INTRODUCTION
As a graphic designer, my intent is to deeply understand the problems of design through wider perspectives. Hence, I must have ‘eyes of everything’. According to Zeynep (2020), the three principles that one should be attentive to are curiosity, processes, experimentation and planning out. Through this approach, it is also about having tenacity in designing, meaning to hold a strong discipline and determination in my design practice. Firstly, I need to look into the design process in more detail and in a curious way in order to have a clearer understanding before executing an outcome. For instance, David Carson, Ray Gun Magazine Art Director, showcases a variety of design elements which sparks my interest in his overall design aesthetic. Secondly, through process and experimentation, I am able to challenge my art direction in another perspective. Carson quoted that, “if you find your creativity through Google, then you’re probably not very creative”. (Gosling, 2019). Thus, his ideation taught me to explore beyond my understanding, to be unique from others. Thirdly, critical thinking plays an important role in planning out the entire scope. Therefore, I am able to think cohesively upon my decision making. Carson has inspired me with a strong design attitude and tenacity in design, his mindset of how he visualizes to be extraordinary.
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BODY
Before directing to any of my design approaches, curiosity plays an important role towards my life. Curiosity always has new things that are able to attract and spark my attention on doing it. Designing and producing an idea does not only concentrate on the projects or works but it also requires me to be curious in other aspects that I do. For instance, learning and trying out something new, enables me to boost my curiosity and have a better insight towards it. Overall perspective, curiosity is one of my foundations and base to seek new outcomes throughout my design’s approach. By being curious, it helps me to achieve new ideas and inspirations that is on the far aside from my boundary. According to a quote by Rose Wilder Lane, she mentioned that “curiosity is the hunger of the human mind.” It shows that the mindset of being curious has challenge me to a new path and direction. As a result, curiosity can flare up a person's interest in no matter they are doing.
Design process and experiment plays an important role in developing an art piece. In order to dive deeper into a particular project or work, I take into account by looking at all the specific details of the design in a more cohesive manner, by approaching an additional initiative and steps to set things in an unexpected way. In addition to that, experimenting with various techniques and methods, I am able to formulate my ideas and creativity when executing the design. Apart from that, curating ideas is not only based on Google platform or secondary research, however through observation and understanding differently it will solve the design’s problems. This activity demonstrates that design is not only just to look nice but the meaning behind it is more important. According to Paula Scher, she mentioned that her visual design is used to communicate to the society and able to convey the message in a deeper context when people view it. Her artwork was so diverse that it inspired other people to know more about her design process and other artworks, delivering a great initial idea when designing. The most important key Paula Scher mentioned from the interview is that observing and sketching is the way to it (Barker, n.d.). Besides that, an artist who is always experimenting in his own work to a certain extent is Wolfgang Weingart. He showcases his unique typography approach and process by experimenting with various elements, ideas and printing techniques. The elements that he utilized were mainly consists of typography, photography, colours and other graphic elements. On the contrary, Weingart’s ideas are based on deconstruction style, design from a different variation. Following this, he uses letterpress and some other type elements as his printing technique (Philips, 2015). Through his assurance and enthusiasm, it creates a solid ideation and process planning throughout his design work. As a result, the style of design that he did, was able to communicate and deliver out a distinguish message to the audience. Both practitioners' design methods inspire me to experiment my design processes differently in order to achieve my target when developing a project, challenging myself to see from a wider perspective. Therefore, every designer has their own imagination and creativity in producing the artwork.
The first part that I’ll consider planning is to strategize and carefully pay attention to the outcome in a more discipline manner. To begin with, writing down some keywords and drafting out a proper timeline, to keep track of all my projects efficiently. Planning out projects, especially the way to form ideas and approach, is by exploring my boundary beyond my understanding. In addition to that, planning out differently allows me to look at the entire scope before starting straight into it. As a result, I am able to organise my routine and work flow throughout the entire outcome. A practitioner, Stefan Sagmeister who shares the similar process as he planned out his entire Happy Film in a contrasting manner. The Happy Film documentary undergoes a series of self-experiments outlined by popular psychology to test once and for all if it is possible for a person to have a meaningful impact on their own happiness. Sagmeister mentioned that design plays a task within the film just because design plays a job in his life, but it is by coincidence. The strategies that he planned out which are not the design strategies, it basically comes from all the way down to meditation, cognitive therapy and drugs (Arnolfini, n.d.). His scope of understanding into a particular subject is very outstanding and extraordinary which able to influence other people. Hence, his ideation and process plays an important role in organizing and structuring his film (Pavlus, 2011). On the other hand, in spite of his disappointment and blunder amid the method of producing the Happy Film, his perseverance and determination keep him motivated until the end. Nevertheless, he always challenge himself to find new solutions and ways to solve the context and issues of it. Inspiration plays an important role as a designers’ lifestyle, able to create new and meaningful design to ensure that it fits into the vision and context when designing. As a consequence, through brainstorming and mapping out new ideas it enables me to develop and broaden my understanding to create my design piece. Thus, Happy Film has motivated my design approach to plan it differently.
All in all, combining all the design approach such as curiosity, process, experiment and planning out, it allows me to set a strong discipline in aligning and organising all my projects together. The mindset of how I envision will eventually set my design outcome. Having a great tenacity in design will enhance my productivity and outcome in another way. Further to that, this approach will strengthen my understanding to challenge my mindset to think it differently in everything that I do. Training my mindset to see things in a wider scope rather than just a narrow hole. A book of Information-Rich Exploration in the Early Design Phase views problem solving in another context. The role of the designer is therefore not only to find the correct solution but to identify the right question to ask, exploration is an exploratory itself (Aksoz Zeynep, 2020). Thus, designers should be curious and understand the entire scope before starting into design.
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CONCLUSION
My creative aspiration lies within the eyes of everything when designing. My EYES, to venture everything will enable my imagination and creativity in a different manner. Every individual has their own artistry and vision towards their design approach. The contexts for my projects which I am aiming for is ‘Colours’, used as my main point of research for both my independent and external projects. Colours plays an important part in every individual's life. Therefore, I am interpreting colours in another way to explore a deeper understanding of it. Hence, planning to do a book where I am able to experiment with different techniques and design elements to it. Through the book itself it is a platform or place for users to research and gather more information regarding the topic ‘Colours’. Stressing on the second point which is to showcase all my design approaches that are stated from my Statement Of Intent. This to be said that my design needs to have a solid and rational meaning in every design that I produce. An inspiring quote that mentioned from Paul Rand is that “the designer does not begin with some preconceived idea. Rather, the idea is the result of careful study and observation, and the design of the product of that idea.” It means that as a designer, the process is more important than the design outcome. Thus, in every way that I envisioned (mindset) it will drawback to my design process.
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5 KEY REFERENCES
Aksoz Zeynep (2020). 2.2 Information-Rich Exploration in the Early Design Phase. Retrieved June 1, 2021 https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv13xprf6.8?Search=yes&resultItemClick=true&searchText=design+to+influence+others&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Ddesign%2Bto%2Binfluence%2Bothers&ab_segments=0%2FSYC-5770%2Fcontrol&refreqid=fastly-default%3Ac5f734f8c3f2fde0f92e1ee9c6431b44&seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents
Arnolfini (n.d.). Stefan Sagmeister presents The Happy Film. Retrieved June 2, 2021 https://wedesignforum.co.uk/hosts/stefan-sagmeister-presents-the-happy-film
Barker C (December 7). An Interview With Paula Scher. Retrieved from June 4, 2021 https://www.semipermanent.com/stories/interview-paula-scher
Pavlus (2011, August 10). Stefan Sagmeister On Co-Directing His First Documentary, “The Happy Film”. Retrieved May 5, 2021 https://www.fastcompany.com/1664738/stefan-sagmeister-on-co-directing-his-first-documentary-the-happy-film-2
Philips (2018, June 18). Quick Design History: Wolfgang Weingart #ThrowbackThursday. Retrieved June 4 2021 https://www.shillingtoneducation.com/blog/wolfgang-weingart-tbt/#:~:text=The%20fundamental%20elements%20of%20International,So%2C%20back%20to%20Weingart
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ADDITIONAL REFERENCES
Esanu (2018, May 23). 35 Quotes On Design That Will Fuel Up Your Creativity. Retrieved June 2, 2021
https://blog.prototypr.io/35-quotes-on-design-that-will-fuel-up-your-creativity-15060f732f1
Gosling E (2019, August 12). Anti-grid Design Icon David Carson Says Computers Make You Lazy + Indie Magazines Needs to Liven Up. Retrieved June 2, 2021 https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/anti-grid-icon-david-carson-on-why-computers-make-you-lazy-and-indie-mag-design-needs-to-liven-up/
Wilder Lane (n.d.). Curiosity is the hunger of the human mind. Retrieved June 3, 2021 https://www.quotetab.com/quote/by-rose-wilder-lane/curiosity-is-the-hunger-of-the-human-mind