Sunday, December 5, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Last Day Before Final
Looks like the quarter is almost over. Today's class was not so much like all the other days we've had. We spent some time discussing our classes for next quarter and ended class very early. Some of us stayed in class and shared our ideas for our final project. I can't believe it's coming down to the wire. I feel like I have so much to do and I know this weekend will be a challenge. I'm looking forward to everyone's 5 minute video. Good luck everyone!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Beatiful Losers
On Monday we watched the film "Beautiful Losers," which is a documentary film that was released in 2008 about a group of artists during the 1990s. At first, class seemed to be going in a minimal/casual direction, but soon changed due to the lack of participation. I think it is safe to say that everyone had the case of the Mondays, especially after having full bellies from all the turkey over Thanksgiving break. That is why we were assigned to write a response to the film and answer questions about what the ideas and inspiration were. I thought the documentary was moving.
One of the themes I noticed behind the film was the notion of D.I.Y. (do it yourself). There were 12 artists who each had a distinct creative background whether in traditional art or street art. There were painters, graffiti artists, illustrators, and photographers. Each artist had a particular technique, but the reoccurring message was to do art yourself and make something out of nothing. During one of the interviews, someone mentioned that art school is a place where people tell you what not to do. A lot of the artists in the documentary shared this view. Most of the them never desired to become famous or admired amongst the contemporary art world. Instead, they wanted to create art for themselves and went against the mainstream culture. That all changed when they formed relationships together that would propel them and their work to become sought after in commercial advertising, painting, and the film industry. Their growth as artists is conveyed throughout the documentary, while maintaining a handcrafted attitude.
The artists' inspiration appeared to have come from street life and each other. They would share their creations in a gallery called Alleged. At first it was more of a social gathering than a place to present artwork. It eventually became a gallery where people would come and see their work. As the gallery hosted more shows, the artists became friends and their relationships allowed them to inspire each other by sharing ideas. Another thing that ignited creativity and inspiration during the 1990s was the booming skateboarding scene. No one had ever done art on the back of a skateboard. Some of the artists were avid skateboarders and used this outlet as inspiration to express their creativity. The most known artist to do so was Shepard Fairey. These are just two of the things I noticed during the film. There may be other forms of inspiration that were mentioned during the documentary that I missed, but street culture and the sharing of ideas were the two that stood out in my mind.
One of the themes I noticed behind the film was the notion of D.I.Y. (do it yourself). There were 12 artists who each had a distinct creative background whether in traditional art or street art. There were painters, graffiti artists, illustrators, and photographers. Each artist had a particular technique, but the reoccurring message was to do art yourself and make something out of nothing. During one of the interviews, someone mentioned that art school is a place where people tell you what not to do. A lot of the artists in the documentary shared this view. Most of the them never desired to become famous or admired amongst the contemporary art world. Instead, they wanted to create art for themselves and went against the mainstream culture. That all changed when they formed relationships together that would propel them and their work to become sought after in commercial advertising, painting, and the film industry. Their growth as artists is conveyed throughout the documentary, while maintaining a handcrafted attitude.
The artists' inspiration appeared to have come from street life and each other. They would share their creations in a gallery called Alleged. At first it was more of a social gathering than a place to present artwork. It eventually became a gallery where people would come and see their work. As the gallery hosted more shows, the artists became friends and their relationships allowed them to inspire each other by sharing ideas. Another thing that ignited creativity and inspiration during the 1990s was the booming skateboarding scene. No one had ever done art on the back of a skateboard. Some of the artists were avid skateboarders and used this outlet as inspiration to express their creativity. The most known artist to do so was Shepard Fairey. These are just two of the things I noticed during the film. There may be other forms of inspiration that were mentioned during the documentary that I missed, but street culture and the sharing of ideas were the two that stood out in my mind.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Graphic Design Proposals
Today's class meeting ended early. We spent 40 minutes going over our graphic design option proposals. Each of us got to propose our best one and discussed possible ways to improve it. There were a lot of similar ideas and some really unique ones. We quickly went over them because Jimmy wanted to show a film. Unfortunately, there was a problem with the cable so we couldn't watch it.
As part of the CSULA evaluation process, we were given the opportunity to provide feedback to Jimmy about his teaching methods. This was my first time completing an evaluation at CSULA, but it wasn't new to me. I've had to complete evaluations for my professors at Pasadena City College. After filling out the evaluation we were free to leave. I'm excited for the next few weeks coming up. Not only is it Thanksgiving break, but there is also a lot of work to be done.
As part of the CSULA evaluation process, we were given the opportunity to provide feedback to Jimmy about his teaching methods. This was my first time completing an evaluation at CSULA, but it wasn't new to me. I've had to complete evaluations for my professors at Pasadena City College. After filling out the evaluation we were free to leave. I'm excited for the next few weeks coming up. Not only is it Thanksgiving break, but there is also a lot of work to be done.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Class Exercise
It's coming down to the last few weeks of this quarter. I can't believe how fast it's gone by. I have a few ideas for my 5 minute film, but haven't had time to get started yet. I plan on tackling a big portion of it over Thanksgiving break.
Today's class was spent discussing graphic design at Cal State L.A. Jimmy questioned our knowledge of what graphic design is. It is almost everywhere we look. It's in packaging, posters, internet, and business cards. It's amazing when you think about it. We also spent the last 30 minutes trying to come up with ways to improve graphic design awareness to incoming transfer students and current CSULA students. Our assignment is to come up with 3 really good solutions to this. I feel like time is running out. It's CRUNCH time!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Stage 7 - Production
This is the final stage of The Design Process. It's time to hand off the designs to the production team...well, not exactly. There are a lot of tasks that are involved in producing a design. The obvious one is feedback. Aspelund describes positive and negative feedback as both equally important. He mentions that negative feedback will dominate, but will also be the most vital when making revisions and final decisions. I agree that any type of feedback will only benefit and strengthen the design. He also covers prototyping. At this state I wasn't aware of the different types of prototyping. There's concept (rough representation of the design), throwaway (test function of a certain element), and evolutionary (exploration). These prototypes are different approaches to modeling the design. It also helps to better understanding the dimensionality of the forms.
There are other important factors to consider during the production phase. Decision-making will always be a part of the design process. That will never change. The important thing to remember is that sometimes certain decisions can cause changes in the design. For instance, deciding whether or not to continue experimenting with materials can alter the schedule of a design. The deadlines are set and cannot be changed. Aspelund also mentions budgets as another aspect of production that should be considered. Sometimes the budget can put constraints on a design, but must be accepted and worked around in order to meet the specifications of the client. I find this to be the most challenging because the budget could sway the direction of the initial design. As a designer, I will have to adjust and make modifications as I go through my process.
The last section of this stage is about documenting and reviewing the design process. Aspelund emphasizes the importance of keeping well-organized documentation of your work. In my work, I have slowly begun to realize how this is extremely important especially when something goes wrong. I always refer back to my old files. The design process is one that will stay with me and I will continue to refer to it. Although the methodologies mentioned throughout this book may seem obvious at times, they will assist me now and further into the future as I mature as a designer.
There are other important factors to consider during the production phase. Decision-making will always be a part of the design process. That will never change. The important thing to remember is that sometimes certain decisions can cause changes in the design. For instance, deciding whether or not to continue experimenting with materials can alter the schedule of a design. The deadlines are set and cannot be changed. Aspelund also mentions budgets as another aspect of production that should be considered. Sometimes the budget can put constraints on a design, but must be accepted and worked around in order to meet the specifications of the client. I find this to be the most challenging because the budget could sway the direction of the initial design. As a designer, I will have to adjust and make modifications as I go through my process.
The last section of this stage is about documenting and reviewing the design process. Aspelund emphasizes the importance of keeping well-organized documentation of your work. In my work, I have slowly begun to realize how this is extremely important especially when something goes wrong. I always refer back to my old files. The design process is one that will stay with me and I will continue to refer to it. Although the methodologies mentioned throughout this book may seem obvious at times, they will assist me now and further into the future as I mature as a designer.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Documentary + Final Project
There's always something different every class. Today we watched a documentary called, "What Are Dreams." It seemed like there wasn't a specific agenda except to watch a film. The film wasn't decided yet so we got the chance to choose one. Since no one could decide, Jimmy chose three documentaries that the class voted on. "What Are Dreams" was the one that got chosen. Watching the film, I knew somehow we would connect the documentary to the class. There is always a reason for the things we do, especially in Jimmy's class. The documentary basically shared people's dreams and provided statistics on different types of sleep and dreams. R.E.M. (Rapid Eye Movement) is the deepest form of sleep. There are also four stages a person goes through before getting to R.E.M.
Jimmy assigned us our final project for the class. It is a 5 minute self-analysis video that must be posted on our blog. Pretty much we have the freedom to create in a visual way what inspires us. Over the weekend, we must dream every night about our project. Jimmy mentioned that doing so will allow us to be more creative since our minds are constantly working even while we sleep. As long as we think about it before, it will get carried into our dreams. I hope this works. I have a few ideas I think I want to explore already.
Jimmy assigned us our final project for the class. It is a 5 minute self-analysis video that must be posted on our blog. Pretty much we have the freedom to create in a visual way what inspires us. Over the weekend, we must dream every night about our project. Jimmy mentioned that doing so will allow us to be more creative since our minds are constantly working even while we sleep. As long as we think about it before, it will get carried into our dreams. I hope this works. I have a few ideas I think I want to explore already.
Who & What
I think today's class was by far the most mind challenging. Specifically due to the activity. The concept was simple; communicate information back and forth to your team mates. It sounds a lot easier than it really was. We first arranged our chairs in a circle. Jimmy had a white board eraser and tube of acrylic paint in both hands. None of us knew what to make of it. Jimmy explained that the eraser is a "who" and the paint is a "what." He introduced the "who" to his left and the "what" to his right. Each person had to relay "this is a who" and respond with "a who?" The goal was to go around the circle without messing up. It was fun and challenging at the same time. None of us wanted to give up, so we continued to try to get it right for over an hour.
The last hour involved an imaginary sketch of a place Jimmy read to us. He read us a story and we had to come up with the visual of how that place would look. It was a fun exercise that allowed us to be creative. I enjoyed being able to sketch what ever came to mind. Everyone had very different interpretations. We ended class with this sketch.
The last hour involved an imaginary sketch of a place Jimmy read to us. He read us a story and we had to come up with the visual of how that place would look. It was a fun exercise that allowed us to be creative. I enjoyed being able to sketch what ever came to mind. Everyone had very different interpretations. We ended class with this sketch.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Stage 6 - Communication
Stage 6 is about breaking down the art of communicating. It is something that designers must constantly do. We communicate through visual language to our clients, audience, and corporations. This chapter offers very helpful tips on organization, quality, presentation methods and techniques when communicating.
I found this chapter helpful, especially in the section about "The Art of Presentation." I think time is everything and Aspelund mentions it in the tailor's rule. He points out that designers must account for the time it takes to plan for the presentation itself as well as the time it takes to meet the deadline. It's a double-duty task and I agree with his statement. Designers are constantly thinking out loud, even without words. By planning ahead and taking the time, I think it is less likely that there will be accidents along the way.
The methods and techniques mentioned are also very useful. Pencil, colored pencils, markers, pens, power points, and models are all techniques that can be utilized to create a designer's presentation. Some are more traditional than others, but all are equally effective if they are integrated in the presentation properly. As long as there is a beginning, middle, and end, then the presentation will have met the basic standard.
The presentation is just like a performance. Designers must prepare for this performance and know the direction of it. Do the research. It is important to know who the audience is and what language to use. Is slang more effective than formal? If so, then the presentation could be produced using more images than words. I think Aspelund has very honest insights on the art of presenting and overall communication. I will be looking forward to implementing these methods and techniques to my own work.
I found this chapter helpful, especially in the section about "The Art of Presentation." I think time is everything and Aspelund mentions it in the tailor's rule. He points out that designers must account for the time it takes to plan for the presentation itself as well as the time it takes to meet the deadline. It's a double-duty task and I agree with his statement. Designers are constantly thinking out loud, even without words. By planning ahead and taking the time, I think it is less likely that there will be accidents along the way.
The methods and techniques mentioned are also very useful. Pencil, colored pencils, markers, pens, power points, and models are all techniques that can be utilized to create a designer's presentation. Some are more traditional than others, but all are equally effective if they are integrated in the presentation properly. As long as there is a beginning, middle, and end, then the presentation will have met the basic standard.
The presentation is just like a performance. Designers must prepare for this performance and know the direction of it. Do the research. It is important to know who the audience is and what language to use. Is slang more effective than formal? If so, then the presentation could be produced using more images than words. I think Aspelund has very honest insights on the art of presenting and overall communication. I will be looking forward to implementing these methods and techniques to my own work.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Binaries
Who knew that today's date would trigger a big discussion on binaries? What is a binary, anyway? According to wikipedia, "Binary means composed of two parts or two pieces." In mathematics, a "binary numeral system refers to a representation for numbers using only two digits (usually, 0 and 1)." I didn't know too much about binaries before this discussion. I knew it is applied to computers and involved '0' and '1'. Jimmy put the first 7 binaries and asked the class as a group to figure out the next 3 sequences. It was definitely challenging since most of us have never heard or dealt with binaries, but we managed to come up with a few solutions. We couldn't come to an agreement, which led Jimmy to talk about the importance of methodology.
We talked for a while about methodology and clients in the real world. Jimmy mentioned how we can improve on communication with our clients. If we can't explain our methodology, then who can? We briefly went over the remaining one word, ten images assignment. Class ended a half hour early. Jimmy didn't assign 'HW' over the weekend. Well, we still have to read and work on our apple sketches. This weekend is going to be not so homework-free.
We talked for a while about methodology and clients in the real world. Jimmy mentioned how we can improve on communication with our clients. If we can't explain our methodology, then who can? We briefly went over the remaining one word, ten images assignment. Class ended a half hour early. Jimmy didn't assign 'HW' over the weekend. Well, we still have to read and work on our apple sketches. This weekend is going to be not so homework-free.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Visual Language + Creative Briefs
Today's class involved a discussion regarding the GAUGE speaker from Thursday. Jimmy opened the discussion by asking what our responses were to Ismael's presentation. I thought his overall experience and advice was very insightful. Although, I went to the event with very little expectations, others found his presentation to be too short and less formal. There was some criticism about his lack of professionalism in the way he was dressed. I thought he projected himself as a casual kind of guy and it did not shock me to see him in that way since his profession is in the design field. Most designers are not suit and tie kind of people. There were some other points that were brought up that I didn't relate to during the discussion, but everyone agreed that the event was worth attending.
We spent a good hour talking about Ismael Obregon. Towards the last hour, we finally presented our 10 images and one word assignment. Unfortunately, I left my images at home since we hadn't set a date that we would need to bring them. Up until today, I had the images with me. Just my luck! Good thing I can still bring them in on Wednesday. I got the impression that Jimmy wasn't too happy with the results from this assignment. I'm not surprised because I found it challenging to change the meaning every time with images. On a positive note, Jimmy excused us without assigning any "HW."
We spent a good hour talking about Ismael Obregon. Towards the last hour, we finally presented our 10 images and one word assignment. Unfortunately, I left my images at home since we hadn't set a date that we would need to bring them. Up until today, I had the images with me. Just my luck! Good thing I can still bring them in on Wednesday. I got the impression that Jimmy wasn't too happy with the results from this assignment. I'm not surprised because I found it challenging to change the meaning every time with images. On a positive note, Jimmy excused us without assigning any "HW."
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Stage 5 - Definition & Modeling
This chapter focuses on the modeling of the design. This is the stage where your design begins to take form. Aspelund mentions a hierarchy of a design's needs and must be met before going forward. He values functionality as the first step. Does it do what it's supposed do? Well, hopefully it does. There's a total of five steps, each with its unique purpose. When fulfilling these steps, a lot of decision-making is involved which Aspelund quickly points out.
Another thing to think about is the dimensionality of the design. Is it 2-D? 3-D? What tools/programs can you use to help your design become a reality? These are all decisions that a designer must make while modeling. Also, what kind of materials will work better with the design? Should the type of fabric be considered? The good thing about modeling is that it's like another form of sketching. You can mold and experiment a little but attention to detail is key. In this chapter, Aspelund describes this stage as challenging and sometimes designers must reinspire themselves. I think it's important to keep the inspiration alive. Take a break, and look at new ideas. They might just trigger the response that you were looking for.
Another thing to think about is the dimensionality of the design. Is it 2-D? 3-D? What tools/programs can you use to help your design become a reality? These are all decisions that a designer must make while modeling. Also, what kind of materials will work better with the design? Should the type of fabric be considered? The good thing about modeling is that it's like another form of sketching. You can mold and experiment a little but attention to detail is key. In this chapter, Aspelund describes this stage as challenging and sometimes designers must reinspire themselves. I think it's important to keep the inspiration alive. Take a break, and look at new ideas. They might just trigger the response that you were looking for.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Response - Ismael Obregon
As a requirement for this class, we had to attend this quarter's GAUGE event. The guest speaker was Ismael Obregon (Founder and Creative Director of Oishii Creative). I'm really glad that I was able to experience one of his presentations. At first, he seemed a little shy but eventually opened up after he showed us some of his work. He has some really impressive work. He's worked with the NFL, Disney, Fox, HBO, EA Sports, and many more.
He opened up his presentation by talking about language. He himself is trilingual, and asked the audience if anyone knew more than one language. This all tied into his presentation at the end. He mentioned that we all know more than one language as designers; that is our native language and visual language. We use words to communicate and those words in turn become translated into visual language for others. He also mentioned that it is our responsibility to maintain and change language because it is our inspiration. His presentation lasted about 15-20 minutes. He transitioned to an open forum for discussion which allowed people in the audience to ask any questions about his career experiences.
Overall, I felt like I walked away with some great insight and advice about the real-life design field. Who better to share their own experience than Ismael Obregon. He started out as a young artist/designer, who created his own design studio. It's important to have people share their experiences that are in the field your interested in because it can only further inspire you. There will be negatives along the way, but the positives will surpass them in the end. I know I've been inspired.
F.Y.I. I forgot to mention...Oishii translates to 'delicious' in Japanese and Ismael loves sushi, hence the design of the logo.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Deadly Sin + 10 Images
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| Dr. Evil - Image taken from Google |
So my deadly sin was "greed." I think I chose some pretty good images to move the meaning. At first I t thought it would be a tough task, but as I began diving into it, it came quite naturally. Finding a good image was the fun part. Some were funny and others were serious.
Class started off with us showing all of our images. We got to walk around and decide which of the seven sins was being portrayed. I think overall everyone did a good job. We talked a little bit about them and even deciphered a few that were difficult to figure out.
Towards the last hour of class, Jimmy put on a video called Powers of Ten. I have to admit it was a bit confusing and interesting at the same time. It's hard to explain so I'm just embedding the video so everyone can take a look for themselves.
Take it for what it is. Our assignment for the weekend is to come up with a creative brief for the film Powers of Ten. We have to come up with a one-page outline for the target audience, client, marketing stand point, and the who, what, when, why, how. Tomorrow I will be at the music hall on campus for the gauge speaker at 7pm. The speaker will be Ismael Obregon. I will have to write a one-page response by Monday. Can I do it?
Monday, November 1, 2010
Methodology + Film
What is methodology? According to merriam-webster.com, it is:
After the 'methodology' discussion, we watched a short film called "Why Man Creates" by Saul Bass. A good portion of the film was in animation. It was funny at times and kept my interest. Saul was an American graphic designer and filmmaker. He is best known for his design on animated motion picture title sequences. Throughout the film, there was a list of 7 titles which had to do with creation. At the end, Jimmy asked the question, "Why does man create?" I think man creates to improve on life, progress, capture history, tell a story, pass on knowledge, and to show wisdom.
Finally, we went over our game ideas. Jimmy made us select one game from everyone that we thought was the best. We ended up with 10 of them. Out of the 10, we had to select our favorite. It came down to 3. Out of the 3, we voted on the one that we thought would have good commercial success. The winner was "Pandemonium" created by Cee. It was a good game idea about guessing the word/phrase by acting the part out. Our assignment for the evening is to choose one sin from the 7 Sins and find 10 images that communicate that sin indirectly without being obvious. This should be challenging. Can't wait!
"a body of methods, rules, and postulates employed by a discipline : a particular procedure or set of procedures"But, what is a method? A procedure? These are all questions that started off today's class. We were given a choice again to choose between watching a film or going over our game ideas until Jimmy decided to talk about 'methodology'. I think what he was trying to do was to make us think about some of the terms we MIGHT know. I, myself, have heard of the term 'methodology' but never quite used it. The way it continued was sort of like a domino effect. One word led to another, and so on and so on. It definitely made me think.
After the 'methodology' discussion, we watched a short film called "Why Man Creates" by Saul Bass. A good portion of the film was in animation. It was funny at times and kept my interest. Saul was an American graphic designer and filmmaker. He is best known for his design on animated motion picture title sequences. Throughout the film, there was a list of 7 titles which had to do with creation. At the end, Jimmy asked the question, "Why does man create?" I think man creates to improve on life, progress, capture history, tell a story, pass on knowledge, and to show wisdom.
Finally, we went over our game ideas. Jimmy made us select one game from everyone that we thought was the best. We ended up with 10 of them. Out of the 10, we had to select our favorite. It came down to 3. Out of the 3, we voted on the one that we thought would have good commercial success. The winner was "Pandemonium" created by Cee. It was a good game idea about guessing the word/phrase by acting the part out. Our assignment for the evening is to choose one sin from the 7 Sins and find 10 images that communicate that sin indirectly without being obvious. This should be challenging. Can't wait!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Stage 4 - Exploration/Refinement
"Drawing is a language. Your drawings are a personal method of communication that you can develop to be effective and clear." - Karl Aspelund, The Design Process
Stage four of The Design Process by Aspelund focuses on refining the tools used to create a specific result. The best way to reach a good result is by expanding the possibilities and going back to them for refinement. Aspelund mentions not to rush when continuing your ideas because it can cause you to potentially miss more interesting ones.
The process of EXPLORation involves the examination of the ideas that were outlined throughout the development of the concept and how they interact and affect the environment. You can start by testing different mediums and materials, such as, pen, pencil, markers, or computer renderings. By sketching down these ideas, you can begin to explore and communicate them more effective. Aspelund gets technical with a list of Do' and Don'ts. I think it's important to share the list he has provided because it points out some techniques that everyone could incorporate in their process of exploration/refinement. Here is the list taken from the chapter:
I think exploring your ideas with sketches is vital to creating a well-thought out design. Most designers don't just come up with a great design overnight. It's a process, and it involves patience.
Stage four of The Design Process by Aspelund focuses on refining the tools used to create a specific result. The best way to reach a good result is by expanding the possibilities and going back to them for refinement. Aspelund mentions not to rush when continuing your ideas because it can cause you to potentially miss more interesting ones.
The process of EXPLORation involves the examination of the ideas that were outlined throughout the development of the concept and how they interact and affect the environment. You can start by testing different mediums and materials, such as, pen, pencil, markers, or computer renderings. By sketching down these ideas, you can begin to explore and communicate them more effective. Aspelund gets technical with a list of Do' and Don'ts. I think it's important to share the list he has provided because it points out some techniques that everyone could incorporate in their process of exploration/refinement. Here is the list taken from the chapter:
Do'sComputer-Aided Design (CAD) is another technique that can be used to create and explore ideas. If your sketches involve ideas that can be easily created by using a computer, then it would probably be more effective to utilize it. Sometimes traditional mediums are not always the best method depending on your idea/design. Aspelund touches on two key terms that should not be overlooked when exploring ideas. The first is dialogue. Discussing your ideas helps generate great feedback, especially if it's people who aren't in the field of design because they are the general public. Reflection is the second. He describes reflection as a tool that is often neglected in design. By reflecting on the work you have created, you can actively seek new solutions or solve some problems that may arise.
Don'ts
- Sketch quickly and repeatedly.
- Sketch constantly.
- Sketch large and small.
- Avoid limitation; use different media.
- Consider the purpose of your sketching.
- Practice.
- Edit yourself.
- Keep your sketches to yourself.
I think exploring your ideas with sketches is vital to creating a well-thought out design. Most designers don't just come up with a great design overnight. It's a process, and it involves patience.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Game Day
So today's class was spent playing games. I think we were all looking forward to this day because it involved less brain function, and more fun. But some games did involve a little bit of thinking (Cranium, Life, Monopoly, Scrabble, Clue). Actually, I lied. I think all games make a person think and explore different strategies to win. Who would have thought that games have themes, strategies, risks, rewards, conflicts, characters, etc. Well, like every thing else we do in life, there is a reason why we played games today.
Playing games was part of our research. For our next assignment, we have to develop ten ideas for possible games. These games do not have to be elaborate in detail, just functionality. We are just coming up with sketches and a clear way to explain to someone if that person wanted to play. I think this is interesting. I like how Jimmy is challenging us and making us think outside the box. I, for one, can't imagine where to begin or how people come up with ideas for games, but playing them in class has made me think about it more. I'm curious to see what everyone else comes up with. Now, what kind of game do I want to create...?
Playing games was part of our research. For our next assignment, we have to develop ten ideas for possible games. These games do not have to be elaborate in detail, just functionality. We are just coming up with sketches and a clear way to explain to someone if that person wanted to play. I think this is interesting. I like how Jimmy is challenging us and making us think outside the box. I, for one, can't imagine where to begin or how people come up with ideas for games, but playing them in class has made me think about it more. I'm curious to see what everyone else comes up with. Now, what kind of game do I want to create...?
Monday, October 25, 2010
Iterative + Films
Today's class felt like everyone was off. It could have something to do with it being Monday, or maybe the weather. Jimmy had to point out our lack of participation. I don't blame him since he was the only answering his questions. Too bad I'm not a coffee drinker otherwise I'd be up and about like him.
Class was interesting nonetheless. Jimmy started off by allowing us to vote whether we wanted to talk first or watch the videos. In Jimmyesque fashion, the vote didn't matter and he still went on and talked about "iterative." I wasn't familiar with the term, but I knew it had something to do with repeating because I knew what "iterate" means. We stayed on the topic for about an hour until Jimmy switched and put on a TED Talk on John Maeda (MIT student turn Graphic Designer). His presentation was very interesting. He focused on the topic of 'simplicity' and made a lot of funny references to his personal experiences. He mentioned how humans love complexity (relationships) and enjoy the simple things in life.
We watched another short clip on Scott McCloud. He's a comic enthusiast and cartoonist. I like how he started off by talking about his personal life and connected a lot of different images to his presentation. 'Vision" was the word that seemed to be the theme. His dad became blind after starring at a solar eclipse. He had always wondered if it was because of the eclipse that made him blind or just old age. He also talked about three different types of vision. I can only remember two: vision that cannot be seen and vision that can be. What it means depends on the person. The slides and images used in his presentation were what made his speech so powerful. I will probably watch it again because it was too much to take all at once.
Here's John Maeda's 'Simplicity' Presentation:
Here's Scott McCloud's:
Class was interesting nonetheless. Jimmy started off by allowing us to vote whether we wanted to talk first or watch the videos. In Jimmyesque fashion, the vote didn't matter and he still went on and talked about "iterative." I wasn't familiar with the term, but I knew it had something to do with repeating because I knew what "iterate" means. We stayed on the topic for about an hour until Jimmy switched and put on a TED Talk on John Maeda (MIT student turn Graphic Designer). His presentation was very interesting. He focused on the topic of 'simplicity' and made a lot of funny references to his personal experiences. He mentioned how humans love complexity (relationships) and enjoy the simple things in life.
We watched another short clip on Scott McCloud. He's a comic enthusiast and cartoonist. I like how he started off by talking about his personal life and connected a lot of different images to his presentation. 'Vision" was the word that seemed to be the theme. His dad became blind after starring at a solar eclipse. He had always wondered if it was because of the eclipse that made him blind or just old age. He also talked about three different types of vision. I can only remember two: vision that cannot be seen and vision that can be. What it means depends on the person. The slides and images used in his presentation were what made his speech so powerful. I will probably watch it again because it was too much to take all at once.
Here's John Maeda's 'Simplicity' Presentation:
Here's Scott McCloud's:
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Stage 3 - Conceptualization
In this chapter the key word is Concept. Aspelund does a good job of providing a list of do's and don'ts when conceptualizing which I thought was very informative. The list was very encouraging. It's good to know that there is no right or wrong answer when finding a solution to your design.
Having an agenda is a good place to start your brainstorming as Aspelund mentions. I didn't quite know that there were rules to brainstorming, but I think it helps keep the designer on track. Aspelund goes on and gives a full list of rules to follow. He also refers to Gestalt perception. Gestalt in German means shape, pattern, or form and a good gestalt has properties such as regularity, simplicity, and stability.
There are other tools that can help a designer build on their process of conceptualization. Aspelund mentions using similes, metaphors, and analogies as "poetic tools." These can help you make more elaborate connections and is also part of brainstorming. Another tool is called cubbing. It is basically a four-sided cube with descriptive words on each side without too much thought. It involves quick ideas being jot down. The last thing that stood out as far as brainstorming was the use of concept mapping, or in other words, mind mapping. Since we have done this in class already, I felt like this process was vital in my brainstorming because it allowed me to begin with a simple idea and expand it quickly. It was very useful during my process of brainstorming.
A concept is pretty much a visual of your idea that is slowly moving towards the solution (final product). I think it's important to begin a project with basic ideas and further develop them over time slowly, rather than jumping right into something you know nothing about. In the end, the final outcome will be rewarding and pleasing while knowing that it started with just an idea that became something more.
Having an agenda is a good place to start your brainstorming as Aspelund mentions. I didn't quite know that there were rules to brainstorming, but I think it helps keep the designer on track. Aspelund goes on and gives a full list of rules to follow. He also refers to Gestalt perception. Gestalt in German means shape, pattern, or form and a good gestalt has properties such as regularity, simplicity, and stability.
There are other tools that can help a designer build on their process of conceptualization. Aspelund mentions using similes, metaphors, and analogies as "poetic tools." These can help you make more elaborate connections and is also part of brainstorming. Another tool is called cubbing. It is basically a four-sided cube with descriptive words on each side without too much thought. It involves quick ideas being jot down. The last thing that stood out as far as brainstorming was the use of concept mapping, or in other words, mind mapping. Since we have done this in class already, I felt like this process was vital in my brainstorming because it allowed me to begin with a simple idea and expand it quickly. It was very useful during my process of brainstorming.
A concept is pretty much a visual of your idea that is slowly moving towards the solution (final product). I think it's important to begin a project with basic ideas and further develop them over time slowly, rather than jumping right into something you know nothing about. In the end, the final outcome will be rewarding and pleasing while knowing that it started with just an idea that became something more.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Body Language + New 3 Images
Before getting into our 3 images, Jimmy briefly talked about body language. He mentioned how body language can signal emotion or nervousness. When people cross their arms and legs, that usually means they're not interested or closed off. For the first hour or so, this conversation continued and we eventually had to stand up in front of each other and speak.
Based upon our body language, we were able to tell if a person would lie. Jimmy told us to say two things that are nobody else knows about us and one thing that's a lie. We soon found out who's a good liar and who isn't. The way a person moves back and forth, or where they position their hands (in pocket) provided clues to a person's nervousness. Most of us were nervous and the lie was obvious, while others kept their cool and pulled it off. It was interesting to find out some things about my classmates.
Our assignment for the weekend is to do the opposite of our last project. Now, we need to find 10 images that can be used for one headline or word. This might be difficult at first, but I'm sure I'll be able to match up some images.
Based upon our body language, we were able to tell if a person would lie. Jimmy told us to say two things that are nobody else knows about us and one thing that's a lie. We soon found out who's a good liar and who isn't. The way a person moves back and forth, or where they position their hands (in pocket) provided clues to a person's nervousness. Most of us were nervous and the lie was obvious, while others kept their cool and pulled it off. It was interesting to find out some things about my classmates.
Our assignment for the weekend is to do the opposite of our last project. Now, we need to find 10 images that can be used for one headline or word. This might be difficult at first, but I'm sure I'll be able to match up some images.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Creative Brief + 3 Images
I think Mondays are always interesting. You never know what to expect from Jimmy. He's always spontaneous and goes off topic and we end up talking about other things. I think it keeps everyone on their toes and makes us appreciate his character.
On the other hand, we talked about creative briefs. Jimmy brought in a book that we should look into and is beneficial to designers. The book is titled, "Becoming A Graphic Designer" by Heller and Fernandes. It has some really great work and is up to date with current designs today. The book just recently was released and I think would be helpful in seeing what other designers are creating. It would also be a good inspirational book.
We were all seated in a circle and revealed our images with 10 adjectives or phrases that change the meaning. Each of us went through and read our list. For the most part, I was a little unsure how we were supposed to do this assignment. I didn't know how different each word had to change the meaning and most of the people in class seemed to be on the same page. So as part of the learning process, Jimmy re-assigned the project to us for next class. He wants us to come up with really good words or phrases and choose a different image now that we know what to expect. I think this gives me a chance to fulfill the project the way it was intended, especially now that I know what Jimmy's looking for. Time to look for an image...but, where do I start?
On the other hand, we talked about creative briefs. Jimmy brought in a book that we should look into and is beneficial to designers. The book is titled, "Becoming A Graphic Designer" by Heller and Fernandes. It has some really great work and is up to date with current designs today. The book just recently was released and I think would be helpful in seeing what other designers are creating. It would also be a good inspirational book.
We were all seated in a circle and revealed our images with 10 adjectives or phrases that change the meaning. Each of us went through and read our list. For the most part, I was a little unsure how we were supposed to do this assignment. I didn't know how different each word had to change the meaning and most of the people in class seemed to be on the same page. So as part of the learning process, Jimmy re-assigned the project to us for next class. He wants us to come up with really good words or phrases and choose a different image now that we know what to expect. I think this gives me a chance to fulfill the project the way it was intended, especially now that I know what Jimmy's looking for. Time to look for an image...but, where do I start?
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Stage 2 - Identification
So this weekend we had to read Stage 2 of The Design Process by Aspelund. The chapter is focused on Identification. I know when it comes to designing that there is a process. The build up to the final product isn't always the most easiest to come to, but it has to be attained. I guess I'm not quite sure how identification plays a role in designing.
Aspelund mentions that there are many ways to identify a project. It could be a creative brief or revisions on an old design from the past. The designer's job is to know the limits of the project, also known as constraints. What are constraints? How does it apply to design? Well, in order to create an effective design, the project you're working on must be stretched to its limit before arriving to its final outcome. This helps find and understand what we are trying to create. Before reading, I didn't know there was a process of identification in design.
Constraints can be anything and everything. The size, price, length of time, surface, material, etc can all be constraints. As designers, we must adjust and work with these constraints until we find the right fit. I realize that this is important and I must identify what I'm creating before tackling the entire project I'm working on and Aspelund did a good job breaking down the process.
Aspelund mentions that there are many ways to identify a project. It could be a creative brief or revisions on an old design from the past. The designer's job is to know the limits of the project, also known as constraints. What are constraints? How does it apply to design? Well, in order to create an effective design, the project you're working on must be stretched to its limit before arriving to its final outcome. This helps find and understand what we are trying to create. Before reading, I didn't know there was a process of identification in design.
Constraints can be anything and everything. The size, price, length of time, surface, material, etc can all be constraints. As designers, we must adjust and work with these constraints until we find the right fit. I realize that this is important and I must identify what I'm creating before tackling the entire project I'm working on and Aspelund did a good job breaking down the process.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Story-Telling + Film
Today we presented our 3 images that tell a story. The first half of the class began with a discussion introducing the topic before we revealed our stories. We talked about narratives, genres, and the definition of a story. We spent some time talking about it as a class, then Jimmy asked for us to put our 3 images on our desks and everyone got a chance to speculate on what the story of each one was about.
There were some that were more obvious than others. Some people had different explanations which were quite interesting. The one that was the funniest was about a little boy and dog. I won't tell exactly how they were connected, but let's just say it was very obvious what had happened.
For the last hour or so, we watched a film from TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Talks with Elizabeth Gilbert (author of 'Eat, Pray, Love') as the guest speaker. She brought up a lot of interesting topics all within 19 minutes. She talked about creativity, where it comes from, and the pressure artists have to perform. I thought she was very energetic and told some of the stories like if they were from a book. I guess you could tell she was a writer. I liked her humor and found the overall film very informative and interesting.
After the film, the class got in circle and we talked about some of the points Elizabeth brought up. Jimmy asked in one word how we would describe our reaction after watching it. A lot of the words were along the lines of "motivated, inspired, and energized." To end the class, we were assigned with the task to pick one image (non-editorial) and come up with 10 words or short phrases that change the way people perceive the image and each needs to shift the meaning. I have all weekend to work on it so hopefully I can come up with something good. For now I think I'll just browse around and see what I can find...
There were some that were more obvious than others. Some people had different explanations which were quite interesting. The one that was the funniest was about a little boy and dog. I won't tell exactly how they were connected, but let's just say it was very obvious what had happened.
For the last hour or so, we watched a film from TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Talks with Elizabeth Gilbert (author of 'Eat, Pray, Love') as the guest speaker. She brought up a lot of interesting topics all within 19 minutes. She talked about creativity, where it comes from, and the pressure artists have to perform. I thought she was very energetic and told some of the stories like if they were from a book. I guess you could tell she was a writer. I liked her humor and found the overall film very informative and interesting.
After the film, the class got in circle and we talked about some of the points Elizabeth brought up. Jimmy asked in one word how we would describe our reaction after watching it. A lot of the words were along the lines of "motivated, inspired, and energized." To end the class, we were assigned with the task to pick one image (non-editorial) and come up with 10 words or short phrases that change the way people perceive the image and each needs to shift the meaning. I have all weekend to work on it so hopefully I can come up with something good. For now I think I'll just browse around and see what I can find...
Monday, October 11, 2010
Columbus Day - Class Canceled
Well, class was canceled on Columbus day due to Jimmy being ill. Is it coincidental? Maybe, maybe not. Either way, I think this is a good opportunity for me to catch up on my reading and focus a little bit on some of my other classes.
I received an email from Jimmy Sunday night about our homework for Wednesday. I have to find 3 images taken from magazines, newspapers, books, xeroxes, or flickr and tell a story. Sounds easy right? I've started browsing flickr and found some interesting images, but I'm still not convinced about the story. Maybe I'll look at some magazines. I'm going for something dramatic or tragic.
Let's see what I come up with...
I received an email from Jimmy Sunday night about our homework for Wednesday. I have to find 3 images taken from magazines, newspapers, books, xeroxes, or flickr and tell a story. Sounds easy right? I've started browsing flickr and found some interesting images, but I'm still not convinced about the story. Maybe I'll look at some magazines. I'm going for something dramatic or tragic.
Let's see what I come up with...
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Stage 1 - Inspiration
"In any creative act, there must be a force that drives the creator and infuses the created object with energy." - Karl Aspelund, The Design Process
I found this statement to be a very good description of the word Inspiration. The force that drives the designer/artist can be found everywhere. Before starting a new project, one must begin with an idea and turn that idea into a reality to the best of his/her ability. We can all get inspired just about anywhere even if what inspires us is not related to the subject matter of the project. For example, if you are going to design a new web site, you may look at movies, shows, concerts, or magazines for inspiration. The subject doesn't have to be the same and I think sometimes when I'm designing, I get frustrated and end up copying some of the ideas of a previous design.
Another thing about inspiration is that it doesn't just come to you, one must seek it. It can be triggered by a visual or by the sound of cars or drums. A designer must seek it, not wait for it. Aspelund mentions that playtime is important to have as well during the inspiration stage. He points out that as adults we tend to forget to use our imagination. The same imagination we once had as a child is what could help create the next big thing or point us in the right direction. It is also important that we reinspire ourselves as we generate ideas throughout the creative process.
There were many good points Aspelund mentioned. Sometimes I don't stop to consider or even think about looking elsewhere for inspiration, or use some time to play, but I will apply this and all the other techniques to my future designs.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Film + Discussion
Today we watched a film on Ken Robinson giving a speech at UCLA. He is a motivational speaker on education. The entire speech was focused on the topic of education with a little bit of humor in between. We spent the good first half of the class watching the film, then we all got together for a group discussion on what we just saw.
Jimmy stepped out of the classroom and let the students initiate the discussion. Only a few people seemed to be brave enough to speak and overall I think it went well. Some people had different views than others, while others shared some personal experiences about their life growing up.
The last part of the class we shared our Mind Maps and voted one out of the class to have the most original topic. There were many good ones, but I found Cee's mind map of the 'Killer Carrot' my fav. Now it's time for the weekend and I have plenty of reading/drawing to do...
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Introduction
What qualifies a design to be a design? Or better yet, what is a design? These are questions that were asked in the introduction of The Design Process. The answer all depends on the person doing the designing. It depends where lines are placed instead of shapes, where color is used instead of black or white, and where the placement of all other forms are laid out.
The introduction does a good job breaking down some of the basics of design and what it takes to be considered a good one. The process of design is a relationship you must build and it starts with inspiration. I thought that inspiration is spot on. We all need something that inspires us to do what we do, otherwise we would be doing something we don't like. As an artist, I feel that everything around me can inspire me and trigger a new idea/design. The author does a good job of pointing that out in the beginning.
The following six stages are identification, conceptualization, exploration/refinement, definition/modeling, communication, and finally production. Aspelund points out that these stages aren't linear and can be changed while going through the process of designing. The stages are explained in more depth as you continue to read.
I feel as if the seven stages are important to reaching that eye-catching design. Without a process for achieving a well-thought out design, most artists would have mediocre artwork with an incomplete understanding of what it is they are trying to convey, and I think I have gained some new insight on my approach to starting a new design with the help of this book.
The introduction does a good job breaking down some of the basics of design and what it takes to be considered a good one. The process of design is a relationship you must build and it starts with inspiration. I thought that inspiration is spot on. We all need something that inspires us to do what we do, otherwise we would be doing something we don't like. As an artist, I feel that everything around me can inspire me and trigger a new idea/design. The author does a good job of pointing that out in the beginning.
The following six stages are identification, conceptualization, exploration/refinement, definition/modeling, communication, and finally production. Aspelund points out that these stages aren't linear and can be changed while going through the process of designing. The stages are explained in more depth as you continue to read.
I feel as if the seven stages are important to reaching that eye-catching design. Without a process for achieving a well-thought out design, most artists would have mediocre artwork with an incomplete understanding of what it is they are trying to convey, and I think I have gained some new insight on my approach to starting a new design with the help of this book.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Mind Mapping
Today we had an interesting discussion about Mind Mapping. What is Mind Mapping? According to wikipedia, "A Mind Map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea. Mind Maps are used to generate, visualize, structure, and classify ideas, and is as an aid in study, organization, problem solving, decision making, and writing." Sounds pretty self-explantory right?
Before getting into the topic of Mind Mapping, we briefly talked about brainstorming. Basically, a brainstorm is like an explosion of quick ideas with no right or wrong answers. Jimmy showed some examples of some Mind Maps, and later as a class, we made our own. He gave us the freedom to choose our topic and in 20 minutes we were expected to come up with some quick ideas. We then shared them in class. It became easier to keep the ideas flowing once I started getting into it. I thought it was a great exercise.
We also had a discussion about the question, "What if..." and everyone had to complete the question any way they wanted to. My question was, "What if I didn't have to work?" Jimmy thought it was a powerful statement. After everyone said their version, we went deeper into the discussion. At the end, we were assigned with the task to make a well-done Mind Map in color. We can do it any size and is due next class meeting. I need to choose a topic...what should it be?
Before getting into the topic of Mind Mapping, we briefly talked about brainstorming. Basically, a brainstorm is like an explosion of quick ideas with no right or wrong answers. Jimmy showed some examples of some Mind Maps, and later as a class, we made our own. He gave us the freedom to choose our topic and in 20 minutes we were expected to come up with some quick ideas. We then shared them in class. It became easier to keep the ideas flowing once I started getting into it. I thought it was a great exercise.
We also had a discussion about the question, "What if..." and everyone had to complete the question any way they wanted to. My question was, "What if I didn't have to work?" Jimmy thought it was a powerful statement. After everyone said their version, we went deeper into the discussion. At the end, we were assigned with the task to make a well-done Mind Map in color. We can do it any size and is due next class meeting. I need to choose a topic...what should it be?
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Design Process cover-xviii
Reading a book for an art class is still something that most art students don't enjoy. You can ask 10 art students, and probably more than half would agree. How much can you really learn from reading a book about art? Isn't art self-expression? There's no right or wrong answer in art. Right?
Well, unfortunately there are still guidelines and procedures that one must follow in order to reach one's full potential. I'm reading The Design Process by Karl Aspelund. The title says it all. After reading the table of contents and preface, I noticed that the book was divided into 7 sections referred to as "Stages." Each stage has a title and individual color which helps the reader identify any specific topics quickly. The author mentions that his purpose was to set the book up so that it follows a process, hence the title of the book. He also points out that a staged process helps capture a designer's progress and keep a team focused. By following these stages, the artist/designer can find it easier to accomplish goals even when ideas are lost.
I'm excited to dive into this new book we will be reading for class. I know I will learn something new and eventually incorporate it into my arsenal of tools.
Here is the list of stages:
Stage 1: Inspiration
Stage 2: Identification
Stage 3: Conceptualization
Stage 4: Exploration/Refinement
Stage 5: Definition/Modeling
Stage 6: Communication
Stage 7: Production
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Visual Literacy
Today was our 2nd class meeting. It started off with a few guest speakers talking about GAUGE (a student organization for designers/artist). I learned that GAUGE is the CSULA version of the bigger AIGA (a non-profit professional membership organization for design).
The topic of the day was Visual Literacy. Visual literacy is the ability to read an image that tells a story using pictures, paintings, drawings, or film. Each interpretation of the story varies from viewer to viewer. One of the most powerful images shown in class was an image of President Obama with his face painted like Joker from Batman: Dark Knight.
We also worked on an in class exercise called, 'My Life as as Graphic Novel: How I Made it to College'. The objective was to come up with 4 illustrations depicting our reasons for deciding to go to college without words. This was related to the topic of Visual Literacy. We were supposed to tell a story with only images within 20 minutes. I managed to get my 4 drawings completed, but Professor Jimmy gave us until next class period to turn them in.
We ended the day leaving early. Jimmy decided to give us a break to soak in what we discussed before diving into new topics. Overall, I didn't really consider looking at a picture that would tell a story. I think this is something I'll be looking at more now.
The topic of the day was Visual Literacy. Visual literacy is the ability to read an image that tells a story using pictures, paintings, drawings, or film. Each interpretation of the story varies from viewer to viewer. One of the most powerful images shown in class was an image of President Obama with his face painted like Joker from Batman: Dark Knight.
 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Here is the image shown in class of Obama. |
We also worked on an in class exercise called, 'My Life as as Graphic Novel: How I Made it to College'. The objective was to come up with 4 illustrations depicting our reasons for deciding to go to college without words. This was related to the topic of Visual Literacy. We were supposed to tell a story with only images within 20 minutes. I managed to get my 4 drawings completed, but Professor Jimmy gave us until next class period to turn them in.
We ended the day leaving early. Jimmy decided to give us a break to soak in what we discussed before diving into new topics. Overall, I didn't really consider looking at a picture that would tell a story. I think this is something I'll be looking at more now.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Art 220 - First Meeting
Hello blogger! This is my first post here. It's gonna take some time getting used to, but I'm sure I'll enjoy it once I get into the rhythm of things.
Well, today was the first day of class and it seems like I'll be learning a lot. We discussed what we will be doing as well as what we'll be learning. We filled out index cards with our names and answered these two questions. I think it's gonna be very interesting.
Our first assignment is to "render" an apple 5 times a week for the next 10 weeks using different styles/mediums each time and can't use the same tool twice. I know it sounds pretty challenging, but it's something to look forward to in the end.
At first, my impression of Concept Development was about the ideas involved. I'm sure my impression will change over the course of the quarter and I will walk away with a better understanding of the class.
Well, today was the first day of class and it seems like I'll be learning a lot. We discussed what we will be doing as well as what we'll be learning. We filled out index cards with our names and answered these two questions. I think it's gonna be very interesting.
Our first assignment is to "render" an apple 5 times a week for the next 10 weeks using different styles/mediums each time and can't use the same tool twice. I know it sounds pretty challenging, but it's something to look forward to in the end.
At first, my impression of Concept Development was about the ideas involved. I'm sure my impression will change over the course of the quarter and I will walk away with a better understanding of the class.
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