Design is incredibly powerful. We live in a very visual world so creating dynamic, memorable designs is important. Although it is something that I knew, I never realized just how influencial design really is until doing the readings for Photoshop this week. While reading Note for the New Millennium, what really struck me is that even the simplest of designs can be used to better our world or make it worse. Furthermore, the concept of design and how it has evolved alongside our consumeristic tendencies is both startling and understandable. In the beginning designers believed "that design was alive with social implications" (Ewen , 192). However, as we've become more reliant on the free market, design has become a means of selling.
This being said, I suppose design was always used for selling, just in past it was predominently used to sell ideas, where now it is predominently used to sell products.
Our other readings focused more on web design. Pairing this with the Note for the New Millennium reading, it is easy to make the connection how design is not only important but also very prevelent since the creation of the World Wide Web. Now a design can reach everyone all over the world. This also means that with so many designs out there, there is more pressure to ensure that your design will be unique and powerful enough to have the impact and effect that you want.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Face Value of Facebook
After continuing to read Groundswell, the focus on transparency paired with various social media sites has got me wondering, what's with Facebook?
From the beginning, Groundswell has put an emphasis on not only talking with customers, but listening to them as well. Keeping this in mind, chapters 9 and 10 provide ways as well as case studies of companies that are doing both--they are having a conversation. "[B]y embracing the groundswell, you can move more quickly" (Li, 183). While there are still some members of society that are unfamiliar with social media, the majority of the world are active members on social media sites. Most people have a Facebook account, a Twitter account, a MySpace account or all three! Being familiar these sites, and being participants on the internet, when companies do something that we love or hate, most of us do not hesitate to start leaving comments, tweets, messages etc. demanding change. The case study of Dell provided a prime example of transparency as well as conversation. When their laptops and computers kept breaking down or even catching on fire combined with less than par customer service Dell customers stormed the internet with furious comments. In order to save their image Dell created their own blog.They laid everything out as well as listened to customers. "For Dell, listening and then acting was the crucial first step for its new social strategy" (207). So, what does all this have to do with Facebook?
Facebook is the number one social site. Almost everyone has a Facebook account. However, while we have no problem voicing our opinions and demanding change from other sites, we are rather passive when it comes to Facebook.
It seems that for being the biggest social media site--the voice of the people--it actually is the least transparent. Usually once every few months Facebook changes their site layout without consulting their 200 million users. Once the site layout changes, the users are in an uproar, everyone's status and wall comment is in regards to how much they hate the change, hate the new layout. However, Facebook never changes the site back, and they continue to change the layout randomly every few months. They are not listening to their customers. This being said, they don't have to. We don't leave, there is not a mass exodus. Facebook doesn't need us, we need it. They know they can do what they want because Facebook has become such an integral part of our lives that we'd rather be inconvenienced time and time again than really truly demand change. Furthermore, Facebook's privacy settings are always on the news.
Since Facebook started in 2004, it has been plagued with privacy issues. They are constantly getting in trouble for violating the rights and privacy of their users whether by selling their information, creating less than adequate privacy settings or by merely stating that any content posted belongs to them, Facebook is not exactly "user friendly." All things considered, is it me or is it strange that while we demand transparency and conversation for most corporations, we are willing to let Facebook run the show? I don't know about you, but that doesn't sit right with me.
From the beginning, Groundswell has put an emphasis on not only talking with customers, but listening to them as well. Keeping this in mind, chapters 9 and 10 provide ways as well as case studies of companies that are doing both--they are having a conversation. "[B]y embracing the groundswell, you can move more quickly" (Li, 183). While there are still some members of society that are unfamiliar with social media, the majority of the world are active members on social media sites. Most people have a Facebook account, a Twitter account, a MySpace account or all three! Being familiar these sites, and being participants on the internet, when companies do something that we love or hate, most of us do not hesitate to start leaving comments, tweets, messages etc. demanding change. The case study of Dell provided a prime example of transparency as well as conversation. When their laptops and computers kept breaking down or even catching on fire combined with less than par customer service Dell customers stormed the internet with furious comments. In order to save their image Dell created their own blog.They laid everything out as well as listened to customers. "For Dell, listening and then acting was the crucial first step for its new social strategy" (207). So, what does all this have to do with Facebook?
Facebook is the number one social site. Almost everyone has a Facebook account. However, while we have no problem voicing our opinions and demanding change from other sites, we are rather passive when it comes to Facebook.
 |
| Old Facebook Layout |
 |
| New Facebook Layout |
It seems that for being the biggest social media site--the voice of the people--it actually is the least transparent. Usually once every few months Facebook changes their site layout without consulting their 200 million users. Once the site layout changes, the users are in an uproar, everyone's status and wall comment is in regards to how much they hate the change, hate the new layout. However, Facebook never changes the site back, and they continue to change the layout randomly every few months. They are not listening to their customers. This being said, they don't have to. We don't leave, there is not a mass exodus. Facebook doesn't need us, we need it. They know they can do what they want because Facebook has become such an integral part of our lives that we'd rather be inconvenienced time and time again than really truly demand change. Furthermore, Facebook's privacy settings are always on the news.
Since Facebook started in 2004, it has been plagued with privacy issues. They are constantly getting in trouble for violating the rights and privacy of their users whether by selling their information, creating less than adequate privacy settings or by merely stating that any content posted belongs to them, Facebook is not exactly "user friendly." All things considered, is it me or is it strange that while we demand transparency and conversation for most corporations, we are willing to let Facebook run the show? I don't know about you, but that doesn't sit right with me.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Animation
A few years back I had an internship at an animation studio, Bent Image Lab. While there, I mostly did office work. They focused heavily on claymation as well as other textile forms of animation. Although they do computer animation I never became familiar with the software or process they used. After reading the chapters, especially from Digital Foundations I am even more curious and interested in the animation process. I'm still pretty unclear as to the process but I look forward to experimenting with animation in the future.
The Jonathan Harris video on TED was truly inspirational. I had never heard of WeFeelFine.org before but now I am obsessed with it. Being able to see how the world is feeling on both a global as well as deeply personal level is quite extraordinary. Furthermore, the layout of this site is a lot of fun with the colors, animation and interactive nature. An example of some of the quotes you'll find are:
I walked away, I was feeling dirty and humiliated.
--A female in South Carlonia
I'm feeling quite content.
-Anonomous
I am over the hill 25 and am feeling kind of old physically.
-A female in the United States
Linked are the blogs that these quotes lead to.
I love that the infinite possibilities of the internet paired with software such as Flash and Photoshop allow imaginative people to create sites such as WeFeelFine. The internet never ceases to amaze me, but more often than not it is the creative minds behind the project that are truly extraordinary.
The Jonathan Harris video on TED was truly inspirational. I had never heard of WeFeelFine.org before but now I am obsessed with it. Being able to see how the world is feeling on both a global as well as deeply personal level is quite extraordinary. Furthermore, the layout of this site is a lot of fun with the colors, animation and interactive nature. An example of some of the quotes you'll find are:
I walked away, I was feeling dirty and humiliated.
--A female in South Carlonia
I'm feeling quite content.
-Anonomous
I am over the hill 25 and am feeling kind of old physically.
-A female in the United States
Linked are the blogs that these quotes lead to.
I love that the infinite possibilities of the internet paired with software such as Flash and Photoshop allow imaginative people to create sites such as WeFeelFine. The internet never ceases to amaze me, but more often than not it is the creative minds behind the project that are truly extraordinary.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Egypt and the Social Media Revolution
As I'm sure many of you are aware, Egypt has been in a state of full fledged revolution the last few weeks and social media has been at the forefront of that revolution. Back in 2009 the world saw a similar social media effect when it came time for Iran's elections. During these elections, Twitter played a key role in not only promoting a revolution but also keeping the rest of the world informed as to what was truly going on. This was a case of freedom of speech and word-of-mouth at its finest. Throughout the Iranian campaign mass media took a back seat and information was spread not through CNN or The New York Times but through individuals facing the difficulties in Iran first hand--through 140 characters or less. Despite the government restricting mass media, social networkings sites including Twitter and YouTube stepped up to the plate, providing the Iranian people with a format for their voices to be heard, providing them a way to revolutionize their country. At the time the world did not look to the news as their primary source of information, instead they turned to social networking sites and YouTube, proving that a tweet of a first hand account is more valuable than a news reporters outsiders point of view. Now in 2011 we see a similar thing happening with Egypt.The people of Egypt have harnessed the influence of both Twitter and Facebook to help overthrow the government. While revolutions can occur and have occurred without the assistance of social media, it is now clear that in the 21st century, having a following and a voice on the web is just as crucial as having a following and a voice in "real life." Once again, through the use of social media, the people of Egypt were able to unite in a way that may not have been possible without the help of the Internet. Furthermore, through social media, the world has been able to keep up with the political happenings in real time and on a more personal level. Social media has provided a voice for the voiceless. Now anyone can speak their mind, now anyone has an opportunity to change their world.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/06/17/DI2009061702232.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thecutline/20110211/ts_yblog_thecutline/social-media-plays-role-in-egypt-some-expected-in-iran
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The Ins and Outs of Photoshop
Since starting this class I have come to realize that Photoshop is an amazing tool for artists. However, for a Photoshop beginner it can be very overwhelming. I find that I have creative ideas and no clue how to implement them. Furthermore, the ideas I have are difficult to translate into Photoshop being as I currently have rudimentary Photoshop skills.
What struck me about the readings was the focus and emphasis on color and the role color plays in image. When I think of the color red a standard shade of red pops up. However, after looking at examples, the shade of red may appear differently if it is next to an orange versus a green. This never really struck me until I read the chapter on color and saw examples of it.
Additionally, while reading the various books helps me get a good idea what Photoshop is capable of, it is difficult for me to really comprehend it through reading. I find that if I go to YouTube and look up Photoshop tutorials that I am able to grasp the ideas better. Here is one such video I found to be helpful:
What struck me about the readings was the focus and emphasis on color and the role color plays in image. When I think of the color red a standard shade of red pops up. However, after looking at examples, the shade of red may appear differently if it is next to an orange versus a green. This never really struck me until I read the chapter on color and saw examples of it.
Additionally, while reading the various books helps me get a good idea what Photoshop is capable of, it is difficult for me to really comprehend it through reading. I find that if I go to YouTube and look up Photoshop tutorials that I am able to grasp the ideas better. Here is one such video I found to be helpful:
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Reactions to Groundswell
This past summer I had an internship at a small, independent production company called Artigo/Ajemian Films. When I started the internship, we were in the midst of releasing their latest film BoyBand. One of the main things I was in charge of was social media marketing. After the premiere in June, the rest of my summer was spent keeping buzz going about the movie. The main way I attempted this was through BoyBand's Facebook fan page, Twitter account and Blog. However, this proved harder than I had originally thought it would be.
After reading the first six chapters of Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff's book Groundswell it has become very evident to me that not only garnering a presence on the internet but maintaining one as well is an endless job.
What struck me in chapter one was the story about the DVD code posted on Diggs.com. The fact that once something hits the internet that regardless of rules and regulations it truly belongs to the public is something that I was aware of but not to this magnitude. Although people can fight to have something removed, once something has gone viral there is no stopping it no matter what the law is.
Although I was familiar with some of the material in chapter two, it was nice to be reminded of the various social media outlets that can be used to market. Furthermore, being informed as to how certain social media elements can be used to market proves quite beneficial.
As an active participant in social media, it is often times hard to remember that different people associate with social media in different ways. Groundswell does a good job of breaking social media members into various categories: creators, critics, collectors, joiners, spectators, and inactives. In order to through a successful marketing campaign, one must keep all these categories in mind.
Reading chapter four would have been incredibly helpful this past summer in regards to promoting BoyBand online. Chapter four provides strategies for reaching your target market as well as reminding the reader of the pros and cons. It is good to be reminded that once something is on the internet it is on there for good and that there is no going back.
Both chapter five and six are helpful with providing detailed examples, reasons and strategies for listening as well as talking with one's target market. One thing that I really took away from these two chapters is that one should be open to change. For example, if a corporation starts up a blog with the intention of talking to the customers, they may find that the format is actually better suited for listening or vice versa, but if the company is unwilling to adapt then problems may arise.
Groundswell is an easy read, it is incredibly informative and helpful but since it is not a textbook it is easier to read and comprehend.
After reading the first six chapters of Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff's book Groundswell it has become very evident to me that not only garnering a presence on the internet but maintaining one as well is an endless job.
What struck me in chapter one was the story about the DVD code posted on Diggs.com. The fact that once something hits the internet that regardless of rules and regulations it truly belongs to the public is something that I was aware of but not to this magnitude. Although people can fight to have something removed, once something has gone viral there is no stopping it no matter what the law is.
Although I was familiar with some of the material in chapter two, it was nice to be reminded of the various social media outlets that can be used to market. Furthermore, being informed as to how certain social media elements can be used to market proves quite beneficial.
As an active participant in social media, it is often times hard to remember that different people associate with social media in different ways. Groundswell does a good job of breaking social media members into various categories: creators, critics, collectors, joiners, spectators, and inactives. In order to through a successful marketing campaign, one must keep all these categories in mind.
Reading chapter four would have been incredibly helpful this past summer in regards to promoting BoyBand online. Chapter four provides strategies for reaching your target market as well as reminding the reader of the pros and cons. It is good to be reminded that once something is on the internet it is on there for good and that there is no going back.
Both chapter five and six are helpful with providing detailed examples, reasons and strategies for listening as well as talking with one's target market. One thing that I really took away from these two chapters is that one should be open to change. For example, if a corporation starts up a blog with the intention of talking to the customers, they may find that the format is actually better suited for listening or vice versa, but if the company is unwilling to adapt then problems may arise.
Groundswell is an easy read, it is incredibly informative and helpful but since it is not a textbook it is easier to read and comprehend.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Cut, Copy, Paste and Layer
Day to day I come across images that capture the imagination and are intelligent, interesting or just really cool. When I stumble upon these images I often wonder how the artist created the art piece. With the readings over the past week, especially from the Graphic Design book I have been introduced to a whole new world of Photoshop possibilities. What really interested me was the cut, copy and paste aspects of layering. When surfing the web I came across the following image:
I would love to be able to make images like the one above. Although the chapters confirmed that this is possible, and provided instructions. I am more of a visual learner and can't wait to try it out in class.
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