- Inspiring Illustrations
Si Clark
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- What is ISOTYPE design
ISOTYPE symbols are visual cues that label our social environments. Inspired by maps and atlasses, Otto Neurath devised a visual system of symbols in the mid 40s to allow people to attain information accurately and quickly. The symbols transcended language and in most cases, culture, so it became univerally accepted in urban centers with many foreign visitors, train stations and airports as travel became increasingly popular. ISOTYPE, or International System Of Typographic Picture Education, standardized the way we look at everyday things around us while slightly inaccurate and biased [Which bathroom would a kilt-wearing scotsman use?] the message was easily learned and communicated. Today isotypes have evolved as new systems are being developed, such as our internet environment. How we communicate online is drastically changing with imagery/type like emoticons, :) :p :x to upload and download icons. Intuitive design like the triangular hazard lights button of the dashboard of your car, and the power icon on your applicances are engrained in our psyche so much so that we accept them regardless of their origins, their relevance and their impact on our society.
- UCD is cost effective
User Centric Design is conforming to the old addage - “the customer is always right”. For instance, reading a newspaper, you’ll note that columns are numerous and narrow for readability. Longer lines mean the human eye has further to travel and increases the opportunity to get lost amongst the lines of text.
MostSome cars’ dasboards are designed using tactility, proximity and sometimes color, to give the driver full control of these peripherals without distraction from the road ahead. Now, if you inconvenience users, and make them work harder at reading a newspaper, or turning on the radio while driving - they will have a negative experience, and look for alternatives. This is where Human Factors comes in. “In general, a human factor is a physical or cognitive property of an individual or social behavior which is specific to humans and influences functioning of technological systems as well as human-environment equilibriums” in other words, how do people use technology daily and how can technology support human behaviour. What I’d like to know is, how does this relate to the internets?
- What is Design Management?
My responsibilities at my organization shifted in the last while. I was heavily involved in leading the design direction on many branding initiatives as you’ll see in my portfolio (for a certain online gambling company - ehem). However, I hit a ceiling. The work we were doing was becoming less creative and more productive because of the failure of the process. So I identified the failings to my managers with a proposal on improving those failings and they tasked me to deliver on that proposal. Firstly, the proposal were for the Sr. Art Director and Sr. Creative Director to address, but they didn’t want to - too administrative… so they pointed to me to do it. (more…)
- Back in the Saddle
So lately, I’ve come to terms with parenthood. My little boy is amazing, no doubt about that, and with him walking now, my wife and I have our hands full. But the truth is, I so miss being creative. My work is more administrative now, as I focus on streamlining design processes and improve collaborative workings between our UCD team and the Design team. All in all, I was missing something. So, I’ve set up my personal artists studio in my garage, I’ve set up my design portfolio and I’ve rejoined my old pals at the How Design Forum. Also I’ve posted my works (quite easily I might add - 15 minutes tops) on Aquent, Elance and Coroflot. Who knows, someone, somewhere will want me to do something creative for them and I’ll get to relive the wonders of being a designer again. In the meantime I’m painting and collecting my paycheque at work. By the way, I should share more about my design management role, it’s not very interesting, but it sure opens ones eyes to the shortcomings of common design practices in the business environment.
- bad bad black sheep…
Thanks to IBC’s post on Josef Lee’s The Museum of Modern Fiction I finally saw what i had been envisioning as a fun exercise for us designers - lyrical bed time stories for adults. As a proud new papa, I have read ample bed time stories, and have wondered if I could apply that same allegorical magic formula to dark social issues, like drugs, prostitution and murder, and Vancouver has plenty of
trashmaterial to pick through.
- Donkeys and Elephants in American Politics
When it comes to obscure identity and branding, you have to wonder how some companies come up with their logo and wordmark, like the infamous Chevy Nova, meaning “doesn’t go” in spanish. Along those lines, how did America’s two oldest political parties end up with a donkey and an elephant as their iconic emblems? Perhaps it had a little more to do with humor than anything else.
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- Vancouver 2010 unveils Mascots
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Group unveiled their Mascots today. Designed by Meomi, a local design house, the reception for the new cute and cuddly critters were mixed at the very least. While some like the childish representation, others are disappointed that the mascots have such a strong tie to first nation legendary, or that the mascots look so much like a page out of japanime. The Asian influence is obvious when you look at Vicki Wong’s work on the Meomi site - and because Vancouver has a huge asian population, there’s nothing to say that it doesn’t deserve prominence in our Mascot.
- A closer look at some of the best Automobile Logos
Car logos are just as integral to an automobiles brand as their performance, their overall design, and their price point. So when I look at a Ford Taurus or a Lamborghini Murcielago, I am looking beyond what’s under the hood, I’m looking at the emblem on the front grill that epitomizes history, family and pride. This article is a small snapshot of some of the most popular automobile logos in the world.
- How to find freelance work online.
Thanks to broadband internet connections, email and FTP, relationships between businesses and creatives have entered a new realm of communication. With ichat, basecamp, webex, and the lot, it isn’t impossible to work with clients across timezones; but how do you find freelance design work online? It’s as simple as finding yourself in the right circles of professionals at the right time - like becoming a HOWie.
- Layer Tennis anyone?
Quiet Friday at work? Check out the latest layer tennis match where designers duke it out, layer by layer, in this public spectacle of creativity and bravado.
- Beautiful Type
We all learned from design 101 that typography takes on a bigger role than communicating words and ideas, it establishes content heirarchy, defines composition, and connotes emotion. Usually, type is a supportive element. However, when type is the focus of the design, typography can take on some beautiful forms. Si scott has made an art of his typographic illustrations (all by hand), commissioned by big brands like Nike and Casio, Si’s work transcends design and fine art.
- Career Path: Creative Director
Okay, so to be a creative director all I need is to be half-shaven with messed thinning hair, wear thick rimmed glasses, a corduroy blazer, ripped jeans and puma sneakers, and string together a series of melodramatic outbursts when describing why chartreuse is more somber then candy apple red. Okay the stereotype might be unfair, indeed it takes a lot more then a trendy appearance and a God-complex to cut it as a CD - strong leadership, an appreciation for process, and an understanding of the business of design.
- Michael Jager is awesome!
Creative Director, Michael Jager of JDK, is featured in FastCompany for his winning style of delivering a presentation - thought provoking, passionate and inspirational.
“Led by Xbox’s global brand director at the time, Don Hall, some 20 members of the gaming division gathered to hear the back-to-back-to-back presentations. First up was Michael Jager, JDK’s creative director. Standing before the tribunal, Jager (pronounced like the Rolling Stone) illustrated his vision through a combination of street theater, design psychology, and cultural fluency. Comparing the original Xbox with the Incredible Hulk, Jager used a razor to slash an X in a sheet of paper and then thrust his head through the hole. “X today is all AARGGHHH!” he bellowed. Pure aggressive power. He then withdrew his head, flipped the paper, and revealed how that X could become a doorway, “an invitation to an experience.” Jager acknowledged power as a critical component separating Xbox from its competitors but urged the company to see it–and express it– differently. “Our approach was to transition Xbox from this hulk of escaping power into this quiet power that is lurking, something still incredibly dangerous but with more of an elegance and grace,” he recalls. “The analogy we used was Bruce Lee.” And thus were two firms felled by a single stone.”
- Creative process is about process first.
Having worked in a number of agencies, freelancing and at several inhouse design departments, I’ve learned that creativity is a result of process; after all, without process the creative process can’t be creative. Mattias Konradsson talks about the creative process as an exercise in letting go, breaking convention, and encouraging positive brainstorms. While I agree that thinking differently encourages creativity, I believe that there needs to be structure - especially when a deadline is looming. Process is necessary to increase the capacity of the creative quality.
