Pixelgawker

By: Megan Deal

Failure. To lack success. To cease all function. To fall short. Failure is that doomed state that human beings, from all walks of life, indefinitely attempt to avoid. For many design students, failure is the unwelcome condition that we tend to block from our minds. The thought of being denied the personal or creative success that we all feel we deserve, is enough to send us running home to our parents in tears, straight to the local bar, or at the very least, to consider dropping all design related courses and enrolling in a business and accounting program at the closest state university. For some, the fear of failure becomes so prominent that the afore mentioned scenarios inevitably become the final “fix” in failure avoidance. But for others, all of us who are still here, still progressing forward, and still loosing every ounce of heart and soul in every single project that we complete, we’ve somehow managed to successfully suppress our fears of failure, and/or figured out how to still be productive when the possibility of defeat looms nearby. (more…)

By: Megan Deal

We have reached that interesting point in the semester. Time is running out. The semester is ending, and deadlines are fast approaching. As time disappears our days get longer, and before we know it the line between dusk and dawn becomes blurred. We begin to shoot coffee by the gallons and intake sugar by the pounds. Projects must be complete and there is no room for error; not from the individual or from the accompanying machine. (more…)

As many of you know, Ellen Lupton visited the area earlier this semester, holding a lecture in Ann Arbor and a Family Day event at MOCAD. During her visit she was kind enough to meet a handful of CCS students for dinner and agreed to assist as she could with the development of this blog. As I began exploring the topic of “cultural literacy” in design education, I thought that Ms. Lupton would be a prime candidate to contribute. She thoughtfully took some time out of her day to answer a few of my questions. Below is our conversation:

Megan: I have drawn my own conclusion, based upon both observation reading other sources, that many design students today focus their attention solely towards graphic design.They’re looking at books, blogs, and mags, all of which are exploding with various forms of the most recent visual communication. Though I recognize the importance of staying “current” with so-called design “trends,” I am concerned that young designers are limiting themselves by focusing on such a small part of our culture. Rarely do I see a design student reading a science journal, an architectural annual, or for God’s sake, even a newspaper, and more often then not, liberal arts classes are treated as the “fillers” between are “more important” studio courses. (more…)

By Chad Reichert

CCS is not an easy place. It can be suffocating with large amounts of work and little or no time to do it. Each semester has a distinct life cycle that includes birth: the beginning the semester; celebration: creative inspirations; disappointment: getting hammered in a crit; milestones: the end of one project the beginning of the next; and death: pure exhaustion at the end of the semester. We (and I do include teachers) experience the same issues. I know the pulse of my class. I see their trepidation to experiment, their struggle to develop a process and their frustration when their results don’t meet expectations (theirs and mine). (more…)

By Chad Reichert and Megan Deal 

This interview originated from the Schools of Thought Conference 3 where I presented on the use of technology in the classroom and how it will change graphic design education. This following exchange happened between myself and the moderator of my panel. Megan and I thought it would be relevant to revisit as she has contributed her own questions to supplement the conversation.

What do you teach?
C: I teach typography, time-based media, visual communications and graphic design history.

What technology to do you use in the classroom during your classes?
C: In the class, I don’t use any particularly special technology. The usual suspects include the erasable whiteboard and digital projector.

What technology to do you use to extend the classroom experience?
C: It’s outside the classroom where technology really helps me deliver content and facilitate community within the classroom. In particular, I use instant messaging, meta-tagging, bookmaking, file sharing, ftp, blogs and remote file storage. Currently, these tools and techniques manifest themselves in programs like adium, aim and bonjour or online communities such as flickr, delicious, feedmelinks and youtube. (more…)

By: Megan Deal

I’m inclined to think that the reading habits of students today are headed toward a slow decline. This, I feel, has little to do with the capability of students, but rather, is due in part to the way that information is received. With more and more intelligible information being posted on blogs and other online sites, the internet is becoming many student’s prime source, and often only source, for obtaining information. But with it’s immediacy and ease of access, I’m left wondering if students are really taking the time to contemplate and assess what they’re reading? (more…)

By: Megan Deal

What is Good Design? Aubrey and I started to address this question in an earlier conversation, found here. In typical ichat fashion, we began to pose simple questions while exchanging impromptu ideas, barely scraping the surface of what could have evolved into a complex discussion. Our conversation resulted from the aggravating circumstances we deal with “on the job,” where “good” design boils down to one thing: Sophisticated color palette, elegant well-kerned type, simple-structured modular grid, and plenty of white space. Add some iridescent glitter, send it off the the lasar-cutter and you’ve got yourself one “well-designed” greeting card, good enough to sell for at least $3.95. My intention here is not to discredit my place of employment. (I think I’ve done that enough over the past few weeks) My point is simply that “good” design for some merely implies a style. If it looks “designy,” (or rather like it was born straight out of the Modern era), then it must be good. Plain and simple.

This question of “good” design has led me to think about the role of design in society, what it can be used for, and who can be effected by it. Is good design merely a subjective call on style? Is good design, responsible design? Is it socially conscience? Does it reach a broad audience? Can it make a difference? As developing graphic designers, we’re harnessing talents that can be used to greatly effect the way that people perceive the world. Who we choose to work with and what we choose to do with our skill will depend on the individual. But I would suggest that social responsibility has become an inherent part of design; an issue that cannot be neglected, like it or not.

At this point, I have nothing but questions regarding this complex topic. I’m interested in sharing some ideas with one another, and developing the issue further. I’m anxious to learn where others stand on this topic, and how, if at all, you see social responsibility shaping your role as a young designer…

By Ken Blaznek

Ok, maybe it isn’t this FIELD that I fear. Really, I have no experience in the field itself, so maybe it’s the weird combination of the field and the formal education of it. Graphic design, or my education of it thus far, seems a very whitewashed art form to me. It falls somewhere in between watercolor and accounting. Nerd Art, if you will. I just haven’t experienced much “feel” in it yet, and right now any kind of feeling or “passion” (sorry, Aubs) is completely overshadowed by the pressure to produce and meet insane deadlines in order to get a grade.

(more…)

By: Megan Deal

I live alone. I grocery shop by myself. I prefer to drive without any passengers, and normally, I do. I have, on occasion, dined companionless, and despite constant warning from both of my parents, I sometimes go on an unaccompanied bike ride, (Though never past dark, and always with a keen eye for suspicious looking vans). (more…)

By Ken Blaznek
“I tell you one thing I don’t get. This whole nostalgia for the late 60’s, early 70’s that’s happening right now. The Black Crows wearing bellbottoms again? I don’t think so, ok? I wore them once, they sucked, I didn’t get laid, I’m not wearing them again!”
-Denis Leary

The above quote is from Denis Leary, one of the great comedians of my generation turned network tv darling. It’s from about 1994, when my generation was embracing 70’s cool. Bellbottoms. I wore them, in 1994 they were available for two dollars at Value Village and they were “sweet.” (more…)