Blogggggggggin and coarse evaluation

This quarter we were encouraged to use the blog as a way to express ourselves as designers as well as learn another form of design communication. That form is called design writing. All in all the blog assignment has been a helpful addition to the design communication syllabus. That is what has been great about des com this quarter. Our teacher forced us into projects that we may not have been completely comfortable with because we were doing things we hadn't necessarily done before. As with anything new it is never easy at first but I believe that as a student it worked to our advantage and made us learn far more then we ever would have learned on our own without the extra push. All together I believe this has been not only one of the most challenging des com studios but also one of the most informative. I have learned many different things this quarter that I am now using on a regular basis. Not many classes can give that to a student in only one corner.

work in progress

Snowboarding culture is bold, therefore the designs reflect that culture

I went to a snowboarding shop this weekend to get some new stuff for an upcoming trip to Colorado. As I browsed the selection of goggles, boards, gloves, hats, and boots I realized from a designers point of view how happy I was to be a snowboarder and not a skier (no offense skiers). Designs in the snowboard world are a combination of bold graphics and bold designs, created to make a statement for anyone riding down the hill. My purchases consisted of a pair of Oakley goggles, a Burton Hate snowboard, a pair of Dakine mittens, and a Burton hat. Im not posting this to boast. I just think the stuff I got has some pretty cool designs and I am super excited about using it.

Goals Review

With the c=quarter coming to a close it is time to look back at what I have done as a designer over the past couple months. At the beginning I had a few specific goals in mind and for the most part I believed I achieved these goals. The first was to become more proficient at 3d modeling. Thanks to the large amount of work we were encouraged to do I have become much faster and more proficient at alias 3d modeling. The second goal I set for myself was to improve upon my graphic design and presentation design skills. I know I have learned a lot about these areas because we were given projects where presentation design was heavily emphasized. Over all it has been a productive quarter; stressful at times but I have developed as a designer. I still have a long way to go though because we as designers are always learning even long after we are out of school.

Mixed media project

The mixed media project was difficult but thats a good thing because I was forced to learn a lot. Combining cad and photoshop work in the same render has proven difficult but has also proven itself to be a viable method for completing renders. The only part I don't like is how when cad is introduced, some of the personality of a hand done render is sacrificed. All things aside though, I am glad we had this project because I believe I will implement this in my work down the road.

My strengths

As designers we all have certain strengths. Everybody is good at something and no one is good at everything. For me, my biggest strength is drawing and design communication. It makes sense to me that whatever people like to do the most is generally their biggest strength. That is at least how it works with me. I have always loved to draw and when I became a designer I was able to hone those to a level I am happy with. The question is how do I continue to improve? The answer for me is to do side projects that interest me: ones that I choose so they are fun enough that they do not seem like work but rather leisure instead.


d.

What good design is to me

It is hard to define 'good design' because there is no right or wrong answer. It is all an opinion in the eye of the beholder. To me, good design can be a number of things. When I think of what makes a good design I think of simplicity; but not just simplicity on its own. Simplicity needs to go hand in hand with elegance. To me, simple elegance is good design. Another idea of good design to me is when people design for the future. When someone creates a design so ahead of its time that it doesn't go obsolete quickly; that to me makes good design.