“
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that’s creativity.”Charles Mingus (via minimalmac)
I came across this beautiful work by Cristiana Couceiro for Stella Artois. I never imagined Stella in these types of ads, but what do I know about the beer’s history or what not, I just drink and enjoy it. Regardless of its relevancy to the design style, I love the typography, colors, and illustration.
Tonight I went to a screening of Objectified, and a Q&A with director Gary Hustwit. Objectified is a documentary that examines the relationship people have with everyday objects and gets inside the product designers mission to create a more well designed world. It also discusses the innate human desire to always want new stuff, the urge to be on the cutting edge of technology, and the corporate mission to keep developing products. This is then juxtaposed with the topic of sustainability, as designers realize the vast majority of the products they create end up in a landfill.
One of the really great points was; if we are designing objects (such as a piece of technology) which will be outdated in the next year or two, why do we build them out of materials which are meant to last forever? Karim Rashid (designer of Dirt Devil’s Kone Vaccuum) remarks (and Hustwit quoted in the discussion), why don’t we just make laptops and mobile phones out of cardboard? It’s much easier to recycle than metal or plastic, and then we truly will need a replacement in a year, when the technology has evolved even further. My first response is you’re selling durability to the uneasy consumers. The penny-pinchers. The ones who might actually keep that TV set for 10 years (Before purchasing my LG LCD TV in January of this year, I had my 21″ Panasonic for 13 years. Actually, I still use it in my bedroom). So for those people, it really is a determining factor in purchase. Then, you have the people who would like to think they’re going to use, keep, and want the TV until it no longer functions, but know deep down, they’re going to want “the next big thing” as soon as it comes along.
There’s a portion that discusses our fixation with product designs from the past. We keep bringing “retro” back, we focus on how cool something retro is, forgetting the item’s current design…all so we can create a new iteration of it and brand it “NEW” and “IMPROVED.”
For non-designers watching the film, I think one of the most important things that will cause a light bulb to go off is that everything is design and everything is designed. The opening of the movie shows everyday objects; a sequence of someone preparing breakfast. They ignite the flame on the stove, crack an egg into a pan, pull a glass container of butter out of the fridge, use a knife and fork to eat. Immediately after that, a designer comes on discussing the Japanese toothpick and how its blunt end is meant to be broken off and used as one would a chopstick rest, symbolizing it’s been used. I think it’s also very enlightening to learn just how much really goes into that pair of gardening shears or a vegetable peeler, or a toothbrush. People don’t understand the research and testing that go into improving such seemingly simple objects.
The film really made me reevaluate the way I approach my projects and reminded me to put myself in the shoes of the target audience and attempt to understand them. If you can’t understand your target, if you can’t connect with them and feel the need to find a solution, you can’t design well for them.
Now I really want to re-watch Helvetica, also directed by Hustwit! Lucky for me, it’s available to view instantly on Netflix.
I took these pictures somewhere between Germany and Austria, in July 2007.
To say that our European Excursion went without a snag, would be a gross lie. We were six 20 and 21-year-old girls; most of us had never been overseas, especially for a month. After travel snafus, personality clashes, poor budgeting on some parts, and just generally, stress galore, we were ready to go home by the third week. We knew we would regret those feelings of homesickness. And we sure do.
There were parts of the trip where I felt so alive. These photos; these photos combined with Kings of Leon’s current single, “Fans,” just took me to an indescribable place. One thing I can put into words, is that it helped me to stop and appreciate all the beauty around me. All the excitement and adventure I was drowning out by missing my friends and family and California.
I find myself looking back on this point because I think I am similarly taking my day to day life for granted. I’ll be the first to admit I am in some ways a dreamer, always looking forward to the future, saying “I can’t wait until…” or even putting things off for the future. I often times get overwhelmed or lose focus or ambition. I miss a lot of times, a lot of people, a lot of places. Especially around this time, when it’s been nearly a year since my college graduation and five years since high school graduation.
I think life is all about balance. “Everything in moderation.” We’re all searching for this golden ratio. How do we enjoy the moment while being mindful of our future?
“
It is no secret that the real world in which the designer functions is not the world of art, but the world of buying and selling.”Paul Rand
