Design Rockism

[imomus]

My latest article for AIGA Voice magazine is Design Rockism. Trace design's topsy-turvy path from Josef Muller-Brockmann's 'Grid Systems' to the Groovisions Brockmann doll!

Comments

[lord-whimsy.livejournal.com]

Our illustrations always start with pencil and paper for the simple and practical reason that a pencil is a faster, more flexible tool than a computer when it comes to working up ideas; there are nuances of line and form that a computer cannot do as well. With a computer, you are hemmed in by the limited vocabulary of the computer, which usually gives a stale, too-easily replicated result unless you happen to be someone who can really make the crisp computer aesthetic sing, like Chip Wass, Autumn Whitehurst, Ray Ceasar or Kirsten Ulve. I haven't asked them, but I wouldn't be surprised if they sketch up before hitting the computer too. A unique manner in rendering is our stock-in-trade as illustrators, and working things up in your own hand is the best way to exploit this, since it cannot be replicated by anyone else. I've been working alongside my wife for over ten years, and I still cannot even remotely replicate her 'hand'.

With design, it often goes both ways: I throw around elements in the computer to see what transpires, then generate elements after devising a theme or layout. I'll often scan in those sketches to carefully compose them, then use the layouts as templates for our paintings.

It comes down to whatever tool best fits the job at hand.

W