AIGA Conference - Command X - pt.2

A complex issue such as youth voting is certainly not one that can be tackled in a mere 24 hours. This is not to say that the contestants in this years AIGA - CommandX competition failed to do so, but unfortunately the ideas that were presented had such great potential that it was somewhat of a letdown to not see them through to their end.







Kelly Dorsey's campaign 'they wont expect it' is a prime example of this fact. I loved the cheeky attitude of the ads, but as the judges had suggested, the creative was not supported by a cohesive campaign and sadly it did not fulfill its potential.























I thought that all of the campaigns did an excellent job of reaching the target market in question, but what surprised me was how perceptive the contestants were.

Each of the contestants issued a challenge to the viewer, in Kelly's case it was more overt, but in Nichelle's campaign I was blown away by the subtlety and severity that were played against each other. Here, rather than hit the viewer over the head, Nichelle allowed them to ponder the message; you are incapable of making change unless you vote.


















The minimalistic execution popularized by apple fit magnificently, and allowed the concept to fully shine through. This style has become incredibly popular, and in this setting it becomes apparent that what is becoming trendy in design spheres, is conceptually driven advertisements that do not colour the way the viewer interprets the message.

A list of things I have learned thus far

Stephan Sagmeister is a designer and artist who has taken what he has learned through experience and expressed it through an assortment of large scale installation art pieces. He revisited the list from which the pieces were created at the 2007 TED conference which you can watch here.










In response to the list of things Stephan Sagmeister has learned so far, I too have boiled down what I now know into a short list of knowable truths.

I cannot control how my words, actions, or designs are interpreted.
I am responsible for my failings and successes.
karma will be repaid, for better or worse.
A mistake is often forgivable, taking for granted that it will be forgiven, is not.
Loving some(one/thing) is meaningless unless you express it.
When you love and respect yourself, others will too.
Stupidity ends with education, ignorance with love, and arrogance with defeat.
Losing control of my temper brings out the ugly side of the people around me.
My creativity is dependent on nourishment and rest.
I will never be completely satisfied by the quality of my own work.

While I cannot say that I look back favorably on the circumstances in which these lessons were learned, their value to me is incalculable nonetheless.

A Semiotic Analysis: Craig Steffen, Designer.

Every day we transmit information to the people around us using a variety of delivery methods; Verbal/Audio, Visual, Tactile, Olfactory, and Gustatory.
To analyse the methods of transmission Craig Steffan uses on a daily basis, I sat down for a casual interview with him to observe his habits in conversation.

Verbal/Audio:
When Craig talks, he likes to entertain the crowd using his own laughter to invite others to get in on the fun. His tone is always casual and inquisitive which draws people into conversation. And when he doesn't get the reaction he wanted, you can expect a sarcastic quip such as "What happened to you man... you used to be so much fun" which is delivered with what seems like grave sincerity.

Visual:
Craig uses dramatic body language in conversation, often pointing a finger or a pen to illustrate his point. When boasting, either seriously or for the sake of comic effect, Craig emphasizes his height, raising his shoulders and spreading his arms as if to say "you want a piece of me?".

Tactile:
Craig makes use of tactile transmission in two ways. First, he will draw people into conversation by patting them on the shoulder. He also likes to use a similar tactic to issue challenges, tapping you on the chest or shoulder with the back of his hand

Olfactory/Gustatory:
Craig's good hygiene implies respect for the people around him. He always chews gum, and is generous in offering it to the people around him, making people feel more welcome.