The Blue Hamster Graphic Designs

Paper Play

2009-12-29T13:07:00.001-08:00

Final layout of "Is Love" book and typeface design concepts along with my Trash to Treasure ideas and photographs

2009-07-21T04:16:00.000-07:00

2009-03-24T13:55:00.000-07:00

I sewed my last pages of my "? Love is" book together and looked over my sketchbook, through all of the processes. I learned a great deal this term. I definitely had no idea I would design all of the typefaces I did!

That was my goal when I started the project; I wanted more experience in working with different styles of typography. Regardless of how many failed attempts at one type to the other I made, I really did enjoy playing with typefaces and sketching out ideas. The research was also fun as I connected with designers in the field and received great advice along the way. I really enjoyed talking with Andy Vella a few weeks ago. I am still spinning from that day.

I was sweating at the end of this project, as I still needed to design one last typeface. I planned to use existing typeface When I started the book project; Helvetica, Bodoni and Old English style. The next thing I know I am designing all of the type for the book myself. How exciting and a little scary.

I found the first two typefaces quickly, but after a week of stumbling around and getting frustrated about the final typeface design, I relaxed and just stepped away from it for a day. The next morning I woke up and within an hour I had my final typeface design.

Needless to say I learned the power of relaxing and just taking a break away from my work.

My three new typefaces: Natka the Great, Gavin Bold and Mary Light

I did make other typefaces along the way and will keep them for future projects and experimentation.

I still have a great deal to learn about book layouts. I set up the pages in InDesign, organized the pages in order how they will be printed, but still had problems when I took it to the printers. I have a few pages that overlapped into other pages. I don't know if it is my layouts or the fact that I did not set the bleeds correctly when saving my PDF. It could have been the way the paper was fed into the printer as well.

Because I was printing two-sided pages for my book I was not able to use the large printers on campus for final work. I was forced to use the every day printers on campus or find an outside print shop. I did find a printer that was charging less for each print and much better print quality than the university. I will research in the next few weeks and find more print companies, as the one I used did not have a selection of paper.

I think, after designing two books in a row, I am interested in posters or even a website or animation would be lovely.

I am ready! What's next!?...hhmmmmmm??!!

2009-03-24T10:49:00.000-07:00

Task 8

2009-03-23T17:40:00.000-07:00

What did I learn this term?...

Positive People
In his speech AIGA Talk in London in 2001, Milton Glaser talked about creating connections with clients and forming strong relationships through his work. I spent many years working in jobs with people I did not get along with thinking that I had no choice in the matter. I am making conscience decisions to work and surround myself with positive and creative people. This year has been amazing thus far.

Play (have fun with it all!) – Explore (go for quantity) – Build (think with your hands) – Role-play (act it out)

Have fun!!
I am usually pretty easy going and have fun with my work, but I found myself really stressing out this past term and had to really stop and take a step back. I was putting way too much pressure on myself. My break consisted of a cup of tea and I would sit right back down, whilst everyone around me was going out and enjoying themselves.

Note to self: Work hard, play harder!

The Design Process
Traveling the road to get somewhere is just as important as making it to the final destination. I always hear people say they are waiting for the weekend to get here...they miss out on all the time in between that is just as amazing. Live and have fun in the process, there are always lessons to be learned and treasures to be found along the way!

Networking
The connections and relationships I build are key to my success. I learned a great deal from my classmates throughout this past term. We sometimes look far and wide for answers and resources and most of the time they are right in front of us. I also contacted many designers this term that I have admired including Stefan Bucher, Luba Lukova, David Carson and James Victore to name a few. I was really excited to learn from designers that have inspired me and are out in the field.

failing and Mistakes
Being a designer is failing and making mistakes. I loved what Glaser said in his talk about professionalism and failure,

“After all, what is required in our field, more than anything else, is the continuous transgression. Professionalism does not allow for that because transgression has to encompass the possibility of failure and if you are professional your instinct is not to fail.”

“...and then in a very real way, solving any problem is more important than being right”.

Milton Glaser rocks!!!

Humor is a great tool in design
I love making people laugh. I think humor can be used very effectively in design and connecting with other designers and clients.

A.D.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder in Design)
If this is an actual condition I will be the first to say I have it! I find that working on most projects, I come up with so many ideas along the way. Instead of tucking them away for other future projects I attempt to pollute my current work with many new ones, like adding more arms to my own body. The idea is nice, but it would never work and I would just get in the way of my own self! . I am putting my ideas on paper and putting them away for a later date. I have a great deal of passion and creativity in design, but need to learn to hone in on projects and not jump around all over the place. FOCUS!

My Own Worst Enemy
A lot of the time I don’t value the finished product to its full splendor or what it could be in the end, which goes back to Glaser’s talk about fear of failure. I tend to be my own worst enemy when it comes to my own work. I can easily critique other designer’s work, but I am not vested in their each and every little detail they have spent weeks, months, and days putting together. I am learning to let go and disconnect myself (go play, chill, relax, read a book, take a nap, have a chat with friends) from time to time and come back. It will come together nicely in the end.

The desire to design
My desire to design is deep. Throughout all the years, the classes, the mistakes and lessons I am more in love with the arts and life in design. I must create and communicate!

Coffee!
I found that I could consume large amounts of coffee all day long, even past 8 p.m. and still sleep like a baby at night.

The Environment and Design
The environment is very important to me. I think if you are not concerned about the environment in any way you should be darn it!! As a society we have made our lives and the way we live overly complicated.

I get headaches when the weather changes or a storm is moving in. Not that everyone does or should get these feelings, but it is being connected to nature and aware of what is going on with our world. Not too many people are anymore and it sadness me. We can live by such simpler means than we are. I think as a designer I feel like I need to, if I do anything in my career, address these issues through my design work. I don’t know how much I can really change the world or people’s ideas about the environment through my design work. If I don’t try I will never know.

I hope to create a campaign on the environment this next term. I am interested in the disconnection humans have with the rest of nature.

2009-03-21T03:38:00.000-07:00

2009-03-20T03:00:00.000-07:00

2009-03-18T01:34:00.000-07:00

the first design of this typeface. There is a bit too

much contrast in the sizes of the letters in

relationship to each other.

This is the typeface after I resized them making each letter more similar in size. I am currently placing them in the pages of the book to see how well they will work with the other typefaces.

The resized typeface

Task 7

2009-03-17T15:39:00.000-07:00

Values in Design

When I was young I spent weekends in the park and gathering with friends and family. That was all I needed, I was happy. Today we have become a society of consumers and spend our weekends in stores shopping. We believe that whatever is going to make us happy we will surely find in a store. Advertisements even say so!

As soon as I open my eyes to start my day I am bombarded with advertisements. They are everywhere. Advertising is a communication to persuade a consumer to purchase or consume a particular brand or service. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertising March 7, 2009) So, as society looks for happiness at the shopping malls we as designers have to question how far we are willing to go to help our clients sell their brands or services people are buying up in those malls.

There is such saturation in advertising today and companies push the limits in their quality and value in designing ad campaigns. I watch advertisements with half-naked women selling cars, razors, books, phones, makeup and even clothing, which is just really odd to me (the whole point of advertising clothing is to actually SHOW the clothing!).

That is where organizations like the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) step in. Their job is to make sure all advertising meets high standards laid down in advertising code. Of course these companies can only do so much. Then what? Who is going to say this is where this stops? Is it the designer who ultimately chooses what he or she is going to design and put out to the public? The consumer is the one putting the money down in the end. What is their responsibility in all of this? We must have it all! The person with the most toys in the end wins!

There has always been the debate as to values existing or not existing in design, for example the designing and advertising of cigarettes, gun manufactures and alcohol knowing that the products are harmful. Every designer has a choice. Some designers feel that there is a line and it must not be crossed and there are other designers that say at the end of the day you still have to pay your bills and put food on the table.

In 1964 Ken Garland wrote First things First’ a manifesto and was backed by over four hundred other designers. He was concerned about where the design field was going and what choices he had to make regarding his values in his work.

“applauding the work of those who have flogged their skill and imagination to sell such things as: Cat food, stomach powders, detergent, hair restorer, striped toothpaste, aftershave lotion, before shave lotion, slimming diets, fattening diets, deodorants, fizzy water, cigarettes, roll-ons, pull-ons, and slip-ons. By far the greatest time and effort of those working in the advertising industry are wasted on these trivial purposes, which contribute little or nothing to our national prosperity.” (Ken Garland, ‘First things First’ 1964)

In 2000 Adbusters (a reader-supported activists magazine, devoted to numerous political and social causes, many of which are anti-consumerist in nature) came across Garland’s manifesto in a back issue of Eye Magazine. They decided to reprint a new version of the manifesto, for the 21^st century, feeling that its sentiments are still quite relevant today. The aim of the manifesto is to stimulate discussion in all areas of design communication, education, in practice, organizations as well as outside of design.

There are many designers out there that are passionate about their work and communicating issues that need to be addressed, like Luba Lukova’s new poster design, “foreclosure”. She always takes something of importance in the world and puts in the light for people to see.

What is our role as designers? I want to look back on my career and know that I made a difference and maybe changed a few lives for the better with my work. I want it all to mean something. I want to spend my weekends at the park.

Resources: www.adbusters.org

Eye Feature ‘Thirty-three visual communicators renew the 1964 call for a change of priorities’, http://www.eyemagazine.com/feature.php?id=18&fid=99

http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/

Ken Garland's Website

2009-03-17T06:49:00.000-07:00

2009-03-16T16:29:00.000-07:00

bubble type

2009-03-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

I am working on this typeface to see what it will look like with the other two typefaces as well...

2009-03-15T09:08:00.000-07:00

Toy block type

2009-03-14T03:52:00.001-07:00

I found some interlining in my bundle of sewing supplies and thought it just might be perfect for my little toy type blocks. It is just strong enough to stand up quite nice when cut into circles

I haven't built them into any letter shapes as of yet. I have to shop for more batteries from my camera first. In the mean time I thought I would post a few images I was able to capture before my camera died yesterday.

2009-03-13T16:52:00.000-07:00

Ok, I was talking with Natalia today during lunch about different designs for my typeface and we came up with some great ideas. We started talking about toys we played with as children. I got some really good ideas from the toy conversation. There is one I will post later.

We ended up talking about punching out holes in a paper with a hole puncher or taking the dots from making the holes in the paper and creating a typeface with it. She thought having a few different sizes of dots would look good, like several small dots for the lower "i" and one large dot for the dot.

I came home and started punching out holes from paper. I started laying out the dots so I could photograph them.

I went ahead and played on the computer for a bit to see what I could come up with. I think the photographs might be a bit more clustered in design, but I think this is a start to my experimenting....

2009-03-13T16:35:00.000-07:00

This is the rough typeface that I started cutting out a few days ago. This one I created by cutting out triangle shapes and rounding the edges. I then started cutting out letter shapes from there. It is not the finished alphabet, but I designed enough to get the feel of how the shapes were going to work as letters. I already received suggestions about cutting down certain letters like the "J", "K" and "L". I will finish this typeface soon and post it again. I just wanted to show it's progress thus far.

back to the cutting board!

2009-03-13T01:28:00.000-07:00

After meeting in class and really discussing my new typeface, the majority were more interested in my cut out typeface I posted on a prior blog entry.

I finished cutting out the letters last night and will attempt to finalise the design on the computer today.

My cut out typeface I will be designing for my book

2009-03-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

another typeface

2009-03-11T03:47:00.000-07:00

James Victore

2009-03-10T15:43:00.000-07:00

After watching a film about James Victor last term I was interested in learning more about him as a designer. I contacted him a few days ago and he responded today. He thanked me for the email and also added a few attachments of some interviews and a link to an upcoming annual gathering taking place in new York in July 2009.

I had to share the web site link for the event. It is simple, yet a very cool idea!

http://www.sahrevictorewilker.com/

that's all I have. The End.

for now...

2009-03-10T15:15:00.000-07:00

2009-03-10T04:24:00.001-07:00

My book is about a conversation, which three people are involved. I started this book project using two existing typefaces, Bodoni and Helvetic. I then created a new typeface for one of the characters in my conversation. The more I worked on the page layouts and the more feedback I received I started designing yet another typeface.

The first typeface I designed, (Gavin Bold Typeface)

Second typeface i designed (Mary typeface)

I designed this page with Bodoni typeface

I met with my classmates last week and received some very good information about my book design. Most people felt that I should experiment and go ahead with creating another typeface, so that the entire book is designed by me and my own typefaces.

I thought it was a great idea and started to create another typeface for my third conversationist, Natalia.

I created this quick sketch style and started drawing it out on the computer today....

Task 6

2009-03-09T03:04:00.000-07:00

packaging

From the very beginning of time man hunted, gathered food and ate were food was found. There was very little need for packaging and storage. Nature provided some packaging in form of shells, gourds, and leaves. Later containers were made from hallowed logs, woven grasses and animal organs. As ores and chemical compounds were discovered pottery was then created along with many other means of packaging and storing items.

Today packaging has many roles. It is used for holding goods for storing, transportation, contains colorful designs that make it more appealing to the consumers, protect products from contamination, theft and environmental damage as well as containing information about quantity of the product and specific ingredients.

It is one thing to design aesthetically pleasing pieces and put them into society, but as designers today it is our duty, not only to design good packaging, but also design packaging and products that will be least harmful to the environment. There are so many products that are packaged and packed again over and over, packaging inside packaging, like miniature yogurt containers, mini juice boxes and carbonated beverage for those busy people on the go, which are packaged and then packaged into a bunch of four or six. There is no concern by the designer regarding the excess waste he/she is contributing to the environment.

Many companies today are designing ‘green packaging’ or environmentally friendly packaging, which are recycled, recyclable or has little packaging that would go into landfills. Some packaging even has a second-use, like glass jars.

Lush Handmade Cosmetics is an environmentally friendly company and states in their campaigns, “ We invent our own products and fragrances, and we make them fresh with little or no preservative or packing...”

Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics is one of my favorite places to shop not only because of all the lovely scented soaps and massage bars, but because they package their products like small mom and pop stores used to years ago, simple.

Most of Lush’s products are handmade and kept in large bulk amounts, like their soaps, solid shampoos and deodorants. The consumer chooses just what he/she needs; the amount is cut and placed in either a reusable tin or wrapped in butcher-type paper.

Lush also prides themselves in using alternative ingredients when they can, for example reducing their use of palm oil by half after researching the effects of the foresting of palm oil in Indonesia and Malaysia. Lush has now found an alternative palm-free soap base, which cuts back on the use of palm considerably.

With today’s concerns about the environment I believe any designer that creates their work with the environment in mind is moving forward and I consider a positive contributor to the design field.

Sources: University of Florida, “A brief history of packaging’ Kenneth R. Berger, reviewed by B. Welt the second

www.lush.com

All in stitches

2009-03-05T13:38:00.000-08:00

Oh you Dummy!!!

2009-03-04T17:05:00.000-08:00

To design a book or not to design a book, THAT is the question!

This is my square 8" x 8" dummy of my book thus far.

Another interview

2009-03-04T05:16:00.000-08:00

I interviewed another roommate this afternoon. English is her second language as well. She enjoyed the conversation in the book and was able to follow along well. She thought the black and white worked much better than the previous color pages. She likes the idea of the book being a larger size and said she likes the square, 8" x 8" size verses the rectangle, 4" x 6".

First corrections to my page layouts

2009-03-04T03:09:00.000-08:00

This is the first rough print. I gave it to a couple of my roommates to read and they gave really good feedback.

I realized before even handing it over to them I had some spacing and placement errors.

lost part of my first sentence on the cover page and my question mark is WAY off! There is spacing issues on the last page and I want to rework the placement of the page that says, "I think it is female..." because the word " think" is too broken up. My roommate agreed with that as well, said she had a problem reading the "I" and "think" together. I also think the page that says, " I don't know..." is too small, which will change when I change my size from "4 x 6" to 8" x 8".

My roommate from China said she really had a problem reading this type and understanding it. She does have a hard time with the english language at times so I am not sure if it is just the language barrier or that she really cannot read it. She was able to read the "Hello" page, but it took her a minute to focus on it before she realized what it said. She was in a rush so I really couldn't take anymore of her time. My other roommate from America read through the same page and had no problem understanding the typeface.

I will keep interviewing people.....

2009-03-04T02:17:00.000-08:00

I have my pages all out and organized as to where all the content will go on each page. I created a mini book in order to organize my page layout.

After printing out my first mock up or dummy book, which is 4 inches wide by 6 inches in length. I was not satisfied with the size of the book pertaining to the content. The conversation felt a bit "crunched" in that small of space.

miniature book mock-up

My page layout

4" x 6" page layout of book

I decided upon using a larger format for my book, I do love the shape of a square rather than a confining rectangle. I think 8" x 8", which would give the conversation room to breath and the negative space a place to live happily.

I woke up this morning and was sitting there just playing around with a blank piece of paper and thought it might be cool to have a book that was laid out like a triangle-shape, rather than a square. It seems to me in a conversation between several people feels like a boomerang in that it goes back and forth from a comment or questions to an answer or response to the later.

The triangle feels like a boomerang in a way...just a thought really. I am not sure it fits with my book or not. I think the conversation is interesting enough and the design might take away from the content of the book.

2009-03-03T07:14:00.000-08:00

Pages 6 & 7 of book

2009-03-03T06:08:00.000-08:00

2009-03-03T03:51:00.000-08:00

I have been working on the layouts, but still unsure about the typefaces I am working with. I am using Bodoni for Natalia and created two new typefaces for myself and Gavin. The first page here is the type I am using for Gavin and the second page is the type I created for myself.

I could use some feedback on these typefaces! Are they working?...

Page 1

2009-03-03T02:20:00.001-08:00

Book cover

2009-03-03T01:48:00.001-08:00

Task 5

2009-03-02T12:24:00.000-08:00

Ethical Companies

Bananadesign is a small graphic design company in the UK set up by Holly Dyer and Dave McCourt in 1999. After working for the charity, ActionAid for five years, they both decided to open their own company and work for themselves. They believed they could make a positive difference through their work.

Not only do they have options for environmentally friendly print set up options including vegetable-based inks, waterless offset and alcohol free processes, they are also interested in good ethics. They do a great deal of work with charities, non-profit organizations and voluntary organizations, local groups, individuals and ethically minded companies.

They take pride in being an ethical company. Ethics is a part of Holly and Dave’s every day lives so it was no problem bringing the same philosophy into their work. They believe there is a place for ethics in every aspect of work and life. They started Bananadesign Company because they wanted to use their creativity to help people, animals and the environment. They strongly believe in social responsibility and helping to improve the world and their community.

I found the following comment at the bottom of a list of practical steps on their web site and had to add it. You can find more on their site.

“we are friendly and tolerant! As well as doing ‘ethical stuff’, it’s important to be nice people as well; we think that is probably the most achievable ethical thing anyone can do!”

I came across Advocate, which is based in London, and was impressed by mark Epton’s work in ethical design. He started Advocate in 2003 providing brand and graphic design services for ethical businesses and organizations. He has twelve years experience in design and has worked with green organizations and a campaigner of Greenpeace. He only works with designers and organizations doing good things for the community and the environment. From inspiring students to volunteer, to selling renewable energy, helping start a disability campaign group and encourages fostering in his community, Mark works to make a difference in the world and the environment.

On 1 Mar 2009, at 09:53, diversedesign73@aim.com wrote:

> Dear Mark Epton,
>
> I am an MA student in Design for Communications at the University of > Westminster, UK. I am doing research about design companies and > good ethic practices. I found your web site quite refreshing and > passionate and wanted to know a bit more about your business, > specifically your ethics and how you help the local community. I > would love to hear more about how you built your company and why you > are so passionate about helping the environment. I am also very > interested in hearing more about your help in the community, for > example inspiring students to volunteer, the disability campaign > group and the National Beanpole Week.
>
> I understand your time is precious. I would be more than happy to correspond via email if that will better suite your schedule.
>
>
> Thank you for your time. I am looking forward to hearing from you.
>
>
> Kind Regards,
> Mary Anne Pennington
> MA Design for Communications
> 07532377887
> diversedesign73@aim.com
>

Hello Mary

I guess in a nut shell:

In 1996 I went to the Newbury Road Protest and helped in a very small way to end the Tories road building scheme. This event has defined my life. I've met so many passionate, intelligent people trying to protect our world. Over the last few years I've been involved with Greenpeace. My proudest moments have been to stand up and take non-violent direct action to stop environmental crimes, knowing that I could lose my liberty, but the feeling of taking action and standing up for what is right is very empowering.

I guess my design career has complimented my beliefs - it is more than a job, it is a vocation.

I hope this rambling helps.

Cheers

Mark

Advocate
Design with passion
8 Regent Street, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire GL10 2AD
Telephone 01453 822338
www.advocate.uk.com

RESOURCES:

http://www.bananadesign.co.uk/

http://www.advocate.uk.com/

Mary Typeface

2009-03-02T11:02:00.000-08:00

Just sketch it down and get it out!

2009-03-02T06:13:00.001-08:00

Yes, more hand sketched type....

2009-03-01T15:11:00.000-08:00

A quick recap of my book development, 'Is a squirrel male or female?'

2009-03-01T03:44:00.001-08:00

At this point in the process I came up with a book idea, a name, I gathered the content, organized the content for editing, worked with samples type and layout designs for the book.

I have an idea for a book, to capture a random conversation in a day and then recreate it visually through different styles or types of typography.

I recorded a conversation on an audio recorder, taken the words down on paper and organized the content.

The actual conversation was between myself and a couple of classmates. It was a misunderstanding about language. We started talking about the word 'love'. My friend asked me if love was male or female. I told her I thought it was female because women express it much more than men.

At one point we began talking about squirrels and if they were male or female. My friend asked me if a squirrel was a male or female and I said, "it is just a squirrel, the squirrel".

I then realized she wasn't asking about a feeling of sorts, but a language question!

In some cultures and languages, like french or spanish for example, certain items are considered male or female, where in the english language there are not. Unless you are aware of the sex of the squirrel, a squirrel is just a squirrel, or the squirrel.

Nonetheless, the conversation is worth recreating and I am passionate about bringing it back to life again.

The title of the book is, ' Is a squirrel male or female?'

I started asking myself, how am I going to visually convey the feeling of this conversation? I started organizing the conversation into pages and pages into sections. I started looking through all the work out and realized I had a great deal of information and would have to cut the conversation down a bit or find a way in which I can design my book in a more condensed form. I think I have about 32 pages and need to cut them in half. With this information I will probably revamp the size of the pages as well as the content I will place on each page.

I am experimenting with different kinds of typefaces, handwritten and existing type. The following are samples of page layouts using existing typefaces. Because I want to have a book that folds out into a poster layout, I have been working through types of layouts that will best work with this style.

This is an 8 page layout sample of what I think will work.

When the viewer gets to the end, the person will flip the book and the conversation picks back up on the opposite side.

When the viewer opens the book like this on the opposite side will have the entire conversation in poster layout design.

Back of book, the poster layout page

Cut it out! (Part 4, playing with type created)

2009-02-28T14:28:00.000-08:00

Cut it out! (Part 3, designing my own type from the paper type))

2009-02-28T13:56:00.000-08:00

A few of you comment on my blog that you liked the typeface and that it might be nice to create the type digitally and experiment with it for my book, so I did today. I also added a brighter color than the grey paper I used on the cut-out type.

I think the color change made a big deference in the feeling of this typeface now and seems to have a more playful feel than before.

Penn Bold

Cut it out! (Part 2)

2009-02-27T13:57:00.000-08:00

Cut It Out!!

2009-02-26T10:22:00.000-08:00

Title page

2009-02-24T08:39:00.001-08:00

More experimenting with type....

2009-02-23T00:52:00.001-08:00

experimenting with typography

2009-02-23T00:49:00.001-08:00

Task 4

2009-02-20T15:30:00.000-08:00

Corporate Social Responsibility

Company’s actions can determine the prosperity of communities and the health of the environment. The world’s ten largest companies employed three million people in 1991. Their gross sales were over eight hundred billion dollars. With this power comes responsibility.

Because these large companies have the power does not mean they have the right to abuse that power.

The people of Flint Michigan know all too well how this can affect a community. In 1988 the CEO of General Motors, Roger Smith closed several of their plants in Flint Michigan, fired 30,000 employees, outsourced the jobs to Mexico where they could pay the workers half what they paid the employees in Michigan and took the profits and invested into other larger companies. The city of Flint eventually fell into financial hardships and in an issue of Money magazine Flint was chosen as "the worst place to live in America".

Years ago ethics was more in terms of administrative compliance and legal standards. Today more than ever companies, professional firms and individuals are being held responsible for their actions, as a demand for higher standards of corporate social responsibility. In order to grow and thrive companies must have the respect and confidence of their clients.

A business doesn't exist alone, only as a means of making money. The employees depend on the business. Customers, suppliers and the local community are affected by a company and what that company does. The products, and the way they are made have an impact on the environment.

Google made the list of one of the world’s most ethical companies in 2008. From the start they have been involved in being a responsible and reducing their impact on the environment. Their company contributed over $75 million in investments and grants around the world to help in such issues as climate change, poverty, disasters and disease. The company also encourages their staff to become involved in these efforts on many different levels as well and regularly communicates the importance of ethics and compliance to its employers.

As far as work my own work ethics go, I believe in hard work, professionalism, a positive attitude, treating people well and caring about the work I do and doing it to the best of my ability. Running a business I have a responsibility to my clients, employees and my community to be honest and human. I think it comes down to strong ‘life ethics’. How positive do I live my life? It always connects into your business and how it is run.

My friend Amelia used to work in hotel management. At the end of every shift, before she would leave for the day, her manager would shake her hand and tell her how nice it was working with her that day. She did not get bonuses that often or paid holiday vacations, but she told me that the handshake each day really made her feel like her work mattered and she was being acknowledged.

That story always comes to mind when I think about the type of leader I want to be in my business. A positive attitude goes a long way. For the most part I think people really want to know they are doing a good job and that their work matters. I believe if you treat your employees well you will get good work in return. It is key to strong company growth.

Sources: Corporate Responsibility, Tom Cannon, pg.1

Roger and me, directed by Michael Moore

http://www.enterweb.org/ethics.htm

http://ethisphere.com/wme2008/

http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB36D7CA54FD337&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?topicId=1075408468

Thank you!

2009-02-19T08:52:00.000-08:00

I just want to thank everyone for coming in today and talking about your work on Project B! Even though we were pushed for time and we kept getting kicked out of every room we went into, I think it went well. Haha.

I think if everyone is interested in meeting for a few hours each week, than we should definitely set it up!! I felt like it helped to get comments and suggestions on my work. I received some very helpful information today.

I think we might be able to meet in the lab next to our classroom if we decide to meet on campus?...

If it is too difficult for some to attend every week outside of class we could set a few hours aside, let's say on Wednesdays, and we could all be online and comment back and forth on our blogs. Maybe that could be an alternative to meeting on campus.

What i do know is it is MOST helpful to have more input on my project. Not only on my project, but if anyone wants to meet to go over business plans or logo work ( I could use some advice on my logo still!), even critical analysis work. I think it is a great idea to do so.

I would like to hear how everyone felt about today. Was it helpful and are you all willing to meet again or have set times on our blogs? Is there another means in which we all can meet and get insight from each other?...

Do tell! :-p

p.s. Where are you Gavin?! You were missed!

front cover samples...

2009-02-19T01:22:00.000-08:00

My Linear Typography

2009-02-15T11:41:00.001-08:00

Physical book design layout

2009-02-15T09:39:00.001-08:00

I started working on my page layouts and how I want

my book to look; what kind of paper, how many pages

will I be working with, etc.

I found this design in a book and felt it would be

really interesting to have my conversation going

one way and suddenly flip to the other side,

or upside down?....

Although this book is quite appealing, I

starting thinking about a poster type

book (I still like the flip book idea!).

It will open up like this, you read along from left

to right of course, but at the end of the book you

flip it over and the conversation continues on that

side, upside down maybe?....

Then folds out like this...

When it is opened up the inside will have the entire

conversation laid out in poster style. The conversation

will appear a bit different than in the book.

experimenting with hand-made type

2009-02-15T09:12:00.000-08:00

At first I thought I might design my book using hand made type. I worked on a few samples and sketches with an array of different media, pencil, ink, colored pencils.

I feel that I will be better with using existing type and feel that the

hand made type will take away from the conversation. I just don't feel

it will be the appropriate way to go with my book project.

2009-02-15T06:42:00.001-08:00

The conversation I recorded for my book-

After getting all of my conversation down on paper I started breaking down the content and organizing the three different people in the conversation (Circles-me, stars- Natalia, G's- Gavin).

Thus far I feel that existing type is a better match than my hand-made type that I have been experimenting with the last week. It is much stronger and I have many ways in which I can manipulate the type to create my designs.

I started out using just Helvetica to see if I could create the three different 'voices' in the conversation using just one typeface.

Because I have three different people with such different characters and styles, I then began using three different typefaces to see if I this would be another option.

I think I am going to use the three different style of typeface verses just one typeface. I am still working on my designs, but feel I can really have a lot more fun and energy in my book using existing type.

(A sample of the poster book design I have

been experimenting with, see physical design book

layout blog, February 15, 2009)

Meeting Thursday 19, 2009 at 12:00

2009-02-12T11:41:00.000-08:00

Hello fellow classmates!

Since we are not going to have class next week, other than the tutorials on Friday and that following Monday, I thought we could all meet on campus for a small group critique on Thursday 19. I spoke with several of you today about meeting and there was interest in the idea.

This will be a chance for us to get together outside of the classroom and use each other as a support network. I am really interested in hearing what everyone is doing with their projects thus far, frustrations, inspirations, new ideas, insights, jokes, ramblings, etc.

So, I hope we can all bring what we have thus far for our project B to the meeting; sketches, photographs, book layout ideas, etc.

Like Bernie Bower spoke about in class last week, we get so close to our work, that we need to step back and see what other see.

The time is not set in stone, but I think Thursday works best for most of us. Please send me a message and let me know if you can make it! I am not sure about where we will meet. We can check on our classroom for that day, but if need be we can always meet in the library.

Thank you and hope to see you all there!

Task 3

2009-02-10T14:30:00.000-08:00

When someone says animation or cartoons the first name that comes to mind is Walt Disney. I grew up with his cartoons and animated films and wanted nothing more than to work with his company when I grew up.

Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901 in Chicago Illinois, but his family soon moved to Marceline Missouri where he spent most of his childhood. Walt was one of five children. With a strict father and very little money Walt was encouraged by his mother and older brother to pursue his dream in the arts.

Walt Disney created the first full-length animated musical feature, Snow white and the Seven Dwarfs, on December 21,1937. It premiered at the carthay Theatre in Los Angeles. The next five years Walt Disney studios created Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo and Bambi, which was just the beginning.

Even thirty some years after Walt Disney’s death, we are still grasping his ideas and creations in animation.

Walt Disney was not the first person on the animation scene though. The first animated film ever made was 'Humorous Phases of Funny' by cartoonist J. Stuart Blackton in 1906. It is the earliest surviving example of an animated film, which used single the fame method and was projected at twenty frames per second.

Humorous Phases of Funny (1906)

'Little Nemo in Slumberland' (1911)

Winsor McCay, New York Herald comic-strip animator and sketch artist was a very influential part of animation history. McCay wasn’t the first to create an animation, but he helped to define the new industry. He was the first to establish the method of animation graphics. His first animation was of one of his comic strip characters, Little Nemo in Slumberland, 1911, which consisted of 6,000 frames. But, his first successful cartoon character was Gertie, a brontosaurus in Gertie the Dinosaur, 1914, which was created with 10,000 drawings including the background images.

'Gertie the Dinosaur' (1914)

The first animated feature, that can be verified, is 'The Adventures of Prince Achmed', 1926 by German filmmaker and avant-garde artist Lotte Reiniger. It was based on the stories of the Arabian nights. Because the animations were silhouetted, used paper cut outs and they were done in Germany, Reiniger’s work is often overlooked in the animation world. He was very creative in his use of wax and sand on the film stock, very innovative.

Traditionally animated films are photographs of drawings, first drawn on paper. To create the illusion of movement, each drawing is sketched a bit different from the one before it. The drawings are traced or photocopied onto transparent sheets of acetone paper, which are filled in with paints on the opposite side of the line drawings. The final drawings are photographed separately onto motion picture film against a painted background by a rostrum camera. Some examples of traditional animations include Pinocchio, 1940, United States, Animal Farm, 1954, United Kingdom and Akira 1988, Japan.

The traditional animation process became outmoded by the beginning of the twenty first century. Today, drawings are scanned in or drawn directly in a computer program. There are many programs used to color the drawings. The final animated work is output to several different mediums, including 35-millimeter film and digital video. The look of the traditional animated work is still preserved and the character animators’ work has remained the same for the past seventy years. Animated films, which were produced with computer technology, include Lion King, 1994, US, Spirited Away, 2001, Japan and Les Triplettes de Belleville, 2003.

With computer animation has become quite a science. Lucasfilm was launched in 1979. The graphics division of Lucasfilm, LTD. was then purchased by Steve Jobs in 1986 and established as an independent company, “Pixar”. Pixar is an animation studio with technical, creative and production capabilities that have created a whole new generation of animated films, computer animated films. Partnering with Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar created and produced several films including Toy Story, 1995, A Bug’s Life, 1998, Toy Story 2, 1999, Monsters, Inc. 2001, Finding Nemo, 2003 and The Incredibles, 2004.

Many individuals are creating their own animations and mixing media as well, like ‘Procrastination’ by Johnny Kelly.

I definitely think animation will become more interconnected, like Andy Martin’s work in Earth Bonding Point, with use of painting, photography, graphics, computer illustrations and typography all together to create animations. I think there is a great potential for exploration in this area of animation.

The film ‘Waking Life’, directed by Richard Linklater is a digitally enhanced movie. This film is a great example of exploration in mixed media. It was shot with digital video and then a team of designers using computers drew stylized lines and colors over each frame of the film (a bit like rotoscope style) to create this dream-like animation, which conveys the odd topic of lucid dreams and the meaning of life exceptionally.

In the future animation will be more interactive. There are films now that give the viewer choices of the outcome. I think the same will occur in animation, but all through the animation the participant will be able to make changes and choose the outcomes throughout the entire animation film, a bit like a video game.

I think in the future of animation there will be more experimenting with holograms. Creating entire animation films that are projected onto a three dimensional viewing field would be fantastic. Maybe even having an interactive feature that can have multiple outcomes.

Sources:

http://www.filmsite.org/animatedfilms.html

http://www.justdisney.com/walt_disney

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixar

http://www.pixar.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waking_Life

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animation

Earth Bonding Point by Andy Martin

‘Procrastination’ by Johnny Kelly

‘Waking Life’ directed by Richard Linklater

2009-02-06T12:22:00.000-08:00

Now that I have decided to create a book about conversations in every day life, I need to start gathering data and experimenting. I will be using either conversations from my facebook website or my tape recordings.

Yesterday I recorded a conversation between me and a couple of classmates. I wrote the conversation down on paper so I can organize the data. I have a few pages and need to look through the conversation so I can break it up and begin experimenting.

I also found a few interesting conversations on facebook and contacted my friend for permission to use the conversations for my book. He was happy to help me out.

Gathering data and designing samples for my 'talking heads' book

2009-02-05T10:48:00.000-08:00

After meeting in class today I worked out more details and tasks I need to work on next regarding my book design concept,"Talking heads brought to typographic life".

I started a list of places I might find my source of conversations.

Through recording conversations throughout my day, which was my original thought:

This might be more ‘scheduled’ and predictable than I would like. It could also be a good source depending upon my location and if I am around people to collect conversation.

Emails, facebook or texting:

These might be better sources because I will gather conversations that others already had rather than having to set up a time and date to record.

Once I gather data from selected areas of conversation I will begin designing samples/roughs of visual conversation. It will be all about having fun and playing around with typography at this point!!

I checked out several books on layouts today and began brainstorming material; paper, binding, etc. I might use for this project.

Stefan Bucher

2009-02-05T10:15:00.001-08:00

I recently had a chat with Stefan Bucher of 344 Design Company and the creator of an amazing collection of monsters!!

I really admire Stefan Bucher's work and wanted to get a bit of advice from him regarding my book design and print. Luckily with technology I can do that!

Links to his design company and monster page

http://www.344design.com/

http://344design.typepad.com/

2009-02-04T10:32:00.001-08:00

2009-02-04T10:24:00.000-08:00

Typography in motion

I have a tape recorder!

2009-02-03T14:49:00.001-08:00

My roommate Emmy is lending me her tape recorder for my project! She is the best!

Now I need to figure out how to use it....

Just looking around, brainstorming...

2009-02-03T13:40:00.000-08:00

Tomato Design group

I found out that the Tomato Design group had a speaking engagement in London this evening. They were selling tickets for £6 for students. I found out too late of course!

On a positive note, I did find a link on their website to a book store in Scotland with some great examples of art/illustration books, zines, etc.

Analogue Books

Here are a few links that I find inspirational.

I LOVE Stefan Bucher’s work!

344 Design

Stefan Bucher's Monsters!

Oh! I watched 'Waking Life' for the first time yesterday. My roommate insisted I watch it. I found it quite enlightening and touches on the every day conversations theme I am working on.

Has anyone else out there seen it?...

typography layouts

2009-02-03T11:06:00.001-08:00

Examples of my research and design development

2009-02-03T10:20:00.000-08:00

Talking heads brought to typographic life

Words were created by man, symbols to communicate a meaning or feeling. Words are means in which people can connect with others with ease. Words, letters are just that, symbols and can be seen in many different ways. The word love for example, can be used in many different ways and many different meanings. I love my mom, sister, best friend, hairdresser, aunt and cat in different degrees. Working on this project I want to experiment with the feeling of the conversation instead of the actual words/symbols.

Studies have shown that if a person loses one of their senses the others get stronger. What if we lose the meanings of symbols, words and letters? How am I going to explain what I am thinking and feeling and put them on paper? Will it be a photograph, lines, colors, textures or taking the existing alphabet and using it in a new and different way to tell what I am going through or what I just heard this morning over breakfast?...

These are just thoughts of course. I am brainstorming, trying to come up with a way in which I will go about creating and communicating my project design. This is a collection of my thoughts about my subject and in no manner perfect in explanation. These are for me to build my ideas....

With my conversation idea I want to use type to show a visual feeling of a conversation rather than the actual words that are being said. I plan on taking an audio tape recorder and copying my day's conversations and connections with people. I am not that far in my design so I rely on prior memories to create samples.

One example might be a conversation I had a week ago:

I was walking down the sidewalk in Camden talking with my friend, just enjoying the evening. The conversation was light.

The next second I am looking into the eyes of Justin Furstenfeld, the lead singer of Blue October (an amazing band!). I was shocked about being in this situation.

I opened my mouth and all that came out was, "Oh shit!"

There were a few words between us, we shook hands and went our separate ways.

My friend and I talked about all the things I could have said to him; "you are an amazing artist", "I love your band", but I didn't. My mind froze.

Task 2 Environmental sign systems (wayfinding)

2009-01-31T12:58:00.000-08:00

'Legible London'

I lived in London for three months in the summer of 2006. When I began walking about the city I felt intimidated by the size of the city. I had a Tube (train) map and an A-Z map I used to find my way around. I mostly used the Tube to get to where I needed to go. I was afraid to travel too far a distance on foot for fear I would get completely lost. I attempted to use the Tube map and the A-Z together, but doing so seemed to confuse me more.

After several weeks of avoiding too many walks and relying way too much on the Tube to get me around, my friend began pointing out places that were familiar, like Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and Covent garden, all these places I knew. I began to realize they were very close, walking distance of were I lived. At that point I felt almost silly that I had been taking a train to get there and it was only a 10 or 15 minute walk.

Transport of London found this to be the case in their research of the sign systems that were currently in place throughout London. Two years ago a study was done on the effectiveness of the mapping system for people traveling on foot. The study showed that the problem was the 32 different pedestrian wayfinding systems used within the central charge zones. People rely a great deal on the Tube maps to find their way around. The tube maps are schematic and distorts the real distances of destinations making people think it is much farther to walk than it is really is.

After gathering this data Transport of London decided to create a new environmental sign system (wayfinding), ‘Legible London’, that would provide more information to people who wanted to walk. This system would give people more confidence when traveling in London on foot.

The concept was to use “mental mapping” by connecting areas, regions, and transport systems. On November 2007 they placed nineteen pilot (prototype) maps in the West end of London, concentrating on the Bond Street area.

Strengths of the system:

The research from the prototypes found that 85% of 2,600 people found it easy to use and 90% felt the system should be used all across London. Almost two-thirds of people responding said the system would encourage them to walk more. The study showed people on foot were 16% quicker in their travels after the installation of the maps. (Research conducted by Colin Buchanan)

The prototype signs have an audio commentary which you can access using your mobile phone. Each sign has a unique commentary of the surrounding area with useful travel information and a description of the geography of nearby areas.

Weakness in the system:

Many pedestrians stated the cardinal directions needed to be posted larger on the maps; that there was still confusion of which direction they were walking.

The measurements of distance were an issue; should the distance be shown in time or measurements in meters.

Source website

The prototype scheme for ‘Legible London'

The new maps now show the approximate time in relation to distance, which the existing prototypes do not have.

Environmental Sign Systems/Wayfinding

2009-01-31T03:26:00.000-08:00

Stage 2: Qualitative, visual research

2009-01-30T16:11:00.000-08:00

At this point I am pulling more towards the 2. Communications project ( 'Visions of a Day', recording a day in my life. This will allow me to further pursue typography as more of a graphic element rather than just information to be read.

-I will begin my research deeper into who my target audience is, look into the supplies needed for my research and development of my project and begin estimating the cost and time it will take to set up my project.

- What day am I going to be out and about? I need to decide on a day to go out and record.

- I will need a recorder I can borrow. I will check on campus to see if I can borrow a recorder from the photography and video department. It is crucial that I can have time to set up a day and have the recorder for that day.

- I spoke with a roommate, Emmy, who is willing to help me set up the audio program she uses and show me how to use it so I can edit my recordings for the book.

- I started sketching out ideas on the layout and design of the book, but it is too soon to put anything down in stone as of yet.

Stage 2: Research for my book,' Vision of a Day'

2009-01-30T09:37:00.000-08:00

I was telling one of my my roommates a bit about my project, book 'Vision of a Day', and she was quite interested in the topic. She suggested I take a look at 'Post secret', an ongoing community mail art project project created by Frank Warren.

She told me she had been following it for a few years now. I had never heard of this site before. People take secrets that they can't and don't tell anyone else, write them on a postcard and send it to Frank. He selects postcards and posts on his website. It connected with my project in a sense that it is every day people and their conversations, most private conversations, communicating, connecting.

Stage 2 Divergence

2009-01-29T13:57:00.000-08:00

I ultimately want to design a self-promotional book that speaks something about me and myself as an evolving designer. I want it to be challenging. It should be diverse, informative, a real part of who I am as a designer/thinker, positive.

I have broken down my prior list of ideas and came up with two strong ideas:

1. Learning

'Love and Marriage' what does love and marriage look like today?

A book about 'Love and Marriage' in different cultures. I would interview several different people in different cultures and find out the different culture, religious, traditions, and even medical views about marriage and love today.

A diverse group of people of all cultures, and informative tool to broaden knowledge of other cultures.

2. Communicating

'Vision of a Day' a book design created from an audio recording of an entire day of conversations and encounters throughout my day. The concept is to record a day of events, encounters, conversations in a days time, to analyze the audio and to create a visual of what the events, etc. feel like and define the meaning visually.

My audience is a wide range, teens, young adults,adults, people interested in the arts, creativity, communication, design.

Stage 1 Definition, step 3 More detailed list of ideas

2009-01-28T06:36:00.000-08:00

Once I have done a bit of brainstorming about my passions and made a list, I want to break each one of my passions down and find out if I can come up with a few ideas for each subject to start with. I might start by making a map, creating a word list, jotting thoughts down or sketching out images that come to mind (at this point a lot of it doesn't really make any sense to the outsider looking in, it is a bit abstract at this point).

I ultimately want to design a self-promotional piece that speaks something about me and myself as an evolving designer. I want it to be challenging. It should be diverse, informative, a real part of who I am as a designer/thinker, positive.

My passions:
(the blue is my added thoughts and brainstorming)
(the purple is my continued search in more detail)

The arts; drawing sketching, painting, sewing, designing, photography, I ALWAYS have my camera with me. Art is my one true passion in my life.
- Imagination at play
- An illustrated story bringing one of my imaginative thoughts to life, like when I was very young I thought a tornado was an enormous tomato with large green arms and legs, tossing houses and cows about. How my youth and imagination is key to my design work, keeping a "playful" light on design.

I think I could combine the ‘imagination at play’ idea with the ‘random connection’
-Childhood stories, my imagination as a child
-My every day conversations with people
-Encounters with others
-Random stories and thoughts

- a journal type layout with illustrations, rough sketches and thoughts about randomness

- more of a ‘random collection’, which would combine more of a ‘my life’, or ‘I am living what are you doing?’ theme, like ‘The Mighty Boosh’, they have a random collection of crazy fun, off the wall book of mayhem really!

- dare to dream
I like to link this idea with my individuality subject as people not being afraid to dream and go out and live their lives, not caring what people are going to think about them. I could also link these to the ‘random collection’
- a book about my sewing and tote bags
- stitched!
- In Stitches

Music - I cannot image my world without it. I have been influenced by music since birth really.
- bring a song to visual life using typography
- what music means to me
- If I were a song what would I look like and how would I be sold...my visual..?

Traveling - I love going to new places, meeting new people and learning about new cultures.

Problem solving - I truly enjoy finding solutions to problems, be it in my design work or my every day life.

Reading - I love a good science fiction or fantasy adventure and just let my imagination go.

How much do we really read today? Statistic on how many books the average person between the ages of 25–35 reads each year in the UK.

Communicating - I enjoy connecting with people

Connections - Every day conversation - Random encounters with people, strangers on the street, at the grocery store, in the park, on the train or bus. I just read this book by Douglas Coupland, 'Life after God'. At one point the character is stuck in the desert with no food or water, has no idea where he is and it is now dark. An old man, just passing by, ends up helping him to find his way and gives him food.  - Random acts of kindness - Conversations with people, small an abrupt, by strangers, comments we hear people make on the street...

I want to work with the idea that design is in the every day happenings. I read ‘79 short essays on design’ by Michael Bierut. In the book he spoke about an online forum he set up for fellow designers to discuss their work. Michael himself posted about a topic other than design and people were upset that he used the design forum to discuss things other than design. Michael felt that design is everywhere and involving just about everything. I want to create more of a self promotion piece about my every day experiences, creating visuals for my emotions in my connections with people and situations in my life

an abstract visual communication about random encounters in a person’s life, Everything is design!

- 'I'm living what are you doing' a book about life, the every day little bits that we quickly forget or they just get brushed aside waiting on the BIG bits.

- Random comments I hear in my every day life- a book of randomness - People and comments - Negative comments/ positive comments - Comments that other people have told us about ourselves, negative and positive. How long would it take a person to recall a negative comment verses a positive one?

Learning – I learn new things every day. I am passionate about getting out and seeing life and learning from others.

'Love and Marriage' what does love and marriage look like today?

Living life and taking in and enjoying every moment – Taking each day in as a new experience

Individuality - I love people that get out there and live, who aren't afraid of what anyone else thinks and just creates, lives dances to their own tune

task 1

2009-01-28T05:14:00.000-08:00

Not all typefaces speak the same language.

As a designer I use type as a means to communicate a particular message. There is a great deal of typefaces today that one can get burried in the decision of what type is going to work for a particular design situation. I can use Helvetic/Neue Haas Grotesk (designed by Max Miedinger, 1957-1983) in many visual solutions, yet with Zapfino (designed by Hermann Zapf, 1998) I may be a bit limited in my use for a particular solution. I do like to experiment with many styles of type, but that doesn’t mean I should or will I ever use every one of them to communicate with. I can convey any number of visual communication solutions with just a handful of strong and simple typefaces, such as Syntax typeface (designed by Hans Eduard Mier, 1968), a Humanist Sans serif typeface, or Gill Sans (designed by Eric Gill, 1927-1930).

I do experiment with what I feel is a limited typeface to find more solutions for its use, rather than assuming it has one place in the communication arena, but find myself going back to certain types that I know will work and fit the solution. Design is an ongoing learning process, yet when it comes down to finding a solution I have to go with my intuition and what feels right for the particular work.

Futura is a strong typeface used in many different instances. Paul Renner designed Futura typeface between 1924 -1926. The typeface was based on geometric forms, which represented the Bauhaus movement of 1919 - 1933. The “O’s” are perfect circles and the peaks of the “A’s” and “M’s” are sharp triangles. Even though Paul Renner was not associated with the Bauhaus, he believed that typefaces should represent the modern rather than be a restoration of earlier designs.

Futura typeface is a clean, crisp and easy to read design. I can use it in such a wide range of visual solutions unlike some typefaces for instance FF Kosmik (designed by Erik Van Blokland, 1993) or Hypnos (designed by Jean Antoine, 1969), which are limited in their use and feel in a communication solution.

When I get lost in the London underground I reach for my map for directions. In those moments I want nothing more than clarity. Edward Johnston designed the Johnston typeface for the London Underground,1915. He left medical school in Edinburgh in 1898 and decided to try his hand in the arts in London and studied medieval manuscripts at the British Library. He was greatly influenced by the manuscript collection at the museum and his passion for lettering began.

In 1915 Johnston was commissioned by Frank Pick, the director of London Transport, to create an alphabet design for the London Underground. Working beside Eric Gill (one of his pupils, whom also designed quit an impressive collection of typography), Edward Johnston finished the design in 1916. Johnston typeface was one of the first humanistic sans serifs, which was influence by the Roman, square style type. It is simple, classic and versatile in visual communication solutions.

Designers like Carson and Stagmeister changed the way type is used in design. They used their gut instincts and went with what they felt would work best for the end product. I am inspired by Stagmeister's work with type, especially his hand written type styles. I am often torn in a desire to be abstract and more diverse in my communication designs and a need for organization when it comes to readability in my work. Clean clear simple contemporary design.

Sources: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/305518/Edward-Johnston
http://www.ejf.org.uk/EEC/index.php/wikipedia/New_Johnston/
http://www.linotype.com/391/aboutthedesigner.html
‘Thinking with Type’ by Ellen Lupton 2004
‘An A-Z of Type Designers by Neil Macmillan 1991
'Johnston's Underground Type' by Justin Howes2000

Stage 1 Definition What AM I doing now?

2009-01-24T12:06:00.000-08:00

What is the project/problem?

I am to find a subject I am most passionate about and design a book on that subject.

What are my passions/ what am I most passionate about?

At this point in the process I am looking for ideas for my project and need to make a list of my passions and what drives me the most.

(I always like to start with a definition, it's just fun)

pas⋅sion [pash-uhn] –noun

1.any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate.
2.strong amorous feeling or desire; love; ardor.
3.strong sexual desire; lust.
4.an instance or experience of strong love or sexual desire.
5. A person toward whom one feels strong love or sexual desire.
6.a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything: a passion for music.
7.the object of such a fondness or desire: Accuracy became a passion with him.
8.an outburst of strong emotion or feeling: He suddenly broke into a passion of bitter words.
9.violent anger.
10.the state of being acted upon or affected by something external, esp. something alien to one's nature or one's customary behavior

My passions:

The arts; drawing sketching, painting, sewing, designing, photography, I ALWAYS have my camera with me. Art is my one true passion in my life.

Music - I cannot image my world without it. I have been influenced by music since birth really.

Traveling - I love going to new places, meeting new people and learning about new cultures.

Problem solving - I truly enjoy finding solutions to problems, be it in my design work or my every day life.

Individuality - I love people who aren't afraid of what people are going to think of them and dance to their own tune.

Communicating - I enjoy connecting with people

Learning – I learn new things every day. I am passionate about getting out and seeing life and learning from others.

Living life to the fullest - taking in every moment

Reading - I love a good science fiction or fantasy adventure and just let my imagination go.

Stage 1 Definition Breaking down my list

2009-01-24T08:15:00.000-08:00

My passions:

(my added thoughts and brainstorming)

The arts; drawing sketching, painting, sewing, designing, photography, I ALWAYS have my camera with me. Art is my one true passion in my life.

- imaginations at play

- An illustrated story bringing one of my imaginative thoughts to life, like when I was very young I thought a tornado was an enormous tomato with large green arms and legs, tossing houses and cows about. How my youth and imagination is key to my design work, keeping a "playful" light on design.

- dare to dream

- a book about my sewing and tote bags

- stitched!

- In Stitches

Music - I cannot image my world without it. I have been influenced by music since birth really.

- bring a song to visual life using typography

- what music means to me

- If I were a song what would I look like and how would I be sold...my visual..?

Traveling - I love going to new places, meeting new people and learning about new cultures.

Problem solving - I truly enjoy finding solutions to problems, be it in my design work or my every day life.

Reading - I love a good science fiction or fantasy adventure and just let my imagination go.

Communicating - I enjoy connecting with people

- Connections
- Every day conversation
- Random encounters with people, strangers on the street, at the grocery store, in the park, on the train or bus. I just read this book by Douglas Coupland, 'Life after God'. At one point the character is stuck in the desert with no food or water, has no idea where he is and it is now dark. An old man, just passing by, ends up helping him to find his way and gives him food.
- Random acts of kindness
- Conversations with people, small an abrupt, by strangers, comments we hear people make on the street...

- 'I'm living what are you doing' a book about life, the every day little bits that we quickly forget or they just get brushed aside waiting on the BIG bits.

- Random comments I hear in my every day life- a book of randomness
- People and comments
- Negative comments/ positive comments
- Comments that other people have told us about ourselves, negative and positive. How long would it take a person to recall a negative comment verses a positive one?

Learning – I learn new things every day. I am passionate about getting out and seeing life and learning from others.

- 'Love and Marriage' what does love and marriage look like today?

Living life and taking in and enjoying every moment – Taking each day in as a new experience

Reading - I love a good science fiction or fantasy adventure and just let my imagination go.

Individuality - I love people that get out there and live, who aren't afraid of what anyone else thinks and just creates, lives dances to their own tune

Why do I design?

2009-01-23T14:46:00.000-08:00

Design has continuously been my voice and connection with people and the world. Some people can describe an object using words with such ease. When words escape me, I have used my art to communicate for me. I can’t even begin to count the times I have been in a conversation with someone and ended up with pencil and paper in hand as an attempt to describe an object or a situation. I see an empty room and I can quickly visualize this space filled with furniture, colors and lighting. My mother would say, “ I don’t know how you can visualize all of that”. She never could. I assumed everyone could see things this way, but eventually found out there are many people whose minds do not and cannot work this way. My friend is a strong writer, yet I struggle to come up with half the words she can for describing something, but I can imagine it in my mind with such vivid details as to create a physical image from it. This is how I communicated and problem solved, visually.

I love glue sticks, textured paper, brainstorming and sketching out ideas, playing with typeface styles almost indefinitely and still get excited about a new box of crayons. I have always had quite an imagination and a desire to sketch out my ideas. I remember, I must have only been about four or five years old, thinking that a tornado was actually an enormous tomato with green arms and legs, going around picking up houses, trees and cows and throwing them about.

I was bullied through grade school for not dressing and talking like everyone else and just not fitting into any particular group. I felt as though I were a misfit. Sometimes, I feel that maybe I still am?

My mother gave me my first set of crayons and sketchbook at a very young age. I fell in love. Art was my sanctuary and I had little desire to do anything else in the world. As far as I was concerned there wasn’t anything else. Ok, there actually was a moment in time when I wanted to be an astronaut and shuttle to the moon. I was nine.

The dream of flying to the moon was short lived as I was pulled back to my dream of working with Walt Disney and having a career in cartoon animation. I spent hours and hours every day sketching characters from the cartoons and made wallpaper out of them.

I was also a very quiet and shy child and was that way throughout middle school and into high school, but I had my art to keep me company and therefore, there was no real push to look outward for connections. The bullies confirmed that reaching out to others was not a good decision for me and as they pushed me I pushed further into my art. My art was then my escape from my harsh reality. I was quiet and kept quiet. Most of my school memories were either racing home each day after school to dodge the bullies or in my art world and that is where I stayed. The times in my life that were most challenging and hard, my mother always bought me a sketchbook and pencils. She too knew that it was my passion and what I held close to in my life.

I started working full-time when I was sixteen years old. I worked in many different fields; baby sitting, restaurant and hotel work, education and nursing. I even went to school and received my assistant nursing license, but no matter what field I pursued I was constantly being pulled back to the arts.

I was living in a small community in Kansas and design was not an option as a career, so I eventually moved to Texas. I researched and found a design course at a local community college. I was in heaven! I found myself surrounded by people with rich imaginations, a passion for design and life in general, a community of people like myself.

When I started my college courses I didn’t even know how to turn a computer on. I did not let that discourage me from learning about design. I embraced that challenge like so many, knowing that computers were to be an important part of contemporary art and design.

After all that discomfiting experience at such a young age in isolation I now want to reach out and communicate, make creative connections with people.

“The eye – it cannot choose but to see; we cannot bid the ear be still; or bodies to feel, where’re they be, against or with our will” - Wordsworth

2009-01-12T14:53:00.000-08:00

I read ‘The media is the massage’ by Marshall McLuhan this morning. He wrote a really interesting book about how societies have been shaped more by the nature of the media by which men communicate than by the content of the communication.

In today’s electronic society we have shifted our attention from action to reaction. With technology moving so quickly as soon as we get information and take it in, it is replaced with yet newer information.

There are some great quotes and some viewpoints that were quite humorous as well. It is an eye-opener, or ears?...or mind?....hhmmmm?..Haha.

Publishing and Design Authorship

2009-01-09T03:04:00.000-08:00

I checked out 'Process; A Tomato Project', which is quite interesting in the way they use photography to create feeling and a story throughout the book.

I will keep reading, brainstorming and researching....

Visual research; an introduction to research methodologies in graphic design, by Ian Noble and Russell Bestley

2009-01-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

This book has a great deal of helpful information. There a several case studies, including the chapter on designer as author and Matt Cooke's research methodology, which I am using as a guide.