Exploration 2

Divergent Thinking, is the action of thinking in different ways to find multiple solutions to a single problem. The idea of stepping away from the obvious, stereotypical or predefined notions that we have of everything that surrounds us.


Different methods of divergent thinking have been discovered. Examples of these are:

1) Brainstorming with a group of people
2) Creating mind maps to view the ideas visually
3) List making
4) Free writing
5) Compare/ Contrasting ideas

Nonetheless another important and useful tool is the idea of convergent thinking, which takes the concept of divergent thinking and narrows it down to find a final solution.
An examples of this technique may be:
1) Determining what the goal is
2) Narrowing of ideas
3) Choosing the 5 strongest ideas
4) Refine and Distill
5) Crossing off the list


Divergent thinking is one of the most valued tools in the design world, or as some call it the golden key for creativity.It is also one of the most difficult to maintain in my opinion. Much of it comes from one's own ability to be inspired, and think outside the box.

Personally my sources of inspiration always come from my interaction with the outside world. An example of an immediate source would be nature. The simple change of environment allows your imagination to expand into new grounds; which may at times be very difficult in and environment as demanding as RCAD. Nonetheless the simple idea of changing activities helps me regain my inspiration.

Going to the movies, taking a bike ride downtown, meeting up with an old friend you haven't seen in a while, exercising, music, taking a nap. What ever activity that can take my mind of work, helps me become more inspired.


Another big source of inspiration for me, is traveling; learning about new cultures, meeting new people, getting to know new places. I would say all of these are my biggest forms of inspiration, because it automatically takes you into a different mind set that you may have never experienced before.

Now that I think about it, past events start coming to mind of my most frustrating moments with finding inspiration. An example of this was last semester, with a project for a Restaurant Branding that we had to do. I remember being so frustrated of not being able to come up with anything during class, that I decided to let it rest for a while a work on something else. Two days later whilst having dinner with a couple of friends at a local restaurant, as soon as I heard the waiters name, an idea poped up in my head, and right after that another one, and another one, and another one!


I've found that usually, it is at the "worst" times that best ideas come up. I say "worst" times because they take you by surprise when you're doing anything but work, and you end up writing it up in a small napkin you find near you to make sure you don't forget. This is why now I make sure that everywhere I go, I have a small sketchbook in my purse, just waiting for the ideas to pop up!


Going back to the idea of thinking outside the box, if we think about it, de notion of divergent thinking is essential for the creative process of an artist. This is why I believe divergent thinking is so important and goes along hand in hand with inspiration; mainly because it feeds of inspiration to be successful!

Exploration 1

For our first exploration, each student was asked to research various animated logos. From those we were to then choose our three favorites, and present it in class. Explain what we believe to be the concept and thought process behind it, what we find interesting, and what the designer is trying to portray through this animation.

I felt that the more logos I saw the more engaged I became in looking at every small detail and deciphering the concepts and messages behind it. 

1) The first of my top three logos , is the Lionsgate logo animation. As a Canadian-American entertainment company, Lionsgate Entertainment Corporation is known as the most eminent independent film and television distribution company.

                                         

In this video, the idea of protection and safety expressed by the name itself is represented through the gears that introduce the animation. Which in a way also works to represent the idea of recording a film, and the functional aspects of it.

The keyhole, the opening gates (taking us into the world of entertainment), the gold and black color schemes, are all symbolic to the name of the company and the mood which the artist wants to provoque. One of guidance and patronage.


2) The second of the three logos, is one that I encountered whilst watching Richard William's "Animators Survival Kit" DVDs.

No matter how many times I watch it, I always find something I hadn't noticed before. Each character represents a different aspect and stage of animation the artist himself has been through. Which is in turn, what the book itself is about. The artist using his personal experiences to instruct the reader about traditional animation.

3) The third logo animation is from the movie Transformers.

 The most recent of the three. Representing the entire concept of the movie and the tittle itself through the transformation of the letters to spell out transformers, and once again the day of premier.

Another logo that fascinates me every time I find a new version is the Google variations. Whether they are animations, or simple illustrations, I find the designs incredible and fun. Yet what I have come to appreciate the most, is the way in which it has come to own the holidays regarding design. With the simple idea of changing it according to the day it is or special holiday. Something that I feel can only be done once, seeing as if i were to see it in a recurring way with another logo I would simply relate it to the Google logo as the pioner of that idea.