design that isn't really design
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- eggnog
the things that people call design these days baffle me. i always thought design was about "problem solving" or "communicating ideas" through visual solutions(yes, i know these terms are art school cliches but they're cliches for a reason). While perusing dozens of on-line portfolios i couldn't help but notice that the line between design(as defined above) and meaningless creative masturbation has become severely blurred. for instance, i've come across dozens of portfolios that are labelled "design" but consist of little more than quirky photoshop/vector jobs with random type strewn everywhere. now, i like this kind of stuff as much as the next guy (as long as it's done well), but just because something is created on a computer and includes some kind of typography doesn't neccessarily mean it's a piece of design. in my opinion, this kind of work would be better off categorized as art, seeing as it really doesn't address any specific issue besides the artists creative urges. even stranger still, it's this non-design that seems to get the most attention with the younger generation of designers. is it becuase we can't be bothered to look past the aesthetics of a piece to find a actual idea? meh. perhaps i being slightly anal about this but it's something that's been bugging me for a while.
yours,
nog.
- fate0
I know exactly what you mean and it really bothers me. There are networks of blind praise and linking to one another so you can see their Halovision rips and absctract 3d.
Usually I go straight to their "web" section (print is beyond most of these places)
Once in the web section, you wonder "What the fuck? This is crap"
then you leave.
- ********0
uh oh...here we go!
(but i seriously agree with some parts..)
- Bluejam0
Don't waste your energy on worrying what the other person is doing, worry about yourself.
It's as simple as dat.
- ********0
As a form of technical ability and photoshopping skill then yes, when done well it can be impressive, but I also agree these 3d cyberscapes do nothing more than communicate a style, form without structure, which you know when it reaches a point of saturation, when getty take it on board and sell as ready mades!!
- eggnog0
yeah. that ying-yang/hippie mentality is great and all but realistically speaking, we all pay close attention to what our peers are doing.
- tparsons0
I would have to agree with Bluejam.....
- rasko40
purely superficial 'cosmetic' work is transparent yes, style is important and can 'be' the finish to a project but overall its about knowing why you are doing something and that it is a part of the larger concept that solves the problem in hand.
You just have to make sure you are good and not just trawling 'trendy' sites and biting every shitty trend you see.
- r_gaberz0
this is a really stupid question, but if design is all about problem solving.. why is it called "design".
- ********0
design literally comes down to planning, sketching out concepts/ideas:
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e-sign (di zin') vt. ME designen < designare (dez' ig na re), to mark out, define <de-, out, from + signare, to mark <signum, a mark, SIGN]] 1 to make preliminary sketches of; sketch a pattern or outline for; plan 2 to plan and carry out, esp. by artistic arrangement or in a skillful way 3 to form (plans, etc.) in the mind; contrive 4to plan to do; purpose; intend 5 to intend or set apart for some purpose - vi. 1 to make designs 2 to make original plans, sketches, patterns, etc; work as a designer _n.Fr dessein , It desegno < disignare < designare]] 1 a plan; scheme; project 2 purpose; intention; aim 3 a thing planned for or outcome aimed at 4 development according to a plan [to find a design in history] 5 a plan or sketch to work from; pattern [a design for a house] 6 the art of making designs or patterns 7 the arrangement of parts, details, form color, etc.so as to produce an artistic unit; artistic invention [the design of a rug] 8 a finished artistic work or decoration _SYN. INTEND, PLAN_by design deliberately, purposely
As the word "design" passed through the French language it became enunciated as we commonly use it today, di zine.
- ********0
wtf??
half of my post is fucking gone...
lemme try that again:
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de-sign (di zin') vt. ME designen - designare (dez' ig na re), to mark out, define -de-, out, from + signare, to mark -signum, a mark, SIGN]] 1 to make preliminary sketches of; sketch a pattern or outline for; plan 2 to plan and carry out, esp. by artistic arrangement or in a skillful way 3 to form (plans, etc.) in the mind; contrive 4to plan to do; purpose; intend 5 to intend or set apart for some purpose - vi. 1 to make designs 2 to make original plans, sketches, patterns, etc; work as a designer _n.Fr dessein , It desegno - disignare - designare]] 1 a plan; scheme; project 2 purpose; intention; aim 3 a thing planned for or outcome aimed at 4 development according to a plan [to find a design in history] 5 a plan or sketch to work from; pattern [a design for a house] 6 the art of making designs or patterns 7 the arrangement of parts, details, form color, etc.so as to produce an artistic unit; artistic invention [the design of a rug] 8 a finished artistic work or decoration _SYN. INTEND, PLAN_by design deliberately, purposely
As the word "design" passed through the French language it became enunciated as we commonly use it today, di zine.
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all <> tags have been replaced with ---'s..
sorry, NT does not allow otherwise..
- scarabin0
those masturbatory designs often find themselves on t-shirts and clothing. it all depends on the market.
- Bluejam0
'Problem Solver' sure as hell aint Rocksta™ nor Romantik™ enough to describe what wondrous pieces of work we do for the good of humanity, and it probably wouldn't warrant a $150K paycheck either (aint that right Frank).
- eggnog0
nice burn.
- lowimpakt0
taking the business out of design doesnt make it art. putting business into art doesnt make it design. design (in a pure sense) wasnt created (or hasnt existed) solely for profit margins.
- frankNbeans0
"probably wouldn't warrant a $150K paycheck either (aint that right Frank). "
I'm just in it for the pussy, the money is secondary.
- meok0
"i always thought design was about "problem solving" or "communicating ideas" through visual solutions"
haha cute
- Peter0
Even more anal:
I thought that that was "graphic design"
- SoulFly0
I was thinking the same thing. I am tired of fake design.
I saw a website of logos posted here, supposed to be for "inspiration", and 90% of the logos posted on that site were crap.