Design is about placement, color, line, type, shape, and passion cc-by lemasney 2


Design is about placement, color, line, type, shape, and passion  cc-by lemasney

Design is about placement, color, line, type, shape, and passion cc-by lemasney

On the importance of design

If you know me, really at any level, you know how important design is to me. You know that I feel like it surrounds us, a physio-visio-spatial fabric that helps to define a space, a  culture or a community. I would also say that once you are past the idea that it requires magic or some gift of birth, you understand that you can do it too, given the right tools. Many of the designers I know who are asked to design each day are flummoxed not by the blank page, but because they are using Word or Publisher or PowerPoint to design, and for no other reason other than familiarity.

Using the right tool for the job of design

 

Let’s stop that where we see it, okay? Inkscape is one answer, but others exist. Oh, there’s one other requirement for design: You have to love it. You have to have a passion for having the right outcomes. You have to care about it. Otherwise, it will just be text and pictures on a page. You need to be able to be inspired by sites like http://vi.sualize.us and http://ffffound.com even if you feel like your work doesn’t belong there.

Passion is a big part of Design

The desire to help people learn is the key skill in being a great trainer. Legitimacy, transparency, and patience are definitely important too. My experience has been that getting past the fear of one’s own designs is really about getting your designs in front of the eyes of others, gaining feedback, improving, and growing. This project has really helped me to do that!

 

Hope you enjoyed today’s sketch!

This content is published under the Attribution 3.0 Unported license.


About lemsy

John LeMasney is an artist, graphic designer, and technology creative. He is located in beautiful, mountainous Charlottesville, VA, but works remotely with ease. Contact him at: lemasney@gmail.com to discuss your next creative project.

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2 thoughts on “Design is about placement, color, line, type, shape, and passion cc-by lemasney

  • Typegeek

    You’ve got me very interested in your work. I’d love to know how to not only become a great trainer, but to not be afraid of my own designs. Keep up the good work.

    • lemasney

      Thanks, Typegeek! I’d suggest that the desire to help people learn is the key skill in being a great trainer. Legitimacy, transparency, and patience are definitely important too. My experience has been that getting past the fear of one’s own designs is really about getting your designs in front of the eyes of others, gaining feedback, improving, and growing. This project has really helped me to do that! Thanks for coming, stopping, and sharing. I really appreciated it.