What Have I Done? (Anniversary Review 2008)

Today marks the first anniversary of Flush. A year ago, I “soft opened” this blog, and believe it or not, I still haven’t “grand opened” it, although I’m not sure if I really need to anyway.

Flash Review

The past year has been a bumpy ride. I finished my last undergrad class, got sucked into the world of Sim City 3000 and Sims 2 as I prepped for my job search, started my beta site, got a job at Peet’s, went to see Sagmeister speak, skipped out on Alumni Day (I’m sorry!), worked on a freelance project for my aunt’s business, bought a new printer, watched the impressive production of the Beijing Olympics, resumed working on my portfolio and site, and rekindled my passion for web developing.

My attitude on design has changed, and that has helped me narrow down the types of careers that I would like to pursue. And every day, I’m getting closer to that job and that career. Working on my site almost every day excites me and motivates me because 1) I’ve grown to enjoy coding and designing, and 2) I can’t wait to share with the world what I’ve done.

Prediction for the Next Twelve Months

I don’t know.

Nobody does, and I’ve been wrong enough times about where I would be right now to not make any more general predictions. But I will always have hope, I will always have my expectations, and I will always believe in the future.

A year from now, I may or may not be a designer, and I may or may not enjoy coding still/anymore, and I may completely change my mind about this site and start a brand new one, or career. And that’s perfectly okay, as long as I am okay with it and it’s for the better. I may not reach my current desired destination, but that may or may not be as important as the journey to get there. I mean, I totally wish I were rich already and not have to work but become a philanthropist and help starving children in Africa or save the rain forest in South America, but it would probably mean more to me if I actually pay my dues, work my way up, meet interesting people, and learn about the issues to get there.

Flush.

Sagmeister Lecture—Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far

So here’s my “review” of the Sagmeister lecture last night.

Summary:

This was my first AIGA design lecture and my second AIGA event (I went to the 50 Books/50 Covers opening at Chronicle Books last fall), and overall, I’m pleased with the event (good job putting the event together, Amy et al!). The reception was nice with good appetizer things and a fine selection of refreshments. Sagmeister was wonderful, and that’s probably still true sans my huge-fan bias towards his work.

The Rest

I should, though, advise those who haven’t gone to a lot of these events to bring at least one friend to these things, especially if you’re shy like me. I was so excited about Sagmeister speaking in SF that I immediately bought a ticket without thinking about bringing someone or asking any of my designer friends to go with me (partly because almost none of my designer friends knew of Stefan Sagmeister and his work, which was sad in and of itself).

While I think Stefan’s work is always brilliant and inspiring, I thought that the presentation was “normal” and expected, but only probably because I’m already familiar with many pieces of his “Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far ” project through the design blogs and a lot of his transcribed and video interviews online. Watching him and his work on stage was almost just like watching those video interviews and reading the blogs, which was why his presentation felt “normal” and “expected,” except for that part in the beginning when he suddenly started smelling urine on stage and assured us that it wasn’t him and said that “I don’t pee in my pants.” That pretty much effectively broke the ice from the start!

In any case, even if I’m not a fan and don’t know much about Sagmeister, I still think I would be fascinated by how extremely creative and outside-the-box this designer is. I mean, the lady who sat next to me and said she didn’t know much about Sagmeister except for the body-cutting mailer was teary after the presentation and said that it was inspiring.

I was confused as to why only the side projectors showed the images but the middle one did not. I figured it might have to do with wanting to show the name of the lecture series since it was being recorded, but the entire middle section (where I was) had to look around the wooden columns to see the images on the screen.

Personally, I wish there was more time for questions after his presentation, but I understand that the presentation had already gone over the allotted time and he still had to sign a long line of books before ending the evening. Speaking of his book, I also wish I had gotten up immediately after the presentation to get his book at the table when he was answering questions so I could get him to sign it afterwards. Maybe I will do that next time, whenever that is, because I know this won’t be the last time I watch him speak in person.

Lecture Review Main Points and Advice:

• The event was good and enjoyable.
• Go with friends (at least one) and socialize.
• Buy the book if you already knew you want it, and then get it signed.

Flush.

If Designers Were Worshipped Like Pop Stars

Here’s an idea that I’m interested in exploring (at least right now): how would an admirer of a designer express his or her obsession with the designer? How would a “fan site” look like? Would it be like MySpace, or would it be like the cheesy, over-designed fan sites you see for musicians and actors? Would there be links like “gallery,” and “media,” and “tour”?

If I were to have a fan site for a designer I really like, the designer would have to have Stefan Sagmeister, no doubt. (A semi-distant second would be Josef Müller-Brockmann.) The site would be well-designed, of course, and it would reflect Sagmeister’s style, though I’m not sure what it is exactly. I would imagine, though, that it would involve a lot more organic forms: handwriting and fruits come to mind.

The typography must be unique, whether it’s digital or handwritten. As is everything else. It would probably be about the experience of the site that reminds viewers of Sagmeister; it couldn’t be a boring grid of text in Verdana or Georgia and straight photography that doesn’t evoke any personal connections.

I haven’t thought much about this (I just thought of the idea less than an hour ago), but I’m interested in other people’s ideas for “designer fan sites.” It would be even cooler if someone actually built it!

Flush.

Later, By Definition

“Later, by definition, will never come.”

Just something I thought of while briefly visiting Stefan Sameister’s “Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far” web site promoting the exhibition.

Flush.

What Am I Doing? (Feb 2008)

The Sims 2 obsession has faded (fortunately), and the words “portfolio,” “site,” and “job” have become the three most used terms in my daily mental query.

Live Site

The most significant thing that I’ve worked on this past month, I believe, was my site. On January 28 or 29, I suddenly had the motivation to start my web site with a “just do it” attitude, constructing it in public and requesting feedback. This process is moving along, and I’m glad I got started, not only because I’ve moved onto the next step, but also because it makes me realize how much work (and time) I need to put in to have a fully functional, content-rich, informative web site about me and my work. Therefore, I’ve decided to not wait anymore for this site to complete and move ahead to search for a side job.

Job and Sagmeister

Yesterday, I ordered a ticket to attend a now soldout lecture featuring Stefan Sagmeister in San Francisco on March 6. For those who don’t know (although I might have mentioned it here on Flush), Sagmeister has sort of been my hero ever since I’ve heard of him last year, when I was researching for my “Why Don’t We Care?” project. In any case, I made my first not-directly-related-to-portfolio,-site,-or-job purchase in a long time, under the condition that I get a job/side job before I go to the lecture. We’ll see how that will turn out.

Portfolio Review and Helvetica

Last Friday, a couple of my design friends and I met up to present and review our portfolios (By the way, Y.I. and T.P., the address to my main site has always been in the About sidebar). It was a very helpful experience for all of us, and I’m glad we did it. Somewhat sticking to the promise to myself, I unwrapped and watched Helvetica with my friends. Maybe it was the mentally highered expectation, but 1) I thought it was supposed to be longer, and 2) it was a different experience watching it with friends. I think caring about what others think of the film (which none of them had seen) distracted me from paying attention to the film. I shall watch it by myself next time, including the bonus material and take names and ideas for future reference.

Words Pondered

Here are a few things that I’ve been thinking about in the past month:

• “Safe is Risky.” —Seth Godin
• “Trying to look good limits my life.”—Stefan Sagmeister, from his Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far Series
• “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.” —William Shakespeare, from the wrapper of some chocolates my cousin-friend gave me for Christmas.
• “Hope”
• “Change”
• “Honesty”
• “Dreams”

Flush.

Tibor, Steven, Louise, and Debbie: New Additions to the Family

Thanks to a particular financial institution in the world which shall remain anonymous (which is also related to why I haven’t posted in a while: relatives visiting from afar resulting in a decrease of the usual access of my room and computer), I was able to add three books to my Design Library: Tibor Kalman, Preverse Optimist edited by Peter Hall and Michael Bierut; Stylepedia: A Guide to Graphic Design Mannerisms, Quirks, and Conceipts by Steven Heller and Louise Fili; and How to Think Like a Great Graphic Designer by Debbie Millman.

Why I Got These Books

Tibor Kalman, Perverse Optimist

I had probably heard about this guy here and there but never really paid attention to it, until I saw this interview of Stefan Sagmeister where he mentioned that he had worked for Kalman and praised him of his work as if he was an influence. And if you haven’t figured it out, I am currently obeying to Sagmeister’s words on design and life, for he seemed like the ultimate “do-gooder” of design ever since I read the Nov 2006 CommArts article on him and his “touch people’s hearts” class. But yeah, I felt that Tibor was Sagmeister’s Sagmeister, so it’s like “doubled the good.”

Stylepedia

I heard about this book on Sept. 5 from the Core77’s 2007 Hack-2-School Guide according to my GTD notes. It wasn’t really one of my first choices of books to get, but I couldn’t find any other first-choice books in the store (again, little respect). I figured that it would be a book to acquire once I get the philosophical/conceptual side of design down, when I have more experience in design where I could get more inspiration from this collection of styles. But I guess it’s still good to have around.

How to Think Like a Great Graphic Designer

My first choice in this book shopping spree was Debbie’s book, and I was fortunate enough to find it the second (more like fourth) time I looked in the Art section at Borders. (By the way, I feel that not even major bookstores respect design as much as they should.) I heard about it on design blogs about the book release party and on the BADCast when the guys in the Midwest interviewed Debbie about the book. And from how Debbie describes the interview process, it should be pretty interesting to read.

I read the introductory e-mail that was replied to Debbie about the idea for the book, and I feel a little guilty for wanting to buy a book where I am “‘fishing for a recipe for becoming a successful designer’” (Geissbuhler qtd. in Millman 1). But then again, I don’t think it hurts to learn from the masters.

I am glad to have added these three books to my collection free of charge (except for the anonymous financial institution), and I predict a great enrichment of design knowledge for my noggin over the next few months.

Flush.

P.S. No, I did not steal money from the anonymous financial institution.

P.P.S. Yes, I MLA cited that quote. I am that nerdy.