AB-EX

The Ab-Ex - aka Abstract Expressionism

There’s a moment in my life, I replay it over and over again in my head because I am constantly experiencing deja vu coming to the same realization again and again. Learning about design is like entering a whole new world. It changes your perspective on everything, You end up constantly thinking about design and end up analyzing the world ad nauseam. I acknowledge that everyone’s experience is different from the rest. To each his own, right? A girl and what appeared to be her “date” walked in while I was there. She was dressed way too early for the night, like 8 hours too early. She came in way after me and probably left way before me. This is me being judgmental, but my best guess is she didn’t have the same experience as me.

OCAD taught me about modern art movements. After all that through out the exhibition I could not help but think Po Mo, Po Mo, Po Mo. Post Modernism. This period is characterized by experimentation and emotion. The experimentation was intense every artist was unique with respect to each other. But the epic moment was seeing Ad Reinhardt’s Abstract Painting. It’s a large painting. I call it Black. It really is just a black painted canvas. But you don’t really appreciate it until you look closer, from different perspectives, really how the light reflects off of it. There’s a video describing how he actually mixed black paint, a little bit of color and tons of paint thinner, shook it up, let it sit, poured out the thinner, and then painted with the sludge. 

http://www.ago.net/abex-multimedia

What looks like one black square there are actually 12 squares, each with a slight color difference between each. It was a product of technique. The only way the piece could have existed, was through his method of separating the paint. When art is so subtle, and slight, to the point that even a camera can not capture it. I’m going to put this out there. the piece is slightly genius. 

While you may not be able to enjoy the exhibition in Toronto, I can only assume they are on their way back to MOMA in New York, and if not, the AGO has pretty good documentation on it, you may find an experience unique to you. 

http://www.ago.net/abstract-expressionist-new-york

sigh

It's August. I know I should be shot for how much time has gone by since I last posted. This one will be short, but not due to lack of effort. I'm big on combining images together, I would by no means call myself an illustrator, that would involve having some sort of talent. But i've been inspired to create, by Garance Dore's clean lines, and Coco Rocha's fierce posing, and Carlos Buendia's interesting water color layering have lead me to this creation. One day I will find my own style, but for now it's about experimentation, such is life. Let me know what you think, whether it be the style, good or bad, should i continue, or quit before I really offend someone?

summer goals

So i didn't do too bad especially in comparison to last semester, posting definitely declined in April... my bad... but on to SUMMER! As the days grow longer and ideally the weather becomes warmer, I have a sense of renewal and excitement for the future. I am planning a lot for this blog. The goal, to research more, express more, design more. Everyone knows the best way to ensure you will accomplish your goal is to write it out. Sooo... future posts
Image compilations - Mainly of sites that I visit
Queen St. breakdown - A street full of boutiques, adorable coffee shops, and well designed niches, let's break it down and show it off
OCAD summary - a show case of some projects I created for school
FAT - Toronto Alternative Fashion Week, I soooo want to go
T-Shirt Design - I want to design a T-Shirt
Vase - Design a plaster vase
I end this post with an image to entice your appetite and keep you wanting more.

Inspire Me

No designer is autonomous, or is an island, or devoid of outside influences. So welcome to an image heavy post. I love to scour the internet soak up images let them inspire me directly or let the unconscious do its job.

ok these images are not mines, I took these from Garance Dore, Fashion Gone Rogue, Style, Sara Blake (not completely not sure about the last one...)

thought for the era

So, the more I learn about industrial design, and the more that I am incorporated to this bizarre world, you come to this conclusion. Reality, it doesn't really exist, (how very Matrix right?) What I actually mean is. Our environments have been designed and constructed by someone else. The laptop I use to type this on; the chairs I sit on; the doors that I open, the TTC system. None of it was created by me, but I can change all that, as a designer. I could design chairs, laptops, doors, a new TTC system (well the last one might be a bit out of my league). This is very empowering. Life does not have to be this way. I keep on picturing the Gwen Stefani HP commercial, where she walks around and little drawings float out of her, this is me with less fancy graphic design. But it's a very hopeful concept. To be a designer means to be idealistic, and critical, and realize everything has potential. Potential to be altered to be made better, to be reinvented, to be invented. There are no limits to design, it can be anything, and it can be done by YOU! Is anyone else excited? 

Marc Jacobs is so YUMMY :D

 Fashematics is a witty site, that pokes fun at fashion using pop culture and everyday references to reframe how we see the runway. And Marc Jacobs never looked sooo good. I know he's gay and taken, but still good eye candy. 

TED worthy

I love TED, and I'm not cheating on my boyfriend when I say that. TED is amazing, if you don't know TED be prepared to be amazed. What is amazing about TED is that it encompasses all topics and different aspects of our lives. It can inspire, it can teach, it can broaden our horizons, TED can push us to want to learn more. So what is this TED if you don't know of it (not him) is a conference that brings the creme de la creme of industries to talk and broadcasts them on the web. But we're not talking about the brilliant we are talking the people who are inspiring and are changing the world with the work that they do, the things they study and pursue. They all have dreams, and dream of changing the world with what they are good at. When the world is down on you and you need a little insight or perspective it's a good place to see the bigger picture. The possibilities for cross fertilization of ideas are amazing. What is a bit sad, the architecture talks lack and they make me fall asleep, come on you archies you can do a better job of representing us.

That being said I present 2 designers I have found on TED. Thomas Thwaites, and Matthieu Lehanneur

Thomas Thwaites: His talk was about his experience trying to make a toaster from scratch. Not just scratch scratch, but directly from the earth. He had to travel around the world gathering resources, and research into the real old school techniques. It really shows how separate we are from our elements, and how much of the world is involved in making something simple like a toaster. It was an interesting perspective.

He has other interesting insights into the world. This one was cute, especially for those in a long distance relationship. It's a bracelet that you can wear, when you miss the person, you can squeeze it and it will send a signal to them squeezing their wrist, and they can squeeze back. Skype and Google Chats, MSN Facebook they bring those who are far close, but this brings back the physical intimate connection the internet doesn't really give.

Matthew Lehanneur: Another industrial designer who is making big waves in the world. He is something I definitely aspire to. His more notable project is Andrea, a little breathing plant purifier, beautiful in its simplicity, and elegant in its execution.

One of his other projects I enjoy, are these architectural moldings. I like how it takes something that was very decorative and gives it another function of being a bookshelf and what not. Granted moldings were originally created to hide the ugly detail of walls to ceilings, so you kind of lose the original focus :p but they're still nice.