APPIE CARR SEMESTER 2
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I think tight briefs (excuse the pun) are uncomfortable and freedom of design is paramount to good exploration during development. That said, without clear targets i tend to slow down my pace and risk rushing decisions later on.
Things like photography have starting becoming more natural to me and i am enjoying playing with more personal imagery (see website). I have also been more free with colour and this has given my stuff a whole new dimension (and yes, simon, i’m aware this is pretty much the first thing you ever said to me during a crit... apparently it took 2 years for that one to sink in!)
I think i’ve been successful in that i now have a very positive, strong mind set and i see myself as a designer rather than a student of design. Hence the effort in the website revamp and better presentation of work overall. (i hope) This is a result of balancing studies with employment whilst looking for extra freelance work - i quickly realised that unless i want to be a part-time whatever all my life, rather than a full-time designer, i’d have to up my game.
Haha, problems. To be honest, that old bastard time keeping just keeps cropping up in these moments of self reflection, but i can honestly say i overcame him this time around. I managed to balance 2 projects against freelance work and a 16 hour a week job, and i’m the first to admit my manifesto development is a nightmare; but it could have been a hell of a lot worse, all things considered. Personality has definitely taken a leap forward. After the magazine and summative projects i am a lot more comfortable throwing my self into the cauldron of ideas, rather than my distanced idea of design. That said, I’m really going to push forward with pesonal projects over summer and next year. For a start, moving image has long been something i’ve shied from despite my initial ideas almost always being in video-montage format, and i feel i have a lot more to offer the world than simply a bit of Photoshop/InDesign.
Above: One Day poster final composition
Above: 3 D&AD ministry of sound poster finals
Above: Final printed hardback photography book
Below: UoC logo redesign
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I chose the ministry of sound brief because i liked the idea of the challenge of making something exciting and visually diverse within an established house style and well known aesthetic. I began looking at shaped/constructed type and a lot of artificial 3D stuff, which led to exploration of techniques that informed the final aesthetic.
“Pulling Shapes“. The tagline will be created in exciting and eye-catchingly complex text that is made of shape, pattern and colour. Aesthetic informed by lights, strobes, smoke, grids, electronic effects and a sense of energy. Also, the posters are focussed on being a set, as any good poster you look at is probably one you want to steal therefore, by create a visually compelling series, attention and exposure is a given.
I think that my posters definitely put a fresh spin on the advertising for the saturday sessions and work well as a set. They are diverse, but their combined appearance unites them and their colour schemes are carefully chosen to be in line with MoS guidelines.
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My manifesto is the verbalisation of ideas that have been floating around in my head for a while. By expressing them, they are legitimised, but also i can recognise the progress i am making in regards to my own approach to life and the everyday. I chose the format of a self help book because that is the tone i always imagined for it, and it can also thus speak to me as well as for me.
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After a rocky, pizza box shaped start and the meaning of Form follows Function becoming painfully clear, i imagined the manifesto to be clean, concise, and presented in such a way to give the points maximum impact without fuss. As such, i think the simple 3 colour scheme works well and strongly reinforces the tone, the imagery, and the purpose.
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By reading it! My manifesto, in saying what to do right, implies what was wrong, what i personally was lacking or neglecting and what was having a negative effect on me as a designer and general human being. By keeping these rules in mind, i have already informed my process. I intend to make a moving image piece using a similar aesthetic style, as printing and posting is not always convenient.
Appie Carr’s Guide To Being Awesome and Not Dying Miserable Hello there. I’m Appie Carr, part-time Graphic Designer and fulltime Human Being. Due to equal amounts of creativity, activity, employment and alcohol-fuelled idiocy I have stumbled onto an approach - a set of rules, if you will that set you up for success in whatever you do. Simple, sound-bite pieces of advice have been around seemingly forever; “Money doesn’t make you happy”, or more incongruous, obvious statements such as “you only live once.” Think of this as a much relevant collection of my own personal views on how stuff works, much more applicable to everyday life. So. 1Balance. Balance is the key to all. Yes, that sounded a bit zen, but I’m not being mysterious on purpose. Whether in nature, emotion, or rope-based circus stunts, balance is the underlying factor that more often than not determines success. What this means is that all the factors below fall under this, and your efforts at happiness are pointless if you concentrate on one area of life above all others. 2Contrast. You know they say, “it’s the little things that count?” Well, that’s only half true. Let’s say, for example, the little thing in question is impromptu drinks at that weird little cocktail bar down the street. The spontaneous choice makes this an out of the ordinary experience and magnifies its novelty. If you went every day, you’d be bored of it. Not to mention an alcoholic. The little things matter BECAUSE of the big things. The very nature of this juxtaposition creates a sense of novelty and allows us to enjoy something menial or unmemorable a whole lot more. Have you ever found yourself inexplicably enjoying the process of something quite trivial, and not understood why? A shower at night rather than the morning, or perhaps a different route to work? The act of breaking established routine generates contrast, and contrast breeds novelty. This is closely linked to balance, in that it requires a balance of imbalances. And no, that is not a typo. 3 Novelty and Stability Now Imagine a set of weighing scales. Now imagine one side is filled with small, random bits of novelty. NOW imagine the scales are made of flesh and are actually you, and you might see where I’m going with this. Stability is what balances out all the little things, the novelties, and makes them matter. In essence, we humans like the feeling of breaking a rule because the opposite of a rule is its contrast. So spend as much time indulging as you do putting one foot in front of the other. 4 Make Rules We already know that you love the novelty of breaking the rules, of taking control. Well, you have to make rules to break ‘em. To build a sense of stability. Luckily, your brain likes this. We receive so much information and input our minds would probably melt if we didn’t have some kind of spongy filing system up there, and these very pragmatic, logical processes love order and rules.
Following the rules is an ingrained, natural process for most and thus rewarding. So set yourself goals, rules and a routine. Not only will following these feel good, but so will breaking them now and then! The very definition of win/win. 5Work Hard. A simple idea, and it falls back to the previous point. Generally; A designated task + effort = completion. A sense of completion naturally makes us happy. It feels good to put your all into something and be proud of the result. Try putting as much effort as you can into your work! Everybody has lazy days, and having been a student I can attest to that a thousand fold. It’s finding your motivation and pushing through the rough patches that makes everything worth it in the end – knowing you’ve really made it count. Don’t procrastinate, don’t put things off for later, just DO IT. 6Don’t Worry As usual, balance won’t allow me to make such a specific point as number 5 without throwing a MASSIVE WRENCH in the works. ‘Worrying is like a rocking chair. It’s something to do, but doesn’t get you anywhere.’ Relax! Don’t work yourself to death, and remember to make time for what you enjoy. It should never get to the point where simply having fun is a novelty. So stay up late. Have that extra drink. Do what you please. Don’t over think it. 7Socialise! We humans crave contact with other humans. Real human contact is not only more fun than chatting online or over the phone, it’s healthier too. Make time for the people in your life; let them inspire you with their passions and experiences. Don’t pass up an opportunity to catch up with an old acquaintance, and remember, it’s not just what you know, it’s who you know. 8Be healthy. This might be a no-brainer, but it’s surprising how many people forget the benefit of at least 1 solid meal a day and some fruit now and then. Sunlight lifts your mood and energises you, and there’s probably a scientific explanation for that too, and fresh air really is reinvigorating when you’ve been cooped up inside all day… even if said fresh air consists mainly of 50% car fumes and pollution these days. 9 Imagination Land Fuel your imagination – absorb every bit of input, you are creative and this is just more ammunition. Indulge your imagination - daydream as often as possible, and constantly let new ideas inspire you. Take the long walk, and spend that time thinking (rather than sitting on the bus and avoiding eye contact with scary-bearded-raincoat-man) 10 Don’t give a shit. It’s simple! Live free, and don’t care what anyone else thinks about you or the way you live your life. Don’t read this manifesto as my criticism of your current modus operandi either, it’s just an insight; take from it what you will. AND LAST Back to point 1, this is all really about balance. If you’re stressed, anxious, or generally unhappy, you have an imbalance somewhere down the line. Life’s too short to not enjoy it folks, so get to it! Vivir Libre, Sin Lamenta.
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Constant use of physical/digital media over the holidays and beyond, doing what i enjoy and am passionate about rather than just what i think a designer should do.
Just keep doing what i’m doing, but more and better. I’ve talked to a few designers this semester and i have plenty of sources of research/inspiration, but i am aware this could slip over summer if i let it.
More personal work, more freelance work, more time spent productively. Working smarter rather than harder as you guys would say. My main problem at the moment is i have too many tricks and methods to remember and need to practice them so they are second nature rather than something i have to read my notes on (photoshop technique for example, i have a notepad flled with scrawls on everything from photo manipulation and airbrushing to data bending and digital paintng - half of it i’ve forgotten)
Programs and media i am more unfamiliar/uncomfortable with are areas i need to improve in. Illustrator and After Effects are must have’s, and although i am primarily a graphic designer i used to have a passion and flair for drawing... I aim to find it again.
07594348449 www.alteredvisualreality.co.uk http://issuu.com/appie_carr