Things Young Designers Need to Know..

It's that time of the year again, "Dead Week." The time design students dread as we spend an even more insane amount of time pulling late nights in studio in preparation for final project deadlines. During one of my many breaks of procrastination, I came across an article on How Design's site, "29 Things Young Designers Need to Know;" I selected a few points that I felt were relevant to us we're preparing to enter the real world.

1. SWEAT THE DETAILS

You are a professional communicator; act like one. Carefully edit everything you publish: résumés, social media, e-mail, blog posts, letters, text messages, everything.

2. PLAY NICE
People you work with and for will make your blood boil from time to time. Whenever possible, be a pro and take the high road. Avoid burning bridges, as people change jobs more often than they did a generation ago. Your paths may cross again in a much different situation, and having a good working history together will make rehiring you easy. 

3. BE YOURSELF                                                                                                                                                                     Be confident in yourself as an author, designer, photographer, creative. Don’t work in a particular personal style. Rather, develop a personal approach to your creative work.

Your commissioned work should never be about you, but it can certainly reveal your hand as the designer. As your work becomes more well-known, you will get hired for exactly that. For your personal work, don’t be afraid to tell your story. No one else is going to do it for you.

4. COLLECT AND SHARE EVERYTHING
Find and save relevant and interesting things and pass them along to your friends, co-workers, followers and clients. Use the web and social media to share your own photos and work, as well as the work of others you find engaging. Be funny, serious, irreverent, businesslike, self-promotional, curatorial, whatever—just be yourself. For everyday inspiration, surround your workplace with the design ephemera you collect.

5. BUILD YOUR BOOK
One piece of advice I give young designers looking to fill out their portfolios is to find the best local arts organization with the worst visual brand identity or website and make a trade. They get some great design work, and you get creative control and real-world projects in your book that other potential clients will recognize.

6. CLEAN UP YOUR ACT
Manage your online profiles carefully and be sure to keep all your listings accurate, consistent and (mostly) professional. You can count on co-workers, potential employers and clients to Google you, so make sure what they find won’t be too incriminating and sink your chances for that new job or project. Employers read social media posts, too—especially ones that include their proper names—so use common sense.

7. RESEARCH (AND DESTROY)
You’ll never know as much about your clients’ businesses as they do, but part of our job as designers is to try. Learn as much as you possibly can at the inception of a project about your client’s business space, their goals, their competition and their history. Dedicate a half- or full-day download session, ask a lot of questions, and then shut up and listen.

8. OBSERVE TRENDS (THEN AVOID THEM)
Keep current on the state of our industry by reading books, magazines and blogs, and attending conferences. RSS feeds will allow you to quickly skim design- and culture-related content. Avoid design annuals as a source of inspiration, as they’re a record of what’s already been done. Study the work of others to understand it, not to duplicate it. 

9. DEFEND YOURSELF                                                                              One of the biggest benefits of a formal design education is the lessons learned in the crit room defending your work in front of your instructor and peers. If you can articulate your ideas and design process in that hostile environment, learning to do the same in client meetings usually comes easy.

10. REJECT PERSONAL STYLE
Picasso had his Blue and Rose Periods, Georgia O’Keeffe obsessed over flowers and animal bones. The difference between them and you? They were artists solving their own personal communication problems. We are designers, primarily tasked with solving the communication problems of others. Using one singular style or direction for multiple clients or projects will rarely be successful and, in retrospect, will look one-dimensional.

11. BECOME INDISPENSABLE
What are you really good at? Contrast that to the skill sets that could help you advance at the workplace. Could your studio benefit from having an in-house photographer, web programmer, video editor or screen printer? Follow your bliss and get the additional training you need to expand your talents and, ultimately, your role at work. 

12. BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
Build personal relationships with everyone you work with, not just your clients. Get to know your delivery people, paper merchants, printer reps, local politicians and business leaders. Attend Chamber of Commerce events, network and meet people.

13. SEEK CRITICISM, ACCEPT PRAISE
As a designer, listening to your ideas being questioned and your hard work being ripped apart isn’t usually very pleasant. However painful, though, constructive criticism of your design work is the most effective way to grow as a visual communicator. Remember this when you leave the crit rooms of design school for the boardrooms of the corporate world. Build a network of friends, co-workers and mentors you can use to collect feedback on your work.

14. VALUE YOUR WORK
A common mistake designers make early in their careers is undervaluing their work in the marketplace.

15. MAKE MISTAKES
Take a measured break from your comfort zone and experiment with an approach you’ve never tried before. 

16. KEEP A SKETCHBOOK
Ideas tend to arrive at the strangest times, and being able to record them on the spot will help you remember them later. When you fill a book, date, number and shelve it. Soon your bookcase will be a library of your best thoughts and ideas.

17. RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT
Make the everyday effort to create a positive environmental impact by integrating sustainable alternatives in your work. Start small by identifying the things you can do in your studio to save energy and resources, and build from there.

18. TEACH OTHERS
Regardless of your experience, get involved with mentoring younger designers—or students who may be interested in design as a potential career path. You’ll find the experience rewarding for everyone involved.

With that, I wish you all the best in this next chapter of our lives!

Milan Preview 2015: Products we LOVE

The industry's hottest furniture event is finally here! Milan holds the annual Salone Internazionale del Mobile to show off the best of all products. The show for 2015 runs April 14-19, and will include the 28th edition of Euroluce, the biennial exhibition devoted to the world of lighting. Here are some of our favorite products that will be launched throughout the year.


1. Arik Levy's split collection for TON (Available in gradient coloring)




2. Wrap Sofa designed by Hiroomi Tahara. The sofa has a layer of rattan that curves over its base to drop down to a thick cushion.





3. Belleville collection for Vitra (also includes an armchair and two tables)




4. Melting Pot light (available as pendant or wall-mounted)


 

Tips for Getting Noticed When Applying for Jobs

As we are all preparing to graduate, many of us are in the process of applying for jobs. This process can be frustrating and time consuming, but there are certain things you can do to help you stand out more to companies. I am no pro at this, but in my search here are a few things I have found to be particularly helpful:


1. Reach out to a Person - Many large companies, and even some small ones, often times require you 
    to submit your application online. However, they receive massive amounts of applicants and often
    don't even look through everyone. When you take the time to reach out to someone in the company
    personally it shows real interest and can often times get your stuff to the right people for
    consideration.


2. Follow Up - Professionals receive a ridiculous amount of e-mails on a daily basis, so if they don't
    answer you right away, don't get discouraged. Give them a week or two and then follow up as a
    reminder; sometimes they just forget to respond and your follow up shows initiation.


3.Use Social Media to Your Advantage - Social media can be both a blessing and a curse when it
   comes to applying for jobs, so be careful and make the most out of it. LinkedIn is a great tool to use
   when you are trying to get noticed by a company. Professionals can see when you view their
   profile, so to initiate a conversation or to follow up with an individual view their profile and send
   them a personal message when you ask to connect with them. This shows interest and will often
   times yield a response.


Good luck everyone, I am confident that everyone will find something great!

5 Tips to Boost Creativity

In our field, creativity is essential to cohesive and innovative design solutions. Therefore, it is important to maintain and protect our ability to be creative. If we don't, we'll find ourselves in a slump or simply dissatisfied with our designs. Often in school we are asked to focus on many other tasks simultaneously and we can become tired and we wear thin. So I thought I'd share some tips that I have experienced for myself, and ones that others have shared.

Tip #1: Spend Time in Nature

There is a big push these days to incorporate themes of nature into our designs and it can seem cliche at this point to keep saying it. However, I have found that when I am outside I am able to relax and can put aside the things in my mind that are causing stress. Stress is often a source of mental blocks when it comes to creative thinking. Therefore, I am still a proponent of spending time outside. It could be as simple as a short walk or eating lunch outside when possible.

Tip #2: Take Care of Yourself

Many of these tips relate to mental and emotional health. However, it is important to stay physically healthy. Low levels of energy and a lack of sleep can often hinder the creative process. Studies have shown that the creative and problem-solving portion of the brain's ability is significantly reduced when the body is tired. In addition to sleeping enough, drinking water is another practical (and potentially more feasible ) way to easily help keep yourself healthy.

Tip #3: Collaborate

Once again, I am using another buzz word, but I do believe collaboration is very useful to help sort through your fragmented ideas. Simply talking to another person at the start of your brainstorming can be beneficial. Even if it is an individual project, just talking out loud can help you follow your train of thought and create a cohesive design solution in the end. Not to mention that you get feedback and some ideas from the other person that you can take and merge with your own ideas which will in turn result in a stronger, more diverse, and creative design solution.

Tip #4: Move Around

Whether it is as simple as changing the room you are in, or it is going to the gym, movement helps rid the body of stress, and helps you get your mind off of your project. I have found that when I can't come up with anything I get up and move around I can think more clearly arfterwards. I have also noticed that sometimes my inspiration and ideas come from the strangest things. Inspiration can come from anything in life so don't assume your best ideas will come while sitting in the studio.

Tip #5: Keep an Art Journal

This could be a notebook your carry around with you in your backpack or purse where you jot down ideas, sketches or motifs that you like. Another version of this could be a folder of pictures on the computer of buildings, rooms or even landscapes that you find inspiring. Also, Pinterest is a really easy and quick way to keep track of things that you like. Compiling ideas and other peoples' work is creativity boosting because you don't forget your "light bulb" ideas that come from everyday life or seeing other peoples' work. Another great thing is you can always look back through it to help get the "creative juices flowing."

Higher Education Trends for 2015

This week, I decided to blog about trends in higher education, seeing that our final project is focused on such design. The February release of NMC Horizon Report stated higher education trends for 2015, and below are 3 that I felt we could utilize in our own projects.

1. "Redesigning Learning Spaces"

        Technology as we know has become a major factor in learning environments, therefore, higher           education is adopting educational technology. With this, more and more institutions are                       promoting active learning spaces that emphasize collaboration.

2. Focus on Collaboration

        Ways to allow more focus on collaboration within learning environments include specifying               long tables instead of the traditional individual tables, furniture formations in a circular pattern,           moveable furniture that can easily transition into new formations as activities change, and                   comfortable meetings that both students and instructors can utilize. Also, as previously stated, as         technology progresses to be a top trend, placing outlets through the space allows for both                     students and staff to not be limited on where and when they can connect.

                   

  

3. Formal and Informal Spaces

        Formal spaces of lectures and the traditional classroom remain important, but informal spaces             such as lobbies and hallways are now being seen as places for collaboration and academic                   work can be done as well. 

Top 10 Trend Predictions of 2015

As I was watching the HGTV 2015 Dream Home show today I started thinking about what some of the trends were going to be this year. Even though I am more interested working in commercial design I still like to know the latest trends are for residential. I came across the Top 10 Trend Predictions of 2015 and really liked the list so I thought I'd share with you. My favorite trend of this year would have to be the black window sashes. The black trim draws your attention to the beautiful molding and to the leafy trees outside.

What's your favorite trend prediction of 2015?

1. Big Comfy Sectionals 

 

2. The deep blue

3. Old table, Mod seats

4. Black Window Sashes

5. Vintage Tubs

6. Libraries as Decor

7. Pale Driftwood Finishes

8. A Taste of the Hive

9. Four-Poster Beds

10. The Statement Light

www.details.com/culture-trends/home-interiors/201412/interior-design-trends-2015?slide=2#/slide=2

The Influence of Color

Color and its ability to influence the way an individual feels in and reacts to a space is often undervalued. However, it is a simple element that can transform an undesirable space into a place that is productive and fun to be in. In addition, it can also make a space feel larger or smaller. Warm hues, which fall along the lines of oranges, yellows, and reds, are used to advance a space and make it feel more stimulating and exciting and also tend to make a space feel more cozy and a little smaller. Cool colors on the other hand, like blues and greens, are used to make a space feel lighter and more relaxed and tend to make a space feel larger and more open. Here are some attributes that certain colors tend to be associated with:

Red - passion, courage, excitement, power, strength, warmth
Orange - energy, warmth, contentment, strength, sensuality, abundance
Yellow - light, cheer, happiness, creativity, confidence, innovation
Green - nature, fresh, growth, abundance, life, youth, renewal, peace, balance
Blue - caring, devotion, trust, peacefulness, serenity, coolness, harmony
Purple - royalty, power, ambition, luxury, relaxation, peace, creativity
White - energy, truth, perfection, serenity, harmony, clarity
Black - formal, reserved, authority, power, glamor

Color also has the ability to affect your concentration, energy level, and productivity. A space that has a lot of vibrant colors going on is going to amp up your energy and reduce fatigue, but may distract from concentration. On the other hand, a space colored with lavender, for example, would relax you and increase concentration.

It is really incredible how powerful an effect something as small as color can have on a space and on the people who use it; never underestimate it.

Sources:
http://painterforum.com/art21.html

Workplace Design and Where We are Headed

The last few days I have been contemplating workplace design as if I was one of the prospective users of the space. It is really interesting to think about because when I picture where I like to work, it is very different from a traditional workplace environment. Often we have been told in classes that workplace design is shifting because of the younger generations that are coming into the workforce. Lately I have been realizing how true this is. The younger generations (myself included) are requiring flexible environments. We do not want to be limited in any way. In fact, when thinking about how I get most work done, I realized that I do not like to sit in the same position or in the same spot for very long. Sometimes I want to be at a typical desk. Other times I want to be on a sofa using my laptop. This shift in expectations has created an interesting challenge for designers. Before, when everyone simply had a desk or cubicle, designing a space did not require as much creativity and utilized fewer types of furniture. Each person could have the exact same workspace and no one expected otherwise.

https://capstonerealty.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/office-design-debate-open-space-versus-the-cubicle/
Above: A fairly typical image of a cubicle-filled work space

Below: An area in Google's office in Dublin shows a creative area with options and an open feel 
 



http://www.home-designing.com/2013/02/googles-new-office-in-dublin

However, now we are desiring a more diverse workspace: different areas where different seating types are offered, different colors shapes sizes, tables, no tables etc. We want the ability to be alone, or in a group, we need time to chat and bounce ideas off of each other, and then turn back around and then get work done individually. However, In most offices where older and younger generations are very mixed, the design of the space has to work for both. This causes designers to be in a transition stage of trying to design for the older and the younger generations simultaneously. However, a shift is happening in office designs and I believe that "open," "varied," and "flexible" are words that will soon describe the majority of workplaces' designs.

Let's get this party started!  Blog on Designers - Life's a Wasting!