the weaving of design and community

Today designers, this is a huge issue that we all talk about. are there people who we call real designers nowadays? do we trust them? do they have the ethics and responsibility? i am sorry to say no. designers are walking on the other side of all that. people in general i do not know the exact reason, but they are just looking for money! who can be more famous ! gain more money and be wealthy! they are turning to be feelingless, not knowing and well understand people's emotions and feelings! by design we can change the world, that what we have learned! but is it what is going on?

if design can affect positively, then why we do have many depression nowadays all over the world ! is in it because of design and media! so people did this change! nothing else interfered...

now we need to help the community by having campaigns, lectures and conferences to give people the knowledge of understanding the others. i really like the campaign that Dove did about "real beauty" that what people need! not only see skinny people who are 70% made of plastic ! and call them Beautiful ! even our new generations of boys are turning to be not accepting anyone who is not similar to those who are being spotted out all over the places.

i am with real people, not fake ones. i will go for real designers who know what they are sending to people and how to send it. who have a message to be taken and trusted. i wish i would be one of them, money is not as important when it comes to ethics and playing with peoples emotions! if everyone in the community did the same thing in their field then no one would feel different from the other..

http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.ae/flat3.asp?id=7219

and this book looks interesting

 http://books.google.com.sa/books?id=Jhvfh6thHS8C&dq=design+and+community&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=MnqY6PCqI0&sig=HXBl0DcoEZOG5lWp_WrIFBHtOSk&hl=ar&ei=sM4zS-eEJqPajQefiPmmDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CB8Q6AEwAg&safe=active#v=onepage&q=&f=false

manufactured landscapes

when i first heard that we were going to watch a movie about a photographer " Edward Burtynsky" who set things and take amazing photos for things you never thought about. i was so interested to see his work. i also found new that there was a director too who actually direct the movie and within that edward's photos were shown and you can tell that when there is a stop action on a photo.

that documentary really opened new visions for me and a new aspects of art. he had chosen interesting places that no one would think to go and visit or even think to photograph, dangerous places, where there are all metals, oil, recycled places, and how people who are working there makes me feel they are so far from what we are living in. from their look, and how hard they work i feel it is so great to appreciate that place by showing it to people, and how all the products we do have, are made by the materials they are actually fixing, or who are making the first steps for recycling. 

i think no one understood why was he doing that, what does he have in mind, but each one saw the documentary and his photos were inspired by how art is just amazing. how people see things differently, how can we present and show unfamiliar places to a great piece of art. those people i can call them artists. also, from what we have seen in the documentary, that he have been through hard time in many places, that they would not allowed him to get into the place itself, i think they are not used to it! and they were so surprised by someone wants to photograph such places. but he was smart. and i believe if those people have seen his work now, they would be so proud of themselves.

he was so great, i liked when he gathered all the workers in a factory in the street, and divided them into two rows standing, how patient they were, and how did he convince them to do that for him! also the time management was surprisingly, they were like thousands and he did not want to lose the day light. it was the only source of light for his photograph. another example, when there were the ships, and he had the patience to stay and wait for the workers to remove many parts of metal of that ship, then he took the photo he had in his mind! he is just amazing.

from now on, i think i have new idea's for photography, by not just taking a picture of things people see interesting, no but making interesting piece of art by shooting a very normal uninteresting places.

http://www.edwardburtynsky.com/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/02/AR2009100200310.html

The Cultural influence of brands - in defense of advertising

rom this article we can see how brands are structured today..

how designers should be more aware of the environment and culture. designers should understand both of them in order to market the product. for example: international brands are well branded in many countries all around the world, they do their research quiet good they study and understand both important aspects which are the environment and culture and to know how consumers are smart. and here where we can see the differences that local brands are not well known because of the lack of knowledge, though they are living in this country and knowing the culture and environment! so what is the problem? i can not get it.

i hope soon this will change, a new blood will be in the market, new minds, and good energy would change this and make good products that can me deported too.

and it was mentioned in the presentation about how brands does understand our culture, religion and everything about us, i brought the Ad for mcdonalds about ramadan, and i found another one about christmas, i found it really interesting, how always ads are different depending to which country and place are you in. 

Timing is everything

Timing is everything in all aspects of life. being a Graphic Designer that make us more responsible about timing, we have due dates we have to know and understand what is happening in the world at this time so we can  relate and not affect negatively by unknowing certain issues.

But there always have to be limits, for example in advertising's as he have recently viewed about the H1N1 virus, i believe media have talked about it so much that they freaked out people all around the world, i think they have exceeded the limit, now it is not only about making people aware of it, though we know that the flu that comes after Hajj is more dangerous!

Also about timing, designers always should know when and where to publish the work. for example: now we are in the hajj month, people from all over the world are here. designers and media have started talking about hajj, how to do it, what is right and wrong, and many other instructions for people who have not been here before and they have showed it in different languages. that went so good with all pilgrims, and it was in a good timing that its the time to know all this information and at the same time not to forget it.

here is a link about some of the Ads they have done for Hajj:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOQa_uPAY2Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pChkF7ujHM&feature=related

Responsibility Answers Absurdity

The dictionary definition of the word “Absurdity” is the quality or state of being ridiculous or wildly unreasonable.

looking around us, all the restaurants and malls are a globalized brands, that you can find them everywhere whenever you travelled. but the interesting thing that maybe no one of the consumers did think about, is how did they move on having these products and not thinking or remembering how did they accept it at the beginning. this is how they started spreading all over the world by knowing, understanding, and make deep researches about cultures and different personalities. i think it is intelligent though it brings some negativity to the local brands.

Here in Saudi Arabia we have a lack to local brands and factories, or maybe there are some which are not famous because people are not supporting it! that come also because of the low quality or taste for some of them. Designers have a big role in that, that is why international brands got easily into our world. Advertising, branding is all what attracts people and make them buy the products.

Hopefully people here will be more aware of this issue, and i think it started to shown that new fashion designers appeared, but still they have to be aware of what people can afford and what they can't, if they want to succeed and get more consumers to buy their clothes then beat the market prices and let people appreciate local industry.

We as designers should help to built this relationship to get things better and to increase the local industry, by working as one hand everything can work.

and here i wanted to share with you an example of local clothing which people are buying from. and what it is good about it that it reflects the Arab culture and views.

Reporters Without Borders

Reporters Without Boarders or (RSF) is a Paris-based freedom of press organization. It fights for journalists’ freedom worldwide. i was not surprised when i heard about journalists who have been jailed, but i like the idea of having this organization to be with journalists and gives their freedom!

i feel sorry that here in Saudi Arabia we do not have something called freedom of speech! i think it is not fair, people are not slaves for anyone in this world, people have to talk and express their feelings and opinions about many things. and even there are many books that are not allowed to get in Saudi Arabia because they are afraid that it will affect them in anyway! by doing this people are looking to get these books and read about it, Saudi Writers or many of them are actually traveling around r even live in other countries so they can have the freedom of speech, write books, and publish them! now there is internet people can get and read anything they want without regulations! i wish this could change and that they could realize that people have minds that they can not change or control!

i believe things will change sooner or later! i hope so..

http://www.rsf.org/Religious-leaders-condemned-for.html

why they are still holding blogger for last four months!

http://www.rsf.org/Authorities-asked-to-say-why-they.html

this link i found, banning books that might affect children in school negatively as they say..

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2008/11/26/60845.html

Ethical Design Education

"Good Design is responsible design" Designers are connected with humanity, this is what a responsible designer does. nowadays we can see many designers who design for the sake of living, not of being responsible about humanity. but ethics of design means that we have a moral duty and obligations to our fellow humans and to other living creatures that supports and sustains our lives. when we talk about designers, we mean fashion, graphic, interior.. etc. we all should be a responsible designers.

for example, Graphic designers who can change the world by sending the messages to the world by text and image, which can affect and influence people all around the world. bring awareness campaigns about the environment and how to have a Green planet. about this i have mentioned a great local example about Design Magazine and their last issue about Green Tomorrow. i have interviewd Kholoud Attar, who is the Director of the magazine, and she was so excited about giving the informations. i asked her what did motivate you and made you think about this issue? she said that, she went to a supermarket with her friends and they bought somethings and got out with like 40 plastic bags ! and one of her friends discussed how when she were in Japan in the summer and they had to buy the plastic bags if they wanted to use it, and that they only give the paper bags. from that she got the idea of why not making a new issue about recycling. She actually imported the White recycled papers because they are not available in Saudi Arabia, they were so expensive that she can not use it in another issues! that made me feel bad of how we can not help the environment because of the lack of responsibility. although there might be a good step that the environment ministry in KSA have called kholoud and supposedly will bring something good here in Saudi Arabia!

In my opinion, i really think it is so important to know as a designer what to design and what to keep away from, because of morals and ethics, i would feel really sorry about designers who does not care about people around them or even the environment. through the examples we have mentioned in the presentation, we can see how many companies are taking an advantage using designers to increase their income on consumer's health and environment!

http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20040301/ethical-design-education-confessions-of-a-sixties-idealist

Social Responsibility Advertising

now after i have studied psychology of marketing and design, i have understood more about companies and marketing strategies they follow. And how it is almost all about selling their products in any way possible! then they started this new thing which is "Cause Related Marketing", as the examples which were mentioned in the presentation: Beneton, Body Shop, and Startbucks. by this marketing strategy they want to improve their marketing by relating their products with social issues! 

In my opinion, i believe that it is so not related to morals, me as a consumer; for instance, if  i have one of my family members who had a certain decease and some international company are marketing their product upon this cause! and i see nothing from them i will be so offended, and if i really wanted to help this cause i would go by myself to whatever organization and help with what i can do rather than buying a product thinking that it will help!

if i was to choose a cause related company or a regular company product, i would go for what i am used to get or what product i actually used to like, but nothing will affect me to buy from this company because they are "cause related"

for examples: Pampers they did many Ads and marketed themselves that they are helping to get 1 vaccine for a child buy buying one pack! for me i know that pampers is one of the best in the market and i would buy it for that! not for the cause they are relating too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLLzMosxRXc

at what point me as a designer can say no to the art director?

the list mentioned in the introduction of the book "Citizen Designer" really did capture my attention! after reading a lot of words about what is Graphic Design and is it related to the citizenship and all that, to say the truth it was boring for me! maybe it is not the kind of things i like to read! but when i saw the list and first heard it from the instructor in class i was so curious to learn what is behind it and what is it really about! i believe because i do not read much i felt that it is the first time i hear such a true list about the market nowadays. then came the question, if i was the designer and the art director asked me to do what was in the list, at what point of that list i will say NO sorry i can not do that?

and here is the list with what i can do and what i think i wont accept,

1. Designing a package to look bigger on the shelf, this is normal i think in the market and it is part of advertising and branding the product. it is not a huge bad thing from my point of view. on the other hand, i think it does harm the customer, for example, when i buy Lays chips and open it and only find 4 or 5 slices !! i get really angry ! i feel that i payed for the package not for what is in the package!

2. designing an Ad for a slow, boring film to make it seem like a light-hearted comedy. Well, if i did design something very good and impressive for me and for the Art director i would have done the best work ever! for making something interesting which grabbed people's attention! therefore, bring more money for the film makers! i think business is going to that direction which is disappointing!

3. Designing a promotion for a diet product that you know doesn't work. food companies always invent things and say its 0% fat ! and its never right! they are just promoting the product. and as i learned customers and their target audience are not stupid they do know what is the truth !

4. Designing a package for children whose contents you know are low in nutrition value and high in sugar content, i would agree to design such a package because of the market, children they do eat a lot of colored sweets which are so not good for their health, and companies will never stop inventing new things so parents should have the decision to not get them the things which are bad to their health ! but for designing a package, i do not think it is such a problem for me.

5. Designing a crest for a new vineyard to suggest that it has been in business for a long time. i would agree to do that if it was a good thing! but if it was already bad, i would feel so surprised of how the Art director did take such a project! 

6. designing a medal using steel from the world trade center to be sold as a profit-making souvenir of september 11.

reading through out the list i think these six are the only things i can accept to do, but the other six i would not take it and i would say NO!

here are the six points:

1. Designing a jacket for a book whose sexual content you find personally repellent.

2. Designing an advertising campaign for a company with a history of known discrimination in minority hiring.

3. designing a line of T-shirts for a manufacturer that employes child labor

4. Designing a brochure for an SUV that turned over frequently in emergency conditions and was known to have killed 150 people.

5. Designing an Ad for a product whose frequent use could result in the user's death.

6. Designing an Ad for a political candidate whose policies you believe would be harmful to the general public.