Module 11 - Final Project

Reflections

“If you can sustain your interest in what you’re doing (throughout your life) you’re a very luck person… I’m still astonished…things still amaze me, and I think that’s a great benefit of being in the arts where the possibility for learning never disappears, where you basically have to admit you never learn it.” - Milton Glaser

I came upon these inspiring words while researching Milton Glaser, a hugely respected Graphic Design pioneer and icon, with a prolific career spanning over 50 years to back him up.   What strikes me about these words is the inspiration for all of us to never allow ourselves to stagnate – to think we know everything we need to know, and become complacent with the world.  This overarching lesson is one I take to heart, and have surely experienced from taking The History of Graphic Design.

At times, the extensive amount of reading, supplemental lectures, writing, observing and critical thinking exercises, seemed overwhelming.  However, I chose not to be daunted. I’ve realized through the years that the classes, work, whatever project you delve into the most, are the ones you gain the deepest understanding and appreciation of, and are those things you carry with you and draw upon the rest of your life.

I’ve taken art and some design classes in the past, but never an art history class.  I realize now, after taking The History of Graphic Design, that I was most certainly at a disadvantage.  My work was strictly based on intuition, and lacked depth, and creativity.  Now that I’ve taken the class, I understand why my work was stunted: I was missing the visual vocabulary and historical foundation learned in this class.  I clearly remember a design exercise from a class I took.  Looking back now, it was very reminiscent of Constructivism.  I recall the teacher getting very frustrated with all of us because we were not producing the work he expected.  Then, it was difficult for me to understand the concept, but if given the project now, with the knowledge I have of Constructivism, the lesson would have meaning to me, probably resulting in a richer product.  This knowledge motivates me to continue learning about design. I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned, experiment, and observe the results.

Il Lissitsky, Contructivism

Like travelling to a different country, the experience of learning adds something vibrant to your life.  The experience changes you, and no one can take that away.  This is how I feel after taking this class.  I no longer look at art the same way; in a sense, I’ve become more attentive to what I see.   I now ask myself why do I like that piece? Does it communicate clearly? What, if any, historical design influences were used? What visual design elements are used?  How are they used?  Do they work well together?  What would improve the design?  Is the solution unique, or have I seen the problem solved that way before?

Milton Glaser

Inflluences: Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Japanese Woodblock

A curiosity for learning more about other artists and influential design movements has also crept into my life.  While researching topics for the weekly field journals, the flexibility of the Internet allowed me to venture off into other directions.  So much so, that often times I found it hard to narrow my choices for that week.  For instance, Milton Glaser I found to be a fascinating, wholly inspiring person.  Further wandering on the Internet led me to the works of artists such as the Thonik Group, Phillipe Apeloig, Nancy Skolos-Wedell, and others – the information seems boundless.

Thonik 

Phillipe Apeloig

Nancy Skolos-Wedell

After taking this class, I’m also more attuned to the political, social, economic and technological forces that influence visual design today, and how they may affect visual communication in the future.  These factors cause change, and are part of life, as we’ve seen in this class.  Graphic design is part of that dynamic.  A contemporary example of this involvement is the STEM to STEAM project, led by the State of New Jersey, the Rhode Island School of Design (the school president is John Maeda), educators, business and technology.  National support for the project is also gaining momentum.  For those not familiar with STEM, it is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.  Promoters of the project have evidence that supports the beneficial inclusion of Art in STEM.  From this addition STEM becomes STEAM, which drives innovation for the future.  Art is proven to stimulate creative thinking in humans that the other disciplines cannot.  If you’re interested in finding out more, please visit www.stemtosteam.org.

John Maeda (President RISD) with business, government leaders 

STEM to STEAM forum

A side benefit of taking this class has been the exciting exchange of ideas brought to my discussions with family and friends.  The information has been so interesting to me that I want to share it, discuss it – pass it along.  My newly-found creative use of type and image in text messages may sometimes get a “ugh”, but believe it or not, discussions about what is an ideograph, what the invention of printing meant to people, how did modern art begin, the impact of the industrial revolution, how wartime influenced art, and the influence design has on social movements, have inspired enriching conversation.

Finally, I must say that the information presented by class members in their weekly field journals help to expand my learning.  An online class could have a tendency to leave you with only your perspectives and ideas, but with the field journals, that potential learning gap is filled.  I enjoyed hearing about what other class members learned from the modules, and about their interests.  Their unique observations, and perspectives helped to enrich my learning experience.

Thank You!

Baskerville font ;)

The following pages of my blog serve to illustrate a progressive journey through graphic design history.  The blog is published in descending order with the most recent journal appearing first.  Titles include: Does Culture Influence Alphabet Design and Function?; Seventeenth Century Graphic Design Innovation?; Arts and Crafts Movement in the Digital Age; Periodicals of the Art Nouveau Movement; Modernism in American Graphic Design; A Modern Day Corporate Identity Solution; Corporate Identity Program – Flextronics; and Graphic Design and Public Service.






---------------------------------


Sources:


YouTube: Milton Glaser. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0VPVbFY4Kg 


New York Times, Sunday Review. Sunday, December 11, 2011, page 2,


www.MOMA.com


artdeco.blogspot.com


www.thonik.com


www.apeloig.com


www.skolos-wedell.com


YouTube: STEM to STEAM forum with RISD in Washington, 6-22-11. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXgC5rGev-k