do not feel that I am the hottest, most original, and creative designer out there. I too often stop with the mere OK or good… but I do feel I’m very employable and professional. I could be upset and miserable about my lack or I could choose to be a happy and fun to work with colleague. I always aim for the latter.
We are all creative people and it is a falsity that a job in design is going to be, for most of us, the be all and end all for the “soul reasons” we got into this gig in the first place. You can have fun with you job and I usually am very pleased to be doing what I do, but the expressions of my inner life and random stuff I just think is cool must be done on my own time.
As for you, Carolyn, I think you took on a very difficult assignment and you have transformed it into something very pleasant, organized and clear. You should be proud of it and most days it is enough.

Creativity and Self-Doubt

I’ve discovered that one of the struggles of being a part of the creative world is self-doubt. Because design is arguably a subjective field, I find it hard to measure creativity and to know how “good” you are. If you are a business consultant and you meet your quota (or whatever “consultants” do) than you are good at your job, but what makes you a good designer? Sometimes you create great pieces, sometimes your designs are mediocre and sometimes they are just plain bad. I’ve learned that designers need to quickly develop a thick skin to deal with rejection and rejection is a part of the job. After working on a design for days, you present something to a client and they say, “Eh, I don’t really like it, show me something else.”
Stab through the heart!

Design is a more personal line of work than most because you are using your creativity, sweat and tears and that makes it hard not to take rejection personally. Ed gave us one of his famous pep talks in class the other night and he made an analogy of a designer who doesn’t think he/she can design to a basketball player who can’t make free throws under pressure. The more you think you can’t, the more you can’t, and the negativity is a vicious cycle. It seems you need a lot of confidence and a good self-image (and a little cockiness wouldn’t hurt) to succeed as a designer. I think there is something powerful in believing in yourself (was that too corny?) and without that you’re screwed. With that said, I’ve discovered that my designer ego can be somewhat fragile.

Does anyone else experience something similar to this and if so, how do you cope?
I wasn’t able to find a lot on the internet about creative self-doubt, so maybe I’m alone in this, but if anyone has some words of wisdom or finds some good articles about this topic, I’d love to hear it.

Another Variation

Here's what they look like with no leaf and the first "O" tucked behind the mountains.

Some Clarification New Logos

Here is another sheet of revisions. The details are slight. I removed the stroke around the green mountains and leaf on the right. The series on the left is without the leaf and the first "O" is not partially hidden.

Some Clarification Old Logos

The last blog did not put the logos in the right order. This graphic features the old logos on the left and the revised ones on the right.

Out Sick, But Would Appreciate Any Feedback

Hello everybody. I'll be out sick tonight, but I completed another round of revisions for my Boordy logo. I've included last week's revisions for comparison. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Alcohol

David! So random you just posted Joy Divide because a friend of mine last week told me about them and to remember the name I kept calling them "Happy Subtraction." Just thought I'd share the coincidence.

Piggy-backing on what Jocelyn said: Whenever I can't think of the tiniest of ideas, I sit (most of the time with a magnum of wine) and brainstorm the most ridiculous scenarios I can imagine...ever. They can be sexual, or a wouldn't-it-be-funny-if-someone-did-this type of thing, or hilarious situations you hope would never happen but it would be funny if they did, etc. Luckily for me, the more wine I drink, the more ridiculous I become. As far as I'm concerned, no idea during the brainstorming process is taboo. I never give a crap what anyone is going to think because it doesn't matter--the point of brainstorming is to discover a creative concept and work from there. Also, the more ridiculous the idea the better (in my opinion) because when you file down the absurdity factor you're still left with something a little risque and exciting. 

more videos

postpunk / stuntmen / timelapse

in continuing effort to make this blog more random and blog like, i present, in order:

1) my favourite band of any era

2) some guys in powder-blue suits going really fast

3) a time-lapse vid that's inspiring & pretty & touchy feely.

joy division - 9-15-79 transmission from cicolini on Vimeo


Adam Kimmel presents: Claremont HD from adam kimmel on Vimeo.


Driving from Martin Wilson on Vimeo.

Was this my inspiration?

Painters.

I rarely read books about design, only if I have to. I found design books distracting for proper thinking and inspiration.
Medos, Sreten Tanaskovic, Dragan Jovicevic, Mica Popovic, Vladimir Velickovic are people who influence me. There name doesn’t mean anything to you since they are great names of Serbian art. However among world famous names, that inspire me, are at the first place grate Austrian painters Klimt, Schiele, Hundertwasser and the grate abstract painter Kandinsky.
Except painters I find useful watching the masters of Italian cinema, observing the nature, working under pressure, or not working at all, watching Champions league and get angry when Chelsea lost or going to DC United game, Stravinsky, Valentino Rossi, Carl Cox, Ambasada Gavioli, Ministry of Sound, Gaudi, Jamiroquai, Ivo Andric, Dostoevsky, skiing and braking the lag….. Of course there are some things I can not mention on this blog since that will be against UB policy: “behaving as a professional” (not inspiring at all). Did I mention Life?