In Design III we were given two packets of readings. I chose a select few that I found very inspiring:
"Track Record" - Danielle Aubert
Aubert wrote her thesis statement on her interest in 'paths' we leave behind us in life. She gave several different examples of what she means by tracking: it is the footprints we leave after a walk, or even the invisible path our eyes had followed when scanning a piece of text. It all came down to how she said she would approach it through graphic design, to make what would be usually overlooked by other visible and thought provoking. Aubert mentions CSI's way of portraying tracking is something that interests her. She also goes into depth about how she wants to conduct her research to uncover the beauty of the tracks we humans or our machines have left behind us. In the end it is proposed that what ever form, be it book, post, or video, she will be able to only portray a sliver of the greater idea.
This was a very good example of how a thesis statement should be. In my case I need to really hone in on how I am going to utilize graphic design to portray, if only, a portion of what makes up 'self.' I still am investigating how self is defined by outside sources and physical surrounding or accessories but it gets so much more spiritual, emotional and thoughtful so it's something I still need to work out. Currently I am focusing on book design but I am still not sure if it's just something I really like to do or if I need to look at a wider scope in order to successfully portray my thesis.
"Mimesis" - Hyounyoul Joe
Joe's image collection on his thesis idea of mimicry is varied and show many different various that can all support "mimesis." The images are as visually supportive evidence similar to Aubert's words in her statement. He has picked up on various images, that are also derived from movies or performance art. These images are from vastly different sources and contexts. They all in some way support his theory, but this type of research makes me wonder about how much the context has changed for some of the art work. It was discussed in Thesis class when we were looking through a gallery that sometimes when a gallery is curated and the artist is not there to explain the meaning of his/her work, the art piece is then place where ever and its context may be changed. I do wonder if we look from work to support our aspiring thesis ideas, are we trying to force it's support in a sense?
"Is it possible to touch somebody's heart with design?" - Stefan Sagemeister
Sagemeister's writing and gallery combination were particularly inspiring because as designers / artists/ and human beings, we ask ourselves these questions on a regular basis. He gets straight to the point in saying that when design does not come from the heart it become cold and unmoving. He gives us further example of what he has done as moving design and what design or art work has moved him. He also remarks upon the ongoing argument 'Is Design really Art' and just eliminated it completely with a Brian Eno quote "not to think of art works as objects, but as triggers for experiences." which I appreciated and found it really got to the core of what art really is.
When it all comes down to it Sagemeister tries to create a list of guidelines that if you plugged your design into each category and it checked off, it would be heart-moving design! He even admits that there is no right way to create heart-moving design unless your heart is in the design, that you simply need the guts and that when people see it and know your heart is in it, they will be moved.
"An Incomplete Manifesto for Growth" - Bruce Mau
"14. Don't be cool.
Cool is conservative fear dressed in black. Free yourself from limits of this sort."
Mau wrote a manifesto of guidelines we follow before creating design. He even left us an empty space in case we thought of something else. I thought this was also incredibly inspiring. Similar to what Sagemeister was trying to tell us, but different in a sense that he didn't insert his own emotions or opinions into it. He is simply giving us rules that we should follow for growth and does not limit that to design or art. This list applies to life itself, he talks about working in context, how "creatives" and "suits" labels are eliminated because real design happens when you do what you do best.
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