Trends // Less & More

////////// Introductory Explanation \\\\\\\\\\

As a designer, it is very important to follow trends. You need to know what’s popular and what isn’t, as well as what context or pretense it can be used in. Something that’s very important is to put your touch on a trend - make it your own.

Do trends have to be a bad thing or is it a balancing act like the internet? It’s one thing if you follow trends, but it’s another if you don’t personalize it. This can be seen as ‘copying’ or ‘unoriginal.’ In my opinion, following trends can make you very successful if you put your own touch on it in your work. Doing so makes you more appealing to potential clients since they can see that you’re able to follow them and create trending work.

In summary, trends are okay to follow as long as you’re original about it.

||| Trend = LESS |||

‘TYPOGRAPHY CRAZE’

As a designer, this idea sounds appalling to me. To explain what this is though, is combining multiple diverse display typefaces into one to make intense use of expression and artistry. This could be very, very bad and even disastrous. Designers should not be allowed to do this… This is not the same as calligraphy and hand lettering. It would be nearly impossible to create successfully. Mixing typefaces into the same word(s) and sentence(s) is a BIG NO-NO.

‘LINE ART’

This trend may not seem so bad to some, but for me, it’s hard to pull off successfully and can be very distracting. Line weight variation is very important in this trend, because the viewer needs to have an understanding of depth and hierarchy. Without knowing where to start, the piece can be very anti-climatic and busy - making it unsuccessful. I don’t want to see this at all, but especially not with a single stroke weight with no variation.

||| Trend = MORE |||

‘PATTERNS + TEXTURES’

I love to see this in design work, especially in typography. It immediately adds another layer of personality and can be very playful. Not in typography, however, it can be used in sections with illustrations and imagery very beautifully.

‘GEOMETRIC DESIGNS’

This sort of trend can even be seen as collage, which is also an attractive trend, but it makes for a very strong style. It can have some very beautiful results and it gives another meaning to craft.

\\\\\\\\\\ Q & A //////////

• How does internet culture affect you as an artist?

  • It doesn’t affect me in a negative way. I find that internet culture helps me remain up-to-date with events, trends and topics that are relevant. Without learning what’s up and how to relate, my work may not be as successful in reaching my audience.

• Do you feel that art is over appropriated or misused?

  • Pshh, no! As much as I hate to say it, you don’t have to go to school and have a degree to be an artist. Art can be created by just about anyone with skill. At times, I see people boast about how artsy they are when they haven’t gone to school for it (which can be easily annoying), but it’s wrong to tell someone they can’t be an artist because they lack a degree. Therefore, I don’t think it is over-appropriated. Misused, however, yes. Some pieces and compositions are labeled as art by people who are not true artists, that lack skill, taste and quality. That is misuse of art.

• Have internet or social trends affected your creative/artistic practice in a negative or positive way? Maybe both?

  • I would have to say they have affected my practice in a positive way. As a designer, we are always looking to learn and come up with ways to communicate more effectively to people- and staying current with internet and social trends helps us figure out how best to communicate with people. It’s like learning an evolving language.

• Think about the culture of technology today, what is marketed to your peers, and what that means for you as an artist.

  • Technology can do a lot for artists, in both good and bad ways. Almost everything is never really gone from the internet, which can be bad if you’re an artist trying to change your image or disassociate from something of the past. But in a good way, you have so many different platforms and methods to market your work. You can give yourself controlled publicity and market your work professionally, vastly and quickly. I am so thankful for today’s technology.