Our word was Compress
We did not display the use of this word in the letters themselves, the letters were too big to be put together in an way that would display the word. Instead we had to decide on how to display our word using the location only.
Our word means to squeeze, to flatten, to mesh together into one form that is smaller than before.
We chose the stacks in the Watson library, the stacks are these tiny stairs that leads into the crowded archives of the library in the back section of the third floor. The stairs are only wide enough for one person at a time and when that person climbs up they are being compressed between the railing as they make their way in either direction.
We decided to place our letters into the stacks to take advantage of the literal sense of the definition. It was the easiest and most likely solution sure, but it was the only place safe for our letters that we could leave unguarded for a period of time. We decided to make the definition literally visible by using a place that would be able to show what compress means without us having to explain.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Photography essay
The essay basically came down to one point: People enjoy to see symmetry and patterns.
Life is full of patterns from color to shades to different ways that shapes come together to form a bigger and better shape. Everything is a pattern, and humans have the inane ability to see and display these natural patterns. Photography is a tool that can be used to bring these patterns to life, photos display something that can be shown without relying on words or descriptions.
Photos are more subtle than movies or diagrams or drawings, the message is hidden and must be found by the viewer rather than just be directly told. I am not a photo major, therefore I lack the ability to display what photos can show.
However I can show messages and patterns through my drawings which are a type of photo on their own. However they are designed by my hand rather than using a viewing tool like a camera. Both forms of photography can display different themes and tones depending on how you manipulate the photo. Its a delicate balance that can sometimes tip out of your favor if the angle is not just right or if there is too much color in one place.
Life is full of patterns from color to shades to different ways that shapes come together to form a bigger and better shape. Everything is a pattern, and humans have the inane ability to see and display these natural patterns. Photography is a tool that can be used to bring these patterns to life, photos display something that can be shown without relying on words or descriptions.
Photos are more subtle than movies or diagrams or drawings, the message is hidden and must be found by the viewer rather than just be directly told. I am not a photo major, therefore I lack the ability to display what photos can show.
However I can show messages and patterns through my drawings which are a type of photo on their own. However they are designed by my hand rather than using a viewing tool like a camera. Both forms of photography can display different themes and tones depending on how you manipulate the photo. Its a delicate balance that can sometimes tip out of your favor if the angle is not just right or if there is too much color in one place.
Team dynamics
As a group we did not face as many difficulties as I did with my last group, the four members of the group including me divided up the funds for the supplies and crafts evenly. We also managed to work out meeting times and divided up the tasks for the project evenly without much difficulty.
However when it came to deciding when to meet and where wasn't easy even though we managed to come to an agreement. Most of us had conflicting classtimes, and I did not have a ride so I could not meet my team at night when it is dangerous to walk out in the dark. We were also a little behind the rest of the groups, we didn't spend even amount of times on the workdays doing everything at the same time. Rather we focused on one task at a time until the end, meaning we were struggling a little with time management and how we were going to complete the building the letters process.
As an individual I did not have many issues with this project, at this point I am pretty used to the class so I can manage my stress and time management pretty well. I still tend to miss some things in my process books especially when it comes to photos. But that is either because I threw away those parts because I didn't think they were essential or I didn't bother to put it in the book in order to save money since I don't have enough to print everything. Another issue is again the fact that I cant get a ride after five so I was rather adamant in not working late at night then walking back in the dark and cold to my dorms on the other side of campus.
However we managed to get our letters done in time without too much argument and since our word is really simple and easy it should be easy enough to place where we want to when it comes to touring the campus
However when it came to deciding when to meet and where wasn't easy even though we managed to come to an agreement. Most of us had conflicting classtimes, and I did not have a ride so I could not meet my team at night when it is dangerous to walk out in the dark. We were also a little behind the rest of the groups, we didn't spend even amount of times on the workdays doing everything at the same time. Rather we focused on one task at a time until the end, meaning we were struggling a little with time management and how we were going to complete the building the letters process.
As an individual I did not have many issues with this project, at this point I am pretty used to the class so I can manage my stress and time management pretty well. I still tend to miss some things in my process books especially when it comes to photos. But that is either because I threw away those parts because I didn't think they were essential or I didn't bother to put it in the book in order to save money since I don't have enough to print everything. Another issue is again the fact that I cant get a ride after five so I was rather adamant in not working late at night then walking back in the dark and cold to my dorms on the other side of campus.
However we managed to get our letters done in time without too much argument and since our word is really simple and easy it should be easy enough to place where we want to when it comes to touring the campus
Different parts of the project
What did I learn about the project? I learned that the parts of a letter and of a word are more numerous than what meets the eye. That typography takes as much study to perfect as does photography, drawing or even painting. I have learned to appreciate those who design logos and manipulates the letters to define a word without using anything besides what is provided. All art takes effort and time to create something wonderful, and that includes typography.
Difficulties: Well the main difficulty that I faced was manipulating the cardboard into a viable shape for a letter. Measuring and cutting took too much time and our shapes were not as accurate as we wanted them to be. We had to make a lot of shortcuts to get the letters to be uniform in size. Also the pathfinder in Illustrator never really worked for me, that was a difficulty because I could not figure out what to do without relying on my teachers for help.
Solutions: Well we decided to use a lot of recycled cardboard for our letters that way it wouldn't cost as much. We used the cheap cardboard for the mini models, and then the better cardboard was used for the giant letters. I never really figured out how to use pathfinder correctly so I had to improvise when it came to my compositions. Unfortunately that means the pathfinder exercises are missing in this process book.
Difficulties: Well the main difficulty that I faced was manipulating the cardboard into a viable shape for a letter. Measuring and cutting took too much time and our shapes were not as accurate as we wanted them to be. We had to make a lot of shortcuts to get the letters to be uniform in size. Also the pathfinder in Illustrator never really worked for me, that was a difficulty because I could not figure out what to do without relying on my teachers for help.
Solutions: Well we decided to use a lot of recycled cardboard for our letters that way it wouldn't cost as much. We used the cheap cardboard for the mini models, and then the better cardboard was used for the giant letters. I never really figured out how to use pathfinder correctly so I had to improvise when it came to my compositions. Unfortunately that means the pathfinder exercises are missing in this process book.
Project description
We are exploring language in this project, we were assigned two words one individual word and a word that our group would work on.
The individual word had to be conceptualized and created on illustrator, taking advantage of the pathfinder tools to create compositions that embody the chosen word without actually spelling it out for the viewer.
The group project was to create giant cardboard letters that would spell out the word. Then we would need to put those letters somewhere around campus, and use the location and the letters only to define the word that was chosen without giving any other visual clues.
The aim was to use individual creativity and group effort to define language through the letters only, to learn the fundamental basics of typography and to create a definition for the word using only limited visual help through location and the given materials.
The individual word had to be conceptualized and created on illustrator, taking advantage of the pathfinder tools to create compositions that embody the chosen word without actually spelling it out for the viewer.
The group project was to create giant cardboard letters that would spell out the word. Then we would need to put those letters somewhere around campus, and use the location and the letters only to define the word that was chosen without giving any other visual clues.
The aim was to use individual creativity and group effort to define language through the letters only, to learn the fundamental basics of typography and to create a definition for the word using only limited visual help through location and the given materials.
Parts of a letter
When I first started this project I was aware that we would need to define the word using only the letters that were in the word. we could not use any drawings or any sort of outer imagery to make the word more apparent. I did not know that it would be more challenging than I first thought.
I thought that the challenge came from defining the word itself, but further challenge is imposed upon us when we take typography into consideration. We have to manipulate the letters to define the entire word, because letters in themselves each possess a definition. My word is compress, that word is easy enough. But manipulating each letter to fit that word is where the true difficulty lies.
Having to learn the definitions and the anatomy of each letter is more about memorization and purpose. Its kind of like drawing, each art form has its own terms and uses, but I did not believe that typography could be as hard truthfully.
Now I can appreciate all the hard work that typographists have to put into designing logos and words, it takes a lot of time and consideration into deciding what is both pleasing and what is acceptable in the way the word is used. All art is similar in form and creation more than I thought at the beginning.
I thought that the challenge came from defining the word itself, but further challenge is imposed upon us when we take typography into consideration. We have to manipulate the letters to define the entire word, because letters in themselves each possess a definition. My word is compress, that word is easy enough. But manipulating each letter to fit that word is where the true difficulty lies.
Having to learn the definitions and the anatomy of each letter is more about memorization and purpose. Its kind of like drawing, each art form has its own terms and uses, but I did not believe that typography could be as hard truthfully.
Now I can appreciate all the hard work that typographists have to put into designing logos and words, it takes a lot of time and consideration into deciding what is both pleasing and what is acceptable in the way the word is used. All art is similar in form and creation more than I thought at the beginning.
Written definition of Compress
Official definition: verb; To flatten by pressure, squeeze or press.
Noun; A pad of absorbent material pressed onto part of the body to relieve inflammation or stop bleeding.
Personal definition: To keep flat, to squeeze together, to combine into one within a limited space.
Noun; A pad of absorbent material pressed onto part of the body to relieve inflammation or stop bleeding.
Personal definition: To keep flat, to squeeze together, to combine into one within a limited space.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Definitions of the word Absent
Dictionary definition: Adjective Not present in a place, at an occasion, or as part of something.
2. Someone not paying attention to what is being said or done
Personal definition: Having no presence in a location, missing in action from something, not being a part of an event or memory.
2. Someone not paying attention to what is being said or done
Personal definition: Having no presence in a location, missing in action from something, not being a part of an event or memory.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Understanding Comics
As a character designer I was already aware ahead of time of some of the concepts that the Understanding comics book was trying to address. I already knew that in order for a character to be successful the audience needs to be able to identify with the character in some way, by putting themselves in the characters shoes it lets them imagine that they are the character.
Immersion and relation are the perfect ways to make a character successful, if there is nothing for the viewer to relate to then they are more likely to ignore the character and what the character is trying to display or say. Humans are indeed selfish creatures, we fight over land and try to communicate our ideals just so we can make our egos seem bigger than they are. That is why human characters or characters with human emotions are much more successful.
We project ourselves into these blank slates so that we can live our fantasies through them. I wholeheartedly agree with the book, successful design plays off of this as well. A product that the consumer is able to see themselves using is more likely to sell than a product that is foreign to the consumer. We are more likely to go with what we are comfortable with and what we can see ourselves using than something that could be of unknown origins.
That is another issue when it comes to character design, because we fear the unknown characters that do not play to a trope or a stereotype makes it harder for the person to relate to. That is why I try to avoid the tropes, I know humans are selfish, I believe if I can create something that goes AGAINST what others want it will make it a much more refreshing experience for those who are willing to experiment. I am about experimentation, about making the regular public mad. I am not here to serve your desires, I am here to provide something for everyone not just you.
Immersion and relation are the perfect ways to make a character successful, if there is nothing for the viewer to relate to then they are more likely to ignore the character and what the character is trying to display or say. Humans are indeed selfish creatures, we fight over land and try to communicate our ideals just so we can make our egos seem bigger than they are. That is why human characters or characters with human emotions are much more successful.
We project ourselves into these blank slates so that we can live our fantasies through them. I wholeheartedly agree with the book, successful design plays off of this as well. A product that the consumer is able to see themselves using is more likely to sell than a product that is foreign to the consumer. We are more likely to go with what we are comfortable with and what we can see ourselves using than something that could be of unknown origins.
That is another issue when it comes to character design, because we fear the unknown characters that do not play to a trope or a stereotype makes it harder for the person to relate to. That is why I try to avoid the tropes, I know humans are selfish, I believe if I can create something that goes AGAINST what others want it will make it a much more refreshing experience for those who are willing to experiment. I am about experimentation, about making the regular public mad. I am not here to serve your desires, I am here to provide something for everyone not just you.
Writers Toolbox
The main aim of the writers toolbox is to show that brainstorming and writing down ideas with words and images at the same time can stimulate the brain. It claims to help organize a designers thoughts and to make the creative process easier if it is written down in a concept map that can be connected to more than one possibility.
From a personal perspective the concept map idea wasn't adopted by me until right when this group project started. We were required to choose an object and to write down ideas that could be implemented into making it better without the use of pictures. It took a lot of negotiation and thoughtfulness but we were able to pull it off by the use of verbs and actions that describe the object.
For me when I create characters I do not focus on writing down the characters name and writing a concept map. Though I do have a similar method when it comes to the creative process. I tend to implement writing by thinking of a characters personality and their likes and dislikes and sometimes even their personal history. These character bios that I write are documents that I can refer to when I design the concept art.
The writers toolbox basically says that writing is a massive helper when it comes to creating something either visually or just with words. Writing helps you brainstorm and it helps you develop the concept further than with just images alone. Though I work most with drawings, writing does massively improve the characters I create and the drawings I make that much is for certain.
From a personal perspective the concept map idea wasn't adopted by me until right when this group project started. We were required to choose an object and to write down ideas that could be implemented into making it better without the use of pictures. It took a lot of negotiation and thoughtfulness but we were able to pull it off by the use of verbs and actions that describe the object.
For me when I create characters I do not focus on writing down the characters name and writing a concept map. Though I do have a similar method when it comes to the creative process. I tend to implement writing by thinking of a characters personality and their likes and dislikes and sometimes even their personal history. These character bios that I write are documents that I can refer to when I design the concept art.
The writers toolbox basically says that writing is a massive helper when it comes to creating something either visually or just with words. Writing helps you brainstorm and it helps you develop the concept further than with just images alone. Though I work most with drawings, writing does massively improve the characters I create and the drawings I make that much is for certain.
Written response to IDEO
Watching the IDEO company design video was actually really fascinating, as a child my original perception of the designing department included the typical cubicles and blueprints. But as a child I actually dreaded going into this department, not being able to draw and design what I desire but rather having to follow the rules and regulations of someone above me bothered me to a degree.
I have always perceived good design as being useful and enjoyable, but in my mind when I was younger I always thought that by conforming to what others want you are removing what makes the job enjoyable to you in the first place. I was reluctant to show that I could draw because I didn't want to be stuck inside a cubicle for the rest of my life.
In IDEO while being in a cubicle and following the bosses rules is part of the job, its not the only thing that every designing company has to offer. Collaboration with your group and exchanging ideas makes the process of creating easier, working with others towards a similar goal can be quite enjoyable on its own merit.
While not every designing company will have the freedom and prosperity that the people at IDEO do it makes the perception of working in groups a little easier to bear. And trust me, I usually prefer to work alone so when I heard we had to work in groups to redesign an object I was originally horrified. But after stepping back and trying to work it through my head I come to realize the collaborating with others is not so bad. Sure we don't have the same freedom or resources as the people at IDEO do. But maybe if we adopt the same attitude of being positive and valuing each others ideas it makes the entire thing a little bit easier to adjust to. And in my case it worked wonders.
I have always perceived good design as being useful and enjoyable, but in my mind when I was younger I always thought that by conforming to what others want you are removing what makes the job enjoyable to you in the first place. I was reluctant to show that I could draw because I didn't want to be stuck inside a cubicle for the rest of my life.
In IDEO while being in a cubicle and following the bosses rules is part of the job, its not the only thing that every designing company has to offer. Collaboration with your group and exchanging ideas makes the process of creating easier, working with others towards a similar goal can be quite enjoyable on its own merit.
While not every designing company will have the freedom and prosperity that the people at IDEO do it makes the perception of working in groups a little easier to bear. And trust me, I usually prefer to work alone so when I heard we had to work in groups to redesign an object I was originally horrified. But after stepping back and trying to work it through my head I come to realize the collaborating with others is not so bad. Sure we don't have the same freedom or resources as the people at IDEO do. But maybe if we adopt the same attitude of being positive and valuing each others ideas it makes the entire thing a little bit easier to adjust to. And in my case it worked wonders.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Dan Norman Video
The video was about three corresponding emotional responses that all designers must entice in their customers in order to make their design a success. Making people happy is what design is meant to be used for, in order to provide something aesthetically pleasing and simple to enjoy. But what about the designer who creates the object or design?
Sure making people happy is just one of the core concepts of creating a successful design, but what would happen if we did not get one of those emotional responses that the video named? Would that make the designer who put their heart and soul into the design a failure? Just because one person does not respond to the design in such a way does not mean it is a complete lost cause. It takes time and effort in order to get people to respond the way they are supposed to respond in order for the design to be deemed "successful."
Adapting to peoples demands and emotions is key to becoming a designer who can be depended on to create something that will draw people to the product. I know of that and I have known of that for a long time. But does that mean that the designer must completely give up their experience and style in order to make money? Design should not be all about money and attracting costumers, the designer should set aside time to make themselves happy while balancing the money making so that their job doesnt become dull and boring.
Sure making people happy is just one of the core concepts of creating a successful design, but what would happen if we did not get one of those emotional responses that the video named? Would that make the designer who put their heart and soul into the design a failure? Just because one person does not respond to the design in such a way does not mean it is a complete lost cause. It takes time and effort in order to get people to respond the way they are supposed to respond in order for the design to be deemed "successful."
Adapting to peoples demands and emotions is key to becoming a designer who can be depended on to create something that will draw people to the product. I know of that and I have known of that for a long time. But does that mean that the designer must completely give up their experience and style in order to make money? Design should not be all about money and attracting costumers, the designer should set aside time to make themselves happy while balancing the money making so that their job doesnt become dull and boring.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Summary of Project
What did I learn from this project? That design is picky and demanding and that you not only have to go step by step from what they provide you but they expect you to do what they tell you exactly as they tell you and when they tell you. You cannot work on your own schedule it has to be by a deadline that they set for you and that if you need to learn to adapt in order to get it to work.
How does my project demonstrate good design and good color usage? My poster is simple in design, its aim is to showcase the various colors that the nintendo 3DS comes in. I did not rely heavily on the 3DS's features like I originally intended instead I decided to take a much more simple approach. Simplicity is the name of my design and my poster aims to reflect that without distracting the viewer. How it used good color usage is a little bit more difficult to explain. My 3DS and all other 3DSs tend to come in different colors of different shades and values. Not all colors of the system compliment the others and not all shades are the exact same type. Instead I decided to focus on the chromatic aspect, I decided to darken the chroma on the poster in order to get the 3DS rainbow to match in at least in some shape. That way it is easier for the viewer to look at without their eyes trailing all over the page.
What would I do differently? I would go back and use my own hand drawn pictures more rather than relying on the photos that I can find on the internet. Drawing by pencil and paper is my strongest aspect and I wish I could have figured out how to scan earlier that way I could have used my own sketches in the final piece more than I did.
What was the most difficult part? Trying to have the patience to work at the design classes pace rather than my own. I enjoy design most when I can do it for my pleasure and for my aims rather than having to meet the criteria of someone else. But accepting criticism and working around deadlines is part of the experience and I had to learn the hard way to accept that. Also learning to use Indesign on the mac desktops since I dont have my own was a hassle as well.
Did my ideas about design change? Of course they did, not really from a professional standpoint but rather from my own personal one. I had to learn to adapt to their rules and expectations while also following my own interests and principles. I am pretty confident that my poster shows what is required of me while also adding my own personal opinion and style to it.
How does my project demonstrate good design and good color usage? My poster is simple in design, its aim is to showcase the various colors that the nintendo 3DS comes in. I did not rely heavily on the 3DS's features like I originally intended instead I decided to take a much more simple approach. Simplicity is the name of my design and my poster aims to reflect that without distracting the viewer. How it used good color usage is a little bit more difficult to explain. My 3DS and all other 3DSs tend to come in different colors of different shades and values. Not all colors of the system compliment the others and not all shades are the exact same type. Instead I decided to focus on the chromatic aspect, I decided to darken the chroma on the poster in order to get the 3DS rainbow to match in at least in some shape. That way it is easier for the viewer to look at without their eyes trailing all over the page.
What would I do differently? I would go back and use my own hand drawn pictures more rather than relying on the photos that I can find on the internet. Drawing by pencil and paper is my strongest aspect and I wish I could have figured out how to scan earlier that way I could have used my own sketches in the final piece more than I did.
What was the most difficult part? Trying to have the patience to work at the design classes pace rather than my own. I enjoy design most when I can do it for my pleasure and for my aims rather than having to meet the criteria of someone else. But accepting criticism and working around deadlines is part of the experience and I had to learn the hard way to accept that. Also learning to use Indesign on the mac desktops since I dont have my own was a hassle as well.
Did my ideas about design change? Of course they did, not really from a professional standpoint but rather from my own personal one. I had to learn to adapt to their rules and expectations while also following my own interests and principles. I am pretty confident that my poster shows what is required of me while also adding my own personal opinion and style to it.
Written description of project
The first project of the semester is trying to select one object and making a poster that focuses on that object from a marketing standpoint without relying heavily on text. The aim is to get us to balance color theory while also using basic designing principles to create a poster that will attract the audience while also managing to give the aim of the object without distracting them. The poster has to be in color and has to focus on the object of our choice.
Because I have experience in the video game field, I have chosen my nintendo 3DS as my object. There is no set color theory but instead there will be a focus on chroma because the 3DS comes in various colors that do not always match each other. My original aim was to focus on the different features of the 3Ds but now I am focusing on the different colors that the system comes in. A rainbow of sorts with aim towards a comparison of Skittles as well. There will not be any rainbow text or rainbow colors because that is just a cheap tool to rely on plus it will only distract without providing anything that the poster can benefit from.
Because I have experience in the video game field, I have chosen my nintendo 3DS as my object. There is no set color theory but instead there will be a focus on chroma because the 3DS comes in various colors that do not always match each other. My original aim was to focus on the different features of the 3Ds but now I am focusing on the different colors that the system comes in. A rainbow of sorts with aim towards a comparison of Skittles as well. There will not be any rainbow text or rainbow colors because that is just a cheap tool to rely on plus it will only distract without providing anything that the poster can benefit from.
Response to Color Lecture
The first week of school, and the first thing my design class does to make things progress? Introduce a heaping amount of information including Color Theory.
The color theory itself does not bother me, it was actually fascinating seeing exactly how bad coloring can distract a person enough to get them to miss the original aim of the product or photo. I have always been pretty decent with color theory, I have to be since my career training is aimed towards character design. In any sort of design field you have to be mindful of what colors you use and in what extent otherwise you are going to confuse and distract your audience or customers from seeing the purpose of your design. Its all about balance, you have to balance the color its not about principle or about wasting money on photos for class like they are teaching us.
What bothers me about the entire lecture is being expected to understand the extensive amounts of the theory itself. Which means we are expected to understand the theory and concept all at the same time rather than just a little bit at a time. I understand that color is one of those design building blocks that could make or break a design but expecting us to understand everything all at once can get stressful. Thankfully I understand what bad coloring is and I hope I have avoided that in my poster since I decided to go with a limited chroma design.
What bothers me about the entire lecture is being expected to understand the extensive amounts of the theory itself. Which means we are expected to understand the theory and concept all at the same time rather than just a little bit at a time. I understand that color is one of those design building blocks that could make or break a design but expecting us to understand everything all at once can get stressful. Thankfully I understand what bad coloring is and I hope I have avoided that in my poster since I decided to go with a limited chroma design.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Tuesday September 3rd
Nothing really happened in class today, we reviewed the pictures that we took over the weekend for the color theory. Surprisingly the teacher was pretty lenient because some of us took less than was expected or did not bring any pictures at all.
I did not have any time to go collect the foam core that we needed to grid on but I did get some preliminary sketches done of the object of my choosing. Because I am a gamer I chose to do one of my gaming systems the Nintendo 3DS.
I plan to use almost no text on the finished product and my color theory technique that Im going to use is the limited palette. The reason being is that the 3DS I have is blue and black only with no other colors present on the unit itself. I plan to sketch on the foamcore rather than plastering pictures on it like other students are doing sketching comes easier to me.
I did not have any time to go collect the foam core that we needed to grid on but I did get some preliminary sketches done of the object of my choosing. Because I am a gamer I chose to do one of my gaming systems the Nintendo 3DS.
I plan to use almost no text on the finished product and my color theory technique that Im going to use is the limited palette. The reason being is that the 3DS I have is blue and black only with no other colors present on the unit itself. I plan to sketch on the foamcore rather than plastering pictures on it like other students are doing sketching comes easier to me.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Response to 10 principles of good design
I just got done reading Viscoe's ten principles of good design, the ten principles were simple enough to read and to understand but do they really concern all design or just the most intricate parts of design that require a precise understanding to succeed?
Principle one says that all good design is innovative, but the description given in the article is concerned with design that will use technology to advance. Does this just apply to the design that goes into architecture and the like? Or can it be applied into fields such as mine for example? Character design does not rely on technology to be "innovative" it relies on the talent and perception on the creator of the character. So what exactly is innovative about those departments that are not able to invent new technology? It comes to show you that "innovation" is like beauty the two concepts are defined by the person and not by the department as a whole.
The next to concepts bother me slightly. According to this list the design needs to be useful and beautiful. I am aware that a good design is pleasing to the eye and can help attract consumers that are willing to buy a product that appeals to them but does that really mean that beauty is more important than functionality? We do not all create beauty the first time so when we mess up is it really that bad to the point that we need strict perfection and beauty to sell something instead of something that just looks pleasing rather than completely perfect? Perfection is boring.
The next two principles confuse me even more than the last two! Principle four is that good design makes a product understandable about its use. And principle five is that good design is unobtrusive and allows self expression. How can that be when he stated that design needs to be beautiful in order to be successful? I guess principle four can be a little bit more obvious since good products do indeed show their use from association with similar products that way the consumer will know its use and wont have to research about it before buying it. Its really and honestly principle five that contradicts itself. How can you expect a product to be both beautiful and unobtrusive to where the owner can express themselves using it? Self expression is its own beauty so why do we need established beauty to make a product sell??
The other five principles do not confuse the hell out of me like the last listed two did, design is basic when it comes to being long lasting. I mean who would buy a product that was cheap and poorly made? It would be a waste of their money and a waste of space for something that cant last for very long in comparison with something that can. And it is true in recent years that products are environmentally friendly considering our recent concern with global warming. Most of these points come down to just plain common sense that I think even the most basic of designers can understand.
But in reality as stated before beauty isn't something that is established and that each designer will have their own concept of beauty. Why does beauty have to be such a structured thing that its become an integral part of design? It wouldn't be that bad if we weren't expected to provide something that is simple in itself at the same time. Sometimes beauty is simple and sometimes its exaggerated and intricate. It cannot be both at the same time and even if it is its just a combination of certain characteristics of both without meeting both ends of the spectrum in the end.
Principle one says that all good design is innovative, but the description given in the article is concerned with design that will use technology to advance. Does this just apply to the design that goes into architecture and the like? Or can it be applied into fields such as mine for example? Character design does not rely on technology to be "innovative" it relies on the talent and perception on the creator of the character. So what exactly is innovative about those departments that are not able to invent new technology? It comes to show you that "innovation" is like beauty the two concepts are defined by the person and not by the department as a whole.
The next to concepts bother me slightly. According to this list the design needs to be useful and beautiful. I am aware that a good design is pleasing to the eye and can help attract consumers that are willing to buy a product that appeals to them but does that really mean that beauty is more important than functionality? We do not all create beauty the first time so when we mess up is it really that bad to the point that we need strict perfection and beauty to sell something instead of something that just looks pleasing rather than completely perfect? Perfection is boring.
The next two principles confuse me even more than the last two! Principle four is that good design makes a product understandable about its use. And principle five is that good design is unobtrusive and allows self expression. How can that be when he stated that design needs to be beautiful in order to be successful? I guess principle four can be a little bit more obvious since good products do indeed show their use from association with similar products that way the consumer will know its use and wont have to research about it before buying it. Its really and honestly principle five that contradicts itself. How can you expect a product to be both beautiful and unobtrusive to where the owner can express themselves using it? Self expression is its own beauty so why do we need established beauty to make a product sell??
The other five principles do not confuse the hell out of me like the last listed two did, design is basic when it comes to being long lasting. I mean who would buy a product that was cheap and poorly made? It would be a waste of their money and a waste of space for something that cant last for very long in comparison with something that can. And it is true in recent years that products are environmentally friendly considering our recent concern with global warming. Most of these points come down to just plain common sense that I think even the most basic of designers can understand.
But in reality as stated before beauty isn't something that is established and that each designer will have their own concept of beauty. Why does beauty have to be such a structured thing that its become an integral part of design? It wouldn't be that bad if we weren't expected to provide something that is simple in itself at the same time. Sometimes beauty is simple and sometimes its exaggerated and intricate. It cannot be both at the same time and even if it is its just a combination of certain characteristics of both without meeting both ends of the spectrum in the end.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Reading Thursday 29
I tried to go online to find the file that we were supposed to read but the specific heading that was listed in the assignment for today was not included in the course documents. This entire week has been about information that I do not understand. From what I can see design is about the process of producing something that is both aesthetically pleasing and something that can be used to make something of a higher function. Design does not have a set basis but most designers need to learn to work within their own limitations and the limitations that others set for them. I hope that I can try to understand this better but for right now there is nothing really I can do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)