Too Much Graphic Design

Modern_Media · 03-09-2011, 01:09 AM

http://woodlandsadagency.com/blog/en...ic-design.html

We wrote a little blog about too much graphic design.

We welcome comments as well...

Phreaddee · 03-09-2011, 10:40 AM

well rather than too much graphic design id suggest its too many average graphic designers... as in all honesty the simple streamlined approach actually requires just as much thought and skill to be put in to make it work, its just some people like to call themselves "graphic designers" simply cause they know how to use photoshop. they are just missing the "design" component, and its not that difficult to do it right, really. just have to have an eye for detail, and know when to stop...and a good concept of colour never goes astray either.

notarypublic · 03-14-2011, 08:50 PM

I bet the "bad" design was fun to make

The problem I run into (very willing to call myself a "novice" designer) is that I have a good feel for style that I like. My views on Gestalt theory, white space, color schemes, and my eye for other designers that "get it" are sooner or later going to run me into the ground.

I know there's a fundamental flaw with the logic that since clean and minimal look great for most of the clients I would have, I should just work with that for most of my designs, but I can't quite tell what it is. A lot of it has to do with branding, and I realize not every business needs the "ikea treatment."

What I'm trying to say is that if everyone had "good" designs, wouldn't they all start to look the same?

Phreaddee · 03-15-2011, 09:46 AM

put a man in a suit - any man - as long as it fits right , he'll look a million bucks.

put a man in a tyedye shirt and he'll always look like a f***ing hippie, even if he HAS a million bucks.

leroy30 · 03-15-2011, 11:45 PM

Phreaddee - nice quote!

DesigNes · 04-02-2011, 12:46 AM

You could find a bit of a happy medium between those two :S

veggie1232 · 04-03-2011, 08:14 PM

Yes I have to agree with some of the people(s) before me. The problem is not that there is to much detail or not enough. The problem is the quality of detail and the way its implemented into the design.

For example: I could re-create both the left and the right image. The right image would be harder to re-create and take more time.. but Its not worth the time because its not even an example of a design being to cluttered. Its more of an example of someone slapping something together on acid with no prior design knowledge... Just pure crap.. ALSO the product still isn't lost simply because its the only identifiable object on the canvas.. So really putting a boring image next to an image that looks like it got shat on by a unicorn doesn't really show me the 2 sides your speaking of.

Now (as anyone would) I agree the left image is more appealing because its not decked out in 1990's clothing apparel. but the fact that I could re-create it from scratch in less then 5 min (if i had the font) shows that this is not simplicity at its best. This is BORING and under processed.

The problem is the lack of creativity and patience.. Not just saying "it looks good enough" and not slapping sparkles all over it and thinking your "the shit".

Coca Cola is a good example of one of the most popular branded and displayed products of all time... Take a look at any one of their ad campaigns and they are going to fall under your "too much graphic design" spat. When in reality the only problem is the quality of the designer and the big heads that come along with it. and the sad thing is those who cant keep up with the new creative minds flooding the world network. keep their sites freshly updated with Blogs about how it will benefit you to have a design that has been done a million times before.

(WOW i sound like a dick!) But tis how I feel

computerGeek · 09-26-2011, 01:43 PM

too much graphic designing could lose focus on what you are really trying to convey.. .being direct and simple is what graphic designers should go for.. .

Modern_Media · 09-26-2011, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by veggie1232

Yes I have to agree with some of the people(s) before me. The problem is not that there is to much detail or not enough. The problem is the quality of detail and the way its implemented into the design.
For example: I could re-create both the left and the right image. The right image would be harder to re-create and take more time.. but Its not worth the time because its not even an example of a design being to cluttered. Its more of an example of someone slapping something together on acid with no prior design knowledge... Just pure crap.. ALSO the product still isn't lost simply because its the only identifiable object on the canvas.. So really putting a boring image next to an image that looks like it got shat on by a unicorn doesn't really show me the 2 sides your speaking of.
Now (as anyone would) I agree the left image is more appealing because its not decked out in 1990's clothing apparel. but the fact that I could re-create it from scratch in less then 5 min (if i had the font) shows that this is not simplicity at its best. This is BORING and under processed.
The problem is the lack of creativity and patience.. Not just saying "it looks good enough" and not slapping sparkles all over it and thinking your "the shit".
Coca Cola is a good example of one of the most popular branded and displayed products of all time... Take a look at any one of their ad campaigns and they are going to fall under your "too much graphic design" spat. When in reality the only problem is the quality of the designer and the big heads that come along with it. and the sad thing is those who cant keep up with the new creative minds flooding the world network. keep their sites freshly updated with Blogs about how it will benefit you to have a design that has been done a million times before.
(WOW i sound like a dick!) But tis how I feel

The point is that most designers do not take the time to "pull back" from their design work. By no means are we making claim that the left image is a professional design. You are right, our designer made that in about 5 minutes time because I asked him to create a "simple and clean" design without any branding (although he threw our company logo up).

We wrote the blog because in our area, there are a lot of people who learn how to use Photoshop and suddenly, they are "graphic designers" without any disciplines of art.

In regards to coca-cola...

http://www.businesscoaching.com/wp-c...o5-300x300.jpg

Coca-Cola is a bad example because their brand is so well known and established they can take a more artsy approach. (like seen below)

http://www.toxel.com/wp-content/uplo...acolaads15.jpg

Absolution · 09-26-2011, 04:42 PM

I think there are a lot of correct points everywhere. The right image is off because of its kaleidoscope of colors. And the left although clean looking, and good for a background of a website, not so eye catching for display ads. Usually you stick to one color to stand out, like coca-cola's red, and the rest of the colors are far subdued, to get the person's eye.

03-09-2011, 01:09 AM	#1
Modern_Media Silver Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Houston & The Woodlands Posts: 110	Too Much Graphic Design http://woodlandsadagency.com/blog/en...ic-design.html We wrote a little blog about too much graphic design. We welcome comments as well... __________________ Woodlands Ad Agency Website Design \| Advertising Agency Woodlands Graphic Design

03-14-2011, 08:50 PM	#3
notarypublic Silver Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 191	I bet the "bad" design was fun to make The problem I run into (very willing to call myself a "novice" designer) is that I have a good feel for style that I like. My views on Gestalt theory, white space, color schemes, and my eye for other designers that "get it" are sooner or later going to run me into the ground. I know there's a fundamental flaw with the logic that since clean and minimal look great for most of the clients I would have, I should just work with that for most of my designs, but I can't quite tell what it is. A lot of it has to do with branding, and I realize not every business needs the "ikea treatment." What I'm trying to say is that if everyone had "good" designs, wouldn't they all start to look the same? __________________ http://www.joshualoves.com/

03-15-2011, 11:45 PM	#5
leroy30 Gold Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 326	Phreaddee - nice quote! __________________ DVI web design \| Portable Time Clock

04-02-2011, 12:46 AM	#6
DesigNes Bronze Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 49	You could find a bit of a happy medium between those two :S __________________ Sorry I'm so Canadian. http://www.DesigNes.ca

04-03-2011, 08:14 PM	#7
veggie1232 New Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 9	Yes I have to agree with some of the people(s) before me. The problem is not that there is to much detail or not enough. The problem is the quality of detail and the way its implemented into the design. For example: I could re-create both the left and the right image. The right image would be harder to re-create and take more time.. but Its not worth the time because its not even an example of a design being to cluttered. Its more of an example of someone slapping something together on acid with no prior design knowledge... Just pure crap.. ALSO the product still isn't lost simply because its the only identifiable object on the canvas.. So really putting a boring image next to an image that looks like it got shat on by a unicorn doesn't really show me the 2 sides your speaking of. Now (as anyone would) I agree the left image is more appealing because its not decked out in 1990's clothing apparel. but the fact that I could re-create it from scratch in less then 5 min (if i had the font) shows that this is not simplicity at its best. This is BORING and under processed. The problem is the lack of creativity and patience.. Not just saying "it looks good enough" and not slapping sparkles all over it and thinking your "the shit". Coca Cola is a good example of one of the most popular branded and displayed products of all time... Take a look at any one of their ad campaigns and they are going to fall under your "too much graphic design" spat. When in reality the only problem is the quality of the designer and the big heads that come along with it. and the sad thing is those who cant keep up with the new creative minds flooding the world network. keep their sites freshly updated with Blogs about how it will benefit you to have a design that has been done a million times before. (WOW i sound like a dick!) But tis how I feel Last edited by veggie1232; 04-03-2011 at 08:50 PM.

03-09-2011, 10:40 AM	#2
Phreaddee Diamond Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Newcastle, Australia Posts: 1,133	well rather than too much graphic design id suggest its too many average graphic designers... as in all honesty the simple streamlined approach actually requires just as much thought and skill to be put in to make it work, its just some people like to call themselves "graphic designers" simply cause they know how to use photoshop. they are just missing the "design" component, and its not that difficult to do it right, really. just have to have an eye for detail, and know when to stop...and a good concept of colour never goes astray either.

03-15-2011, 09:46 AM	#4
Phreaddee Diamond Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Newcastle, Australia Posts: 1,133	put a man in a suit - any man - as long as it fits right , he'll look a million bucks. put a man in a tyedye shirt and he'll always look like a f***ing hippie, even if he HAS a million bucks.

09-26-2011, 01:43 PM	#8
computerGeek Silver Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 231	too much graphic designing could lose focus on what you are really trying to convey.. .being direct and simple is what graphic designers should go for.. . __________________ Custom Web Design for Businesses

09-26-2011, 04:42 PM	#10
Absolution Silver Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 163	I think there are a lot of correct points everywhere. The right image is off because of its kaleidoscope of colors. And the left although clean looking, and good for a background of a website, not so eye catching for display ads. Usually you stick to one color to stand out, like coca-cola's red, and the rest of the colors are far subdued, to get the person's eye. __________________ http://www.skepticize.me

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