Intertwined Design

Looking through fashion websites and architecture magazines, I can't help but get inspired. Yet, I am a graphic designer. It amazes me how much all of the different areas of design can intertwine within each other. No matter what aspect of design you're pursuing, there are little bits and pieces you can take from all fields. Having more inputs and knowledge of other areas of design, can help you in your chosen career. It is so important to be aware of everything going on around you in the design world, whether it's your specific field or not. When trying to come up with an idea, looking through not only graphic design books, but also architecture magazines, and fashion images, can help immensely. There are elements in each field that each designer can use. When trying to think of a shape of a logo, look at some of the cool shapes of architecture. When trying to think of a colour palette for a poster, look at a colour palette on an outfit. Each aspect of design seems to work together, which is inspiring in itself. We can look to other areas of design for creativity, encouragement and stimulation, but, being the right brain people we are, that is just the beginning.

to check out more visit http://blog.wearpalettes.com/

Expanding Your Mind

My teacher's lecture today made me realize that being creative and getting ideas can be done in ways in which most of us Graphic Design students do not even think about. Brainstorming does not have to be a boring, challenging thing, instead it can be done in a more exciting, different way. Finding a different spot or atmosphere to brainstorm helps a lot. Being in a new environment refreshes your mind, giving your brain more potential to produce more ideas. Being in the same environment every single day can become redundant and with seeing the same things around you, can create a challenge when brainstorming. Your mind needs to be refreshed!

Surprisingly enough, another way to unblock your creativity, is to stop thinking so hard, let your mind take a break, and disconnect yourself from the project for a while. Do something else that you enjoy, whether it be meditation, exercising, reading a book, shopping, or seeing friends. Now, being in a very busy program, most students may find that this is quite hard to do, as won't taking a break from your work put you way behind? I automatically would say yes, I don't have time to take a break, I have way too much to do! But when you really start to think about it, taking a break, and once again refreshing your mind, can make you more productive when developing your ideas. When you are having a creative block, sitting at your desk for several hours trying to come up with an idea can be counter-productive. If you instead took a short break and got yourself out of your working environment, your brain can finally rest, giving it more energy to be able to produce better and more ideas once you've returned to that environment.

Thinking of different brainstorming techniques can also help quite a bit. Creating a mind map or mood board gets out the visual images related to your current project, rather than using just words. This gets you thinking more, generating a wider variety of ideas. Remember that when you do get that brain wave full of ideas, write them ALL down! Don't stop writing until all of those ideas up in your head, are on paper. Keep in mind that there is no such thing as a stupid idea. What you may think is a stupid idea, can be an absolutely brilliant idea to another person. Be confident in yourself and don't be afraid to take a risk. You'll never know until you try!



For more information on creativity and ideas, I highly recommend the book "How To Get Ideas" by Jack Foster. (the new expanded edition)

April Hangs above Me to the right

Growing up, most people assume that the way they think is the way everybody thinks. The way they picture things inside their head is the way everyone sees them. When you think of the months of the year, what do you see inside your head? What do you picture? What about the days of the week? The letters of the alphabet? Or the numbers 1 through 10? Whatever it is that you see, for most of you, I do not see the same thing. This is because I am a synesthete.

A synesthete has what is called synesthesia, which is an unusual condition that is only common in 1 in 20 people. It is more common among artists, and can run in families. A person with synesthesia might bite into an apple and feel the flavour of it on their fingertips, might see the letter H as sky blue, the number 3 as yellow, and Friday as forest green. The months of the year may be seen in an oval shape, each month a specific colour, some a different size. Some synesthetes might hear and taste their friend's voice as a deep magenta colour. The interesting thing about it all is that not two synesthetes see or hear or taste the exact same things, nor do they all have the same type or version of synesthesia. 

I personally do not feel the flavour of food on my fingers when I eat, nor do I taste a colour when a friend speaks. Instead, I see the months of the year in an oval shape in my head, each month a different colour, July and August being larger than the rest. This is the same with the days of the week, seeing this in an oval shape, each day a specific colour, Saturday and Sunday being larger than the other days. I see individual numbers in colour, for example I see the number 3 as a vulgar yellow, which I think is why I have never really liked the number 3, I've always thought it was ugly. Lastly I see each letter of the alphabet as a different colour. F is green, G is orange...each letter is a certain colour in my mind.

Surprisingly enough, most synesthetes are not even aware that they have this peculiar sensory gift. They assume that the way they think, is the way everybody thinks. The way they picture things inside their head is the way everyone sees them. So the question I now have for you is, what do you see?

resource: Wednesday Is Indigo Blue, Discovering the Brain of Synesthesia

                Richard E. Cytowic, M.D., and David M. Eagleman, Ph.D.