Review

Well, I've made it to post number 60. It seems like a nice round number, perfect for reflecting on the whole of the semester. This semester was good. Met some new people, got taught by some new instructors, took some new classes. I think I finally understand the pace that this program runs at now. Took me a year to get it, but I think I at least understand it now. It'll be tricky to change my habits, but I'll adapt. I think I'm still learning about what makes design compared to other aspects that work with it such as illustration and the like. I guess that'll come with time though.

I liked the fact that this year had a different feel from all my past years in school. Something about knowing that this will end up being a career really settled in. Hopefully, keeping that in mind, I'll try to push my design more and figure out what works for me.

Signing off for summer days....

Skull-A-Day

Based on the conversation from earlier today, I had to post a link to this blog. People may have already posted a lot of stuff from here, but I guess it's an interesting concept. Similar to the ring concept from my previous post, this is taking the archetype of a skull and finding different ways of creating design (amongst other things) with it in mind. Personally, I like the piece above. It has high contrast and a bit of thought behind it. Otherwise, there aren't too many design pieces on the website. Interesting to take a little look at though.
http://skulladay.blogspot.com/

Natural Electronics

Here's another example of taking an unexpected material and making it part of design. Andrew Ross has made design pieces out of wasted cow bones. It's an interesting idea to make electronics out of a natural substance. It's quirky and chic.
http://www.dezeen.com/2008/07/14/the-bone-project-by-andrew-ross/

Paper Lamp

With everyone wanting to be 'green' and environmentally friendly, designer David Gardener has taken it to a place that I know a lot of other people are, making the product part of the packaging. He's created a lamp that is packaged in paper pulp. The packaging also holds the paper pulp shade made for the lamp. Rather than throwing the whole paper part out, a good part of it is reused. I think that this is where design is heading towards. Eventually, if people are not expecting this from their products, it will become necessary regardless. I think it's a challenge most designers are willing to take on.
http://www.dezeen.com/2008/08/14/packaging-lamp-by-david-gardener/

Book Vases

The idea of taking a material that's unexpected and transforming it is really intriguing. Designer Laura Cahill has done just that with her vases and furniture made out of used books. Although the designs for her furniture are nice, it's the medium that really makes them stand out. I'd love to do something like this again. Last year, I had an assignment where we had an archetype (mine was a ring) and we had to create three pieces of work a week out of different materials based on the archetype. I found it really opened me to looking at all materials differently. For example, laminate floor padding is a really cool material to design with. Regardless, I got what I think I needed to out of the project, the idea that anything could be used to design with. So, now I don't count anything out. People still surprise me; always interesting to see how designers are able to look at things in a different light.

http://www.dezeen.com/2008/09/05/book-vases-by-laura-cahill/

Wet Paint

I thought this ad really stood out. It's an exciting idea, having things on a large scale like that. It made me think of how work must be planned depending on size. There's no way that this ad would've been as effective if it was smaller. Or maybe it would've been. It's hard to say. Just looking at it you know that it took much planning to make it work. It also makes you think of the possibilities of how big your work could really be (figuratively speaking).

P.S. I also really like the fact that the ad for the paint and the insurance company play off one another. They make for an interesting combo.

http://designyoutrust.com/2010/04/04/50-extremely-clever-ads-from-around-the-world/

No Clownin' Around

The structure of this ad is interesting. It's really easy for me to see the grid in it now. There are a bunch of different typefaces in there too, yet all of them manage to work together. Maybe it's a little less cohesive that it could be because of them all, but somehow it still works out. The colours in this ad are great though, the bright hues contrasting with the white all throughout the piece. Putting all design elements aside, this ad is freaky. From the overexcited clown to the fact that Mr. Kool Aid looks like he's melting, I can't imagine how many dreams this ad must have haunted.

http://www.retroist.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/kool-aid-klown.jpg