YouTube Video

What is design…?

My original design statement was “thought brought to life.” In many ways this statement is as correct as it will ever be in the realm of design and everything design encompasses because design is a means to solve a problem. At first I looked at some of the world’s most renowned designers and fell upon Saul Bass’s statement of “design is thinking made visual.” When I had my thoughts and trying to articulate them, no other statement summed it up as best as Saul Bass did. His statement at the heart of it can’t be judged, measured or proven incorrect, and with the question what is design being as thought provoking as it is. The statement is as close to a tangible statement there can be.

I believe this question is asked for a means of understanding, like why are we here, or who are we? Saying something like this way beyond the understanding of any person is bold and requires years of probing and searching, but fundamentally I truly do believe design is the first stepping stone to understand people. A person is whom we design for, but their questions are the reasons we design.

After thinking, and thinking and thinking I was questioning myself in what design is, but after researching and thinking about the question man can never answer I realized what design is. Design can be broken down to an answer, originally I thought and read that design can be left to interpretation by whomever is judging the work, but design unlike who we are, where are from, where did we come from is man made and can be boiled down to a black and white answer. Design is a means to solve a problem.

Going in further and after talking to designers and researching I looked into science. I believe science and design are not exactly one in the same, but share many similar ideas and methodology. All scientific problems begin with a hypothesis. Thinking of my recent insight I asked Scott Christie what he thought design was. Christie said design is a tool, and as stated above a means to solve a problem. After I said my interpretations it was simply the same thing said two different ways. Design is a means to solve a problem someone has. This goes back to design is thought brought to life. When the problem is solved, it’s brought to life and leads into another designer’s statement of what design is. Dick Powell along with Scott Christie opened my eyes more to bring design down to a basic fundamental thought. Powell said design is meant to make people, things, and businesses better for mankind.

When a question is asked a problem arises. When a problem needs to be solved design is the answer.

However, we are in the pinnacle of human innovation, and global issues. As Powell’s partner Richard Seymour said we are in a tremendous time, innovation has never been so relevant. There is a new world order where innovation needs to be met, and people have to adapt to present times. We came from an era of revolt and hard times with two world wars, and people in fear. In the present the times have not changed. Arguably we have had the same innovation with our times as the past did with Henry Ford. The last several years have seen the worst economic times since the Great Depression, and people are still in fear what will happen in the future.

Design will never be as important as it will be in the future. This is one aspect of design that I can’t seem to grasp. With the world as it is anything can tip the scales and people and design will need to adapt and react in a positive manner to make human life better. All I know is people will always be curious and want to know more, and will be always asking questions. With those questions comes great design to come.

Design is a means to solve a problem…., and the world in the future needs problem solvers.

The past on the other hand is relevant for the means to learn from histories mistakes and grow as a society. The past has happened and society has grown into what we are now. As stated, we have developed more in the last decade then ever before, by this the past becomes irrelevant because if the world has changed and grown this much the past becomes only a window into a world that’s unexplored.

After much thought and self-reflection I still cant to truly comprehend what will the future hold for design. I began to ask myself what would I see in my time? What science and technology in the near future evolve into? When trying to dive into what can possible happen religion, science, technology, design, engineering, etc ran through my end.

From the research I’ve conducted we are in the beginning process of personal integration amongst various platforms. The CERN Hadron Collider, and the Ipad are the beginning of what I think the future will hold. It’s not necessarily the technology, but the ideas behind them.

These ideas might seem unconnected, but have with in them what I could only suggest as ‘almost’ answers. To begin with the CERN Hadron Collider is the largest particle accelerator near Geneva, Switzerland. Asking what will happen in the future is one of those unanswerable questions like the ones stated above. However, this massive under taking is being engineered to literally answer some of those impossible questions. This is an important aspect of solving a problem because it feeds into people’s curiosity. With the answers that can be produces from the CERN Hadron Collider, the universe is now becoming a little smaller and peoples understanding is becoming much more broad. With this marvel of ingenuity it also proves that people are thinking much further then their reach. Something all people should believe within themselves. The scientist working are not content with what’s here and want to know as much as possible.

The Ipad at the core of it isn’t the only ‘thing’ on the market that is unique in any way, but like the Hadron Collider it’s the game changer the world has been waiting for. To begin with it broke market preconceptions of selling 15+ units and that number is already set to double by years end. May not seem like the largest aspect of the Ipad, but diving in deeper this number is showing the changes in society. It shows that people are growing and becoming more accustomed to what the future has to offer. Furthermore, the Ipad is being used for dozens of various platforms as Steve Jobs displayed during the launch of the Ipad 2. In the foreseeable future this device and others that come after it are becoming commonplace such as in hospitals, schools, hotels, etc. With these new means of technology, the world can start getting back on track. Already the Ipad and other systems like it are already getting down on paper, waits at hospitals, and changing pre conceived notions of how people relate to the world around them. As Seymour said the world needs innovations, and this it what the world needs to grow. Especially with new generations growing, new generations are very jaded and never satisfied. The new pushes for bringing the future here today it is up to problem solvers to solve and shape the not only the present but what’s to come.

YouTube Video

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

My Manifesto

1. Never be content, being content means there’s no growth left

2. Take a risk; if someone tells you your doing something wrong, you could be dead on

3. Google is great, but so is the world around you

4. Always try and push yourself, you can only stay inside a box for so long

5. Practice, because practice makes perfect

6. Know where you’re going and where you want to be

7. Always ask questions 

Four contemporary designers

What I see as commonalities between these four practitioners is that they look to there surroundings above anything else. Sagmeister for example takes his sabbaticals in very unknown regions and applies his growth and knowledge to his work. When we viewed all their work it seemed they had very whimsical and ‘artistic’ flares that they applied to throughout. Also, they seemed very self confident in themselves and knew when push came to shove they can rely on there instincts and sub conscious to produce the work. I think that is the most important thing to take form these four designers. Above the fact they don’t just don’t stare at a computer screen all day; they are great examples of what new designers should look up to. I find a lot of designer are self conscious in there work and always seem to defend it when it should just be. I understand there is always going to be a learning (and always a growing) aspect to become a great designer, but I believe when you have confidents in yourself and look to your surroundings great work can always be produces.

What should be taken away from these four great designers is that they look at everything that can be applied to there work. With my design statement being a means to solve a problem, all four designers solve the problems that they choose to solve. They look to the world, nature, and self-reliance to answer the questions that they need to be unraveled.

Dear Stefan

Recently I came to enjoy watching your “Makers and Thinkers” presentation at the AIGA conference.  I knew of your work earlier with your daily monsters, but wasn’t aware of your freelance design and 334 work. After watching your presentation I looked at your work, but still grew more respect for the designer you are rather then your work. During your presentation your raised a lot of important issues a designer needs, to grow.

You talked with a confidence and not an arrogance that I find a lot of experienced designers have. I understand when someone gets to a certain point they have earned that right and respect from there peers, however the way you spoke about yourself and approach was refreshing.

You understand your limits and recognize the potential in yourself with very little doubt it seemed. You trust yourself even during rough patches to produce innovative work, while always finding the humor in everything. Your openness about design and your process is what I felt was the most important in understand the design way.

While looking at your work it was apparent that you bring a lot of  ‘artistic flares.’ Also in your opening on the 334 website you say 334 is founded on the idea that art best serves commerce if it’s built on a solid foundation of truth, integrity and heart. Because that’s when the art actually works. Anything less starves the soul and isn’t worth anyone’s time or attention. In my understand and personal believes about design, I can understand the ideology behind your statement but wondering if you separate art and design or if you see art and design as one and the same?

Thank you, for sharing your experiences and your openness with design. Your approach was refreshing and a great reminder on trusting yourself to produce.

Old Spice Ads

Considering

Recession
carful about spending
people want value in a brand
media – news
media- social (facebook, twitter, etc)
times are moving faster
Smartphone movement
tablet trends

Target market

The target market are women or “ladies” between 20-40 because the ad using a lot of modern trends to grab an audience. First, the very first words are listen ladies…. Second is using humor and obscure movements that a young modern audience would understand.

Cultural themes

The most relevant cultural aspect in using humor to drive the story and to connect with people to go beyond a brand. The new direction with Old Spice has proven results with brand awareness and increased sales. With the market being what it is with this industry, Old Spice has gone beyond just the norm and using modern cultural  ‘slang’ to grab an audience. The closest comparison I have with these ads are to Family Guy. Using quick jokes or hooks to get attention. The difference with the Old Spice ads is that it’s a continuous flow, but still maintaining quick burst between each little segment.

Overall observations

I have seen and learned that humor is a major factor in recent ads. I believe in the times were in people want a laugh and want something with no guilt attached, but just fun and happiness. People also need something to forget about recent troubles, and the Old Spice ads especially are some of the best in grabbing people’s attention and using humor to persuade.  When I watch the ads at least, I don’t care if the guy is good looking, or rich, or anything out of reach. The ads from start to finish are very personable and still some how stay grounded even though they’re always up in the air