Category: <span>Design</span>

Published October 10, 2008 by

Steal your inspiration

Thought I’d share a really good little article on design inspiration.

Don’t Copy a Design – Steal It

I am at this very moment reflecting on how my insatiable desire to aquire knowledge is in some form a benefit to me in design. I horrified a friend yesterday in admitting that sometimes (usually) I’d ‘rather write lists of ideas’ than ‘draw ideas’, perhaps my mind is just so crammed full of knowledge that the most difficult part it is letting the correct part escape and then grabbing the damn thing and forcing it into something visual.

Whether that’s true or not… I might just maintain it, for the sake of sanity.

…that or kick off my argument that words can be just as visual as images, if not more.

Design

Published October 4, 2008 by

Concentration and benefit

modern-artistsLast night Geoff mentioned that today perhaps we’d go get that camera I’ve been wanting for about a year and half (probably more) and my mind did the usual flip out about the cost. So we’ll see where the afternoon takes us as I force to recall to mind the small freelancing jobs that I’ve done that can contribute to lessening the wallet dent. It’s far too exciting. I would however like someone to explain Nikon lenses to me in great detail because I have a funny feeling that a kit lens won’t cut it forever.

There’s also the issue of distraction. I’m really good at the whole distraction thing and I’m hoping after the 4 or 5 episodes of Gilmore Girls last night that I’ve worked screen related procrastination out of my system. A camera would be a distraction.

As it goes, yesterday I put in a mammoth effort and completed my 2D animation rotoscope related brief and worked out that there are quite literally millons of ways you can put 3 very similar, relatively boring rotoscoped work together. It’s kind of quirky, I’m sure there are areas I could improve on and I’m really sick of listening to the ragtime soundtrack but it’s done and it’s something out of the way that is due on Thursday (and worth 50% of the subject).

What occupies my mind at present and is suffering from distraction is a group assignment for Managing Design – it’s a proposal based on the Future Melbourne project. I am doing the bulk of the actual writing (tasks divided up according to strengths) and we have a presentation on the draft on Tuesday. The problem is not in writing, but in sitting down for long enough to concentrate the words out of me.

The best technique thus far is taking the mac to a cafe and isolating myself from the internet. But as I’m still in my pyjama’s, that’s probably not the best option right at this moment.

Back to it.

image source

Coffee Culture Design Life Photography Uni

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Published October 2, 2008 by

Warhol

andy-warholThe Sayers guy has written a post on Andy Warhol – who is of some interest to me as a design student. To be honest, I’ve never really taken much intentional notice of him because pop-art is, well, pop-art, but this accidental ‘history lesson’ has proved rather intriguing. I’d be curious to know where Mark Sayers has pulled his info from, because at a guess the facts are contriversial. I’m fairly convinced that one of my lecturers might implode ever so slightly at the idea. Regardless, it is a very interesting take on an artist regarding influence in relation to one prophetic of the times. And that itself is probably a fact even the most jaded of beings cannot ignore. Warhol definitely made his mark.

Christianity Culture Design Post of the Day Uni

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Published September 29, 2008 by

Ability Scrutiny

I am interested to hear on designers on this one – if any do read this. About pressure relating to ability in the realm of design. There is a lot of work showcased out there (leaning heavily towards illustration) and it sometimes get a little overwhelming because there are individuals out there with freakish talent.

As a design student who struggles with illustration specifically what are great ways to explore other mediums when your drawing hand isn’t so strong? AND what are great ways to explore illustration when you’re low on time.

I will, when time permits explore a class or short course in illustration because it is a skill I want and need to improve.

Design Life

ability communication design Design illustration questions

Published September 23, 2008 by

Future thinking

The past two days of my so called ‘mid semester break’ have been taken up with a compulsory intensive subject aptly titled: Careers in the Curriculum. For the most part it was like being back at school (but worse)  the woman in charge would haven been better off teaching kiddies who don’t understand what it means to be patronised instead of adult university students, however there were some exceptional industry speakers.

The designer from BlueBoat was fantastic- by the way, they have a glorious website. A really interesting small firm with photography components, web etc.

One of BlueBoat’s specialties is school branding. I was hoping my heart out to find more school related branding online other than the one shown during the presentation. Alas, no luck. I shall continue to search for inspiration elsewhere… and hope that I can bring life to all the mini sketches that I am filling my train rides with.

I am 90% sold on a membership for the DIA (Design Institute of Australia) in order to have a professional organisation behind me once I finish up my course, it seems regardless whether I go to work in a design firm or later freelance, that it would be an incredibly useful backing. And a great standard for ethics and professional practice.

And I am really regretting that Swinburne didn’t take us through more of this stuff (not the resume writing, but future thinking) earlier. Personally, it gives life to assignments and intention for study. I need the bigger picture and it seems lately that I’m not always the best at chasing it for myself.

So, the take aways have me another assignment (Cover Letter/Resume etc), and the unmarked push to work out what exactly I’m really good at and what kind of designer I want to be. What’s my brand? I am inspired.

Realistically speaking, I am physically unprepared for Industry Placement (Work during 3rd year uni as part of your course) in regards to folio – as I was quite certain up until recently that I didn’t want an extra year at Tertiary level. However I have also discovered a post-3rd year means of doing honours in a more exciting way – there are 160 Communication Design students and only 10 places. It might just be time to get off my butt.

It now feels like I can get there*, even if I pick the less conventional path … I like picking the less conventional path.

*wherever, but for here lets say, ‘being a designer’.

Design Life Uni

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