I'm gonna analyze myself in a teamwork situation!
I have to say that I feel pretty comfortable in this situations, even when it comes to work with team members I don't really talk with, I'm always positive that we're gonna get along.
I'm aware of the fact that everyone has a different way to go through a process of work, and I think the best way to deal with the differences is to narrow down a sort of schedule that can work for everyone trying to stick to it as much as possible, being anyway adaptable to any changes required.
I'm the first element, in a group, who will unfortunately bring availability issues, this is because my life is always hectic and busy. But I always try to do my best in being somehow reliable, even if that means staying up all night...
This is a good thing, and by that I mean from a trustworthy point of view; but unfortunately it has, from the other side, also a negative connotation because I don't really give my partners the time to look at my work and organize properly the work.
I don't think is a matter of disorganization or procrastination, or maybe it is?
I always try to do my best, especially if someone else is counting on my work, I feel more responsible in that kind of contest, therefore I think I end up putting even more effort than usual.
The above said I think I can be considered a good partner, if not for the "last minute" issue that for some people might be a very very big issue though!!
These are the adjectives, positive and negative, which I would use to describe myself in a teamwork situation:
positive
analytical | I tend to analyze any single aspect of each work/project I'm up to, sometimes even way too much
adaptable | I always try to adapt my ideas and my schedule to the other components of the group, there is no reason to cause problems if you can find a solution to a possible issue!
reliable | I always try to get feedback to any kind of request and anyone can totally rely on my presence and/or work, I see it as a matter of respect
motivated | if you are not interested in what you are doing, what's the point in doing it? therefore, even if sometimes it's hard, I always try to have motivation and enthusiasm
hard working | as I wrote before, even if it means staying up all night... I do it! I never back up from hard work!
helpful | I like helping people, partners, friends or class mates... actually, most of the times I give priority to their needs instead of mines!
negative
rigid | When it gets to follow specifications I'm really rigid, even if they might not be that important.
stubborn | if I think that something is important and has to be done, I will not give up until it's done
aloof | yes, I tend to be really quiet and let always someone else lead, sometimes I feel I don't share my thoughts because I'm shy
complacent | related to the previous adjective, I go along with everything, especially from a conceptual point of view
analytical | I know, this is actually an adjective I put also in my positive qualities, but sometimes, when you have to work faster and have it done in a very short frame of time, you should be less analytical and just go with your instinct
This is how I am, in brief I think I am a pretty good partner to work with, even though my partners should definitely have the quality of adaptableness.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Who is my Moog?
I've been asked in class to talk about who influenced my creative formation, who has been my "Moog"? Stoll, during a TED Talk, tributed his inspiration to this person being for him source of knowledge and inspiration of course.
I thought about it a whole week and I came to the conclusion that I don't have one specific or strong "guru" who inspired my path or my formation.
It took me years before understanding which would have been my path, my passion. Yes, sure having a mother particularly talented in artistic skills made me look at art with a different eye. I always observed her work with admiration and pride of her talent, but I never thought to be able to have her same natural artistic skills. She always encouraged me to stand out of the crowd teaching me to ponder on every single action or challenge I was asked to achieve; she has been able to give me the feeling that I was someone "extraordinary", that I was able to give others something special.
My working life brought me, through weird and unpredictable paths, to learn about creativity and graphic design and I just felt, for the first time in my life, I was doing something that satisfied me, something more than the regular job that many people have just to earn their daily bread.
What I am trying to say is that I'm convinced that my mother strongly influenced my personality and beliefs, teaching me to stay away from the ordinary, and of course I can only thank her for the eventual natural artistic skills I might have, but that my inspiration comes from all the people that have been, and are, in my life. I get a lot of inspiration and influence from the friends that surround me: the strength that some of them showed in facing hard life situations, the extravagance with which some of them show in facing every single day.
The love they show me gives me not only the strength to face my daily challenges but is a source of inspiration as well.
I also get inspiration and influence from the big thinkers and designers I am getting to know lately at school. The world is full of very talented people and each of them has something to teach us. Even though you don't get the chance to talk with them and receive their energy in a direct way, you can still feel the energy and their extraordinary talent from their works and creations.
In conclusion I definitely had different sources of inspiration throughout my entire life, but I feel that most of my work is inspired by the moment, by the people that are around me in that particular time.
I thought about it a whole week and I came to the conclusion that I don't have one specific or strong "guru" who inspired my path or my formation.
It took me years before understanding which would have been my path, my passion. Yes, sure having a mother particularly talented in artistic skills made me look at art with a different eye. I always observed her work with admiration and pride of her talent, but I never thought to be able to have her same natural artistic skills. She always encouraged me to stand out of the crowd teaching me to ponder on every single action or challenge I was asked to achieve; she has been able to give me the feeling that I was someone "extraordinary", that I was able to give others something special.
My working life brought me, through weird and unpredictable paths, to learn about creativity and graphic design and I just felt, for the first time in my life, I was doing something that satisfied me, something more than the regular job that many people have just to earn their daily bread.
What I am trying to say is that I'm convinced that my mother strongly influenced my personality and beliefs, teaching me to stay away from the ordinary, and of course I can only thank her for the eventual natural artistic skills I might have, but that my inspiration comes from all the people that have been, and are, in my life. I get a lot of inspiration and influence from the friends that surround me: the strength that some of them showed in facing hard life situations, the extravagance with which some of them show in facing every single day.
The love they show me gives me not only the strength to face my daily challenges but is a source of inspiration as well.
I also get inspiration and influence from the big thinkers and designers I am getting to know lately at school. The world is full of very talented people and each of them has something to teach us. Even though you don't get the chance to talk with them and receive their energy in a direct way, you can still feel the energy and their extraordinary talent from their works and creations.
In conclusion I definitely had different sources of inspiration throughout my entire life, but I feel that most of my work is inspired by the moment, by the people that are around me in that particular time.
Monday, March 16, 2009
my personal Manifestum...
Why manifestum and not manifesto?
Manifesto is an Italian word deriving from the Latin "manifestum"... since that I am Italian I didn't want to fall in the temptation of writing it in Italian... or maybe I could?
mmhh, maybe not!
ergo, manifestum it is!
Writing a Manifestum brings immediately to my memories what I learned at school, the Fascist Manifesto is the most famous public declaration of political principles and intentions. I am now learning that it actually have artistic and creative connotations as well: from the Futurist Manifesto learned during Graphic Design History classes and the most recent Manifesto of Bruce Mau seen during our Contemporary Design class.
Interestingly enough I have to create my own Manifestum, in other words my life stance; that is my relation with what I accept as of ultimate importance in my life. It has been hard to narrow all my principles down to just ten points, life is so full of many aspects worth being mentioned...
1. Play: Work that you enjoy doing for nothing.
You are going to spend most of your life time at your work place, aim to do what you like and your life will benefit from it.
2. You have to do, what you gotta do.
Lately this is my favorite motto. Usually I end up calling it by the best names.
3. Don't forget to live.
Because "you have to do what you gotta do" there's the tendency to forget to live. Don't!
4. We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill said this. In other words, don't forget who's around you, they shape your life.
5. Happiness depends upon ourselves.
Is not only who is around you who shapes your life, you are the main artists. By changing the inner attitudes of your mind, you can change the outer aspects of your live.
6. Design must surprise.
Solve a problem by surprising.
7. Laugh!Dance!Breath!
The most beautiful things of life. If you perceive in doing these you can then think on doing "what you gotta do".
8. Stop!
Once in a while, stop to watch the snow falling, stop to feel the rain on your head, stop to hear the birds singing, stop to smell the scent of the spring.
9. Improvise.
If you are not sure, never be afraid to come up with something else, it can be better.
10. Break the Rules.
If you don't, your life will be boring not only for yourself, but for everyone around you, from friends to clients.
11. Sleep tight, hug furry things, smile for nothing and eat cookies.
Enjoy the smallest things in life and reflect them in your work.
12. Ask.
If you don't understand don't be afraid to ask.
Manifesto is an Italian word deriving from the Latin "manifestum"... since that I am Italian I didn't want to fall in the temptation of writing it in Italian... or maybe I could?
mmhh, maybe not!
ergo, manifestum it is!
Writing a Manifestum brings immediately to my memories what I learned at school, the Fascist Manifesto is the most famous public declaration of political principles and intentions. I am now learning that it actually have artistic and creative connotations as well: from the Futurist Manifesto learned during Graphic Design History classes and the most recent Manifesto of Bruce Mau seen during our Contemporary Design class.
Interestingly enough I have to create my own Manifestum, in other words my life stance; that is my relation with what I accept as of ultimate importance in my life. It has been hard to narrow all my principles down to just ten points, life is so full of many aspects worth being mentioned...
1. Play: Work that you enjoy doing for nothing.
You are going to spend most of your life time at your work place, aim to do what you like and your life will benefit from it.
2. You have to do, what you gotta do.
Lately this is my favorite motto. Usually I end up calling it by the best names.
3. Don't forget to live.
Because "you have to do what you gotta do" there's the tendency to forget to live. Don't!
4. We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill said this. In other words, don't forget who's around you, they shape your life.
5. Happiness depends upon ourselves.
Is not only who is around you who shapes your life, you are the main artists. By changing the inner attitudes of your mind, you can change the outer aspects of your live.
6. Design must surprise.
Solve a problem by surprising.
7. Laugh!Dance!Breath!
The most beautiful things of life. If you perceive in doing these you can then think on doing "what you gotta do".
8. Stop!
Once in a while, stop to watch the snow falling, stop to feel the rain on your head, stop to hear the birds singing, stop to smell the scent of the spring.
9. Improvise.
If you are not sure, never be afraid to come up with something else, it can be better.
10. Break the Rules.
If you don't, your life will be boring not only for yourself, but for everyone around you, from friends to clients.
11. Sleep tight, hug furry things, smile for nothing and eat cookies.
Enjoy the smallest things in life and reflect them in your work.
12. Ask.
If you don't understand don't be afraid to ask.
A "storm" of words
My statement is unchanged... I'm still of the idea that design HAS to do somehow with extraordinary... so, I tryed to brainstorm all the words that came in my mind thinking of ordinary becoming extraordinary:
breaking the rules
unexpected
different
challenging
move forward
engaging
rebellion
positiveness
unlimited
nontraditional
expressionism
evolving
stimulating
unusual
influential
cutting the edge
open
critical
effective
communicating
breaking the rules
unexpected
different
challenging
move forward
engaging
rebellion
positiveness
unlimited
nontraditional
expressionism
evolving
stimulating
unusual
influential
cutting the edge
open
critical
effective
communicating
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
"Design is..." still processing, be patient | STEP 3 (wk8)
During the past week, every time I could stop for a minute and concentrate on my own thoughts I kept thinking and re-thinking of my last week's "Design is" statement.
This is a long term process assignment, concepts, ideas, research, analysis has to be developed, broaden and even changed if necessary.
As I said before the statement I wrote last week came immediately from my heart. I'm still of the idea that the whole concept of design runs around the goal of grabbing attention, and giving information, but it is how you do it that makes the design unique and outstanding.
This statement is true from either the business point of view and the designer/artist one.
I will keep my statement unchanged for now, I still think it clearly encompasses my personal perception of what design is.
"Design is... communicating something ordinary in an extraordinary way"
This is a long term process assignment, concepts, ideas, research, analysis has to be developed, broaden and even changed if necessary.
As I said before the statement I wrote last week came immediately from my heart. I'm still of the idea that the whole concept of design runs around the goal of grabbing attention, and giving information, but it is how you do it that makes the design unique and outstanding.
This statement is true from either the business point of view and the designer/artist one.
I will keep my statement unchanged for now, I still think it clearly encompasses my personal perception of what design is.
"Design is... communicating something ordinary in an extraordinary way"
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
"Design is..." a gradual process of my personal definition | STEP 2 (wk7)
One of the goals of my 4th semester's class "Contemporary Design Theory" is to develop and analyze the meaning of "DESIGN". Analyze what it actually means in the business, and develop my own opinion/statement/theory.
Of course "design" has an official and technical definition to it, but it is true as well that there is actually no wrong or right answer, that design is subjective and each individual sees or think of it in a different way.
It is also true that design encompasses a wide range of facets, and combining all of them in only one definition is reductive and incomplete.
This week I started my personal process of developing my own theory of what design is, and to do it I started thinking of what I am personally looking from a design in order to consider it a good work; what is the actual element that makes it interesting, working and successful.
It actually didn't take me too long to understand and answer that question and I articulated the following statement:
"Design is... communicating something ordinary in an extraordinary way"
Of course "design" has an official and technical definition to it, but it is true as well that there is actually no wrong or right answer, that design is subjective and each individual sees or think of it in a different way.
It is also true that design encompasses a wide range of facets, and combining all of them in only one definition is reductive and incomplete.
This week I started my personal process of developing my own theory of what design is, and to do it I started thinking of what I am personally looking from a design in order to consider it a good work; what is the actual element that makes it interesting, working and successful.
It actually didn't take me too long to understand and answer that question and I articulated the following statement:
"Design is... communicating something ordinary in an extraordinary way"
Thursday, February 19, 2009
How today's 'Global Village' affects my personal 'Distraction Factory'
I've been given an assignment where I had to keep track of how much time I spend on media and technological means of communication. The cultural critic Goodwin calls the global media entertainment industry the 'Distraction Factory'. I thought that this name couldn't have been more appropriate. It actually doesn't signify the 'use' or 'purpose' of the media itself, but 'how' the modern mediated world is actually influencing people's lives, perspectives and habits.
The asignment required me to break it down, basically, into music, television, reading, internet/socializing, and interactive media (like video games).
Interestinlgy enough, but this was not a big surprise, you can easily spot that the time given to what was once considered as the main and most important thing to do to keep your brain trained and elastic, that is 'reading', has been reduced, in my case of course, to a ridiculous weekly time amount of approximately 3 hrs.
In this regard I have to say that, when I personally (and finally) get some sort of break from my frenetic life of student and worker, the only think I ALWAYS carry with me (being in holiday or just around), is a book, one of those that I finally get the chance to read after I bought it maybe 2 or 3 years earlier!
Scaring? Depressing? Wrong?
For sure we compensate by reading while surfing on the web... the experience that only the paper can give is definitely not the same, but the purpose of keeping your brain working is 'somehow' achieved.
I spotted another interesting thing looking at my data: time dedicated to movies/DVDs is a drastic zero. I concluded that, when it comes to the decision of how to spend my spare time, I always decide for the social communications instead of relaxing and spending my time in front of... ANOTHER screen! At least, on the other side, there's someone else interacting with me.
It's time now to show my weekly media usage. I decided to create and display the results on a chart in order to make it easier for comparisons and relationships.
There you go... (click here or on the preview to see it bigger)
The asignment required me to break it down, basically, into music, television, reading, internet/socializing, and interactive media (like video games).
Interestinlgy enough, but this was not a big surprise, you can easily spot that the time given to what was once considered as the main and most important thing to do to keep your brain trained and elastic, that is 'reading', has been reduced, in my case of course, to a ridiculous weekly time amount of approximately 3 hrs.
In this regard I have to say that, when I personally (and finally) get some sort of break from my frenetic life of student and worker, the only think I ALWAYS carry with me (being in holiday or just around), is a book, one of those that I finally get the chance to read after I bought it maybe 2 or 3 years earlier!
Scaring? Depressing? Wrong?
For sure we compensate by reading while surfing on the web... the experience that only the paper can give is definitely not the same, but the purpose of keeping your brain working is 'somehow' achieved.
I spotted another interesting thing looking at my data: time dedicated to movies/DVDs is a drastic zero. I concluded that, when it comes to the decision of how to spend my spare time, I always decide for the social communications instead of relaxing and spending my time in front of... ANOTHER screen! At least, on the other side, there's someone else interacting with me.
It's time now to show my weekly media usage. I decided to create and display the results on a chart in order to make it easier for comparisons and relationships.
There you go... (click here or on the preview to see it bigger)
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Get it done... think, process, create...
What's the process I go through when I have to create and develop a new project??
Finding the "good" idea is the most exciting stage you go through when you have a new project assigned... exciting? well, if you get to HAVE the idea definitely yes! If you don't get to have it, then it becomes the most stressing, depressing and anxious giving stage of a creative process.
But in the moment you get it... then your work becomes fluid and smooth... and fun!
I will talk about the evolution I went through while developing and creating a design for the new Humber Studio Jazz Ensemble's album.
This project has been for me an exciting challenge from the completely "unknown" topic of jazz music, to the title given ("Prologue"), from the load of type to be incorporated, to the restricted time given... and not to be forgotten the knowledge that the design would have been presented to the Director of the Humber College's Music Program, close to a real job/real client approach.
When the assignment has been given I started to think about ideas, related visuals to represent the title "Prologue"... oh, that was hard, how can you visualize something that is merely a concept... I was stranded! Nothing, nothing really worth to stand out... so?? do I have to go with the regular and well known symbols that everyone relates to Jazz?
Ok, let's try to get inspired by doing some research on Jazz... listen to music (that will give me inspiration... if not it will be anyway a nice and pleasant background while working), navigate and look around the Humber's music department website, what do they do? where do they put more emphasis? what do they like? google anything related to jazz (soul, previous cd covers, rythm, beat, etc).
Nothing, nothing... ok, ok, I give up, I have to start somehow, I'm late, I'm always late... I have to come up with something!
So, no big choices, I decide to give it a try in rendering one of the stereotypes related to Jazz music in a different way, trying to keep the design clean, modern, captivating and... somehow different? yes sure, at the end still a stereotype it is, right? No choice guys, days are flying and the due date is close... sooo close!
So I start sketching few thumbnails, very very few, I'm not really good at this (and I'm so grateful to the school because they are teaching and forcing us to do them, I now realize how useful they are)...
I start researching on the web and downloading some good pictures to help me get more inspiration on my design... and I'm starting to see it, the design... I'm already thinking on the digitalising step!!
I'm almost ready to start, I've done my research, I almost have the picture clear in my head... I just have to start... but I also have other projects due; ok, it's not bad to have a break from one project and leave it "alone" for a while... while working on my Mac I start chatting, through Skype, with an old friend in Nebraska... so long we were not talking... nice... and, boom... out of the blue we are talking about metaphors... he was trying to cheer me up telling me that out of the "tracks" of your life's journey there are always beautiful and coloured flowers... always look around yourself... yes, right! I know that... open your mind... and my brain starts flying, actually running...
Tracks? the journey of your life?? tracks bring you somewhere, and they ALL have a start and an end... and where they start it is the beginning of something... an introduction... a prologue!
There you go, I love the idea... I'm just afraid that it might not be that clear to everyone...
At that point I am excited, I got a new verve, and the creativeness in my brain was like having a party.... so many pictures were taking shape in my mind!
The biggest challenge left was to render it properly... clear, not too busy, communicating the concept I had in my mind to ANYONE... not that easy either...
I start my digitals files... hours and hours... I'm pretty satisfied with the result, still perfectly aware that that was just the first render, that it would have gone under millions of further changes... but the concept was there, proud to have found a unique and uncommon idea...
That's at the end what I was looking for... we are creative, and even if the design is not going to be chosen by the client, we do not want to JUST render something "nicely"... we want to bring a concept, an idea.
I think I did it, I hope so, and that means a lot to me, to my creative ego!
Finding the "good" idea is the most exciting stage you go through when you have a new project assigned... exciting? well, if you get to HAVE the idea definitely yes! If you don't get to have it, then it becomes the most stressing, depressing and anxious giving stage of a creative process.
But in the moment you get it... then your work becomes fluid and smooth... and fun!
I will talk about the evolution I went through while developing and creating a design for the new Humber Studio Jazz Ensemble's album.
This project has been for me an exciting challenge from the completely "unknown" topic of jazz music, to the title given ("Prologue"), from the load of type to be incorporated, to the restricted time given... and not to be forgotten the knowledge that the design would have been presented to the Director of the Humber College's Music Program, close to a real job/real client approach.
When the assignment has been given I started to think about ideas, related visuals to represent the title "Prologue"... oh, that was hard, how can you visualize something that is merely a concept... I was stranded! Nothing, nothing really worth to stand out... so?? do I have to go with the regular and well known symbols that everyone relates to Jazz?
Ok, let's try to get inspired by doing some research on Jazz... listen to music (that will give me inspiration... if not it will be anyway a nice and pleasant background while working), navigate and look around the Humber's music department website, what do they do? where do they put more emphasis? what do they like? google anything related to jazz (soul, previous cd covers, rythm, beat, etc).
Nothing, nothing... ok, ok, I give up, I have to start somehow, I'm late, I'm always late... I have to come up with something!
So, no big choices, I decide to give it a try in rendering one of the stereotypes related to Jazz music in a different way, trying to keep the design clean, modern, captivating and... somehow different? yes sure, at the end still a stereotype it is, right? No choice guys, days are flying and the due date is close... sooo close!
So I start sketching few thumbnails, very very few, I'm not really good at this (and I'm so grateful to the school because they are teaching and forcing us to do them, I now realize how useful they are)...
I start researching on the web and downloading some good pictures to help me get more inspiration on my design... and I'm starting to see it, the design... I'm already thinking on the digitalising step!!
I'm almost ready to start, I've done my research, I almost have the picture clear in my head... I just have to start... but I also have other projects due; ok, it's not bad to have a break from one project and leave it "alone" for a while... while working on my Mac I start chatting, through Skype, with an old friend in Nebraska... so long we were not talking... nice... and, boom... out of the blue we are talking about metaphors... he was trying to cheer me up telling me that out of the "tracks" of your life's journey there are always beautiful and coloured flowers... always look around yourself... yes, right! I know that... open your mind... and my brain starts flying, actually running...
Tracks? the journey of your life?? tracks bring you somewhere, and they ALL have a start and an end... and where they start it is the beginning of something... an introduction... a prologue!
There you go, I love the idea... I'm just afraid that it might not be that clear to everyone...
At that point I am excited, I got a new verve, and the creativeness in my brain was like having a party.... so many pictures were taking shape in my mind!
The biggest challenge left was to render it properly... clear, not too busy, communicating the concept I had in my mind to ANYONE... not that easy either...
I start my digitals files... hours and hours... I'm pretty satisfied with the result, still perfectly aware that that was just the first render, that it would have gone under millions of further changes... but the concept was there, proud to have found a unique and uncommon idea...
That's at the end what I was looking for... we are creative, and even if the design is not going to be chosen by the client, we do not want to JUST render something "nicely"... we want to bring a concept, an idea.
I think I did it, I hope so, and that means a lot to me, to my creative ego!
Monday, January 26, 2009
...down to the point!
During our second class of Contemporary Design Theory we watched a talk of Ken Robinson at TED Shows where he pointed out the difficulties and challenges in the educational system.
That was not my first time watching that talk and since the first time I watched it I thought that his arguments are worth a deeper analysis.
I think that it is really important to help children to be more open and wide in their thoughts, too many times their creativity and imagination is blocked by conventional and structured way of teaching and from the expectations that our educational system requires.
This said I still think that literature and math is fundamental in our education, but it is yet true that creativity should be considered of the same importance.
Relating these thoughts to what my educational background has been I feel having had quite a bit of art classes and formation, but the creative aspect of them has not been pushed or taken into consideration enough. Today I am enrolled in this graphic design program and I am really trying to take all the best I can from any aspect of it, but all the creative aspects and learning outcomes that arise from it are my focal points on where to get the most.
While discussing in class we also went through few of the 100 Habits of Successful Graphic Designers. These tips, specifically created and thought for our profession, should actually be related to anyone, somehow brought also into the structure of the earlier educational process. Teaching children to see the world around them with different eyes, which they already do in their need and curiosity of getting to know the world around them, could help them in growing up with this attitude of seeing things not as they look at first sight, but to create things from things, see things from things.
I think that all the "habits" read in class can be related to the will of knowing things, broaden your knowledge with anything you have around and do your best to always learn something new, that is not only around you, but opening your mind to the world and the load of differences that the world where we are living is offering us.
It's hard for me to shortly give an answer to the question of "Who am I, in the context of creativity and design?", the point is that the world around us is so diverse and multi-faceted that I feel not being the same creative and designer everyday, I go with the moods of the moment, with the experiences of the day, with the inspirations of the hour and the knowledge of the minute...
The work I create is always down to the point... but it reflects all the changes and inspirations that my life brings me along with.
That was not my first time watching that talk and since the first time I watched it I thought that his arguments are worth a deeper analysis.
I think that it is really important to help children to be more open and wide in their thoughts, too many times their creativity and imagination is blocked by conventional and structured way of teaching and from the expectations that our educational system requires.
This said I still think that literature and math is fundamental in our education, but it is yet true that creativity should be considered of the same importance.
Relating these thoughts to what my educational background has been I feel having had quite a bit of art classes and formation, but the creative aspect of them has not been pushed or taken into consideration enough. Today I am enrolled in this graphic design program and I am really trying to take all the best I can from any aspect of it, but all the creative aspects and learning outcomes that arise from it are my focal points on where to get the most.
While discussing in class we also went through few of the 100 Habits of Successful Graphic Designers. These tips, specifically created and thought for our profession, should actually be related to anyone, somehow brought also into the structure of the earlier educational process. Teaching children to see the world around them with different eyes, which they already do in their need and curiosity of getting to know the world around them, could help them in growing up with this attitude of seeing things not as they look at first sight, but to create things from things, see things from things.
I think that all the "habits" read in class can be related to the will of knowing things, broaden your knowledge with anything you have around and do your best to always learn something new, that is not only around you, but opening your mind to the world and the load of differences that the world where we are living is offering us.
It's hard for me to shortly give an answer to the question of "Who am I, in the context of creativity and design?", the point is that the world around us is so diverse and multi-faceted that I feel not being the same creative and designer everyday, I go with the moods of the moment, with the experiences of the day, with the inspirations of the hour and the knowledge of the minute...
The work I create is always down to the point... but it reflects all the changes and inspirations that my life brings me along with.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Design is ...
mumble mumble... finding a way to answer to this question makes me feel like choosing stereotypical definitions or concepts. During our first class of Contemporary Design Theory we had to answer to a question that actually dazzled me more: What is Design NOT?
It was surprising how I could not find an answer to that question! As a formal and professional definition we learnt that design is NOT art, nature, or anything coming from an evolutionary process.
But there are still a lot of controversies about this definition, arisen in class as well.
Books and theorists wants us to embrace the definition that design is ONLY what has been created by a human, on a client driven purpose with an end result of earning money.
Definitely nothing to do with art ... many of us, future graphic designers, don't really agree with this strict and dry definition.
Personally, when I think of what design is, I can see and feel it everywhere.
I look at a skyline and I know it has been designed by humans to convey order, balance, beauty, emotions. Then I look at a natural landscape and it conveys me exactly the same things, even though no human being created it.
This is only one of many examples of where I can see and FEEL Design even though it doesn't belong to the official definition of it.
As I said looking at skylines, or landscapes, or architecture, or interior design, or typography, or colours—anything related to "Design"—makes me feel good inside and I start seeing different things from what I am actually seeing and I start thinking of how I can use a certain detail or a certain combination of colours.
I guess that's why I decided to make Graphic Design not only my passion and my hobby, but also my profession. But this leads me to my second disagreement on the definition of Design: I am here to become a Designer and create after a client driven request but also for personal pleasure of creating, just for the sake of expressing myself.
I think that Design is not just balanced and elegant combination of elements (the "artistic" point of view) but also a very important tool able to communicate and convey information (Graphic Design in particular). This tool gives Design a very important role of responsability and power. Design is able to deeply influence society, costumes, tendencies, ideas, style, etc.
All the above makes me love Design, whether it being art or not, whether it being created by a human being or not, Design IS all of the above ... and more!
It was surprising how I could not find an answer to that question! As a formal and professional definition we learnt that design is NOT art, nature, or anything coming from an evolutionary process.
But there are still a lot of controversies about this definition, arisen in class as well.
Books and theorists wants us to embrace the definition that design is ONLY what has been created by a human, on a client driven purpose with an end result of earning money.
Definitely nothing to do with art ... many of us, future graphic designers, don't really agree with this strict and dry definition.
Personally, when I think of what design is, I can see and feel it everywhere.
I look at a skyline and I know it has been designed by humans to convey order, balance, beauty, emotions. Then I look at a natural landscape and it conveys me exactly the same things, even though no human being created it.
This is only one of many examples of where I can see and FEEL Design even though it doesn't belong to the official definition of it.
As I said looking at skylines, or landscapes, or architecture, or interior design, or typography, or colours—anything related to "Design"—makes me feel good inside and I start seeing different things from what I am actually seeing and I start thinking of how I can use a certain detail or a certain combination of colours.
I guess that's why I decided to make Graphic Design not only my passion and my hobby, but also my profession. But this leads me to my second disagreement on the definition of Design: I am here to become a Designer and create after a client driven request but also for personal pleasure of creating, just for the sake of expressing myself.
I think that Design is not just balanced and elegant combination of elements (the "artistic" point of view) but also a very important tool able to communicate and convey information (Graphic Design in particular). This tool gives Design a very important role of responsability and power. Design is able to deeply influence society, costumes, tendencies, ideas, style, etc.
All the above makes me love Design, whether it being art or not, whether it being created by a human being or not, Design IS all of the above ... and more!
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