Tuesday, 29 December 2009
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
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??!!
Monday, 23 March 2009
Task 8
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.
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.
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
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
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