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