Again late on updating the blog, which is where this title came from. It's been pretty busy in my world lately, mostly with vehicle swapping going on (true but still an excuse). But it brings to mind another issue that seems to plague people I know. Procrastination and the inability to meet deadlines. This can apply to any thing, not just design or art or even meeting friends to go to the movies.
I notice that when I have a deadline that is too far in the future I will sit and think "ok let's get started! Don't want to go into 'Panic Mode' if I drag my feet!". I will start some part of the project, do pretty good on time with it that first day. The next thing I know it's due in 48 hours and that's all I have done on it! So for the next 40 hours I will start snapping at people, closet myself off, turn up loud annoying music (to keep me awake while pulling an all nighter) and guzzle coffee like it's going out of style. All this while frantically working, belittling myself for timing and sniping at people around me. Let's say it's not pretty.
The last time this happened (thankfully not to that degree for a while) was a project that I knew about for approximately 12 weeks (school project, I love syllabus work). I started brainstorming then drawing up ideas, then the drive just "Poofed" as I had some other things come up. Then 3 days before the presentation (which was to 3 professionals, not the teacher) I realized that my self promo (the project) was only in the drawn up stage. I had to create 4 pieces, all identical, showing these people what kind of designer I was ... and prove that I had creativity that wasn't just follow the guidelines of a project sheet. I did cigar boxes that were decoupaged with pictures I took, inside was a resume and business card I designed for myself and 5 over-sized postcards of my work (they were pretty neat, it was like cropping some of my school projects so they appeared abstract). Lets say I should have spent the full 12 weeks on it.
Why would someone deliberately put themselves in this position where they would miss a deadline and potentially lose a job, client, contract? My reason (or excuse since there is no good reason to miss the deadline, unless you get kidnapped by monkeys and taken to the mother ship) is I get distracted and then say "oh it can wait until ...." then just forget about it. Or I will say "I need to do this" and have someone ask me for something else (which I can't say no to ever, but that's another topic). Do we do this to ourselves so we have to have that panic moment to be creative? Is it detrimental to your creative process to have a deadline that seems so far in the distance come up and slap you saying "ha ha here I am!"?
Right now I work in a field that has no give on deadlines. If I miss one I cost companies up to $800 a day plus medical costs. I have never missed one of those deadlines. I got close once. So now the next thing is, should I charge myself funds every day I am late on a creative deadline? I don't know.
Well next time I should have an update on time, and maybe a more put together topic.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Mind Blank, jumpstarting ideas
I am a little late in updating the blog (as you probably noticed). In deciding what to talk about I thought, why not discuss what you do when you find you are stuck in a design or piece of art.
I recently worked on a design for a website. Updating a design is, to me, harder than designing from scratch. You see what the client has and have to expand, making it better. But what happens when the design they have isn't so bad? Of course you are given what the client wants (which in this case was way too much information) and have to come up with something to blow their mind. I started strong on the design, and when I hit the layout part of the content I hit a brick wall of pixels. My mind went blank and I just sat there staring alternately at my computer screen and sketch book. Asking my roommate and friend their opinion really didn't help much, though I appreciated their insight. I walked away from the project for a day and tried to go back, full of vigor only to look at what I had already and realize that the wall was still there.
For most of us we can't afford to have a block, a wall that is in our brain preventing us from even a bad idea. So what do you do to jump start your ideas again? Getting the creative juices flowing, as it were, can be really hard or pretty darn easy. Sometimes I walk away from the project, other times I will grab some markers or crayons and just do random doodles (which is how I came up with Fred in my Flash class, I should tell you about him someday). I have a plastic envelop which has clippings, papers, and all sorts of other things that I will go through when I am working on something. Sometimes it helps, other times all I do is waste a bit of time going through the fat file.
How do you get out of the block? Do you even experience it or is it something that is purely in my head? What do you do when you hit that wall of pixels or shall we call it the "wall of mental anguish"?
I recently worked on a design for a website. Updating a design is, to me, harder than designing from scratch. You see what the client has and have to expand, making it better. But what happens when the design they have isn't so bad? Of course you are given what the client wants (which in this case was way too much information) and have to come up with something to blow their mind. I started strong on the design, and when I hit the layout part of the content I hit a brick wall of pixels. My mind went blank and I just sat there staring alternately at my computer screen and sketch book. Asking my roommate and friend their opinion really didn't help much, though I appreciated their insight. I walked away from the project for a day and tried to go back, full of vigor only to look at what I had already and realize that the wall was still there.
For most of us we can't afford to have a block, a wall that is in our brain preventing us from even a bad idea. So what do you do to jump start your ideas again? Getting the creative juices flowing, as it were, can be really hard or pretty darn easy. Sometimes I walk away from the project, other times I will grab some markers or crayons and just do random doodles (which is how I came up with Fred in my Flash class, I should tell you about him someday). I have a plastic envelop which has clippings, papers, and all sorts of other things that I will go through when I am working on something. Sometimes it helps, other times all I do is waste a bit of time going through the fat file.
How do you get out of the block? Do you even experience it or is it something that is purely in my head? What do you do when you hit that wall of pixels or shall we call it the "wall of mental anguish"?
Monday, March 28, 2011
Inspiration in strange places
There are days when I have my sketch book and get a million ideas (maybe not a million, but quite a bit). Then there are days when I wrack my brain to try and get one that doesn't look like I designed it while under the influence of prescription cold medicine. Sometimes when I am working on something that I have already sketched a rough design idea of, I get bogged down and just can't go any further with it. The things that can bring you out of those are interesting and sometimes quite strange indeed.
There have been projects where a song, or a memory would cause me to have sudden insight into what I wanted on my sketch book or computer screen. Colors and images I wouldn't normally use just seemed to pop in certain moods.
I was assigned a project in a very basic graphics class where we had to design a typeface. Yup! Design a typeface. Everyone in the class started sketching and doodling, my sketch pad was blank. At the time I was also working a couple of jobs, so after class that day I went to work. I was a parking attendant at a city parking lot. There was one lot that was right next to a shady tennis court, which was where I got stationed that day. Since it was slow I had my sketch book with me and would try my hardest to come up with SOMETHING!
That's when I saw it! Lizards! No one had done lizards yet. It was original, it was... too boring! So I changed my lizards to geckos. It was right around the time Geico came out with their cute, comical spokesperson. My teacher would be thrilled! At least I thought so. She wasn't that impressed (I probably shouldn't have made them eat the tail of the other one to form letters), but the point is I found inspiration in a strange place.
When you are designing something (whether it's graphics related or even a living room!), what strange places have you found inspiration?
There have been projects where a song, or a memory would cause me to have sudden insight into what I wanted on my sketch book or computer screen. Colors and images I wouldn't normally use just seemed to pop in certain moods.
I was assigned a project in a very basic graphics class where we had to design a typeface. Yup! Design a typeface. Everyone in the class started sketching and doodling, my sketch pad was blank. At the time I was also working a couple of jobs, so after class that day I went to work. I was a parking attendant at a city parking lot. There was one lot that was right next to a shady tennis court, which was where I got stationed that day. Since it was slow I had my sketch book with me and would try my hardest to come up with SOMETHING!
That's when I saw it! Lizards! No one had done lizards yet. It was original, it was... too boring! So I changed my lizards to geckos. It was right around the time Geico came out with their cute, comical spokesperson. My teacher would be thrilled! At least I thought so. She wasn't that impressed (I probably shouldn't have made them eat the tail of the other one to form letters), but the point is I found inspiration in a strange place.
When you are designing something (whether it's graphics related or even a living room!), what strange places have you found inspiration?
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Vivids, Visuals, Valuable!
Remember in English class when you would write an essay and the teacher would tell you to use vivid language or descriptors? How much more attention do you pay to ads and bill boards if there are "vivid visuals"? Would you be more apt to read this whole blog if there were images? I am sure you would! We are visual people who like to see pictures.
Imagine you are reading a brochure for a trip to Prague (I chose Prague because it's a beautiful city and you can get amazing pictures there without being a professional).
The brochure is full of type, no pictures, no descriptive language:
"The city is the capital of the Czech Republic. It's old. It's in Europe"
This doesn't sound like a great place to go on vacation does it? Ok, try this one then:
"This beautiful city, being the capital of the Czech Republic, is full of rich history and awe inspiring architecture." Then has this image inside:
The brochure and the city become more interesting. It's no longer this dreary read, it's a place! A mysterious, beautiful place full of history and wonder!
But! Remember that using images also has a downside. You can make mistakes by using the wrong one. For example: You wouldn't use the above picture to talk about health care or financial issues. It wouldn't fit the subject.
Imagine you are reading a brochure for a trip to Prague (I chose Prague because it's a beautiful city and you can get amazing pictures there without being a professional).
The brochure is full of type, no pictures, no descriptive language:
"The city is the capital of the Czech Republic. It's old. It's in Europe"
This doesn't sound like a great place to go on vacation does it? Ok, try this one then:
"This beautiful city, being the capital of the Czech Republic, is full of rich history and awe inspiring architecture." Then has this image inside:
But! Remember that using images also has a downside. You can make mistakes by using the wrong one. For example: You wouldn't use the above picture to talk about health care or financial issues. It wouldn't fit the subject.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Good enough or just garbage?
Design that blog...
Over the weekend I was of a mind to design my blog some. I like the template design but it just doesn't say it's me or graphic design, typography, art or crafts. It's pretty, just doesn't go with the idea of this blog. So I looked up tutorials. I found one that looked like it would be easy and quite useful. It's on the Vandelay design website (http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/website-layout-photoshop-tutorials/ ). Being a smart designer I figured I would do the tutorial, use my own images and then as I got more confident with the HTML, coding!
Sadly, as you can see it did not work out. I am still trying to get step 2 down. Where you use the pretty design they give you as a background abstract image, my little gradient is now blank. I can't find something I think is "good enough" to put up there.
This is an issue we all run into. Whether it's sewing a hemline (yes I have torn out hemlines up to 12 times to get them right), coloring inside the lines (it's a HUGE issue when you are 6) or your design you spent hours pouring blood, sweat and tears into. As a designer the thing that we sell is our skills. If you don't believe in your work, how will anyone else?
Value your work...
HOW magazine recently published an article where there are 29 things a new designer must know. One of them is to value your work. This is the hardest step for me, and others it appears! We go out and bid for a job, the job is a good one. You put in your bid where it's not too high, but still you get to eat more than Ramen for the month. The sweating starts, you question yourself, the doubt creeps in with misery and when it's time to start your presentation you put down yourself and your design without even realizing it. It's time to show that you care about your work and you know you are good at what you do.
Lately, I have found that part to be the hardest part, not the brainstorming, thumbnails, composites... just the part where I say I like that design, it's my best yet! So I tear up my thumbnails or despair and just do the lamest job I can, so I get credit or just get it over with.
The wind up...
I just put in for a design position. Whether I get it or not is dependent upon how I sell myself to the project manager and the head design guy. Am I nervous? Yes, as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs (love that image). Was I sick to my stomach when I sent a couple of my pieces to them? Oh yes I was, I thought I would faint. But the key here is I did it. And I guess that means that when I get the rest of my design back up CD's to actually spin right, I can design this blog and it will be amazing!
Remember to value your work, and mean it! If you don't it could cost you a position, sale or even a night's sleep!
Over the weekend I was of a mind to design my blog some. I like the template design but it just doesn't say it's me or graphic design, typography, art or crafts. It's pretty, just doesn't go with the idea of this blog. So I looked up tutorials. I found one that looked like it would be easy and quite useful. It's on the Vandelay design website (http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/website-layout-photoshop-tutorials/ ). Being a smart designer I figured I would do the tutorial, use my own images and then as I got more confident with the HTML, coding!
Sadly, as you can see it did not work out. I am still trying to get step 2 down. Where you use the pretty design they give you as a background abstract image, my little gradient is now blank. I can't find something I think is "good enough" to put up there.
This is an issue we all run into. Whether it's sewing a hemline (yes I have torn out hemlines up to 12 times to get them right), coloring inside the lines (it's a HUGE issue when you are 6) or your design you spent hours pouring blood, sweat and tears into. As a designer the thing that we sell is our skills. If you don't believe in your work, how will anyone else?
Value your work...
HOW magazine recently published an article where there are 29 things a new designer must know. One of them is to value your work. This is the hardest step for me, and others it appears! We go out and bid for a job, the job is a good one. You put in your bid where it's not too high, but still you get to eat more than Ramen for the month. The sweating starts, you question yourself, the doubt creeps in with misery and when it's time to start your presentation you put down yourself and your design without even realizing it. It's time to show that you care about your work and you know you are good at what you do.
Lately, I have found that part to be the hardest part, not the brainstorming, thumbnails, composites... just the part where I say I like that design, it's my best yet! So I tear up my thumbnails or despair and just do the lamest job I can, so I get credit or just get it over with.
The wind up...
I just put in for a design position. Whether I get it or not is dependent upon how I sell myself to the project manager and the head design guy. Am I nervous? Yes, as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs (love that image). Was I sick to my stomach when I sent a couple of my pieces to them? Oh yes I was, I thought I would faint. But the key here is I did it. And I guess that means that when I get the rest of my design back up CD's to actually spin right, I can design this blog and it will be amazing!
Remember to value your work, and mean it! If you don't it could cost you a position, sale or even a night's sleep!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Wait, that typeface is a corporate identity??
I was driving home from work earlier this week and while in traffic noticed this van in the lane next to me. I normally check out the logos and type on commercial vehicles here because it's Orlando. Our companies that have cars, trucks and vans tend to use some funky design and text, Lynx bus lines tend to do full vehicle wraps that just amaze me.
Back to our van from earlier this week, there was no real logo. I thought "OK, so that company is using the name and type for their identity" and really took a look at it. Papyrus. The whole company identity, including the website, phone numbers, everything was in Papyrus. Now don't get me wrong it's a nice typeface. I have used it myself. But there are times and places for it. It seems that this company just didn't understand that septic tanks and Papyrus just don't seem to go together in most minds.
I might have gone with something that wasn't as delicate looking myself. Maybe used something that showed strength like Bodoni, or maybe flexibility like Bauhaus. Just not a flowery script that looks like it's fading away. That I would have saved for something not having to do with waste water and sewage.
When do we use those fun fonts?! Imagine you are doing a black tie dinner and you want to use Taco... I think that might be a bit much but we can work with it. Use it for one piece... like maybe the headline. but don't use it for every word, number and symbol on the page. Though I wouldn't use Taco for something like that unless it was for a taco stand.
This brings to mind an article that was written on the use of Comic Sans. The title was "Typeface Inspired by Comic Books Has Become a Font of Ill Will" and it was in the Wall Street Journal. The article talks about how a font created for fun in comics is now being used everywhere. People fall in love with it and put it on fine jewelry stores, important documents and even a theater in Spain. Now why would I be going on about a typeface and what is the point of this? See there are times for everything. You wouldn't go to a wedding wearing your pajamas would you? Well if you are designing a legal document you wouldn't use a font that make people think of the Sunday funnies!
I guess I am just silly that this irritates me. Not to the point where I am going to lash out and yell. No, I will shake my head, take a picture and put that snapshot in my "Do Not Do!!" file.
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