Archive for January, 2005

Where do design ideas, concepts and inspiration come from?

I expect everyone has a slightly different answer to this question. Early on, one of my most influential mentors set out a formula for the creative process wrapped in a funky visual image. Believe it or not, the visual image we explored was that of a pregnant cow out in a field sunning herself and chewing her cud.

“What on earth does that have to do with the creative process?” you might wonder. First let me describe the phases she outlined to help me understand the creative process.

Input

When facing a creative challenge, I first research the topic or question. I let what I’ve found sink in, then do some more research. This is the input phase.

Reflection

Next comes a phase of reflection, where I put the topic out of my conscious mind.

Brainstorming

When ideas come bubbling up of their own accord out of my subconscious I move to the phase of brainstorming (either alone or in a team). No judgments, just ideas.

Synthesis

Next comes synthesis. I begin to sketch out or write out ideas, and to judge them. If I get stuck somewhere, I begin to layout anything I do have (sometimes an outline or headlines or a visual image). Whatever I have to work with. The process of working on any part of the project seems to allow my subconscious to continue to process and often results in new ideas. Ones that work.

So what about that pregnant cow?

Lynn, my mentor, had me visualize a pregnant cow in a field, no stress, no anxiety, chewing and rechewing (processing input), digesting and redigesting the results, while waiting for the pregnancy to inevitably result in birth (of ideas). So, when I do become frustrated or blocked, I remember that cow, and give my conscious process a rest, trusting myself to give birth to new ideas.

I’d love to hear your experiences with your creative process. Similar to mine? Totally different? Anyone else out there visualizing pregnant cows?

Lots of people ask me how I became a graphic designer.

Working in print shops

In my case, I began by working in a print shop or two, making negatives and plates, running small presses, typesetting and designing cards and other small projects, ordering paper and other supplies, etc.

Learning typesetting and graphic design

Next I worked in a typesetting studio while it transitioned into a design studio. So I was able to learn the basics of typesetting at first, then graphic production techniques and production management, and finally graphic design. I learned by doing, and by watching the owner and other designers create their designs.

Finishing a college degree

While working at the design studio I finished a college degree in liberal studies, focusing on graphic design, and opened my business. My first business project, actually my senior project, was a moon calendar poster. I designed it, finished the layout and presented it to my advisor, who then said, “You’ve got to get it printed.” When I protested about the cost, she actually loaned me the money for printing… and so propelled me into business. I produced and sold the calendar for three years. It was a wonderful experience.

Opening my studio

When a client who had left the studio six months before saw me selling my calendars, he asked me to work for him. He became my first client.

Reading all I could about graphic design

I learned a tremendous amount about type design, graphic design and design theory, photography, illustration, the history of printing and books, etc. by building a library of classics. Check out the resources on my site, where I’m adding new books and other resources all the time.

My secret

Here’s my secret for learning to design: choose any professionally designed visual communication you like, be it an ad, a brochure, a poster, a magazine spread, a web site, whatever. Try to figure out how it was created.

How were the colors chosen? What are the names of the typefaces used? How is space divided? How is empty space used? How was the photograph used taken, or the illustration created? How does your eye travel when it sees the design?

Next, try recreating the example design for yourself, but change something about it. Direct copying doesn’t encourage you to think creatively. At the same time, do try to learn from what you like.

Practice makes perfect

By doing this over and over, and then comparing your creations with top designs, you’ll begin to train your eye. The act of comparing is very important. Most people love what they create themselves, but few can create master designs. So, keep looking at what others are creating. That’s the best way I’ve found to train your eye.

One of the most confusing components of web design is accessibility. It refers to the process of making your web site able to be easily used by people with disabilities.

That sounds simple, but disabilities may include blindness, low vision, deafness, learning disabilities such as ADD and ADHD, loss of limb, etc. Solutions for one group may conflict with solutions for another.

Accessibility testing

The only way to really know if your site is accessible is to test it with disabled users, but that’s often difficult for individual site owners.

NCI accessibility testing and guidelines

Luckily, more and more information is becoming available on the web. I was recently referred to Guidelines for Accessible and Usable Web Sites (by an article at GUUUI: The Interaction Designer’s Coffee Break. The 31 guidelines listed derive from the results of extensive testing by the Communication Technologies Branch of the National Cancer Institute (US).

Since blind people are one of the largest groups with special requirements (since they use screen readers which turn text into spoken word), using these guidelines will go a long way towards making your site more accessible.

SEO, a side benefit

A side benefit of making your site more accessible is that search engine spiders will also be able to read it better. So you increase your page rank (SEO or search engine optimization) when you make your site more accessible.

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I was recently asked for information on print design competitions. I decided to investigate, so here’s what I found.

I can certainly state that the running of design competitions is a growth industry! In fact, every major design magazine and assocation seems to run competitons annually, and occasionally semi-annually. I’ve pulled together links to all the major design competions (please let me know if I’ve missed any).

Beginning with design and related associations offering yearly awards, we have: International Council of Graphic Design Associations (ICOGRADA), American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), Art Directors Clubs (ADC) in major US metropolitan areas, Society of Publication Designers (SPD), Society of Environmental Graphic Design (SEGD), Association Typographique Internationale (atypi), Australian Graphic Design Association, Design Council UK, Society of Typographic Aficionados, International Society of Typographic Designers.

Continuing with major design magazines, we see: Graphis, Communication Arts, Print, ID, eye, HOW, Folio sponsoring the Folio Show, CMYK Magazine, Graphic Design USA.

Moving along to industry associations, we find: Magazine Design Awards, Bookbuilders West, Bookbuilders of Boston, Western Publications Association, International Association of Business Communicators, Magazine Publishers Association, American Society of Magazine Editors, American Society of Business Publication Editors, Writing that Works Apex Awards.

I saved one of the best for last. One of the last resources I checked has one of the most complete set of contest listings: the Workbook resource calendar including advertising, photography, illustration as well as design.

Whew!

I’m welcoming 2005 with a newly expanded and redesigned web site for Langfeldesigns. I received so much positive response about this blog design that I extended it to my entire website, and changed a few things on the blog as well. In addition to purely cosmetic changes here, I added a navigation bar to the blog, so you can move more easily back and forth between web site and blog.

The web site now sports larger portfolio images (much requested by visitors), a section on services offered, and an expanded resources section.

I hope you like the 2005 version of Langfeldesigns.com!