Community Art
I came across this amazing site yesterday, through my favorite monthly magazine, Skirt. Art House Co-op in Atlanta is a brilliant place run by two artists who wanted art to be appreciated-and made-by everyone. For a small entry fee of anywhere from $13-$16, they send you materials for different projects. You complete the project, send it back, and they display it (sometimes even nationwide).
I’m currently enrolled in “the canvas project” and “stuff your stories in a sack”. I can’t convey how excited I am about this. Finally a chance to get back in to self-expression and my own art. And deadlines, too! I have to make myself create art.
This is a great outlet for artists who wish to get back into the art scene without having to go through judges and competitions. Community art is what brings art to the people. Everyone can paint a canvas or fill a sack. That’s the beauty of this field, and the beauty of what Art House Co-op is.
Filed under: Views | 0 Comments
I read a great article yesterday about what life is really like for recent grads trying to get into the business. I found it through this great site that I’ve never heard of, but am now way excited to learn about - Graphic Design Forum. It has some great resources and advice, including this article. AJ Kandy, the author of the article, basically says that graphic design is more of a craft than an art, with the real advantages coming later in life and career.
“What we do is more akin to a craft or profession, and in a craft tradition, a lengthy apprenticeship, lifelong learning, and becoming a mentor to others are all par for the course. But it also implies no instant rewards.”
This makes good sense. Especially with our economy the way it is, young designers can’t expect high salaries for their first, second, maybe even third job. I for one understand the brilliance of those that have worked in the field for a long time, and I know that they get paid what they do because they have earned it. I can only hope that one day I will have the opportunity to work with many of these people and earn my place as well. Until then, I’ll keep working hard and loving what I do.
Filed under: Reads | 0 Comments
Fresh Creative
I came across the great website this morning - Fresh Creative. Not only is their work wonderful to look at (with some great event collateral and print advertising), but they have a great newsletter/blog as well. Their most recent entry focuses on the elements of a good brand. And they use a great example - FedEx.
Filed under: Reads, Views | 0 Comments
Tags: blogs, other designers
The Art of Looking Sideways
I can’t possibly go on without telling you about the most amazing book I’ve ever owned. “The Art of Looking Sideways” is about Alan Fletcher challenging everything you’ve ever thought about. It uses both sides of the brain, appealing to both the visual and textual learner. I can’t possibly describe what it is about, because it’s about so much. Mr. Fletcher himself discusses his book here. It’s the perfect coffee table book, because you can pick it up, read one page, put it down and start an amazing conversation. It’s a graphic designer’s/quote hoarder’s/useless information gatherer’s/philosopher’s dream, laid out in over 1000 pages. Continue reading ‘The Art of Looking Sideways’
Filed under: Reads, Thoughts | 0 Comments
Tags: books, food
Graduate studies
I’ve been in the mood to start grad school lately. After reading about theories and the creative process I have found that I am more interested in why art is made, not how. I want a program that will let me explore design in every discipline, that will allow me to formulate ideas and share them with the rest of the world. And I desperately wish to teach. I should have majored in philosophy. Because all I really want to do is sit in a group of people and discuss why art exists and how it pertains to the meaning of life.
Filed under: Reads | 0 Comments
Tags: grad school
Art in Math
I said in my first blog that I intend to find art in everything, in every discipline. I’ve found a great example. It’s been known that mathematically you cannot fold a piece of paper in half more than 7 or 8 times. It is so baffling to imagine this, as a piece of paper has infinite halves, as does most everything else. You should definitely try this experiment yourself. It helps you understand paper and math all at once. I got to 8 yesterday with an insert from a poster frame. A co-worker and I came to understand that how many times you can fold paper depends on the thickness (which we also came to realize we should have realized sooner, being graphic designers and all). Continue reading ‘Art in Math’
Filed under: Views | 1 Comment
Tags: math
KMA’s new campaign
I’ve seen these billboards all around town for the past couple of weeks. There is a large closed eye on the left and the script “open your eyes” on the right. They are just there, and that is all that is on them. And I wondered, “what sort of religious shenanigans be these?” Because a while back, they had the infamous Franklin Graham festival, which had, actually, very well-designed billboards. Though they contained messages like “There is a hell.” Uplifting, no?
Filed under: Views | 0 Comments
Tags: advertising, environment
Listen to the podcast here.
I just listened to a great NPR podcast with Steve Heller about what campaign materials say about candidates. Steve says these pieces say more about who is making the materials versus whose name is on them. But wouldn’t they also say which candidate has a better eye for design? Maybe, maybe not. I don’t know enough about campaigns to know who really has the last say in a candidate’s design. Though I’ve been looking for a great excuse to talk about how much I love Obama’s logo. And this is it.
Continue reading ‘Steve Heller discusses campaign collateral.’
Filed under: Sounds, Views | 0 Comments
Tags: logos
Podcast on thecreativecareer.com
My good friend Allie Osmar interviewed me a while back for her blog/website at thecreativecareer.com. This podcast discusses the advantages and disadvantages of working in a large corporate environment vs. a small design firm. I’m not sure I make complete sense while talking, and I think I could have said “um” and “uh” a little more, but you should check it out anyway.
Filed under: Sounds | 0 Comments
Tags: podcast
Looking Closer 5: Nakamura
The Grand Unified Theory of Nothing: Design, the Cult of Science, and the Lure of Big Ideas.
I have to admit that I have always been one that strives for deeper meaning in my work. I want my designs to have an impact on the viewer. Challenge their perceptions and make them think critically about my art and the world around them. I should have understood better when I was told my designs were too conceptual to be picked during my junior year Visual Communications class. I was so angry at the time. I didn’t want to assume the average person was as “stupid” as my teachers told me to think they were. I had more faith in the human mind.
Filed under: Reads | 0 Comments
Tags: books, Looking Closer
