Design is...

WELCOME to my blog on DESIGN.

The little fish in my brain are hard at work.

Why Did I Choose Design?

When I thought about what I wanted to do the rest of my life I decided I wanted to be different. I wanted self-determination and choice. I felt the need to release my ideas and to do something creative with my time. I didn’t want to get up everyday and be on an assembly line whether literally or metaphorically. I didn’t want to be doing the exact same thing as the person beside me. So many careers in the world today intimidate me because they seem programmed. I want to be able to think, to problem solve and to create different projects in distinct ways. I want to continuously keep growing and learning as a person and in my profession. Choosing a career is daunting. It feels so permanent. If you make the wrong decision you fear you will ruin your life. So to decide I looked at my passions. I thought about what I liked to do. I figured if I enjoy what I do, I can’t go wrong. I’ve always loved visuals (art, illustrations, cartoons, CG, photographs, film, magazines, books and more). I adore the visual world. Type, textures, colors, lighting and composition have always intrigued me regardless of the industry or medium they appear in. I chose to become a designer because it appeared to encompass my main priorities for a career and would compliment my infatuation with computer animation. Designers have freedom. They can work for many different types of companies or agencies in any metropolitan area or even make their own work by freelancing. They can do packaging, advertising, corporate design, editorial design and so on. One day they might be working on an edgier piece while another day it could have a more contemporary feel. It all depends on the client. I thrive for that versatility and unpredictability. Designing is creative, challenging, hands on and requires thinking. The best part is it is a visual business.

What Is Design About?

Design is about purpose. Design can serve a function, inform, communicate or cause an effect. Design is about development. It takes into consideration the needs and wants of an audience and creates a solution or message. Design is about thinking, conceptualizing, visualizing and then executing. The best design is logical because everything is based on purpose and reasoning. My favourite design balances functionality and defiant aesthetics.

Why Is Design Important?

Design is important because it causes an effect on the globe and it causes reactions within individuals. Everything within our manmade world is designed. Design has had a huge impact in forming societies across the world. Design can make our lives easier, more comfortable, and full of greater style. It sets a society’s standard of living. It can encourage our minds to want things or manipulate our minds to think we need things we don’t. It can deliver any message from world thoughtfulness to selfish materialism. Design keeps economies going. Messages make sure people continuously want more. People then design more things to fill the needs of the public. Other people produce more new things and ultimately people purchase more. Whether people buy homes, cars, cloths, music, magazines or so on the cycle continues.

Who Creates Design?

Design is created by people. People who create are designers. Designers are presented with a mission to create for a client or an audience. They develop a design to fulfill a purpose. It either serves a function and/or creates an effect. The effect could be an evoked feeling from aesthetic appearance or a communication of a message or a call to action.

What Do I Feel When I Design?

When I design I feel a compilation of emotions. Usually I feel a rise in adrenaline from either excitement or anxiety. The anxiety can come from my fear of failing, my high expectations, the intimidating where do I start syndrome or pressure. The excitement comes from my ideas pouring in every direction, my anticipation to do a great job and pressure. Regardless of which end of the spectrum I may be on when I design I always feel the pressure. The most interesting and best designs come when I am between the two extremes because then I have both excitement and anxiety driving me towards my deadline. When I finish a design if I feel it is effective I feel accomplished and proud. When I wrap up a design that is not very good I am very disappointed, regretful and critical. However, these are usually the most useful because you learn the most when you are upset with yourself. When I am happy with a design I’ve finished and others don’t understand it or appreciate it in the same way I do I feel frustrated, confused and misinterpreted. This usually feels worse then failure and is my least favourite feeling when designing. I try to determine why the other person may not feel the same way I do. Sometimes when I design I may intentionally or subconsciously feel the mood I am trying to reflect in the piece of work. For example I may feel focused and serious when designing a corporate logo and happy and relaxed when designing a humorous ad.

How Good Design Makes Me Feel

When I experience good design from other people I feel impressed and inspired. It drives my motivation to be in design and to improve. Good design expands my outlook and my mind. It makes me feel passionate and hopeful. When I see design I feel is bad design from others I feel curious. I wonder if I am missing something. I try to have an open mind. I question what their thought process was like and think what might work better. Sometimes I find ineffective design annoying especially poor info design.

Design is…?

Design is a process of development based on fulfilling a purpose. The purpose can be to serve a function and/or produce a desired consequence such as send a message, influence an action or evoke a feeling from aesthetic appeal.

Design is influential. With that influence we as designers

have great power.