Awards...

So what do we as designers love, other than the design work?

APPRECIATION!!!!

Yes, with most that I have spoke, they love to design, but enjoy it that much more when they are appreciated. What better way than to be presented with a coveted award. An Addy, a site of the day award, a case study. Something illustrating that my work is to be admired. Not only can it build a designer's ego, but his or her resume as well.

I have just submitted a couple of projects to my first Addy's. OHHHHHHHH, scarry. I have also just had some work show up on a software company's case study: http://www.erain.com/community/casestudies/Archives/NYPizza.asp. Now this is where we as designers need be careful. That the reason we create is to win awards. I have been treading close to these waters, and God and come right in to humble me out. When men like Abrahm Games designed, I really doubt there were the Addy's or Site of the days. He designed for the passion. If we do create for the award, then we have lost sight of the practicatlity of our work. No longer do our client's needs make a difference. We just want that award. Mine Mine Mine. Sound like a dispicable duck to you. And what happens when you get that award. You want another or one that is more glorious. Is it wrong to win or enter your work? BY NO MEANS!!! I believe that it promotes the industry.

As with my case study that was just featured... I am without a doubt excited. But when putting this together, my purpose was to figure a solution to a problem. It ended up resulting in saving the company money, and to add icing on the cake, well, is now featured on that software's site.

Please feel free to give some positive feedback.

Dave

Blogs, grrrrrr!!!

I have just been introduced to the blog communtity. My interest was spurred by a recent article in Communication Arts. Well, I did see the pros of this, but not the cons...Until I started asking people to comment on this blog. WOW!!! Such negativity. I was intrigued. With such a popularity, why do so many seem to hate blogs. I did a search on the infamous Google. 158,000,000 was the number of responses.

What is your opinion of Blogs? What would help to make them more acceptable to the masses? As for this blog, what are some design related topics that you would like to see?

And pass this Blog on to friends as well.

Dave

Newbies & Seasoned designers...

After about 10 years of design experience, I am now looking to the past to help shape the design community and mold my style. I have been quite disappointed with my current style. I beleive it is due to the lack of knowlege of art history. I have run into many newbies who are in the same boat. I have been told countless times "You want to be good at something. Find a role model and mimic their style. Then take that style from there and reach to the skies". So at this point in my life, I am having to look at my inspirations, my role model(s), my style and design process and lastly, what do I hope to bring to the world of graphic design.

Publications (i.e. Comm. Arts, Step), movies, along with classic typography have been the latest inspiration in my life. As of today, Weiss, has become my favorite font. Its classic, thin appearance, top heavy downstrokes, and distinct serifs have found a place in my heart (wow, I've turned into a true font-geek).

I have found that the design process can not just hold one person, but works so much better as a team, especially in the brainstorming stage. Usually, I meet with the client and see what they would like to acheive (always keep in touch with the client - on a day to day basis). At this point, the most important step is needed. PRAYER. Why not ask the creator of creativity for inspiration? He is the great creator. Next, I research the subject at hand. Can't forget to raid the idea morgue (a folder that we keep ideas in - we usually come up with them at quirky times of the year) Then I bring my mind, any parafanalia (sorry if I am not a literary wiz) to the brainstorming session. Lately, it has been myself and 2 others. This is so fun. We usually spend time bouncing ideas off each other. BAM!!! After a while, we have something to go with. Then we conceptualize it on paper and then to the computer. Now it is presentation time to the client. Hopefully, the research, daily contact and paying attention has paid off. If approved, we begin. We sort out the work (what gets outsourced, what tasks get passed to the team. While working on my part, I am consistently calling my colleagues over for their input. Improving here and there. Then it's time to bring it together. Proof it, polish it, and presentation time again. Be prepared for the client's worst reaction. If all goes well (in a perfect world), run it to press if needed and finally give the glory to GOD.

I want to inspire, encourage and truly bring the best out of fellow designers through my work and teachings.

What are your inspirations?
Who is your design role model and why?
What is your design process?
What do you hope to bring to the design community?

Dave

Pursuing the passion

I was just reading an interesting, but very intriguing article in the lateest Communcation Arts (Vol 334, Jan/Feb 2005). Found under the Typography section, "European and American Typography in the 1920s" by Alex W. White. It brought me to a realization that I really don't know the roots of typography. Where the mainstream foundries started, the inovators, what inspired them. It truly amazed me that during the early 1900s, Russian artists were propelled to innovate new ways of doing things. Alex White stated that "...Printing sizes, for example, depended entirely on what paper is already at a print shop". I currently spend my time trying to create new ways of expressing my work, just to do it. No reason pushing me. It seems like I am trying to reinvent the wheel out of boredom. These men were forced to reinvent the wheel because their passion for the work they did forced them to invent new ways with what they had readily available. The roots of graphic design ride deep into German culture. When WWII came about, the Nazi's closed down the Bauhaus ( a school known for great marks in graphic design), but the innovators didn't let that stop their passion. TO AMERICA!!!! Thus, the new Bauhaus in Chicago is born.

I want to thank men like Alex White, for bringing us back to the roots, where the innovators passion filled the pages of the early century. It has inspired me to take a closer look at the past to shape the future.

Tech vs Design

Well, the fork in the road has reared its ugly head. As a designer, what do I stay focused on, technologies or design essentials. It seems that most seasoned professionals, ADs and CDs, take the latter and leave the tech to their aspiring assitants, graphic designers and apprentices. My crisis is this, I am THE graphic designer under an AD. So where do I go from here. The challenge is to find the medium between the two. I am empoloyed within a very small inhouse art department. are print and web. I love print and all that goes behind it. Something is said about a product that is tangible. Something you can touch, feel, induce a feeling in the consumer. Unlike the web and its infamous browser wars, the substrates of print are static. What one user sees, is what the other will as well (not to be confused with interpretation). If I work too long in the print realm, I lose time and focus in the media. To find an answer to this, we must look to the future. I believe that print will subtly change over the years, unless some technology like digital newpapers comes along. Obviously, the web, seems to change daily. I believe my focus here is to merge my web and print design standards. Any thoughts or comments on this topic is much appreciated