Exploring Ink

 

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Getting back into the groove of things, as I’m coming towards the end of my UI/UX design studies (though it never stops!). In my off time when I’ve been tired of staring down a design or strategy problem, I’ve been trying to divert my attention into something like sketching to allow my thoughts to pause for a bit.

I’ve also used the sketching as a way to avoid dwelling on chronic headache pain. As the pain sets in, it’s easy to get frustrated and distracted. While it is certainly frustrating, I’ve been experimenting with that diversion of thought (taking from my meditation practice) and attempting to “meditate” on my sketching. I’m sharing one of those pieces today, where I’ve been exploring a hatching style but trying to do my own thing with the implementation.

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M. C. Escher

Recently visited the M. C. Escher exhibit in Industry City in Brooklyn, was deeply inspired, then walked through the gift shop and decided not to buy the print album of his work (I felt so strong, but the deep regret set in quickly), but then on a trip to Vermont last week I found an album of his work for sale at a beautiful old library, for three dollars, bought the book and felt that the hole in my heart from that day at the exhibit was filled and I could proceed fulfilling my destiny as a designer.

All jokes aside, M. C. Escher’s work is not only outstandingly mathematical and hypnotic, but it is also mostly wood block and lithographic prints, which was a huge discovery for me. That gives so much more depth and perspective to his work. A true genius and inspiration he is, so today’s post is one of his more spooky pieces. Getting into the Halloween spirit I am indeed.

Jazzlab – Poster

Stumbled upon a series of posters created by Jefferson Cheng, with a simple but compelling taking up majority of the page, in different shapes and colors, creating a lovely set of posters. I’m particularly liking the balance he’s striking with the elements, while still creating a sense of fullness despite the minimal presence of content.

How to Use Graphic Design to Sell Things… – Notes

How to use graphic design to sell things, explain things, make things look better, make people laugh, make people cry, and (every once in a while) change the world

Book by Michael Bierut

Below are my personal notes and excerpts from this book.

 

Disclaimer: The highlights that I note are not, by any means, all of the highlights of this book. I am certainly missing many important points, but the ones listed below were the ones that stood out to me and were relevant to my personal career. I am also using this space as a place to reiterate what I’ve read, in order to better process the information. 

 

On the importance of well though out graphic design:

Bierut notes how a confusing ballot in Palm Beach County issued during the 2000 elections had caused a schism in the votes, making the point that poor graphic design can affect our society on a much larger scale.

 

“Content is more important than form.”

 

On the brand identity of BAM being a single choice of typeface and letter cutoff styling:

Bierut mentions Tibor Kalman providing an identity for a museum by handing the client a book of typefaces and telling them to choose one. If they use it long enough, it would become their identity.

“I’m convinced that me most important characteristic for a great brand is consistency. This is different from sameness. Sameness is static and lifeless. Consistency is responsive and vibrant. Working with, yes, just one typeface, BAM is a model of consistency.”

 

“Every graphic design solution must navigate between comfort and cliche. Pentagram founder Alan Fletcher admired this ‘ability to stroke the cliche until it puts like a metaphor.’”

 

On the rebrand of Saks Fifth Avenue:

“When seeking the new, the question is: compared to what? Deconstructing the vintage Saks logo signaled change more effectively than inventing a new one. The jumbled puzzle was solved on each package by the inclusion of the whole logo in the bag gusset or on the underside of the box lid.”

 

On the rebrand of the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine:

“Organizations seeking an identity often think that what they want is a logo. But this is like acquiring a personality by buying a hat. The way you look can be an important signal of who you are, but it’s not the only signal. More important is what you say and how you say it. And most important of all, of course, is what you do.”

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Poster for the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine

Note on the New York Times project:

In order to preserve the history of the original building that the New York Times inhabited, as well as the events that occurred in their time there, Pentagram used a series of 800 signs for the new building, such as restroom and meeting room signs, that used images from the Times’ photo archive, “rendered in exaggerated opt pattern as an homage to the presses that once rumbled each night beneath the reporters’ offices.”

*Wonderful way to use graphic design to preserve the old while moving into the new.

 

Note – artists to look into:

David Byrne, Bonnie Siegler, Emily Oberman, Milton Glaser, Maira Kalman.

 

On convincing people:

We must not only come up with the right solution to the problem, but we must learn to convince other people that your solution is the “right one.” You must learn to persuade a group, understand that the correctness of a design is subjective and relies on “intuition and taste,” and any good design decision requires a leap of faith.

 

“The best graphic design will fail if it doesn’t connect with the authentic core of the organization it represents.”

Quote from Dolly Parton: “Find out who you are, and do it on purpose” – also applies to branding.

 

On how to save the world with graphic design:

“For design can’t save the world. Only people can do that. But design can give us the inspiration, the tools, and the means to try.”

Michael Bierut – Poster

I learned about Michael Bierut and the work of Pentagram when I started listening to Debbie Millman’s podcast about a year after graduating college. The breadth of people she spoke to opened my eyes to a whole new world of design and it was invigorating to say the least. It was only until I read his How To book a few days ago, that the breadth of his work with Pentagram really sunk in. I was floored by the amount of work that he touched, and that in turn had shaped my visual experiences as a child growing up in NYC. From the way-finding to the New York Times building, to the museums. I had always been attracted to visual identities, architecture, the whole gamut really, and to find that many that I had connected to were created by Bierut was flooring, to say the least. If nothing else, it was a reminder that of my undeniable attraction to well designed visual stimuli, and the effect that graphic design can have on the citizens experiencing it.

This piece here is one of the posters he had made for one the Yale School of Architecture open houses (source). There are countless pieces he had made for Yale, all of which are incredible, but the whimsy in this one was another reminder that it’s not just about how you arrange something on the page, but that adding weight to the content can give the piece a whole new character.

Pouya Ahmadi – Work

I’ve been perusing Behance for graphic design inspiration, and somehow came across Pouya’s work, which stopped me in my tracks. His work stuck a cord with me in its typographical exploration with minimal use of color. Something about it is simple, yet endlessly interesting, making we want to explore every corner, and look deeper into the layers.

Poster Design

This is a poster designed for the Mausashino Art University by the Daikoku Design Institute. I am pushing to explore the simplicity in Japanese design. Its appeal is in its no nonsense presence, which says so much, with less – a very attractive and effective concept for design.

Update: I will be posting these graphic design inspiration pieces every Friday! Trying out this things called consistency.

Paula Scher – Campaign

I recently listened to Debbie Millman’s interview with Paula Scher, on Debbie’s incredible podcast, Design Matters. As always, it is a huge inspiration to hear how the best of the best got started doing what they do. Paula’s journey was fascinating, and once I took a look at her work after the podcast, I was embarrassed that I hadn’t seen it earlier. She holds a long career of eye-catching and rule-breaking work, pulling it off boldly yet elegantly. This piece here was created in 1994 for The Public Theater in NYC.

Logo Design Love – Notes

Logo Design Love: A Guide to Creating Iconic Brand Identities. Second Edition.

Book by David Airey

Below are my personal notes on this book.

 

“Work on things that interest you with people you like.” Simon Manchipp

 

I will just preface by saying that this is my first set of book notes that I’m sharing with the public, so I definitely do not yet have the knack for it. It is a challenging feat to attempt to summarize what already feels like a perfect summary of a broad field of knowledge. I will also note that the highlights that I note are not, by any means, all of the highlights of this book. I am certainly missing many important points, but the ones listed below were the ones that stood out to me and were relevant to my personal career. I am also using this space as a place to reiterate what I’ve read, in order to better process that information.

That being said, I hope you enjoy, and that you find this content helpful in some way!

 

Part 1: The importance of brand identity

 

Tip: Utilizing the language of the brand name in the brand itself: i.e. a company named Glad lends itself to playful branding such as “Glad to be of service.”

 

Tip: Use negative space within the logo to represent an image or idea.

 

Elements of iconic design

1. “The simplest solution is often the most effective.”

2. The logo should relate to the business’ identity.

3. Incorporate tradition, avoid trends.

4. Logo should be east to separate from the competition. Just its shape or outline should give it away.

5. Logo should be memorable – you might only have someone’s attention for a moment so make it count.

6. Versatility and scale – your design should work on a tiny business card and on a large billboard.

7. Iconic designs usually have one “trick”. Leave client with just one thing to remember. Don’t try using too many tricks. See first point.

 

Part 2: The process of design

Tip: Discuss all aspects of a project early on to avoid anxieties later down the line. 

 

Laying the groundwork

1. Have an in-depth initial discussion, laying out all of the expectation, tastes, anxieties.

2. Set up a questionnaire or a face to face meeting with the client, then when you receive answers, create a design brief, summarizing the important takeaways from meetings/questions.

3. Gather prelim information, such as

  • Name
  • Company Name
  • Phone Number
  • Mailing Address
  • Web address
  • Years in operation
  • Role in the company

4. You will need to go into more detail for the design:

  • What do you sell
  • Who do you sell to?
  • How much does it cost?
  • Goals for the new identity?
  • Specific design deliverables?
  • Who is working on the project from their end – will other figures be involved and how?
  • Deadline for the project, and what is driving it?
  • What are they anxious about in this process?
  • Is there anything they see as an obstacle?
  • Budget range?
  • How many designers are being considered and when is the decision to be reach

5. It is key to know who your point of contact is – this will be who should provide you with any information you need.

6. Once you’ve gathered information, it’s time to research the company and its competitors.

Tip: Ask client what words they want associated with the brand, in order to help guide your design.

 

Hazards of redesign

1. Understand why your client wants to re-brand. If it’s just to keep up with the latest trends, rethink this job.

2. Consider not forgetting the old brand image entirely. No need to always “wipe the slate clean.” It can even be a matter of lightly refining the old logo.

3. Consider unifying the elements when working on a merger.

4. Show tact when speaking about the current identity – it may be that someone you’re speaking to had designed it.

 

Pricing Design

1. Speak to your client and determine the scope of work before quoting anything.

2. The amount you quote can depend on:

  • Your expertise
  • Project deliverables
  • Expected turnaround time – rushed jobs should be marked up.
  • Additional service and support – you can ask other designers/professionals to supplement with their work. Negotiate a finder’s fee with that person.
  • Level of demand – you’re getting more and more jobs and you’re getting busier – this is a time when you can raise your price.
  • Current economy

3. Offer clients a set fee – charging hourly isn’t the best move for design.

“It took me a few seconds to draw it, but it took me 34 years to learn how to draw it in a few seconds.” Paula Scher

4. You must receive a down payment before finishing the work, especially if this is a new client. Some designers ask from 30 to 50 percent of the total fee as deposit.

5. Exchange rates are a thing, so factor in currency exchange into your quote. Show both cost in your currency and client’s currency. Consider that there may be changes in the exchange rate from the moment you agreed to work together, to completion.

6. Avoid spec work and avoid competitions. It can devalue your work, as you’re essentially giving it away for free. If you want experience, as a local non profit if they’d be interested in you donating your services.

Tip: Don’t charge too low, as it may come off that your service is lower quality.

 

Pencil to PDF

  • The logo doesn’t have to be very literal. If you can make it literal without being to blatant, you have a winner.
  • Do not showcase all of your ideas, especially the ones you feel are unsuitable. It might turn out that the client likes the weaker one in the mix, and you’re stuck with designing it. Too many options also make it hard on the client to choose.
  • Always consider form before color – make sure the logo works in black and white.
  • Give the client context – show your work on mockups!

 

The art of conversation

Having a successful conversation with the client:

1. When you’re ready to deliver your design ideas, try to present them directly to the committee in charge of decisions, as to avoid a middleman in the communication.

2. Avoid letting “the committee” have too much design control by:

  • Conspiring with your point of contact – speak to them about presenting together perhaps
  • Avoid intermediation – don’t allow the middle man to present your ideas for you as that can distort your design intentions.
  • Keep the committee involved
  • Take control and outline ground rules – let the committee know that what you need is strategic input, not micromanagement of font or color, per say. Explain examples of good feedback.

Tip: Under-promise, and over-deliver

 

Part 3: Moving forward

Tip: In order to be successful, you must be at least four years ahead.

“Don’t underestimate the value you bring to your clients.” David Airey

 

“I’m convinced that what compels people to become designers is when they learned that they had an aptitude for making something magically appear out of nothing.” Michael Bierut

 

“Motivation comes from the relentless desire to get back to that briefest pause on the mountaintop. It’s as simple and as hard as that.” Martin Lawless

 

“Becoming a good designer is, in my mind, directly related to one’s curiosity and willingness to work. If you keep asking questions and deliberately practicing your craft, you get better. It’s that simple. So when it feels difficult and you want to scream, grab a pencil and paper, and just start drawing. With each iteration you’re closer.” Eric Karjaluoto

 

Tip: Set realistic deadlines and account for unexpected delays.

 

Q+A (with author)

1. Ask for your client’s thoughts after the project. Try not to use the work testimonial, and encourage them to be honest. Ask what was good and bad about the relationship.

2. How many concepts to present: average is 3. If a client asks, say you’ll present between 1 and 4.

 

Practical Logo Design Tips

1. Ask the client plenty of questions

2. Clarity is key, as people will be glancing for one or two seconds

3. Overestimate how much time something will take.

4. Logo doesn’t need to show what the company does.

5. Symbol isn’t always necessary

6. Ask client if they have a specific printing budget

7. Match the type to the symbol

8. Always note the contrast

9. Text at a variety of sizes

10. Offer a version of the logo with the colors reversed

11. Make sure logo looks good upside down

12. Exercise cultural awareness

13. Don’t be afraid to show wit/humor

Teaching Myself Graphic Design: The Literature Syllabus

As an aspiring graphic designer, I am teaching myself the technical and theoretical components of graphic design through free online resources, as well as books. I’m starting this off with the list of books itself, curated with heavy inspiration from Karen X. Cheng’s blog post, as well as the generous input of several Reddit posts in the graphic design subreddit, and other blogs floating around the internet, (like this one). So, all credit goes to these folks.

As I go through these books, I will be posting each one with my personal breakdown and what I felt were the important takeaways. My goal here is firstly to have one place where I can look back on the highlights of what I’ve read, and secondly to hopefully help someone out there either gather some information for themselves, or determine if this is the right book for their journey. I would love to hear your thoughts on any of these books, and if you found they were useful in your own journey, or recommendations for other books you found helpful!

Side note: I am trying to be as low budget and sustainable as possible throughout my self-teaching, therefore I have set up a budget for what I’m comfortable spending, keeping in mind how much capital I would put into some programs and institutions if I were to take that route. That being said, I purchased all of these books in used form, and only plan to keep the ones that I can find myself returning to, either gifting or selling the rest.

Sketching

You Can Draw in 30 Days  by Mark Kistler

Logo Design and Branding

Logo Design Love: A Guide to Creating Iconic Brand Identities, 2nd Edition by David Airey

Typography

Thinking with Type, 2nd revised and expanded edition: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students by Ellen Lupton

General Theory and Practice

Visual Literacy: A Conceptual Approach to Graphic Problem Solving by Judith Wilde

How to Use Graphic Design to Sell Things, Explain Things, Make Things Look Better, Make People Laugh, Make People Cry, and (Every Once in a While) Change the World  by Michael Bierut

Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon

Creative Workshop: 80 Challenges to Sharpen Your Design Skills by David Sherwin

Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman

History

Meggs’ History of Graphic Design by Philip B. Meggs