Coming into the graphics program I was floundering, to say the least. I really didn't have much of a direction, or a clue, on where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do. With virtually no previous design experience I was lacking the confidence required to be successful in this program. I think the most important thing I have gained from the past year is confidence. Not only confidence in my work but more importantly, in myself.
My roommate the other day noticed the difference in my attitude towards class, projects and especially critiques. She commented on the change from the beginning of the semester when I would come home pretty upset and down from being critiqued in class, to now. Having critiques in class several times a week has taught me more than any speech class could ever hope to. While I still struggle to talk about my work, I think it is something I have extremely improved upon. As well as being able to stand up in front of my peers without feeling so anxious that I might throw up. Critiques are no longer something I dread every morning when I wake up. I now look forward to showing my hard work and receiving feedback from my professors and peers to help make my work stronger.
Lastly, I have really enjoyed making the connections and friendships that I have this year. First semester I worked at home a lot. After realizing that working in the lab was a much healthier creative environment, I believe my work not only improved, but I met so many more people that have made this entire experience all the more worth while.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Motion Blog #2
answer the question: how do you think the audience experience will change based on the media? What will the audience experience in print. In Motion. What can you do in print that you can't do in motion. What can you do in motion (in aftereffects) that you can't do in print?
I think that they audience will be more engaged and will actually read/listen to every word of the speech when it is read TO them, rather than them having to do the work or reading and figuring out an accordion fold book (can become quite confusing).
I do think that the benefit of having the speech in motion is the viewer is able to control their own speed while reading. If they want to spend a longer time on a page to take everything in, they have that ability. However, in print, the reader is not able to actually hear the syllables stressed and the emotion in the speaker's voice. This is why it is important it push the type in the print version as much as possible.
I think that they audience will be more engaged and will actually read/listen to every word of the speech when it is read TO them, rather than them having to do the work or reading and figuring out an accordion fold book (can become quite confusing).
I do think that the benefit of having the speech in motion is the viewer is able to control their own speed while reading. If they want to spend a longer time on a page to take everything in, they have that ability. However, in print, the reader is not able to actually hear the syllables stressed and the emotion in the speaker's voice. This is why it is important it push the type in the print version as much as possible.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Journal #9 (At the End of the Day)
Jakob Trollback
"Sometimes there is not other reason to put something on a wall, other than it's beautiful."
I really like the point Jakob made about the different sides of the brain. He said that if a piece of work is too left brained than it can too easily be understood too easily. He believes in the importance of leaving the audience with a question, engaging and interpretive.
Jakob had many inspiring things to say (in the hour and a half talk). I thought this one to be one of the most important ones to take with me and to impmlament in my own work. — "At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what you went though, it matters if you have emotionally engaged."
"Sometimes there is not other reason to put something on a wall, other than it's beautiful."
I really like the point Jakob made about the different sides of the brain. He said that if a piece of work is too left brained than it can too easily be understood too easily. He believes in the importance of leaving the audience with a question, engaging and interpretive.
Jakob had many inspiring things to say (in the hour and a half talk). I thought this one to be one of the most important ones to take with me and to impmlament in my own work. — "At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what you went though, it matters if you have emotionally engaged."
Journal #12 (It doesn't smell right)
After listening to the artist series interviews by Paula Scher and David Carson, these are the main points I would like to mentions:
It is important to make your work move the subject — put more of yourself into the work
A good starting point for your work is with interpretation
syncopation includes a variety of rhythms which are in some way unexpected
I also loved the way Paula described her design process: It is an intuitive process, I have never been a refiner.
Another interesting point made: You don't design with the computer (use of hands) — It doesn't smell right.
It is important to make your work move the subject — put more of yourself into the work
A good starting point for your work is with interpretation
syncopation includes a variety of rhythms which are in some way unexpected
I also loved the way Paula described her design process: It is an intuitive process, I have never been a refiner.
Another interesting point made: You don't design with the computer (use of hands) — It doesn't smell right.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Journal # 11 (Disrespect for Convention)
Debbie Millman is a partner and president of the design division at Sterling Brands, one of the leading brand identity firms in the country. Millman is president of AIGA, and chair of the School of Visual Arts’ master’s program in Branding. She is a contributing editor to Print magazine and host of the podcast “Design Matters.” She is the author of How to Think like a Graphic Designer(Allworth Press, 2007), The Essential Principles of Graphic Design (Rotovision, 2008) and Look Both Ways: Illustrated Essays on the Intersection of Life and Design (How Books, 2009).
In this audio interview with Debbie Millman, Jonathan Ford discusses going on eighteen job interviews before being hired by Michael Peters, his belief that a good idea cannot come from a computer, his interest in fear and the importance of doing work that is truthful.
I found it interesting that Ford went through over a dozen job rejections before actually receiving an offer. I appreciated his advice for future employees was to find a balance of hassling and staying present.
As a young designer, it helps to hear that even the best, most-well known and talented designers still have design angst. In this interview, Ford expressed his interest in fear. Within this discussion he comments on how "non-designers" look at the job and think, "Oh, how easy," "What fun." It's funny to me how much this sounds like my friends. His reassurance that even he feels enormous angst through the whole process of design, was comforting.
The last point I want to emphasis is his thought that original thinking comes from being fearless. I especially enjoyed a phrase from one of his quotes,
"[...] a healthy disrespect for conventions[...]"
In this audio interview with Debbie Millman, Jonathan Ford discusses going on eighteen job interviews before being hired by Michael Peters, his belief that a good idea cannot come from a computer, his interest in fear and the importance of doing work that is truthful.
I found it interesting that Ford went through over a dozen job rejections before actually receiving an offer. I appreciated his advice for future employees was to find a balance of hassling and staying present.
As a young designer, it helps to hear that even the best, most-well known and talented designers still have design angst. In this interview, Ford expressed his interest in fear. Within this discussion he comments on how "non-designers" look at the job and think, "Oh, how easy," "What fun." It's funny to me how much this sounds like my friends. His reassurance that even he feels enormous angst through the whole process of design, was comforting.
The last point I want to emphasis is his thought that original thinking comes from being fearless. I especially enjoyed a phrase from one of his quotes,
"[...] a healthy disrespect for conventions[...]"
Journal #10 (GOOD is Great!)
A Brief GOOD Bio:
GOOD is the integrated media platform for people who want to live well and do good. We are a company and community for the people, businesses, and NGOs moving the world forward. GOOD's mission is to provide content, experiences, and utilities to serve this community.GOOD currently produces a website, videos, live events, and a print magazine. Launched in September 2006, the company has garnered praise for its unique editorial perspective and fresh visual aesthetic and is quickly positioning itself as a significant new voice in our culture.In 2010, GOOD started "Good Projects"— a new kind of agency focused on helping businesses and organizations do well by doing good. GOOD Projects works with clients to engage communities and bring great ideas to life.
What GOOD has to say about itself:
"GOOD is a collaboration of individuals, businesses, and nonprofits pushing the world forward. Since 2006 we've been making a magazine, videos, and events for people who give a damn."
GOOD is Great!
From the first line in their bio, to their portfolio examples, I am in love with the ideals and concepts that found this company. Coming into college, I knew that I didn't want to sit around filling prescriptions all day, every day. However, I wanted to help people. So, almost instinctively I chose a pre-pharmacy path. Three years later, I am a graphic design and strategic communications major. Since my abrupt change in majors, I have not only been looking for a way to utilize my education in a way that fulfills my deep desire to help others, but finding a career path that I will be able to put my journalism and design experience to use. All in one website, I have found all of this. I am not saying that I have decided this is where I want to work for the rest of my life, or even at all, it is simply a reassurance that I find most uplifting during an incredibly stressful week. GOOD's website is definitely now a permanent part of my bookmarks for me too keep an eye on and always keep in the back of my mind.
Journal #6 (Make the F-er Shimmer!)
“What single example of design inspires you most?” and “What problem should design solve next?”
The following are the five designers that I find most interesting and chose to comment on their opinions.
JAKE MCCABE
-8 1/5 x 11 piece of paper - amount effort it takes to produce this products- becoming a luxury
-When approaching a project, think about something that no one has asked you to think about
ME-I picked Jake because of his comment about paper. I am an admitted paper freak, and love his acknowledgment of it's significance in the world. It is, with out a doubt, one of the most underrated and taken for granted every-day objects in today's society.
MARC LATHUILLIÉRE
-Finds inspiration in a bottle of vodka- he says, you think everything is visible upon sight, but you can no fully understand the power of a little bit of it
"Speech does not expose or hide, it indicates."
ME-I wish that everyone had the same view on speech as Marc; the world would be a much more honest place to live.
JOHN M. MILITELLO
-"It is the design mind that inspires me" - not so much the design of the product but the use, the design mind challenges people everyday, challenges the user in a good way, to rethink what is aesthetic beauty, form and functions and how things work with one another, And how things just work and can be intuitive.
ME- John's was by far my favorite interview that I listened to. I think his in depth analysis of what actually inspires him can be relevant to just about every person, in all areas of study.
K. KIRK & N. STRANDBERG
ME-I gave up listening to what the couple was actually saying because of my fascination with their presentation style (Iphone-powerpoint). Loved it!
STEFAN BUCHER
The needless ambition of hummingbirds
"Seeing the little beak go into the little swaying glass tube is a little bit more amazing then pulling through the drive though at McDonalds."
ME-This guy was the last I listened to, total nut, but totally made me smile.
Stefan's final remark that I will leave you with: "MAKE the fucker SHIMMER"
The following are the five designers that I find most interesting and chose to comment on their opinions.
JAKE MCCABE
-8 1/5 x 11 piece of paper - amount effort it takes to produce this products- becoming a luxury
-When approaching a project, think about something that no one has asked you to think about
ME-I picked Jake because of his comment about paper. I am an admitted paper freak, and love his acknowledgment of it's significance in the world. It is, with out a doubt, one of the most underrated and taken for granted every-day objects in today's society.
MARC LATHUILLIÉRE
-Finds inspiration in a bottle of vodka- he says, you think everything is visible upon sight, but you can no fully understand the power of a little bit of it
"Speech does not expose or hide, it indicates."
ME-I wish that everyone had the same view on speech as Marc; the world would be a much more honest place to live.
JOHN M. MILITELLO
-"It is the design mind that inspires me" - not so much the design of the product but the use, the design mind challenges people everyday, challenges the user in a good way, to rethink what is aesthetic beauty, form and functions and how things work with one another, And how things just work and can be intuitive.
ME- John's was by far my favorite interview that I listened to. I think his in depth analysis of what actually inspires him can be relevant to just about every person, in all areas of study.
K. KIRK & N. STRANDBERG
ME-I gave up listening to what the couple was actually saying because of my fascination with their presentation style (Iphone-powerpoint). Loved it!
STEFAN BUCHER
The needless ambition of hummingbirds
"Seeing the little beak go into the little swaying glass tube is a little bit more amazing then pulling through the drive though at McDonalds."
ME-This guy was the last I listened to, total nut, but totally made me smile.
Stefan's final remark that I will leave you with: "MAKE the fucker SHIMMER"
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