My Manifesto

Following Bruce Mau's influence I have started to create an incomplete manifesto for myself that I can apply to each project.

1. Don't hold on or hold back.
Many people feel comfortable using something that has worked in the past, but then you will never achieve the skills to create something new again and again that works. And by not holding back and taking risks you can learn failure and success.


2. Be an outcast.
Put yourself in situations you don't belong or aren't knowledgeable about. In order to grow as a person and contribute to society as a well-rounded person. Not only will you become more open to things but you'll become more appreciative.


3. Carry everything.
I know this sounds a little ridiculous but I can't tell you how many times I wish I had a pad of paper, my camera, or a pen. When I carry the tools I need to be inspired I always discover something great. It makes me more aware of my surroundings.


4. Money trees are real.
Convince yourself that a budget doesn't exist and that money really does grow on trees. Always create go beyond your comfort zone and push the boundaries. But then make sure you come back down to reality when you look outside and your backyard money tree suddenly looks a lot like an oak, and then apply your concept for execution.


5. Dream.
The one place that anything is possible. Some of my best ideas come from dreams.

Design is statement...

Progress? No. Failure? Yes.

After a few peer evaluations it seems as though my "design is..." statement isn't communicating effectively.
It once was an answer about structure and order. Then I switched it to "Design is an answer to the questions that an audience has." Basically summarized, perhaps if I state it simply and then stack and add to the statement within my presentation it will be less confusing?

Perhaps once I do more serious research and present it to an entire classroom it will make more sense...
Wish me luck!

Noteworthy practitioners

Four completely different individuals, living opposite lives are connected through design. Commonalities between Marion Bantjes, Bruce Mau, Stefan Bucher and Stefan Sagmeister pertain to their design process. For example, Marion Bantjes states on her personal website, "Inspiration is that unexpected moment of discovery when the mind leaps to a new place triggered by something interesting. That something interesting can be a thing you've read of seen on the street, or in a book or gallery, or piece of music, or something really great or something really awful..."

Within interviews and presentations Stefan Bucher has explained to multiple audiences that his design process usually involved inspiration and having the initial idea he wanted to unleash. Likewise, Stefan Sagmeister suggests going out for walks, travel and going outside to find inspiration. It seems as though all of these individuals use inspiration as an important tool within their design processes. Much like my own personal practices, I as well use inspiration to problem solve. Even when a project isn't impending, I believe that it is crucial to travel, go out and experience everything you can just for personal reasons alone. And hey! I obtained an internship even though I thought I wasn't ready because I wanted to push myself. I made myself apply for a spot in the ADCC portfolio review even though I am not graduating for another year. I traveled to the countryside of Cuba to talk to the Cubans living far away from the cities because I had never been to Cuba before. I don't mind spending a lot of time and money on experience because it is priceless, will it run me into the ground? Who knows but at least I'll feel like what I've learned has worth. Through experience I enable myself to be open and never stop learning.

I am very fortunate to explore and work in such a fulfilling career path for myself. And it is very inspiring to me, to see these four individuals do what they do, because they want to.

A Letter to Stefan Bucher

http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/video-makethink-2009-bucher

Culture & Design

Discussions in class about cultural influences regarding the Superbowl advertising has lead to thoughts about successful advertising.

Target markets that the Superbowl ads were directed towards includes men who are sports fans, car enthusiasts and patriotic. The majority of the advertisements were high velocity, of grand stature and of course a lot car advertisements.

Cultural themes like rebirth, empowerment and humour were used throughout these advertisements. For example in the commercial with Eminem as a celebrity endorsement is to represent the growth of Detroit. There were bold, empowering statements and imagery like the phoenix or “the strongest steel” is burned first. By contrast, the advertisement for  Volkswagen using a child dressed up as Darth Vader provides the audience with a light-hearted comedy story; using humour as the communicative tool.

Overall the advertisements were well produced…although a lot of them were extremely dramatic and over done with special effects to get a simple concept across. Perhaps, because of the budget the companies felt as though it was necessary to showcase their product or brand during such an important opportunity. I learned that, for an advertisement to be viable the company must be aware of cultural themes, trends, news and have the knowledge of what is going on in the entire world to be truly memorable and meaningful.