What is Simplicity?

What is simplicity? Simplicity is not boring or dead in terms of design. After Roland's class, it has got me thinking about what simple designs are meant. The composition could be simple, but wouldn't that risk being boring? Black and white designs are simple yet they must contain a reason for it to be a black and white design or else it may be viewed as lazy. What I find struggling is to find the right symbols, content, and composition to define "simplicity."

"Is it possible to over simplify something?" I asked my instructor. He grinned and replied "If you are ever able to over simplify anything, then you are already a better designer than me" he chuckled.

It's not about cutting out the content in the poster or using the least amount of ink on your design. It's about whether your messeage is communicated for it's intention and that is it distinctive to me memorable. So, is simplicity equivalent to distinction?

Typageddon 1

"please please pleASE PLEASE PLEASE Approve it..............."

No, the voices would not fade for dreams of hearing the words "approve" coming out of my professor's mouth for my typography homework has been haunting.

Certainly I'm not the only one if you have clicked on my link in hopes of redemption from the same misery I'm currently suffering, "Typageddon."

Typageddon: A.K.A. -Anytime you touch type, it'll become an abomination towards God's green earth-

But enough cheese and vintage whine, let us get to the meat and potatoes of this post.
How to improve your Typography 1 HW.

WORKSHOPS! I cannot stress how much the Type 1 workshop today with Renee D'Arcy was just an epiphany after another. I have been shown the path to gain the observation of a type designer and a couple of books to read specifically for out type poster and anatomy of letter design. I was pretty disappointed to only see two people at the workshop including myself, since alot... I mean ALL of the people in my class are struggling to get through.

Yeah I said it, we all suck in type...for now. Yet I can't see how one can improve without exposing yourself to a workshop. So if you don't want to use it, I'll just enjoy the workshops myself since you guys paid for it. Ho ho ho.....

(I'm so gonna lose friends.)

You can blame the computer, printer, or whatever mechanical dysfunction, it's just not an applicable excuse anymore.

Now if you were able to read through all that, I salute you with a reward of the golden nuggets consisting of priceless knowledge from today's workshop.

Thumbnails...
I know our instructor said no and that it's pointless without actually seeing the type to design type, but I honestly disagree. Doing thumbnails let's your mind run free and be able to layout the raw ideas of your creativity.


Done in photoshop which was later tranfered into Indesign as a jpeg as a guide for my design. As rough as they look and that this may mean nothing to you, this is by far the best part of the creation process. To me, it already shows my what'll work and what might and will never work.

The last thing is the two books that I was recommended today that turned my gears is:

The complete typographer, by Christopher Perfect and Jeremy Austin.
This book's sole purpose is to describe all of our current type's anatomy and specifications.
Check it out in the library or buy it.

Thinking with Type, by Ellen Lupton.
I know I sound like a broken MP3 file played off of Itunes, but this book is an investment.
Easy to read, easy to understand, easy to apply to your design, and also Brachiosaurus humping.
You'll know what I'm saying when you buy the book.

For now these are the two books you just need to check out for our current assignments.

Good luck and design well.

Graphic Brutality

Business first, for all of you who are here for the reference photoes.

Go ahead and click here.
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Summary of the day

Hanging out with the whitest black man. (no not Obama)
Martial arts master
Brutal Critiques
Less words and more subs
and a Jacubi master with a rolled up 10 dollar bill.

If niether of that makes sense, don't worry your still sane.

Time Managment

Just as I thought.

Even though the pledge started out strong, things always tend to fall short like maintaining a blog when classes start.

Reluctant to give up, the next best thing now it just to lower the quantity self dialogue and just put out some short summary.

So classes have started in AAU, and so far the best decision I made was putting on a tie and a phadora. For some reason they help with the first day jitters out of the way. Teachers are strict, and assignments are hefty and all this healthy dose of stress was something that I have been waiting for after the Hawaii trip.

To keep things short. I have to say that the first impression of my typography instructor left me with confidence. Confidence that I could actually let her teach me what typography is about, and that she is not going to be a waste of time. Although strict and demanding seems like the core of her brand of discipline, and whether I'll be able to cope or not, only time can tell.

Back in the Fray

To summerize my Hawaii trip in delicate terms, IT WAS FRICKEN AWSOME! Everything from tourist activities down to local swap meets. Instead of me slaving away on the keyboard describing how the trip was, I'll let photobucket to the work for me.

Yet again it was time to chime down the fantasy vacation and tune back to reality. As I return from the airport and back to my apartment in San Francisco, the nostalgic feeling was priceless. Though it was a small apartment, but it was my small apartment with the freedom to do whatever I wanted.

All what's left now is to wait till September 4 when class starts.

Aloha Hawaii, Augest 14-28 2008

Alooooooooha

Two weeks of vacation and I mean vacation where work is put aside and the only decision making that I need to make is whether I want to go to the beach or check out a movie. With me newly acquired driver’s license and my girl friend accompanying me along the way, this was going to be a vacation of my life.

August 14, 2008

I can’t say that the vacation started off great, since there was a mix up of luggage and I had the opportunity to drive back and forth the airport three times to get things straight and finally retrieving our original luggage. To be optimistic about it, I at least got use to the streets of Honolulu where the denizens on the street are easy going and they never honk if you drive to slow, but best of all is that they actually have a lane for fast drivers. I call it, “the noob free line.” As I finally returned from my last visit from the airport where I picked up my girlfriend who arrived five hours later than my last arrival. Even upon arrival, we had to clean up the beach house that we were living. Overall, it was pretty tiring but everything was set up to welcome a full on vacation.

August 15-16, 2008

The next two days of our trip consisted of frenzy on sale shopping at Ala mo ana, also known as, the phatest shopping mall. The place is just as just as big half a city block where the two farthest stores, Macy and Neimen Marcus, is a three-minute car ride to get to. Two days of shopping only chipped the tip of the iceberg, but the outcome was four pairs of jeans, two khaki pants, and one epic backpack that cost 394 dollars. I don’t know how it’s done, but the new backpack is like a Marry Poppins bag, bottomless and almost weightless.

August 17, 2008

This day was a turnabout for me, as it was the first time I got to be behind a steering wheel of a car without the safety net of my parents or relatives that I could rely on. The only person that cheered for me was my girlfriend who was sitting shotgun, but in all honesty, it wasn’t that much of a fright. I got us to KoKo Marina easily and got into a parking space without a scratch. We decided later on to catch “The Dark Knight” and after viewing it I was later disappointed that Keath Ledger already died. “The Dark Knight” was just badass, and I can’t wait to get it in DVD.

One Final Trip to Dan Shui

One final field trip of the year in Taiwan and it was decided by the class that Dan Shui was the place to spend it. And oh my god I forgot to pay back the teacher for the Hong Kong style lunch… oh well, it was good eating. We started our order with a traditional Peking duck, and veered our chopsticks to other dishes as they arrived

With part of Asian's culture in my belly, it was off to the main venue, Dan Shui. Although the ride wasn’t smooth with the constant contortion of my body to fit the swarm of bodies around me, I was able to exchange a slice of life stories with my Mandarin instructor.

“The final destination… Dan Shui Station… Dan Shui Station…” reported over the mic and it soon to once again place a happy face to some new people joining in the party. The class next to ours decided to hop on our excursion and they answer us with less than half their class showing and some members coming late. No worries, cause it’s not uncomfortable at all to wait under the scorching sun complimented with the sweat breeze.

To summarize it all, the trip consisted
Window-shopping
Bike rides
Digital cameras
Boat rides
Shaved ice
Potential sun burns
Asking for directions when admitting lost
Finally, A giant blow up sword
Oh, and also bitching and whining about going home.

Either it would be the last time I'll be able to throw out some sarcastic comments, or pretend that I actually care for the trip, I found myself actually enjoying the moments along with the people whom I thought I could careless for. In honesty, I might be sugar coating the last sentence for the sake of the upcoming audience who received e-mail notices that this site even exists. Overall, they were some pretty decent people I've seen for a while, and yes that also includes you Sarah even though your enthusiastic laughter causes me to cringe from time to time.

Bottom line, this summer was stressful but worthwhile.

Craig out.

P.S. Photos of the trip is located here. Use it at your own risk.