Idea 321
May 7th, 2008Here you go; Idea magazine, for March 2007, volume 55, issue 2, no. 321. The green sticker is actually the price tag. Features the Works of Jan Tschichold from 1902 - 1974. With essays by Christopter Burke (who also authored Active Literature, another Tschichold book focusing on earlier works), Robin Kinross, John D. Berry, Jean-François Porchez on a little bit of insights on Sabon Next, etc. It also features his Penguin years, which is pretty insightful and serves as a good addition to geeks who dig the Penguin design history (read Penguin by Design by Phil Baines for more insights).
The Gill Sans (left) & Uhertype (right) spread:
Something nice.
April 27th, 2008The “In’ tray on my desk is full of stuff. Means I should be pretty stress up by now with all that work that’s coming in. But the stuff below made me pretty excited:
Taken from one of the six amazing stories on We tell stories by Penguin. (Theres a PDF download to it!) Read more about these elsewhere here & here.
Indie Design.
April 4th, 2008The Artic Monkeys, started off as an indie band and make it big time through Myspace. Coblie Caillat was discovered via Myspace. Or perhaps maybe what Pitchfork & Merge Records did to Arcade Fire? Earning them the front cover of the 4th April 2005 issue of Time magazine. The list goes on with bands like The Decemberist which released a protest music video via BitTorrent, because they have more faith in it compared to the ever-popular MTV.
With the power of the internet, driven by users, anybody, including your next door IT consultant, gets the advantage of self-promotion (thats what I call it here); where he wants it to be, how he wants it to look like, who he wants to impress (I’m pretty sure its some girl), etc. This of course applies if you are the kind of dude who’s really into Friendster, Facebook or Myspace. But my point here is that everybody now has a very accessible tool in hand.
Alike individuals; companies, professionals, bands share the same venue and motives. How about designers then?
Youtube can make Psycho Bob (do check it out!) an overnight celebrity. Myspace can help Maria Digby’s version of Umbrella be played on air. I won’t be suprised if one day, some designer gets famous via Devaintart. Or perhaps through Gfxartist. These do-it-yourself platforms are evolving into something which we can’t just simply ignore for that fact.
Its just that now, they are only equipped with a gallery to exhibit their works. Some lack the value of real world work. Some lack the advantage of having feedback from clients. Most are generated out of the artists or designers personal taste. Something they do past 7pm. Or perhaps as a hobby. Something that can be categorized under “self-expression’. Eventhough some among them stand as professional work but the categorization of the works under a virtual artistic community generalizes these beautiful works under what is called indie design.
If anybody can start up a blog now. It won’t be long until anybody can design anything. They might not even need the professional tools that designers have.
The whole DIY culture might just creep into the design world very soon. But in fact, it already has. Just google “indie design“.
But the thoughts I have:
Does the advantage of the diversity in designing without the attachment of being in a large industrialized business effect the way you design?
It’s a tough question yes. An example will be something like if someone with an account on Gfxartist gets a client and recycles a specific design he did before from one of his works for the client. Then what if the indie designer made it big into the mainstream scene? Will they be like Radiohead? Bringing the ‘alternative’ or ‘non-mainstream’ stuff into the commercial world? Then if the indie designer has a proper avenue with a proper business plan, commercial value attached to it, will he or she still be labeled as an indie designer then?
Do you have more ‘freedom’ then? Can you be more creative or crazy over a layout or an identity?
Then, how about royalty then?
Or is there such thing in the indie design world as royalty? Can someone sue another for publicly using a certain design almost similar to the one he/she did before on his/her/ Gfxartist account?
Okay, then what is the market value for all these indie designers?
Imagine a scenario where a client pops into one of those online virtual artistic community sites and likes the work of Rockheadman07. I wonder will he be hired to do the job. It gets really dangereous when the client starts comparing works, maybe Cuteangel69 has a better touch.
How about style?
My guess is that indie designers might not have a fixed style throughout. But a safe bet would be all the heavily photoshoped images, layouts and logos will remain. Sad. But that doesn’t mean that there are some good stuff out there.
Design education?
I doubt if there will ever be an art or design school for indies. Its against the whole DIY culture. Then, they will have to find out about Alexi Brodovitch by themselves. Wait. My previous design school didn’t thought me that.
Will there ever be a concept in indie design then?
I’ve seen corporate people with good ideas. Sat down and spoke to salesmans who have creative strategies and ways to sell a product. I won’t be suprised if these guys can come up with good stuff.
To those who want to go indie designing, I recommend you this:
Is that all?
March 24th, 2008About Malaysia Design Industry and the first thing that comes to the topic is about money.
I have failed.
March 21st, 2008I consider things I learn in life as important. Especially concerning things that are closely related to me (work, family, etc.) but seem distant when it comes to preferences. Problem is I prefer to do things out of my routine. I have a very short attention span in things at times. But that doesn’t mean I reject the idea that spending time and effort on a certain issue/project whole-heartedly bears good fruits. It’s just the state of mind when I’m in that makes me want to distract myself into doing other things.
Being a designer handling a few jobs simultaneously is not an easy thing to do. I did have a certain amount of confidence when in school, handling 5 subjects together and did fairly well. Now, I feel that I don’t seem to do so well as I used to.
The list of reasons on the top of my head which I listed down are as below:
- Trying too hard to imitate my heroes.
I love to take the “What would Tibor Kalman do?” approach. Or perhaps “What would Bill Cahan do?”. Or anything that comes up from Vince Frost’s studio is cool. I even wished I was Phil Baines and can critique like Rick Poynor. Or be like Max Huber and be the grandson of Jan Tschichold. The list goes on. - Complexity is cool.
Like the way God created the human body, its cool to be really complex and beautiful at the same time. Forgot that God is God. - Where’s my inspiration?
I spend an awful amount of time in front of the computer everyday. Its ridicules really. - Wrong interpretation.
The problem with most designers is this. We feel that our opinion stands out in the crowd, even comparing it with or peers. - Fear.
What if my client doesn’t like it? What if my peers think its rubbish? What if it doesn’t go well and generates 0 results? Will people consider me an amateur than? I have a constant fear that my work will be considered amateurish and not professional.
The list could go on. But I though that giving it an honest though might help. Perhaps it helps to look into another different realm where trying out different disciplines or approaches will help.
Be it using an obscure typeface. Daring grids. Stunning overprints. Unimaginable colour combinations.
Not to post something highly inspiring here folks really.
——-
Coincidently, when I was writing this post half way through I saw Matt Soar’s recent post on failure on Design Observer!
New colleague please.
March 11th, 2008I started off at Figtree as an intern. Seems like most designers go through that in their early days. The first project I worked on was a logo for a magazine; which took me about 5 working days to complete. Moving on, I worked on the Kancil Awards website, some more identities and a magazine.
Since then, the company grew a little and now, we are in need of an extra designer to help. Boss’s expectations are highlighted here. But lets bring to light some issues from a possible colleagues point of view:
(Since Design studios have really innovative ways to promote/hire/head-hunt for a designer, let me give you the really boring FAQs but real stuff that happens around)
Where do we usually eat for lunch?
Around our office block, there are many restaurants. Indian, Chinese, Malay food. With about RM7 a day, it should be enough.
What time do you go to work?
Before the cleaning lady comes in, just in case she accidentally throws away any important notes.
Where do you park your car?
You can park at the parking lot in Block B, costs RM8 a day or at an open space car park outside for RM5 a day. Alternatively, park at the nearby housing area but beware of MPPJ folks.
What kind of projects that I might be handling?
That’s a tough one. I’ve worked on human size buntings that look really shocking with pockets on the chest area and wedding cards for clients overseas. Even did some DVD editing before and also entertaining Stefan Sagmeister while he climbed up Batu Caves. You’ll get even more fun as really interesting jobs are coming in as you read this post.
Seriously, what kind of designer will fit the job?
I’m not sure really. It will be good to have a designer with a strong sense of design writing of course. A designer who can provide a twist or a boast to a boring brief is indeed nice. A designer who dare take on magazine design the way it is not suppose to be will be sweet. A designer who keeps everything strictly grid is also freaking cool. But it will be awesome too if some junkie comes in and contributes to our 400+GB MP3 collection and has updated news about Why Not Associates too..
Are you serious people?
No.
What do you talk about during work, lunchtime, after work, etc?
Anything and everything possible. But boyfriends and girlfriends, marriage, boy and girl relationships, dating, etc. usually become the main topics.
Are you professional at your working ethics?
We try to do our best.
What to expect other then the mentioned?
- A nice working environment.
- Helpful printers, paper suppliers to deal with.
- Corporative, nice, helpful, lovely, kind, gentle hearted, warm, funny, happy, cheerful, straight, responsible, thoughtful, etc. colleagues to work with.
Common folks, designers are humans. We are not scary people. Do send your CV if you’re looking for a job!
By the way, my new IMAC just arrived yesterday. Check out what actually came with it:
@ FiFFteen in Goa, 2006 
