Chapter 2  - the Vocabulary of Comics

The Vocabulary of Comics introduced the ‘strange and wonderful world of the Icon!”  I did not realize my comic creations were icons.  In comics, the level of abstraction varies; it can be very abstract – like this face – or drawn so real they almost seem life-like. 

The chapter goes on to discuss “what is the secret of the ICON we call…the CARTOON? And why are we so involved?”  Part of the reason is it is a form of “amplification through simplification.”  The cartoon tends to strip down the message to it’s essential meaning.  This is what appeals to me as a comic artist.  I like zeroing in on what I am trying to relay and making it as powerful as possible.

It was interesting understanding comics from this chapter’s perspective.

Chapter 5..Living the Line.

Cartoons can make emotions and senses visible.  I never thought of it quite like that, but it is absolutely true.  The chapter renders tension, joy, serenity, pride, intimacy, madness and anxiety simply and effectively.  It also shows how loud, rank, cold, quiet, sour and warm can be relayed visually.  Comics can also relay motion through two simple pictures – a man with a hat on and a man holding the hat above his head.

Vincent Van Gogh’s art strayed from impressionist mainstream and chose to use a subjective approach.  His paintings are classified as expressionism utilizing honest expression of the turmoil within.  He would have been an excellent cartoonist today.

Writers Toolbox Reflections

The Writer's Toolbox provided our class with the necessary guidance as our class took our fumbling and un-confidant first steps. The Toolbox provided us with incites into the creative process, specifically how to get started. For me, Mind-mapping has always been something of a lost art; something that i knew was helpful; but for me it was always useless... just out of reach. But in the beginning of the toolbox it mentioned mind-mapping captures streams of thought; through words and images. it also explained how concept maps can be used. I also dabbled in writing and often use free writing to do an initial brain dump. I had not associated this technique with art before.

it clicked, suddenly I got it, the next day I came to class, and along with my group we tacked the process of mind mapping. 

"Learning never exhausts the mind"

IDEO Method Reflections...

During class we watched a series of videos on the IDEO METHOD. FOX News tasked the group to develop a series of videos which documented the creative process of a design and innovations company. IDEO METHOD followed the creation of a new shopping cart. 

The Atmosphere of the design group was playful, energized and fun. the group consisted of artists, scientists and psychologists. this colorful group approached the project with childlike wonder - open to possibilities; anything was possible. 

the first exercise was to mind map, which generated dozens of ides and concepts. these ideas boiled down to key concepts the group felt stood out. they broke into teams; each tasked with creating a prototype. the prototypes were then presented/ discussed. then all of the teams collectively chose to refine all of these ideas into a single prototype. 

In the end it was refreshing to see a group enjoying what we as a class were struggling with. it gave us a glimpse at just how fun and fulfilling this process could be, if we let it. 

Objectified Reflections

Gary Hustwit directed the documentary, Objectified. The video explores the effect design has on our everyday life. the film captures the creative process and all of the hard work that goes into everyday seemingly simple product design. it is about the designer who re-examine, re-evaluate, and re0invent our manufactured environment on a daily basis. it shows how creative designer work and how their work impacts our lives. 

The film gave me additional perspective to the design world. I grew up in an environment of creativity. my mother is an architect, my father a builder and aunt is a creative director. i was surrounded by model making, presentation drawings, and Art Projects." Family vacations included trips to museums and explorations in the built form. the sheer amount of work involved in the design of a building, the construction of a home, and the layout of a magazine staggered me. 

the film reinforced the effort required to design and fabricate something as simple as a toothbrush. good design required exploration, hundreds of mock-ups and prototype generation. the old saying "try, try, and try again..." seems to come to mind. 

Stamp - Bot

Stamp-Bott
Wood, found objects, metal

This Piece was recently removed from display in a gallery at JCCC, made from carved wood that was later stained red/orange. Found objects, and formed steel.
the project was meant to convey form, and to test our skill with shaping and carving wood.

Stamp-Bott
Wood, found objects, metal

My first attempt with photoshop.
Its hand-drawn, overlaid with drawings in both Illustrator, Photoshop, and organized in InDesign

RR

02

            Design is a part of our everyday lives; either out in the open or behind the scenes. It has constantly been a part of our history, a part of our lives. Steadily, it has taken on a life of its own and become as complex as the people who created it. It’s a solution to any problem. Whether it be function, aesthetics or design simply for designs sake. The articles; By Design, Toothpicks & Logos “Design in Everyday Life” and Understanding Design “175 Reflections on Being a Designer”. All three cover these problems, these struggles, and the writers view on its solutions. Are they right? Nobody knows, that is why this question is the most popular… “what is design?”

You can break it down into a hundred different parts, slice it a thousand different ways and even look at it through a microscope; but it will change from person to person no matter whether the math quite adds up or not. That is both the beauty, and the trouble with posing that infamous question.  

Camera-Bot.February 2013

Found objects, metal.

Camera-Bot.February 2013

Found objects, metal.

RR

Dieter Rams: Ten principles for good design

Dieter Rams’s “ten principles” reads more like the ten commandments of design it is so briefly mentioned as; an intellectual leap that is not that fare fetched. 

As a whole though, these principles do illustrate quite affectively the qualities of what should be found in a good design. Stressing the importance of quality, function and aesthetics. Rams believes that all aspects of a design are equally as important as the next.