1.
The limitations of design are based purely on the necessity to convey a specific message to be vehicle that bring meaning to an audience. Contrary to what the Graphic Design and the Next Big Thing article was imagining about design being judged on the message that it conveys, design is judged by its ability to communicate a certain message clearly and concisely. This limits the design to serving that message with all it's aesthetic and design elements being present for only one purpose: to support the message.
2.
New media, web and flash specifically, provides a new direction in design by allowing a grater capacity for interactivity. Interactivity allows for the design to capitalize on playing with layering and juxtaposition of images and text in real time to portray a deeper meaning to the viewer. Though the Graphic Design and the Next Big Thing reading may be slightly out of date it is on point when it says, "If there were ever an opportunity for graphic design to be more involved with content, the World Wide Web is it," because the web is an evolution of print that gives designers the ability to make the viewer move and interact with content. The ability to interact with content gives the designers the power to compress design into a succinct interface rather than just a layout, a prime example of this can be seen here. This website features a designers portfolio compressed into the space of a browser window with the help of the interaction provided to him by the use of flash.
3.
I don't think so, it seems that people are just trying to integrate different styles in a random fashion, which may or may not yield effective results. The reason that reintegrating different styles is not effective is that they may be being combined without deep enough understanding being present to predict the outcome, one such failed attempt is the recent Comcast commercial. This commercial combines live action with extremely unrealistic isometric projections of a 3d environment, which creates a style so distracting that it takes all of the viewer's attention away from the message. (not to forget the fact that this commercial doesn't remotely resemble any of the previous Comcast commercial styles) So perhaps we need to explore individual fields more, so that more meaningful integration can occur in the future.
4.
The next big thing in design is interface design with a modular approach. Most popular websites like Facebook, Gmail and iGoogle use a modular design, allowing the user to be able to customize what they see in the interface, such as weather forecast module, a calendar module or a module showing the latest videos on Youtube. (which is also customizable since it's designed with a modular approach) This approach to interface design can also be seen in the two most popular operating systems Mac OS and Windows Vista, with their widgets and gadgets, respectively. I think this is the next biggest trend because it allows for customization, which appeals to the consumer.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Blog 6
• In an interconnected world, what are the limitations of design when cultural, political, economic biological and environmental systems are increasingly open?
When reading the article it seemed like it was all about listening to the people ad somehow converting their needs with our design. Though it mostly talks about how difficult that really is and designers usually will ignore the people if it means cutting out a big part of their personal style or their stamp as designers. Another way is how to put our stamp of our work when everything is so increasingly limited by our customers wants and other people's designs around us, we have to advertise to people what we do and how we do it so that they will want us in the future while not seeming to familiar to another designer. He talks about how people will not read large lump sums of text anymore, so we the designers have to figure out how to deliver the information we need to deliver in a smaller bundle while still getting out what we need. As the people become more busy and less focused on design and more on just getting what they need and out, we need to think around the customers.
• Does new media present the “new” direction for design? Describe how new media does or does not present “new “ directions in design and provide an examples (links or screen grabs) to support your assertion.
Certainly new media is a good representation for where design is at right now, people are always thinking of new things and new places for designers to work at or on. I think just like computers are seemingly out of date in a few years, so is a design for certain areas. Every semester of school seems to bring out a new version of design from younger people, it's all you can do to keep up with the changes in media. There is always a newer version of something to design for, like right now everything is all about Green Design and designing everything over again to be more green, all the technology is redesigning and so must we the designers.
• Is it time for designers to reintegrate disparate fields in order to consider new directions in design? Give examples (with links or screen grabs) of some new ways that design might be considered. These do not have to be existing ways, just ways that might yield some new and interesting results.
I think as designers we are always having to reinvent ourselves and our medium so this is a definite yes. The question for everyone will be what is next and how can we change things that have already been done, sure we have tons of new applications coming out to create things we never have before. I think in a way though we are always coping things and simply re-doing everything that has already been done, all we do is add a very minor thing that maybe these past people couldn't do, but after taking art history classes throughout the years you find yourself always relating back to something else.
• What is the next “big thing in design”? Why do you think so and based on what criteria? Provide examples to support your assertion.
I think the next big thing in design is going to be more based on advertising than anything else, with the inventions of DVR's and TiVo things, more and more people are able to avoid advertisements. So designers will now be forced to figure out ways to get people's attention. Another adjustments I think designers will be forced to make is the move from all still and non-static design to very active, everything is being replaced with digital things, inventions of digital paper where ads could be possibly integrated and switches over to electronic billboards(Which we have recently had one added at Colorado and I-25 if you look for it!) instead of paper, where things will be forced to always be moving to keep the viewers attention. We are always searching for more and more ways to reduce how much paper we use and the switch over to everything digital is just something I see that is bound to happen, so designers will need to think of everything as moving and how it can be displayed properly or where for that matter.
When reading the article it seemed like it was all about listening to the people ad somehow converting their needs with our design. Though it mostly talks about how difficult that really is and designers usually will ignore the people if it means cutting out a big part of their personal style or their stamp as designers. Another way is how to put our stamp of our work when everything is so increasingly limited by our customers wants and other people's designs around us, we have to advertise to people what we do and how we do it so that they will want us in the future while not seeming to familiar to another designer. He talks about how people will not read large lump sums of text anymore, so we the designers have to figure out how to deliver the information we need to deliver in a smaller bundle while still getting out what we need. As the people become more busy and less focused on design and more on just getting what they need and out, we need to think around the customers.
• Does new media present the “new” direction for design? Describe how new media does or does not present “new “ directions in design and provide an examples (links or screen grabs) to support your assertion.
Certainly new media is a good representation for where design is at right now, people are always thinking of new things and new places for designers to work at or on. I think just like computers are seemingly out of date in a few years, so is a design for certain areas. Every semester of school seems to bring out a new version of design from younger people, it's all you can do to keep up with the changes in media. There is always a newer version of something to design for, like right now everything is all about Green Design and designing everything over again to be more green, all the technology is redesigning and so must we the designers.
• Is it time for designers to reintegrate disparate fields in order to consider new directions in design? Give examples (with links or screen grabs) of some new ways that design might be considered. These do not have to be existing ways, just ways that might yield some new and interesting results.
I think as designers we are always having to reinvent ourselves and our medium so this is a definite yes. The question for everyone will be what is next and how can we change things that have already been done, sure we have tons of new applications coming out to create things we never have before. I think in a way though we are always coping things and simply re-doing everything that has already been done, all we do is add a very minor thing that maybe these past people couldn't do, but after taking art history classes throughout the years you find yourself always relating back to something else.
• What is the next “big thing in design”? Why do you think so and based on what criteria? Provide examples to support your assertion.
I think the next big thing in design is going to be more based on advertising than anything else, with the inventions of DVR's and TiVo things, more and more people are able to avoid advertisements. So designers will now be forced to figure out ways to get people's attention. Another adjustments I think designers will be forced to make is the move from all still and non-static design to very active, everything is being replaced with digital things, inventions of digital paper where ads could be possibly integrated and switches over to electronic billboards(Which we have recently had one added at Colorado and I-25 if you look for it!) instead of paper, where things will be forced to always be moving to keep the viewers attention. We are always searching for more and more ways to reduce how much paper we use and the switch over to everything digital is just something I see that is bound to happen, so designers will need to think of everything as moving and how it can be displayed properly or where for that matter.
Blog 6
As designers we are communicators and storytellers, as much as we are designers, if not more. In a global world we have to deal with language barriers, technological barriers and cultural barriers. We are still trying to jump the hurdle of slow internet connections, outdated technology that requires the designer to make accommodations to those within this realm. As designers we must ensure that we have the mastery of technical skills, as well as having an understanding of the needs of the business, organizations and individuals. We need to have an awareness of human behavior, an understanding of sociology, psychology, economics, physics, ergonomics, science and many other areas. Design requires acute perception and erudition. These are all limitations of design and good design requires many of these skills/knowledge to succeed.
Over the last few years we have really hit a ‘digital revolution’, with Youtube, Myspace, Facebook, iTunes, Blackberrys, twitter, Skype, Digg and the other forms of new media. Our current culture is based around fast information. We are no longer in a world where people sit and listen to the radio, have family dinners, and read the newspaper. Time is everything now, there is a demand for instant information that can be received and absorbed quickly, ie. Twitter, blackberrys, text messaging, iPhone, etc.
These forms of ‘new media’ have really changed the way design is approached. Much of design has become a template that gives the freedom to individuals to create their own content and share it with others, mostly via the networking sites. New media is pointing us in a direction where content rules over the appearance, that design can be simple and clean, but at the same time functional. We can see this in Myspace, Twitter, iPhones, Skype and Facebook to name a few.
I think the best example of this can be seen with Adobe products over the years, especially with the recent release of CS4. Designers have the ability to fully integrate their designs if it may be photograph, Flash animations, motion graphics, print, web, JavaScript, and the list goes on. Designers can storyboard an idea in Photoshop, pitch the idea to a client, take it from Photoshop, bring it to illustrator, Flash, After Effects, Fireworks, and Dreamweaver. The amalgamation of images and hand illustrations has recently and will continue to play a large role in design, as it offers for a simple, visually strong message.
The next big thing in design is re-branding. With today’s current economic climate and the current brands not being fully realized by the consumers. There is a need to create a discourse between the consumer and the brand. If you take a look at the Big 3 car companies there is this disconnect, this lack of understanding and communication with the consumer. Companies are becoming more efficient and greener in their attempt to drop the glitz and attract the consumer. The Big 3 are restructuring their entire company and are beginning to communicate to the consumer. Many companies are shifting their advertising methods, in order to get fresh and new ideas, by opting for freelancers rather than big agencies. As well as receive new ideas and a fresh perspective, companies are saving money by paying for freelance, instead of the higher cost design firms.
GM
Ford
GM
FORD
Over the last few years we have really hit a ‘digital revolution’, with Youtube, Myspace, Facebook, iTunes, Blackberrys, twitter, Skype, Digg and the other forms of new media. Our current culture is based around fast information. We are no longer in a world where people sit and listen to the radio, have family dinners, and read the newspaper. Time is everything now, there is a demand for instant information that can be received and absorbed quickly, ie. Twitter, blackberrys, text messaging, iPhone, etc.
These forms of ‘new media’ have really changed the way design is approached. Much of design has become a template that gives the freedom to individuals to create their own content and share it with others, mostly via the networking sites. New media is pointing us in a direction where content rules over the appearance, that design can be simple and clean, but at the same time functional. We can see this in Myspace, Twitter, iPhones, Skype and Facebook to name a few.
I think the best example of this can be seen with Adobe products over the years, especially with the recent release of CS4. Designers have the ability to fully integrate their designs if it may be photograph, Flash animations, motion graphics, print, web, JavaScript, and the list goes on. Designers can storyboard an idea in Photoshop, pitch the idea to a client, take it from Photoshop, bring it to illustrator, Flash, After Effects, Fireworks, and Dreamweaver. The amalgamation of images and hand illustrations has recently and will continue to play a large role in design, as it offers for a simple, visually strong message.
The next big thing in design is re-branding. With today’s current economic climate and the current brands not being fully realized by the consumers. There is a need to create a discourse between the consumer and the brand. If you take a look at the Big 3 car companies there is this disconnect, this lack of understanding and communication with the consumer. Companies are becoming more efficient and greener in their attempt to drop the glitz and attract the consumer. The Big 3 are restructuring their entire company and are beginning to communicate to the consumer. Many companies are shifting their advertising methods, in order to get fresh and new ideas, by opting for freelancers rather than big agencies. As well as receive new ideas and a fresh perspective, companies are saving money by paying for freelance, instead of the higher cost design firms.
GM
Ford
GM
FORD
Monday, March 30, 2009
Blog #6
• In an interconnected world, what are the limitations of design when cultural, political, economic biological and environmental systems are increasingly open?
Well, it seems more so than not the limitations have to do with that of getting across to the end user. As the reading stated is it the fault of the designer or the reader or does it even matter when coming to terms if that user gets "it". I think the biggest limitation is the same one no matter what medium you would work with whether it be web, print, video, that the limitation comes to finding the audience of which your work is catered around, in order to communicate to them. Otherwise if the designer tries to cater to the larger scale in which on the web (where you can virtually find anything, ranging from a wide array of cultural, political, etc systems) I believe they won't communicate effectively and will limit themselves from anything but a bland design.
• Does new media present the “new” direction for design? Describe how new media does or does not present “new “ directions in design and provide an examples (links or screen grabs) to support your assertion.
I don't know if new media really puts a "new" direction on deign but it just changes the playing field a bit. I think that in actual design we still do crave a lot of the older ideals we have with design on how things should look and feel, although with the web we put more of a spin on it through connectivity and interaction. I think for designers a lot of the base principles of design are still being used although, we have things that aren't static and can interact with the user. I think we still try to adhere to the grid because it is a nice way to organize our information and an easier way to navigate. Although on top of that I believe we are at a point in which we are trying to capture the user's attention especially since we have come to a point of such media bombardment, where if we don't come up with something that really captures the user it is tossed aside from the rest of the media. I think a good example of this is http://www.minusthebear.com/index2.html. This site utilizes a very simple design that has a grid, structure, although puts a nice twist to the navigation bar that I haven't seen used before. I think it captures the user with something that is different but doesn't take away from the actual navigation or the bands site.
• Is it time for designers to reintegrate disparate fields in order to consider new directions in design? Give examples (with links or screen grabs) of some new ways that design might be considered. These do not have to be existing ways, just ways that might yield some new and interesting results.
I think for the most part that this has happened. I think for the most part a lot of new media tries to imitate print and many other mediums. Just like all other design websites use hierarchy, grid, structure such with print but at the same way I think a lot of the design used is trying to imitate art in many ways and forms.
• What is the next “big thing in design”? Why do you think so and based on what criteria? Provide examples to support your assertion.
To be honest, I have no freakin clue. As we are going right now technology is developing much faster than most of us can keep up with, and we are coming to such a point of instant gradification with our society that I think it will come across to something of that sort. I think we'll start seeing a lot more designers self-taught, which might bring some more ideas from other fields, although I think the new big thing in design will come from some sort of new medium, rather than web, or video. As Avery and Jeff said it may come from a truer 3D, as it seems like we are working more towards that but I think as we go we are trying to make things come faster.
• In an interconnected world, what are the limitations of design when cultural, political, economic biological and environmental systems are increasingly open?
Based on the reading, the limitations of design have to do with the ability of the designer to communicate an increasing amount of information with meanings on an increasing number of levels while avoiding unnecessary aspects of personal style which may obscure the message(s). Designers will have to determine the amount of information that is necessary to establish meaning, while minding the reader's willingness (or lack of) to make any special attempts to decipher meaning.
• Does new media present the “new” direction for design? Describe how new media does or does not present “new “ directions in design and provide an examples (links or screen grabs) to support your assertion.
I think new media definitely presents a new direction for design. In a discussion between Bruce Nussbaum and Industrial Designers Society of America executive director Frank Tyneski, they talk about how "everything" is converging on "variations of a rectangle", meaning screen based media. Tyneski talks about how designers now attempt to affect the users' experiences on deeper and more meaningful levels than ever before. They discuss the recent evolution of design education, which is producing designers who devote far more time to researching and problem solving their client's unique position.
http://feedroom.businessweek.com/index.jsp?fr_story=cf5ca714c35c3d963987713f02116b283610d593
• Is it time for designers to reintegrate disparate fields in order to consider new directions in design? Give examples (with links or screen grabs) of some new ways that design might be considered. These do not have to be existing ways, just ways that might yield some new and interesting results.
I think design should and to an extent already has begun to appropriate from different forms, media, styles, etc. Post-modern art and design borrow heavily from countless other disciplines, adding and changing the meaning of the referenced works. The ability of the reader/decipherer of the message to recognize these references serves as a sort of intellectual reward for the viewer.
• What is the next “big thing in design”? Why do you think so and based on what criteria? Provide examples to support your assertion.
I don't know what the next big thing in design is, i'm not psychic. I think technology is developing at an unprecedented rate and the future of design and technology are somewhat interconnected. An example is nanotechnology. The link below discusses how "nanotechnology “is likely to change the way almost everything - from vaccines to computers to automobile tires to objects not yet imagined - is designed and made." For now I believe the future is screen based media and the designer's ability to communicate visual messages "in the briefest, simplest, most urgent form."
http://www.nsti.org/Nanotech2006/showabstract.html?absno=1094
Based on the reading, the limitations of design have to do with the ability of the designer to communicate an increasing amount of information with meanings on an increasing number of levels while avoiding unnecessary aspects of personal style which may obscure the message(s). Designers will have to determine the amount of information that is necessary to establish meaning, while minding the reader's willingness (or lack of) to make any special attempts to decipher meaning.
• Does new media present the “new” direction for design? Describe how new media does or does not present “new “ directions in design and provide an examples (links or screen grabs) to support your assertion.
I think new media definitely presents a new direction for design. In a discussion between Bruce Nussbaum and Industrial Designers Society of America executive director Frank Tyneski, they talk about how "everything" is converging on "variations of a rectangle", meaning screen based media. Tyneski talks about how designers now attempt to affect the users' experiences on deeper and more meaningful levels than ever before. They discuss the recent evolution of design education, which is producing designers who devote far more time to researching and problem solving their client's unique position.
http://feedroom.businessweek.com/index.jsp?fr_story=cf5ca714c35c3d963987713f02116b283610d593
• Is it time for designers to reintegrate disparate fields in order to consider new directions in design? Give examples (with links or screen grabs) of some new ways that design might be considered. These do not have to be existing ways, just ways that might yield some new and interesting results.
I think design should and to an extent already has begun to appropriate from different forms, media, styles, etc. Post-modern art and design borrow heavily from countless other disciplines, adding and changing the meaning of the referenced works. The ability of the reader/decipherer of the message to recognize these references serves as a sort of intellectual reward for the viewer.
• What is the next “big thing in design”? Why do you think so and based on what criteria? Provide examples to support your assertion.
I don't know what the next big thing in design is, i'm not psychic. I think technology is developing at an unprecedented rate and the future of design and technology are somewhat interconnected. An example is nanotechnology. The link below discusses how "nanotechnology “is likely to change the way almost everything - from vaccines to computers to automobile tires to objects not yet imagined - is designed and made." For now I believe the future is screen based media and the designer's ability to communicate visual messages "in the briefest, simplest, most urgent form."
http://www.nsti.org/Nanotech2006/showabstract.html?absno=1094
Friday, March 27, 2009
• In an interconnected world, what are the limitations of design when cultural, political, economic biological and environmental systems are increasingly open? This is a tricky question. Things get interpreted differently depending on the culture that surrounds you. What is politically correct in one part of the world could have the complete opeset reaction on the other side of the world. There are so many duiffrent cultures and diffrent poltecal points of view that there are a lot of limtations. As designers I feel that it is our responsibility to try and understand as many different cultures as possible so when we do design it can relate to the entire world not just a section of it. That way there is very little limitations to what we design when our designs can relate to everyone.
• Does new media present the “new” direction for design? Describe how new media does or does not present “new “ directions in design and provide an examples (links or screen grabs) to support your assertion. The answer lies within the internet and our cultures desire for fresh entertainment! Networking and video-sharing websites are the biggest thing happening within the web. These internet phenomenons have bet set-up to target consumer groups such as students and other young adults. Networking website like Myspace and Facebook have caught people’s attention day after day. The world wide web presents not only new channels to old media, but because it changes the controls held over distribution for most traditional media. I do not feel these are new forms of media just a new reworked pakage for a older form of media. And lastly media is no longer onesided. Now any yahoo can add his own opinon to pretty much any thing via Blogs. the perfect exampl is what we are all posting on now.
• Is it time for designers to reintegrate disparate fields in order to consider new directions in design? Give examples (with links or screen grabs) of some new ways that design might be considered. These do not have to be existing ways, just ways that might yield some new and interesting results.
I think as designers we need to have design containing or made up of fundamentally different and often incongruous elements. that is what keeps things fresh and new. For the most part everey thing has been done. Bu that is not saying that the same thing cant be done agaain with a new twist. The mojority of ideas are the same but as designers it is our job to add that twist with what ever new tools we have at our disposole. with such tools as phtoshop illastrater flash etc.
• What is the next “big thing in design”? Why do you think so and based on what criteria? Provide examples to support your assertion. As Averey stated I think the next big thin will be the world of 3D. I feel that media shod feel more interactive then it has been in the past. Gaining the feeling of having media suround you would give art and media a diffrent feel. A company I feel that is trail blazing this idea is called real D. "The impact of digital 3D on today's moviemaking has been compared to the introduction of color film when there was only black and white. To make this a reality, RealD pioneered the first wide commercial deployment of stereoscopic projection systems for digital cinema and works with partners worldwide to create the most powerful 3D experience audiences have ever seen." http://www.reald.com/
• Does new media present the “new” direction for design? Describe how new media does or does not present “new “ directions in design and provide an examples (links or screen grabs) to support your assertion. The answer lies within the internet and our cultures desire for fresh entertainment! Networking and video-sharing websites are the biggest thing happening within the web. These internet phenomenons have bet set-up to target consumer groups such as students and other young adults. Networking website like Myspace and Facebook have caught people’s attention day after day. The world wide web presents not only new channels to old media, but because it changes the controls held over distribution for most traditional media. I do not feel these are new forms of media just a new reworked pakage for a older form of media. And lastly media is no longer onesided. Now any yahoo can add his own opinon to pretty much any thing via Blogs. the perfect exampl is what we are all posting on now.
• Is it time for designers to reintegrate disparate fields in order to consider new directions in design? Give examples (with links or screen grabs) of some new ways that design might be considered. These do not have to be existing ways, just ways that might yield some new and interesting results.
I think as designers we need to have design containing or made up of fundamentally different and often incongruous elements. that is what keeps things fresh and new. For the most part everey thing has been done. Bu that is not saying that the same thing cant be done agaain with a new twist. The mojority of ideas are the same but as designers it is our job to add that twist with what ever new tools we have at our disposole. with such tools as phtoshop illastrater flash etc.
• What is the next “big thing in design”? Why do you think so and based on what criteria? Provide examples to support your assertion. As Averey stated I think the next big thin will be the world of 3D. I feel that media shod feel more interactive then it has been in the past. Gaining the feeling of having media suround you would give art and media a diffrent feel. A company I feel that is trail blazing this idea is called real D. "The impact of digital 3D on today's moviemaking has been compared to the introduction of color film when there was only black and white. To make this a reality, RealD pioneered the first wide commercial deployment of stereoscopic projection systems for digital cinema and works with partners worldwide to create the most powerful 3D experience audiences have ever seen." http://www.reald.com/
Blog #6
• In an interconnected world, what are the limitations of design when cultural, political, economic biological and environmental systems are increasingly open?
In an interconnected world, one must take into account the difference of cultures and languages when thinking about design. A symbol in one culture may not mean the same thing in another and one should design accordingly. However, because of the increase of sharing and interconnectivity, more things are becoming common between cultures, including structure and symbolism. I believe that with this increasing openness there are fewer limitations of design.
• Does new media present the “new” direction for design? Describe how new media does or does not present “new “ directions in design and provide an examples (links or screen grabs) to support your assertion.
New media definitely presents the “new” direction for design. As things become faster and more immediate, the absorption of content and visuals must be faster and “bite-sized” as well. Our society has become one of ADD, and new media must account for that. For example, Twitter (www.twitter.com) limits the user to only 140 characters to say what’s on his/her mind. Another example of new media conforming to our rapid modern lifestyle is the “thumbnail” website design as seen on www.notcot.org:
This common blog layout is appealing to the modern Internet user because it allows one to quickly sift through what may be uninteresting and go straight for what catches his/her eye.
• Is it time for designers to reintegrate disparate fields in order to consider new directions in design? Give examples (with links or screen grabs) of some new ways that design might be considered. These do not have to be existing ways, just ways that might yield some new and interesting results.
I believe this has already happened. Designers have had to conform to the established structure of the internet and new media foundations, whilst finding ways to push the envelope with Flash, CSS, etc. (for example, this Flash site: http://studio.barliesque.com/). Going from print to code is quite a jump, but with the development of artists’ tools such as the Adobe Suite, it has become easier. Perhaps the next step in integration would be to explore the 3D realm (which has already been undertaken… for an example, visit here: http://www.digitalmagic.com.hk/images/3d_Anaglyph/004.jpg ).
• What is the next “big thing in design”? Why do you think so and based on what criteria? Provide examples to support your assertion.
I honestly believe that the “next big thing” is the 3D TV technology (not stereoscopic, but rather 3D without glasses: http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/mitsubishi-shows-off-3d-tv-technology-no-glasses-needed/ ). Designing for 3D is quite different than designing in 2D as one must take into account the z-axis, or 3rd dimension. I think this technology could unlock potential in art that hasn’t been seen before, such as the feeling of walking through a painting or having something be interactive to movement and touch. Since we live in a 3D world, 3D art will become more tangible and perhaps affect the viewer in a way that art hasn’t been able to before.
In an interconnected world, one must take into account the difference of cultures and languages when thinking about design. A symbol in one culture may not mean the same thing in another and one should design accordingly. However, because of the increase of sharing and interconnectivity, more things are becoming common between cultures, including structure and symbolism. I believe that with this increasing openness there are fewer limitations of design.
• Does new media present the “new” direction for design? Describe how new media does or does not present “new “ directions in design and provide an examples (links or screen grabs) to support your assertion.
New media definitely presents the “new” direction for design. As things become faster and more immediate, the absorption of content and visuals must be faster and “bite-sized” as well. Our society has become one of ADD, and new media must account for that. For example, Twitter (www.twitter.com) limits the user to only 140 characters to say what’s on his/her mind. Another example of new media conforming to our rapid modern lifestyle is the “thumbnail” website design as seen on www.notcot.org:
This common blog layout is appealing to the modern Internet user because it allows one to quickly sift through what may be uninteresting and go straight for what catches his/her eye.
• Is it time for designers to reintegrate disparate fields in order to consider new directions in design? Give examples (with links or screen grabs) of some new ways that design might be considered. These do not have to be existing ways, just ways that might yield some new and interesting results.
I believe this has already happened. Designers have had to conform to the established structure of the internet and new media foundations, whilst finding ways to push the envelope with Flash, CSS, etc. (for example, this Flash site: http://studio.barliesque.com/). Going from print to code is quite a jump, but with the development of artists’ tools such as the Adobe Suite, it has become easier. Perhaps the next step in integration would be to explore the 3D realm (which has already been undertaken… for an example, visit here: http://www.digitalmagic.com.hk/images/3d_Anaglyph/004.jpg ).
• What is the next “big thing in design”? Why do you think so and based on what criteria? Provide examples to support your assertion.
I honestly believe that the “next big thing” is the 3D TV technology (not stereoscopic, but rather 3D without glasses: http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/mitsubishi-shows-off-3d-tv-technology-no-glasses-needed/ ). Designing for 3D is quite different than designing in 2D as one must take into account the z-axis, or 3rd dimension. I think this technology could unlock potential in art that hasn’t been seen before, such as the feeling of walking through a painting or having something be interactive to movement and touch. Since we live in a 3D world, 3D art will become more tangible and perhaps affect the viewer in a way that art hasn’t been able to before.
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