In light of my essay from the prior week, I think I should make it a little lighter. So here goes!

The classic all to well-known cliché ‘pay it forward’ comes to mind. I am a big believer in helping others out when they are in need. I was raised with this belief to which I hold true to this day is that the relationships should always take precedence over money matters. There have been countless times that I have helped people out and vice versa, but the stigma always holds true if you don’t hold any expectations then life will be great.

Think of it in terms of an investment, in our case, we invest time and money to build brands with the hopes that the outcome will be a positive one. At times, like many companies across the globe, you can take a loss or invest more time than you estimated but the end result is sometimes worth it.

So the next time you find a friend in need, or come across an opportunity to help anyone out, then just do it. You will score brownie points, and contributed to the good of mankind. :0)

Hatel Bhakta | Mood: Optimistic

The one thing in particular that struck me is the problem that I believe everyone faces at one point, when it comes to this ideal. If you were to do a quick Google search you will see many forums where this discussion occurs. The discussions relate to lending money to relatives, friends, and even perfect strangers.

My Take

If you must lend, then lend out of the goodness of your heart. If you must expect repayment, then you must be very forward. If you must say no, then be sure not to get yourself convinced into a yes. And last but not least, trust only those who instill trust upon you. After all trust is a two-way relationship.

Mitesh | Mood: Thankful

The next month is going to be dedicated towards a series on The Fundamentals of Design. Here is a quick outlook of what we will be covering over the next five posts.

• The Design Process(This Post)
• Unity in Design
• Emphasis and Focal Point in Design
• Scale and Proportion in Design
• Balance in Design
• Rhythm in Design

This series has been developed to help you further understand the creative process in production. This series will cover creative and cognitive struggles as well as discuss many design opportunities to improve work through these basic yet fundamental principles. This will also help give a foundation to those who have not experienced design at first hand and help place greater value on the process.

Simply put, design is the process of problem solving visually. It requires a great depth of visual literacy and the capacity to think creatively. Design solutions do not always have the right answer. However, these designs have a perfect solution that is not only visually engaging but communicates the intended message effectively.

Great design work is broken down into two categories: content and form. Content is what is referred to as the requirement of what the piece must communicate visually – also known as subject matter. Form is the visual manifestation, utilizing design to manipulate various elements. At this point it is fair to say that ‘art’ is the interpretation/solution to a problem through the form of visual communications.

Choose The Right Content

Content is also known as the subject matter and/or the visual representation of the message that is needed to convey the message to the end user. This can be done through a series of images, illustrations, headlines, body copy, symbolism, the use of lines, and shapes to create character within the piece. Often we run into the problem of information clutter thinking it would be best to provide more content then required. That is why it is a great idea to start with objective statements.

• Communicate that ACME Inc. is a fastest growing company in IT
• Communicate that we are process and client focused
• Communicate that our talents extend far and to visit our website for more information – Call To Action - Acmeinc.com

Choose The Right Form

The production process starts here with a design perspective in mind. Keep in mind, that all of the content has been gathered in terms of what needs to be communicated through brainstorming. The problem extends as far as figuring out how to solve this visual communication piece.

Know The Basics

There are three basic forms of shapes that are apparent within the context of visual language. The three forms are: squares, triangles, and circles. They all have different cognitive associations and representations. They must be considered within the context of the design layout and in the integration of all the elements.

Squares

This represents strength and intrigues the psyche in believing something is well grounded. It represents structure through its belief that it may contain other elements. If you look at most truck advertising – The Toyota Tundra and Ford F-150 – their logo is encompassed within a square element for that reason. It represents the tough, rugged, grounded trucks.

Triangles

This represents direction. It is moving upwards or within a specific direction. It gives a sense of rapid eye movement with the notion of speed and agility. Triangles are also heavily used by the automotive industry. Acura has a logo very much similar to a triangle as it represents its sport-like sedans.

Circles

This represents movement that is constant with its most common representation is much like the clock. It represents cycles, consistency, and most of all rhythm. Toyota uses circles within its logo in an effort to portray its commitment to build quality vehicles on a consistent basis.

Form and Function

All the forms that are used within the design must have a relationship and avoid arbitrary placement. This relationship is true within both images and objects. When used with clarity we can see that it follows form and functionality. Form is determined by content, the notion of function, which, is a priority to establish a visual representation.

Get Constructive Criticism

As you produce your work stop and obtain constructive criticism. Invite trusted individuals to look at your piece and give you valuable feedback. This idea is simple. You want to increase the understanding of your piece through discussion and examination and evaluate whether it ‘solves’ the problem as a visual piece. If it does then you have created a successful piece.

That concludes the first post in the Fundamentals of Design Series. Next week we will be discussing ‘Unity in Design’ and show you how to apply the principles of content and form.

Let’s be real here, who really likes to be told that he/she is wrong? Some people might say that this is really an arbitrary statement, Sir Joseph Pearce. For the record, I have to disagree. How can you really define what a creative life is in the first place? I am a creative, but I am also one to analyze and to weigh out the pros and cons of everything prior to making a decision. So maybe not a complete analysis, but you catch my drift. :0)

Have you noticed that a child is never afraid of making a mistake. If you ask a child to try something he/she will do it with the blink of an eye. So why is it that as we become adults we think twice about solving a problem, performing a dance routine, picking out what to wear for a night out, etc.? I have had the opportunity to work with children in teaching them creativity through dance. It was the most rewarding and greatest learning experiences of my life. These children had smiles on their faces and were always eager to learn something new. I noticed that they were never afraid of really making any errors and if they did they kept on going without feeling as if they committed the biggest mistake of their lives.

Like many of my peers, I experienced the world of Corporate America. Looking back I can see how many times I was a witness to employees who were fighting an internal battle of buying into bureaucracy, and the notion of what he/she knew was right. It was simple at times, a very simple request of a report which for some reason needed approvals and revisions because someone just could not understand it at even senior level management. Surprising, not at all. If you notice many of the biggest headlines are all devoted to these powerhouse CEO’s and their management team that failed their company, lost the trust of many people, and themselves.

It is odd so many companies encourage creativity so that projects are finished well ahead of schedule, to reduce operational costs, etc., but who really takes all the credit? I believe that the many facets of Corporate America are changing, and that many entrepreneurial companies are flourishing today because the old methods simply aren’t working anymore. It makes me wonder if people had the gumption to call out the higher executives when they believed things were going wrong, would we be in the same economic mess that we are in today?

I am not saying that these former employees or whistleblowers were creative but, in every profession, every industry requires that you have some creative knowledge to stay ahead of the game. If you can innovate and find ways to save money, create an efficient solution to solve communication issues, then you are a problem solver. Problem solvers are seen as creative thinkers who can really take a situation and put things into a new perspective.

In today’s market it is essential that you have your own job security. In other words, take ownership of your position in your organization. If you know how to complete a task better than anyone else, make sure that your management knows, that might just land you the promotion you have been waiting so long for. In our industry, it is so crucial that you are throw out the idea that you could be wrong and really empower yourself with an entrepreneurial spirit. As always, make sure that you really do it within reason. I am not saying that feel free to be wrong and make erroneous judgment calls in your career, but you can be wrong as long as you are not affecting the bigger picture. I have met many creative artists and these very professionals are an example of living creatively without the fear of being wrong. Many of today’s brands are successful in part of a solid creative team that took a simple concept and turned it into a brilliant campaign.

So the next time you are afraid to present a thought, just picture the child inside of you and see how far you can soar to new heights!

Hatel Bhakta | Mood: Empowered

A little ramble (only 82 words) on the quality and traits of a creative

A creative will think past where another person has stopped. A creative will never be satisfied with the end result and understands there is always more to be done. To be a creative means that you are inspired to create on a level of greatness. You imagine, you foresee, you invent ideas and execute them flawlessly. Not to your eyes but to the eyes of the viewer. You behold a level of ingenuity and of course the most interesting person at the party.

I’m Ready To Get To The Point

I didn’t end my last paragraph with the notion of a party for no reason. If you take a look at some of the most inspiring creative’s, they are not afraid (If you are thinking, I know a lot of artists who stay locked in their room – then need to keep reading). If you know that is not true because you are a ‘real’ creative or perhaps know of a ‘real’ creative feel free to just scroll down and leave some comments. We love those! (*cough* *cough*).

Now I Think I Will Make My Point – We Tend To Get Sidetracked

How many great photographers are shy? Ever seen the staff at Pixar? Why are musicians not afraid to perform their music? The point is they are not afraid to be wrong and are proud of the ideas they come up with. They know they must go through the ‘bad’ ideas to come up with the ‘great’. They do not fear rejection but rather expect it. Nor do they care about the ‘like’ factor. Because lets be real, if a creative approaches you and you give the impression you don’t like him, well guess what? He made up his mind he doesn’t like you either (harsh but it’s true).

I’m Patting Myself On The Back…

Because I kept you reading this far without any pictures. Hatel won’t let me use pictures on these quotes so I must write. If you think that is unfair like I do – please email her (no hate mails please!). I’m just kidding. Leave it in the comments below (I can’t even believe she let me publish this).

Fear holds one back from exploring possibilities. To live a life through the lens of fear means you are not ready to find inspiration anywhere. If you fear being uncomfortable in the context of stepping out of your comfort zone, think about how many opportunities you lost because of this little fear? So really are you a ‘real’ creative, or a creative under development?

Remember one thing, there is no limitation to a great idea. But you must go farther to have the best ideas. To live a creative life means you stop nowhere and explore everywhere fearlessly. And for the record, sometimes our stomachs get queasy too. We just pretend we are not afraid. It makes us that much more creative when we step out of our own comfort zone. We all have to do it. But creative’s just love doing it. That my friend is really the big difference.

Mitesh Solanki | Mood: Hungry

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Mitesh & I thought it would be a great idea to take a quote and show how we can take a simple concept and have two different views and still work as a team. We believe that this will also empower you to do the same. Go for it, and let us know what you think! If you want to suggest a quote, please feel free to send them our way, and we will feature your thoughts on our blog. You know you want too! :0)

Some things have to be believed to be seen, but are they really? There are so many clichés that we all use in our everyday lives but time is always constant and that never changes. I would say that growing up people who crossed my path left a footprint in my life. I can clearly remember that familiar phrase “you have to see it to believe it.” It can hold true if you are conducting a science experiment, but for a creative like myself, I don’t agree with it wholeheartedly.

Not that I want to cross any lines when it applies spirituality or one’s religious beliefs but if we were to take this in a literal sense then are we all still waiting to witness an ultimate higher being? Depending on the way that you look at it, your glass can be half-empty or it can be half-full. It’s all perception, you get the idea. I know that if you go with your instinct and follow it, chances are that you will be right. This is what many instructors tell their students, especially, when it comes to standardized tests. So I have given you all these scenarios, but for me, I don’t need to see things to necessarily believe them, my faith and instinct is my guiding light. Let’s not forget those wonderful people around me who don’t hesitate to bring me back down to earth, or those same people who uplift my spirits. I am grateful that you are here, after all, what is life without creativity?

Hatel Bhakta | Mood: Inspired

The world exists and we as people are living within this evolutionary planet. Man has evolved from stone carvings to technological advancements that improve much of the lifestyle we live today. Mother nature has taken its course through the period of time, increasing the altitude of Mount Everest, and dividing masses of land so that today we may have diversified countries. These countries hold belief systems combined with different lifestyles all of which came to be through the eyes of visionaries.

It is necessary to recognize that we are in our oneness the true center of existence. What we (encompassing our oneness) decide to believe becomes our passion then and only then, gives birth to vision into a reality, bringing a level of truth and certainty to the world.

Mitesh Solanki | Mood: Intelligent