Tuesday, April 5, 2011

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First off, let me start by acknowledging the fact that, yes, I am the person who posts at crazy early in the morning- and no, it's not because I just realized I needed to post before class starts in a couple hours. Believe it or not, I'm a morning person who enjoys being awake while all of the sane people sleep. Before I really start my post, I want to recommend everyone try getting up before sunrise sometime (especially on weekends). I find this one of the rare occasions where I can actually find peace in the hustle and bustle of a big city. Being outside at this time of day really helps me clear my mind, whether it's a bike ride or a walk around the block, I find it a really great exercise to clear my mind and help me focus my attention.


Now then, let's get down to business. I had an interesting experience this past week at work. Two of my co-workers returned from spring break trips (to Paris and Germany respectively) and both came back with chocolates to share with the office. Needless to say, I indulged and consumed more calories than I'd like to admit. While I was blown away with the taste of each, I was equally impressed with their packaging, especially the German chocolates (see photos). When I mentioned this to my co-workers they each looked at me and laughed at my nerdiness, but it really got me thinking about design and its role internationally. If you compare this package design to an American chocolate - say See's Candy, there's no comparison.


Good design is something that permeates all facets of culture in many other countries. I think this speaks volumes about the design culture in these areas; where the public (including non-designers) doesn't just expect good design-they demand it. I wish this were the case here in the States, but unfortunately, in my opinion, we produce a lot of mediocre design...


18 comments:

  1. John! I totally agree! I LOVE the design that goes into all of those chocolates. My mom works at NWU and gets chocolates from professors that travel a lot. They always have the coolest shapes and pictures on the packaging and the morsels themselves.

    On a side note... I too love the benefits of waking up early!

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  2. I agree with your point about America producing a lot of mediocre design, but I also wonder to what degree that comes from our country's proclivity towards excess and from that so much saturation in advertising. I can't say that other countries are as saturated, but maybe that is why we may produce some great stuff, but also I think it gets buries. Also, and again I cannot say of other countries, but America seems not only lacking in appreciation of art, but seems to go to intentional lengths to squash artistic effort and appreciation. NEED IT, NEED IT NOW, is the attitude and that is not a great environment to create great stuff. Also, getting stuff on the cheap doesn’t help which is why non-designers are getting work that comes off as you say: Mediocre or worse. I also think we have taken great designs and reworked them for purposes of updating and in the process bastardizing the original design and intent, re: ATT, UPS, and yes, I will go there, Starbucks. My own experiences in the printing industry made me realize how our country is so geared to getting it down and NOW rather than placing quality first. I can say it burned me out after a short bit to feel like I could take no pride in my work because of the speed at which I was forced to produce.

    And count me in for the Appreciator’s of an Early Day club.

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  3. German design is very intriguing, they certainly have a very different style than ours but I would not say that ours is mediocre!

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  4. I wish I could see your photos! Gotta love delicious design though.

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  6. I too can not see your photos, but I definitely agree that design in other countries compared to the U.S. is stronger and ours is just mediocre. Maybe the standards of the U.S for design need to be raised about what we produce. Like Tony said, everything always has to be done FAST and NOW in the U.S. which in turn doesn't produce nice work it just looks rushed.

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  7. I have to agree with the argument that design in other countries is stronger than American design. One example that pops to mind is the creation of the vortex Miller Lite bottle. Only America would create a design so you could chug a beer in a bottle faster. Goes back to Tony's comment of our "NEED IT, NEED IT NOW" mindset.

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  8. I do feel that a lot of design work internationally always seems to be amazing and it seems like they are always on their game, making work that is just always seems to be a little better than ours, but then again the bad work would never make it America. I feel like we do have a lot of mediocre design, but then who says that other countries don't either. Were never going to see the ok looking posters from Sweden or the ehhhh ads from Germany because no one wants to look at that. I think that we seem have mediocre design because have more access to our own designs in America and we see much more ok work than great work, but internationally speaking I'm sure it feels the same.

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  9. I completely agree with Sheri about the prevalence of "great" design from Europe and "mediocre" design here in America. We are always looking at older designers who started something new (Saul Bass, etc.) but we don't look at the designers who were also working at that time, not making new, exciting, great design. There will always be some great design and some mediocre design, we just have to choose to surround ourselves with the great design and learn from the mistakes of mediocre design!

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  10. I think what helps make a design exciting is when it has a sense of timelessness and universality.

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  11. I kind of agree with Sheri's comment about how we, as Americans, aren't going to see the mediocre stuff from other countries because they're not going to showcased in places that we get easy access too. (Maybe the closest thing is the Photoshop Disasters site.) At the same time, I see packaging and design from places like Japan while walking the Mitsuwa Marketplace and I think to myself: "Where's the American equivalent of this awesomeness?!"

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  12. I think that we should look at the design of other countries because everyone looks at the world differently. But whether or not we think that American design is mediocre, shouldn't we try to expand our experiences and art work to make it better?

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  13. I think international product design is fascinating.
    We may feel that design in the US is mediocre, because we have been surrounded by it everyday. But imagine if we grew up in another country such as Germany. We come to the United States for the first time and see US design, we may think design back in Germany is mediocre, or maybe even over the top. Many people overlook the package design of foods, because most of us only care about what is in the wrapper. Not to mention the United States has a high obesity rate. So if all we think about is what is under the wrapper, then maybe that is why package design for food is mediocre.

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  14. When I went over to Europe I found myself admiring all types of design. I think Keith has a good point, we do overlook our package design because we see it everyday.

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  15. I'm sure all the posh European nations have as much crap design as we do - it just doesn't make it overseas.

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  16. It seems that there are certain brands that tweak their logos pretty frequently and I personally feel that due to the overwhelming amount of products that circulate the shelves currently in stores it takes a really big change or something super crisp to catch my attention.

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  17. wish I could see the images, I think like what James said is that European design has a mastery in creating design that is timeless. There is more of a sense of tradition and the basics in their culture, I don't think extends as much to the US. Reminds me of Italian pattern and fabric design, the mills that are still in existence with the same processes.

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  18. I love the German chocolate packaging I too have been to Germany and they just do an amazing job with packaging in general it has this specific feeling that comes with it.

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