Scrambled8.com

From today I will no longer be posting on graphics point of view and I have launched my new blog scrambled8.com. Thanks for all your support and see you there.

Design is not a job, it’s a passion

Design is not a job, it’s a passion.

Design is in one of those rare industry where designers can be passionate about what they love doing and put it in practice on a daily basis. With increasing press over high profile retailers like Jessops, HMV and Blockbusters gone liquidation, high unemployment and increasing living cost.  Designers are feeling the pressure over reduced budgets and increased competitions, not to mention the design students who flood into the industry every year.

Recent issue from Creative Review cover a sensitive topic on money. It is clear that design is a hugely competitive market and being inexperience could be a disadvantage.

I have been reading a book published by Graphic Designer David Airey called work for money, design for love. It shares advices, experience and industry insight from David and some other established designers. A book I wish exist when I was a student, then I might have avoided a few mistakes I made over the last few years: unpaid projects, clients, etc.

As designer we get emotionally attached to our work and it is hard when you have to put a price on something you love. Sometimes that love turn against us and we end up burning out with no change to spare. The book has shown me what to expect being in the design industry and how to work my way through various situations, especially when it comes to client communication, money matters, all these important parts of the project that only comes in experience.

Design is our passion, love and let them invest back in your life so you can continue doing what you do.

Industry Insight

Below is the outline of my talk at the latest AE & C4D meet up:

Thank you James for inviting me to moan after work on a Tuesday night, i will start by showing you my showreel.

I work in a small agency in Chiswick specialising in training, events and delivering learning solution to corporate business. I

work on promos, event opening, identity stings, banners, brochure, posters…you might ask, hang on a minute…

 I thought you said you are a motion graphic designer? Then what do I have to do with all these print stuff?

The design industry has a lot of grey areas, what is described in your job title does not justify all the work you do. Graphic designers are expected to do coding. Illustrator are expected to do animation. Motion designer are expected to do video editing. In my case, I am doing a bit of everything while doing animation is where my passion lies. It seems to be a norm that creatives are expected to do so much more, and the designs are becoming more diverse as a result.

I am not moaning that I am doing too much or not doing enough. I think it is great that we get all these opportunities to explore various areas of design.

But the question is if the new skills is beneficial to our career?

Yes because it allows you to understand what the process of the other half. You learn how to work better, or tailor the way you work to create a more dynamic collaborations when you get to work with other creatives.

No because I am all bombarded with all these skills and as time goes by, I don’t even know what I am good at anymore. Am I still an animator, or now I am a video editor, or perhaps art director?

I think it is key to know your goal and who you want to become. Keep learning about other areas of design and keep the inspiration flowing. But not to forget the skills you had also need your attention to polish, refined. Don’t learn new softwares or new skills for the wrong reason, make sure what you are learning is related to your goal.

Stock imagery

Using stock imagery is like going to restaurant, you can’t be arse to cook and decide to go to places where they cook for you. Don’t get me wrong, I believe stock imagery is an amazing place to get supporting imagery or graphic when you are on a tight deadlines. However when you start using stock graphic as your design then it creates a problem. The problem is that you are no longer creating or designing, you are applying.

Designers are believers of originality, it makes us unique. The rush you get when you are creating makes our daily job rewarding. You demand yourself to design something new, design something amazing. But hang on a minute, this is an ideal world I am talking about here. The real world demand speed and quality, the two words often push us to the limit and bang! Stock imagery is here to save the world.

Ask yourself a question, do you still qualify as a designer when you sell your clients stock imagery?

Focus, or not?

I guess it’s always a question when asking whether designers should be multi-skilled, or they should be specialised in one particular area, illustrations, motion graphic, print, you name it.

The truth is, design industry is hugely competitive. Often employers want a graphic designer while expecting to find someone with web skills. The more multi-skills you are the quicker you get hired. However, this process has washed out so many talents when they could have done so much better focusing on what they are best at. I am not talking about styles here. Styles is something you develop and will alter depending on time, place or people. Skills needs to refine, practice and update. The more skills you get, the harder it becomes to polish what you already know.

“The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at a time.”

Richard Cech

In my opinion, current atmosphere is changing the way company hires and students are trying their best to keep up. During the process, employers are expecting more and more skills coming from the same person, yet, they don’t realise if one is specialising in one area the more refine the work becomes. As a result, people get more skills than ever but it is hard to find whom is a specialist.

Identity doesn’t die

When copy crashes with photography

I like Ryan Reynolds and I like hugo boss, but nothing seems right on this particular campaign.

First impression, standard sort of photography for a perfume ad, good looking man selling a posh brand. Then you take a closer look and see that very political quote “I don’t expect success, I prepare for it”. Everything start falling apart. You first wonder if Ryan actually said that, then you look at his picture wonder if he will make a successful politician.

Don’t get me wrong because the reason I choose to blog this is because I love the quote. Noone can expect success to happen but everyone can prepare for it, and I believe everyone can be successful if they want themselves to be. This might sound a little controversial but it’s true. Success is a combination of hard work and luck. I believe luck will eventually comes to you when you work hard enough, yet a “do not give up” attitude is required.

Although I believe Ryan Reynolds actually said the quote yet I think he still have some distance to the true success.

Why did I not think of that?

The best design is always the simplest, looking the most effortless, and makes you say, “why did I not think of that?”

The truth is, every designer can come up with a brilliant idea. However in most cases, we don’t believe in our gut instinct. Isn’t it? So you have designed something and present it to your art director, he/ she rejected it because it is cluttered, not polished or could have been better.

After the presentation you pinch yourself because what your art director said was so obvious! And you know what he/ she said came across in your mind some point in the design process when you choose to ignore them. That is your gut instinct.

Above situation often happens when you are inexperienced or not confident with your creativity. As a junior designer I experience these situation everyday, and the fact that I pinch yourself means that I care. I can’t believe I made such a careless mistakes and looks like an idiot most of the time.
I ask myself what can I do to design something flawless? I don’t know how to answer it. The only thing I know is that I know I need more practice, more research and aim for the highest.

This poster sets the bar high and I will design something as good, eventually.

vote vote vote

After 2 weeks of planning, and two weekends hiding in my creative lab. I have submitted my entry to Redbull Canimation, can’t get any more excited lol And I now need your votes, here is the link, click on the Facebook like button and you have voted! Easy huh? :p The animation is about how Redbull can get you through the day from waking up to having  a good night out. It has been such a great challenge and opportunity to do this exciting competition, as the planning has been a disaster to start with. What did I learn from it? ALWAYS draw a story board even when you have no time to waste, it just helps you all the way. Having the idea is not enough!

Winning or not. I am happy for it becoming an addition to my portfolio

P.S. don’t forget to vote :p

Good taste

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

My art director says “You either got it or you ain’t”, he also says, “you can make a designer better, but you can’t make a fool a designer”. It sounds harsh but it’s all true.

Having been a design student. I notice a common mistakes most students make, they choose the course because they believe it’s an easy industry. They can’t be more wrong. Good taste is crucial as Ira Glass mention in the video, but you can never succeed in the creative industry without commitment and enthusiasm.

As a starting-out creative I have a lot to prove. My taste, skills, creativity, and ambition are being test on a daily basis. And it shows! You can’t sit back and relax on your chair and call yourself a creative. This is a ever-changing industry and if you don’t try something different regularly, you will soon be behind everyone else.

I recently argued with other designers over trend on web design. They say they want to keep it simple and create what people have been seeing since 1999. I say we should follow the trend and be creative about it (which of course involves a lot more hard work). I failed the argument. What a shame as it could be a great opportunity to test out the new technologies.

However, It takes time to be good (sponging the time takes courage) and being good is not enough. You have to fight your way though! Research more to improve your taste, draw more to improve your skills, read more to learn recent trends, and as I always says, “NEVER STOP BEING A STUDENT”