Design Too Tech?

Hello Creatives!

Many designers today use technology to create and consider most of their work to be digital. Portfolios are on the web and social media is the new marketing; is design becoming too tech?

Digital Portfolios

Portfolios are now digital; every designer and artist has a website showcasing their work. For those who are not apt for web design, there are host sites optimized for portfolios such as BeHance, Dribbble or SquareSpace. For those who are more tech-savvy, there are fully-customized WordPress sites.

Portfolios used to be saved onto discs and then mailed to potential hiring managers/prospects. Now, the entire process is streamlined with a few simple clicks of a mouse and an email.

With this comes new expectations on presentation. Depending on your expertise, is the portfolio displayed to the best of its ability? Is it modern enough? Does the site allow the work to be the centerpiece? Presentation takes time and refinement. Many creatives' portfolios change in the presentation over the years so it can look as best it can to receive a job or get a referral for new clients.

Tech Tools

For many years, there have been a multitude of tools creatives, designers and illustrators have used to create their work. Adobe was and remains the top provider of digital tools. Adobe went from downloadable program discs to becoming fully digital with the CreativeCloud service. With the emergence of dgital apps, there called for new hardware to support the new software.

New products became available to keep up with the new software such as iPad and Galaxy tablets with programs like Procreate and powerful laptops including Macbook Pro, HP and Acer.

Other advances appeared on the scene to take creating further with the release of the VR (virtual reality) headset. Augmented and virtual reality technology has entered into the design world recently after being introduced into the gaming scene.

V.R.

Virtual reality has become more prominent in the last 20 years and has recently crossed over into the design world after having success in gaming. Virtual reality is an environment created in a digital space through the use of a headset. Many may remember the popular Oculus Rift, acquired by Facebook, which launched a new way of experinecing the world of gaming by becoming completely immersed.

Virtual reality migrated from game users to becoming a tool for architects, medical staff and designers. It became a digital space where the user could create models, environments and realistic design renderings while interacting with it at the same time that surpassed 3D. The HTC Vive headset rose to be a prominent tool for designers, architects and illustrators to create their media and experience their creations in real time.

With all of the new technological tools, who knows where design, learning and architecture will go next. Regardless of what is used to create the work, it has never been a more exciting time to be in a creative field. Is design too tech? We'll never know until we hit a technological ceiling. Keep creating in 2D, 3D, VR or otherwise.

See You Soon Creatives!

Graphic Green Routines

Hello Creatives!

In today's world, companies are striving towards transparency and sustainability. Many professionals are trying to be more "green". We, as graphic designers and creators, can be "green" as well by utilizing certain habits and routines. Ultimately, these routines revolve around eliminating waste by using less material and more creativity in order to design efficiently.

In every profession seeking sustainability, the reuse, recycle and compostable routine cycle should be considered and utilized. Designers also should be aware of the materials they use, how they use packaging and how their work is distributed. Manufacturing, production and delivery usage should be considered when trying to achieve an environmentally-friendly, sustainable status.

Principles Graphic Design

To prepare for success and reduce costly mistakes, designers need to collect meaningful data on each project as well as feedback in each stage of the design process. Manufacturing, production and delivery should be considered at the beginning of the design process to make sure they follow the sustainability guidelines. This preparation allows for more accurate and effective measuring of materials, time needed to complete the project and ability to reduce waste.

For some designers, using alternative materials is enough, others require a full green initiative process to be sustainable. Some sustainable materials would be using hemp or soy based inks instead of the resin and propylene glycol based inks. Printing on non-chlorine bleached paper or post-consumer recycled fiber paper, post-consumer recyclable packaging and cardboard. Packaging product in recyclable bubble wrap or biodegradable packing peanuts.

More forward-thinking sustainable design would be migrating printed material into digital material such as downloadable pdf files and even monitoring the consumption of power and energy used by the printers and computers in the office space. In what ways can you increase sustainability in your workplace?

See You Soon Creatives!

Sustainable Design

Hello Creatives!

n. Design process that integrates an environmentally-friendly approach and considers natural resources as part of the design.

Philosophy of design and services that comply with the social, economic and ecological sustainability. An approach that minimizes harmful effects on human health and the environment.

Terms like "eco-friendly", "green" and "sustainable" have become mainstream. They have made their way into every market as well as design. Sustainable or green design encompasses more than only using recycled papers and alternate sustainable materials.

Graphic designers are solution finders who can help brands connect to and educate their audiences on causes, materials and resources that have a positive impact on the environment to reduce waste and toxins. Designers are more than image manipulators and product pushers; Designers affect change. Using renewable resources and materials are only a small portion that is "green" design.

Designers Affect Change

True green design happens when designers transform non-valuable outputs to valuable inputs or simply, waste into product. It can be a constant challenge finding solutions for waste as we learn to work within our ecological limits.

Every designer can be green through a shift in perspective to do good design without adding excess harmful waste to the environment.

Transform Waste into Product

mMajor companies are shifting to more green practices and products, especially within the cosmetics niche. Companies like L'Oreal and Maybelline are buying into the green market by purchasing smaller, eco-conscious brands like IT Cosmetics and NYX. They're reaching towards sustainability and that's all we, as designers and consumers, can ask for. There are many companies who are sustainability leaders; LUSH, Intel, Logitech, Celery and Green Room

Green Graphic Design by Brian Doughtery is an invaluable resource for a more in-depth look into the world of green and sustainable design.

"Design decisions are not made at the scale of the corporation,

they are made at the scale of the person."

The Challenge: What ways can you incorporate more green routines or sustainability in your design process?

See You Soon Creatives!