Alternate Perspectives

I recently found some work while meandering through the blogosphere that runs somewhat parrallel to the "Design is..." question that I have been engaged in answering.


























The above piece is an excellent example of the painful search for what design means to us as designers. It is directly reflective of my personal attempt to narrow down all of the possible answers as to what design really is.





























I found these and a variety of other examples of excellent type thinking and design here.

My Personal Design Theory Revisited

Having been asked to outline my personal design theory, I know that it can be an intensely personal journey to delve into our subconscious to pull out whatever it is we tap into. I have found that I have entirely too much to say on the topic so it has been difficult to narrow my focus to just one answer to the question: What is Design?

I personally feel that design(good design anyways) is visual rhetoric; a type of coercion which we are all receptive to on a subconscious level. We cannot help but respond to visual rhetoric because of the powerful way which our minds can automatically interpret visual information.

Think of a rhetorical question, it's intention is to present an idea, but rather than telling the listener what to think or do, it merely begs a question it has already answered.

For design to truly be a rhetorical question, we need to change the way we present the design, -if only slightly- so that the viewer is asked rather than told where to go next, even though we are leading them along a path of our own design.

In the end, if the goal of design is to entice the viewer into some form of action, the designs that are more effective are the ones that people have to think about. I think people will walk away from a rhetorical design feeling as though they can own the ideas they have taken from it, simply because they were asked -not told- what to think.

The hippest dog on the block

I don't know what exactly this says about the current state of graphic design, but once again the folks at DesignObserver have provided me with another sweet example of how the internet can appeal to all audiences.

If youve ever wanted to beatbox like a pro, check this out. This app lets you customize the flow, freestyling a variety of barks sniffs and scratches. Quite entertaining to say the least 

10 things that make me happy

In this playful exercise I have been asked to summarize the things that make me happy. I suppose as a designer, the closer I can get to understanding what makes me happy, the better equipped I will be to make others feel the same.

10 things that make me happy:

1. Walking my dog after a snow storm

2. Admiring a finished design

3. the (rare) courtesy of others

4. Mike Patton

5. Science fiction and forward thinking

6. a peaceful, quiet, and uninterrupted chance to develop a concept

7. Down time for personal development (of which I have none)

8. Reacquainting myself with old friends

9. A full bodied red with a smooth yet slightly spicy finish

10. The love of a truly passionate and driven woman

My Big Future

In my continuous pursuit of the perfect agency, I happened upon an unusual tidbit that I think we can all use.

It always surprises me to find anything online that I can directly relate to. I am forever wary of the monstrous, catacomb-like nature of the internet; while I know the information is out there i can never seem to find what it is I need.











It seems that TAXI has hit the nail on the head with this website. This resource is a sort of informal how-to for the advertising rookie. Be sure to check it out, theres a wealth of resources and much needed advice on finding your place in the complicated world of Advertising and Design.

Fossil - packaging with true integrity

Theres something to be said for those who stay true to traditional standards of quality.








One of my favorite brands -one of the few brands which I see fit to endorse- is Fossil. The classic style and feeling that they strive to encapsulate for the consumer has hit home with me ever since I was given my first fossil watch a few years ago.







In packaging, I am a big fan of reusability. For me, the more uses something gets, the better I can justify the production of a product in the first place. With a Fossil Tin, not only have you got a work of art -a show piece if you will- I can say from experience that each tin in my ever growing collection has served a variety of functions in their own time.

I also feel that the use of their signature tins is reflective of the quality of products that they provide. I have yet to be dissappointed by the quality of fossil products each with leather trimming or a variety of other features.

Although I suppose the statement made by designing a tin for your product is that it is of a high level of quality. After all, what better way is there to imply that your new watch may still need a home in 5, 10, or 15 years.

I think this is what is missing from our consumer culture. It is remarkably rare that we would buy products that will last a lifetime. It seems Aldous Huxley knew what he was talking about in Brave New World when he supposed that our love of new products would be a driving force for industry "Ending is better than mending. The more stitches, the less riches"




















My girlfriend Debbie recently gave me a book called 'Tinspiration' which is where I got these samples from. The book is a collection of tins arranged and photographed in interesting and unique ways indicative of the inspiration that went into each tin.

I never liked her anyways...

well, well, It seems I finally know who my REAL friends are. With that sort of conduct I guess Hillary really deosn't care who I vote for. Lucky for her, this Canuck has no clout anways...

hillaryclintonisyournewbicicle.com

barackobamaisyournewbicicle.com