Wednesday 28 November 2012

Highspeed Photography

Images Left to Right:
By: Jens Erik Mikkelsen http://www.flickr.com/photos/34463171@N04/4004686255/
By: Chaval Brasil http://www.flickr.com/photos/chavals/2941676828/
By: fotoopa http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotoopa_hs/2347730982/

If I had the right equipment, I would love to give highspeed photography a try. The results are spectacular. The colours, the shapes and even just knowing that you're seeing something frozen in time that your eyes can't see on their own, is just inspiring. I found a whole collection of cool photos at http://www.denzomag.com/2012/11/highspeed-photography-drops/.

Monday 26 November 2012

Comical and Frustrating Client Requests


I've heard a lot of funny stories over the years about some of the strange requests that designers have received from clients. Everything from the totally ridiculous to the down-right comical. So I was quite entertained to find a whole poster campaign devoted to the crazy stuff that people ask for. The campaign was created by Ireland's creative community "to release a lot of pent up anger and sadness through the medium of the A3 poster, all in aid of Temple Street Children's Hospital. Ad creatives, designers, animators, directors, illustrators and more took time out to dress up their favourite worst feedback from clients, transforming quotes that would normally give you a twitch, into a diverse collection of posters." Take a look at them here.

Sunday 25 November 2012

A Life Saving Design

 

A couple days ago I was using the website StumbleUpon, and it produced a video for me that I found really neat. It was about a life-saving device called the Mine Kafon. See the blog devoted to it here. The device, which is made of bamboo, steel and plastic, is designed to roll across mine fields, safely detonating mines as it goes. The style of the design makes it possible to blow multiple mines in one go, because a single blast will only destroy 1-2 arms. The designer, Massoud Hassani, grew up in Qasaba, Kabul, and was inspired by some of the wind powered toys that he and his friends used to play with.

How to Effectively Communicate with Clients

A couple weeks ago, I worked on a project with a partner that required us to research and do a write-up about an assigned topic. The topic given to us was about how to avoid and resolve conflicts. We decided to take a slightly different direction with it, and focused on how to effectively communicate with clients, since proper communication is often key to avoiding conflict in the first place. Here is a list of the tips that we gathered during our research.

1) Avoid Industry Jargon: One of the worst things that you can do when communicating with a client is using terminology that they won’t understand. Speak “English,” or make sure to explain any technical terms that you use.
2) Put it in Writing: To avoid conflict at a later time, create a contract with design outcomes, check points and project expectations during your initial meeting with the client. Have them read and sign it to make sure that you are on the same page.
3) Develop Communication Policies: To avoid a number of issues that might arise due to a lack of effective communication, set up contact policies. Eg: Telephone, email or video call? During what hours can calls be made? How long to wait for a response? Are weekends an acceptable time to be in contact?
4) Keep it Simple: Don’t bore/overwhelm your client with every technical aspect of the work that you are going to do. Outline the process and your plans, but leave it at that. Communication needs to be simple, but direct and to the point.
5) Relationships are Key: talking to your client on a more personal level when it is appropriate can lead to a stronger relationship, and increased trust and respect. You need to remain professional, but finding a way to connect will have a lasting impact.

Sources

Bjorkquist, Bruce D. Interpersonal and Group Dynamics: A Practical Guide to Building an Effective Team. 7th ed. Toronto: Emond Montgomery Publications, 2011. Print.


Cubbon, Rob. “Graphic Design Client Communication.” Rob Cubbon | Design and Marketing. N.p., 11 Oct. 2011. Web. 4 Oct. 2012. <http://robcubbon.com/graphic-design-client-communication/>.


Snell, Steven. “5 Communication Tips for Freelancers and Designers.” Vandelay Website Design. N.p., 17 Nov. 2011. Web. 4 Oct. 2012. <http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/business/communication-tips-for-designers/>.

Saturday 24 November 2012

Advice for Design Graduates

David Airey, a brand identity designer, has an extensive blog with a lot of interesting posts. I recently read one where Chris Arnold, founder of Creative Orchestra and former creative director at Saatchi & Saatchi, offers his pearls of wisdom to design graduates. Find it here. It's a helpful list of ten tips for new graduates to keep in mind when looking and applying for jobs, and one that I'll go back to in the future. While a lot of it is just common sense, it's the kind of things that we all need to be reminded of. I think the one tip I will struggle with the most, is finding a way to separate myself from the competition. How is a fairly modest and unremarkable person supposed to stand out and catch the attention of employers?

What if Money was no Object?

I recently came across a thought provoking video, narrated by the late philosopher Alan Watts (1915-1973). The video, which is just over three minutes long, discusses the question of how we would live life if money was no object. Watts says that it is "better to have a short life that is full of what you like doing, than a long life spent in a miserable way." I really like that. We live in a society that is so focused on the workaholic ideal and making money so we can spend more money, that people rarely spend time doing the things that they love. It's a tricky balancing issue though. The things we love and would want to spend our lives doing, aren't necessarily things that will support us and our families. A certain level of income is necessary for survival.

I come from a fine arts background. I loved drawing and painting, and still do, but the term "starving artist" exists for a reason. I knew that pursuing a fine arts education was not going to get me employment. I didn't want to work freelance, with paychecks being a random and undependable occurrence. While money is nice to have, I have no desire to be rich. But I don't want to spend my life stressing about how I'm going to pay the bills either. My goal after school is to find a salaried job. That's why I got into graphic design. It's as close a balance as I can get to living creatively and having an income to support myself.

If money were no object, I would travel across Europe. I would visit castles and villas, and cathedrals and monuments. I would experience life in other cultures and draw inspiration from the natural surroundings that are as common to them as pine forests and squirrels are to me. I would live a slow life, savouring the good times with friends and family. I would restore antiques, renovate my home and have an extensive garden. I would make pottery, try glass-blowing and crochet on cold nights. I would have an extensive library and spend hours in it reading or adding to the shelves. Most of my dreams are far from grand, and are actually fairly attainable, but even if they weren't, I would try to make my life about doing what I love, and finding ways to make my dreams a reality, like Watts suggests we all do.

Friday 23 November 2012

Project Glass

Image taken from Google+: https://plus.google.com/+projectglass/posts

Google has a new project under its belt: Project Glass. It's a futuristic idea meant to make wearable computing mainstream. It's such a cool idea, but one fraught with potential complications and safety concerns. My first thought was is this really necessary? I already feel like people are too connected to the digital world. Everywhere I look, people are glued to their phones, their iPod's and tablet screens. This has created a generation of people who can't spell and don't pay attention to the world around them. People who text while driving, despite its now being illegal, is still a huge problem and causes countless accidents and deaths every year. What kind of an impact on society will these glasses make? While you wouldn't have to divert your eyes to see messages, there would be a constant visual distraction. So, while I think it's an incredibly cool idea, I don't know if it's the wisest design for use in society.

There's an interesting article about it on TechRadar. Found here:
http://www.techradar.com/news/video/project-glass-what-you-need-to-know-1078114 

There's also a video that Google made to show what a day with this technology could be like.

Design for a Purpose

My peers and I at school are often told to think outside of the box, and to look at ordinary things in new and creative ways. We're taught to look not only at the design aspect of our work, but at the cost of a project and the impact that it will have on the environment, as well. We're told to keep up to date on trends and design breakthroughs, to see what other designers are doing and how we might be a part of their mission. So, while looking online at some of the revolutionary designs being created, I came across a website, www.thecoolist.com, with an article titled Design for a Purpose: 10 Revolutionary Designs for a Better World. Found here. It's an inspiring list of products, devices and concepts that can, and hopefully will, make a hugely positive impact on people.

(Left) The Ekso Bionics Mobility System "gives paraplegics the chance to walk upright and leave the wheelchair behind."

Some of the other designs included in the list are the BioLite Clean Burning Kitchen Stove, a Braille Smartphone, and 3D Printed Prosthetic Bones.

Old Homes

Image Sources from left to right:
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/english-cottage-style.html
http://historicindianapolis.com/building-language-tudor-revival/
http://il-rockisland.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=1081
http://www.frontdoor.com/buy/tudor-revival-architecture/1046

I absolutely love old, historic houses. Not all of them, obviously, but the ones with character, charm, and owners who are willing to preserve them. I love the gorgeous brickwork, slopped roofs and decorative chimneys. The houses that are masterpieces from all sides and have withstood the test of time. I hate driving through newly built neighborhoods because every house looks exactly the same, the entire front of the house consists of the garage, they have no lawns and because precious farm and woodland had to be destroyed for these monstrosities to exist. I really wish that more builders would draw from historic architecture, (I'd love to see a second Tudor revival), where homes become works of art and work with the natural world around them.

Thursday 22 November 2012

Christmas Fun

Left Image: http://zomoc.com/inspired-snow-globes-tutorial.html  
Middle Image: Created by Darleen Adamo http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1847290?&cat=19756  
Right Image: http://livlifetoo.blogspot.ca/2011/12/candy-cane-marshmallow-pops.html

Christmas is my favourite holiday, in part because it lasts so long. While the endless loop of Christmas music at the mall and the endless bombardment of ads on TV grind relentlessly on the nerves, the essence of the holiday always shines through for me. It's a very commercial time of year, but it doesn't have to be! I like to bake and make crafts. Why buy fancy desserts when you can make them yourself and share them with family and friends? Why buy a shopping cart full of stupid nicknacks when you can make stuff at a fraction of the cost? It's such an easy way to personalize the holiday and make it more fun for everyone. It's also a great way for me to be creative in a funner and lighter way. I love my course and find it fun creating packaging and logos and ads, but there's something different about creating something for yourself just for the heck of it.

Saturday 10 November 2012

The Trouble with Rebranding

Image taken from http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/floating_soap.php

As I was flipping through the flyers in my Saturday morning paper, I came across something rather shocking: Ivory soap had changed their look. I grew up with Ivory, and couldn't help feeling a sense of shock and disappointment. It's a little baffling why I feel this way because I'm a part of the design world and know why they modified their look, but maybe it's because I'm a part of the design world that I'm so confused. I don't understand their design choice. Ivory is a classic brand that has been around since 1879. That's older then Coca-Cola! I admire brands like Coca-Cola, who have stayed true to their heritage designs, with minimal changes despite the changing world. That shows true belief and trust in their brand. While Ivory has undergone changes in their brand before, I feel like this complete overhaul is too drastic. That haven't only changed the packaging, they've changed the logo. I know that they are trying to go for something simple, clean and modern (their slogan is keep it pure, clean & simple) but their choice of a sans-serif typeface is going too far. Serifed typefaces portray a sense of history, class and staying power, things that Ivory has in abundance. They shouldn't have gotten rid of that. Brands that have been around as long as Ivory, in my opinion, really shouldn't be trying to rebrand themselves, because in the process of changing their look, they lose a part of who they are, and where they've come from.