5 creative strategies for the 5X5 publication

Creative strategies

1. Braulio Amado - manipulating images of objects (e.g. coffee cup poster design)

I found the way that Amado uses unorthodox methods to develop visuals interesting, as it embraces everyday objects and the power of digitally manipulating them to generate something new. I used this approach in the textures/ visuals for the penguin book design, through digitally manipulating and warping an image of bubbles. 

2. A Smile in the Mind 

The witty thinking discussed in A Smile in the Mind relates to strategies that designers can use; focusing more on the concepts behind design and creating clever visuals. This is useful as it prevents me from simply focusing on the visuals of a design, and pushes designers to consider what they want to communicate.

3. Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon 

This book discusses how to take inspiration for design work, focusing on the idea that ‘nothing is original’. 

‘All creative work builds on what came before. Nothing is completely original’ 

‘Everything is up for grabs’

‘The only art I’ll ever study is stuff that I can steal from’ - David Bowie

‘Carry a notebook and a pen wherever you go. Get used to pulling it out and jotting down your thoughts and observations.’ 

‘It’s good to have a lot of projects going on at once so you can bounce between them’ 

‘Practice productive observation’ 

‘Step 1. Wonder at something. Step 2. Invite others to wonder with you. You should wonder about the things nobody else is wondering about’. 

4. Hijacking an object/ mocking existing stuff - e.g. @ermsy on instagram 

@ermsy uses existing and familiar cartoon characters and manipulates them into his own style. This allows designers to build a familiarity with their work, yet adding a stylistic twist. I did this for the Oripeau poster design, by creating a spoof/ spin off of Hot Stuff the little devil in order to provide a fun and playful atmosphere. 

Jay Vaz is also another designer that uses existing visuals and twists them into his own style; examples of this use scenes from the Simpsons; this method also inspired my Oripeau poster 

5. Failed it!

This book discusses how designers should embrace mistakes in order to generate new ideas; e.g. ripping images and adding unique textures.