Module 10 - Field Notes

As new graphic design students taking fundamental courses in typography and design it's interesting to also be studying all of the ways to break the rules. We are learning to apply them, the old adage about learning the rules before you try to break them comes to mind. It keep things interesting. It reminds us that we can experiment and try new ways of seeing the world and then creating art that reflects that. Wolfgang Weigert did that. His values were artistic freedom and exploration and then like it or not, he started a revolution in graphic design.

One of the things I really admire about New Wave Typography is the ability to use words, letters, as design elements in and of themselves. I was really captured by the work of the young Chinese graphic artist Jianping He as he is a master of this ability. Below are some examples of his work.

His fusion of photography with dynamic typography first drew me in via the work that appeared in our textbook:

 I am inspired by his integration of leading-edge, innovative placement with his Asian sensibilities. His compositions are edgy and very current while still suffused serenity and ease. Even when he uses color it does not complicate the composition or make it fussy. It retains its powerful simplicity. It's design negative space.

Even when he uses a purely typographic solution, the result appears both hard and soft; yin and yang as seen in his design for 2005's Best 100 Posters of China:

A detail of the top right type:

His web page (linked above at his name) shows humor and his love of typography:

This is the same page translated with a sweep of the mouse:

A closer look allows us a glimpse of the sense of humor involved in each word:

Even when showing (and celebrating) his Germanic educational roots, his own artistic direction is still conspicuous:

The China Image silkscreen Jianping created for the Taiwanese Poster Design Competition in 2004 uses a photo montage that includes a 3 dimensional typographic element that close up looks like the ubiquitous Chinese pottery design seen everywhere in the US . I'm not sure if the fact that white is historically the color of funerals and death has anything to do with the concept of this design as I found no further information.

Jianping is famously interested in the art of his peers and edited a book called, "All Men are Brothers" in which 108 international designers discuss their process from concept through realization. The title comes from a classic Chinese tale in which 108 revolutionaries fight for freedom for the poor over the rich in the manner of Robin Hood. This is indicative of the way in which Jianping views design and his place in it's sphere.

Go here to read a great interview with Steff Geissbuhler.

Module 9 - Field Notes

 Peter Max was a huge part of my life. I wanted to be a sign painter until Peter entered my life. At that point my career aspiration was to become a commercial artist.As a young person I was drawn to his bright colors and unusual proportions and composition of his creations.

The psychedelia of the time did not speak to me. I wasn't a part of  the 60s free love and drugs and rock n' roll movement. The art that went a long with that always seemed a bit foreboding to me. I was just too young. Peter Max' art was the perfect antidote in my mind. His posters covered my walls and my iterative versions filled my notebooks and bulletin boards.

His work has evolved to more of a fine art technique. He often uses the He doesn't only use the illustrative techniques of the 60s with this black outlines and flat color planes. Though his color pallet is still vibrant now he employs collage, painting and a more free flowing style.

In the 90s I had the chance to meet him at a gallery opening of his exhibit. He made it very clear that if I didn't have many thousands of dollars with which to prove my fandom, it didn't much count as far as he was concerned.  :-(

The philosophy behind Push Pin is inspiring. To freely employ the techniques and knowledge of those who have created before is wonderfully refreshing and allows for continuous development and learning as an artist.

There is such a wealth of information about Seymour Chwast and Milton Glaser and more Milton Glaser allowing us to learn from them and continue with the Push Pin philosophy as we move forward in our learning.

Even at 80 Mr Glaser is still creating vibrant and groundbreaking work in his design studio, Milton Glaser, Inc. in his hometown of New York.

 I love this photograph from his web page. It's beautiful. I like to picture him sitting there as I type this.

His work spans many disciplines a very few of which you can see here. Not only was Glaser inspired by the psychedelic movement of the 60s while it was happening, he still calls upon this knowledge now as seen in this calendar:

It is obvious by these works that Mr. Glaser is a keen observer of the world around him, not only the visual world but also of the humanity. This portrait of Louis Armstrong captures a vulnerability not usually seen in the great musician. It is the product of a skilled portrait artist.

This collotype image of a landscape is finely detailed and the colors are muted yet vibrant much like what you would expect to see on a golden fall day:

His kinetic sculpture for SVA Theatre in NY was unveiled in July of this year. The sculpture's form was inspired by Tatlin's Homage to the Third Republic.

 The piece rotates in two directions every hour on the hour. At the same time, the announcement of the time appears on the marquee with an accompanying statement about the nature of time, such as this quote from Albert Einstein: "The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." To see it in motion, visit here. Mr. Glaser is obviously a person living fully, still creating, learning and contributing his breadth of knowledge to the world.

His longtime partner, Seymour Chwast has also run the gamut of techniques and clients.

His iconic identity designs for the Brooklyn Children's Museum, the Children's AIDS Network along with his children's book illustration show a playfulness and brilliance that speak to children and to adults. His letterforms are fun but totally readable.  They draw you in and make you curious about the subjects they stand in for.

 At the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of audience and by all means color pallet is this ad Chwast created for the Economist. It's a real gem in the statement and the way it's portrayed. Its full of truth and humor. That's a grand combination in the ad world.

Like many artists, Chwast also creates art for socially conscience projects, but with his own unique twist. The below poster, while making a serious statement is still seems imbued with his hand drawn demeanor which adds to the vulnerability and insecurity of man in the face of such a terrible event like war.

His woodcut of crows is a dynamic composition with great tension and character shown. The blue is exactly the color of the sky on a summer's day. Gorgeous!:

 Type design is also something for which Seymour is known—and for good reason.

Here is just a sampling of his designs:

Seymour's interest in publishing shows itself in his semi-regular publication of 'The Nose'. It is designed to bring attention to social issues that Seymour considers really imperative for people to pay attention to. Here is a cover that uses photography and it surely makes a point in a typically Seymour way; using humor, intention and dynamic placement of images to type:

 I have covered in just a fraction of the work of 2 people, an extensive array of techniques. Every technique we master makes us more valuable in the world of design. That these two men are still creating, still in the office on Tuesday morning of Thanksgiving week answering emails from yahoos like myself really shows the difference between working just a job and having a career that inspires you and allows you to think outside the box (Sorry. I hate that term but it's so fiiting some times) and challenges you on a daily basis. It will help you to stay sharp, focused and enjoying your days. You can't ask for much more in a job.

There is another book that has just been published that is very applicable to our studies. It's called, The Lacuna and it was written by a gifted storyteller called Barbara Kingsolver.I have waited 9 years for a new book by Ms. Kingsolver and that it is this particular book is just another example of the serendipitous nature of life. It is the story of an artist and his journey of self discovery while living in the household of Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and Leon Trotsky. I have just started it and it is fascinating reading already. Based on Ms. Kingsolver's past novels, the years and years of researching her subject provide her with an almost biographical basis for her characters. I recommend all of her books.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so thankful for the opportunity to share this class with all of my classmates. I have learned so much from everyone. This class has really opened my eyes to the interconnectedness of art with everyday life. I see examples everywhere I look. I guess this is just what education is. I'm sorry I didn't have/create this opportunity earlier in my life. It adds such a level of being present and of "seeing" to my life.  I look forward to the next step in my art history education.

Module 8 - Field Notes

I was lucky enough to attend a talk Matthew Carter gave at San Jose State this last week. And since he is the only famous typographer I have ever met, I’m going to tell you about it.  Firstly he is a very entertaining and witty speaker. His talk reminded me of the movie Helvetica in that you don't have to be a designer or design student to be enthralled by the movie or by Mr. Carter. He said that it used to be that when someone on a plane asked what he did and he said he was a type designer he would get a blank stare but these days any 8 year old can have an intelligent discussion with him about fonts. That says so much about the democratization of type. Matthew Carter is inspirational to me. He is 72 years old and he is still teaching, learning and creating on the leading edge of new technology. He was one of the last people to learn the craft of punch cutting type and now is known to most people as the creator of fonts for Microsoft such as Verdana and Georgia. That is quite a technological career span! When asked how he feels about the multitude of fonts created by the talented and the perhaps not so talented, he said, “The results are not always wonderful, but you cannot champion the demystification of something and then protest that the result are mystifying!”

There was high drama in the world of typography when Ikea recently redesigned their catalog replacing longtime font combo of Futura and Century Schoolbook with Verdana and some typophiles are not happy! Ikea wanted the same typographic identity world-wide for both web and print. Matthew said that he was actually impressed with the work the designers put into the kerning of a web based font and that it looks good. He has wonderfully divested himself of opinions for work he has done for clients. It’s theirs now.

This evening I am watching a Ken Burns/PBS biography of Frank Lloyd Wright. I had no idea what his personal life and tragedies had been. Gripping. I highly recommend it. It's on Netflix instant watch list. The film talks about how FLW was looked upon as passe and old fashioned by the time the new moderns came to America with their love of technology and sleekness and steel. He felt their designs were without soul. It was said that when a fly landed on his drafting table, he would name them Gropius or Meis and then swat them dead. He wasn't really known as a magnanimous and kind person.

I have seen pictures of beautiful houses before but Falling Water, the house FLW's built at Bear Run in Pennsylvania actually brought tears to my eyes. This is sanctuary in the highest form.

Falling Water was created in part as an answer to the new moderns who called him passe even as they emulated his deigns in many ways. He wanted to create a home using his own design ideas but make it look as modern as anything the younger set was designing while still maintaining, and in my opinion creating, the true meaning of soul.

The chapter on corporate identity of course hits close to home for those of us inundated by it above and beyond what the rest of the country sees every time we go 2 blocks. We are surrounded by examples of what works and what doesn't. (Click for a larger view)

The IBM logo has stood the test of time and is immediately recognizable. Because of the proximity of lots of these companies I'm not sure if they really are indelible examples or if I just see them so much that they become so for me. So many things in life we just take for granted without thinking about who had the idea in the first place. One of those is the corporate identity manual which I'm sure many of us were tied to at some point in our careers. It's an absolutely essential tool for creating consistency in a company's identity and covers so very much. William Golden at CBS and Georg Olden (another great story) were pioneers and had to lead their teams to be innovative to create effective and engaging visuals for television, a whole new medium. Learning to create designs from the center out to quickly implant a graphic message, to use simple signs and imagery for the most impact and recognition. The Big Push (pg 400 image 20-5) is an amazing example of getting to the root of what you want to say and then saying it with elegance no matter the message.

It must have been such a rich and fertile place to be when you were lucky enough to have management in your corner understanding the possibilities of what could be accomplished. Every movement, every school of design, every new medium and creative genius all connects and now we are at the forefront of everything Muriel Cooper dreamed would be possible for new media. It's another exciting time for designers.

It's no secret that I am especially interested in the subject of woman in design. I think it's just incomprehensible that the talents, the ideas, the humanity of so many people were shut out for so long based on gender, color or whatever! Bea Feitler was an amazingly talented designer and art director. By all accounts she was an exuberant and charming person with an infinite capacity for learning and being challenged by life and by her work. Her Latin heritage shines through in her use of color and form in new ways that hadn't been seen before. She helped to change the direction of magazine graphics. She died young but left us so much.

 

A really great article on Bea Feitler written by one of our textbook authors Philip Megg can be found here:

http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/medalist-beafeitler

Bibliography:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/05/arts/design/05ikea.html

New Yorker article, Man of Letters, December 2005

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/12/05/051205fa_fact_wilkinson

Design Museum article

http://designmuseum.org/design/matthew-carter

AIGA article

http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/medalist-matthewcarter

Module 7 - Field Notes

Firstly, I can’t help but think of the parallels between the era in which the WPA was created and our present day circumstances. I’m not the only one of course.

*The Arts programs put in place starting in 1935 beget the only time in American history when art became a national focus. Coupled with the influx of immigrants from all over the world, the art was bound to be rich and varied. America was and is still a very young country without the benefit of the years of artistic exploration that Europe had. We didn’t face the personal threats of Fascism and Nazi extremism that pushed people and their art to new boundaries. Some art absolutely comes from a place of creating beauty whereas much of the important work comes from trying to understand and make sense of what is happening in our world; both the physical world and the universe that lives in our minds.

The Bauhaus School was about creating an ideal spiritual society and in some sense, the experiment came to America at the right moment in history. Emigrating from countries under siege by their governments to a place where artists were encouraged and even PAID to create must have been like heaven. The influence of the Bauhaus school is so much a part of our modern landscape and is the foundation on which so much design is built. The maxim "form follows function" brings to my mind the quote about typography being invisible to the message. Coming from a technical background, I am enamored of much of the work that comes from the Bauhaus School movement. I am drawn to the idea of every line and every color being part of the overall work without elements. This work of Mohoy Nagy's reminds me of a next gen Mondrian:

Today there are WPA-like programs are being put in place to get some people back to work but other than rare instances like the Bridgeport project above, art and artists are not a much of a priority in today's society. Arts programs have been drastically cut in public schools. As a product of parents who were musicians and supported us with their art and someone with artistic aspirations of my own, it's quite insulting to have the arts treated as inconsequential by our government. As much as I would hope things would change under our current administration, sadly there are other urgent matters that require their attention.

It's wonderful that so much of the art created under the art program is available to view on line. I wasn't around in this era but even when I was an illustrator in the 80s, we created our work in much the same way as a poster like this with hand lettered text and drawings:

The WPA Mural Project is said to have been inspired by Diego Rivera and the Mexican Muralist Movement.

Diego Rivera created the Pan American Unity Mural at SF City College. The website for the mural Rivera Mural is really well done and contains a lot of information including letters, photos and memorabilia including these:

I found this slide show of a great series of WPA posters created for public libraries.

I wanted to see if there were any WPA artworks in my area. I searched on this site: http://www.wpamurals.com/  There is an art glass piece that I have actually seen by Edgar Dorsey Taylor. It is located at Herbert Hoover Jr. High School.

There were of course many other artworks created for the New Deal program including film, theater and music. You can spend (and I did)  hours on line looking and listening to the fruits of WPA labors.

* Some of the info in this paragraph came from my essay question on the test but I wanted to explore it more fully.

As an aside of which I seem to have at least one every week, some of the members of one of my favorite bands, the now defunct Nickel Creek, have joined with other really great musicians to create an expandable collective band called, you guessed it, Works Progress Administration.

Give them a listen!