Frank Chimero - Blogs - Good or Bad?

Continuing to get peoples opinion's about blogs, Duane recommended that I emailed Frank and asked him the same set of questions. So I emailed Frank Chimero (an illustrator graphic designer and writer) and he happily replied with his set of answers on the topic.

Questions and Answers;

1. Would you recommend that students produce a blog? If so why?

I would recommend students creating some sort of creative archive of work they find inspiring. Reference libraries are always useful for creatives to get themselves "unstuck," I think, and doing so online is easier, but I think it encourages students to share inspiration with one another.

I also think it's a good idea for students to write and talk about their own work and share their process with one another. If a blog is their chosen medium to do so, than so be it. But if it isn't and they decided they'd rather do so exclusively person to person, than so be it.

2. A lot of students aren't safe with putting there designs up on blogs due to the idea getting stolen. What would your opinion be on this?

I think educational environments need to be felt safe by the students. If they fear that posting their ideas will result in theft, I think there's a larger issue at play than just blogging. If it's professionals stealing ideas from students, than shame on them.

3. People see blogs as a way to publicize themselves and there work, but a lot of blogs don't get a lot of hits, so what should the purpose of a blog be?

The purpose of a blog should be to archive and share your process, thoughts and work. The archiving aspect makes you the audience. The sharing involves everyone else. Who says that you need a large audience?

4. Finally what is one positive and one negative about having a blog?

Positive: Force you to write. I think writing capabilities is an under-appreciated skill that all designers should have. It makes you organize your thoughts and communicate them in a clear, concise and compelling way. Communication is communication, wether visual or not.

Negative: The time you spend blogging is the time you take away from making design. As a student you learn by doing, so the more exposure you give yourself to the design process, the better. Also, with publishing entries and commenting, it may make some students overly concerned with people's opinion of the work that they produce.

Yellow Pages Ads

Whilst browsing Adland's website I came across some Yellow Pages billboard ads.

When I initially looked at the billboards I couldn't understand them due to the language barrier (the billboards being located in Israel.) After I looked past the language barrier and then actually looked at the idea this made a big impact on me. I was like WOW. Some of the idea's are really impressive and how they've actually done it is even better. On one of the billboards it's become interactive, this is down to how it's a big scratch card so people are scratching it off whilst waiting at a bus stop. The idea of this is really impressive.

My favourite's out of the lot of to be, the magnet's idea, the ink cartridge and the tire repair.

Rob Mortimer - Blogs - Good or Bad?

I emailed Rob Mortimer today and asked him the question's about blogs.

There's two reasons why I emailed Rob; 

a) He run's his own blog - http://the-ad-pit.blogspot.com/

b) He got recommended to me by Simon from LOVE.

Happily Rob answered my question's about blogs (within the hour) so here are his questions and answers.

1. Would you recommend that students produce a blog? If so why?

I don't, anyone shouldn't start a blog until they have a reason of starting it. 'Forced' blogs never work, only those with purpose and enthusiasm.

2. A lot of students aren't safe with putting there designs up on blogs due to the idea getting stolen. What would your opinion be on this? 

It's a relevant worry. But when you go for jobs you take your portfolio to agencies, is that not the same thing? Besides, if your stuff gets copied its a good sign you are doing well, and you may be able to use it to give your career a boost.

3. People see a way to publicize themselves and there work, but a lot blogs don't get a lot of hits, so what would the purpose of a blog be?

The purpose is individual, and should come before the blog. Mine was originally to help me get a job in adland. Views will come if you engage the community and write interesting content.

4. Finally, what's one positive and one negative about having a blog?

Gaining great contacts --- Pissing people off when you don't like their work/views.

Hula Hoops Ad

Whilst browsing the web recently I came across this Hula Hoops Ad. 

This ad i think is something I really like. 

I like how simplistic it is, it's silly but yet humorous, it's short and sweet and finally it shows how much fun you can have with the product . . . even if it is a packet of crisps.

Simon Griffin - Blogs - Good or Bad?

Continuing on e-mailing around to get some response on the debate about blogs, I emailed Love Creative. I happily got a response from Simon Griffin. Simon is the Commander-in-chief of LOVE's blog.

1. Would you recommend that students produce a blog? If so why?

No. Unless it's something totally new and a million miles away from all the other student blogs that begin with "I went for a portfolio crit at the Billy Beef agency today..." blah blah blah. If you want to do a blog, do it about something totally different - standinaqueue blog (now, sadly no more) was a great example of a student blogging about standing in queues, and far more interesting than anything else I've read. It's just too easy to do what everyone else is doing; like there's a checklist of things you need to have before you get a job. Website? Check. Blog? Check. Twitter? Check. Job? Soon. It can take up so much of your time - time better spent sorting your portfolio out or creating an online portfolio. A blog probably won't get you a job. A good portfolio will.

2. A lot of students aren't safe with putting there design's up on blogs due to the idea getting stolen. What would your opinion be on this?

Everyone has ideas stolen. Sadly there's nothing we can really do about it. And remember it's not just students that have their ideas stolen. But if you don't put them out in the world (with a date that says when you did them), then

 there's no way of proving that yours (at least) came first.

If your idea does get stolen, you should feel two things:

1) Happiness: that someone likes your work enough to steal it in the first place.

2) Sadness: that there is someone sat at a desk somewhere who is truly out of their depth, and has to survive by stealing other people's ideas. Perhaps they've got two children to support and they've just found out their wife's pregnant with triplets. And it's the neighbour's.

3. People see blogs as a way to publicize themselves and there work, but a lot of blogs don't get a lot of hits, so what should the purpose of a blog be?

The purpose of a blog is really up to whoever is writing it. But (and this contradicts the point I've just made) it's purpose shouldn't be to just get lots of hits.

4. Finally, what's one positive and negative about having a blog?

Positive: The whole world is your audience.

Negative: The whole world is your audience.

Duane King - Blogs - Good or Bad

Another designer I e-mailed to get involved on the debate of Blogs was Duane King. Duane is an American based designer who works for BBDK. Happily Duane answered my question's and also was helpful if I had any other queries.

Answers and Questions;

1. Would you recommend that students produce a blog? If so why?

A blog may or may not be beneficial to a student. Certainly having a site that promotes your thoughts and shows samples of your work is a must, but a blog format may not be the best for these purposes. It's a judgement call. If the format fits your needs and understanding of HTML, then it's a valid tool, if not, don't force it. I'd recommend against simply pushing links to the work of others (there are far too many blogs that already do this - myself included) and instead offer your audience real insight on your motivations and explorations as a designer.

2. A lot of students aren't safe with putting there designs up on blogs due to the idea getting stolen. What would your opinion be on this?

I don't think that this is a valid concern. The ownership of ideas is fleeting at best and imitators or thieves will always do what they will. I'd recommend forgetting this concern and instead focus on generating ideas of value that are worth stealing. If someone does appropriate them, typically it's obvious where the ideas were lifted. Get your work out in front of the public and take criticism with an open mind. Success nullifies. Once you do succeed, you then have to do it all over again.

3. People see blogs as a way to publicize themselves and there work, but a lot of blogs don't get a lot of hits, so what would the purpose of a blog be?

Blogs can be whatever you'd like for them to be. Ideally, instead of simply adding more noise, they should contribute something of value to the world. Even it's a simple smile.

4. Finally, what's one positive and negative about having a blog?

Positive: Anyone can publish their thoughts to the world. Negative: Anyone can publish their thoughts to the world.

Ben Terratt - Blogs - Good or Bad?

Following another recommendation of someone I should get in touch with on this debate, I got in touch with Ben Terratt who's a Graphic Designer in London. Ben does his own blog so the answer's should of been extra interesting.

Unfortunately Ben wasn't able to answer the questions due to how busy he is, but he sent me a link to an article on his Blog which should help with the questions.

http://noisydecentgraphics.typepad.com/design/2009/04/how-to-be-a-graphic-design-student-online.html

This is very useful it recommends what student's should be getting involved with, what websites to be publishing on etc.

Richard - Blogs - Good or Bad?

Continuing to get responses on the debate of wether Blogs are good or bad Craig recommended that I got in touch with Richard (an English Graphic Designer) who runs his own blog, Aceject170. So going with Craig's recommendation I e-mailed Richard, and thankfully Richard answered the questions to do with Blogs.

Questions and Answers;

1. Would you recommend that students produce a blog? If so why?

I don't think there's any point producing a blog "for the sake of it" - except as a programming exercise I guess. Good blogs are fuelled by enthusiasm - if you don't think blogging's you're kind of thing, why force it? I certainly don't think being a designer should mean you should blog. Having said that, I've found that blogging has lead to some significant benefits: you can broaden the number and type of people you interact with and bounce ideas off; you can make 

connections you wouldn't otherwise make; your blog can help raise you profile; you might even get work through it.

There's more: blog entries are kind of transient: you can post work, an opinion,a question and get immediate feedback but in a week that entry is history so whatever you've said or asked isn't "set in stone" - at worst, you can delete it.

Also, a blog provides an opportunity to write and writing is really useful for designers.

2. A lot of students aren't safe with putting there designs up on blogs due to the idea getting stolen. What would your opinion be on this?

Get it up there! Don't be precious. Your work is always in danger of being ripped-off by second rate spongers. Let them do it and take the moral high ground: if someone rips you off it's because: a) you're good, and b) they're crap.

3. People see blogs as a way to publicize themselves and their work, but a lot of blogs don't get a lot of hits, so what should the purpose of a blog be?

You don't need lots of hits, you just need the right hits. That might be your mates or it might be prospective employers or clients. If you want hits, you have to work at it and encourage them by publicising your blog somehow.

The purpose of a blog? That could be any number of things. A blog provides a format for you to present work in a less formal way than you might in a portfolio site so you could show experimental work, personal projects or un-realised projects as well as successful live work. You could use it to show rejected concepts that you really like. I've got a pile of those going back years. I wish I'd have a blog ten years ago.

Of course, lots of designers are using blogs to catalogue things they like and influence them. That's a good thing I think. It's a scrapbook.

Others use blogs to express broader ideas and that can give an insight into the way they think. A blog can be an expression of your personality, your sense of humour, your concerns. These things say a lot about you. That kind of insight could make you much more interesting to employers or clients (of course, it could also turn people off but let's stay positive). These are "brand" things aren't they? It's about building a "me-brand" and a blog is one channel that can help you do that.

4. Finally, what's one positive and negative about having a blog?

Positive: The connections you can make

Negative: Can't think of one

Gary Clarke - Blogs - Good or Bad

Continuing to get opinions about blogs from people in the industry I emailed Gary Clarke with the set question's and thankfully he replied with his opinions.

Questions and Answers;

1. Would you recommend that students produce a blog? If so why?

Well, a Blog is no more than a website that you can update without any knowledge of HTML. The only difference is that feedback can be left on a blog. I would recommend that students have online portfolios of some sort, whether that be in the shape of a blog or website. I'm personally not that interested in how people reach ideas, but others might be.

I have me own blog at - http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilikegraphics - Flickr is good in that it's easier to be found, than a blog that is sat alone somewhere and relied on Google to drive traffic to you. If I was a student I would actively have a Flickr page and upload every idea I have.

I love visiting Fffound.com and Boooom.com, and many of the other 'collective' design blogs (as opposed to 'designers own blogs').

2. A lot of students aren't safe with putting there design's up on blogs due to the idea getting stolen. What would your opinion be on this?

I've never come across this as a problem. The only work that should be of concern to you is the work you are doing at the moment, so what if someone steals an idea? It meant it was a good idea. I'm not arsed if anyone steals my ideas, I've got plenty of others.

3. People see blogs as a way to publicize themselves and there work, but a lot of blogs don't get a lot of hits, so what should the purpose of a blog be?

Placing your work in the public arena should help you learn to be a better designer. If no one was interested in your last posting, then make it better. Take on board any criticism. Learn from other designers.

4. Finally, what's one positive and one negative about having a blog?

Positive is the comments and feedback

Negative is the work involved.

Joshua Trees - Blogs - Good or Bad?

Continuing the debate about whether Blogs are good or bad, I decided to e-mail Joshua Trees from Fake I.D. with the same questions and see what his response would be.

Questions and Answers;

1. Would you recommend that students produce Blogs? If so why?

I'm not in the habit of recommending things. Blogs or otherwise. I see blogs as another platform in the spectrum of communication.

2. A lot of students aren't safe with putting there designs up on the blogs due to the idea getting stolen. What would your opinion be on this?

If the fear of plagiarism didn't stop you making a website or an online portfolio, then don't let it stop you from making a blog.

3. People see blogs as a way to publicize themselves and there work, but blogs don't get a lot of hits, so what would the purpose of a blog be?

Blogs should be whatever you conceive them to be.

4. Finally, what's one positive and negative about having a blog?

One positive thing about blogs is that it enables people to circumvent the rigid hierarchy of traditional publishing. One negative about blogs is that there's more shit to sort through to get the information you're looking for. 

Craig Oldham - Blogs - Good or Bad?

I emailed Craig Oldham asking him the same few question's about Blogs.

Although he took a while to reply, due to how busy he was, I was most grateful when he sent me the e-mail with the answer's to my question's in.

Question's and Answer's;

1. Would you recommend that students produce a blog? If so why?

There's no right or wrong answer here as it depends on what the blog would be.I see the blog as an opportunity for expression, whether expression in creativity, practice or theory, but what I don't see the blog as is an opportunity for show and tell. If you want to show and tell then get a website, not a blog.

So, if a student was going to have a blog it should be to promote their personal and creative development and not simply link to other peoples work that they think is cool and will then subsequently imitate. Not that I think linking is bad, on the contrary it can be very good, just as long as the reasoning behing the link is critical in approach and expression, saying why they like something and equally why they don't. 

When it comes to putting their own work on blogs this again should be to add something to the work or give the student the chance to review, summarise and reflect on the design work they have undertaken. It should become a critical examination in an honest account of what is good, what is bad, and what, in hindsight, one might change. Then the often simpler of tasks—putting a finished project to the world—will improve you as a designer, forcing you to reflect on your work.

2. A lot of students aren't safe with putting there design's up on blogs due to the idea getting stolen. What would your opinion be on this?

Being honest and frank, as I can only be, I find this idea to be ludicrous.

Students are all too concerned about ownership of ideas, who came up with what, and who takes credit for that. The majority of this is irrelevant within education. Design isn't a solitary exercise and every designer should share their ideas with other creatively minded people, they should seek criticisim of their work not praise to further their development. Sure, some people are influenced by ideas, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing.

In terms of the close quarters of education, if your idea is stolen, it become obvious to everyone that it has been so I wouldn't worry. Take the moral high ground.

If you don't get your work out there then what's the point? Peter Saville says, "Graphic Design is for others, to others" so if you keep your work in the closet then you're not really a Graphic Designer.

3. People see blogs as a way to publicize themselves and there work, but a lot of blogs don't get a lot of hits, so what should the purpose of a blog be?

I think I covered that in my rant on question one, but to try and expand, I think they should be 'interested'. Now that's not a grammatical error, I meant to say interested and not interesting. People that think they are interesting are almost always not. People who are interested in things become enthusiastic, and enthusiasm is personal which makes someone interesting. Which rounds nicely to me saying that you should be critically interested in things which will develop you.

4. Finally, what's one positive and negative about having a blog?

Good: if used right, becomes a development tool, similar to a diary.

Bad: everybody has one, and anybody can get one.

Darren Scott - Blogs - Good or Bad?

I recently e-mailed Truth questioning them about Blogs.

Thankfully Darren Scott got in touch and gave me his opinions on the matter.

Question's and Answer's;

1. Would you recommend that students produce a blog? If so why?

I would only produce a blog if you have something notable to say that you think people may be interested in.

However, many people are using blogs as and alternative to a website to host a portfolio.

2. A lot of students aren't safe with putting there design's up on blogs due to the idea getting stolen. What would your opinion be on this?

I am afraid that is the chance we all take as designers everyday, putting your work out in the public domain will always make it subject to plagerism. The vast amount of design blogs now make it very easy for other designers to ‘borrow ideas‘ rather than being original. They have become a short cut to thinking that many are guilty of using, students in my opinion a more guilty than most.  I see many portfolios every month and they all have work very similar to high profile agencies like NON-format or people like Si Scott or they have chopped the serifs of Times New Roman and claimed it as there own. It is a sign of the times I am afraid.

3. People see blogs as a way to publicize themselves and there work, but a lot of blogs don't get a lot of hits, so what should the purpose of a blog be?

Again, I would only produce a blog if you have something notable to say that you think people may be interested in.

Many people think just because you have a blog with some work on it, people will visit in their masses, they wont. People want information or inspiration, you need to give them a reason to come back. 

4. Finally, what's one positive and negative about having a blog? 

It is a great way to share your work and love of design, it is also a great way to request feedback and get stuff of your chest. 

But, don’t expect massive hits overnight if at all.

Anthony Jones - Blogs - Good or Bad?

Another person I emailed about Blogs, was Anthony Jones from TWBA Manchester. Anthony is the creative head at TWBA.

Question's and Answer's;

1. Would you recommend that students produce a blog? If so why?

Yes. It is a very flexible tool that can accommodate a plethora of uses. The key is to decide how you want to use it for yourself.

2. A lot of  students aren't safe with putting there design's up on blogs due to the idea  getting stolen. What would your opinion be on this?

I’d simply recite the adage ‘you’ve got to be in it to win it’. Frankly, there are no shortage of designers (myself included) or designs. If somebody wants to plagiarize they will. The point, while the work has value, is that it is really the designer that is the valuable resource, not the work itself. The reason you will be employed is because there is more where that came from.

3. People see blogs as a way to publicize themselves and there work, but a lot of blogs don't get a lot of hits, so what should the purpose of a blog be?

There are many, many ways a blog can be used. When used in the form of professional publicity, you have to ask yourself, is it to generate work in of itself, or is it a tool you will use to point people to yourself, like a CV or Portfolio? Both routes require a different mindset about what you publish on it, generating work requires a lot of constant input and effort.

4. Finally, what's one  positive and negative about having a blog?

Positives are easy, but to choose one at random; a blog can show not only your work, but a passion and enthusiasm by the frequency and flavour of the content you add, in and around your work.Negatives generally arise from a deviation from how it was intended to be used and the reality, or neglect, it may get. This roughly translates to, if you don’t keep it updated, it looks like you’re doing nothing, which is generally bad.

James Corazzo - Blogs - Good or Bad?

To start the blog debate off I decided to ask James (my tutor) a few question's about blogs.

The reason for this is, was that he set the brief for us to complete the blog so I thought I'd get his opinion's firstly.

Question and Answers;

1. Would you recommend that students produce a blog? If so why?

We have made it a requirement of a particular module. The rationale being that it has proved to be the most suitable method we have found so far (in terms of use) for a student to document their findings.

A blog can be used in many ways, but because of the diary-like nature of a blog one thing it does fairly well is encourage "reflective thinking". Being able to reflect – look back on and analyse your self, work etc. – is a key aspect to learning.

It is also a means to publish. Until very recently the routes to publishing your thoughts, idea, work, images etc. were strewn with obstacles. Publishing used to mean power. Because blogs are accessible to all and essentially free to set up they have the potential to open up the means to publish and reach an audience to anybody. This is a democratising tool, and generally good for society.

For a student they represent an opportunity to get your work out of your folder, the college, a plan chest and perhaps invite comment, interest or criticism. At the same time, we do not insist that students publish their work on blogs.

2. A lot of students aren't safe with putting there design's up on blogs due to the idea getting stolen. What would your opinion be on this?

I would like to see some evidence of this. What is more likely is students are ripping other peoples ideas off!

3. People see blogs as a way to publicize themselves and there work, but a lot of blogs don't get a lot of hits, so what should the purpose of a blog be?

I agree the internet must be jammed with unseen blogs. But you can make a blog entirely private,this doesn’t reduce its usefulness. If you want traffic you need to develop content that people want to engage with.

4. Finally, what's one positive and negative about having a blog?

Positive -– you can be exposed to things and people (and talk to them) across the globe.
Negative - Reading on screen still has its drawbacks.

Blogs - Good or Bad?

Recently I had a end of year meeting with my tutor at University. After talking about a few things we came onto the topic of Blogs. This is down to how we have to create a Blog to publicize our work, keep track or work we like, keep a record of what designers we have contacted and then keep track of other things like portfolio viewings and lectures etc.

Whilst we was talking about this we had a little debate on blogs. Little things about why we should do them if they don't get recognized and why do them in the first place.

So, after I left this meeting I decided to further this more and contacting designers and seeing what they thought about blogs.

Each designers opinion's will follow when I hear back from them.

Craig Oldham Contact

A while back I wrote a letter to Craig Oldham saying thank you for his lecture, how I enjoyed it, how I felt it interacted more than most lectures and also was it a possibility to show him my portfolio. 

Recently I got an e-mail back off Craig with his apologies for how long he took to get back in touch. This was good to hear, this is down to how he hadn't forget about the letter even if this was sent about 4-6 weeks ago. 

Craig also offered to take a look at my portfolio so I'm waiting to hear back from him with his response and the advice he can offer me.