Friday, April 26, 2013

Music! Live!

Design work has been kind of slow lately. I've also managed to befriend a rather persistent cold.
This has lead to ample time free to watch The Wire in the background while doing a bit of personal research...

I love music. I also happen to dig documentaries.

In celebration of Frank Turner's new album Tape Deck Heart, released this past Monday (April 22), I am pleased to present you with this 15-minute documentary.




I stuffed my face with oreo cookies, munching away my sadness at having to watch Coachella this year from my computer. The line up was incredible. One band I was particularly entranced by was The Gaslight Anthem. I've had the album That '59 Sound kicking around on my itunes for ages, but never paid much attention thereafter. Watch their set at Coachella below and prepare to have your socks knocked.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

CREATIVE MORNINGS ROUND 2 – SPENCER WYNN

This Creative Mornings talk was a vastly different experience from the last –– at least for me.
Perhaps because it was my second time attending, I felt comfortable enough to go on my own.
It's always a struggle to get out of bed that early in the morning, but it is absolutely worth it.

There always seems to be a large number of people exclaiming "it's my first time!" I have also observed many veterans who go around greeting past acquaintances or colleagues. Even when you aren't listening to the speaker, you're learning. Two girls befriended each other beside me. During their conversation, I acquired very useful knowledge applicable to my industry.

As a web developer explained how often she receives request for Wordpress websites, she answered my question of whether or not I need to learn web design in some capacity. The designer to whom she was speaking also mentioned that she builds HTML sites and works for an intimate (and reputable) design company.

Behrouz Hariri, who runs the lectures, opened up a "Town Hall" type platform for the audience. He made it possible for those seeking the opportunity to publicly declare they need employment (or need an employee) and other such announcements.

It is an incredibly easy environment for sparking conversation. If you're going to find a likeminded individual somewhere in this city, you're bound to do so at CM (Creative Mornings). The RGD laughed when I requested a mentor who had studied at my overseas university, which is allegedly world-renowned. At yesterday's CM, my lecture-neighbour was educated in the same foreign city as I and had studied at one of the sister colleges.

As a "retired" journalist and Graphic Designer, I was very intrigued to listen to Spencer Wynn, the Art Director for Toronto Star. The Star provides an environment supportive of wild creativity. Wynn stated that for any wacky ideas presented, they're "absolutely on board." His photographic ingenuity has taken him to exotic locations, and allowed him to orchestrate local risky endeavours. For example, some of his assignments included setting Bloor Street alight outside the ROM, and printing (and subsequently destroying) illegal money and a smoke grenade shoot with Porter Air.

To please typography enthusiasts he included some examples of experimental typography that had been printed in the Star. Prior to his role at TorStar, he worked at Toronto Life magazine.

Throughout his talk he threw ideas into the crowd and encouraged us through his energy and words to be proactive. When answering a query from an audience member about a prospective project, he even suggested specific companies to contact.

The rest of his talk centered on creating Blurb books, where he demonstrated his excitement at new technological possibilities (like embedded media in ebooks). He had a countless amount of his own projects to share with us, ranging from assembling other people's portfolios, to his own experiment with hipstamatic, and a hilarious surgeon's alphabet book. It begins with "A is for Accident," though he recommended we skip the "S is for Staples" spread.

The last slide in his presentation told us to "Have fun and Create!" Despite this call to action being specific to producing Blurb books, I repurposed it to a more general context. Now I'm feeling inspired.







Monday, March 11, 2013

HEY! LOOK WHAT I FOUND!

I was sorting through my photographs and stumbled upon these photographs taken of some of my favourite places/tutors at the old CSM location at Southampton Row. I may have posted them at an earlier date, but I often reminisce about those days.
Such a lovely time.








Friday, March 8, 2013

FORGOTTEN LONDON NEGATIVES

I discovered a forgotten roll of film I took during my two weeks in London. I was pretty excited to get scanning! Here are the highlights.























Tuesday, March 5, 2013

RGD CREATIVE EARNERS RESULTS

Bless the RGD (the Association of Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario). As a current freelancer, searching for full-time work, I am vehemently curious about the conditions within the design industry here in Canada. The RGD has (literally) just posted the results of their Creative Earners Survey (download it here). I encourage you to have a read! This is what surprised me.












































Forgive me RGD if I am not allowed to share this document with the rest of the interweb.
But I wasn't not expecting that the majority of people employed are in For Profit Organizations.

Another subject of interest is freelancing rates. I was shocked by the current rates, and how little I've been acquiring in my experience as a freelancer.











































In this document there is a lot of concern expressed for the future of Graphic Design as a profession. It seems many are finding it difficult to attain (or sustain) employment, noting the necessity for knowledge of digital/interactive practices to stay relevant in the industry. It is comforting to know I'm not the only one struggling, and considering expanding my education to fulfil the requirements for current design opportunities.

Friday, March 1, 2013

BREAKFAST LECTURE AT HERMAN MILLER

Creative Mornings puts on free monthly breakfast lectures ‘for creative types.’ They have 29 chapters worldwide and by some stroke of luck, one here in Toronto. These talks are popular, and if you don’t register early you are likely to miss out. It’s not often the speakers are Graphic Designers (let alone veterans in the industry), so when the sign-up opened at 9-something A.M,
I was at my computer ready.

This being my second ‘networking’ event of the week, I thought I knew what to expect — a few edibles (vegan unfriendly), and staying mute while listening to the featured speaker. The lecture was hosted by the Toronto Office of Herman Miller, allowing us an opportunity to acquire insight and feel for the company by exploring their space.

I was surprised by the extensive breakfast spread and numerous fancy coffee/latte/tea machines (I’m old school). I made a bee-line for display tables littered with design porn. I was taken aback when two girls actually utilized the nature of this occasion and introduced themselves. One did all the talking. She was very friendly and interested. Being quasi-socially awkward and distracted by my surroundings, I blanked on questions to ask her. Luckily, my outgoing colleague chimed in. My interpersonal skills clearly suffer when I’m not caffeinated. When we took our seats I noted the quantity of photographers (4 visible).

Herman Miller is a Michigan-based furniture and equipment company with an office in Toronto. It was renamed in 1923 when DJ De Pree became president after joining the company 4 years following it’s conception as Star Furniture Co. Herman Miller was De Pree’s father-in-law who kindly loaned De Pree the money to purchase the company.

Steve Frykholm was the first internal Graphic Designer at Herman Miller. He joined the company in 1970 after teaching Nigerian girls screenprinting as a member of the Peace Corp. He says he didn’t know how to screenprint at the time, so he learned with them. He is most known for his screenprinted picnic posters for the company, which are in museums such as MOMA, the Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design. He has also won a number of awards from AIGA, American Center for Design, Communication Arts, and Print.

He shared the lecture with Clark Malcolm who has been at the company since 1983. He is also an accomplished author/co-author or editor of 16 books.

This modest and jovial duo delivered a casual and comedic presentation with the dynamic of a cute married couple. Malcolm promised to tell us “the truth” but
“couldn’t guarantee fact.”

They began with a key story that changed the outlook of De Pree and in turn shaped the ethos of Herman Miller. After the death of a Millright, De Pree visited the Millrights wife at their home. His wife showed De Pree poetry that the Millright had written. This supplanted the notion that “everybody is extraordinary,” which he adopted into the hiring process, basing future decisions on honesty and integrity.

When asked for their thoughts on the future of design and the rapid evolution of digital technology and practices, Frykholm stated though the possibilities are exciting, “design principles will not change.” He told us that designers have to pull up their socks and work hard. In demonstrating his approach to something dull like an annual report, he explained that he thought of the assignment as an opportunity to tell a story as opposed to an arrangement of numbers. One year presented ingeniously on the translucent packaging of a rain poncho. I can’t think of too many companies that would provide their designers with such creative freedom, which I can imagine contributes to Frkyholm’s long-standing loyalty to the brand.

During the question and answer session of the lecture, an audience member sought their perspective on the notion that “everyone’s an artist” given current social media outlets and technological abilities. They struggled to suppress a lengthy opinion, and answered with tactful optimism, but remarked “design is in your DNA” and “don’t these people have day jobs?” Frykholm also encouraged us to strive for authenticity.

The only thing detracted from this otherwise inspiring experience was the fellow with a camera who sat in front of me and shot continuously using his flash. I was blinded every 5 minutes and left with a headache. I wanted to tap him on the shoulder and inform him that a flash was not necessary, nor were 3,000 photos of someone in virtually the same position.












Wednesday, February 27, 2013

HAPPINESS IS... A DX LECTURE

Last night I attended my first talk at the Design Exchange in Toronto. Outside of an educational curriculum, I had very little experience in attending lectures, particularly here in Canada.

Given my biased against Toronto (and attitude that it will NEVER measure up to London), I did not expect to find such an intriguing event taking place in this city.

Coinciding with Stefan Sagmeister's The Happy Show, on at the Design Exchange until this Sunday, the topic was happiness. Nine Canadian creatives shared their knowledge of happiness, moderated by the Globe and Mail's Editor of the Arts, Gabe Gonda. The variance between each speaker was quite interesting.

Merriam-Webster online Dictionary defines happiness as:
1) a state of well-being and contentment
2) a pleasurable or satisfying experience

Children were repeatedly credited for provoking the experience of happiness, even those who didn't have any of their own cited those belonging to others as 'inspirational.'
Many included simple pleasures, which I will illuminate as I discuss each presentation. 

Landscape Architect Claude Cormier commenced the "pencha-style" lecture. His presentation consisted solely of his work. Initially I thought he must have misunderstood the purpose of the assignment, unless we were meant to make the unconscious connection that his portfolio and pink sheepskin couch attributed to his contentment. The audience was quite amused at his project title "Pink Balls."

I really enjoyed the next speaker, Architect from Superkul, Meg Graham. She turned this opportunity into a project and gave us an honest account of her personal life. She took us through her exploration of what made her happy, beginning with making lists, which she said takes her to a "higher place of mind." She referenced Stefan Sagmeister's "The Happy Show," and broke down her likelihood of being happy based on the model Sagmeister used in this exhibition (50% genetics, 40% activities and 10% life conditions). For Graham, happiness was lattes and croissants, her family (specifically the genetics from her mother), time to herself, new projects and feedback.

Co-owners of Blok Design, Graphic Designers Marta Cutler and Vanessa Eckstein shared the following presentation. Eckstein was passionate in expressing her thoughts on the subject and overrode Cutler's demure persona. They called happiness a brand, stating it wasn't something that could be acquired through pursuit, but rather an illusive moment that finds you. I liked that they touched on creative process, something I struggled with constantly as a designer. The "creative path is not something we choose" but something we can't escape. "Feelings and intuition are all that matters," and we should dare to be naive. Their presentation centered a lot around children, how we should take note from a child's fascination with what is immediately in front of them, and pay attention ourselves. Cutler and Eckstein find moments of fleeting bliss through daily chocolate and green tea. I can relate.

"True happiness is buffalo mozzarella," according to Architect Ralph Giannone. I loved his humorous delivery of subtle self-mockery.
Giannone admits he has a penchant for the "joys of domestic chaos."
Curvy buildings made him happy, as does traveling virtually (insert plug for one of his projects). He feels rewarded by debating on the City of Toronto's Design Review Panel.

Interior Designer Christine Ralphs took a different direction. I appreciated her sharing art that brings her contentment. It was hard to identify with a woman whom owns 15 houses (and unabashedly shared this unnecessary information) and associates beaches, martinis and dogs with happiness. However, it was clear that Ralphs is a genial ball of love. I could relate to her fervor for photography and her curiosity at how the Olsen twins could be so accomplished yet look so miserable. She's an adventure addict and loves the rush of being out of control, which provided an explanation for her admiration of Kate Moss's ability to be unapologetically Kate Moss. She closed with a clip of Obama singing Al Green. She won me over with Obama.

Charismatic Fine Artist and Illustrator Gary Taxali was the most enjoyable to listen to. Happiness according to him is "doing things the way you're not supposed to," "a meaningful space," and "being silly." He imparted the audience with wisdom from his parents, "silliness is creativity." I agree. Taxali is in an enviable position. He is able to do the work he loves, give himself new creative challenges (taking on all mediums) while being paid and giving back. He said being an artist requires an ounce of self-delusion and a lack of control. Taxali also confirmed "print is alive," easing my current fears that my education had not provided me with enough digital training to subsist as a modern day designer. Thank you Taxali. His closing statement reminded us to "honour the past, live in the present and the future takes care of itself." I was surprised when he later said hello to me on the stairs although I had never met him, which eased my apprehension at attending these 'networking' type events. Because of such a simple kind act, I felt more comfortable at the idea of approaching professionals in the industry to acquire tidbits of advice.

Taxali was a hard act to follow. My mind was already preoccupied bouncing around his sentiments. Actor and Producer Arsinee Khanjian explored quotes by great thinkers. They made her unhappy. The Mediterranean Sea was a place where she found contentment. Nature also inspired the same feeling (though she hates camping). She spoke about children in poverty who had no shoes, who likely experience more genuine moments of happiness, not caused by material items. Khanjian told us we should view happiness as a reward, and not a goal.

Despite believing he veered off course, Artistic Director of Luminato (and Rufus Wainwright's hubby) Jorn Weisbrodt's interview with his grandmother was extremely engaging and relevant. He was correct in assuming that no one knows more about happiness (and most things) than a 100+ year-old woman. I was hardly distracted by the slideshow of smiling old people in the background. I was too engrossed to take notes. The solitary aspect of his presentation that stuck with me was the unfolding story of his grandmother's marriage. All that remains in my notebook is this: Happiness was "with children and managing ones tasks," and love had to grow between her and husband, who was older and whom she had to look up to. The intensity of their kiss did not change as they aged. A good husband equalled a happy life.

What did I learn from these perceptions of happiness?
Rewarding work is essential. An even balace of work/play is necessary, as is a good sense of humour.
Being personable and passionate will take you places. Learn from observing others (especially the simplicity of kids, even if you don't want any). Ask questions. Make mistakes.
Be adventurous and accept challenges.

My mother often tells me to do what I love, and the rest fall into place. I think she might be on to something.