As far as design goes, I’m really interested in package design and the whole identity process. I’m a sucker for cool packag-ing — the one that falls into the trap of buying something just because it looks neat.

I always like to find new inspiration and new things to make on my own. I can thank Pinterest for this. I have a long list of things I want to make; food, crafts, etc. I’m always curious about how something is made. If I find something at a store that could be made, I add it to my bucket list.

READINGSerendipitySteven Johnson

Since I’ve grown up in the internet age, this is really all I’m used to. Though some classes have encouraged using the old school library method, I am still drawn to the internet. There are so many sites, such as Stumble Upon and Pinterest, that lead me to other websites that I wouldn’t have known about. Johnson touched on one part about print media I have always relied on — looking for the cool spines on library shelves to pick out a new book.

We were sent to the library during class to find books on basically anything. The whole idea was to just go out there and stumble across new topics we may not be familiar with. The library isn’t used as a resource nearly as much anymore (thank you internet). But it reminded me how much I love books and how I could spend hours just browsing them. These were my finds. I tried to really branch away from design, but when it’s something you’re interested in it’s hard to get away.

Serendipity: A Trip to the Library

REFLECTION

week 1

“Serendipity is built out of happy accidents, to be sure, but what makes them happy is the fact that the discovery you’ve made is meaningful to you.”— Steven Johnson

READINGWarning: Content May Contain Non-Design ContentMichael Bierut

See No BoundariesLiz Danzico

To my understanding, Beirut and Danzico admit to being too attached to the familiar. For me as a designer, I find my preferences and tend to stick to them. Our instincts often tell us to keep producing materials that we find ourselves best at. But in order to be an exceptional designer, we need to be aware of everything. There are so many outlets for finding new material and inspiration that we need to take advantage of it.

I always go for the most attractive and colorful spines. I was looking for a book about architecture when I noticed a tur-quoise spine in the same area. I pulled that one instead, which was about contemporary art. I also noticed that I was still most comfortable going into the art and design areas but it was fun to wander. You never know what you’ll find. It’s like a scavenger hunt or hide and seek.

REFLECTION

week 2

READINGThe GOOD Guide to Working BetterGOOD Magazine

I would love to carve more time to experiment with things I love, especially cooking/baking/crafting. It’s tough to find time when I’m so busy with school and homework. After reading this article and How to Live on Twenty-Four Hours a Day (from Publication Design), I have begun to realize just how much time I do in fact waste, mainly by procrastinating. I want to become more organized and keep things organized. I have always been a fan of lists, whether it’s to actually keep on top of tasks or just for the art of making them. Each time I fill in the circle next to a task, I feel like I’m accomplishing so much. Completing a simple project gives me more motivation to get more done.

Print Magazines Just Got Cooler

READINGFour Things I’ve Learned About DesignersWarren Berger

The author of this article brings up four points he has learned about designers —we ask questions, we connect, we commit and care. I would say I fit into each; maybe some more than others. I’m not always one to ask questions. I usually see things more logically rather than try to interpret what the artist’s intent may have been. I like to get straight to the point of functionality. I am definitely a hoarder of magazines (to go straight off the example) and rip out pages that I like and think I might look back on in the future. Unfortunately, I rarely do. I do commit to something, but this could be improved. I still find myself asking whether it’s a good idea or hesitant to really dive into a project.

“Design is hope made visible.”— Brian Collins

via Design Envy

I keep finding myself going back to physically making some-thing rather than just creating something on the computer. This might just be from the idea of package design I have in the back of my mind. Maybe it’s because we haven’t done too much in other classes with this and I want to learn more.

As for the things I read or listen to, I think I just go for quirky looking things; images that look interesting, videos that are about something I wouldn’t normally find myself going to. I think that if I dug a little deeper into my mind I would really find a connection that was unintentional. But mainly I think these are all just topics I have some interest in one way or another.

REFLECTION

week 3

INPUT{place title here}Gary Lauder

As I was searching through Design That Matters on TED, I came across this interesting approach to intersections and traffic signs. The speaker, Gary Lauder, calculated the amount of money we lose from stopping at a stop sign. He raises the question about whether some are worth it and presents a new signage idea.

I thought it was somewhat comical, but also found it interesting that even though he’s not a graphic designer, he is using his math skills to come to a solution that is similar to the way we often dream up a project. It made me think of my map project from last year – creating a system that would make things easier for the viewer.

He also says that it may be difficult to introduce a new sign to the road when everyone is so familiar with what we learned on our permits. However, something new and unfamiliar will alert people to be more cautious. This looks like such a simple idea, yet it has such a complex meaning behind it.

Title Goes Here

via Gary Lauder’s presentation

INSPIRATIONI found this on Pinterest and it looks SO COOL. Photo transfers onto canvas. I’ve seen a lot of photos professionally printed on canvases so a do-it-yourself version is always welcome in my eyes. I found this great blog, The Pinterest Project, that takes you step-by-step through the process. I love how people are discovering ways to make something truly their own. Since it should somehow relate to what we’ve been doing in class, I might try to find a photo to transfer that ties together with what I wrote or a problem possibly. Need to do some brainstorming on this one.

“Design is hope made visible.”— Brian Collins

via The Pinterest Project

MEDIA EXPERIMENTI found my new photo display technique — photo transfers on canvas. This project was a lot of fun and I love the damaged/rustic feel it created. I realized after I chose some photos from Door County that it would have made sense to write about this on our previous mind mapping exercise; except I can’t come up with any problems I have with the Northern Peninsula of Wisconsin.

I chose to print one of my favorite pictures from Door County. I printed it on regular computer paper (no fancy photo paper). Spread a layer of gel medium on a canvas. Spritz the photo with water so it’s damp, not soaking. Place the image on the canvas and let it dry. I waited a few hours to be safe. Then spritz the image again on the canvas and begin to peel off the paper. This was the hardest part. There will still be A LOT of miniscule paper fragments on the canvas that are hard to see. I kept spraying it and rubbing my fingers over the canvas in circular motions to ball up all the pieces. It was really neat to see the image come to life. As the layers come off you see the image brighten. I had to do this several times until I was satisfied with the look. Some areas took the image off altogether (hence the random white splotches), but I surprisingly liked the look it gave. Once it dries again, spread another layer of the gel medium to seal it in. I noticed this also helped brighten it up.

What Moves Me:

» nature photography» black and white images» design» caring words» love» friendship» the color turquoise» the smell of baked cookies» reminder of home» helping hands» a good book» the beach» hand crafts» Pinterest

REFLECTION

week 4

Canvas Photo Transfer Experiment

READINGDo Good DesignDavid Berman

Berman’s main arguments are that advertising is ruining society. Designers have so much power that the messages they are sending are actually being listened too…a lot. The viewer has a responsibility too, however. They are responsible for not always believing what they see on a billboard or in an ad. The designer isn’t always in agreement with the statement, but unfortunately continue to design for that cause. Designers need to start determining what their beliefs are and follow them. Don’t design just to design and make money; design because you have a passion for what you’re designing.

I would sign his pledge because I think it’s important to stand your ground. I wouldn’t want to be the designer responsible for a smoking ad on the side of the highway telling youngsters that it’s OK to smoke a pack a day.

INSPIRATIONThe Anthropology of TurquoiseEllen Meloy

I was just informed of the book The Anthropology of Turquoise. It sounds pretty interesting since I’m so obsessed with the color; why not learn something about it. Maybe it will tell me why I’m so drawn to the color — and I the cover. I want to get my hands on this book for some inspiration. I wrote on my matrix exercise today about the color turquoise. Maybe it’s something as simple as incorporating it into everything I do for this class. Oh, the possibilities.

“Don’t just do good design, do good.”— David Berman

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What I Love About Design

» color» pattern» putting things together» making books» typography» the emotions that are created» the look on the paper» the paper itself» sans-serif font» bold pops of color on a white page

REFLECTION

week 5

READINGMethods of Research...Research + ProcessJen & Ken Visocky O’Grady

In this reading, the authors identify three creative processes (Big 6, AIGA, Design Council) designers use to integrate research and process. I find myself most drawn to the Big 6 method. It seems to incorporate a lot of research in the beginning stages and I’ve come to really enjoy this part. Especially for this next independent project, I need to really research certain aspects of healthy food alternatives. Big 6 is another mind mapping exercise and could easily be turned into a series of lists which has captivated my interest in the few weeks we have incorporated them.

INPUTSchools Kill CreativityKen Robinson

I found this talk about the speaker’s view on school and creativity. One quote that really stuck with me was “if you’re not prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with anything original.” I have always been afraid to speak up in certain classes because I don’t want to give the wrong answer. As kids are growing up, there are so many peer pressures that even just giving the wrong response in a class can lead to bullying (my case of the quiets was never this extreme). But I do believe that kids are pressured so much to be right and get good grades, that they are not being taught or encouraged to use their imagination and creativity. So much is just based strictly off the books that sometimes it’s hard to find ways to express yourself.

Big6 Design Process

Define the information problem

Identify information needed

Select the best sources

Determine all possible sources

Find info within sources

Locate sources

Extract relevant information

Engage (read, hear, view)

Present the info

Organize from multiple sources

Judge the process (efficiency)

Judge the product (effectiveness)

THE BIG6

“If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with anything original.”— Ken Robinson

PERSONAL INVENTORYI want to ask aound and find out what people generally like or want to have for breakfast/snacks if they were to grab them while on a coffee run or passing a little kiosk on the way to work.

COMPETITIVE PRODUCT SURVEYI want to see what other coffee shops sell. From what I’ve seen, many have unhealthy pastries and I want to stay away from this. Also, maybe check out some stores for packaging ideas.

INDEPENDENT PROJECTI’m stumped and don’t really know where to begin. I need to get the package design idea out of my head because it’s holding me back from a new design idea. Several of the organizations that were mentioned in class today catch my eye and it would be great to see the work in public. I think it’s going to take some time yet to narrow down what exactly I believe I’m capable of — what interests me the most. I have ideas about what physical objects I would want to make but no definite cause.

I think I’ve just become fascinated with the different package designs that are already out there. So many are remarkably innovative and I hope to be able to produce something that conceptual as well. It also has made me much more aware of the things that I eat. Portion control is a difficult thing when the food has been altered to give you the craving that you want more. I don’t want to create snack-size packages — that’s already been done. I want to create a package that helps you realize what a serving size really is.

I think I’ve finally narrowed down my idea which makes me feel a bit more comfortable with this project. However, I’m still trying to decide what foods I want to repackage and how many I should tackle. Also, I think deciding on a brand name or brand image is going to be tough. I’ve contemplated who I really want to target this to; should it be women, dieters, anyone? I know that the construction is going to be a struggle so I want to make sure I start tackling that ASAP.

REFLECTION

week 6

INSPIRATIONThis reminds me of little kids playing detective — using secret code with friends. This is a fascinating way to incorporate solar power; a new printing technique that leaves everything on the page hidden until the paper is exposed to sunlight. Unfortunately, the site does not give any additional info on the process and it was difficult to find anything on the web. I’m unsure of what this process is even called.

via Behance

Some designers judge one another by the ability to make a pair of sneakers look like a sports car. Bottom lin: being able to create beautiful sketches does not guarantee being able to solve problems elegantly. The ability to think and com-municate with drawings, however, is an essential design skill.— Study, Prototype, Test: Journey through the Design Process

PROCESSI have looking for different ideas for packaging cereal and fresh fruit for my independent project. Some of these really caught my eye. I liked the idea of the cylinder; it really reminded me of a Pringles can. The box is a neat idea for easy on-the-go cereal packs that are easier to eat from than the snack packs you can buy. As for the fruit packaging, I liked how the box above folds out. It would be interesting to find a reusable material that could fold and then be washed and stored flat in a bag.

via Google

I’m starting to realize how I think — what I need to do to get to an idea and stick with it. The writing exercises have helped to just get my mind moving and again, I have found out how much I love lists. I have also found a lot of design sites that are helpful for inspiration. Here are just a few:

» Design Envy

» Behance

» Creattica

» The Dieline

» Lovely Package

» Hyperakt

I think it’s also important that I feel much more comfortable tackling the entire process of coming up with the idea through the execution. In most classes, we are given the project: cre-ate a book, make a poster, experiment with a typeface, etc. But for this project, it’s all about what we’re interested in and have a passion for, from the beginning research to the pro-duction.

REFLECTION

week 7

READINGMade to StickChip Heath & Dan Heath

In general, I think these could easily apply to design and coming up with intuitive, original ideas that could help solve a larger problem. The main example of the movie popcorn dilemma really made me think of my own project; the case of the growing serving size. It’s important to really know the facts and be able to convey this in a different way than what people are familiar with. We are overwhelmed with facts everyday so there need to be informative yet aesthetically and persuasive materials that grab peoples’ attention.

READINGCreative BlockAdrian Shaughnessy

I think everyone experiences creative block at some point in a process. Often, I find that I may just be overwhelmed with ideas and it causes me to slow down the concept process. When this occurs, I usually find myself mulling over the topic, acting as though I am making considerable progress when in reality I am just wasting time. I need to start considering different methods, such as stepping away for a minute or just switching environments. Sometimes it helps to get away from the computer and write instead. I think a lot of what we have done in class have been great exercises of this.

Breaking Through a Creative Block

via Lovely Packaging

“We should keep going until we feel some inkling of confidence that there will be a suitable out-come, otherwise we will be reluc-tant to go back to the project.”— Adrian Shaughnessy

PROCESSI think I’ve got a pretty solid idea going. I’m thinking a line of mostly breakfast/snacks that people would buy to accompany their morning coffee runs. This line would be sold at local coffee shops or individual kiosks in big cities. I’m debating if it should possibly narrow down to airports and/or train stations.

I’m thinking:

» trail mix/nuts» breakfast muffins (maybe)» yogurt» dried fruit» healthy breads (banana, apple etc)» granola» cereal» crackers & cheese or pita & hummus» milk & juices

via Lovely Packaging

Everything is starting to come along for this independent project. After a lot of different mind mapping and writing ex-ercises, I discovered that I am really interested in food, spe-cifically packaging. I had so many ideas flowing in regards to portion control and healthy eating but I finally narrowed it down to a topic I’m feeling strongly about. Healthy on-the-go food at coffee shops is often difficult to find. It’s easy to pick up a pastry, but then you feel sluggish an hour later. My solution is to introduce people to healthy breakfast snacks to jump start their day. I’m hoping that with an eye-catching package (mason jars) they will be drawn to them and really want to follow the brand. It has been difficult to decide on a name, but I think I’m getting closer.

As far as for what lies ahead, I really want to focus on the ac-tual production and how the labels will look and be attached. I have started collecting jars, but most of them have the name on the side which will make it difficult to wrap a label around. I may need to go for a different approach on labeling. I’ve also been thinking about additional objects that could go along with this project, such as bags (preferably canvas/fabric that will be reusable), possible signage, etc. I am excited to keep going and really hammer this out.

REFLECTION

week 8

INPUTThe Power of IntrovertsSusan Cain

I have always thought of myself as an introvert. Personality tests that I have been forced to take will tell me the same thing. I like to keep things inside. I like quiet rooms most of the time. If I’m placed in a room with all strangers, I become a wallflower. It’s strange for me to randomly start a conversation. If I do, I find myself trying to crack a (lame) joke in order to start one. I listened to Susan Cain’s talk about introverts and how they do have an impact in the world. Extroverts are often the ones in leadership positions. People often think that the more outgoing personalities will be more successful. Cain brings up the idea that introverts have just as much to contribute, we just do it in a different way. She also thinks that there should rely less on group work. People need to learn how to work on their own and get to a solution without the help of others. There’s an importance to learning how to think on your own that Cain mentions isn’t done as often. In the classroom, children sit in groups and they work in groups. We’re losing the independent thinking and learning. In my own opinion, I think I’m a pretty good listener. I would rather listen to someone speak than be the one talking. I come up with ideas this way and try to come to a solution before I explain myself. It’s just how I prefer to work. I need to start using this to my advantage.

READINGLaw 6: ContextJohn Maeda

We have an urge to always fill the white space and become intrigued with it, asking what purpose it serves and wondering if there is more to it than just an empty page. People do not want to waste space by leaving it empty. In publications, empty space could have been filled with advertisements, therefore bringing in more money for the company. I appreciate white space. It gives a calm feeling and is quiet. I’m not saying I wish there were completely blank, stark white pages in every publication, I just enjoy seeing pages that have a little breathing room. I don’t like to be overwhelmed with content and color every time I open a book.

via Google

“When there is less, we appreciate everything more.”— John Maeda

PROCESSI really need to think of a name for my brand. Without it, I can’t really move forward on design. Here are some rough ideas. Ideally, I’m thinking just a one or two word name. Something to reflect how the food makes you feel. I’m going to write whatever comes to mind in the next 5 minutes:

» Live Well (I feel like this could already be a brand)» Energize» Renew» Recharge» Rejuvenate» Remix (maybe if I choose to do a mixing station)» Revive» Crave» Take Away» Busy Bee (here we go with the bee again)» Morning Crave / morning star / morning fuel» Good Start

READINGSynthesis: Research & ProductionIan Noble & Russell Bestley

“Practical intellectual – someone who is actively engaged in critical reflection about the designer’s process of making.” van Toorn thinks that critical reflection is crucial to a designer’s approach. I think he means that it may be important to put your own experiences into a process. You need to really research an idea and stay informed about what is happening around you. In my opinion, a practical intellectual would be well-read and caught up with news in general and be able to determine what would work well for a wide range of people. For instance, be practical in the materials; don’t use something that is extremely expensive or harmful for the environment. Be practical in the content you’re designing; nothing too extreme to one side of the spectrum.

JOURNALINGI’ve been really excited to go to the library lately. I just want to explore and look for books with a lot of design examples. I really like the AIGA books and I found one called Masters of Design: Corporate Brochures that has a lot of great examples. I just want to mark all the pages and copy them and put them in a folder for inspiration. You can never have too much inspiration in my mind. I’ll be struggling to come up with an idea and it always helps to look back at what I found inspiring a few weeks/months/years back. This class has really sparked some new light in me. Even though some things may be tedious, I’m discovering things I would never have known before. I wish we had done these activities back when I started school. I think it would have been very helpful. This is where most, if not all, design begins.

I discovered that a lot of the problems I wrote about were similar in most categories: places we don’t have, corruption, obesity, cultural issues. The exercise made me realize how cool it would be to come up with a problem solving idea, even if it’s just a redesign of something for easier navigation on a website. I really want to work more with web design. It’s too bad I couldn’t take a class this semester. I like the simple template I have for my personal site right now.

I talked a lot about this is my concept narrative so I feel a bit redundant at this point. I’m excited to continue on this project and really create something I’ll be proud to show off. I have been trying to think of additional items I could design just to have even more. After purchasing some mason jars, I may need to reconsider a label system and where I originally anticipated placing them (around the jar). Many jars I’m find-ing are not smooth all the way around so I may need to resort to a sticker on top with another label tied around the mouth.

REFLECTION

week 9

PROCESSI decided maybe I needed to play around with the language of a few words. I really like the way Jarre (french for jar) and Mati (morning in Catalan) look. They sound somewhat elegant/classy and it makes me want to go with something a little more fancy especially if I stick with the jars rather than bags.

I wanted some inspiration and found some great images of jars. I was glad to find something done on a mason jar. I loved the pop of color on the Just Cook packaging since I really want to do something fun for my design.

Packaging, Packaging & More Packaging

via Lovely Packaging

“Design is hope made visible.”— Brian Collins

I really liked all the different readings we had and I want to find more places to go to find these. I want to find good sites that have readings about design, etc. I’ve gone back and am using photos that I took of older projects and I really need to retake them. I have forgotten all the photography skills I had from high school and really want to revisit this. Having strong images of your own projects is crucial to me for my site. It tells more about you as a designer.

I’ve started to learn a lot about myself as a designer and I want to keep building on this, even if that means keeping a binder with inspiration and little things I like. It’s always nice to go back and see what caught my eye.

REFLECTION

week 10

JOURNALINGBoy oh boy, only 6 weeks to go. There is so much to do. I thought I was being productive but time has again slipped away from me. I’ve realized how hard it is to set deadlines for myself. When there isn’t another person involved you can just let it wait. I really need to work on that. I AM an organized person but I just take too much time researching rather than actually making/doing/designing. I need to turn that all around and make this a productive 6 weeks.

I saw a project that scanned in scrapbook paper for a design and I really liked this concept. This will probably become my new favorite thing to do. I don’t know how I never thought of this before.

I’m excited to look back at all my blog posts just to compare everything. I actually liked having to post so much. In a way, it helped keep me organized and it was a place to put everything. I’ll want to keep the book simple I’m sure, since that’s how I like to design. Keep it organized with colors to distinguish process/inspiration/reflection/reading. I’m not sure if this book would be the place to branch out of my normal design standards.

I want to be really organized with all of this. Keep text and images separate and really mark well what I want to use and what is most important. I think it would be beneficial if we had to log our hours of work so we really understand how to do this for freelance work. And to get a feel for how long it takes us individually and understand more about ourselves as designers.

Journaling Gets the Mind Moving

“Design is hope made visible.”— Brian Collins

REFLECTIONI was focusing a lot on how to organize everything for my book. I’m not sure if I want to include blogs from inspiration and input unless I rewrite them. A lot of the input was done so on a whim and the topics aren’t too fascinating. I wrote a lot about how I think as a designer, especially with the reading responses so I think I want to incorporate this somehow. I might want to rewrite several of my postings. I was definitely more drawn to the later postings about my progress with the independent project. Again, this had more to show about my thought process in action rather than summarizing or responding to a reading, etc. Also, I can really tell which media experiments I was most excited about based on how much I wrote. The same goes for the input and inspiration.