From the category archives:

aesthetics

A Value-Added Proposition

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The element of beauty is assumed in any design.

Does Good Design Matter?

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Does it matter if a design is good or not? Before we can deal with that question let’s ask a more basic one: What makes a design good? To answer that question, we should first begin with what good means. Without a definition, it’s unlikely that any design can be considered good or not, since [...]

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Beauty Is Not Pretty

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Let’s make the distinction between beauty and pretty.

Loving It: Seduction, Satisfaction and Graphic Culture

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To be promoted in our design-driven culture, a product must be packaged in such a way that it becomes meaningful to the person using it, so that they become an evangelist for it. This requires thoughtful planning and execution of a design strategy

Breathing Room: The Role of the Space In Between

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Empty space in a design is useful. Think of it in this way: If there was a room in your home where every inch of space was taken up by a piece of furniture, you would be unable to navigate through or use the room. Empty space between furniture is required for the room to [...]

Drawing The Line Between Art and Design

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Where an artist can begin with a blank canvas and pursue a serendipitous route to an end result, a designer begins with a set of criterion and remains within set boundaries from concept through completion.

Choosing Color

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Pantone has released its Fashion Color Report for Spring 2011 in which the rising trend is in contrasting color schemes. Those who follow color know that the trends generally appear first in the fashion industry and then seep from there into other design and manufacturing areas. Knowing what’s trending is helpful, but should not be [...]

A Before and After Case Study

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I was asked by a client to re-design a print ad laid out by someone else. The original layout (above, left) was cluttered and confused. The ad, for an author’s book signing events in upscale communities in Los Angeles County, was going to appear in a local cultural magazine. What was needed was a visual [...]

Elements of a Real Designer

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I teach a course at UCLA Extension called Elements of Design. It deals with the stuff design is made of. Things like balance, gestalt theory, proportion, value, color, structure and composition all go into the mix of what design is all about. Students who complete the course come away with the understanding that design is [...]

Leaves In My Gutter

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It’s an odd place to find beauty. Gutters are usually the conduits of unwanted odds and ends. They can become pretty nasty. But once in awhile a treasure is found there. In this case the treasure consists of colors and textures expressed through leaves, asphalt, concrete and mildew.

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