November 11, 2008
A little more than a couple weeks ago I published a bit of criticism against the Louisville Graphic Design Association (LGDA). I hadn’t intended it merely for the sake of criticism, but more for opening up some questions, stirring conversation and critical-thinking about the work that designers are doing here in Louisville.
However it may have sounded, I was honestly looking and hoping for something more in our city than what their website offers at present (yet still looking to them to fill the void). It’s too easy to get caught up in the latest style trends and slap it on everything we do; or else become so complacent that we don’t care to really think through the work we’re producing.
Today I received a lengthy reply from the president of the LGDA, Brandon Bass. With his permission, here it is in its entirety:
Hey Ricky,
Despite being a few weeks since your blog about LGDA was initially posted, I felt it was important to respond to your criticisms after a friend (and LGDA member) forwarded me the link
…
November 10, 2008
For what it’s worth, I think this is terrible. I am unconvinced by anyone who can so plainly say that graphic design is or is not art. It’s not a yes or no question. It’s something that necessitates dialogue. Can graphic design be art? Is graphic design different than art? What constitutes art? What are the differences between graphic design and art? What similarities do they share? Fine art? Applied art?
November 10, 2008
This is about photographers and their using Flickr, and something to perhaps counter my recent negativity toward the social web.
I have witnessed some photographers avoid using Flickr because they were afraid that someone might steal their images. They were too caught up in the idea of needing to protect their work from misuse. They held fast to an idea that someone out there wanted to cheat them of something that is owed them or is rightfully theirs. They chose instead to show only a few of their works hidden behind a low resolution Flash slideshow, trying their best to control the viewing context and environment with just the right music playing in the background. And of these same who reluctantly used Flickr anyway, they chose to limit the viewing of their images to small resolutions.
This is a huge mistake. Some of the best and most successful (successful in terms of wide recognition) photographers that I have witnessed in our present Age of Flickr are the ones who put their images on there and allow high resolution viewing without watermarks and copyrights burned directly on the image. They give all they have to their viewers. They trust people. They trust them to see …
November 08, 2008
Love of web
In a recent meeting I was asked what I love about the web. My mind went blank. Or, rather, I could only think of what I didn’t like about the web. So, I began with, “Hmm,” a pause, and “Well, I can tell you what a I hate about the web.”
This consisted basically of the fact that computers and internets so often pull me away from other real life pursuits (we can put the discussion of my self-discipline deficiency aside for now). I sit in front of my computer more than I sit in front of an open book; more than on my bike in front of an open road.
So much reliance has been given the social web and mobiles for instant communication that a hand-written letter — something I think most people would surely cherish — has quite nearly been rendered obsolete. ”But,” I continued, “there’s so much to love about the web, too. It can bring people together where it was otherwise not possible.” I hate it and I love it.
Love of work
In my handful of years involved with the designing and building of websites, I have been learning that love of work, as defined by perpetual, unending joy …
November 03, 2008
In the summer and autumn months of 2004 I was working for Louisville Metro Parks doing design work on a lot of their printed materials and some Internets. It was my first job out of school and the last job before I was married, and I got to work alongside some really great folks.
During my time there I’d venture into the many parks that our great city enfolds to collect photos for internal stock, and at some point I had the idea to make panoramic pictures of some of the park scenery (and some of the administrative offices, too). I did this by taking several pictures and manually stitching them together in Photoshop. By the end of my time there I hadn’t finished all of them (as you’ll see). It’s not all great photography, but I think they’re interesting to see.
So, here we go. Louisville’s parks in panorama. (Click them to see them bigger.)
Cherokee Park: Baringer Hill
Cherokee Park: Big Rock…
