Yesterday, in our perfectly shaped studio circle in GD400, we began discussing the steps in our process. Where do we begin? Where do we obtain our inspiration? And the seemingly most important topic of the day, what questions do we ask of ourselves? Those in GD400 and GD517, feel free to comment on any of the questions listed below. Within your post, if you find necessary, continue asking questions regarding the topic, and those who post later feel free to comment on these. Have fun and be safe, kids.
Do we have a set of questions we always ask regardless of project? If so, what are they? If this set seems to change, what drives the change? Do the questions seem to revolve around you, the audience, or both? What is the first question you ask? What questions are you continuously asking yourself over the course of a process? Do the questions ever end?
I know one thing that I always ask myself at the start of the project is how can I make this interesting and benefical to me. I know that when I begin to do real projects for real clients its going to be a lot harder to chose subject matter that I find interesting. I also find that if I can somehow incorporate an area that I have interest in into the project, the project itself becomes more interesting. I think now is the perfect time to be selfish when it comes to designing... what do I want to say, what do I want to improve about my design process, etc. etc.
This is just one question, I'm curious to see what others ask...
Posted by colleen on March 22, 2005 08:28 PM
Dear Alex,
I couldn't help but post on the thread about the questions we ask alex ford. Its simply irresistable. So, here are a few questions for you:
_where did you buy your scarf?
_is it silk?
_what makes you love design so much?
_you are obviously always deep in thought. so i want to know what questions YOU ask.
Sincerely,
Your closest (in proximity) studiomate
ps. thanks for the hugs.
Posted by mia on March 22, 2005 10:40 PM
how
how who
why
why who
when
when who
where
where who
who
who when where how + why
Posted by tony on March 28, 2005 10:26 PM
What are my goals/views/beliefs/opinions?
What is the message to be conveyed?
How do I manifest that message through some type of medium?
Why is this so hard sometimes and so easy other times?
How do I take what's in the world around me and create some type of visual language that allows me to convey the message in an appropriate but striking and unique mannner?
What does it mean to belong under the category of graphic designer?
Why does my mind wonder...?
Why do I constantly dream about Frazzles the Squirrel?
Posted by Liollio on March 31, 2005 05:59 PM
before i ask a question, i need to typically immerse myself in the subject matter. the better the grasp on what the problem situation is, the more detailed the questions can get.
how i can find a solution that has not been done before. what roads are there to be discovered? what am i thinking about? what does the audience think about? what are they influenced by? what/who am i competing with? what can i do to provoke a reaction?
how can i create something beautiful that conveys an intelligent message? how can i make my audience think further?
what if this sucks? what if it doesn't?
i think our set of questions has to change with our environment and the cultural situation in place. we have to be aware of what's going on in the world in order to create an informed solution. we have to look left, right, up, down, forward, backward, inward and outward. and keep looking.
what do you see?
Posted by carolin on April 3, 2005 10:57 PM
Just some questions that I think about:
• Why, why should the object exist,
• what is it going to do.
• What are the aspects of the object that I have to work with.
• What has already been done and how can I use what has been done to my advantage.
• What constitutes a good object/designed artifact
• What structures exist and why, can other frameworks accomplish the same results but in a different way
• What is it supposed to be, what is the opposite of it and can the opposite do more
• What are similar things and how are they different
• What happens at the collision of this and something else
• What are the possibilities and how many different ways can this be communicated
• What would be the most unaccceptable thing to produce, what affordances does that have
These are some questions that come to mind. I don't really have a standard set and it usually changes with what I am doing. I find I ask the best questions when I am far away from the computer, usually driving around or looking through magazines and books. The question that has resonated with me recently is what things are we not questioning and why did we choose to accept them the way they are? It is really nice to see what others are thinking about,
thanks
jon
Posted by Jon Harris on April 17, 2005 10:53 PM
Well, since I'm here, I might as well put some of my question here. It hard for me to verbally express my questions because they seems like they come from my subconscious.
Some that I know I ask are:
What do I want to say with the subject matter?
What needs to be said with the subject matter?
How can I show this in a way that the message implies?
What form is the best for the message and its audience?
How will the audience respond to the message and its visuals?
Posted by Jessica Rose on April 19, 2005 03:11 PM
what's the precedent,
how can I put a spin on it or subvert it,
can it be surreal,
how many adjectives can be employed toward describing the feel of the piece,
where do those words lead and what do they connote,
what range of audience can I expect to grasp this use of connotation,
should it be poetic, obtuse, sly or sensible
should I speak about my work or let it speak for itself
what combination and degree of the photographic, illustriative, and typographic should be utilized with this subject
is my message the message
or is my message the medium making a message
or is my message my message
or is my message one that cloaks itself in the experiences of others
Posted by D-cal (formerly known as Daniel C) on April 28, 2005 07:43 PM
what can I scale back
what does the medium bring,
and what can I bring to the medium
what conventions of film, of the web, and of the printed page can be employed toward a memorable solution
Posted by D-cal (formerly known as Daniel C) on April 28, 2005 07:48 PM
