last supper

(originally slated to post Wed. Feb 11.)

Well this was the last lecture (sob sob). I was inspired and entertained. This weeks guest was Michael Rock of 2x4. He showed some of their work and talked about what inspires him. He had many installations around the world, many of them dealt with LEDs. and the main concern is content. How do you make the content new and fresh for these installations? after seeing the logo appear through bubbles 3 times, it gets old. Dystopian future sci-fi movies seemed to be the predominant crux of the first part of the lecture... Basically, the idea of the truth behind the design. How we see the advert versus what the advert really means.

I was very enlightened by the whole series of lectures. I am looking for more events to attend. I think that I should seize every opportunity to glean every piece of creative inspiration that I can.

RDA serving up more gourmet talent

This past Wednesday the RDA showcased yet another amazing graphic designer. Andy Altman of why not associates in London came to our fair city and lectured on what his company has been up to. One of the pieces he showed us was commissioned by Nike for retail stores on the theme of Heroism in sports. The work is inspiring and phenomenal. After the lecture I went up to him and told him that the piece touched me, and that it brought me to tears. He asked me why?


The typography in the videos is thus:

All great heroes think alike.
I believe it is the nature of people to be heroes.
Self trust is the essence of heroism.
Calculation never mad a hero.
Heroism is... enduring one moment more.
We can't all be heroes because someone has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.

This was very poignant to me. Even though it was about sports, the video made me realize that I am very hard on myself and I have trouble allowing my work to be less than perfect. I don't trust my creative judgment and I expect too much. Right now I can allow myself to "sit on the curb and clap" as the graphic design heroes go by and be happy and content to learn from them; all the while paying my dues and growing as a graphic designer. Or I can be miserable and try to be something that requires the talent that only comes with experience. It was very humbling to watch. But, it was also very hopeful. If that makes any sense.

Tomorrow I begin my internship with HTV. It is unpaid but I think it will be okay. They need new collateral and various items (business cards, etc...). I got a new laptop this weekend and I can't wait to begin my internship.

Creme de la creme

I have the great pleasure of attending The Rice Design Alliance lecture series called Transparency, Exposing Graphic Design.

Wednesday, January 21 was Steven Heller Co-Founder, MFA Designer as Author program, School of Visual Arts, New York.

He has authored many books on graphic design, the newest one is Iron Fists: Branding the 20th Century Totalitarian State.

However, this lecture touched more on his book entitled The Design Entrepreneur: Turning Graphic Design Into Goods That Sell. He showed us how a graphic designer can be an entrepreneur by taking the design from print to product. I was amazed. Never had I thought to take design to that level. It was on the verge of invention, but isn't that what designers do... invent solutions to graphic design problems? I really feel enriched by attending everything I can that will put me in the presence of these great designers. I feel, as a student, we should not leave our education up to the university and seek out these types of events to enrich our creativity and expand our thinking. You glean so much just from the exposure to someone who knows more than you. The wisdom they convey is worth more than the cost of the lecture or workshop.

I purchased the following Steven Heller books: Stylepedia: A Guide to Graphic Design Mannerisms, Quirks, and Conceits, How to Think Like a Great Graphic Designer forward by Steven Heller, and New Vintage Type: Classic Fonts for the Digital Age

I look forward to reading them. I will post my thoughts then.

Here are the other designers in the series:

This Wednesday, January 28 will be Andy Altman Founder, Why Not Associates, London.

Wednesday, February 4 is Ellen Lupton. She is Director, Graphic Design MFA Program, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore; editor of D.I.Y.: Design It Yourself

Lastly on Wednesday, February 11 we have Michael Rock Partner, 2x4, New York


Unfortunately, the advance series tickets were SOLD OUT. they are selling single tickets the night of the lecture (upon availability). So if you are going, be sure to get there early to get a number to purchase a ticket.