What I've Learned

I've learned a lot in the short year an a half that I've been in my graphic design program. Here's a list of some of the things that come to mind:

1) I enjoy the laborious task of binding a book.
2) Doing things by hand seems like a waste of time when everything is done digitally in today's world, but it forces you to focus on the details and to appreciate the process of design work.
3) Learning photography is easy - being a good photographer is difficult.
4) Time management and discipline is essential to staying on-top of your work.
5) It's important to take time to relax and unwind, even if you can't afford to. Pushing yourself too hard for too long leads to burnout, and not respecting your body's need for sleep makes you more prone to sickness.
6) Getting feedback from your peers and faculty is the best way to improve your work.
7) Working with type is NOT something that I want to do for a living.
8) I still need to learn how to balance quantity and quality.
9) Books can be a great source of inspiration.
10) It's possible to enjoy going to school.

Inspiring Package Design

The website thedieline.com has become a great source of inspiration for me. It was started in 2007 by Andrew Gibbs and is dedicated to the progress of the package design industry. Its purpose is to "define and promote the world's best packaging design, and provide a place where the package design community can review, critique and stay informed of the latest industry trends and design projects being created in the field." They feature award winning designs, before & after projects, student work, concept work, and more! This makes it not only a great place to find package inspiration, but it's also great for typography and layout ideas as well. You can even search by industry (beverages, books & media, food & gourmet, etc,) or substrate (aluminum, plastic bottle, wood, etc,).

My favourite designs on their site at the moment are:

Jarcakes, designed by Benji Peck of Peck and Co. 
Go to site

I have no idea what these would taste like...and frankly, they remind me more of canned bread then something freshly baked, but their tiny glass jars and paper wrapping are absolutely adorable, and incredibly persuasive.

Chocolate Bar Wrapping, designed by Construct for the Berkeley luxury hotel.
Go to site

Though this packaging is plain and simple, it's clever and entertaining. I love how they've named each piece the way a lot of people try to rationalize eating chocolate. It starts with "a small treat" then leads to "one piece is never enough," to "I really shouldn't," then "oh go on then," and ends with "if you insist" and "might as well finish it."

Concept: Limited Edition Tea Packaging for The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, designed by Beth Would.
Go to site

Tea canisters are a classic, and these unusual modern flavours are a wonderful, playful contrast.

Rethinking Creativity

 

http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_changing_education_paradigms.html

This is a great (and entertaining) TED talk from Sir Ken Robinson about how our education system is killing creativity. Children are naturally creative, and he claims that they do not simply grow out of that state of mind, but are instead, educated out of it. In every school system in the world there is a hierarchy of subjects, with math and languages at the top, the humanities below that, and the arts at the bottom. When educational systems were developed in the 19th century, it was to meet the needs of industrialism. Children were taught things that were going to get them jobs. This same ideology exists today, and has resulted in a rigid way of thinking. Creativity has become undervalued and even stigmatized.

Creativity is a very important skill to have, not just in terms of the arts, but as a general way of thinking. Throughout school, kids are taught in a very specific manner how to solve problems. An essay is written this way, math problems must be solved that way, it has drained us of the ability to do things for ourselves. I'm starting to see this more and more with university students. University is far different from elementary and secondary school because there is no more hand-holding. You get told to do something, and are expected to do it without your professors listing off every step of the process. It's a huge shock because all of a sudden, you're expected to do things for yourself. I find it almost comical that so many "smart" people are neglecting this part of themselves. Creativity is like a workout for the mind. It helps you become a better problem-solver and a more flexible thinker over-all. If people don't start to realize how important creativity is and start to give the arts the credit that they are due, then society as a whole will suffer for it.

The Question of Minimalism

I read an article this week that questions whether minimalist design is a legitimate trend or just pure laziness. I consider it a mix of both. Truly creative and effective minimalism, whether it be in advertising or brand identity, takes a very skilled designer. But all too often, minimalist designs fall flat. They fail to capture interest, communicate an idea or service, or simply are not executed successfully. I do believe that there are designers who prefer minimalism because it is an excuse to do less work, but there is something else to this new trend, a certain allure that even I've fallen victim too. Successful minimalism is something that all designers dream about - creating that one perfect design that can be summed up in a single icon, a single word or phrase or scribble. Think of the Nike swoosh. You can't get any simpler than that. The desire to create something so successful out of nothing is powerful, but dangerous. There are so many products and services that simply can't be done justice with a minimalist approach. Regardless of whether or not it's a trend, minimalism, in terms of clean and uncluttered design, should be, perhaps, an ideal, but minimalism for the sake of minimalism is more often than not, an excuse for lazy design.

Package Design

Nothing inspires me quite like creative packaging does. The combination of layout, typography, clever slogans, eye-catching graphics and the added dimension of tactility just can't be rivaled. It's also something that I enjoy designing in school. So, here are some package designs that made me smile this week. (Products and images can be found at http://www.packagingoftheworld.com/)

Wine bottle designs by Stranger&Stranger:
 http://www.packagingoftheworld.com/2012/09/stranger-stranger-launches-new-range-of.html

Each bottle has been given a patented sleeve, designed specifically for different niche markets. I just love the personality of each one, and how I can tell immediately what occasion they would be suited for, whether that's a picnic in the park, an elegant dinner party or a casual get-together.

Harriet's Jolly Nice Ice Cream designed by Taxi Studio: http://www.packagingoftheworld.com/2012/09/jolly-nice.html

I love the British lingo used on this packaging. It's upbeat and fun, and the imagery is whimsical. The back of each package also features interesting facts about Harriet: Harriet 's been doing... Harriet's immensely proud... Harriet's never been...etc. It's exactly the kind of playfully-grown-up design that I would be tempted to buy.

Pasta La Vista Concept by Andrew Gorkovenko:
http://www.packagingoftheworld.com/2012/09/pasta-la-vista-concept.html

Using the pasta as chef's hair is such a neat idea and makes a relatively boring staple a must-have addition to the pantry. It has the same quirky, playful feel as the ice cream packaging that I love.

Advice for GD Students

I recently read an article from the designer/illustrator Frank Chimero about his advice for GD students. The full document can be found at http://frankchimero.com/writing/2010/advice/. It was entertaining to read, and even though most of it was the same advice that I've been hearing since starting in my program, it was still good to read through. It summed up some of my own experiences and provided some good reminders that I can take away with me. Here are some points that I liked:

"The things your teachers tell you in class are not gospel. You will get conflicting information. It means that both are wrong. Or both are true. This never stops. Most decisions are gray, and everything lives on a spectrum of correctness and suitability."

This lesson is learned very quickly in my program. It is an especially frustrating one to learn too. I might design a logo that, to me and one teacher, is pure perfection, but to other faculty is boring or uninspired. They'll give me different advice because they have different backgrounds and like different things. As maddening as it is, I've learned to do what it is that I love (while keeping their suggestions in mind), and being ready to defend any creative decisions that I make.

"Libraries are a good place. The books are free there, and it smells great."

I've always loved libraries, but since I've used them primarily for fiction over the years, I often don't think to go there to look for research materials. You could say that I've gotten lazy. So much of my time is spent on the computer that the internet is my automatic go-to resource, whether it has the best information or not. This is definitely something I need to keep in mind.

"Success is generating an emotion."

This is something we're told really often. Consumers buy products because of the emotional response they have to the package design. A successful painting is the one that stirs up emotions in the viewer. Even negative reactions can be a source of success if the goal was merely to gain attention.

And finally...

"If you say “retro” too much you will get hives and maybe die."

Just because it made me laugh.

Graphic Design in KW

In an effort to learn more about the options available to me once I graduate, I have searched for graphic design firms in the KW area. I knew that I had options here, but didn't know of any specific places. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are more than a few studios with more than a decade of experience and some big name clients. So, here are the top five graphic design studios that I came across in the KW area.

Eyelight Creative Marketing Services

http://www.eyelight.com/

Eyelight has been operating in the KW area and beyond for 25 years now. Their services include brand development, advertising/campaigns, logo and corporate identity design, packaging design, brochure and catalogue design, as well as website design and maintenance. They have designed for such notable companies as Piller's and the Perimeter Institute. This is a company that is also always on the lookout for creative individuals, and encourages design students or others with experience to contact them.

Scribblers' Club Borderless Media Strategies

http://pub.scribblersclub.com/scribblersclub/

Scribblers' Club was established in 1990 and is home to a mix of designers, photographers, business strategists and programmers. Their services include branding, campaigns, illustration, industrial design, new media, photography, print design and the client process. Some of their clients include the Ontario Crown Attorney's Association, The Walper Hotel, and Cafka.

[b]wired Studios

http://www.bwired.ca/mobile-apps

[b]wired is a small agency, but has worked for big names like Bell, Sun Microsystems and Grand Marnier. Their mantra is:

• Focus on your customer needs to truly understand what makes them buy
• Think creatively – about the solution and what it looks like
• Plan pragmatically and strategically for the long term
• Get payback – measurable results to make you the most profit

Laf Design

http://pagenet.laf-design.com/?page_id=0

Laf Design has been offering design solutions to Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph and surrounding areas for 10 years. They offer graphic design (logos, catalogues, brochures, and other print materials), web design and hosting, email marketing and surveys, and copywriting, among other services. They've designed corporate branding for the Culinary Studio, Hockeyfest, one50 King Waterloo and Paula White Diamond Gallery Marketing.

Bonzai Design

http://bonzaidesign.com/index.php

Bonzai is actually located in Elmira, but their proximity to Waterloo has allowed them to service clients all over Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph and surrounding areas. They also have national and international clients. They've been operating for 12 years and some of their clients include Drayton Entertainment, Coreculture and Schaaf Foods.

To Be, or Not to Be

To be, or not to be...a graphic designer. As a graphic design student, this is a question I ask myself more and more often. I love design, but wonder if this is an industry that I actually want to enter. It's competitive, hectic, even cut-throat. It requires long hours, sleepless nights and a constant flow of creative juices. Surely there are areas of the industry not plagued by so much exhaustion and chaos. Is finding a stable 9-5 job in the creative sector just a pipe dream? I want a job with work that can be left at the office. Is that too much to ask for in our modern, workaholic society? I sincerely hope not. I want to work to live, not live to work. The term graphic design is very broad and encompasses many different areas, so hopefully over the course of this blog, I will be able to learn more about this industry, and where I might fit within it.