Return to Making
Getting back to the basics—physical activity, arrangement, and thinking.
Over the past two weeks, I returned to a craft research project. This project, entitled Making Thoughts is a daily practice exploring my relationship with type, message, and form—forcing myself to think about the following questions:
Type & craft: How do I deepen my relationship with physical materials? How do I see space while arranging visual elements to develop unique visual compositions? How do I investigate the fundamentals of typographic contrast, arrangement, and communication?
Practice & purpose: How do I show up and make work on a daily, weekly, or, at least, a consistent pattern? How do I develop momentum toward larger outcomes? (What is the intention behind the work: the single composition; multiple compositions; or the body of work as a whole?)
Creativity & learning How do I approach a repeated activity from a different direction? How do I assess and define the value of the work? How do I push myself to re-learn my relationship with letter-forms and representational communication systems?
These are questions many graphic designers ponder. They guide us to a place that centers craft and purpose—the project’s original intent:
Making Thoughts is the physical manifestation of processing the conceptual qualities of type and language. The project explores how we remember fragmented bits of text or conversation. The context references the sub-conscious collision of form and meaning. The content may be rhetorical or pointed—but, the meaning is always defined internally by the viewer.
Ironically, intentionally, or maybe subconsciously, the first three pieces are responding with visible intent.
Face the pain
F the pain, face the pain, or ace the pain. Your choice.
The caption for the first composition reflected this sentiment. Metaphorical, I suppose, but a reflection of my internal and external struggle. Most importantly, it acknowledged that there are choices—I have agency in my professional practice.
Made by me
how about that … ?
Yes, I did make that. I am a human of amazing intelligence. I do not need to be driven by efficiency metrics or machine-prompted output—a cultural demand without regard for authorship, craft, or creation.
Reward yourself
You are doing the work …
Indeed, say less.
I am, in fact, understanding through doing. I am re-learning how I see; how I interact with letter-forms; how to practice, make, and think. I am holding space for craft without the need for grand intentions. I am re-learning about myself and WHY I practice graphic design.
Follow along with my practice and all Making Thoughts activity. What’s more, don’t be afraid to make your own thoughts.
Challenge yourself today!
— JS
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Personal practice•#Archive