I’ve been wondering why design tends to be lifeless and dry for me. I’ve often thought it was my lack of training or passion or maturity in the field. More and more I’m realizing that it’s because design often lacks mystery. In an attempt to always clearly communicate a brand, a story, an idea, designers are by default left with little to no room to be mysterious. There is an old proverb that says, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and the glory of man to search it out.” One of the joys of life is discovering something hidden. Design needs to contain a mystery at some level for the viewer to seek out. Let me give you a few examples of what I mean.

Most designers are familiar with the FedEx logo by now. Did know that there is a hidden arrow formed by the white space between the “E” and the “x”? Or take Dave Werner’s online portfolio. Can you find the hidden video of him singing a cover of Usher’s hip-hop song “Yeah” or his cover of “Straight Up”? Or what about Paul Rustand’s visual song titled, “Have I Missed You“? There is heart touching mystery to be uncovered there. Or any of Stefan Sagmeister’s interactive optical piec...... Keep reading

This is the text of the Commencement address by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, delivered on June 12, 2005. Steve really has some good insights on creativity and life as it relates to the heart and soul of design. I hope you enjoy.

I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I’ve ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That’s it. No big deal. Just three stories.

The first story is about connecting the dots.

I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?

It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: “We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?” They said: “Of course.” My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and ...... Keep reading

Like it or not, design has class. And no, I don’t mean it’s classy as in elegant or fashionable, although design is a very trendy business world accessory of late. And I don’t mean design has class as in groups that share the same common attributes. I mean design has class as in an artificial social hierarchy–much of it self inflicted. This more subtle definition of class creates a division where one group is perceived as “better” or “higher” or “more refined” than the other. This trend is nothing new. Art, architecture, literature, culture, music, etc. all have created similar class systems. And we as designers are somewhat guilty for creating artificial divisions in design. Let me explain.

I recently listened to an online video given by Malcom Gladwell, well known author of the Tipping Point and Blink. He tells the story of how in the early ’70’s Grey Poupon Dijon mustard broke into a field dominated by two plain yellow mustards. How? First, they created a different type of mustard that was spicy and brown. Then through design and advertising they created an artificial mustard social class, where plain yellow mustards should be perceived as “common” and Grey Poupon as “upper class” mustard. Grey Po...... Keep reading

I’m concerned. Has anyone else but me noticed the growing tendency in Western democratic countries around the world to censor anything that might be considered offensive to Muslims? Think back to the Danish editorial cartoon, the book by S. Rushdie and most recently the modification of a musical performance in Germany. It seems so small and insignificant, but these are signals that something is shifting in our world–a shift that will eventually constrain our freedom to speak the truth through design.

It’s a spirit of fear. And it’s not exclusive to Islamic extremists coming to get you if you say anything against the Prophet Mohammed. You can find fear operating in dictators, emperors, fascists, communists, capitalists, democracies and even Christian churches. We’re naïve as designers to think that the power of fear which for centuries has shaped, stifled and controlled the expression of truth through the visual arts can’t exert it’s influence again. Let’s take a little quiz to see how fear might already be impacting our choices:

1. Do you have a burning passion or project in design that you’d like to pursue, but just can’t seem to do it?
2. Do you dream of working independently, but can’t break free of your current employer?
3. Have you ever known what the best design solution was for a client’s problem, but didn’t suggest it?
4. Have y...... Keep reading

You may not know it, but we’re in the beginning of what will one day be defined by historians as the Second Renaissance or “rebirth” of arts and culture. The First Renaissance started in Italy in the 1300’s, lasted several hundred years, and centered around the rediscovery of ancient texts and classical learning that was dormant Europe during the Middle Ages. This rediscovery brought about profound changes in every area of society that formed the basis of what we now consider Modern society. The First Renaissance witnessed the birth of the Reformation, the rise of Humanism and the spark of the Scientific Revolution. And the institutional Christian church played a significant role in funding and shaping much of the major movements during this period. As a result, the art, philosophy (minus humanism) and music of that period bore the distinct marks of the church and a calling to a higher, deeper Purpose that those disciplines serve.

The Second Renaissance is quite different. While technology still fuels it–the computer and Internet taking the place of the printing press and monks–the Second Renaissance signals the transition of the Modern era into a Post-Modern one. This Second Renaissance is not being shaped by institutions–the Church or otherwise, but by individuals and organic groups formed and reformed for specific purposes. The focus is largely now on the rediscovery of pre-classical, ancient t...... Keep reading

You can tell it’s summer because we’ve not posted in a while. I just returned from a family vacation in Alaska, and have no idea where the other BLANK bloggers are. I also spent a good part of my summer working on a client site that’s almost complete, and watching movies with my family. Which brings me to some thoughts on design and it’s ability to touch the heart.

After seeing some great flicks, I’m more aware of graphic design’s self-imposed limitations to touch the heart. I know, it’s not fair to compare apples to oranges, but I’ll do so anyway. At the core (pun intended) of a medium’s capability to touch the heart is the ability to tell a story in a powerful and meaningful way. Design is handicapped as a medium to tell stories. Why? Stories need the element of time to develop, communicate and mature. Film has the ability to create time through multiple image frames. Design though is like a single frame: able to communicate a message, but unable to allow that message to change over time and form a story. Unless, of course, design takes a cue from film and creates the “time” it needs to tell a story that touches the heart. What might this look like? Maybe it looks like this. Or possi...... Keep reading