During our first week of classes, we explored points, lines, and planes, which are the fundamental elements in all design work. In this first lecture, we covered mainly the points explained to us via a PowerPoint presentation featuring examples such as Josh Worth’s project named “If the moon were only 1 pixel”, which showcases in an accurate scale how our solar system is laid out. This project really showed me how simple shapes, such as circles/dots, can be very effective in communicating data, messages or general information. This made me want to research this topic more in depth and see where I could use simple shapes like these in my own designs.
In this week’s lecture, we were also told of James Webb Young’s book by the name of “A Technique for Producing Ideas”, and we talked about his 5-step technique for developing ideas.
“Gathering raw material in a real way is not as simple as it sounds. It is such a terrible chore that we are constantly trying to dodge it. The time that ought to be spent in material gathering is spent in wool gathering. Instead of working systematically at the job of gathering raw material, we sit around hoping for inspiration to strike us.”
"Go out into the streets of Paris," he was told by an older writer, "and pick out a cab driver. He will look to you very much like every other cab driver. But study him until you can describe him so that he is seen in your description to be an individual, different from every other cab driver in the world."
After hearing about it in lecture, I decided to read it for myself to hopefully help my process.
However, I didn't expect to be so interested in this book; the way James Webb Young communicated the concept of ideas and coming up with them was fascinating to me.
Particularly, the part of gathering materials, specific and non-specific and how to do it most effectively.
I feel like this makes me feel more secure in developing my digital design skills, knowing that my other interests and passions may be helpful in creating new and interesting ideas.