Untitled

[sarahliuyewfai]

Emerging Design Technologies

Our society, nowadays, is a technology-based society, where everything is controlled and planned through technology. Technology is constantly evolving and will certainly keep on evolving as long as men will keep on experimenting with science, trying to make life “better”, easier and manageable. 

In the design industry too, technology keeps on making changes and surely, the outcome is incredible. Cameras, smartphones, laptops, computers, tablets and so many other gadgets are being constantly improved so as to bring a better experience to us, greedy and fancy customers. Retina display is another fancy but yet cool option that provides better quality in the display of photos for example. 

3D Printing

The evolution of printing from the traditional woodblock printing to digital printing was an extraordinary improvement with the introduction of technology. Now, we have 3D scanning and printing which is even more professional. Imagine all the things that we’ll be able to print in a very near future and tell yourself that the things that you think are impossible to achieve will eventually happen to exist in a few decades. Coming back to 3D printing, everything just starts with the making of a virtual design of the object you would like to create (called a CAD file: Computer Aided design file). Then the CAD file is created using a 3D modelling application or with a 3D scanner. Isn’t this cool?!

AutoCad

Now, if we talk about another form of design; Building Design. A great tool that building designers use that I find quite amazing is AutoCad. It creates blueprints for buildings, bridges and also for computer chips. It is a great tool because it is a 2D and 3D computer- aided drafting (CAD) software application used in architecture, construction and manufacturing to assist in the preparation of blueprints and other engineering plans. Designers and their clients can have a clear prospect of how the project is going and also a clear idea of how the outcome is going to be. What’s gonna be next when AutoCad becomes outdated?? Imagine!!!

Photoshop

Coming back to the Graphic design context, Photoshop is a software that has never stopped evolving. From the very first version (CS1) of Photoshop to the latest one (CS6), there has been a huge change in the things and effects designers can achieve. The boundaries have been pushed even further and now designers have a great design tool at their disposal where they can create the craziest design ever. Now also available on their smartphones with their small pen gadget, they can have access to their files through icloud storage which is awesome! 

Well, one thing is certain! Technology will never stop evolving so better get prepared for the future improvements that will definitely change our experience as designers and as customers at the same time because we’re probably going to be the main target audience! 

[sarahliuyewfai]

Sustainability Issues in Design

What if I say Design can help in making the world a better place?! 

Not only in the actual design perspective but by reducing the use of dangerous chemicals, inks and solvents, paper and replace all that by ecological and recycled materials and reducing waste. Adopting this ecological habit is a bit more costly than it might be when you print on normal paper stock or other thicker ones where more chemicals and more inks and solvents are needed. Viewing this issue from another perspective, all these ecological habits may save many printers from having severe medical issues and also prevent our dear planet from perishing because all its green forests are being deforested for more sorts of paper stocks. 

So dear designers, 

Lets all support our dear planet! :)

Picture source: http://www.elynwood.com.au/sustainability/

[sarahliuyewfai]

Intellectual Property

When talking about design itself (whether being Interior design, textile design, building design and obviously graphic design), there is a rule that stays the same and it is the Copyright Act. Breaking the rules have always been subject to punishments or penalties. Hence, severe penalties are assigned to those who break the copyright rules. 

Copyright is a form of protection to an artist’s artwork so that once protected, the work cannot be copied by anyone else unless permission of the designer or artist has been granted. Sometimes, when the deadline is near and you’re freaking out and you’ve got to find something to meet the deadline and submit on time, it can get really tempting to copy someone else’s idea or colour palette. Who will know?! That’s the point! Someone will know and you’re gonna get into trouble my friend. So be careful! ;) Don’t be tempted and always be true to your own creativity and respect your time management! ;)

Picture source: https://food-x.com/intellectual-property-basics-every-entrepreneur-know/

[sarahliuyewfai]

Design Associations

There was a time when art was mainly related to creativity, colours and expressing one’s feelings through colours. Being an artist wasn’t really considered as being an occupation and artists were not as valued and supported as they are today. Nowadays, artists come together and form associations to support other artists throughout the world and to help them in their process from inspiration to final outcome. Many associations, namely; AGDA, DIA, IA, Aus Infront, etc... provide a lot of support to their members. Design competitions, design conferences are being organised by these associations to give more inspiration to their members and also to give them new ideas and tips on how to think outside the box or even how to see and interprete things in another perpective.

Picture source: http://www.theloop.com.au/AGDA/overview

[sarahliuyewfai]

Successful design blogs

The blog that I really liked and that inspired me is Julian Frost’s. I think that he pretty much uses his blog for promotion as well as for fun at the same time. He displays funny animated characters. I’ve always liked the illustrations he’s made for the train stations with the dumb ways to die thing and today I actually found out who the designer was. I like the simplicity of his illustrations. Despite being simple, they are also very effective and look very nice. There’s not many things written but it is indeed very attractive with the little animated guys. Another designer that inspired me is Becca Clason. Her blog is very colourful and what i like the most is her creativity and the way she makes her artworks out of food and crafts. The outcomes looks so good.  I think that having a design blog has a lot of benefits; namely; being able to promote one’s port folio and to make it famous and known most of all. Moreover, it is also good to have a blog because it is important for a designer to be able to be found if someone is trying to look for him/her.