Author: Jasmine Domena (Page 1 of 2)

References

Graphicszoo.com. 2021. How Advancements in Technology Have Influenced the Graphic Design Industry. [online] Available at: <https://www.graphicszoo.com/article/how-advancements-in-technology-have-influenced-the-graphic-design-indu> [Accessed 9 May 2021].

Helfand, Jessica. Dematerialization of Screen Space. 2001.

Manovich, Lev. Import/Export, or Design Workflow and Contemporary Aesthetics. 2008.

Manovich.net. 2021. Lev Manovich. [online] Available at: <http://manovich.net/index.php/projects/import-export> [Accessed 9 May 2021].

Mehmen, K., 2021. Behance. [online] Behance.net. Available at: <https://www.behance.net/gallery/45756567/Dematerialization-of-Screen-Space-Jessica-Hefland> [Accessed 9 May 2021].

StudyMoose. 2021. What Impact Have Digital Technologies Had on the Graphic Design Industry Free Essay Example. [online] Available at: <https://studymoose.com/what-impact-have-digital-technologies-had-on-the-graphic-design-industry-essay> [Accessed 9 May 2021].

    The reading seems to be about knowing what is trending or not and understanding what aspects of design are mainstream or are no longer mainstream. Corporations usually steal other people’s ideas instead of being original with their own. They don’t credit the original user and instead benefit off from something someone else started or created. This is very similar to Tik Tok trends. These trends get redone or recreated by multiple users but at the end of the day does anyone know or remember who was the originator? An example I saw explained in a YouTube Blog is high waisted jeans are now trending and are “mainstream”. Younger generations are acting like this is something new and never done before but it was actually something that was trending in the early 2000s but is now experiencing a revival for the newer generation. 

    An example of this discussed in the reading is Psychedelic design. Psychedelic design’s purpose was to incentivize sexual practices and drug usage. This design underground was trendy, hip, and edgy for things such as album covers. However, in mainstream advertisements, the Psychedelic design would be seen more as taboo. Another example discussed is pornography. Pornography is used in advertisements in a  more subliminal manner. It is like the saying “sex sells”. With the mainstream taking underground designs and using them to their own advantage, it puts the underground in a predicament of either keeping themselves unrecognized or come forward and join the mainstream but face judgment for their work.

    Based on the artist and work I choose I feel that it can be seen that Kate Moross is an underground artist that Netflix brought to the light with their Netflix Transgender Awareness Week Project. The 2020 Transgender Awareness Week Netflix commissioned them to create 10 portraits of transgender talent to be featured on the platform. The design of these pieces the vibrant colors give me Psychedelic design vibes. The subject being transgender seems to also support the statement in the reading where it is said that advertisements lean more onto one’s sexuality as an attention grabber. With the subjects all being transgender actors and actresses this seems to resonate almost the same idea to me. So it seems even today whether it on social media or advertisements mainstream and underground works seem to connect to each other to either try to benefit each other or hurt the other.

Citations:

Ballinger, C. (2021, April 02). BUYING every NOSTALGIC 2000’s toy AND TREND! Retrieved May 02, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VgcJ8ix-uU

Neely, M., & Says:, L. (2021, March 10). The miscellany news. Retrieved May 02, 2021, from https://miscellanynews.org/2021/03/10/arts/popular-tiktok-trends-boost-underground-artists-and-their-growing-music-careers/

Netflix transgender Awareness Week. (n.d.). Retrieved May 02, 2021, from https://www.katemoross.com/Netflix-Transgender-Awareness-Week

    Media and technology extends human beings and humanity by being a means of communication. This has always been the case as the alphabet has been early means of technological advancements. However, the progression of technology does form some hazards for youth and society, this is because “youth instinctively understands the present environment- the electric drama.” What this means is that the youth is better equipped for technological advancements. This can be seen with any everyday thing such as a cell phone. For instance, when picture an elderly person using a cell phone they can’t work it properly without assistance meanwhile an individual in their youth can adapt to any phone much more easily. This type of scenario can create a division in society through ageism.

    Today’s youth no longer rely on their family for teachings. This is because in this day and age anything can be found online. You can learn how to do anything online because there will most surely be a YouTube video on how to do it. Even now during this pandemic all teaching is done online. Human services and becoming more scarce. Technology’s evolution has overtaken the youth, education, and work from society. It is hard to tell if this is helpful or is damaging society making it lazy and too reliant or dependent on technology.

    Even though the advancements have some steps backwards it does create some steps forwards. We are way more easily connected via email or text or video call. This alternative is way better than the past where sending a letter would have days gaps in between meanwhile now the connection is instant. However, this simultaneously also has it’s down side as it creates the feeling of needing instant communication or gratification. So in the end the evolution of technology is honestly a win lose situation.

    This week’s reading focused a lot on following a grid. All the readings shared the same ideology that typography’s main goal should be to communicate a message and not just look pretty. Jan Tschichold writes in The New Typography, “when in earlier periods ornament was used, often in an extravagant degree, it only showed how little the essence of typography, which is communication, was understood.” What this shows is that designers went back into old designs and analyzed what worked and what didn’t and realized that the extra flare the ornaments gave was not needed. It did not support the design’s purpose of communicating a message so they removed what didn’t work or fulfill their needs.

    Josef Muller-Brockmann writes in Grid and Design Philosophy about how “working within the grid system means submitting to the law of universal validity.” He seems to have believed that, “the designer’s work should have clearly intelligible, objective, functional, and aesthetic quality of mathematical thinking.” What it seems like to me is that design is becoming more of a mathematical thing rather than a form of expression.

    Everything about design and typography in this reading seems to focus a lot on grids and maths when it comes to composition and hierarchy. Every placement and size has a purpose to communicate a message. However, Brockmann does manage to hint that some expression does remain even when following these mathematical rules by stating, “every visual creative work is a manifestation of the character of the  designer. It is a reflection of his knowledge, his ability, and his mentality.” This hinting at and showing that some artistic expression does remain in a new way for this new era of design.

While reading about “the academy” it was interesting to see how some of the things mentioned that were taught are still being currently taught today. For instance, the design process, which I learn in almost all of my classes, is one of the major things taught. The reading also described techniques and elements that sound very similar to the elements and principles of design taught today. 

Art is something that can not be taught alone. Art schools give artist knowledge on tools and past artists. It dips their toes into the community of fellow artists. It can build networking and community so artists can learn and grow from each other. However, it is also up to the individual in order to grow. It is the hard work and practice the student puts into it outside of their studies with the knowledge taught at the schools that can make them the best artist they can possibly be.

“The theoretical curriculum of art academy combined with the practical curriculum of an arts and crafts school was to constitute the basis of a comprehensive system for gifted students.” This quote shows to me that being gifted isn’t just enough. Art schools teach gifted students how to grow and cultivate their gifts. I will relate this idea to WandaVision because I am still recovering from the series finale this week. Wanda is a gifted witch but without the right teachings of the history of witches before her and techniques and spells she is just a powerful being with no real control of her own powers or talent. She needs a teacher and this idea is just like how any artist needs someone to teach the fundamentals in order to really use their gifts to their full potential.