Sorry for the delay you guys. Ben Van Dyke really got me to think about my future role in Design. Of course we all love to use our creativity! Of course we are passionate about what we do! But how you choose to use it makes all the difference. How do we make it affective?! When people view my work, I’d like for them to see me in it as well. One thing design does for sure is allows the viewer to explore the artist’s personality without being actually conscious that they are doing so. In so many instances you’ll find someone who can care less who made the piece. You won’t believe how many times you will hear, “It looks good, print it.” All through my career I have pushed to be different, unique, to stand out from the crowd without the consideration that it may not workout that way beyond the classroom. Fall back into the crowd and excel? Doable…Yes. Desirable, ehh. Van Dyke suggests that “Originality = Failure”…one of the strongest statements I have ever heard. I never considered that success would not be in the equation, and if it isn’t then why do we work so hard to be original! I honestly believe that becoming more neutral is definitely going to take time, effort, and training as well; not an easy task. “Take no risks, and do well.”—Ben Van Dyke. Be the best at what everyone is doing. Negotiation into the “middle” is definitely an option.
But still, A little bit of me will still be there…
I agree that van dyke did make some interesting points, however I feel that failure isn't really all bad in some aspects. Sometimes life will deal you an unfavorable hand. Perhaps it's a bit more reasonable to focus energy on making a strong recovery after a failed attempt than constantly fearing failure and actually manifesting those actions into reality.
ReplyDeleteI feel the Van Dyke made some pretty strong comments, that hit us in a strong way. We should not panic though, like Carly said we need to learn and rise from our failed attempts. I came across a website that reminded me of Van Dyke's friend that he spoke about, which he stated was a failure, but an amazing designer. Here is the website...
ReplyDeletehttp://chuckconnelly.com/artoffailure.php
And then there should be a video clip that you can click and watch that is a four min. long.
I understand what you mean. I feel like "what's the point then?" if being original means you will not succeed. After all, that's why I got into art and design in the first place. I wanted a job that would not restrain my creativity yet would still be accepted by others and appreciated. For me it's not so much for the money, because I could have any job to support myself. For me it's about being appreciated, and I think the only way for me to that is to be original. It's all about taking chances, and I believe being unique and confident is worth the risk. After all, the story Van Dyke told is just one person and he doesn't necessarily represent every once-successful person out there.
ReplyDeleteAs I posted, I struggle with this sense of needing to original, but I suppose it can lie in your priorities. I wouldn't say originality=poverty, but in the end, I guess I just fall back on what Paul Rand said: "Don’t try to be original. Just try to be good."
ReplyDeleteI also thought that Van Dyke brought up a lot of interesting points in his lecture, especially his points about originality. I feel as that if you continue to push your art in the direction you want it to be and that you think represents you and your style, then you will be original by default. I agree with Tony in that you shouldn't work so hard to try to be original and stand out, you should work hard to just be you and you will automatically stand out.
ReplyDeleteI worry about originality and identity in my designs a lot too, but almost in the opposite way you're describing. Honestly, I don't feel I have an aesthetic I can claim as my own at all. I try a different look and a different type of craft approach every time I make a piece - naturally, success between pieces varies. I have other peoples' styles that I like, but I don't want to rip off a designer's career to validate my own. The difference between "inspiration" and "plagiarism" is murky to me.
ReplyDeleteI loved at the beginning of our class, the first day, Dolores told us to do our own work on the side to keep our creative juices flowing. Personally I'm oddly comfortable creating a barrier between my "original" work (if there is anything such as that) and my corporate work...Once in a while they will probably merge, but I am kind of okay if they do not.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't there for the lecture (I crashed during a nap after my first class...Shanna can probably testify that I was napping during history of graphic design that day), but regarding the topic of failure...I'm in the middle of reading The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle, and one of the things he says that separates really talented people from the not-as-talented is "deep practice", which is basically actively and constantly failing at something in order to perfect being good at it. This seems like a really obvious thing to say, but a lot of people aren't taught how to effectively practice, or they don't have the willingness to fail in order to become great. As someone earlier said, I think it's okay to strive for originality and fail at it as long as you can find something to learn from it, and you continue working at whatever it is you want to be good at.
ReplyDeleteI find myself panicking at the thought of graduation but listening to Ben made me feel more at ease. I guess what I am afraid of is failing and being denied but through our failures is what makes us stronger. I have always wanted to be original too but I like what Tony said "Don't try to be original, just try to be good."
ReplyDeleteI was also very taken aback by Van Dykes idea about originality and failure, but I can say I agree with him, to the extent of being true in the field of design. Our job isn't to be unique and stand out with our work it is, and I hate to say this, to conform with the company and client's needs as producers and consumers. My own personal opinion is thats the point where design and art meet. Design isn't about being original, but I would say art is. You have to be original in the art world to stand out, design, as someone posted earlier is sort of suppose to be invisible.
ReplyDeleteI checked out Brian Schorn's work (the artist that ended up working in Walmart) and it is obvious that he is a very creative man, and well established on a personal level of knowledge in the art world. Beside being totally creative, his work is sort of confusing. I would say maybe he is ahead of his time, and not a failure because it seems like he is doing what he loves and sticking to principles of not giving into what society or the corporations want him to do. Being a man of principle and sticking to it makes him not a failure to me.
I think Ben Van Dyke made really great points about originality meaning you might be asking for failure to come your way but I don't think it necessarily needs to be a choice of original or not original at all. I think that there can be a healthy balance between the two. In my experience when I am asked to create something that I don't like for a client or something that is completely unoriginal I end up making something that I do like--something coming straight from my soul and is completely original. Just because in order to make money as a designer you may have to make unoriginal pieces of work that you don't like, doesn't mean you cannot make work that is free from the constraints of designing for a client. I understand that some people choose to be completely original and refuse to do otherwise and may end up working at places like Walmart, like Ben's friend, but as most of us don't want to do this I don't think there is a problem with finding a balance between the two.
ReplyDeleteLike Julie said, balance is key. And I love that Paul Rand quote that Tony put in, "Don't try to be original, just try to be good." Who knows, maybe once in a while those two will intersect. I don't think originality has to mean failure as long as you're not limiting yourself solely to originality.
ReplyDelete"Be the best at what everyone is doing" can work, but it seems like a lot of who we study are artists who didn't do what everyone else was doing. So that has merit too, it just depends on what your ultimate goal might be.
ReplyDeleteAs everyone has already requoted what Tony said about "Don't try to be original, just try to be good" definitely applies to Design. I feel that we, as artists, have the responsibility to portray a message which needs to be accessible to the audience. So if it is too original in which only you understand, then it does not get its point across. I like how Shanna said that she tries to have a barrier between her "corporate" work and her personal work. I feel that most of us should def. try that approach (if not already).
ReplyDeleteI think you're right - the trick is putting just enough "different" that it still has a twist, but isn't totally alienating in how avant garde it is.
ReplyDeletehis presentation just further cemented my philosophy in design. i agree with him and have always thought that to be true.
ReplyDeleteI agree, like others, with the Paul Rand quote- this is such a difficult topic, I think that in a lot of industries this is "the" question right now, such as in the film industry. What happens when we run out of those idea or start recycling them? Or is it a matter of society needing to start accepting more in the realm of experimental art we have yet to see or is not yet deemed as "art," which has happened in history before?
ReplyDeleteGraduation is SOON and he made some really good points but made me panic at something I though I had under control a job and in someways I thank him but in others I'm terrified.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate Ben's insight, but find it troubling because I feel like we all have been taught the opposite throughout our time in school.
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