No more Gap commercials

I really feel like what Amanda wrote seemed to be very valid. DVR has really taken the world by storm...its a great thing, but I don't see commercials anymore, which for us in the design/advertising field can be a downfall. For example this past winter you might have noticed that the Gap, famous for there hot commercial spots choose to not make any for the holiday season and instead create a mini booklet that was placed in major magazines. Their reasoning behind this was that people aren't watching television as much now...or fast forwarding through the commercials, so they were going to make a print piece to replace the expensive commercials. I personally feel as though this idea backfired on the Gap. You would be shocked how many people would come in and ask why they haven't been seeing any new commercials, ones they really loved in the past, some even asking if the Gap was slowing going out of business. I always reasured they...it's the Gap, we'll be around for a long time. So that seems to be a fact that people are still watching commercials. I do like the idea of sneaking advertising into venues you wouldn't think to have them be seen in. As Americans we are so inriched in pop culture so it seems like a very smart idea to incorporate them into other areas. It's all about getting your logo out there!

ad space sale

The invention of the DVR also know as TIVO dealt a blow to traditional commercial advertisting. Marketing directors since then have tried to make up what has been lost in commercial viewing with slick product placement, including seemless integration into the content of TV shows, film, magazines, and celebrity sponsorship. (Which I think we have talked about on a couple of days in visad class).

Last night CBS news ran a really cool piece at like 2AM about a company called Marathon Ventures. The largest growing virtual/digital brand integration strategist in the country. They have people screen every type of entertainment media produced. They look for ideal places for their high paying clients products to be part of scenes, storylines, and general sets/props. Once the client chooses what the best spot, the product is magically superimposed by computer, either where nothing was before, or rebranding something existing in the shot, for instance a characters t-shirt. Furthermore, that product placement is usually only guaranteed for one showing, each re-run could have a different box of cereal at the breakfast table for instance. And movie theatres in different locales could play the same film with different products that were chosen for their demographics, and the same goes for different releases of dvds in rental stores and for purchase in stores.

So my question is, that if they can do this so easily for products why don't they strategically place pink ribbons during breast cancer awareness month, or have characters attend a charity function, or put a rainbow bumper sticker on the back of a passing car. Catch my drift. We need to sneak some visual advocates into the product placement companies, or make non-profit marketing directories aware of this strategy so that they can beg for their causes air-time. I don't know. Just a thought.

word cool

I remember using a word "cool" a lot in hight school. Cool was cool. And it's insane how clothing companies were projecting on teens and on people in general. I think couple years back we were easily impressed with celebrities and billionaires having fun and doing something extreme. And of coarse that would raise up the attention of the people and they will say that he/she is cool, I want to go to that store. Like for example the playboy brand projects sexuality and i think the playboy bunny is cool, here we go I said it. So, i think we are all influenced.
I liked the insight about Tommy Hilfiger. Because it's just shows straight out how he lauched his business. I think it was smart to supply Snoop Dog with tennis shoes including probably many other celebrities, spoil them some more. But if it gets the promotion and branding out, you are on a right track. Just like hiring people to spread out the word, everythig is a strategy.

Indie is in

In the article "Alt. Everything" pg. 77 they mention how the cool kids abandon large brand named clothing; such as tommy hilfiger and nautica. They claim to only wear non-brand clothing from thrift stores or clothes past on from other generations in their family, yet now stores like Urban Outfitters and Abercrombie and Fitch market clothes that look just the same as the thrift clothes. Companies have caught on to that crowd and are making clothing to that certain target market. Smart! Now its cool to look like you don't care, with holes in your jeans-normally costing about 4 dollars at a thrift store but sold for 80 dollars at Urban Outfitters. So I predict that the next phase these "cool" kids go through will be to go back to the big name brand designers, just like it was in eighth grade for me.

Project 3 Revision

Democrats Opening Assault On Bush Security Policies

Ok, so I picked a different article to work with for project three. This one is about a set of proposals that the leading Democrats in congress recently unveiled titled “Real Security: Protecting America and Restoring Our Leadership in the World.” It is an attack on the administrations current security policies both at home and overseas. The proposal includes, increasing financing for Special Operations forces, increasing financing for economic development in troubled areas like the Middle East and South Asia, demand for more military equipment, additional port security, and stronger efforts to stop nuclear weapons development. The proposal also calls for the United States to achieve “energy independence” by 2020 by increasing production of alternative fuels. This is the part I would like to focus on for this project.

Nick @ Nite: NOW & THEN

Legg! Totatally agree with what you are saying. This takes me right back to the mid to late eighties. I would spend the night at my Grandma Dorothy's house from time to time. It was such a luxury since she lived in town and had cable...something a country boy like myself dreamed of. Me and Grandma would always watch Nick At Nite..watching shows such as Bewitched, Father Knows Best, i think the Brady Bunch was the only thing presented in color! At this time, I felt like these shows were so old, completely from a different age and time, but the whole time thinking they were the best shows ever. Now lets fast forward to the current Nick At Nite viewings. Full House, Roseanne, The Cosby Show...oh my god, is everyone thing what I am thinking?! Shows of our childhood are now being thought of in a way I thought of the Mary Tyler Moore Show! In the words of Michelle Tanner "no way dude!", or was it Stephanie...i'll have to get back to you on that one. I feel this really relates to "cool" in all senses of it. In current fashion treands, you are seeing things projected back to fashions of the late 70's to the 80's, of course with a new spin on it. Why wouldn't this be the same with media, design even. Just as todays youth is loving the way Darlene Conner is rebelious, Kimmy Gibbler is annoying, and Rudy Huxtable (sp?) is stealing cookies from the cookie jar, I was thinking that Marcia Brady had the prettiest hair, are Morky and Mindy real people?, and singing the Laverne & Shirley theme song were all very cool. Cool is what you make it. Cool? COOL!

youth marketing

I had a alight hard time understanding this reading, but what I got out of it is that companies started to be more focused on teens and hit them with consumerism and lables. I mean it is a strategy, it sux but teens are crazy. They want what's cool and trendy. I was in Moscow this past summer and was taking a walk with my girlfriend. and we saw two girls their age was probably 13, and exCUse me our mouth just dropped. Lena said to me do you remmember us when we were that age? I said yeah and we did not look like that. Fashion changed so much. I mean if me and Lena showed up to class looking like Paris Hilton, we would of gotten an apsence for the day and loads of embarrasment. Today teens follow this rutine that media, fashion and advertisement projects.

Marketing of COOL

After reading this article, it occured to me that the most productive way of marketing towards the youth culture would be through our entertainment; this being musical bands, artists, celebrities. Back in the '60s and'70s, the youth culture looked up to the same people, especially musicians. Back then they were wearing second hand clothing and just jamming under the stars, just as the article states. Now days, the youth culture is looking towards the same people; Britany Spears, Jessica Simpson, and Good Charlotte. In order to get the youth culture to buy their products, they must get to those people and thus the youth culture will follow. It makes a lot sense when I think back to grade school and high school now. Curt Cobain (Nirvana) and Hole were the big thing in my day, so grunge was in. Of course then, I must wear chucks and flannel shirts too, then everyone will see that I listen to that sort of music. I wish my little sister would listen to me when I tell her that by listening to Britney Spears and wearing her clothes and makeup like her, that she is being sucked into a false world. She is becoming something other than herself. Kids need to get out and stop watching tv all the time, go play in a sandbox or ride a bike. That was a little off the subject. sorry.

Israeli Pullout

The March 29 Issue of the New York Times includes on its cover an article outlining the recent Israeli election results. The article announces the victory for the Kadima Party, a newly formed political force that claims to be moderate. Kadima was formed shortly before Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a major stroke in January 2006, which was given over to Ehud Olmert as acting Prime Minister. The Party’s main platform rests on the promise to give up the West Bank and other “occupied territories” to the Palestinian Authority as an act of ‘Disengagement’. I chose this issue because I do not think Israel should give any more land away. I do not think the Kadima party is an accurate representation of the larger population (only 52% of citizens cast ballots in the recent elections). There is a saying among Israelis: “No More Concrete Land For Paper Promises.” The PA has repeatedly proven itself to be an organization that supports terrorism and is unwilling to take action against its own people when the International Laws of Peace are broken. It must also be mentioned that after the Gaza pullout, the PA has not maintained their end of the bargain, which was a promise to keep Gaza’s Egyptian border safe and to not tolerate ANY acts of violence from within the Gaza borders into Israel. Neither of these promises have been upheld. Last Tuesday, the first Katyucsha rocket was fired into Israel from Gaza, signaling an escalation of warfare. Up until recently, the attacks have been limited to Qassam rockets (which have a shorter range and are therefore less of a threat, but are by no means ‘safe’ for the people of Israel) are being fired at Israeli citizens. With the recent Palestinian elections resulting in a victory for Hamas (a terrorist organization) the peace plan is already in a state of uncertainty, and for Olmert to suggest that he will continue with the peace plan established under former leader Arafat is almost laughable. It is a critical time in the history of Israel as a nation; decisions will be made that will permanently affect the citizens and their way of life. Hopefully, Ehud Olmert and his party are prepared for the challenge and its consequences.

Trade truce with China in the Senate

The article I choose out of the New York Times was about a trade truce with China within the Senate. There was a bill being proposed within the Senate that would threaten steep tariffs on Chinese imports if Chinese leaders refuse to let their currency, the Yuan, raise in value against the dollar. The tariff of 27.5 % would be on all exported goods coming from China. The Senate has reserved the right to put this to a vote in Sept. but is hoping that the matter will be dropped. The Senate Finance Committee is pushing a separate bill that would focus more attention on currency policies but stop short of threatening tariffs on imported goods.

China is becoming more and more a super power in the world in the regards of consumption and production. America has tried to reduce the trade deficit by trying to boost U.S. exports to China. Exports have increased significantly in the past few years, but not nearly as much as the flood of Chinese imports to the U.S. We export cotton, we import clothing, We export hides, we bring in shoes. We export scrap metal. We bring back machinery. We're exporting waste paper; we bring back cardboard boxes with products inside them. We have failed to make trade more of a two-way street, rather it's a trash shoot into the American consumer’s backyard. There is also talk that China is trying to engage in currency manipulation, going hand and hand with China buying up America's ever growing debt, which could then make the dollar crash and burn and the super power America as we know it could float away in the wind like a plastic bag caught in a updraft.

US hubris

The article I choose to right on is in the Business Day section of the New York Times. It’s title is “At G.M’s Helm Or Going Under.” The article Starts by explaining the hardship that G.M has fallen under. It’s unit sales are at their lowest point since 1992, when G.M’s now president stepped in and turned the company around, and its market share has been in steady decline and does not look to be turning around anytime in the future without intervention. The question is, what will the intervention be? Some are placing the blame on the President of G.M, Mr. Wagoner. Saying that he should have taken bigger risks and paid more attention to the lure of environmental friendly automobiles before the competition capitalized on the need. They also criticize his downfall in giving in to the Auto Workers Union and actually paying its employees to not come to work. They are shelling out money to workers that are not working. Toyota has made a choice to not have a Workers Union. They work under the strategy of, you come to work and take care of us and we’ll take care of you. But G.M is paying so much for it’s workers that it’s prices must stay high enough to support the labor. Toyota has shops that are flexible and can make many models of their cars, G.M only has 8 out of 23 shops that are flexible.
The issue now is, will a new president really save the company or is it just too late? The closing of G.M will effect more than we all know. It seems that its just one subsidiary of a company but when we think of how many small companies are supported by the work they receive from G.M and how many people are then employed by G.M adversely, it adds up quickly. It will effect us all. The government bailed out Chevrolet years ago when they neared bankruptcy, will they do it again?
They political issue at hand is where we as an American company got so overconfident and lost sight of quality and pride. We then allowed foreign cars into the US and they saw a need and filled it. Should we have never allowed foreign cars in or should we have stepped up to the plate and taken a closer look at the quality of our work. Should we also have never allowed for a labor union for auto workers, allowing for cost of cars to stay low? There are many issues at hand and I believe that it all boils down to the hubris of our culture. Instead of investing in environmental cars to save G.M, Mr.Wagoner bought Hummer. We are Americans who want bigger and stronger and this is what in turn, has made us weak.

-Amy Hubbard

German Quiz - Not Natasha - Oops

Article from The New York Times; A quiz for would-be citizens tests Germans' attitudes

Should people have to take a test to be able to become a legal German citizen? Some of these quizzes entail 300 question quiz about the history of Germany and must speak fluent German. They are trying to preserve the German culture that they have left and keep out immigrants. I believe that anyone willing to become a German citizen should be fluent in German and know the history of the culture. Maybe they only allow a number of people into the country to keep an equal amount of native born Germans and incoming potential Germans.

PROJECT THREE

The topic of choice is large. The ongoing crisis and decline of General Motors financial situation is facing an all time low market share since the Great Depression. Facing a $10.6 billion loss in 2005, its biggest since 1992, General Motors is laying off hundreds of White-Collar employees from 30 various G.M. factories across the country. And thats only the beginning.

Good riddance. The GM automaker is the largest in the world with a family of vehicles from well known American brands including Chevrolet, Pontiac, HUMMER, GMC, Cadillac and many more. GM delivers quality, reliability and durability in every car, truck, or SUV they build...they also delivery pointlessly huge vehicles that consume twice, even three times the amount of gasoline than other responsible foreign compacts. These vehicles are dangerous environmentally as well as for both drivers on the road and contain frivolous power levels that consumer-grade vehicles would never need.

Be gone with all irresponsible vehicles.

Project THREE Overview

"After Hard Lessons, a New Game Plan for Huricane Seasons"

I found this particular article in the National portion of the New York Times. Its main focus was the plans for the upcoming hurricane season. They are needing a better action plan for when these storms hit the coastal areas in the south. I found it interesting that the ideas are mostly focused around reloacting large amounts of people. The main ones that are being looked at very closely are the ones that are living in mobile homes. They are the ones that would be forced to leave even if a tropical storm was in affect. It was mentioned that they do not want this project to overshadow the recovery efforts that are still in play from last years devastating Hurricane Katrina, showing that is still the overall main focus, but then aslo realizing that something like that can happen again and thusly being more prepared for the season.

Germans say 6 companies sold nuclear parts to Iran Network

I picked an article called " Germans Say 6 Companies Sold Nuclear Parts to Iran Network". I found this article to be intriguing because Germany is trying to find out who exported or shipped 3.6 million worth of nuclear equipment. Germany has this restrictions about shiping equipment to other countries, and to Iran it's borbidden. So somehow they think that may be there is a Russian middlemen, because since the equipment cannot come to Iran but can come to any other country like Russia, (which is close to Iran) so they assumed that may be nuclear parts went there and then to Iran. This article reminds me of Nicholas Cage movie about guns. Now i am curious who actually shipped the equipment. Russian authorities say that they don't know anything about this. Iran says that they are innocent also. NOT FUN......

project 3

Article: Negotiations on Tobacco Payment

In 1998, there was a $246 Billion Master Settlement Agreement, which ended lawsuits against the largest tobacco companies over the health care costs of smoking. The agreement included major restrictions on cigarette marketing. The big companies now say that they are entitled to a reduction of $1.2 billion of the $6.5 billion they are scheduled to pay as the next installment of the settlement, which is due on April 17.

It’s not really this particular article that gets under my skin, but smoking and tobacco companies in general. I can’t wait until smoking is banned in all public areas. If someone wants to kill themselves then make them do it inside their own homes and away from the millions of people who are trying to be healthy.

Pro3: Gun Bill

The article that I am chosing to cover is about a gun bill that is in front of Congress. The article is about Mayor Michael Bloomberg's, of New York City, fight against the bill. The bill in question would prohibit the release of the records from the the national gun-trace database. The records could only be used in a "bona fide criminal investigation or prosecution" and not in civil suites. Bloomberg is looking to use the trace records to weed out the irresponsible gun dealers who do not follow the A.T.F.'s guidlines on the selling of firearms. According to Bloomberg 300 of the 540 homicides in NYC occured with illegal firearms. This bill would make it harder for civil lawsuites to be brought against "rogue" dealers and therefore even more difficult to hold them accountable for their carelessness. This is a rising concern, as more and more people are dying. It is still far to easy for criminals to find a gun even if they go through a dealer or a pawn shop where the owners are just seeing the money in their pockets and not the blood on the streets. It is not really much different from the tobacco industry now being somewhat held accountable for their actions as firearms ultimately put more peoples lives into danger.

German Quiz

Article from The New York Times; A quiz for would-be citizens tests Germans' attitudes

Should people have to take a test to be able to become a legal German citizen? Some of these quizzes entail 300 question quiz about the history of Germany and must speak fluent German. They are trying to preserve the German culture that they have left and keep out immigrants. I believe that anyone willing to become a German citizen should be fluent in German and know the history of the culture. Maybe they only allow a number of people into the country to keep an equal amount of native born Germans and incoming potential Germans.

Project 3 topic

The essay I read was in the New York Times Special Edition Museum section. It essentially explored issues surrounding the current politics overcoming the museum world where I intend to make a career. It’s also interesting to me as a producer of cultural property.

Who owns art? Art being defined as cultural (intellectual) property, otherwise known as patrimony. Is it private citizens, which were perhaps descendents of the artist? Does the National Government of the artist, or of the source country (where the art was found)? Or is it the museum that owns the work that they (their patrons) paid for, or entrusted to their care by donors? Which brings about a second question. Whose responsibility is it to protect cultural property for future generations? While just that is the mission of many museums, the destruction of art is the mission of some governments. China is attempting to extinguish the Tibetan culture by systematically destroying their import religious art. Whose job is it to protect Iraqi cultural property in their current embattled state?

In today’s context specifically, the art in question is that which may have been obtained illegally by today’s standards. Art that is not attributed to any particular artist in most cases, and often many generations old if not ancient. This includes work found during unapproved archeological excavations, and art taken from peoples during colonial occupation. Art was always collected by imperial powers as a display of wealth and power. And art is proving to be at the heart of the complex political struggle for superiority today.

It is of utmost importance that the international laws regarding the ownership of cultural property be solidified so property can be dispersed accordingly, and the party responsible for its care and protection clearly named. Only then can the museum world and governments concentrate on diminishing the black market for such property, which is not only jeopardizing the preservation of the property for the future, but the ability for professionals to learned about the cultural contexts within which the art was created.

The Culture Bank is one institution attempting to reconcile issues of art ownership and protection. Started by Todd Vincent Crosby, a Peace Corps Member serving in Mali, the Culture Bank is a museum that lies within the borders of the community from which the art came from. Member of the village can lend their precious family artifacts to the museum for safe keeping in exchange for small monetary loans. Additional loans can be taken out over time as long as the art remains in the museum. They can choose to reclaim the piece if they repay any loans in full. The art essentially becomes collateral for loans much needed to proper in the 3rd world.

corporate sauce

Woe is me! Tom’s of Maine has sold out to the man. I am going to have to find a new brand of toothpaste – what a hassle. Now every time I brush my teeth, I will be facing an ethical dilemma. I love my toothpaste, but do I love it enough to stroke the man’s pocket with my hard earned cash, or should I begin a search for a socially responsible toothpaste and stick it to the Colgate corporate giant. I even went to the Tom’s of Maine website to check out just how they justified their decision – they claim their small company cannot supply the growing demand for natural products, but I think Tom and his wife are getting older and wanted to lubricate their pockets with a little extra golfing cash. Does that make me jaded and cynical? Perhaps. But Tom should know better.

Sorry for the frivolous blog – but I had to vent my frustration.

GoGuerilla

While I was in Philadelphia my new found awareness of all the ads I'm seeing, and wanting to know where they come from led me to this company. Visit www.goguerilla.com to visit the GoGuerilla site or their niche counterpart GoCards. EVERYTHING that I picked up in Philly these people had made into incognito, or conversely loud and obnoxious advertising space. The GoCards are mounted in stores and restaurants on neat little racks for you to take for free... but during my stay I encountered GoToothpicks in restaurants, GoGlasses (advertising cheap airline tickets), GoCoaters, napkins, matches in bars, GoModels on the street, and probably more that I couldn't absorb. It's particularly interesting to read the sections where they try to explain what guerilla media is, and why it would help your business. There is also a casestudy section.
Check it out.

become a dezigner over night!

check out this link that relates to our discussion about design training:

http://www.thedesignerslife.com/lh/mef2/

Hmmm...

I could see how this conversation could get unproductive quickly. So here are my most objective two cents I can bring myself to contribute on why it is that I am here:

I have been hanging out with both Tibor Kalman and J. Abbott Miller while researching for my DP. Both agree, as do I, that design/graphic design are "media" not "professions." In other words, a means to communication rather than a job. Somewhere within the subjective act of writing design/art history, (cough: Modernist Elitists) decided that design was really very separate from fine art, and graphic design particulary was pigeon-holed as a lower-art/applied craft.

This misconception is still common today, mainly because there hasn't been a whole lot of writing to its contrary by designers or otherwise, at least not that I have found. This myth or mentality is also perpetuated by the plethora of trade schools, and at least the community college that I've attended the during the summers). These institutions are most concerned with giving people job skills. What interested me about coming to the KCAI was that the major was medium.... "design" just like "painting" or "sculpture." Not the "visual communications" or whatever else that it was twisted into at nearly all the other art schools I applied to. It was design in the context of art. If that makes sense.

Okay... that's it. I hope it makes sense.

Poor and jobless with no portfolio

I actually value the findings and experiences I have accumulated over the years both within the institution and in the broader community. I look back at how I was (as artist and person) and evaluate how I have changed and grown in regards to both. The good and bad changes I have experienced through this trip are invaluable, ultimately making me better. Connections were made and a bridge or two were burned.

I fell into art as profession immediately after high school expecting to major in painting or illustration. Obviously I made the choice towards design. I changed and adapted. This pattern is one that will happen all throughout life, nothing stays forever and things change. The passions we have towards this field shouldn't be dictated or skewed by the inevitable consumerism and commerece. I still have passion and conviction (both rational and even unexplainable) for everything that I do and to be honest, i immoderately enjoy seeing my work within the community. It's self-indulgence at its best. Choose your battles and take on certain projects how you will; serious or light-hearted.

In the end, it's a way of life. Working is a component of that (capitalist society). High School gets you Hardees. College gets you shift manager at Hardees..just kidding. I mean, the idea of higher education is to improve our stations in life. I don't know about you but if I could create art (both dog biscuit ads and the occasional great project) I would certainly be content.

Design, as it applies to commercial use is odd at best...considering how we as students have approached our own projects within the last few years. I think there are ways to change and still keep your dignity in this industry. Through close direct client relationships and clear communication. I don't nessesarily think that EVERY client is after the $$$. We as designers have power to improve, enlighten, and inspire. These things are not disconnected with commerece. These often coexist.

"novices"

“I think I should have gone to community college”

… after today’s discussion, I wonder how many of use were thinking that,

Or “crap! The world of design has deceived me.”

Maybe I came into the world of art a bit naïve. I decided to study design initially because it was the logical course of study to satisfy my interests, which were form and typography. I wanted to make art using those elements to communicate beautiful ideas. It wasn’t until later in my education that I realized this world of design has an entirely different element involved that I wouldn’t willingly engage with. Commerce. Yuck! Why are we required to bow to the corporate machine and crank out work that can “yield profit”? Is this what we thought we were getting into when we had the dream of graduating with a degree in design?

Don’t get me wrong, I am happy that attending a school of design has taught me to think conceptually and visually solve problems, it is an exceptional skill to possess, but I am really disillusioned about the commercial applications of our craft and how we will choose to engage with the inevitable questions that will arise as we are sent into the world. I wonder how many of us will stick to our guns. I certainly hope I do.

no convictions

wow.

it was pretty amazing to sit in class on monday and hear just how few convictions we have. i wonder if we are just a particularly apathetic group of people, or if we are a particularly apathetic generation. have we been taught to keep quiet because of the political-correctness campaign that has been thrown at us since a young age, or is it a response to the "tolerant" postmodern culture we are living in. it seems like everywhere we turn, we are told that tolerance is the most important quality - that no matter what our personal convictions are regarding a particularly controversial subject, we cannot voice our opinion for fear of being labeled “intolerant”. i hope my generation will be able to stand up one day and express our true convictions without fear of being labeled politically incorrect. my grandmother always said “the chicken that sticks its neck out gets served for dinner. i think it was in an attempt to quell my strong chutzpah – obviously it was a failure…

let’s think deeply about who we are, what we stand for, and what we can do with the power we have been given.

Design LAW

I found the Business and Ethical Expectations for Professional Designers to be quite interesting on a good level and also on a bad level as well. I feel as though it is very important that we as designers have something like this to fall back on when things get bad and also something to look up to as for expectations for ourselves. But should it be so business oriented, so to the book, so corporate? Does this make us more like business men and less like artists? Does this tie us down and eliminate the free spirits we have it in us to be? I feel as though there needs to be more of a happy medium. A little less business and a little more spirit...a mullet if you will...business in the front...party in the back kinda thing! We have the strong design compentencies now comes the time we promote ourselves as designers with the power to back it up!

Scary

Michael Bierut's "A Manifesto with Ten Footnotes" gave me chills while reading footnote #4. Bringing up the issue of shoes and dachshund owners, how could I not take this personally? I hate that he refers to products as gruesome. I don't believe that all designers should go protest and speak from a soap box. If that were the case then the world would be louder than it is now. There are those who take iniciative and fight back, and there are those who dodge the bullet and stay clear from certain issues that aren't as important to them as it is to others. I am that second person. I agree that dog biscuit boxes should be attractive to the consumer who is buying them, why not? Is it so wrong that I would rather create shoe boxes and ad campaignes for the Gap than to create anti-smoking ads? I am concerned for the consumers would buy cigarettes but they know what the results are in the end, its their choice, it's no secret that it causes cancer.

Fuck committees

I like this guy. Yes today there are so many rich people out there. And yes I agree that we should be nice to them in order to use their resources and we should use their help. I dont know i like what he wrote, straight to the point. That once USA was one way and now it's it the opposite and yes it is a corporate culture. And i can relate that to Russian too. When I was growing up it was one way did not see as much bright labels, fashion was more important then bright label. After visiting this summer, huge bill boards advertising smokes, ohhh on the huge building there was Bionce Knowls for L'oreal adveritising the lipstick, things like that are spreading out. Being from another country i can say that every other culture is trying to be like US. So, US should be proud and not change.

Once more

Oh yeah I like this one very much! He says, " What will happen when the best designers withdraw from that space, as First things first demands?....." Oh my gosh that is what they should do, because young people need a chance. He says we all are hypnotized about same stuff well because same people are working and working. Why not really leave and let the young people come in with fresh brains. Like I am really upset when I am looking at job postings and all I see 5 years of experience nessesary. That is so discriminative, because why am I getting this education? If I come out of college does that mean I am worth nothing, I cannot work at your company because I am young? People whom he calls great designers are great including himself but they are from another era, we are living the life that they didnt live, means we fit in better and need a chance. And who will benefit? The country will, the young generation will. So much ego it's insane! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

Disagree with Michael

After reading his break down of first things first manifesto, I really got aggravated with some things that he wrote. I dont know if it was his intension to piss us off or he really thinks like that which is kind of arrogant. He is saying that we need to design work that will better the world we live in or possible United States, right? I think that it's not my responsibility to better it, yeah I can do some recycling and making sure i dont throw my cigarette buds on the streets but really that is the most things I can do because I have no money really to save the world. Educational institutions offers us so many degrees and those degrees are responsibilities. So, if I choose to design that means I will do my job and design that wrigley gum package whoever my client wants it, because It's my job to sell his product and make it work for the public. The president is the one who takes other responsibility which is taking care of the country. I am not a president I dont do what he is doing, just don't have what he has. Another thing Michael is saying that we should simlify design. I think that it's not right unless you are trying to push new ideas. I think that we are so advanced in technology today that it would be a waste of power, money and our brain to just not put it to work. I like to see bright labels and fun type on the shelves. It's the part of culture and millions want to come and visit America just to see the advertisement. I dont understand why you would want to change that, when you are being a spark.

Tibor Rocks My Socks!

I have a new design hero... I thought you might all like to know. I think that his very short article concludes in an incredibly consise solution for how to make a difference even if you end up working for corporate America. Essentially, screw the man by using there wealth and resources. If they don't go for that pitch you make for some advocacy snuck into their advertising campaign, consider I don't know: copying your zine on company time or paper, create posters with the latest software you pirated from the office, use their staples, plotter (you get the point... whatever you can get away with and not get fired). You could do more honest things like spec recycled paper for the annual report, or less harmful paper packaging over plastic packaging.

There is one point that I didn't agree with Mr. Kalman about. He said that corporations are creating things that people neither love nor hate. I think part of the problem is that designers are so good that we have the power to make people love things. I believe in the Saatchi and Saatchi Lovemark. I only hope that as a designer I can use this power to make people love things that are good for society, and the future, not the pocketbook of the man I aspire to steal staple from.

Side Note: I'm not sure how successful I was in formulating my question for Tim Hamil the other day, but in short I was glad to hear that he didn't think that he was working for a company that was harming America (whether it is or not), and that he had several really amazing examples of what he liked about Walmart besides that they are cheap. This whole idea of being an ethical designer really is nothing except a personal issue. If you personally feel comfortable about the companies/accounts that you work for is what is going to count in the long run. I am just really happy that this class is making me generate my own limitations, and realize that I am not the only designer that is gung-ho about making a difference in the world (no matter how taboo that seems to be in the current / postmodern art scene). At the very least it has come to my attention that even if I can't work for some cultural force rather than a corporation, I regard it my responsibility to do no harm, if not improve the status quo.

Pentagram in KC version two

This one is for Landon

Landon, I agree with you on a certain level. Midwest design sucks. oh, sorry, sorry...being a midwest designer sucks. Having a firm/company located near the client or work seems logical. right?

Considering that people are far less conservative than those in the midwest, design groups on the coasts to do seem to capture the more radical clients in which more radical designs would be allowed and utilzed. I'm not sure this is a result of ease or reputation. However, we as midwest designers must prevail. There is a strong and growing force of more radical and progressive designers that are creating work right here in the midwest and are even getting international attention within the larger design community. Due to technology and the internet, midwest designers are allowed to compete with other coastal designers. There is more and more focus on midwest design, generally acknowledged for its clean, conservative, and even smart designs but those ideals have evolved. They have evolved into something more.

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checkout MikePerry : www.midwestisbest.com

this midwest designer is reponsible for the amazing artwork that is associated with the infamous Urban Outfitters.
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checkout MK12 : www.mk12.com

Kansas City based animation/motion/print graphic group recognized internationally.
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Pentagram in KC?

The whole time that Michael B. was talking i kept thinking, wondering, if that if Pentagram was base-stationed here in kansas city, if the success of the company would be the same. i feel as though they get these great design jobs because of the company location in NYC. It seems logical that they do the street directional signage for lower manhattan, because of the ease to see the actual location on demand. I feel that is what kansas city is lacking. right now i don't feel there is anything that would be drawing large companies to have there work designed in the midwest. i don't think that design is taken as seriously here in this area. It makes amanda's comment the other day that people really don't realize that EVERYTHING is designed. I feel that the design culture on the coasts is more respected mainly because of the large amount of coverage it gets.

Mao comes to town

If I remember correctly, we had a discussion last week about propaganda. As we gazed at a slide showing Mao’s face looming over a city square in communist China, Brockett made a comment to the effect of “We don’t really have a context for this type of propaganda in our culture – it’s pretty rare that you see a huge face on the side of a building in Kansas City.” Well Brockett, this is your lucky week!

If anyone has driven by the Plaza lately, you could not have missed the 8-story portrait of Lance Armstrong on the side of the American Century building. His face is accompanied by the tag line: “Put Your Lance Face On”… nobody really knows what it means or why it’s there… but suddenly we have someone watching over us.

Is this a type of propaganda? The Kansas City Star ran an article on the strange advertisement, revealing to its readers that the CEO of American Century recently beat cancer and felt an expression of solidarity was necessary – but does the entire city need to know? To associate Lance Armstrong and cancer with American Century doesn’t make too much sense to begin with – but we’ll have to assume it’s there for a reason. And until we find out what that reason is: we can rest in knowing that Lance is watching over us.

guerrilla advertising

Wow. Michael Bierut's lecture was amazing. As he spoke on Friday about the recent campaigns he has engaged in, I found it quite relevant when he brought up the issue of guerrilla campaigns (particularly the Ted fiasco). I noticed how the vibe in the room immediately became jovial as we all watched these unsuspecting people thank a fictitious man Ted was responsible for so many kind acts around the city of Denver. Advertising agencies seem to be resorting to these underground techniques more and more, probably in order to engage on a personal level with their audience. We are all so cynical about advertising, because it feels a lot like coercion - and guerrilla marketing seems to be a way to undermine those sentiments.
Furthermore, I am not sure if this technique is horribly sneaky, or brilliant. I know I would like Ted to buy me flowers, or a cup of coffee, but when I found out who Ted really was, would it make me feel more manipulated than a traditional advertising campaign? Who knows, we'll just have to wait for Ted to come to town.

visual advocacy

Internet banner ads are an instance of narrow casting. I’m not sure how many sites do this, but on my excite account there is always a small banner ad at the top
that changes between all the stores I shop at online.

If you’d like to read all about how banner ads
work go here:
http://money.howstuffworks.com/banner-ad.htm

visual advocacy

right on zeitler! i agree that we should push for the dirty work of advertising to be left to the "pr" people. a designer is not a copywriter or an advertising executive. we need to re-define our job description in this world of multi-tasking-do-it-yourself-ers. i beleive that we have been trained to design - which is essentially a vocational skill, and we are not responsible for the art of persuasion. or are we? i would like to believe that we are only resonsible for the visual elements of our work, but they are so closely linked with the message of the product, and the marketing strategy that we soon find ourselves in the slippery slope of the dangerous "gray area".
even today, as we were struggling to define luxury, it became difficult to differentiate between what was acceptable societal norms, and the extravagant items left for the elite. each of us had a different definition of luxury (based on the items we each described... socks, porche, estate planners, etc...) with the objects varying so greatly, it made me begin to wonder whether or not there is such a thing as luxury. are these things up to the designer to define? or is it the population? and why would we try to promote something as "luxurious" (for instance) if we do not believe ourselves, that it is such an item.

Not Cool

All of this talk about the impropriety of the advertising business makes me want to stay far, far away from its seductive prestige, money, and fancy offices. All that we have hashed out in regards to cause-related advertising is that it is socially "questionable" at best. Where does that leave the rest of advertising? Like Stef said in a previous post "designers are being hired", and in some cases it is to do the dirty work. Why has it become our job to stretch the small deeds of companies into saintly acts? Can we give this job back to Public Relations people? Is design advantageous because it allows companies to present a message into the public domain from a neutral entity? Like we talked about with our assignments on Wed. it's the ambiguity of the designer's voice/identity that allows us to believe the American Heart Association put their seal on the Cherrios box, and that it was CARE recognizing Starbucks, and not Starbucks boasting its deeds in Natasha's work. Whether it's a harmless fib or an out right lie to embrace such ambiguity I'm not sure. But, I'm pretty sure I don't want to walk that line with the goal of boosting profits in mind... maybe if I can be convinced that it will truly benefit the cause it would be a different story.

What target market are we?

Aaron and Erin are ages 18-24
They either attend college or are recently graduated.
They are searching for careers while working a part-time job.
They are searching for a prospective lifestyle while living at home, an apartment or a house/loft.

What this target market needs:
•Give me something new and fresh. Sell me an idea of a lifestyle that I find desirable for my near future.
•I want the best but only have the income for what's affordable.
•I want to be related to. And I want to relate to the great jobs and amazing downtown loft living.
•I want to be emersed in it all, be where it all is.
•I will buy into the ccreative, independent, and fast paced.
•I spend on things for myself that I may not need but find refreshing and beneficial to my lifestyle.
•I am always on the move and constantly have a list of things to accomplish.
•I like to hang out with friends, go to parties and drink occasionally.

Aaron and Erin's demographic is perfect for a new and innovative product, something to keep up with the fast paced life style they lead. They want color and sleek design, maximum user effeciency and something that makes a statement about who they are at the moment. They need something with all of these traits that will not break their budget and that will last. The product should last because at this influential stage we should be selling them on brand loyalty.

Socially minded advertising

Cause marketing can be a great thing as long as it is working for the good of both parties. As soon as a company, new or otherwise, is out of the red, they should begin to think of what sponsorship would be the correct pairing. I don't even disagree with the pairing of motor vehicles and breats cancer sponsorship. If motor sales need more women buyers and breast cancer research needs more funding then why is this relationship questioned? I do see, however that the seal of a worthy campain can be bought for a flat fee and then, basically, rented for each year following and how this relationship may not be fair. The major corporation renting the seal should be invested enough to the cause to want to give all that is possible. Although, if they give more money to the cause is it then coming out of the workers pockets? There is a definite beginning and end to these "good" deeds. And as Judith Schwartz says about large corporations, "the bottom line is profit and self-interest." This fact will never change but as long as both parties are benefitting and worthy charities are recieving more money than before their alliance formed, then I believe the pairing is valid and arguably great for charities that may have been overlooked. Judith is right in saying that these alliances must be well thought out so as each party can find comfort in a "win-win" situation.

-Amy Hubbard

i believe that the question of designing socially responsible works often contradicts the purpose of the graphic designer. we are an army of artists who hire ourselves out to produce work for others to benefit from. we have been likened to the "prostitutes" of the art world and i think it is time that we revisit the definition of our artform and admit that everything we produce has to be fueled by our personal convictions. the very suggestion that design can be objective is preposterous. as kathy mccoy states, "the ideal of value-free design is a dangerous myth. in fact, all design solutions carry a bias, either explicit or implicit." it is one thing to sell ourselves to the corporate giants for profit - it is another thing to live in denial of our own convictions for the sake of profit.

I agree that as designers we have certain responsibilities. First we have to give respect to the client cause he is the one that is paying you and try to design what he wants. But at the same time have the skill to advice the client on what would be right and more acceptable and succesful. Sometimes i think like designers are some sort of artistic shrinks, cause we listen to what client has to say and then we go and respond on that with a messege in which we can present many possibilities that are much greater than what the client expected.
I think that designers should have some idea what is going on in a government not nessesarily know everything cause this will not happen to me cause I dont watch CNN. And know what is going on in different countries. Like if you got a job overseas it would be nice to know what is up there and does it really worth it to do a job in a certain place? But I dont have to be a good citizen to be a good designer. The person could be the biggest piece of shit but also have great creativity and dedication to the work.

Sell Out

visual advocacy: January 2006

To sell out is to put aside one’s personal beliefs in exchange for some sort of reward such as prestige or the all mighty dollar. It is unfortunately easy to do in this society of wanting, and often the only consequence is the individual’s conscience and self worth. The betrayal of his principals may make his reward bittersweet.

Responsibility

I find responsibility to be a realization that personal action (or inaction for that matter) has consequences. Usually the choice to experience positive or negative reprocussions as the result of your actions is solely yours. Yet, given the fact that every person is part of a community, family, church, workplace, school, etc. personal actions can have consequences for others. So more than doing the right thing for yourself, it is also a matter of accountability, and thoughtfulness.

I agree

hey landon i can hear you - 10-4

After reading Kathy McCoy's article, I can't help but feel as if I am just another one of the soldiers marching one after the other, doing as I'm told, following the group. I would love to create work that spoke about politics, the environment, social classes, current events, economics issues and what-not, but when do these issues arise? I feel as if I create all my work out of self-indulgence and am ignorant about all other views. I need to work on this. back to you


Natalie

is this on? (tap, tap, tap)

OK, i joined....just seeing if i was doing this correctly....i'm new to blogging!