Positioning & Trends.
Task 7:
This week's challenge was analysing trend forecasting to find insights that could benefit our projects. Trend forecasting is a growing area in visual communication, and it's expected to become even more influential with the emergence of new technologies. Thus, this week, my research goal is to explore emerging trends related to my project and create a brief three-sentence mission statement. I'll also look into how new practice areas can be considered to guide my creative strategy.
Learning Objectives:
LO1: Research — Select and deploy appropriate research methodologies to inform the needs within a project.
LO4: Distil — Position a creative strategic insight that has been distilled and refined through an informed investigation.
LO5: Imagine — Deliver appropriate and innovative ideas that embrace risk, have contemporary relevance and question the boundaries of the discipline.
LO6: Make — Select and utilise relevant tools, skills and technologies in the delivery, iteration and sustainable production of an outcome.
LO7: Collaborate — Demonstrate inclusive and empathetic strategies to plan and execute a project across distributed collaborative situations.
LO8: Design — Realise a final solution that evidences its strategic journey and clear relationship between form and function.
LO9: Communicate — Communicate effectively in a range of contexts and situations to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Reflection on Frauke’s Tutorial:
This week was challenging for me, and I felt a bit lost, needing guidance, and I found it in Frauke. I really appreciate her teaching style, which helped me find direction. I often get so stressed that I lose sight of the steps to take, but Frauke always helps me see the path. Our tutorial began with me feeling overwhelmed, saying I had no idea when, in fact, I did; I just struggled to articulate it. Frauke advised taking it step by step and focusing on enjoying the process. After explaining my idea, her feedback was constructive. She encouraged me to start the mono printing process without worrying about the final typeface, urging me to stop overthinking. She also prompted me to think critically about creating my own archive of overlooked tools and how to visualize this data. I hadn't fully grasped the concept of archives in design before, and Frauke explained it perfectly, helping me understand the idea better.
Emerging Trends 2023
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I picked inclusive design as a trend because it highlights diversity, which is something very meaningful to me as an international student living abroad. Inclusive design aims to create products and experiences that everyone, regardless of their abilities or background, can use and enjoy. It's about making sure that no one feels left out or disadvantaged, and it's a crucial aspect in design that promotes equality and accessibility for all.
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I chose expressive lettering because it perfectly aligns with my brief's requirements, and I was previously unaware of the ongoing typographic trends. This trend, expressive lettering, is captivating as it conveys a powerful message through unique and artistic typefaces. It's about using letters and words to create designs that evoke strong emotions and carry a significant cause or message, making it an ideal choice for my project.
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Initially, I thought experimental typography and expressive lettering were the same, but after some reading, I discovered they are distinct approaches. Experimental typography involves pushing the boundaries of traditional type design, often breaking the rules to create unconventional and artistic letterforms. In contrast, expressive lettering focuses on using typography to convey a powerful message through unique and artistic typefaces that evoke emotions and carry a meaningful cause. While they felt quite similar to me at first, I realized that they have different emphases. This revelation inspired me to explore both of these fascinating design directions, allowing me to harness their individual strengths in my creative projects.
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I had a single project on data visualization before, and I thoroughly enjoyed the process of collecting and working with data regularly. However, I realized that I didn't fully comprehend the significance of data visualization itself. That's why I decided to take the risk of diving deeper into this trend and explore it further by creating my own archive and data visualization. Data visualization in graphic design is all about taking complex data and presenting it in a visual format, making it easier to understand and interpret. It transforms data into meaningful, compelling visuals, helping people grasp patterns, trends, and insights that might otherwise be difficult to discern from raw data. It's a powerful way to communicate information effectively through visuals.
Trend Forecasting
Trend forecasting is the process of identifying and predicting upcoming trends, shifts, or changes in various industries, including graphic design. It involves analyzing current and emerging cultural, social, technological, and design factors to anticipate what will be popular or influential in the future.
I had never heard of trend forecasting before, and I used to think it was all about weather forecasts and similar things. However, learning about trend forecasting has been a significant revelation for me. I now realize its immense impact on my life, particularly in my creative endeavors. Understanding how to anticipate design trends for 2024 and beyond means that I can proactively create designs that align with what's going to be popular, rather than waiting to see the trends emerge. This newfound knowledge empowers me to stay ahead of the curve in my design work and make more relevant and engaging creations. Additionally, I looked at different trend predictions, but I focused on the ones that match my project. From all the trends I checked, I picked seven that really fit with the message and goals I want to show in my project. These specific trends are closely related to what I want to say and do in my work.
Color Palettes:
Predicting popular color combinations and schemes for design projects based on cultural and fashion trends is highly beneficial to me as it keeps my designs fresh and appealing, resonating with current audiences. It ensures that my work remains visually engaging and in tune with the ever-evolving preferences and styles, enhancing the impact of my design projects.
Typography Trends:
Typography trends change each year, so identifying fonts and styles expected to become popular in the coming months or years is crucial to ensuring my typeface remains fresh and doesn't become outdated. Staying ahead of typographic trends helps my designs stay contemporary and engaging.
Visual Styles:
Visual styles play a vital role in design, shaping how a message or concept is presented and perceived. As a designer, it's my responsibility to anticipate design aesthetics like minimalism, retro, or hand-drawn elements that are likely to be in demand. By staying ahead of these trends, I can ensure my designs are not only visually appealing but also align with current preferences, effectively communicating the intended message.
Sustainable Design:
Being sustainable is essential not only as a person but even more so as a designer. Recognizing the growing significance of eco-friendly and sustainable design practices is crucial. It's my goal to incorporate these practices into my projects because sustainability never goes out of style. By doing so, I can create designs that not only have a positive impact on the environment but also remain relevant and meaningful over time.
Cultural and Societal Trends:
As an international designer, I find it challenging to create designs that resonate with different cultures due to the feedback I receive. That's why I emphasize recognizing how broader cultural and societal changes like social justice movements can shape design choices and messaging. I understand that cultures evolve, and it's essential to stay mindful of these changes to ensure my designs remain relevant and respectful of diverse perspectives.
Mood Board:
Methodology:
My project's initial methodology began with a sense of curiosity and the desire to explore a new dimension of print design, specifically the gel printing technique, which had always intrigued me. I saw it as a risk worth taking. My approach centers on shedding light on the underappreciated daily essentials we often take for granted. Those items, like a simple pin or a hairband, seem insignificant until we desperately need them but can't find them because we've overlooked them for so long. Using the gel print method allows me to capture the intricate details of each object, embracing traditional arts in the process. My idea is to print these objects and scan them, subsequently manipulating them into unique typefaces. These typefaces may appear enigmatic and unconventional, making the shapes challenging to understand, or they might be more straightforward and transparent. I'm still in the process of contemplating the final approach.
Process Video:
Initial Prints:
Zoomed in:
Case Studies:
Studio Dumbar:
Wouter Dirks from Studio Dumbar in Rotterdam discussed keeping up with trends for clients, emphasizing the integration of new technologies into their designs. While this approach works for their studio, I personally disagree with solely evolving to cater to clients. I believe in evolving as a designer for my own growth rather than solely for others. It can be challenging to become something I'm not just to meet external expectations, and I prefer to evolve in a way that aligns with my personal artistic journey.
Accept & Proceed:
From Michelle Dona at Accept & Proceed in London, I learned the significance of staying updated with current themes and trends, especially regarding technologies that can benefit clients and their projects. She stressed the importance of allocating dedicated time for exploring these technologies, like generative design. It was inspiring to hear about their team's deep dive into such innovative processes and research. This approach ensures that the projects they work on not only serve as one-time solutions but evolve over time, adapting to their clients' growth and changing communication needs. This perspective has inspired me to think more proactively about how technology and design trends can enhance the long-term impact of creative projects.
Contextual Research:
Observational Research:
For my contextual research this week, I wanted to shift towards a more observational approach and rely less on written information. I began to observe the world around me, seeking inspiration and a fresh perspective. I often remind myself to open my eyes truly and not just look but see every detail, as it's when I truly "see" that I can bring about significant changes in my life. The observational research I conducted turned out to be incredibly beneficial, serving as the starting point for my project and allowing me to discover new ideas and possibilities that I might have otherwise missed. This is a video of what I eyes have seen in just one day.
Dezeen and Google's Soft Futures talk:
The Soft Futures talk by Dezeen and Google inspired me to follow a similar path in my project. I aim to create designs that are visually appealing, fun, and easy for the audience to engage with. As they discussed using eco-friendly materials and circular design, I want to incorporate sustainability into my work. They talked about using eco-friendly materials in design, like fabrics that can break down naturally, and also about circular design, where things are made to be used repeatedly. They also said we should focus on making easy designs for everyone to use and consider people's well-being. This talk gave me a lot of ideas and practical knowledge that I use in my own creative work.
Self-Reflection:
This week has truly been a breath of fresh air compared to the last one. It felt like I was finally getting somewhere, and the contrast with the previous week, where I felt pretty stuck, was remarkable. What made this week special for me was giving myself the freedom to dive into different forms of art and embrace risks without overthinking. The results may not have been flawless, but I've come to realize that it's the willingness to experiment and persevere that ultimately propels me forward. Looking ahead, I'm thinking about trying out some new art stuff next week, but honestly, I'm pretty happy with how the prints turned out. But what really made my week awesome was talking to Frauke. Her tutorial gave me a fresh perspective and got me all excited about doing creative stuff. It's pretty amazing how taking chances and connecting with others can make a big difference in how I approach my work.
