Valuble artistic advice

Again, I have been hooked on the videos of Tales of Mere Existence and I feel that this is something worth sharing among FCM students.

The video talks about instead of thinking and worrying about the outcome of things, especially when it comes to doing artwork, just DO IT, DO SOMETHING, DO ANYTHING. Do not worry if it turns out uncool, make your own uncool. Make “your own” your own world. That is the really the best advice I have ever got as a design student.

Usually I am confined to the rigid ways of generating ideas. I do studies and find references that can help me in creating a good design but most of the times, it just appears to be boring or typical or ‘this looks familiar…’ then I am trap in a mind block and I don’t know what to do because I cannot proceed without getting the very basic idea done first. I would lie around or waste my time doing something else other than work. This is when procrastination kicks in. I mentioned before that procrastination is a natural thing that comes to us and it’s best to combat it by thinking about the consequences faced if we procrastinated. Now take that imagination of consequences and add to the frustrating feeling of not being able to produce anything which forced you to procrastinate in the first place and you get a high blood pressure and heart tightening feeling called STRESS (or it could be a heart attack coming)

At time like these, I do what the video says: “Learn to say F*** you to the world once in a while. You have every right to” and I just make a mind map of things and just start drawing any crap I want WITHOUT worrying if it followed the requirements or if it would appeal to the lecturer or not. At the end of it, at least I am doing work and not procrastinating and I might get something close to a potential final design. Usually it works for me, if I like what I just drawn even though it was produced in a ‘backward method’ of results first, studies and references later, I would have kept the design for submission anyway. And if it is out of the requirements, there is always modification.

Yes, honestly, I do that sometimes, not everything comes if you follow the ‘procedures of creative thinking’, since when did generating ‘creative ideas’ became so rigid anyway? I personally feel that all the talks and workshops are just one of the myriad ways to generate ideas. I believe that good ideas can be spawned from a chaotic and unorganized situation and be dressed like it was conceived in an organized and procedural manner. Does that make sense to you? I hope it does, all I want to say to designing students and NO OFFENCE to lecturers that, DO whatever is fine for you to generate ideas. Not sticking to what you learn in the classroom is your own decision and if the results are good then who cares about the process of how it came anymore?

So just DO. DO SOMETHING, DO ANYTHING.

Blowing out a candle and lighting a candle

Another video from Tales of Mere Existence! I used his video about Procrastination in my last post and I figured I used his post again here.

This video about youth and aging really struck me and all that is needed to say is already said in the video. I remember when I was 8, I couldn’t wait to grow up and enter secondary school and experience teenage life. When I was finally a teenager, at the the age of 14, I could not wait to finish secondary school and go to university so that I can live independently on my own without the pestering and overprotecting of my parents. Then the big day came and I entered university in the age of 18. I was quite happy that I am among the youngest age group in a class to be in a university lecture. Things moved quickly and I have to learn how to take care of myself and manage things like how a grown up does. When I get really busy or stressed from assignments, I would often reminisce on the good old days when I was 6 years old and I can simply draw cartoons and play with my friends in kindergarten. Now I have to wreck my brains to design something for my Media Innovation class and somehow compete with the expectations of a good design to get good grades from lecturers. Then I would also often think back on the good old times I had with my ol’ secondary school friends on the fun we used to have and all while I sit here being bored to death and try to reconnect with them but everyone is just too busy with their assignments to oblige. Now that I am 20, I no longer have the ‘looking-forwardness’ to the next stage which is WORKING as I did when I was a kid longing to grow up and move on the next stages of life. And I’m pretty sure when I get older, I will miss the days when I was studying and doing assignments in my university years.

What I am saying here is what Lev Yilmaz said in the video: “One of the main reasons old people get nostalgic about their youth is that when they were young, they didn’t know how things were gonna turn out yet.” And one of the main reasons young people long to grow up quickly is because they don’t know what is coming at them yet. I would advise people to just appreciate the time they have and make the most out of their age but this is something that needs to be experienced personally to find out. I guess this is what it feels to grow up then :)

What to do or not do then? Continuation from Modern manners of the Digital era

So now we know that the Digital era has brought on a wave of impolite and narcissist behavior. However, it’s not like we have to shun all postings on Facebook or Twitter and hide in a shell altogether to be the 'polite kind'. Here are a few know-hows on what is acceptable or not with digital social etiquette:

Can I send a text message just before meeting someone to say that I will be late?

Producer Erwin Nah, 25, waited 2 hours for a friend who was held up at a meeting and who kept sending him texts updating him on the progress, or the lack of it. He says: “I don’t like it when we ser a time and my friend decides to change it last minute. I am usually very punctual, so I have to hang around and wait. People don’t realize it is an issue.” Yvonne Anjelina of The Etiquette School Singapore, says: “When you are late, you are late. As long as one inconveniences another, etiquette has been thrown out the window.”

*My remark: I have been on both ends of having to wait for someone who is late and being the one who is late. I can get really mad at the person and be embarrassed if I was late, yes there must be humility when you make mistakes. I strongly believe in good time management and punctuality. If I had to wait for a person for 30 minutes, it is just too obscene to forgive someone who doesn’t even bother to at least apologize for being late. On the other hand, if you know that you will be late for a couple of minutes (for me, the minimum would be 10 minutes) then it’s best to inform the one expecting you that you’ll be late, so that the other party doesn’t have to rush to meet on time as well or they’ll know that they have to wait instead of wondering why your shadows hasn’t appear in the last 10 minutes. And of course, when you meet the one who was waiting on you, don’t forget to say “Sorry I was late”*

Should Facebook or Twitter be a place to start an argument?

Agnes Koh of Etiquette & Image International says: “Everyone has a right to say what’s on their mind and post anything he wants on his Facebook wall. If there is any content that you do not agree with, say it in a respectful manner. Don’t fight it outright.”

*My remark: Now I have seen COUNTLESS comment fights on Youtube. It always starts with someone posting a nasty comment about the video/video’s artiste/video uploader/anything to do with the video (these people are named “Haters”) and a slew of offended commenters will come and oppose the hater’s comment. Although it can be a bit entertaining to read them (guilty to confess, hehe) but there are ways to argue over a topic, namely in a more civilized manner which EXCLUDES crude words and means accusations. Either debate in a well manner or just keep the nasty remark to yourself. I have seen from a comment somewhere (sorry but I just cant remember) stating “we are not obliged to agree on the same terms” and I cannot that person’s statement more, everyone has their own opinions, if things cannot be settled/agreed upon in an argument then let us just leave things with our own opinion.*

Can I update my Facebook page or Twitter feeds or reply to an SMS or email, when I am out with friends?

Guinevere Ho, principal consultant at Image Mastery International, says: “When you are out with 1 or 2 friends, pay attention to them rather than update yur Facebook page or Twitter feed. While it is less of a guilty charge in a group of 10 people, we still advise that you pay attention.”She adds : “The reason for social media is to connect with friends, so why not make use of the chance in reality to spend time with them?”

*My remark: I totally agree with this. There is nothing more rude when you are hanging out with a person who always checks his Facebook from his iPhone/Blackberry/iPad/whatever conceivable device that can go online during a hang out session with friends. The same goes to those who prefer to listen to their mp3 player when a conversation is going on. It shows that you are either not enjoying the company of your friends or that you are not paying attention at all. Leave the Facebooking and Tweeting to when you are alone and online. Of course if you ARE actually bored in a bigger party of friends (say around 10 people, then an occasional check would be acceptable, but not with a small party of around 5 friends!)

Can I break up with my partner over MSN, SMS, email, Facebook or Twitter?

Cecelia Telkes, associate consultant of Imageworks, says, “It is rude and shows lack of consideration, manners and cowardice. You are better off without a person who breaks up with you over social media.” Make a point to meet and have the guts to talk it through with the person. In the case of a long-distance relationship, use the telephone or even Skype.

*My remark: Yes, douche bags and scum bags, have the guts to break up with someone face to face, not hide behind your computer screen and type things out. A break up needs to be clean and clear off any confusion, doing things face to face will give closure to both parties and maybe a less bitter ending.*

Referenced from Reader's Digest April 2011 article Modern Manners by Nicholas Yong & Huang Huifen

Images are from the Reader's Digest article

Modern manners of the digital era

Watch out for the new wave of mannerism from Generation Y

What is considered good manners in this modern era? 28 year old civil servant Mohamed Rafi attended a wedding with a twist, the groom was updating his Facebook page throughout the whole ceremony. He was telling the world via this social network when he was making his costume change and how he was feeling throughout.

"I'm at the aisle now. Feeling a bit nervous, hehe"

Welcome to the strange new world of social networking, smart phones that enable you to go online anywhere anytime (with the help of Wi-Fi everywhere of course) and instant messaging. Others happen to call this the new world of bad manners. With the rise of tech-savvy generation, old fashioned notions of privacy and even shame appear to have been outstripped by the demands of online and real-time communication. (It means, people who use to just go about minding their own business has gotten the opportunity to post their business to the world like a paparazzi and celebrity in one body!)

Let’s look at the phenomena happening in this new world of the impolite. Mark Sparrow, managing director of Kelly Services, Singapore said that shortened and abbreviated communication (SMS language) is becoming a common thing in workplaces. Examples are “ppl” for people, “thx”/”TQ” for thank you and “cfm” for confirm. These short forms which were originally intended for fast and easy typing on the phone has also become part of the language used in emails.

Furthermore, there is even the free online ‘drama’ of couples’ interaction via their Facebook statuses or Tweets. If you want some melodrama, there are quarrel and status wars. If you want a love story, there are also updates on what “my sweet darling did for me on our 5^th week anniversary” If reading statuses are not enough, just wait for the everyday self portraits of the couples face sticking together like 2 lovely sugar buns. Aww…… how sweet… (pun not intended!)

Then there are the minute reporters who literally update you with everything that is happening every minute! Wake up in the morning, “Good morning everyone!” Goes for breakfast after a few moments, “I’m having cereal now. Yummy!” Yupp, you don’t have to worry about missing out on anything! Assistant Professor Micahel Netzley of Singapore Management University (SMU) says much of this behavior is due to “increased transparency and narcissism” INDEED!

Minute reporter

The easy access of loading information about yourself online is making everyone become obsessive about “me”. “If I don’t like the online experience I am havin, I click the mouse button and immediately go to something else in the endless stream of content” he adds. This is true because people go by ‘out of sight, out of mind’. They think that by not seeing their old posts, the posts don’t exist anymore when in reality, those nasty remarks or the embarrassing picture is still around. You just don’t see it, but nothing can be permanently erased from the internet unless you do so. Content doesn’t just disappear on its own in the cyber realm. This is especially apparent among teenagers and young adults who share their personal experiences and ‘cool party videos’ a little too carefree online. Imagine what future employers would think of you when they see a video of you drunk on the dance floor. Yes, companies actually do that to have a background check on their potential employees. Your personal image counts and with a simple search on Google, your every social network account can be found, try it!

Reference: Reader’s Digest April 2011 issue written by Nicholas Yong and Huang Huifen

Images are from Reader's Digest article

Damn that Murphy's law!

“Anything that can go wrong will go wrong”

When I first heard about “Murphy’s law” from the class, I was expecting some kind of designing law in technical drawing, turns out it was the above statement!! Hahaha!! Indeed it’s been a common experience among us. Wwhen we are about to face something, be it a presentation or submission, we cant help but think of the worst and surely, the worst will happen afterwards.

The term was mentioned by Edward Murphy in 1949, there were several arguments on how the term was coined and what it actually meant when Mr. Murphy mentioned it but generally, we know it as Murphy’s law now.

As a design student, I’ll share some Murphy’s laws from websites and some of my own Murphy’s law experiences:

1. If you have two versions of a photo, you will send the wrong one to the printer.
2. Speed. Quality. Affordability. Pick two.
3. If three designs are shown to a lecturer/client, your least favourite will be chosen
4. No matter how detailed the tech support FAQ is, nobody has ever heard of your problem
5. If you went for printing and it turns out bad/not what you expected, it’s never the shop/printer’s fault (A line I always use for this situation with friends, “Magenta tinggi (Too much Magenta)”)
6. Only after printing, do you realize you have done some mistakes on your work
7. Whenever you burn a video to a CD, the playback will have problems playing the video
8. You have finished doing work after weeks and then your computer get infected by a virus and it wipes out everything in your computer, including your work.
9. Whenever you bring your work to print, the shop computer cant read your specialized fonts
10. When you are prepared for an outdoor photo shoot, bad weather will come
11. When you are ready to propose your grand idea that you’ve been coming up with for days (or weks), the person right before you has proposed the very same idea
12. You have done some small mistakes on your work and hope that the lecturer wont notice it, but it will be the first thing the lecturer points out when you show your work
13. When you are going to do a presentation, the computer doesn’t read your ‘.pptx’ format OR the speakers/screen/microphone doesn’t work and your time limit is running…
14. When you are about to perform in a drama, the lines you have rehearsed for so long suddenly slips your mind
15. When you have just passed a written assignment to the lecturer, you just realized you spelled something important wrong (your name or student ID or subject code or even worse, the lecturer’s name!)

There are countless Murphy’s law experiences that I have gone through, be it in terms of being a design student or in life generally. This is why planning ahead is a very important thing! Foreseeing any possibilities of failure/problems and expecting it with a backup plan is always good practice for everyone, especially in the volatile world of designing where clients/printers/shops/CDs are ready to screw you up at the last moment. Double checking your work before printing (double check as in triple, quadruple and above check with a zoom in on every detail) and always back up your work (save them in more than 1 place: external hard disc, pen drive, CD, online). Also, set some realistic expectations on the outcome of your work, anything printed will be a bit more saturated/darker than what you have originally done. The scale will also be a bit smaller because printing includes a thin border that scales down your work to fit on the paper. Finally, always have a plan B, C and who knows, a D too!

And when all else fails, then oh well, learn from your mistakes!