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.
