Simplicity - Criticle Paper Tutorial

picture from : http://greggsutter.com/mt/archives/manWomanControlPanel.jpg

This is the photo Frank showed me.

This morning I changed a large scale my research plan before having the tutorial with Frank. It seems like shifting to a different subject, but the fact is every idea that have stayed in my mind during the last 3 months all joined together naturally. I guess this is a good sign.

My interest now is narrowed down to the notion of "simplicity". This is the first comment I received from Tracey, our course director, during the presentation of our work on the first day. This is the aesthetic quality that I appreciate most, as well as something that is very apparent in my design work.

After reading the analysis of the beauty and the sublime in Kant's critique of judgment, I thought it would be interesting to look at the notion of simplicity from a cross-cultural perspective - something that I have been wanting to do since the beginning, but just don't know how to.

Simplicity, for us from the East, is related to a whole system of thinking. For the west, I don't know quite how to get to the core but it seems, from my recent reading about Modernism, Dadaism and Avant-Garde, that there is also a tendency towards simplicity, but through a very different approach. So I might examine the notion of simplicity, from how it is represented in art and design, to look at the different way of thinking. I might conclude my paper by discussing the nature of cross-cultural communication.

During the tutorial, I think I had a quite positive feedback from Frank. It seems to me he also found this subject interesting enough. But he reminds me some very important points:
1. I have only 3000 words to write, so be realistic! Narrow it down!
2. I need to think about how to visualize my research in my practice. He mentioned information design, or using photos to make comparisons. Ashleigh also suggested that I can present my research in different ways. Great advises!
3. Frank's last remark: are they really different? or are they actually the same thing? Um, I shall find the answer in my research.

I also thought of a title for my research, something like: Simplicity is sophisticated....
Maybe this is a good subject to do in a country which is known for its sophisticated culture...:P

Critique of Judgment

I realize why I have been so hesitate for my research project. It is related to my issue about identity. And today I realize where all this crisis came from.
Yes, it is about the change of environment, life, culture...etc. All these have only reinforced this situation. But the problem has always been there. So it must be something about me, about the working of my brain and my personality.
I think one of the factors is "greed", or "ambition".

I am reading Immanuel Kant's "The Critique of Judgment" recently. It is related to our last general theory forum's topic about the beauty and the sublime. Because of my poor knowledge in philosophy, reading this book is a real challenge. Not totally understood, I am only overwhelmed to find how different concepts there are associated with "aesthetics". At least in Chinese, there is only one word for "beauty". Maybe this is why I got confused firstly. And because of the general use of this word in Chineses, I am quite doubtful of the value of "beauty" - it makes me feel shallow regardless how important quality it seems to me in my design practice. Because of this doubt, I become unsure of my studying graphic design. Is it just about making things look "beautiful"? Here I am using this term "beautiful" in a general sense. Reading the western philosophy reminds me that there are different levels of "beauty".

I guess if I am to become a designer, I should really treat "beauty" more seriously and critically.

It is also justified in this book that: the pursuit of beauty is for the feeling of pleasure; and the aesthetic judgment is subjective.
They seem quite common sense, but I just started to wonder, what construct the principles of my aesthetic judgment? Why are those qualities bring me pleasure? So I started tracing it down, and found that those factors and influences is very much Eastern (Chinese) way of thinking, and can totally reflect my personality. Just before I get too immersed in all the "western civilization" that I studied (and lived) recently, the understanding of this fact suddenly clear up my mind. I guess the greed and ambition to understand a whole large different system of knowledge makes me become confused, lost, and even doubtful of my identity and beliefs. This is what makes me hesitate and even to make wrong aesthetic judgments. Because I don't trust myself.

I think I am not far from deciding my research subject now.

Extrinsic & Intrinsic

Jean-Pierre Jeunet "Foutaises"

This first tutorial with Luke was really inspiring. In addition to offering me such abundance of names, books, websites, films..., Luke also reminded me something very important: about the mode of my thinking.

When I explained my research interest on a mind map, the first thing he mentioned was to distinguish the “extrinsic” and “intrinsic” of my influences. At first I didn't take it too seriously because I thought I know what I am doing. After going through all the materials, he sort of summed up my current thoughts. Apparently, there is a quite "diverse" scope of my practice and interest, (or sometimes not so mutually relevant). But he suggested that now I should start thinking about my future practice more inwardly and from my perspective - the question is about what "I" want.

He later showed me the film by Jean-Pierre Jeunet "Foutaises", in which the director used a rather simple and funny way "what is that I like, what is that I don't like", to present a kind of personal manifesto. Luke saw me also on a path of quest for manifesto. However, what I didn't think of is, when it comes to a manifesto for myself, what would that be?

After a few days of contemplation, I sort of realized where my identity crisis and the sense of lost come from. All too often I don't think "from", or "for" my self. "Subjectivity" is something that I am not familiar with. I always try to find out how other people think and care, or how the y expect. When it comes to my role in the world, I usually start by thinking "how the world needs me?" instead of "what do I want to do for the world".

I wonder if it is that I have the wrong mode of thinking, or that I choose the wrong profession...? Or is it possible to strike a balance between these two while still being a good designer? What is good design/designer anyway?

I guess the answer still depends on how I think about it.

Peter Doig at Tate Britain

Peter Doig at Tate Britain

http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/

Luke suggested that I go to see Peter Doig at Tate Britain after having our tutorial. He thought I will like it. So I did.

I do like the kind of dramatic atmosphere in his painting of the landscape. I like his heavily worked surface, and his use of colors of which sometimes nostalgic, sometimes romantic, and sometimes mysterious. I found myself easily get immersed in the vast dream-like scene of the wilderness.
I admit I am always easily pleased with the visual quality of an artwork.

To go further, I found the theme of his paintings quite interesting. Rather than applying the found objects directly on the canvas, like many of the post-modern artists did, the images from postcards, newspaper, photos often serve as his source of inspiration, or being translated to become part of his painting. So one can find that his content is close to surrealistic, yet set in a impressionistic way of painting - A bizarre combination! I quite like it, and I think it justifies his atmospheric style of painting.

For me, the more important quality of his works is his employing of nature and human as the main characters, where the contrast between the vastness of landscape and the almost dissolving figures creates a sort of tension, strangeness, and lastly, sublime. It implies an unspoken statement of the artist, which reminds me of always being humble and respectful of the environment and the nature.

Preparation for tutorial 3 - Reading the History cont.

The Great Graphic Designers

Paul Rand

My first encounter with some of the important figures in graphic design history. What stuck me most when reading Paul Rand is his philosophy of design,
"Don't try to be original, just try to be good"; and his his view of aesthetics: " Good Design is Good will(and good will comes from aesthetics)."
These statements are so powerful that they totally resolve my long-term doubt and unease about the values of design. I realize now that "aesthetics" is the "motivation", not the "goal"; and that the responsibility of a designer is to "communicate", rather than being original. Reading Paul Rand has remedy my identity crisis as a designer.

April Greiman
I was firstly drawn by the movie in the "drive-by shooting digital photography exhibition",
(http://mislosangeles.com/drive-by_site/movie.html), which, as always, I am fond of the color, texture, and the kind of spiritual quality presented in the abstract moving images. Then I find out more about her path in graphic design. She is one of the first persons who embraced the possibilities brought by digital technology. Her open mindedness towards the evolution of the world also extended her professional horizon from 2D to the field of time, space. She even developed a new mode of working, which invites collaborators from different disciplines.
Looking at her successful multifaceted career gives me the courage to step out of the territory that I am familiar with. Her conviction in "immersion and integrity" will serve as the guidance for my future endeavor.

Preparation for tutorial 3 - Reading the History

Discoveries from Reading the Last Chapter of History of Visual Communication

As indicated in my essay outline submitted last week, I want to read more about the history of design (in the broad sense) in order to clarify for myself where I stand from the historic perspective, the role and the responsibility of designer at our time. I firstly read an online version of the History of Visual Communication. (http://www.citrinitas.com/history%5Fof%5Fviscom/index.html). And the process has proven to be very fruitful.

(1) Firstly, I would like to say the online reading experience is very helpful for me in the sense that it provides more color images which can be referenced to and enlarged; and it provides direct links to further reference texts, which I found really convenient.

(2) First Things First 1964, 2000 Manifestos
My first encounter with the very important Manifesto of our practice. The manifesto is basically about reflecting upon the priority of our profession, and advocating a mindshift away from product marketing to an exploration of more useful, lasting, and worthwhile causes.
I cannot agree with the statements more, since this is also what I have been exploring - the application of graphic design to fields other than commercial purpose.

Following this idea, I browsed through a website dedicated to social advertising (http://osocio.org/). I think it is absolutely a good example of how our creativity can be put to good causes for the world. However, I sometimes feel quite frustrated on the thought of how little impact we can actually make through advertising or a social campaign.

In developing the spirit of first things first further, I thought of other possible means that graphic design could take to make a positive impact. Education? maybe it is another more sustainable function; How about the spirit of design? By this I mean the way design solve our everyday problem in a creative way. With this thought in mind I found another website "Design your life". (http://www.design-your-life.org/). It is a website by Designers Ellen and Julia Lupton dedicated to collecting ideas about applying design theory and practice to some of the basic problems of everyday living. I thought it is brilliant. And I am expecting to see more examples from our discipline of graphic design, since visual communication is supposed to be most relevant to our everyday life.

Preparation for tutorial 2 - Exhibition Visited

"Breaking the Rules" at British Library
http://www.bl.uk/breakingtherules

This is an exhibition on the printed objects (books, manifestos, flyers, album covers, sound recordings...) of the European Avant Garde 1900-1937.
I am absolutely overwhelmed. Having been really interested in reading the history of art and graphic design ever since I retook my student status, this exhibition presented in front of me every piece I read in the book. So informative the exhibition is, one enthusiastic person like me still got very exhausted in the end. It made me to think about how I can improve this visiting experience from the designer's perspective?


Len Lye - The Color Box - at Tate Modern

Last Saturday I wandered randomly around Tate Modern, without equipping a critical mind - in the intention to identify the kind of "artwork" I am really into - through my instinct. I found myself automatically be drawn to a short film by Len Lye - A Color Box- a 1935 production of abstract animation.
I simply love his use of color, shape, texture, and especially the movement and rhythm that goes perfectly with the Cuban music. I think it becomes quite clear now what are the elements that drives me most.



A bit later, during my research about the history, I saw a short film on Youtube: the history of evil.
I am not sure about the content, but I like very much its simplicity and the funny way of telling the history. Here comes an idea for my final project to be based on the history of graphic design, and by the means of motion graphics...I am quite excited about this idea because it combines my interest in the history of graphic design, my intention to explore new scope of graphic design, and its potential to be applied to the educational/exhibition/administrative purposes.

Preparation for tutorial 1 - Reflection from last tutorial

Since last group tutorial with Luke, I've done a lot of questioning about my final project and the research paper; and inevitably, the most important and fundamental question: the purpose of my study, my future role and my relation to the world. Finding out the meaning and the value of my place in the world is really important to me in deciding which direction I am going to take forward.

Following are the thinking process and research reflections that help me to see more clearly the picture ahead. I am very surprised though, to find how everything that seems unrelated at first place ended up leading me to the same direction.

Reflections from last tutorial

(1) Question about "Identity"
I have lost my interest in the "cultural/national identity" subject since I read an article 'Connecting the Culture(s)' (Loytty Olli (2007), Framework, No.7, June, pp.18-20 ). In this paper, the author examined the concepts of "multiculturalism" and "trans-nationalism" in the context of Finland, - a country that has a similar identity crisis as Taiwan. He referred to the book Imagined Communities (1983), which wrote about nations are made of ideas and aspirations, stories and beliefs; "We do not belong to the same nation because we are alike, but we like to think we are alike because we belong to the same nation."
This revealing statement led me to question the significance of my own identity crisis (yeah... I seemed to have a multi-facet identity crisis in the past few weeks). I wonder does something called "Taiwanese culture" really exist? Is it possible to distinguish Taiwanese culture (and its application in the design scene) from that of China? Or is it really important?

My answer is no. In the era of globalization, particularly, the so called national culture is only one of the many factors that constitute our identity as a designer or an individual. In my case, on reflection, it even has a less important role. Perhaps it would be more worthwhile to examine how the information technology has changed the operation of the world and our design practice...etc. So at this stage I think this is a wrong direction to approach my "real" question about "identity".

(2) Did you work as an Art administrator?
Another thing that struck me was when Luke asked me about my experience as an art administrator. At first, it got me to think about what I can do as a graphic designer to help solve some of the problems facing the art administration practice. In my case, as an administrator in an organization serving particularly the performing art, I thought of "money". The need of fund and the skils for fund raising is always the primary issue. Secondly, the marketing and promotion of art institutions. Thirdly, the documentation of the artworks and the activities.
And then I thought of the complaint that I often to receive - I cannot produce a moving image. Well, in this information driven world, the ability to draw people's attention makes a difference.
So if I am to continue my future career as an art administrator (Am I? that is the real question), maybe the "Moving Image" is a direction I can follow through in terms of professional skill development.

Project 2 - In response

the cover

one of the paragraphs

a part of the final work

study on Kandinsky's composition, rhythm and color

I guess I will finally start blogging now - YES- writing is essential in keeping a reflective practice.

Project 2 is about responding to an image of our choice through the creation of a 500-word text and presenting them using typography.

After the experience of project 1, I put more efforts this time on research instead of the intuitive " A-ha" approach (although some of the research turned out to be a wrong direction); and I am more careful and conscious in directing my findings of the theory to the final design work - both the content & form. It turned out to be very helpful in the design process!

I've also learned more about my attitude towards design throughout project 2, things like:
1. music is a great source of inspiration for me - I learned more about bassa nova this time! And through their music I can feel the optimism of the Brazilian soul! An unexpected gift for me.
2. everyone can write a poem - including me - and I even wrote 500 words!
3. I seem to be making better aesthetic judgment this time - especially when I was under great stress and time pressure!
4. generation of ideas is easy, but it is the selection of them hard; Like what Ben said to me, don't try to create another project for myself! Avoid too many ideas competing with each other is the key.

Finally, I am mostly grateful of Wei-Wen's sharing of her life story with me- the story I have heard many times but still, immensely touching and moving - and not to mention those incredible pictures she took. Like what you said, Wei-Wen, whenever seeing this pictures, we feel immensely blessed.