Graphic design (posters, logos, illustrations, editorials, etc) is about finding the best way to communicate the message to the audience. Design can encompass so many fields and theories and the goal is to constantly push the boundaries of what this means. As a designer I will challenge myself to find new ways to connect with the public.
Often the message communicated to the public in our capitalist based society is about the benefits and necessity of a commercial product. I hope to have the flexibility in my profession to choose to design for products that have positive messages, and are not just out for fiscal gain.
Although striving to create aesthetically pleasing compositions is one part of it, its important to aim to be a designer and not a decorator. Designing means narrowing in on an idea, flushing out the possibilities with this idea and with the product and creating a smart design. Whereas decorating means taking the item and using conventional design strategies, such as randomly chosen graphics or stock photos, free fonts, conventional filters etc to make the product visually pleasing. Anyone can decorate. What separates a good designer and the average person with the design software is the designer’s ability to think outside of the box to best communicate to their audience.
When possible it is important to strive to be a sustainable designer, which means looking for ways to leave the least impact on the environment while still meeting the client’s and product’s needs in the design. This is possible by choosing recyclable materials, running your studio in an environmentally friendly way and choosing to work for companies that also practice sustainability. Although it is often more expensive to create sustainable design, it is important to try to convince the clients to take the greener option when deciding where to have their designs printed and manufactured.
As a designer it is vital to know what is popular and always be ahead of the cultural curve. Therefore staying up to date with trends in fashion, art, music and society is crucial for a designer. Knowing the other visual chaoes that encircles the genre that that the designer is designing for is imperative so he or she can find a way to do something different to get attention. With each design assignment, it is necessary to research and draw from many sources to create the most effective design.
With my design I will strive to think unconventionally, be different and always bring my unique personality to my work.
2 comments:
I like the distinction you make about being a designer vs. a decorator. I find graphic design to be an immensely difficult field to be truly talented because in order to be really great, you have to create something entirely new. To create some combination of words and shapes and colors and textures that hasn’t been done before is something I find to be pretty awe-inspiring. I agree entirely with your point that it’s really easy to rely on free fonts and templates and existing imagery to create something but that doing so doesn’t necessarily make one a designer.
I believe that as a designer, you are headed in the right direction, especially with a statement like this. And I agree with hannahblog about making the distinction between designers and decorators, thats important, especially these days with all the technology. If you continue with the mindset you've describe you will definitely go far, and it seems that you have a great work ethic.
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