Graphic design has in years of being a craft for the trained and learned, opened up, and practiced even by the most uneducated. We all know the story, anyone with a computer, the adobe suite software package, a good mouse and some sort of idea can do graphic design. In fact the barrier to enter the once elusive realm of graphic design is so low, anyone really, could apply. While this has affected the overall quality of the practice, graphic design has been pushed in to an uncanny position. Because it is no longer elusive, mysterious or cooky, it has been embraced by businesses as a core to business strategies. It is not strange anymore to see Presidents of entire marketing divisions to be past practitioners of graphic design, or see Creative Directors seated at the conference table, making decisions affecting bottom-line . And also more and more business schools are offering basic graphic design programs to their students as part of their business degrees.
All this sounds great right. After years of trying to get graphic design as part of the business process, instead of a mere side thought, graphic design has finally won. We won. Or is this one of those situations where we take three steps forward and five steps back. When business entities embrace or consume graphic design as part of its process, graphic design begins to lose its core. What is this core, however is often debated by masters of the craft to the point where there is no middle ground. For the sake of argument, lets assume that core of graphic design, is its purpose to communicate clearly. And what better industry to make an example of about the need to communicate clearly other than the advertising industry. Strange. Isn't the advertising industry the same as the graphic design industry? The work might be similar, the offices might be using the same macs, but advertising is a totally different beast. In fact advertising is a fine example of how graphic design can be twisted and deformed to the point of change, that it can no longer call itself the practitioners of the craft.
Advertising places above all else, the core idea of the message that needs to be communicated. Graphic design places both the idea and the execution of that idea on equal grounds. In fact graphic design, places ideas, form and functions on equal ground. Because of this advertising mantra, our world is littered with designs that maybe witty, but hardly beautiful. In fact advertising places ideas on a pedestal, that it is willing to do anything to ensure that idea gets communicated. Even lie and exaggerate the truth. Advertisers are the lawyers of the graphic design industry. Dirty and disgusting, but if you are willing to do it, the money is there. Of course we do have graphic design studios that do the same thing, but thats the mere influence from the practices of advertising.
Now it is the year 2008, and advertising is part and parcel of life. Advertising however is weakening. People get smarter. They have more information. And are less effected by witty copy written by copy writers. Learning this, business is beginning to take advantage of and consume another aspect of graphic design. If advertising is the twisted and deformed abomination of the graphic design's craft of expression of ideas, then we should be afraid of the new beast that is slowly but surely emerging from this modern age unholy union of business and graphic design.
Graphic designers always knew that people make choices not only because of facts presented in their faces. People are ruled by their emotions and as graphic designers, we wield the ability to change moods, emotions and feelings of our audience. The colors we choose, the typefaces we set and the composition we craft are all part of a master plan to evoke a certain mood so our message could better be accepted. While we are still bound by the core – the need to communicate clearly – we know the intangible matters as much. Businesses are realizing this, and beginning to incorporate it as part of a rational process. Imagine – rationalizing the irrational part of the human experience. This new love child of emotion and business is called Branding.
Branding at its ideal, is graphic design fulfilling its true purpose. It doesn't lie, exaggerate or attempt to deceive. Branding allows graphic designers to contribute positively to the realm of businesses and practice the craft at her best. A proper brand is a reflection of the truth and an aspiration towards betterment.
However, many business are turning to branding as a cure it all. They see it as another medium to deceive more customer by creating the illusion that they are better than what it seems. At the end of the day, we will see slick brands poping up all over the place, but with products and services that couldn't stand on its two feet.
So to end this essay on a lighter note, we should take comfort in the fact that graphic design as an industry is poise for greater growth than ever. It has never been a better time to be a graphic designer other than now. But we are at a crossroads right now to ensure direction of our industry do not go to a place where we can no longer look at graphic design the same way. Where is graphic design going is a question we must be able to answer with pride and jubilation. And not shame and anger.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
How did this happen?
This is the Windows XP boot screen.
This is the Mac OS X boot screen. Minimal at its best.
This is the Windows Vista boot screen, attempting the minimal look. Even when Microsoft tried minimal design, it looked ugly.'nuff said.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Goodbye Krabi
Hello butt crack...p/s: I am too lazy to photoshop that crack out of the photo, besides I think it makes the picture, well ermm.. more human.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Silence
Yeah we are not racist.
You understand chinese what, was their excuse. An excuse given not to justify anything, but just to make themselves feel better. So they continued speaking in mandarin as I just sat there. I kept my silence, not as a protest. To protest would to voice out. To protest would mean to leave. But no, I just kept my silence. Because I am not racist. Because I am racially harmonious.
Isn't that what racial harmony is?
You like chinese songs what, was their excuse. An excuse given not to justify anything, but just to make themselves feel better. So the radio, kept blasting mandarin ballads as I just sat there working on my work. I kept my silence, wondering if music is really a universal language. I kept my silence, trying to differentiate between songs, which all sound so seemingly similar. Chinese. I kept my silence, because protesting would be racist.
Race is not an OB marker that should be crossed.
So no one cares to voice out when the army systematically exclude certain races from certain departments and units. It's for security what. An excuse that don't justify anything, but just to soothe their collective guilt. It's okay. We kept our silence, because we are not racist.
We kept our silence.
Even when they said; Look at them. They and their tudungs, and children. Look at them, said with distaste. They and their black skinny jeans, t-shirts and truckers. Look at them, said with distaste. They and their tents and their picnics on the beach. Look at them. Wanting to wear the tudung to school. Look at them. Demanding equality at the workplace. Look at them, trying their very best to be what they are not. Look at them. Denying their own race because they think they can be one of us. Look at them. They. Just look at them. No excuses were made this time, and still we kept our silence.
You understand chinese what, was their excuse. An excuse given not to justify anything, but just to make themselves feel better. So they continued speaking in mandarin as I just sat there. I kept my silence, not as a protest. To protest would to voice out. To protest would mean to leave. But no, I just kept my silence. Because I am not racist. Because I am racially harmonious.
Isn't that what racial harmony is?
You like chinese songs what, was their excuse. An excuse given not to justify anything, but just to make themselves feel better. So the radio, kept blasting mandarin ballads as I just sat there working on my work. I kept my silence, wondering if music is really a universal language. I kept my silence, trying to differentiate between songs, which all sound so seemingly similar. Chinese. I kept my silence, because protesting would be racist.
Race is not an OB marker that should be crossed.
So no one cares to voice out when the army systematically exclude certain races from certain departments and units. It's for security what. An excuse that don't justify anything, but just to soothe their collective guilt. It's okay. We kept our silence, because we are not racist.
We kept our silence.
Even when they said; Look at them. They and their tudungs, and children. Look at them, said with distaste. They and their black skinny jeans, t-shirts and truckers. Look at them, said with distaste. They and their tents and their picnics on the beach. Look at them. Wanting to wear the tudung to school. Look at them. Demanding equality at the workplace. Look at them, trying their very best to be what they are not. Look at them. Denying their own race because they think they can be one of us. Look at them. They. Just look at them. No excuses were made this time, and still we kept our silence.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
The Condom Problem
Teens, sex and Aids: Time to face up to today's realities
It seems that this realization, when similar problems are already faced in the US and other major developed conservative countries came a little too late. Abstinence will never be a 'safe-sex' choice for the sexually active. Those that wish to abstain from sex, will already done so. They know the virtues and joy of waiting for the right one to come (for the straights it's when they walk down the aisle, and the gays.. I dunno..) But for the sexually active majority, the government need to realize that the only viable solution for protection is condom usage.
It is also perhaps interesting to note that many young people are getting HIV not because they are sleeping around with random people, but getting it from their loved ones, from a context of a relationship. For reasons, perhaps linked to the government stance in sex education (abstinence first, be faithful then maybe use the condoms), most young people who are having sex for the first time, especially with a supposed steady partner, do it without a condom. So the one at risk here, isn't only the promiscuous who do it with multiple partners, but also the those that wishes to partake in the 'ultimate expression of love'.
The government needs to exercise their leadership once again, and do the unpopular but necessary thing here. Condom usage needs a better rep. Guerilla messages targeted to specific group, like the gays (usually given out in clubs on Sunday nights and during plays) is not effective. It needs massive attention. The government needs to acknowledge that premarital sex is not a 'moral wrong' or unethical, but merely a lifestyle choice, that can be practiced in a safe way. Once the stigma gets out of the way, only can the education come in. The conservative majority can complain till the cows come home, but the message of abstinence is not working. Children are having sex. Some with hot random strangers online. And many with their allegedly safe partners. Whatever it is, this kids need to protect themselves. And love isn't the answer.
The Aids pandemic of the 70s might yet happen again, only this time on our little island.
It seems that this realization, when similar problems are already faced in the US and other major developed conservative countries came a little too late. Abstinence will never be a 'safe-sex' choice for the sexually active. Those that wish to abstain from sex, will already done so. They know the virtues and joy of waiting for the right one to come (for the straights it's when they walk down the aisle, and the gays.. I dunno..) But for the sexually active majority, the government need to realize that the only viable solution for protection is condom usage.
It is also perhaps interesting to note that many young people are getting HIV not because they are sleeping around with random people, but getting it from their loved ones, from a context of a relationship. For reasons, perhaps linked to the government stance in sex education (abstinence first, be faithful then maybe use the condoms), most young people who are having sex for the first time, especially with a supposed steady partner, do it without a condom. So the one at risk here, isn't only the promiscuous who do it with multiple partners, but also the those that wishes to partake in the 'ultimate expression of love'.
The government needs to exercise their leadership once again, and do the unpopular but necessary thing here. Condom usage needs a better rep. Guerilla messages targeted to specific group, like the gays (usually given out in clubs on Sunday nights and during plays) is not effective. It needs massive attention. The government needs to acknowledge that premarital sex is not a 'moral wrong' or unethical, but merely a lifestyle choice, that can be practiced in a safe way. Once the stigma gets out of the way, only can the education come in. The conservative majority can complain till the cows come home, but the message of abstinence is not working. Children are having sex. Some with hot random strangers online. And many with their allegedly safe partners. Whatever it is, this kids need to protect themselves. And love isn't the answer.
The Aids pandemic of the 70s might yet happen again, only this time on our little island.
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