Collaboration

Bouncing ideas, brainstorming, conspiring, it's all Collaboration! Call it what you want. It is essential in design, or any line of work. Creative people need creative people just as intellectual people need intellectual people, and so on. People need people. It's a network.

I was discussing this with a close artist friend recently. She made references to her college experience and how it was so inspirational to be around other artists. This is true. We need to talk about our ideas and get feed back, or criticism as I am reluctant to say. My Art History professor also made a statement that I think indirectly associates with collaborating. He says, "How can you call yourself original when you define yourself by the material things you consume?" What I took from this is, you can not possibly create without first admiring or studying other creations. I am not going to create something that has not already been attempted or thought of, at the least. It just is not possible when you are in a world where styles are recycled and work is recreated. What I can do is take from it what I wish, but without using the same idea. I have to make it my own.

In summary, I must collaborate and network. I also have to utilize my surroundings and surround myself with inspiration and inspirational people.

We create ideas from other creations.
Collaborate!

Critics

Critiquing can seem to be a very intimidating word, but it is vital when producing work. Fear is not an emotion one wants to experience during a critique, but it is inevitable. There is that famous saying that you are your own worst critic. Is that why the fear factor exists? I have realized my lack of confidence has modeled me to be horrible at accepting criticism. I understand that the definition of the word does not exactly mean anything negative, but it is judgment. Judgment of my work, but because I am attached to my work I always feel like the critic is judging me. Whenever I hand my work to someone I project my insecurities to their critical analysis. My confidence is in the hands of my critic. Overall, I feel like I have failed and consequently criticize my critic. I have to accept the fact that if I want to improve my work, I must know how my audience/client feels about it. I also have to convince myself that if it is not exactly right the first time, that there is always a second chance. My ultimate goal is to accept criticism for what it really is, help.
Do not criticize your critics.

Conceptualizing

As most of you may know, you should never begin a project without first planning it. This is what I call conceptualizing. For weeks I have had this swarm of awesome design ideas in my head, but for some reason I can not seem to make them come to life. Of course I know that nothing just happens, or that the design will magically appear on paper or on screen. What I have come to realize is that I lack the tools and motivation.
I ask myself, "Where do I get these things?" This is the unknown. I have these concepts, but no visuals, no notes, no skills! Duh, I am still learning. I go back and forth with the reality that in order to make these magnificent ideas into actual designs, I have to ask questions. Not only do I have to ask myself these questions, but my peers, my classmates, and my readers.
I think my biggest fear with design is that I will not be able to convey to my audience what I see in my head.
Conceptualizing is a way for me to overcome my fears. If I plan it, write it down when I first think of it, and draw it out on paper first, only then can I acquire the motivation. After first doing that, then I can just break out the books to also acquire the tools. The skills are something that I already have! So there, I have attempted to pacify myself with my own answers to these questions. I just have to keep reminding myself- I can not start in the middle if there is never a beginning-CONCEPTUALIZE!

Typography Design Problems

I am writing blog number two on little to no sleep last night. With what little sleep I got, I dreamed about Typography. Most designers or design students pro



bably already know what this is, but for those who do not, let me fill you in. Typography is learning how to design with type. Simple, you say? No, not really. I never knew how important the bracket on serif was, or the stress of letters 'e' or 'a'. These are things nobody really thinks about while reading. Type actually plays a very significant role in design and when trying to portray a particular message in your work.
A little lesson I have learned is that if you research the typeface and learn its characteristics, then you can use it in reference to your work. Another lesson I learned is if you stress type enough it is stuck in your sub conscience. This brings me back to the root of my dream, Design Problem number two. My professor, hands us our second project for mounting...
Design Problem: Balance/Meaning
"Balance is a fundamental human condition. We seek balance among the many facets of or personal and professional lives."
"In design, balance anchors and activates elements in space. Relationships among elements on the page or screen remind us of physical relationships."

Here is what I understand, but can not seem to produce on screeen....

"A symmetrical design is inherently stable. Yet balance need not be static"- my dream

Design Problem:
In two compositions, explore visual balance while arranging a word to express its meaning. Consider how symmetrical/asymmetrical balance will impact the expression of meaning.

You may vary the size, spacing, placement and orientation of the letters.

Of course there was more to the whole assignment, but you get the idea. So here I am waking up 1:00am, 2:00am, etc. I realized I was really sweating this design problem. After brainstorming and thumbnailing, I had nothing! It was not until my very brief dream that I realized... "Use what you got."
I understood the problem, I was just wrestling with making it one of my best instead of sticking to An Incomplete Manifesto for Growth #2 Forget about good. Needless to say, I completed the assignment as per guidelines and I had to get over my fear of it not being good.
"Good" is by my standards.

Katographx Intro

Here it is, my very first blog! I am extremely excited to intoduce my readers to Katographx. This blog will be about my exploration of design while I attend TCC. Join me on my journey. This is where you will see my questions, my concerns, my trials, my errors, my class experiences, my bad days, my everything! This blog was created in hopes to network and collaborate with others who have similar interests. Feel free to input and comment as you wish.

This is the birth of Katographx, which I hope will someday be my own design company.