BOOKS_SAGMEISTERMONOGRAPH

I recently got round to reading Sagmeisters monograph. I enjoy reading monographs, however I think they are a difficult thing to really get valuable information from. The trap is to read to closely into what other people are doing that it becomes strange for an individual to focus on their own path without it being a pastiche of other peoples ideals. 

Sagmeister's book is particularly entertaining and it highlights the extreme devotion to his professional life, and his seemingly non existent personal life. This monograph was of value due to the viewpoint that Sagmeister shares on his personal and professional practice divide. I think that I will take this with a pinch of salt. I am massively different to Sagmeister in the way that I am not as intense about graphic design as Sagmeister is. Sagmeister believes that if you hobbies you do not enjoy what you are doing. I personally feel that everything in moderation is applicable, and that my own design work is better when I engage with things outside of design. I think this is something I will take into my professional practice, engaging with things and people outside of the design spectrum will help me be a more rounded designer with wider and more personalised professional and personal concerns. 

There are some ways that we are similar in that I think that design needs to be for people, and not at the mercy of other designers, or design criticsim. I like the idea that I do not need validation to be confident in my work, and I feel that Sagmeister is very comfortable with his working process. 

I will continue to read books on design, and beyond, as I think they can be more reflective and impactful than a blog post, news article, or a lecture. 

BOOKS_SNASKMAKEENEMIESANDGAINFANS

Make Enemies & Gain Fans is the book of design studio Snask. I have been very interested in Snask since first year, however I have only just got into reading their book. I was very interested to see how shakey their company start up was. The fact that the business is set up seems to be nothing short of a miracle. The book highlights the transition between student and professional and is full of motivation fuelled irreverence. The book focusses on adding personality to work, and that this can be done in any situation. Taking control of the brief, and making it into something personal is something that I am not particularly very good at yet but I think after reading this, I will aim to create a greater sense of personality in my work and in my professional presence. 

BOOKS_KARLSONWILKERTELLMEWHY

"This book tells the improbable story of two young designers going against all odds in an act or bravura or insanity. It offers a telling humourous and human insight into the workings of a startup design agency, showcasing a lot of exceptional work in the process.”


I read this book after being interested in the work of karlssonwilker last year. The book gives insight to the startup of a graphic design studio in New York. What I found particularly interesting is the amount of set backs Karlsson and Wilker had during the first two years of their start up. The story is literally an against all odds story. This fills me with hope and aspiration, considering a couple of 30-something Europeans in New York can start a studio against everything. This makes me feel that my career may not be off to a bad start.

Perhaps the key to their success is their ability to adapt and their determination to succeed. Placed outside of their comfort zone Karlsson and Wilker will have had adapt quickly and efficiently. I feel this fight for survival and a portion of luck has been the key to their success. What strikes me about Karlsson and Wilker is that they live their work, and this seems to be a common theme in the success of an individual.

From this I will definitely take the desire to control ones own destiny, and the idea that, putting yourself in an uncomfortable position can yield strong and rewarding results.

DESIGN MANCHESTER

I attended the Design Manchester talk. I thought that this would be a good start to my Personal and Professional Practice. I was really interested to see what each speaker would talk about. While they were given an overarching theme, the speakers would naturally just talk about their work. The highlight for me was Kate Moross. The line up was fantastic, however Kate Moross seemed to engage the audience in her presentation and her story and she was able to create the same vibrancy from her work, in her overall presentation. I will take some of these skills as something to work on myself for my professional and academic presentations.

It was particularly interesting to see Peter Saville talk in conversation with the rest of the group. They talked about their differing opinions on the music industry, and the way that they had their own ideas about the future of design and indeed design studios.

I enjoyed going to this talk and I had the chance to hang out with some of the designers from Music which was a really good experience.

I will be aiming to engage with more opportunities like this after I leave college and when I have more disposable income.