designjamblog

[designjamblog]

Statement of Intent

ARTC 1301

1. Content in Form, ARTC 1301: For this piece I focused on an structure of a shoe rack from a local thrift store. While this form is seemingly ordinary, for each pair of shoes I saw a history, stories of someone's life. Soles with souls. This disorganized display of shoes embodies the individuality of each person that previously wore them. When a customer buys a pair, they are literally walking in someone else’s shoes. It is a unique experience knowing that someone else lived part of their vivid and complex life in these shoes. Now they can continue these soles' journeys when they take them off the shelf and bring them home. The image is carefully framed so that the viewer shares the perspective of a shopper. The messy display of shoes creates an interesting texture throughout the image with heavy contrast. As your eye follows down the shelf, the shoes create a rhythm with several variations.

2. Designing with Type, ARTC 1301: "Can Science Help Stop Career Criminals?" In 2013, a group of scientists found that brain scans can predict, with surprising accuracy, the likelihood that criminals will break the law again. After performing the study, the scans found that participants with low levels of activity in a brain region called the anterior cingulate cortex were more than twice as likely to be rearrested within four years of their release. The possibility that brain activity could predict criminal behavior opens several opportunities in creating a safer future. To communicate this article's main message, I chose to manipulate the word "criminal" and use the letter "I" to create a brain. I also distorted the letters to mimic the scan, purposely leaving an open space inside the brain where the anterior cingulate cortex is located to convey the low levels of activity in that region. Inverting the collage further represents the image of a brain scan.

3. Creative Book, ARTC 1301: My book is a collection of photos taken at a small business called Pond King. This business focuses on making quality pond products, which are made right there on site. I was able to explore the working space, with my photos featuring the main steps included in the process of building a pontoon boat. I chose a consistent design which I thought reflected the simplicity of the area. I also included some variation by using my gird to create negative spaces in the secondary images. My goal for my design is to represent this small business which was established in a quaint, little town. I want to showcase the authentic experience and products that Pond King has to offer.

4. Dust Jacket, ARTC 1301: I designed a book dust for the novel Fiskadoro, a book in which a world is disconnected from its past. To communicate how the people are trying to rebuild their world, I ripped a map of the Key West into pieces including space between the pieces to show the attempt to put it back together. The ripped pieces are held up by push pins which add a three-dimensional element. For the background, I used a photo of an abandoned building to represent the destruction of their world. This photo features jagged lines and texture which creates an interesting visual. I integrated the type with the graphic by using a consistent typeface to match with the words on the map.

ARTC 1302

1. Letterforms & Objects, ARTC 1302: For this piece, I created a visual connection between the letter "J" and a jackpot, and the letter "M" and a match. The visual form of both objects transformed best with the sans serif fonts. The hook of the letter "J" became the pot holding the coins and the top straight half was turned into the jackpot screen with the pull down handle on the side. The crown on top of the "J", as well as the colors contribute to the image of winning jackpot. For the letter "M" I placed a match in line with the first anchor. To more effectively communicate "match" I utilized the negative space by cutting out flames and coloring the letter with a gradient red and orange.

2. Pictogram System, ARTC 1302: For my piece I chose to create a pictogram system including a lion, elephant, rhino and zebra. I decided on these animals because they share similar visual attributes while still offering an interesting variety. Through exploring their visual form, I found it most effective to represent these animal's using their side profile. This view allowed me to emphasize the different textures and shapes of each animal. I simplified the animals by using sharp lines, heavy contrast and positive and negative space to create a unified look. 

3. Opposing Forces, ARTC 1302: For this project, my goal is to communicate how music can be an escape for people, how they enter into their own world when listening to it. To communicate this, I combined an image of a girl dancing with headphones on and bright colorful sparks around her. To convey the feeling of listening to music, I chose a variety of hues and intensities. This represents how vibrant your world can be when listening to music. The image shows an external view and the colors represent the internal view of what’s going on in her head. I chose this metaphorical approach to engage viewers and create dialogue on what this combination means to them.

4. Vernacular Type Poster, ARTC 1302: What we know as the "square" today was planned out in 1851. With the courthouse at its center, it is surrounded by several historical landmarks. Then and still now the sqaure remains one of San Marcos's unique features. By lowing the opactity and size of the other type, I was able to create hierarchy with the neon sign LBJ letters. I also added texture by distorting and lowering the opactity of my type. 

[designjamblog]

Creative Thinking

Jessica Metzler

For years we’ve been told to think outside the box, but what does that really mean? It means to use our creative thinking skills. This type of thinking is “defined as a way to look at and solve problems from a different perspective, avoiding orthodox solutions.” It allows us to explore connections and create original ideas. For aspiring designers, I believe this type of thinking is crucial to master, so that we can stand out from the crowd. In this ever changing, fast growing industry we must be able adapt with the times and creative thinking is one major way to help us do so.

There are several characteristics that make up a creative thinker. The first quality is curiosity. It is important to ask questions because that way we are always learning. If we are curious, that means we are paying attention to everything we see. Noticing color, textures, lines, etc. in everyday life can help us make connections between our work and the world. I think the more curious we are, the more complex our ideas and designs will become.

Another marker of a creative thinker is flexibility, the willingness to make room for change. I believe this is especially important, because change is unavoidable in our growing world. A future client may change their mind, something could come up and concepts can change. It is vital to our success to be able to adapt with the times and embrace change. To extend on the quality of flexibility, we must also have an open mind to others critiques. It is important that we translate criticism into a constructive tool that we can use to improve our work.  

In addition to these characteristics, there are also ways to stimulate creative thinking. “Creativity is a skill that can be developed and a process that can be managed.” Even if someone isn’t naturally very creative, there are some techniques we can use to improve this skill. One of the first steps to any project is brainstorming. This means thinking and writing down every idea that pops into your head. There are a several ways to organize your ideas which include a word list, bubble map, mind map, idea categories, etc. Using a bubble map works best for me because it allows me to start with one idea and branch off into several other similar ideas. Another way to develop your creative thinking skills is through problem finding. Go ahead and just start working, sketching, etc. without a set plan in mind. Seek problems as you go along the process so that you can learn and create happy accidents. Some of my favorite parts of my work are a result of a happy accident.

Creative thinking is a tool that can be useful in not only the design world, but our everyday life. It allows us to come up with original solutions and imaginative ideas. We must always think outside the box, stay curious and work to improve our creative thinking skills.

 Citations

Radovic, Zorana. “Creative Thinking - An Essential Skill for the 21st Century.” Inkbot Design, 5 Dec. 2016, www.inkbotdesign.com.

Naiman, Linda. “What Is Creativity? (And Why Is It a Crucial Factor for Business Success?” Creativity at Work, 2018, www.creativityatwork.com.