Neglect of the blog
This blog has been neglected for far too long and as shocking as it sounds I’m well aware of it but haven’t exactly taken the time to keep on top of it.
So how do you combat not spending five minuets of your time to fill in a little text box and paste a few images of what a day has consisted of? Simple answer is, just bloody do it! As soon as the day is over it would take 5-25 minutes to compose and publish an article of said day. To factor this into my schedule from now on is a goal I’m not going to take lightly.
So what of today I hear you ask? Stefan Stagmiester. I’m not sure if it’s his accent that captivates me or his well articulated words I hang off but I could literally binge watch his speeches like episodes of a good TV series. There is a nice six part series of short videos on YouTube which covers a range of subjects produced by Computer Arts and their Design Matters sub section.
You can watch the mini series here.
The subject that sticks out the most for is part one in which he talks candidly about “Design & Happiness” stating how he feels when he isn’t happy he isn’t much good for his friends, family or surrounding, especially in terms of design. It sticks in my mind so well because I have often felt that way myself and makes me realise in order to “be useful” changes need to be made not only as a lifestyle choice but a mental state too. How do I go about this and proactively ensure it takes place is another thing and cannot answer as of yet as it’s a work in progress but overall as of right now compared to months ago I’m better off for it.
If you’re unhappy or feel as though you just aren’t up to scratch, sit back and think what can you do about that? That’s what I took from that interview at least, I dunno, it’s possible that I’m a little off base but upon reflection it is relevant to my current status.
Be sure to check out those videos, if you missed the link click here and enjoy.
A reflection on time management
On our course we need to review and analyze what we are doing, thinking and or inspired by. We should be doing this 4 times a week to help aid our thought processes, increase skill, or even identify the flaws in our work with critical thinking and analysis.
With poor time management, this simple 5-15 minute task is being overlooked regardless of how often it’s thought about or planned for, too many mistakes are being made on my part when it comes to the planning of my time out. After leaving college there are 4 hours available at the very least to push ideas and concepts or write annotations and such but it’s not being done, is it down to laziness or have I given myself too much to do and that in result is causing such an oversight?
Given that my enrollment to the course was a late one and I’ve had to play catch up, money has also taken my time when applying to jobs or completing outside sourced work such as websites. As it stands there are 3 sites requiring my attention 2 of which are 90% complete, so after they are complete it’s time to put outside work on the shelf as I just won’t be able to manage my time properly in order to meet the requirements of the course.
As simple as it sounds, I just need to plot things out but it’s not, I need to make time to plan time.
Minimalistic movie poster
Typography and minimal designs are one of my weakest points as a student, given the abundance of readily available examples by other students, I wasn’t very excited. However, given the challenge has changed my opinion and made me realize just how important Semiotic value is in my desired profession.
The 16 of us had been given Jaws to illustrate in the most minimal form possible while retaining the key elements to the film. My original concept fell flat given I had put a blue rectangle over half my work space and a shark fin, once my tutor had spoken to me about how it could be any film about any shark or possibly a documentary. Quickly scribbling down a mind map it dawned on me, iconic scenes and quotes from the film. Everyone who has ever seen the thriller flick knows the line “we’re gunna need a bigger boat!” and when Deputy of police chief Martin Brody is sat on the beech, he sees the fin as Jaws swims across the shoreline.
The end result:
Ah, now all that’s needed is to print it onto a shirt!