MASTERS O F
T H E I R
CRAFT S E L F
D I R E C T E D
S T U D Y
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F A I K
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content
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P4 - P22 CONTENT / INTRODUCTION / MY SUBJECT MATTER AND QUESTION
P22 - P44 PROJECT RESEARCH / CASE STUDIES / TO DO LIST
P44 - 58 INITIAL VISUALS AND CONCEPTS / SCREEN PRINTS / PHOTOGRAPHS
P58 - P77 PROPOSAL BRIEF / TITLE / PROPOSAL PROFORMA
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This book is a visual representation of my ideas concepts and research for my self directed study, along with my proposal proforma. My project is called : Masters of their craft// The hows, whats and whys of mastery. My book is broken into four main sections.
Section
1
consists
of
the contents page, discussion of my subject matter and my final question. Part 2 is my project research. Consisting of theory’s I have been reading and case studies to back up these theories. The 3rd section is showing a few designs I have been working on in regards to my self directed study. Mostly a series of screen prints based on my initial ‘to do list’. The 4th and final section is the proposal for self directed study brief and my proposal proforma, broken
down
into
individual
sections. I created this book so I can work towards visualizing my concepts for my study and find a suitable design style and method in which I can take my project further.
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MASTERS O F
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MASTER?
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The importance of mastery To enjoy the results of what u produce while remaining to produce work with passion and rigor.
The discovery of self One must challenge their energy into creative outputs and possibly discover what one is truly feeling and thinking. Mastery requires sacrifice. A path unlike everyday attempts
at creating something.
This can be done during regular work hours or in free time.
Personal fulfillment Moments where one can take a step back and enjoy the beauty of ones creations and self reflect, are moments only found on the path to mastery. These moments are found somewhere between sacrifice and perfection. Moments like this reassure one they are on the right path and wondering the right way.
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THINGS KNOW I
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How to become a master? Along my journey I want to find out what it takes to become a master. Whether its an issue of natural skill or hours of hard work? Does everybody have potential to become a master at their craft?
What defines a master? There is no set of rules or guidelines that makes one a master. I want to find out using primary research techniques what people think define a master.
Why become a master? I want to find out what drives people to dedicate their lives to mastering their craft. Whether its for financial reasons of love of their craft / skill?
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S T U D Y
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refine How will refining my creative
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process lead to mastery?
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My word // Refine As part of an in class exercise we were asked to come up with a word we felt best described our self directed work. My word was: / Refine /
Why refine? I selected the word refine as im looking into the subject of becoming a master. How one achieves master status and why one would someone dedicate their entire life to mastering their craft? I felt the initial way to begin mastering my craft would be to start refining my design process. I want to find my strengths and explore them and continuously learn and create. This is the first step of learning what being a master involves .
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PROJECT
MY
My subject matter. For my self directed study I am looking into the idea of becoming a master. I want to know how to master my craft and indeed how to master my craft. There is no one answer to what a master is, I would like to have my answer by the end of my study.
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Artists, musicians, architects and other creatives alike choose to create when it is not easy or convenient. That continual pursuit and sacrifice is what allows us to discover ourselves and mold our identity.
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the hows?
My question ..................... What does it take for one to become a master? is it a matter of natural born talent or is it a matter of hard work and practice? Also what defines a master? there is no set definition to what a master is, i want to have a formulated opinion by the end of my study.
How will i do this ............. I will conduct a range of primary research techniques, including interviews, questionnaires and other methods. I will interview local business and individuals along the Gloucester road such as locksmiths, butchers and other independent tradesmen to see what they think it takes to become a master, if at all.
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‌ S E L F
D I R E C T E D
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research
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… S E L F D I R E C T E D S T U D Y
10,000 Hours Theory
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… 10,000 hours Outliers: The Story of Success is a non-fiction book written by Malcolm Gladwell and published by Little, Brown and Company on November 18, 2008. In Outliers, Gladwell examines the factors that contribute to high levels of success. To support his thesis, he examines the causes of why the majority of Canadian ice hockey players are born in the first few months of the calendar year, how Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates achieved his extreme wealth, how The Beatles became one of the most successful musical acts in human history, how Joseph Flom built Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom into one of the most successful law firms in the world, how cultural differences play a large part in perceived intelligence and rational decision making, and how two people with exceptional intelligence, Christopher Langan and J. Robert Oppenheimer, end up with such vastly different fortunes. Throughout the publication, Gladwell
repeatedly
mentions
the
“10,000-Hour Rule”, claiming that the key to success in any field is, to a large extent, a matter of practicing a specific task for a total of around 10,000 hours.
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H
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E X A M P L E S
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Violins in Berlin In the early 1990s, a team of psychologists in Berlin, Germany studied violin students. Specifically, they studied their practice habits in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. All of the subjects were asked this question: “Over the course of your entire career, ever since you first picked up the violin, how many hours have you practiced?” All of the violinists had begun playing at roughly five years of age with similar practice times. However, at age eight, practice times began to diverge. By age twenty, the elite performers averaged more than 10,000 hours of practice each, while the less able performers had only 4,000 hours of practice. The elite had more than double the practice hours of the less capable performers.
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… Sneaking Out to Write Code
You already know how Microsoft was founded. Bill Gates and Paul Allen dropped out of college to form the company in 1975. It’s that simple: Drop out of college, start
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a company, and become a billionaire, right? Wrong. Further study reveals that Gates and Allen had Thousands of hours of programming practice prior to founding Microsoft. First, the two co-founders met at Lakeside, an elite private school in the Seattle area. The school raised three thousand dollars to purchase a computer terminal for the school’s computer club in 1968. A computer terminal at a university was rare in 1968. Gates had access to a terminal in eighth grade. Gates and Allen quickly became addicted to programming. The Gates family lived near the University of Washington. As a teenager, Gates fed his programming addiction by sneaking out of
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his parents’ home after bedtime to use the University’s computer. Gates and Allen acquired their 10,000 hours through this and other clever teenage schemes. When the time came to launch Microsoft in 1975, the two were ready.
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˜ practice makes improvement
In 1960, while they were still an unknown high school rock band, the Beatles went to Hamburg, Germany to play in the local clubs. The group was underpaid. The acoustics were terrible. The audiences were unappreciative. So what did the Beatles get out of the Hamburg experience? Hours of playing time. Non-stop hours of playing time that forced them to get better. As the Beatles grew in skill, audiences demanded more performances – more playing time. By 1962 they were playing eight hours per night, seven nights per week. By 1964, the year they burst on the international scene, the Beatles had played over 1,200 concerts together. By way of comparison, most bands today don’t play 1,200 times in their entire career.
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The elite don’t just work harder than everybody else. At some point the elites fall in love with practice to the point where they want to do little else. The elite software developer is the programmer who spends all day pounding code at work, and after leaving work she writes open source software on her own time. The elite football player is the guy who spends all day on the practice field with his teammates, and after practice he goes home to watch game films. The elite physician listens to medical podcasts in the car during a long commute. The elites are in love with what they do, and at some point it no longer feels like work.
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W W W . T H E S K O O L O F L I F E . C O M
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12 Keys to Becoming A Master of Your Craft
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˜ Mastery of one particular subject or craft is not the way we’re taught in school. If anything we focus on fixing our weaknesses instead of dedicating our time to the things we show early signs of talent at. We’re taught to be an average jack of all trades as opposed to a master of one. Imagine how easy it would be to become one of Gladwell’s Outliers if we could start the path to mastery as early as Kindergarten. S T U D Y
sible since time is on your side so early in life.
D I R E C T E D S E L F
Getting to 10,000
hours would be much more fea-
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ONE
TWO
Pay Attention to Incredible Opportunities
Nothing Is Wasted
The biggest mistake I made early
Many of us are hell bent on es-
in my career was getting caught
caping our past. Unless we invent
up in the ego driven pursuit of a
a technology that allows you to
life that looked good on paper. I
erase memories your past will al-
judged every single opportunity by
ways be with you. One of the most
the paycheck.
valuable things Robert told me in our chat is that nothing is wasted.
I should have made learning my top priority. Fortunately when I got
Even our worst experiences in life
to business school and had the op-
are blessings in disguise. I didn’t
portunity to choose between two
get a job offer after my summer
internships that paid quite well,
internship at Intuit, something I
I chose the one where I would be
considered a major failure. But
exposed to things knew nothing
I took everything I learned from
about. It turned out to be the cata-
it, started this blog, started Blog-
lyst for everything I do online.
castFM, and did a bunch of other things
I might have never done
if I had received an offer. Search for how your past can add value to your present and you might just surprise yourself.
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THREE
FOUR
Attitude/Frame of Mind
Everyone is Born Unique
I was really pissed off for most of
There is not another person on this
my 20s. Traffic was a pain in the
planet just like you, even if you
ass, the lines at the grocery store
are an identical twin. This is why
were too long and I was in a real
one of the first things you learn
damn hurry to go nowhere.
My
from me when you sign up for my
outer world reflected everything
newsletter is that you’re amazing
that was going on in my inner
just the way you are. Fitting in is
world. To become a master of your
overrated. Figure out what’s tru-
craft , a great attitude is essential.
ly unique about you and embrace it. Even if you’re convinced there’s nothing there remember this quote
You develop millionaires the way you mine gold.
You expect to
move tons of dirt to find an ounce of gold, but you don’t go into the mine looking for the dirt—you go
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in looking for the gold. ~Andrew Carnegie
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FIVE
SIX
Be Engaged with Your Work
Diversify Your Inputs/ Influences/Experiences
If your work makes you want to
Zig Ziglar said “Your input deter-
gouge your eyes out, it’s unlike-
mines your outlook. Your outlook
ly you’ll become a master of your
determines your output, and your
craft. This is easier said than
output determines your future.”
done. You might have to let go of
If all your putting in your head is
the need for visible progress and
the news and garbage television,
make a short term sacrifice for a
imagine what that does to your
long term gain. When you’re truly
outlook. On the flip side you don’t
engaged with your work, it won’t
want to just read the same book
even feel like work.
200 times. There was a great example that Robert shared with me in our chat comparing life to an ecosystem An ecosystem that has the maximum amount of diversity is the richest - Robert Greene What does that mean for your path to mastery? Read books from every genre. Listen to all sorts of music. Try all sorts of things. Veer off the beaten path and take the scenic route through life.
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SEVEN
EIGHT
Make It Your Own
Realize It’s Never Too Late
Steal like an artist. Learn from
After watching a 65 year old guy
masters and mentors. But treat
learn to surf, I’m convinced it’s
their advice as guidance not gos-
never too late and you’re not too
pel. I took one simple lesson to
old.
interview people in a blogging course I was enrolled in, and
It seems like many of us get lost
turned that into BlogcastFM. Say
along the way. We let the sound of
what’s never been said. Do what’s
everybody else’s wisdom drown
never been done. Try what’s never
out our own instinct. This is where
been tried. Make it all your own.
trouble seems to start. We turn in the wrong direction because other tell us what they think is right for us. To become a master you have to listen to that voice and return to
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your calling.
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NINE
TEN
Give yourself a Killer Education
Slow Things Down
We live in an age where it’s pos-
I’ve never had a brilliant insight or
sible to teach yourself damn near
idea when I spend all day in front
anything.
of the computer. This is a big part of the reason why I think the 8 hour
You can give yourself an educa-
work day makes no sense. With the
tion that kicks the crap out of the
amount of information we’re be-
one you got in school. Obviously
ing bombarded with every single
I’d recommend you don’t attempt
day, the ability to disconnect and
this
slow down is going to be necessary
with
neurosurgery
(even
for our mental health.
though the first 2 years of medical school are available on iTunes).
One of the most interesting things Robert mentioned about all the masters he had interviewed was their ability to work independent of technology. Paul Graham (the founder of one the world’s most successful technology incubators)
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ELEVEN TWELVE Social Intelligence
Never Stop Learning
I can’t think of any more eloquent
A few months back I realized af-
way to say this other than don’t be
ter over 1000 days of surfing, I’m
a jackass. If you can’t get along
never going to stop learning how
with people good luck making a
to surf. In order to maintain your
dent in the universe. No matter
status as a master, you must never
how skilled you are at something,
stop learning. Look for every op-
you’re going to need help to see
portunity to expand on what you
your vision come to life.
already know. As you can imagine I think highly of Robert’s work. He read over 200 books and spent 4 years writ-
W W W . T H E S K O O L O F L I F E . C O M
ing Mastery (not an affiliate link). I think it should be required for anybody who wants to reach their
C O N T E N T
:
true potential.
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‌ I N I T I A L
L I S T
O F
O B J E C T I V E S
to do list
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˜ I INTEND TO MAKE AND I INTEND TO DO.
I INTEND ON FURTHERING MY WEB SKILLS
I INTEND TO PRACTICE MORE HAND MADE CRAFT.
I INTEND ON WORKING WITH A WIDE RANGE OF MEDIA.
I INTEND TO STRAY FROM MY COMFORT ZONE.
I INTEND ON REFINING MY DESIGN PROCESS.
I INTEND TO EXPERIMENT AND PLAY.
I INTEND ON DEVELOPING NARRATIVE IN MY WORK
I INTEND TO CONSTANTLY COLLABORATE WITH OTHER DESIGNERS.
I INTEND TO SUCCEED
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INITIAL VISUALS S C R E E N
P R I N T S
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. . . I S
F O R
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R E F I N E
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˜ SCREEN PRINT IDEA AND PROCESS // As part of the ‘to do list’ task I wanted to create a series of screen printed posters, visually representing various ambitions on my list. Initially I created a list of ten singular
words such as create, ex-
plore and refine, then used this list of words to begin creating my prints. My process began by taking the word on my list and creating a spider diagram on plain a4 for each, writing down words which first come to mind. For example for ‘explore’ I wrote ships, the sea, divers and so on, from these words i found a common theme eg - nautical. From my new list of words/
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themes i designed my posters.
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M Y
F I R S T
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O F
P R I N T S
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proposal F O R
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S T U D Y
Pr te ep nd a gr ed rat io ap hi st n f c ud or de y e x si gn in -
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BRIEF
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Introduction During this module, Preparation for extended study study in graphic design, a key requirement is to develop a programme of investigation/study that you can develop and bring to a conclusion in the final 60 credit module: Extended study in graphic design. In effect, during level 3 you are required to plan, undertake and manage a self initiated programme of study in relation to your understanding of the subject and your career aspirations. This is potentially very daunting. The extended study must be more investigative,
ambitious,
chal-
lenging and more coherent than a selection of projects which follow current conventions or fashions. During the Preparation for extended study study in graphic design module you will be helped to consider the different elements of S T U D Y
your proposal and encouraged to explore your ideas through practical work, reading and extensive
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research.
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Your proposal must be developed in negotiation with your tutor. Through the tutorial process your proposal will be clarified and you will submit your draft proposal at the assessment in October/November and the final written proposal as part of the assessment of ES in GD module in December/January. (nb as designers you should consider carefully the visual quality of your final proposal, checking grammar and spelling carefully. You should support your written pro-forma with any relevant examples of research, visual material etc. which illustrates and/or supports your thinking)
By level three we expect you to exhibit
an
increasing
capacity
for self-determined independent study and thinking. Your proposal exists to define your project work, and ensure common understanding between you and your tutors about the work you will undertake. Your proposal is developed and written by you, through negotiation with, and the help and advice of your tutor(s). It represent your increasing
independence,
your
responsibility for your learning, and your progression through the programme: it is written to take account of the Learning Outcomes of the module.
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Your Proposal Your
proposal
represents
an
agreement by you to investigate an aspect of graphic design and produce work(s) of a certain standard by a particular time. Your ability to fulfill the aims of your proposal will therefore be part of the module assessment.
The de-
tail of the proposal will, by agreement, relate to the developmental stages of the project(s). Your work during the module will be overseen by your personal tutor and the Programme Leader.
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What Can A Proposal Be About? Your proposal should identify the area of graphic design that you
S T U D Y
wish to study in more detail. This may be driven by subject matter such as cultural impact, con-
D I R E C T E D
sumerism, language and meaning, ecology, histories, innovation etc... It may focus on an area of practice, such as reportage, typography, type design, narrative/story,
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persuasion, sound, film, print, interactivity, screen, co-design, performance etc
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Most importantly you must identify the question(s) you will explore, or the problem that you seek to address.
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For example, if you want to study editorial design in more depth, you need to identify what aspect
“At the outset of your study you are identifying your question. Therefore we do not expect you to know what your final outcomes may be. You might have some ideas about what the outcomes might be, but these may need to change and develop in relation to your investigation/study.
of magazine/book/screen design you are interested in, and why. Why are contemporary editorial outputs designed and produced in the way they are, print/screen/ tablet etc? How much is the design is effected by their editorial intention, audience, cultural location, means of production and distribution? What is it about existing editorial design that you feel can be improved? How will the work you
Be open to surprises and the unexpected. As your work develops during the year, you may need to re-visit your proposal and, in negotiation with your tutor, revise some of the detail. The important first step is to identify a theme that can sustain your interest and curiosity during the year, and that has the potential to generate a number of, as yet, unspecified outcomes”.
do be better or different to what is already being produced?
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Your proposal should indicate how your practice relates to contemporary graphic design and your ambitions for the future. The work you propose to undertake in the module should therefore relate to these considerations and the learning outcomes of the module as stated in the module brief and student handbook. A successful extended directed study will rely on your ability to pose yourself a serious challenge. You will then need to think ahead and plan your time and needs (research, resources etc).
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m y proposal proforma
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D I R E C T E D
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WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A MASTER?
proposal title Master of their craft: The hows, whats and whys of mastery.
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N a m e : Ya s s e e n F a i k Tu t o r : J e z
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WHATS YOUR WORK ABOUT? With my work I strive to find a balance between concept and execution. I believe finding a balance between having strong ideas and having a professional graphical finish will enhance the quality of my work, therefore leading to an overall stronger practice.
EXPLAIN YOUR PROCESS SO FAR? My creative process always starts with a pencil and a piece of paper. I am a kinesthetic / visual learner, and always begin a project by making a spider diagram of my ideas. This allows me to visualize all my ideas simultaneously, enabling me to continue my work in a specific direction. Once I have selected a direction I began to sketch out rough visuals on paper, and begin to refine the look of my design. The majority of my design work is carried out on the computer, using programmes such as indesign and illustrator to provide my work with
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the clean and refined finish I am after with my work.
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IDENTIFY YOUR AREA OF GRAPHIC DESIGN AND WHAT IT IS ABOUT THIS AREA THAT MOST INTERESTS YOU?
S E L F D I R E C T E D S T U D Y
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The area in which I feel most confident and passionate is type and print. I have a passion for typography, both its construction and function, yet technically I feel I still have much to learn. I have a love for hand done printing techniques, namely screen printing. I believe I can get the clean and refined look I aim to achieve with my work, while maintaining a hand made, personal quality. In terms of subject area, publication / layout design, branding and conceptual / 3d typographical works have found themselves at the forefront of my design repertoire.
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WHO ARE THE PRACTITIONERS YOU ADMIRE AND WHY? One of my initial experiences with graphic design was reading a book called ‘the 3D type book’. These three dimensional and hand made type designs are what first grabbed my design attention. Designers such as Andrew Byrom, Conor and David and Sean Freeman caught my eye with their playful yet sophisticated 3D typographical works, which then inspired me to learn more about graphic design and later pursue the subject. Upon learning more I quickly discovered the international typographical style (Swiss style) and understanding the Bauhaus’ role in sculpting modern typographical practice. Familiarizing myself with such names as Paul Rand, Emil Ruder, Jan Tschichold and Joseph Muller-Brockmann. With regards to my contemporary practice, I try and keep up to date with London agencys such as Pentagram, hat-trick, Fitch and Pearl Fisher. I feel monitoring big agencies creative outputs will keep me informed about contemporary commercial graphic design.
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HOW DOES THIS STUDY YOU ARE PROPOSING RELATE TO YOUR AMBITIONS BEYOND GRADUATION?
My study ‘Masters of their Craft’ will directly feed back into my professional and personal practice. I believe this is true because its a basic human desire to want to succeed and triumph at what one does. Success both financial and personal/emotional can be gained by mastering of ones craft/hobby/profession and reaching an important position in ones field.
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If I get closer to finding out how,
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what it takes and why people want to become masters of their craft I can better my own creative process and practice and hope one day to be a master at my own craft: Graphic Design.
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