Blog Finale

For our Contemporary Art Market class, it was required that we keep a blog about anything that is related to current issues and design. I have learned a lot in this process and would like to thank you Heather for, yet again, providing an interesting and thought provoking class. Your efforts are commended. This class was taught me the importance of research and staying in the now. I hope that you enjoyed reading some of my postings, and that I was able to shed some design light in YOUR life. 

Even though this class has ended my blog entries shall remain. 

Devin Soisson

I was reading CMYK and came across this illustrator Devin Soisson. His topics are interrelated to green design and sheds light on the pollution shared by everyone in a metropolis setting. His very intricate pen and ink drawings show how waste and pollution seep into every aspect of our lives.

Tom Cruise - Whack Job

Has ANYONE noticed lately that Tom Cruise is the biggest tool box around? What a whack job, I seriously think that he has lost it. I just needed to dedicate a blog entry at his dispense. Now that his wife Katie is finally separating him, he can go full throttle into the church of Scientology. 

Take a look at his interview on that topic, and someone please tell me...what the @#%*!! is he talking about?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFBZ_uAbxSO 

Masdar City

Designers are starting to think green on levels never seen before. I found an interesting article on a magazine that I was reading this morning about green world design. In 2009, the world's first sustainable, zero-waste, carbon neutral city will open on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi. It is part of the oil-rich capital's $15 billion clean energy initiative. Planned by Lord Norman Foster's design firm, this will be a 50,000 people city fueled by solar energy and wind towers, and where personalized pods transport people around the metropolis and 99 percent of waste is reused or composted through solar desalination systems. It is estimated that it will take ten years to build the entire city, however, when the University is built, students will be encouraged to participate in the development of the city.

Design Power

What would I use my power to promote? World equality. Much like the article that I read on the Design Revolution, I would like to promote ways in which third-world countries can eat, sleep, be educated and have basic needs be met. I would like to promote this issue in a way that these countries are self sustainable in their own ways, not that ways in which we know. Band-aid effect is not something that I think would be helpful, but a way in which these countries can rely on their own education and design. 

It is a large issue to tackle, but it is out for everyones best interest. Much like how societies work in theory, we have yet to see it actually work, equality shares the same problem...human greed and need to monopolize power of resources. However, I don't think that this issue is something to be ignored. One step at a time, it will be a slow and gradual progress, but a positive one. 

Flocking Diplomats

Joris Maltha and Daniel gross are designers that take an innovative approach to their design work. They have thought of a way to design data and raw figures. They have a systematic approach with a set of rules describing how the data should behave, when they adhere to these rules the material itself generates a design. The Flocking Diplomats is data based on the behaviour of foreign ambassadors in the US whose diplomatic immunity covers fines for traffic violations and other infractions. This is info design at its finest, and it is the data itself that falls into a design that is unknown at first, but later creates itself.

The Jellyfish House

Why not look to nature when considering design? Design is everywhere and can generate from anywhere. Lisa Iwamoto and Craig Scott, are the architects that modeled on the idea that "like the sea creature, it coexists with its environment." this structure features a porous, layered skin through which rain water and grey water are captured, filtered, and stored for later use. The name of the structure is reflected in the process as the water flows through the titanium dioxide-coated cavities in the skin, it is exposed to UV light and gives off a soft blue, bioluminescent glow. Bah! Brilliant. It almost seems like cheating to look to such an easy outside source, but at the same time...it works for a reason!

Bee Chamber

I found this really impressive and innovative way to detect and diagnose certain illnesses. Designed by Susana Soares, this glass chamber contains bees...yes, bees. They are known for their phenomenal odor-sensing capacity. How it works: The face object has two chambers, the larger one serves as the bee chamber, and the smaller one serves as the diagnosis chamber.  Bees trained to target and specific odor in the breath, a marker of a particular illness or condition, will fly into the smaller chamber. How amazing it this? The bees have the ability to detect pre-ovulation, ovulation and post-ovulation. I think that this is another clever way to use and build off of another species ability. 

Power Plants by 20/2 Collaborative

Design is involved with some of the most innovative and progressive ideas that better our world. I found this proposal for a new energy source. The project proposal is a network of engineered  algae ponds and hydrogen gas-filled balloons will fuel an icelandic city. How it works: "In 1999, researchers at UC Berkeley discovered that algae alternate between hydrogen production and photosynthesis, and that depriving the algae oxygen and sulfur, triggers them to favour the hydrogen cycle. A 10 metre, algae filled pond, easily built into a community landscape, should produce enough hydrogen weekly to power 12 cars. 

Science and Design

I was reading an article in SEED magazine about working in cross-disciplinary teams (science and design). People understand that the world is so complex and that product development is so complex that a single person or a single profession isn't capable of coming up with all the answers. One of the innovations that they showcased was a solar bottle by Alberto Media and Francisco Gomez Paz. It is a four litre water bottle that enhances SODIS technology, capturing UV-A radiation and heat from our most available resource: sunlight. This solar disinfection can purify contaminated water within six hours.

Extras

Andy Millman, Actor. Never forgets his lines because he never gets any. Andy, played by Rickey Gervais, is a desperate man. He's never done any real acting. Instead, he's a lowly film extra, making his mark in the background while the stars do their work. This television show on HBO is a hilarious show that displays a dry sassy humour. Guest stars like Kate Winslet, Ben Stiller and Samual L. Jackson, have a good time poking fun at themselves. 

The Design Revolution

I was reading an article by Cheryl Heller, in Communication Arts about an innovative design revolution called D-Rev. Created by a man named Dr. Paul Polak with the intentions of designing the tools to help increase production of crops in poor countries. He states that "the only difference between poor people and everyone else is a lack of money." Polak says that "90% of the designers in the world design products for 10% of people who have a lot of money." D-Rev focuses on the understanding, talent and innovation of the best designers in the world on the vast majority of people who need it the most. This movement has such a purpose behind it other than designing for the people who have the luxury of possessions. It is educating and aiding societies to function on their own, based on their terms. "Like societies in the dark ages, people struggling with poverty have needs more basic  than good typography. They need the essential things that sustain life and learning, and in order to be relevant to them, we need to think the way they do." This Design revolution is about solving problem versus creating. 

Jeffrey Docherty

This 29 year old New Zealander, lives in New York, and is the art director for the magazine SEED. He is brilliant. I love his intricate works with type and patterns. He creates wonderful custom typefaces for every issue of inside magazine as well. He is also the creator of the typeface Frame. His work inspires me to want to design type. 

My Compliments

My compliments must go out to good old Sue (my mom). I must say, my mother has been working hard for forty years being an upstanding parent to three girls. Finally after we have grown up, it was time for her to indulge in her own talents that she has just discovered recently. My mother is a fantastic realist painter. Who knew? Her work displays an incredible eye for detail, and her precision in spot on. She just picked up this hobby/job about three years ago and has already sold seven paintings. My mother is quite the talented lady, and all of my compliments go out to her.

State Radio - Township

I went to see State Radio at Lee's Palace last night. I had never heard of them before, and I ended up liking the opening band better. The opening band was a group from Boston called Township. Good times, let me tell you. They looked like they came straight from the sixties with their androgynous style, long fluffy hair and skin-tight jeans. They rocked out big time. They had a foot stomping drum line and fantastic musical, off-beat rests. I ended up buying their cd. FIVE STARS.

My Manifesto

Immerse yourself in new ideas and design - keep up with your craft and continually research what you are involved in.

Question the things around you for inspiration - some of the best ideas come from the most random unexpected places, great ideas are sometimes right in front of your face.

Don't be afraid to design something out of your element - sometimes design isn't always going to be in your comfort zone, it's best to get out there and do something you have never done before.

Stay young - have zest for life, stay young at heart, be positive, and love life, it will process nicely through your work.

Make terrible mistakes - this is supposed to be a learning process, don't be afraid to make horrible mistakes.

Give and take advice - one thing about this industry is that it is SO SUBJECTIVE, its best to get a few perspectives.

Don't self-handicap you or your work - be proud of what you can do, and don't make excuses.

Work through the process - Some of my best work has had a long and drawn out process to boil down to the big idea.

My Creativity and My Education

When I was younger, I was very fortunate in the sense that my parents were always supportive of my interest in the arts. My grandfather was an artist, and my mother is as well, so the arts were very important in my life. My very first out-of-school activity was taking an art lessons, and I will never forget that experience. As I grew older I transfered to Cawthra Park Secondary School for the Arts were I developed my acting skills. In that high school, you are completely immersed in creativity. My whole life I have been involved in the Art industry, from acting to classical singing to fine arts, my entire life is defined by it, and would be very different without it.

Alex Colville

Alex Colville is my favourite Canadian artist. His work is painted with mathematically perfected angles and perspectives. He also creates a wonderful feeling of motion is his work. I am quite intrigued by the stories that he is telling. Each one of his pieces is expressing a story or event in his life. A lot of the people in the paintings are his own family. 

Writing is Design

Writing is design. True. It involves the same way of concept building, and engages the reader in a certain mood or tone being set. Writing is communication as is design. Words are thoughts, and thoughts are what we attempt to shape and express. It is just as important to convey messages through words as it is through visual imagery. 

Sia

One album that I have been listening to lately is called "Some people have Real Problems" by an Australian artist named Sia. She has a fantastic sense of soul and character to her voice and she provides a great insight to her personal experiences. 

One thing for sure...you must give her artistic credit for the video posted below. Anyone who would endure cloths pins and condoms on their face deserves a shout out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvd814WG2t4  

FORDO!

My really good friend is a really great photographer, and I am completely showing off his work (ha ha). He attended Sheridan College four years ago, and has travelled to Costa Rica and Hawaii to expand his portfolio. Ladies and Gentleman, may I introduce Mr. Michael Ford:

www.fordphoto.ca

Are Designers Obliged to do Pro-bono Work?

YES! I feel that are society is too individualistic and segregated. Everyone is out for number one. If we want to see a change in the issues of inequality than we need to take time out of our busy lives to make things right. For example, if there was a women's shelter or an after school centre for kids with unstable home environments, that needed help with their company, we should provide free work.  These services should be putting their money towards the cause and not towards the advertisements. 

I feel that every designer should do at least two projects a year. Each designer should be able to choose the project in which they desire and provide quality end results. In the end, if everyone helped out just a little bit, then we might see a more forward moving country. 

Jen Stark

I just discovered an artist by the name of Jen Stark. I am absolutely fascinated with her paper sculptures. I have always been interested in science art, and was reading a science magazine when I made the amazing discovery. Her artwork was used in an article about the human consciousness. Her paper sculptures are so appealing to me because of the colour (I love colour), and the mind boggling detail in every piece. Here are some of her pieces.

What Design Work Would I Refuse?

There is always the potential thought of ethics when considering design. What it all boils down to is how important my personal beliefs are, and how defined they are. As of now, there are a few issues that I strongly believe in, and there are a few issues that don't faze or affect me as much. For example, issues that directly affect me such as sexism, and health would be reason enough to turn down a job selling the wrong message. However, there is less of a moral ground for issues that don't phase me as much because of the variables in my life. Experiences such as having children would shape my moral grounds even further, because I am not thinking of just myself. 

I do feel that I would refuse to sell any product or message that does not make me at ease with myself. Such things like: Smoking, Sexism, Racism, and environmental issues would not sit well in my conscience, depending on the level of malicious  intent.

Command X

We are watching a reality show called Command X. It is about 7 student designers who are competing to win a load of prizes such as fonts, CS3, 1ooo dollars and a chance to show their work to an audience of potential employers. 

For the first half of the show the group has to make a logo for the Denver Broncos. It was interesting to see the results. Some of the students presented very formal logos, some fun, and some took a chance and did something totally different. 

What was even more interesting was the way that they presented. It is clear now that presentation does a lot for selling the experience behind your idea. Most of the contestants were a little shaky at their delivery, and that was most likely because they were nervous.  However, one guy in particular completely  won everyone over with the delivery of his lines (even one of the judges jokingly asked him out on a date). 

As far as the judges, I feel that they don't really take it seriously, there is a lot of joking and laughing at some of the designers work. They also need to realize that this is not a time for them to jabber on about themselves and unrelated stories. 

Overall, I am interested to see who is going to win.

Irene Jacobs and I'm Jac

I found this amazing illustrator named Irene Jacobs. I am in love with the style of her drawings. I feel that they are very much inspired by Mucha (another favourite of mine). Illustration is something that I would like to improve and get into. This is my inspiration.

Selling Experience

Advertisements no longer just sell the product, they sell an experience along with it. I watch quite a bit of T.V., and it has come to my attention that most of the commercials are selling a feeling. Some examples are Kleenex, Kellogg's Rice Krispies, and Rogers Cable. 

Kleenex is doing the campaign for "Let it Out" which is inviting people to take time out of their day and express a story or an emotion. Kleenex is using this as a time for people to be finally listened to. Happy or Sad stories, kleenex is there for them.

Kellogg's Rice Krispies is running the "Big Brother/Baby Brother" campaign. The story is of a young boy who refuses to eat his breakfast. His mother fears nothing as the big brother comes downstairs to try the Rice Krispies with excitement. The baby brother now sees his big brother enjoying the breakfast and begins to copy his idol. Not once did this ad say anything about the product itself. Instead, they chose to focus on the relationship between the two boys.

Lastly, Rogers cable and the "Male Bonding" advertisements. This is the commercial where the father is watching the hockey game, his wife goes up to bed, and his boy is awaked claiming that he can't sleep. The father is just about to turn of the T.V. to tend to his son's needs, when suddenly he recognizes a good opportunity to bond with his son, and lets him watch the end of the game. Again, Rogers does not pith one feature or savings with their cable company, they are simply selling an experience. 

I believe that commercials have always been selling the experience, however it is a lot more prominent today. We as consumers have adjusted to the constant bombardment of advertising. Now it is imperative to sell something more than just the product.

The Things I've Learned so Far

• Worrying gets you no where
• There are very few things that you KNOW for sure
• Don't put unrealistic expectations on people, you will be let down
• There is always a positive outlook on things, and just need to recognize it
• Don't waste time caring about what other people think of you, just be yourself
• Smiles are contagious
• Learn to laugh at yourself
• Aim for the best (you deserve it)
• Try to really listen, you will be surprised at what you hear
• Your spirit is the real human experience, not your physical self
• Speak up for yourself, no one else is going to 

Ten Things that Make Me Happy

There are so many things that make me happy these are the first ten that I thought of:

1. Family

2. Being unrestrained

3. Comfort of my home

4. Music - listening and singing at the top of my lungs

5. Completing something successfully

6. Being at peace with myself

7. Making people laugh

8. A fresh set of Mondays crosswords

9. Overcoming a challenge

10. Traveling and creating new experiences

My Responsibility as a Designer

As a designer I believe it is my responsibility to create and deliver information that inspires thought and provokes emotion. I believe that designers have the ability to make change and stimulate new ways of thinking. The work that I create to the best of my ability, is the work that has the power to speak to others on a personal scale. I believe that it is my duty to make my work speak out and touch people. It is my duty as a designer to believe in myself and to believe in my work.

Moving Art

This art not only looks cool, IT MOVES! Psych! No it doesn't. It is in fact your eye that sees information and it is your brain that perceives it. Maybe something to also consider when designing?

 

Gestalt Theory at Work

READ THE FOLLOWING:

Aoccdring to a rseearch sduty at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid does not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlhoe.

I couldn't believe that I could easily read this information. It really applies to the Gestalt theory about perception, which is good to consider when designing in the future.

Design Is...

Design is a reflection of everything around us. Ask not what is design, but rather, what isn't? We as a species are designed within our own skin.  It is essentially the output and result of all expression. It is a process to solving problems. And it it is what makes up the entire universe. 

Dirty Dancing

I just got back from Dirty Dancing show at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. It was so good! I have seen the movie a thousand times, and the show still blew me away. One of the main reasons why I enjoyed it was the choreography. 

Seeing it on screen and seeing it in the theatre are two very different things. You connect with the actors and appreciate the dancing and singing much more than television. The set was brilliant and something I had never seen before. They used an electronic screen in the background that changed with the different scenes.  They also used digital music instead of an orchestra. If there was one thing to critique, I would have to say that there could have been more singers. The show was a dance inspired show, however, there were times when I felt the actors should break into song. On that note, the two actors that did the majority of singing, were fantastic, all the other small singing parts did not hold strong well-developed voices. 

All in all, if I had to rate Dirty Dancing out of ten I would give it a strong nine. 

Post Secret

Are you ever haunted by a deep dark secret? Do you ever want to tell just one person? Well if you are in dire need to release the building pressure of your inner most secret, then you will love the idea behind this blog site. This blog was created by a guy named Frank Warren. You simply splash your skeletons on the site for everyone to read (it is of course anonymous). It is designed beautifully and really shows a lot of dark and sometimes sad and depressing secrets. The idea was so popular that he ended up making two coffee table books out of the stories. I think that this is a really cool idea, and a great way to relieve that burden off your chest. Check out some crazy secrets at postsecret.blogspot.com