Design is video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkuBd-IzT_4

My Manifesto

1.     Smile: Keep a smile on your face. Look at the glass as half full and keep a positive mindset in everything you do.

2.     Keep your Eyes Open: Always be looking around at the world and taking things in. Whether it is human interaction or personal time take it in and enjoy it.

3.     Love: Have a love for something in particular. It will allow you to enjoy so much more.

4.     Breath: Inhale and exhale.

5.     Ask for Help: Ask people for help with your work. Ask friends, family, and colleagues. It will give you a clear view.

6.     Be Original: To the best of your ability.

7.     Research: Look around and incorporate the elements that come from good design into your own.

8.     Take Chances: Within reason look outside the box, try something new that will evoke emotion.

9.     Listen: Listen to those with knowledge, take it in and think about it.

10. Be Humble: Respect is very important. Whenever you feel yourself beginning to get flustered or angry, slow down and humble you.

11. Laugh: Crack jokes, watch funny movies, laugh at you.

12. Drink Coffee: Tastes great and for the most part keeps you awake.

13. Exercise: Helps you to clear your mind and gives you energy towards every facet of your life.

14. Be Happy: You are very lucky to be on this earth, be fortunate.

15. Be You: It is overused be it is important to embrace your own personality and not feel pressured to conform to what others think you should be like.

16. Watch a Movie: It gets you out of your bubble.

17. Drive: Feel the speed, put the window down and let the wind brush through your hair.

Four contemporary designers

These four noteworthy practitioners share some commonalities between them. First and foremost they all think outside of the box. Each designer thinks of a new way to get his or her design ideas to stick into peoples mind. One way they achieve this is by doing things with design that is very original; it is stuff that you wouldn’t expect to see. These designs range from Sagmeister’s penny design on the street to Marion’s individualized cards. They also do work for money and do jobs that are more traditional but they are all always looking to be different and new with their design.

In saying that Design is everyday, everywhere and in everything, each of these designers do relate. Stefan Sagmeister for example takes a sabbatical every seven years in order to come up with new things. In doing this he comes up with some of his best ideas by just looking around the world and refreshing his creative mind. These four designers share the commonality that they take time to refresh they’re creative minds by looking and taking in what design surrounds us all everyday, everywhere, and in everything including mother nature and its elements.

Letter to Stefan Bucher

Dear Stefan,

I just finished watching your presentation at the Make/Think: AIGA Design Conference. First and foremost I must say that I really liked the short video at the beginning that cataloged what you do. It was very easy to follow while still keeping my interest. I also loved the humor of it all. Your presentation continues with the same humor that engages the audience, it also gives everybody a feeling of who you really are as a person.

I respect your independence that you have with your company 344. It was very refreshing to see how you go about your work. The illustrations and the ideas you have come up with are very engaging. To see the steps in your drawings though are very cool and all the details in your drawing techniques. Your work is original and something that I would like to do with my work, which is continue to look outside the box.

These are very influencing things in my life as a student and designer. As well as influencing your presentation was very smooth, like a presentation should be, and something that I can reference upon for my own presentations. Thank you.

 

Michael Zonni

Culture & Design

The recent ad campaign that I selected is Nissan: Sports Illustrated, Model vs. Model, “Aerodynamics”. This campaign is a series of four ads, all of which follow the same theme and are equally as entertaining and memorable as the one before. I selected “Aerodynamics” because out of the four I found it the most humorous and unforgettable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saoMA39lh3U&feature=player_embedded

Target Market:

The Target market for this ad first and foremost is men ranging from ages 16 to 35 that reside in suburban and urban areas. The reason for this is because they are using sex and humor to sell the product. It is a double ad as it is promoting both the Nissan Juke and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition Magazine. SI Swimsuit is targeted directly to male sports fan that already own a subscription to Sports Illustrated. The Nissan Juke is modern looking 4 door mix of between a coupe and crossover marketed towards teenage to early twenty males as well as young families that want a small fuel efficient ride with a cool sporty look.

Cultural Themes:

The theme that is reoccurring in television advertisements is sex and laughter. This ad in particular uses a sort of awkward humor that really surprises the viewer but really makes then laugh. The ad also primarily attracts the viewer with sex by displaying the gorgeous swimsuit model. This has always been a strong cultural theme in commercials as it plays with men’s sexual wants with its comparison between sex and cars. The Nissan Juke is portrayed as being just as sexy as the model but it’s done in humorous way.

Overall Observations:

I love this campaign in part to the fact that not only am I in the target market, but it made me laugh. The part where the Nissan rep was explained that any disruption to the wind test would result in them being there all day, the first thing that comes to your mind as a male is “disrupt the test”. The fact that the actor playing this role does this in such a funny way with his expressions makes the commercial. There is also strategic placement of the actors in this ad. The engineers performing the tests are probably in there 40’s, as the main actor is more so in the target market age group because at a certain age the Juke is too modern and young looking.

My Design Process

I start my process of Design by collecting as much research as necessary. This usually consists of surfing the web in order to understand the assignment and generate ideas. I then move onto drawing some roughs and getting my best ideas down, this also includes trial and error digitally. After trying these steps I pick what my best design idea is and go forward with it. This is the part of my design process that takes the most time trying to work out kinks as well as make everything look good.

When I get stuck on a design piece I take many different roads in order to figure it out. I look towards my classmates for their opinions as I value what they think because we are in the same boat. I sometimes take a step away, clear my mind and maybe work on another project. Mainly I do whatever it takes to clear my mind and develop new and fresh inspiration whether it is from media, friends, family, or just everyday living. If a problem occurs near to the deadline of an assignment I try my best to push through it. Usually your first idea is your best idea so as long as you stick to it, you can make it through.

My Media Usage

Other refers to my part time job. There is satellite radio playing all shift as well as TV in the Bar. On top of that I use a computer system to enter all the the orders I take from customers.

About Me & What Design is

Design is everywhere, everyday, and all of the time. It has a great impact on my life and on the future. Previous to being accepted to Graphic Design I was working in catering and in the restaurant business. I took a few years off before deciding that this was the area of design i wanted to get into. I went to Sheridan College for a couple of years right after High School and it was a great experience. It helped me to figure out more about myself and my future.