Let talk about some things that Interest me.

So Why?

Design is everywhere. Designers do more than most people realize. Look around wherever you are, wherever you go. A designer made that space, that item, those words, the art possible. Everything around us was designed. If you have an idea you are unsure what to do with, if you have imagined a product, if you need something improved, if you need a message communicated effectively, if you need something to look good, it needs to be designed. If you have a problem, if you need a bridge built from your thoughts and your vision into the realm of existence, into something tangible, you need a designer. A good designer can work with you to help you realize your dreams.

Copywriting

(Image Source) When people hear about Copywriting, most people think of the act of protecting an artist or writer’s creations. Copywriting is actually the creation of text to get the reader to take action. Copywriters work can be seen in brochures, websites, emails, catalogs, billboards, advertisements and more. The main difference in copywriting and other forms of writing is the call to action. That call may be to buy something, subscribe, or interact. Copywriting makes the message understandable and lets people know what they are supposed to do with the message.

Typography

(Image Source) Typography is the field of design that involves arranging type to be readable, and attractive. This includes selecting fonts, size, the length of the lines, spacing in between letters and lines to create the most appealing copy for the desired impact. While typography originated as its own profession, it has become more of a specialty within other fields of design like but not limited to graphic and copywriting. Typography can make us actually want to pick up or open the ad or web page we see it on.

Interior Design

Interior Design involves more than just making a room look good. Interior Designers use their knowledge and creativity to create environments that are safe, functional, and attractive according to the needs of the client and the people that will occupy a given space. The designer plans the space and then creates a visual representation the client can understand and technical plans builders can follow. Their knowledge must be of how different materials and products are best used to define a space and perform an intended purpose. They have to understand how color, texture, and light, and even the normal odors of manufacturing affect the people in that space. On the more technical side, they have to be sure the materials they call for are strong enough, if the space meets health and safety codes, cost and life expectancy of the space and much more. Within the discipline there are two main categories; residential and commercial. In addition, within those categories, there are other specializations as well. Interior Designers are also problem solvers.

In this TED talk, Industrial Designer Scott Summit demonstrates just what kind of impact an Industrial Designer can have.

Prosthetics can’t replicate the look and feel of lost limbs but they can carry a lot of personality. At TEDxCambridge, Scott Summit shows 3D-printed, individually designed prosthetic legs that are unabashedly artificial and completely personal — from macho to fabulous. (Filmed at TEDxCambridge.) This presentation inspires me. An industrial designer doesn't have to just refine a design into something for mass production. An industrial designer can design for an individual. An industrial designer can be innovative , not just in working with another designer's innovations. An industrial designer can improve peoples lives and solve their problems.

Industrial Design

Industrial design I think can be misunderstood. If you look up its definition, it sounds quite boring. Industrial Design defined at businessdictionary.com is the detailed specification of a manufactured item's parts and their relationship to the whole. A product design needs to take into account how the item will perform its intended functionality in an efficient, safe and reliable manner. The product also needs to be capable of economical production and to be attractive to targeted consumers. That is technically, what an industrial designer does. However, if you check out idsa.org, it sound much more exciting, and is truer to what I envision as a designer. They describe Industrial design as creating products that are a balance of aesthetics, how well it performs, and the cost; they do this to achieve the best benefit for the user and the manufacture. There is a process to develop ideas into products. The process includes gathering and analyzing data, and combining it with the requirements the client has. The designer then includes their own recommendations and creates a representation of the product through drawings, models and written specifications. They can also improve on designs through working with different specialists like engineers, management, marketers and manufactures.

Graphic Design

What does a graphic designer do? The Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of graphic design is the art or profession of using design elements (typography and images) to convey information or create an effect; also a product of this art. I interpret this as Graphic Designers create compositions that convey a message. These compositions can be made of images, words, videos, forms / sculpture, or any combination of them. The designer can be the originator of the message or they can be given the idea of the message from someone else and then create something that achieves the look, feel, and is hopefully received the way we want. A graphic designer as a profession solves the problem of how to communicate visually.

What is a Designer?

So what is a designer then? The obvious answer is the designer carries out the steps involved in facilitating the things mentioned earlier. However, if we think about it, it goes further than that. What does it take to close the gap Todd talked about? To me, designers are problem solvers. We have to think about what the end vision is. Sometimes we are charged with creating the vision from a vague idea, either our own, or a clients. We then have to present a solution to the problem of what is between where we are and the result desired. The Design Institute of Australia describes a designer as someone that comes up with solutions to commercial needs that require balancing technical, commercial, human, and aesthetic requirements. That seems like a problem solver to me. To do this there are different disciplines of design.  I will talk about a few of them.

What is Design?

Design can a be a plan or drawing representing how something looks and works before it is created. Design can be a purpose, plan or intention working behind the scenes. Design can be an action as in the act of carrying out the things I described before. Todd Johnston, a long time designer and innovator, in an interview for Forbes said, “A design marks out a vision for what can be; the act of designing is to move with intent to close the gap between existing conditions and that vision.” In essence, design is many things and comes in many forms. When I sit down at my drawing desk with my traditional media, or sit at my computer with my stylus and tablet, or with just my keyboard and mouse, this quote describes the feeling I have and want to voice. I am taking a vision, whether mine or my clients, and I am moving with purpose to clarify that vision and to create something that when people experience it, they will understand the vision, the message, and the feeling I intended for them.

Do You Need a Designer?

I knew in my mind why people need designers but struggled with how to voice it. I was reading a blog by Gladworks.com and it helped me gather my words. There is a great idea stuck in your head. An amazing piece of artwork you can see in your mind but cannot create, it has you obsessed with seeing it realized. You have a vision or idea you are not sure how to create. Maybe you have a vague thought just out of reach that you possibly want to use for your next ad campaign. You have a great idea for the next big product. The problem could be, you do not have the time, you do not know the proper techniques to bring these thoughts into fruition, or your talent is best served in other ventures. These thoughts need to be organized; they need to be designed. These are situations where you could use a designer.

Did you ever have a project that made you think beyond the project itself?

I was tasked with creating a photo portfolio recently. After finishing it, it needed a statement to prepare the viewer for the images. It left me thinking more about my life and less about my photos. It gave me A New Outlook.

My free spirit has become less like a wild horse, which has been broken to stay on track and run the race. I have grown from a laid back carefree youth into a person who is structured, driven, and purposeful. My life is busy. In the daily hustle a lot can be overlooked. This happens even when I am supposed to be “relaxing”. I am now reorienting myself to look at the world with the amazement of a 9-year old. Freeing myself from adult ideals, everyday life becomes fantastic. Because I have become so structured and goal oriented, I have been missing out on great things all around me. This is why I have been capturing what has passed by every day. It may sound like I just want to snap pictures wherever I am and call it art. It is really about training myself to intentionally look at the here and now and see my surroundings instead of just existing in them. There are fabulous images and stories to glean from everyday life. Learning to set my spirit free and slow down to observe life around me is something I strive to make my new normal. These images are what happened when I put intent on hold and found what was happening right where I was.
Tim Fleenor

CHEVROLET FNR AUTONOMOUS CAR CONCEPT

Sign Me up for the 2nd Gen version for sure. Check out Kevin Mccauley's write up on one of Chevy's Latest Concepts

The automotive concept allows for considerable interpretation. Some concepts are only a short time away from production and some are much more. The Chevrolet FNR Concept is definitely the latter—it’s an imaginative hypothesis of what future vehicles could be. Making its grand introduction at Auto Shanghai, the FNR was also designed to commemorate Chevrolet’s ten year anniversary in China. The self-driving or autonomous FNR features “dragon-fly” doors, 180-degree swiveling front seats, and iris recognition for the driver. Turning each wheel is a magnetic and hubless electric motor, but don’t worry about plugging it in as wireless charging is standard. Take a look.

Have Your Parents Decided Your Fitness Fate? Happy Star Wars Day!

Genetics may play a part in our fitness. But that doesn't mean we should throw in the towel and succumb to the dark-side. Check out this motivational and force filled post from Steve Kamb creator of nerdfitness.com

Drone Vandalism Is Now A Thing

I find it very cool yet a little disturbing that tagging has gone high tech. You can read Chris Mills story or the original from Wired and judge for yourself

You want a Bugatti. You want a luxury super yacht. Why not have both.

What happened when Ben Walsh, former GM designer decided to combine his love of French cars with Speed styled super yachts? Simply Stunning Design. You can read the write up Noah Joseph did here.