A Move Towards Technology.

The move to technology and web is as much of an exciting exploration and learning experience as it is an internal struggle for me. Today's society is heavily reliant on technology in most aspects of our daily lives and routines. Technology constantly has me plugged in either to my laptop, desktop, iPad and or smart phone. Information and communication are constantly at my fingertips, which is stimulating and enriching. However, as I mentioned in a previous post, I miss down-time that allows my mind to wander, the concept of being unreachable from time to time, as well as the nostalgia that comes with print: pencil on paper, feeling the texture and weight of paper (newsprint, greeting cards, magazines etc).

Along with seeing the technology based transitions in my personal life, I have also witnessed such transitions in my professional life. I have been out of school for a mere 4 years and in those four years of working in the design industry I have witnessed multiple clients forgoing print collateral for web driven technology and campaigns. This transition has given me the opportunity to learn more about designing for web and mobile applications; however, I must admit that there are some days when I strongly miss even the most mundane aspects of print design such as press checks, shipping and physical deliverables.

I can't begin to imagine the changes that we will see in the future and the changes that the next generation will witness in the evolution of technology. I am excited for what the future holds and am also happy to have known some of the days before the digital age.

To Tweet or Not to Tweet...

To tweet or not to tweet? This has been the growing question since Twitter was launched in 2006. I admit, I was hesitant and slow to give into the current social networking craze myself. A lot of controversy remains surrounding Twitter and five years later there are still a numerous amount of pessimists who argue that 140 character status updates are useless and mind-numbing. I once viewed Twitter as an outlet for obnoxious celebrities and egotistical individuals; however, once I gave into the notion I was able to see Twitter for what it really is. Twitter is what you make of it, plain and simple.

Twitter isn't about how many people follow you (unless you are using it for advertising purposes), it's about who you follow and why. There are endless uses for Twitter from gaining knowledge, researching, staying connected, following trends, being inspired, seeking out deals, advertising and so much more. If you are an individual who cares about what celebrities say and do on an hourly basis, then Twitter is for you. If you are an individual who wants to stay up to date on current trends for a certain industry, then Twitter is for you too. If you have a company that you would like to promote and advertise, then Twitter is also for you. The list goes on and on. A growing number of individuals and businesses are giving into today's social networking norm through Twitter and I encourage everyone to give it a try and to not miss out on its many benefits.

For anyone who is interested, here is an interview that I heard on NPR with one of Twitter's co-founders. I found this interview to be very informative and interesting. Twitter's Biz Stone on Starting a Revolution: http://www.wbur.org/npr/133775340/twitters-biz-stone-on-starting-a-revolution

StephNEdesign on Twitter.

2011 Superbowl Hype

The yearly debate about which Superbowl commercial exceeds the others in concept and creativity is here yet again. The commercials seem to get more air time and recognition than the teams and players themselves. However, I am somewhat ashamed to admit that even though the Steelers are technically my home team, I was more excited about the commercials than the score. I may have somewhat of a biased opinion when it comes to my favorite Superbowl commercial, but I do wholeheartedly believe that the Star Wars Volkswagen commercial surpasses the others in concept and creativity. The art direction, sequence and overall look and feel of the commercial spoke to me as being cleanly thought out and executed. This commercial was created by Craig Melchiano, a 1995 Penn State Graphic Design graduate. I have never had the pleasure of meeting Craig but I can say that Craig has made Penn State and the Design Department proud! Well done!

As for my least favorite commercials of the night I must say that Pepsi Max's immature violence and Sleepy's racy content were not my favorites. I'd love to hear your opinions!

Star Wars Volkswagen Commercial

FFFFOUND!

If you haven't discovered FFFFOUND.com yet I highly recommend checking it out! Warning: FFFFOUND.com does have the potential to consume an enormous amount of your time as you become entranced in the creativity that others are sharing and posting. FFFFOUND.com is merely a resource for users to share their favorite images from the internet; however, it is also a great resource for inspiration. I recently rediscovered this website's ability to captivate my attention for hours on end during a 12 hour car ride home from visiting my family in Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving. Below are a few of my recent favorites. Enjoy!

Richard Avedon, MFA Boston

After living in the Boston area for a little over three years, I finally had the opportunity to visit the Museum of Fine Arts this past weekend. Like many museums, the MFA is filled with an overwhelming amount of art from various time periods and styles. While I appreciate all forms of art, there was one artist who made an immense impression on me, Richard Avedon.

Avedon's work was on exhibit during my visit and his photography spoke to me. I have seen his work on many occasions; however, seeing his photographs on exhibit in their purist forms was absolutely breathtaking. Avedon is a fashion photographer whose work has been published mainly in Vouge and Harper's Bazaar. He revolutionized fashion photography by capturing his subjects (mostly women) in glamorous clothing, poses and surroundings. The content and compositions of his photos are pure art. Avedon has a unique ability to capture moments and movement in still frames that portray beautiful stories. One of the most notable qualities of his work is that he began his career before Photoshop and was able to conceptualize such interesting compositions without the aid of today's technology.

Below are a few of my favorite Avedon photographs. If you have the opportunity to visit the MFA before January 17th, 2011 I highly recommend spending some quality time in the Foster Gallery with Avedon's work.

The Devil is in the Details

An idiom that I believe all designers (graphic designers, web designers, fashion designers, interior designers and the like) are familiar with is, “The Devil is in the Details.”

I can’t recall the first time that I heard this expression. However, it is forever instilled in my mind.

As I previously mentioned, I began drawing in detail at a young age and my education taught me to appreciate such attention and thoughtfulness.

To this day I love to explore details that others place into their work, whether it is the depth and texture of brush strokes in a painting, the hidden objects in logo design, well thought out web design concepts, my neighbor’s landscaping or my dingy office lighting, all of the many intriguing details that surround us in everyday life.

Details don’t have to be intricate. There is something extremely beautiful about subtle detail as well. Details to me signify passion, interest, knowledge and a love for ones work.

Pencil vs Mouse

Over the years technology has without a doubt transformed most aspects of our daily lives. However, recently I've been feeling the effects of technology interfering with my passion and ability to illustrate by hand. Although technology makes my job undoubtedly more productive and streamline, in some cases I can sense it hindering my creativity, imagination and freehand.

I discovered my love for drawing at a very young age. My mom frequently reminisces about my ability to entertain myself for hours when I was young. I would sit alone at the kitchen table and create my version of "Where's Waldo" illustrations by incorporating my family, friends, and pets into the detailed sketches. Throughout high-school and college I always had a sketchbook nearby, constantly doodling and jotting down images from my imagination. I miss those days!

Today my sketchbook, pencils, pens, sharpies and colored pencils, for the most part, have been replaced by a mouse, Adobe Creative Suite CS5, a scanner and a Wacom Tablet. There are days when I feel the rush of creativity at work; however, it isn't the same freedom and feeling you get from the nostalgic sound and feel of dragging a pencil on paper. Last week I made it a point to purchase a brand new sketchbook and am now making a resolution to dedicate more time for my abandoned passion and hobby.

(I asked my mom to dig up some of those old sketches, hopefully I will be able to post one or two in the near future.)