Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Reflections
So far, I think this new project has been pretty difficult. I decided to use a stapler as my hand tool. With such a complex object, I'm curious as to how I'll develop all of these different styles of presenting it. It has been hard so far, but fun. In class, it kind of gets old drawing the same thing over and over again for each representation, but I know the final outcome will be really rewarding. I need to stay focused and try to let my creativity flow. This project is really revolved around that because it allows you to really do whatever you want within the guidelines of each parameter. I love the idea and goal of this activity and I can't wait to see what kind of drawings/styles/representations I can come up with and develop further. It has really helped looking at other students work too. Yesterday, we looked through the sophomore's work because they're doing the same project but with animals. Although they are a little farther along in the project, I was shocked to see how amazing they all were! I really opened up my eyes to the potential that I have and gave me more insight as to what other ideas and techniques I could use. I think viewing other student work is a great way to let my mind flourish and get some more ideas running through. I'm excited to see where these next few days of sketching take me....
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Why I Chose Graphic Design
I chose to major in Graphic Design at KU. My main influences for deciding to pursue this is art. I have been an artist my whole life and I have also loved to paint and draw. However, I have never wanted to be a true "artist" as my profession. I want to have more of a commercial career where I can create an specific image for a specific client. In high school, I took many different art classes (drawing, painting, design, digital art, AP portfolio) and found that I enjoyed more being told what to create for a desired assignment or task than being inspired and producing a piece through my own thought and influences. That is the main difference between Fine Art and Graphic Design, and design is the path that I want to follow. I would love to work for a magazine or an advertising firm - somewhere that I can use my artistic and design abilities on layout projects or producing attractive images or logos for a client. My dream job is to be the art director for a magazine or design album covers for musicians. I would also love to be in a big city.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Interviews
Interview Questions:
1.) Do you think this is a well designed object?
2.) Do you think plastic is a good material for this object? Is it a good size?
3.) What do you think is good or well-designed about this object?
4.) What would you do to improve this object?
Peter
1.) Logistically speaking, yes. However, it looks a little light to hold open a door of a dorm.
2.) It could probably be bigger and the plastic feels flimsy and feels more rubbery than plastic.
3.) It looks like a door stop.
4.) I would fill in the gaps with a heavy object/material (cement or clay) and put a rubber pad on the bottom so it doesn't slide when you put it under your door. I'd put another layer on the top to grip the door better.
Sofia
1.) Yes, most doorstops look like this and appear to be designed like this.
2.) Plastic isn't good and it's a little small to hold a big wooden door.
3.) The shape is good and I like the ridges on the bottom.
4.) I'd make it heavier and make the slope a little steeper so it will hold heavy doors better.
Joey
1.) No it doesn't work. It might work better on carpet.
2.) Bigger is always better. And wood would be better. It's also not recyclable.
3.) The ridges on the bottom. That's about it.
4.) I would make it out of wood. I'd make it heavier and available to work on different surfaces.
Michael
1.) Yes. It's good for carpet but not anything else.
2.) No and no. It needs to be bigger.
3.) It's clear.
4.) I'd put some bad ass designs on it. Like make an Ed Hardy line or something.
Lisa
1.) No. It's definitely too small. The shape is good but it's too light.
2.) The plastic needs to be less flimsy. The size needs to be bigger, although the heavier material would make it work better even if it's still a little small.
3.) It's attractive and the ridges on the bottom are good.
4.) I'd make it with a different, heavier material.
1.) Do you think this is a well designed object?
2.) Do you think plastic is a good material for this object? Is it a good size?
3.) What do you think is good or well-designed about this object?
4.) What would you do to improve this object?
Peter
1.) Logistically speaking, yes. However, it looks a little light to hold open a door of a dorm.
2.) It could probably be bigger and the plastic feels flimsy and feels more rubbery than plastic.
3.) It looks like a door stop.
4.) I would fill in the gaps with a heavy object/material (cement or clay) and put a rubber pad on the bottom so it doesn't slide when you put it under your door. I'd put another layer on the top to grip the door better.
Sofia
1.) Yes, most doorstops look like this and appear to be designed like this.
2.) Plastic isn't good and it's a little small to hold a big wooden door.
3.) The shape is good and I like the ridges on the bottom.
4.) I'd make it heavier and make the slope a little steeper so it will hold heavy doors better.
Joey
1.) No it doesn't work. It might work better on carpet.
2.) Bigger is always better. And wood would be better. It's also not recyclable.
3.) The ridges on the bottom. That's about it.
4.) I would make it out of wood. I'd make it heavier and available to work on different surfaces.
Michael
1.) Yes. It's good for carpet but not anything else.
2.) No and no. It needs to be bigger.
3.) It's clear.
4.) I'd put some bad ass designs on it. Like make an Ed Hardy line or something.
Lisa
1.) No. It's definitely too small. The shape is good but it's too light.
2.) The plastic needs to be less flimsy. The size needs to be bigger, although the heavier material would make it work better even if it's still a little small.
3.) It's attractive and the ridges on the bottom are good.
4.) I'd make it with a different, heavier material.
IDEO Deep Dive Summary
IDEO is a very successful advertising corporation mainly because of the great technique they use, called the Deep Dive technique. This company focuses on learning from a group of people and ideas. They find success in throwing out all different drawings, concepts, ideas, forms, or words, whether they are wacky or boring. They build on these things and connect the dots from each others mistakes or achievements. Ultimately, this sort of "jumbled mess" of new ideas forms a great design. I loved how this company seemed very playful, fun, and relaxed. That seems to be the right way to work in a design setting. If it were strict, sterile, and boring, nothing exciting or innovative would be achieved. They also bring together a very diverse group of people to work on a project. On the shopping cart project in video, for example, the team consisted of a marketing expert, therapist, artists, and others. They choose a leader that is not necessarily the "expert" of the design project or has the highest seniority, but one that is organized, good working with groups, and puts in as much in put as everyone else might. The deep dive concept that IDEO uses seems to be a great success for them - they produce around 90 newly innovative objects a year.
The deep dive technique is a process. Each member of the team plays a significant part in this process and each member must bring something to the table. This consists of ideas, research, drawings, thoughts, and more. As a team, members must first recognize the client that they are producing a design for, and the client must understand them as a company as well. The team must then observe and research the current ways the public uses the specific object. Nothing can be improved or changed in a more innovative way without first seeing the object as it is now. Brainstorming is done easiest when the designer puts his or her thoughts on paper visually for all too see, share, and discuss. A successful, newly designed object will come from all of the drawings and prototypes that a team or each of its members can create and share. The most successful designs are ones that come from a playful, active, broadened, and focused environment and a group of designers who know and practice these techniques.
The deep dive technique is a process. Each member of the team plays a significant part in this process and each member must bring something to the table. This consists of ideas, research, drawings, thoughts, and more. As a team, members must first recognize the client that they are producing a design for, and the client must understand them as a company as well. The team must then observe and research the current ways the public uses the specific object. Nothing can be improved or changed in a more innovative way without first seeing the object as it is now. Brainstorming is done easiest when the designer puts his or her thoughts on paper visually for all too see, share, and discuss. A successful, newly designed object will come from all of the drawings and prototypes that a team or each of its members can create and share. The most successful designs are ones that come from a playful, active, broadened, and focused environment and a group of designers who know and practice these techniques.
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