Embracing Change
As the new year begins and I embark on a new adventure, this is a great opportunity to reflect on what the last two years have taught me. Before getting started, I should point out that this article does not concentrate on a specific area of design or art. It is a reflection of my own practice, the shift of my visual taste and the development of my ideas about art and design.
I remember my first graphic design class- an 8 a.m class about Visual Communication History and Theory, I questioned my decision to join a BA in Graphic Design. Having left a Bachelor of Commerce for a Bachelor of Arts, my initial reaction was disappointment. I was there to learn about Adobe software and all the cool tricks to make stunning album art designs like David Ho who was one of my initial inspirations. During the next couple of months, we learnt about the importance of visual communication and how it evolved throughout the different eras. Then came Design in Context which explored the different art and design movements throughout the years, their impact on culture and society as a whole. It was not until my second year of University that I began to understand the significance of learning history and theory.
Why am I rambling on about my university years?
No, it is not because I’m old and reminiscing about the good ol’ days. Okay, maybe a little…
It was during my second year that I developed a fascination with modernism, Bauhaus and minimalism. I was in awe of the great designers simplifying complex ideas to their bare minimum and still convey their messages to audiences. Not to say that I did not give it a shot myself, just to fail miserably at the task. It was then that I learnt about the significance of grids for better composition, and achieving balance with minimal elements.
Fast-forward to a couple of years later, my fascination with minimalism continued to grow and was present in most of my professional work. It reflected in my branding, editorial design, illustrative works for album art, and so on.
However, for the past couple of years, I have decided to explore other art and design styles as well as other design fields. Not out of boredom, but because of my growing interest in visual arts and its use in commercial graphic design.
I began exploring the warm, bright, complex features of the Victorian era, the symmetrical, geometric and stylised features of Art Deco and the organic shapes, feminine forms and earthy tones of Art Nouveau, amongst others. This led me to switching from my usual black and white designs across most medium to a more complex, illustrative, textured and colourful type of work.
Designing with a different intent
This change in taste and direction did not happen overnight. This change in taste challenged my skills and getting out of my comfort zone required a lot of courage. While my professional design practice will not entirely stop, I have begun exploring other avenues that allow me to include more experimentation and playfulness in my work.
Being a hybrid creative (graphic design and visual art) does not necessarily mean that there are no rules to abide by. Although there appears to be more freedom in the process, the technical requirements are still present. Principles such as composition, colour theory, rhythm, etc, all still very much play an important role in creating aesthetically pleasing outcomes. However, as mentioned above, the aim is to freely explore a new visual language that was absent in my past approach to design.
As I begin a new body of work, there cannot be a better time than now to reflect on my past experiences. Here are 5 lessons that I have learnt.
Lesson 1: Find your heroes
We need heroes to lead us and assist us in learning new techniques, alternative strategies, insightful lessons, etc. Your heroes can each offer you something unique. Finding those that motivate you to improve in both your work and personal life is the goal.
How does it relate to graphic design? The early stages of becoming a graphic designer requires a lot of trial and error. Only through consistent practice can you improve. But what do you practice and how do you do it?
I've discovered that by observing other creatives’ thought process for integrating ideas and putting them into action is one of the finest methods to acquire these skills. And by observing, I mean mimic their style and understand their creative choices. By copying your heroes, you will refine your skills and develop new processes. Find people you can look up to that you find inspiring. However, do not limit yourself to only watching the graphic design space.
The Art of David Ho (left) and my own mediocre attempt in 2009 (right).
Lesson 2: Be playful and experiment
The field of graphic design and the creative sector as a whole are always shifting. Photographers used to be against using Photoshop for excessive post-processing, but eventually it became common practice in most photography styles. Nowadays, we are witnessing the impact of AI in the creative industry. While we can argue for its unethical appropriation of style (that discussion is best saved for another time), it could add to the designer's arsenal of tools. Using AI for mockups, or for finding new ideas for concept art, it all depends on how you can use these tools to better your skills.
David Carson is one of the designers, in my opinion, who most exemplifies the value of experimentation and playfulness in design. Rules are made to be broken, as we have frequently heard. However, prior to breaking the rules in inventive ways, learn the concepts and building blocks of design. The goal of experimenting is to try new things, which are almost certainly not the best work you can produce.
Another way to look at it is by keeping a sketchbook. These sketchbooks are not meant to be shared, much like an artist’s sketchbook. You should include every trial, experiment, and idea you have.
Lesson 3: New beginnings are challenging
The comfort zone is always well… Comfortable. Developing some skills and then repeatedly doing the same thing, feels secure because you are not in new territory. We do not like to fail and trying something new means that it will suck at first. As a result, we tend to close ourselves off to new opportunities and techniques because they take so long to acquire. Changing one's approach, method, or creative field are all unsettling ideas. Where do I begin? What should I do? What if I mess up? What if I appear foolish?
In the book (which I highly recommend), The War of Art by Steven Pressfield , he refers to this as Resistance. Along with Jocko Willinks, Joe Rogan also talks about this extensively. This is a concept that applies to every aspect of our lives, not just as creative individuals, marines or martial artists. In his book, Steven Pressfield refers to Resistance as the force that keeps us from sitting down and doing what is hard. As such, always look for long-term growth over instant gratification.
Lesson 4: Ignore the labels
While labeling layers and documents is always necessary, your process, and most importantly, how you see things, should not be dictated by your job title. There is this never-ending discussion about art vs design and as an educator, I have always distinguished between the fields of art and design in my first lecture. It is true that graphic design work needs to communicate effectively with the audience, while art should be open to interpretation. The field you work in is another aspect that sets art apart from design. For instance, as an illustrator, you may experience more freedom with your visual elements. But as a UX designer, you have to be user-centric. However, this does not imply that artistic methods and styles should be completely disregarded. There are invaluable lessons to be learned from artists- composition, use of texture, shapes and forms explorations, etc.
Consider yourself more than just a graphic designer. Use your imagination and take inspiration from your heroes.
Lesson 5: It’s not always about the gear
While we always want the fastest workstations, the latest software and the latest tablet with an interactive screen, these things do not always result in making us better designers. If you have been practicing for years with outdated equipment, it can indeed improve your work. However, when starting out, this is not a requirement. Yes, rendering 3D scenes can be faster if you get that new graphics card. But this is not what I am referring to here.
Limitations and restrictions create innovation. Innovation in your method, strategy, and way of thinking is often overlooked.
Emphasis should be placed on improving your skills. There are various different ways of achieving the same outcome and it all depends on how you use what is available to you. By doing so, you will find the most efficient way of doing things.
Again, this can be a characteristic of Resistance that the author Steven Pressfield writes about. It is easier to think about what we do not possess than ways in which we can use what we have to their full potential.
To summarise, this article is a reflective piece on my own experiences during the past couple of years. While you may not agree with everything, I do hope you find the recommended readings below informative.
