Just a Nip and a Tuck
It Ain’t Easy Being Cooper Black
Someone recently reviewed my portfolio and came upon a piece where I had used the typeface Cooper Black. While viewing it he asked me why I used it, by which I had responded that I thought it was a fairly approachable and friendly font. Now, the gentleman was just a bit older and told me that it had to be a generational difference regarding how the typeface was perceived.
I found this rather interesting in terms of viewing things from different ages and different perspectives. I guess this is true for many things. We can often look back on our many different facets of culture and see the strange quirks that we now know to be totally different. Case in point, I recently finished watching the movie Tron for the first time in the better part of over a decade, which in its time was visually captivating at the time, but upon further review, showed a very primitive way on how computers act and think. These are the times I wish I could just watch the movie and did not understand computers, as I am sure it would have been even better in 1982. By the by, Disney is working on a sequel to Tron (Tr2n) which looks pretty cool, but I am curious to see how the new one takes today’s computer culture and deals with updating what they did almost 30 years ago.
The “W” Movie Poster
Oliver Stone is doing a bio-pic of our favorite chest-bumping President (favorite by default, I am pretty sure no other President has ever chest-bumped). Well there is a teaser poster that is out that utilizes one of my favorite things… TYPE! In a world of CGI, green screens, and photochopping nothing says it as clearly as a nice typeface with a clear message.
OH YEAH! Oh no.
I think the dichotomy of how different products crossover is pretty interesting. We see two brand such as Gap’s Product Red teaming up with the likes of Apple, Sprint, and Converse for a good cause such as AIDS in Africa. We also have also seen a mash up of music artists, comic book companies, and many other brands which seem to make perfect sense. Growing up I remember Hanna Barbara’s “Laff-O-Lympics” being one of my favorite cartoons due to the fact I got to see Scooby-Doo, Jabberjaw, Captain Caveman, and Yogi Bear all in one place. It was a special time for me, to see things I loved all in one place.
Failure is Just Another Word for Opportunity.
I think people often think failure and defeat are the same thing. However I am a firm believer that the only failures are those that give up when faced with adversity. I think this can often be the case with creativity and how we deal with problems. Sometimes you have to know when something doesn’t work, and sometimes you have to reevaluate how you approached the problem. Sometimes you have to figure out if your method of attack is the best remedy for the situation.
Take for example this website. I had this banner up on this site that said “check back soon to see formula623.com go drag”. Well, I am sure if anyone cared and checked back they might be scratching their heads to see that nothing on this site drags. Well, that is because I failed at putting together the site in a way that I was satisfied with. I am a little bummed about it, but it really was a learning experience and what I have now is something that fits more of where I wanted to go with my site. I wanted it to be a bit more interactive, I want people to feel free to post if they enjoy or hate what I am saying. By all means, graphic design is by and large a dialog that we use to communicate ideas. With that being said, I really wanted something that would help me, and others, explore that dialog which is why I went with this blog format as opposed to what I was going with (which can be seen by clicking here).
I love what I did, but I don’t think it fit what I wanted, so I learned and refused to be fail with what I wanted to do. Maybe that is just a part of who I am, and how I work. I think we as people shouldn’t be afraid to fail and try to make things better than before if we see room for improvement. It is okay to be content, but I think we shouldn’t fear failure, as those things that have failed will allow opportunity if we are willing to become stronger and learn from them.
Observation #7…
It is interesting how the internet has made design a trendy and somewhat uninformed design medium. While we all have to start somewhere, Myspace seems to make people think design is easy, and in some cases think that customizing your page with Louis Vuitton wallpaper makes you a legitimate designer.
Observation #6…
Had computers been around when Moses was etching tablets I am sure this would have made the list. This little command has made its way into design nomenclature and into everyday life. I actually think about this when I spill something, trip on a sidewalk, or make a bad decision. Thou shalt CMD+Z any screw up.
Observation #5…
So don’t forget it. You can’t pay the bills on talent alone. You have to learn to work with people you may not like.
Observation #4…
Case in point: Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan, & Britney Spears.
Maybe this is something that is entirely on me, but I am a quality over quantity kinda guy. Sure there are beautiful things in this world to fawn over, but once you get past the facade of some things there can be some pretty ugly stuff.
I think design is sort of the same thing. As much as I appreciate really great imagery, the story it tells or the idea it sells is always the most important aspect for me. I think good design should provoke thought and stir senses. People should walk away and remember something more than the image, if they aren’t then the work has not succeeded.
Observation #3…
I am also more than happy to say that I have owned both systems and have no problem using either. I do own an Apple now, but I don’t think it affects my design work in any way. I do enjoy the fact I don’t have to wait 15 minutes for everything to load, but aside from that, its all the same. I think too many people are walking around with 17 inch MacBookPros thinking that it comes with a design degree and that isn’t the case. Good design is something that is so much bigger than a computer, even if it comes in widescreen and has a little iSight camera attached.
I have to say owning an Apple is more about keeping it simple than it is being cool. I was cool long before owning one and that will never change. Does a higher priced hammer make a carpenter any better? No, so why should it matter. Use the tool; don’t let it use you.