Manifesto
1. Manifesto: Less is a Bore! Leave No Space!
I apologize to all the great designers of the now and of the past 100 years that this idea of less is more always works. I am over that, I am not against it but I’m over it. I am reaching out to a new audience, the outcast audience that need more stimulation from a poster than just it’s information; All the weird cooky Artists who wouldn’t be considered Graphic Designers but want a crack at it, to show a new perspective and mix of different aesthetic values to communicate something. I am talking about filling up all the space, white space is bare and boring; And I understand its advantage in use sometimes but once again I’m over it. It’s becoming almost like the default and easy route to get away with saying more without saying anything. Maybe I’m just too literal for that but I want illustration in almost every design. I want symbols, colors, textures, and more to be ok happening all at once. Over saturation provokes feelings and thoughts deeper than just what a pretty poster and oh what useful information; I want people to still feel that but more, I want that feeling enhanced with a gasp of breath because there’s so much going on they need to stop and stare. I believe following and depending on a structure and grid is for people who are scared to be off balance and cannot handle the chaos aesthetic. The idea that over expression is tacky or too much is wrong communication, is boring and closed minded. Being too much isn’t overwhelming or wrong to the right person. If I’m feeling the urge and need to create an over expressing aesthetic, than there must be someone who seeks that visual communication to be fulfilled. I think of Graphic Design almost like music. Music isn’t restrained in one genre there is so many genres and sub genres and mixed genres and new genres and new takes on old genres. Its all over the place, but it all communicates and reaches out to the people who want to listen. I see that in Graphic Design, but I do not think others see that open variety in Graphic Design and I hate to be restrained. I do not think this desire I want and feel about Graphic Design leaves me standing alone. The contrary, I think I am of many who want the same and are the new future for Graphic Design; An Artists perspective. I think Milton Glaser was a significant role model to my idea, I remember he said growing up he knew he was an artist but never wanted to be the type of Artist who’s art is only available for exhibit in a museum, but he wanted his art to be in everyday life which is how he found his love and passion for Graphic Design; Showing his artistic and creative creations through Graphic Design. He incorporated that organic illustrative extra touch that I’m talking about, he was different and did more beyond the use of the computer and working on a grid. Don’t get me wrong I am not neglecting the other perspective and other styles, I’m just trying to annunciate that they don’t deserve the lead and don’t deserve the right to push down the “too extra to be understood” crowd when we’re not. Because if we’re feeling this desire to be expressed this way, than someone must have the desire to see that expression as well. We don’t stand alone on either side. I think both sides need to work more hand in hand and also respect their use. Like I am right now proclaiming my head on beliefs of Less is a Bore but I do not neglect the other sides use when needed. Now that’s where I feel hypocrisy on the other side, they do feel the need to tell me what I believe doesn’t work. And I’m so over hearing that because I am not alone.
2. Comparison
A manifesto I would like to take a closer look at, examine and compare is “First Things First 2000” an updated version based on Ken Garlands version of 1964. This manifesto stood out to me, at first glance it was just the title that made me curious, I liked the tone of sass the title carried. After reading I felt a wave of reasonings and thoughts that I always felt but never read written like that. It really spoke to me because it calls to action something very different than what design is set to be for a lot of people in terms of “paying the bills”. This idea that there is more to Graphic Designs powers than just branding and living for the corporate commercial world. This idea that design needs to be taken to heart and provoke more than just a pretty illustration to package a biscuit brand. That Graphic Design has this purpose and needs to set its priorities straight as to who needs our attention more than just this commercial garbage, that’s being shoved all around society, just provoking people to live and buy, instead of a positive environmental change. Graphic Design needs to highlight more important things, “There are pursuits more worthy of our problem-solving skills. Unprecedented environmental, social, and cultural crises demand our attention. Many cultural interventions, social marketing campaigns, books, magazines, exhibitions, educational tools, television programs, films, charitable causes and other information design projects urgently require our expertise and help.” This perspective on Graphic Design may be slightly different than what I am entirely communicating since I do believe what I want is more selfish than what this manifesto conveys. But what I do believe is we both very much want a change in Graphic Design. A shift in importance. And change is so strong and powerful when given the chance. I think both my manifesto and this manifesto are simply asking for a chance to be a part of what’s important to Graphic Design. We feel neglected and restrained when we need to shine and be annunciated. I think we both want a deeper significance in Graphic Designs than just what “works”. What also shocks me is this manifesto has been around for a while so to a certain extent its been fighting for a spotlight for a while. I can only be sure that there is a community of designers who have only risen after this manifesto and feel the same way about the approach they want to take with graphic design. Because just as I stated in my manifesto, I believe that if “First Things First” has a person who had the desire to write these ideas than there must be someone with that same intensity of desire but to read these ideas and move them on with them. Even though a manifesto can have the tone of an individual’s view perspective and ideologies, I still think it is an individual tone trying to reach many. Many who either need to be opened up to these ideas or the many who also feel and see the same way but never had a proper written format expressing these same thoughts, never had a platform to be like yes me too! I too feel the same way of communicating and feel the same desire of importance to be annunciated.
I apologize to all the great designers of the now and of the past 100 years that this idea of less is more always works. I am over that, I am not against it but I’m over it. I am reaching out to a new audience, the outcast audience that need more stimulation from a poster than just it’s information; All the weird cooky Artists who wouldn’t be considered Graphic Designers but want a crack at it, to show a new perspective and mix of different aesthetic values to communicate something. I am talking about filling up all the space, white space is bare and boring; And I understand its advantage in use sometimes but once again I’m over it. It’s becoming almost like the default and easy route to get away with saying more without saying anything. Maybe I’m just too literal for that but I want illustration in almost every design. I want symbols, colors, textures, and more to be ok happening all at once. Over saturation provokes feelings and thoughts deeper than just what a pretty poster and oh what useful information; I want people to still feel that but more, I want that feeling enhanced with a gasp of breath because there’s so much going on they need to stop and stare. I believe following and depending on a structure and grid is for people who are scared to be off balance and cannot handle the chaos aesthetic. The idea that over expression is tacky or too much is wrong communication, is boring and closed minded. Being too much isn’t overwhelming or wrong to the right person. If I’m feeling the urge and need to create an over expressing aesthetic, than there must be someone who seeks that visual communication to be fulfilled. I think of Graphic Design almost like music. Music isn’t restrained in one genre there is so many genres and sub genres and mixed genres and new genres and new takes on old genres. Its all over the place, but it all communicates and reaches out to the people who want to listen. I see that in Graphic Design, but I do not think others see that open variety in Graphic Design and I hate to be restrained. I do not think this desire I want and feel about Graphic Design leaves me standing alone. The contrary, I think I am of many who want the same and are the new future for Graphic Design; An Artists perspective. I think Milton Glaser was a significant role model to my idea, I remember he said growing up he knew he was an artist but never wanted to be the type of Artist who’s art is only available for exhibit in a museum, but he wanted his art to be in everyday life which is how he found his love and passion for Graphic Design; Showing his artistic and creative creations through Graphic Design. He incorporated that organic illustrative extra touch that I’m talking about, he was different and did more beyond the use of the computer and working on a grid. Don’t get me wrong I am not neglecting the other perspective and other styles, I’m just trying to annunciate that they don’t deserve the lead and don’t deserve the right to push down the “too extra to be understood” crowd when we’re not. Because if we’re feeling this desire to be expressed this way, than someone must have the desire to see that expression as well. We don’t stand alone on either side. I think both sides need to work more hand in hand and also respect their use. Like I am right now proclaiming my head on beliefs of Less is a Bore but I do not neglect the other sides use when needed. Now that’s where I feel hypocrisy on the other side, they do feel the need to tell me what I believe doesn’t work. And I’m so over hearing that because I am not alone.
2. Comparison
A manifesto I would like to take a closer look at, examine and compare is “First Things First 2000” an updated version based on Ken Garlands version of 1964. This manifesto stood out to me, at first glance it was just the title that made me curious, I liked the tone of sass the title carried. After reading I felt a wave of reasonings and thoughts that I always felt but never read written like that. It really spoke to me because it calls to action something very different than what design is set to be for a lot of people in terms of “paying the bills”. This idea that there is more to Graphic Designs powers than just branding and living for the corporate commercial world. This idea that design needs to be taken to heart and provoke more than just a pretty illustration to package a biscuit brand. That Graphic Design has this purpose and needs to set its priorities straight as to who needs our attention more than just this commercial garbage, that’s being shoved all around society, just provoking people to live and buy, instead of a positive environmental change. Graphic Design needs to highlight more important things, “There are pursuits more worthy of our problem-solving skills. Unprecedented environmental, social, and cultural crises demand our attention. Many cultural interventions, social marketing campaigns, books, magazines, exhibitions, educational tools, television programs, films, charitable causes and other information design projects urgently require our expertise and help.” This perspective on Graphic Design may be slightly different than what I am entirely communicating since I do believe what I want is more selfish than what this manifesto conveys. But what I do believe is we both very much want a change in Graphic Design. A shift in importance. And change is so strong and powerful when given the chance. I think both my manifesto and this manifesto are simply asking for a chance to be a part of what’s important to Graphic Design. We feel neglected and restrained when we need to shine and be annunciated. I think we both want a deeper significance in Graphic Designs than just what “works”. What also shocks me is this manifesto has been around for a while so to a certain extent its been fighting for a spotlight for a while. I can only be sure that there is a community of designers who have only risen after this manifesto and feel the same way about the approach they want to take with graphic design. Because just as I stated in my manifesto, I believe that if “First Things First” has a person who had the desire to write these ideas than there must be someone with that same intensity of desire but to read these ideas and move them on with them. Even though a manifesto can have the tone of an individual’s view perspective and ideologies, I still think it is an individual tone trying to reach many. Many who either need to be opened up to these ideas or the many who also feel and see the same way but never had a proper written format expressing these same thoughts, never had a platform to be like yes me too! I too feel the same way of communicating and feel the same desire of importance to be annunciated.
