soleil j

I was told that the trees outside my appartment would grow until there would be no sunlight and they would have to fight for it. I was told the shade was a good thing even though they knew I love the sunlight. They were wrong. Today sunlight sprinkled onto my porch and I saw the first Magnolia flower ever to bloom here…beautiful.

How did you first get into design?
What is your favorite thing about being in this field?
How did you start your career?
What drives you?
What artists and designers do you admire?
What inspires you most?
What is the most difficult thing about your job?
How do you balance customer needs and your artistic style?
What do you do in a typical day?
How do you unwind? What are some of your favorite activities outside work?
What goals do you have for yourself as a designer in the next few years?
What is your dream job?
What advice would you give to students?
What are your favorite quotes?
What programs do you work with the most? Why?
How long did it take you to become skilled in the programs you use?
What is your favorite thing to design?
How long does one project typically take you to complete?
What is the best part of your job?
How do you present your work to clients?
What are some of the challenges in the field of design?
How do you deal with stress and challenges within your field?
What are you most passionate about?

There are many designers that I look up to and inspire me to keep working. Here are just a few. Many more to come.

Michael Seitz – Portfolio Center Designer (Lindt Chocolate Packaging)
Worowan Arnusiribavorn- Portfolio Center Designer, Adagio Tea Packaging
Sophie Askew- Askew Design (chic cards, personalized stationary)
Dave Werner-Portfolio Center Designer
Jason Brooks- Hed Kandi Illustrator, Designer
Hailey Johnson- Product Designer
Katrina Markoff-Vosges’ Luxury Chocolate Designer / International Entrepreneur, Combines yoga and chocolate to create an emotional experience

In one of Seth Godin’s speeches he talks about the internet as a means for narcissism, shouting, “I don’t want e-mail, I want ME mail!” From Facebook to MySpace to Flickr to personal web sites to blog sites…it seems like everyone is screaming “Look at ME! Look how many friends I have! Look at MY pictures! Listen to the profound things I have to say! Look at MY work!” As much as the internet provides a new and immediate forum for communication, it also creates a world where individuals are becoming more self-absorbed, less interactive, and in some cases, socially inept.
I recently read an article about the Virginia Tech shootings in which several social psychologists analyzed school shooting murderers. Brad Bushman, a social psychologist and school shootings expert, has found that narcissism often plays a role in the shootings. “Narcissists,” Bushman says, “believe that they are entitled to admiration and respect and, when they don’t get it, they become aggressive.” He blames the self-esteem movement of the past 20 years for producing a generation of people who think the world has been turned upside down when they are not singled out for their “special-ness.” He describes the esteem movement with the example of sports teams where everybody gets a trophy regardless of skill and schools with “All about Me” weeks. The problem is not self-esteem. He states that many young people are essentially set up for failure in the real world, upon realizing that most people don’t get much recognition, either in their professions or in their private lives.
As Godin explains, most bloggers write stuff that is either boring, selfish, or indecipherable. He explains that all bloggers are not “egomaniacs” but people with a healthy respect for themselves and their opinions as well as the desire to share them with others. He believes that this is not a negative social trait saying, “If you don’t share the ideas you value, you’re being selfish, aren’t you?”
With the popularity of sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Flickr, it is clear that the latest generation reflects the self-esteem movement quite well. Upon reaching college or beginning a career, Bushman’s beliefs are supported with the realization by many that the “you are special” era has ended. Teachers are no longer handing out “Special” stickers, employers aren’t giving gold stars and pats on the back, parents aren’t standing by your side saying what a “good job you did!” and most friends aren’t sitting down to play the role of a therapist on a daily basis. Instead, people are turning to the internet. Instead of taking the time to open a journal and find a pen, people are popping open the laptop and writing out every thought that comes to mind and “publishing” it online. The term “publishing” triggers many to believe that they have suddenly become a person with profound things to say who should be praised for their skills. What is often ignored is the fact that anyone can write anything and press the publish button and suddenly they are “special.”

In this whole ME space of the internet, we are so excited to see what comments people left us, who wrote on our wall, or what pictures people are talking about that we often forget to sincerely take the time to interact and learn from others. As much as these sites are entertaining and exciting, there is an unhealthy world of selfishness and separateness forming. Underneath it all the internet can serve as an unbelieveably powerful medium for communication and knowledge. The decision of how to use this medium is up to you.

In Seth Godin’s book Small is the New Big, he has several sections about criticism. He talks about how many companies, as well as individuals, fear external criticism and allow their fear of rejection suffocate inovation and creativity. Godin reveals his personal struggle with book critics but explains that he is excited when he receives criticism, stating, “The products and services that get talked about (whether in a positive or negative light) are the ones worth talking about.” This is a profound yet simple mentality that I believe is important and applicable for everyone. So often designers and engineers take their work to be and extented piece of themselves and criticism of their work is taken as an internal or personal insult or attack. It is important to have a passion and connection with your work but also an understanding that that logo you designed, or that color scheme is not the essence of your soul. It is hard to welcome criticism but accepting feedback–good or bad–is a life lesson that is worth the pain and vulnerability.

I just watched Seth Godin’s video speaking about how important it is to be extraordinary and how the importance of remarkable in design and concept. What was hilarious is the designer who decided to create a giant lava lamp to attract tourists to Soap Lake, Washington, a little town in the middle of nowhere. This is a hilarious but remarkable “bad idea” gone good. I would definately take a little roadtrip there. I’m reminded of the collage and colored cows in downtown Chicago as well as a giant silver lima bean piece of sculpture that tourist flock to see and take pictures of their distorted bodies in the reflections. I thought of New York’s buildings with digital ads, flashing lights, and stories projected off the sides of buildings. It is these pieces of technology used in unusual ways that trigger new ways of thinking and inspiration. How cool would it be if every city had some totally unexpected crazy design piece on display in the center?!

Charleston…where I would always prefer to be. It’s that time of year where many get a little travel lust or daydreaming…I think of a quote typed on an old beat up piece of paper that my mother gave to me once. She found it years after my grandfather had written it and filed it away in an old desk.

“Reality is greater than our dreams
Yet it is within ourselves that we find the clues to reality
Clues are the essence and keys
And keys are stronger than the doors they open
Life itself is not the reality
We are the ones who put life into pebbles and stones
If we did not dream reality would collapse.”

A friend once told me there are three parts to the best life experiences: the anticipation, the reality, and the memories–each one better than the last. I had a hard time with this at first, always missing the reality, but in the memory phase you can make meaning out of the experience. I think as designers we have the amazing opportunity to capture theses moments and turn them into little treasures to share with others that might someday lead others into new paths and perceptions or just simply brighten someone’s day.

While doing errands yesterday, I managed to wander into Victoria’s Secret, a place I had trained myself to avoid but like most women, continue to be lured into. As I wandered around jumping at the beautiful, sensual, glamour girl packaging and the lush color palettes of the clothing I began to wonder who exactly VS is marketing to. In the dressing rooms you could hear women sighing and some almost in tears that “nothing fits anymore” while 6′6″ bronzed Brazilian models line the halls staring at everyone who ventures into this world. This is not just a store. This is a world where women are taught that sexiness = happiness. Oddly, it is clear that the merchandise is not necessarily geared to women. Women go into this store thinking even if they’re just buying some simple item for themselves, it is to please the opposite sex. And the thought remains in women’s minds, maybe, just maybe if I have enough sexy clothing and perfumes, I can start to look like those 6 supermodels (who are the only six women in the world who look like that) and I will feel beautiful and loved. Victoria’s Secret definately has the “sexy” marketing down but the effect of their marketing strategies on the consumer can often be psychologically and emotionally damaging while putting incredible stress on women to be sexy, svelt and physically attractive above all other attributes. What we often don’t see in the media is women who are doing incredible things to benefit others and start new movements. What we are bombarded with and addicted to are the Paris Hiltons and Britney Spears of the world who have no particular complexities, knowledge, or stories to tell other than their external facade. I think it’s time we add some nutritious value and depth to our daily media consumptions and start a world that values women for who they really are, not just who they are in the mirror.

A little light from The Creative License (by Danny Gregory) on Journaling:

“Don’t be a perfectionist with your journal. Jot down phone numbers. Take it to meetings. Write down grocery lists. Do lousy drawings. Just work in it whenever you can.”

“Take the time each day to sit and observe your surroundings, to summarize your experiences and to count your blessings; each will enrich your life no matter how badly you think you draw. Drawing and writing in your journal will relieve your stress, improve your sense of self-worth, and give your days focus.”

“Your journal shouldn’t be a dumping ground, but a place to create, recognize, and celebrate beauty and joy, that which is in all things. It should be a friend you have a great time with, not a shoulder you whine on. Commemorate the positive. Eliminate the negative.”

I came across a website with quotes about design and art called Design Feast . I’m not crazily inspired by the site but I think it’s a good starting ground for exploration. I think websites geared at inspirational and meaningful quotes need to add some aspect of visual inspiration as well. So many of the “quote” sites I have seen are just plain columns, blue basic type and bland white space. I can understand the chalkboard theory of creating a blank space where your mind can work to come up with its own visual thoughts but I think color and movement is needed to jump start the mind.
Here are a few quotes I found on the site:

“Graphic design is the paradise of individuality, eccentricity, heresy, abnormality, hobbies and humors.” ~George Santayana

“Conflict is the gadfly of thought. It stirs us to observation and memory. It instigates to invention. It shocks us out of sheeplike passivity, and sets us at noting and contriving.” ~John Dewey

“Education is a social process; education is growth; education is not a preparation for life but is life itself.” ~John Dewey