I’m taking mostly all editorial-based electives this semester.  For the past week I’ve been thinking about my direction for a mock magazine that I need to make for class.  I realized more and more that I don’t read magazines to decide what I want to wear tomorrow, but to escape from the reality of today.  I’ve decided on the name “Escapist” and here’s a short write up I did for my proposal:

An Escapist is someone looking for a departure from a mundane, ordinary life.  As the name implies, Escapist is a dream-like and fantasy-inspired magazine.  Each issue is a new journey into an alternate life.  Escapist takes cues from the romantic movement in art history — reaching beyond the rational and escaping the confines of the suburban sprawl and industrialism.  Harness the power of your imagination, envision a new life, and escape.

We haven’t been required to come up with a logo, or even a cover yet… but I felt inspired.  I used some images from my inspiration folder that captured the feeling I’m going for, I don’t remember the source for any of them so I apologize if they’re yours.  Placed the logo on top to make sure it works with different photos, and I’m fairly happy with the outcome!  Can’t wait to get to work on taking photos, designing spreads, and writing content.

“In the face of all these influences I find it impossible to make rules for myself. The longer I work as a designer, the less sure I am about my theories of design, for I know that I will have revised my theories by the time I have the next job to do. I’m not sure that I even have such a thing as a theory of design. I question what I once thought was good or corrupt and find myself doing things with type that I would have thought inexcusable a year ago. Times change more rapidly than ever. Perhaps book designers need to take a vow of design celibacy: avoid the temptations of typographic trendiness, work with one typeface, and be pure. But to hold rigidly to rules and theories blinds a designer to more creative and appropriate possibilities.”

-Richard Hendel, in On Book Design

This quote sums up the flux that I’m in in my stage of design education right now. I’m in a grey area where I don’t have a confident foundation to classically set type and at the same time I don’t think I have enough knowledge of type to branch out and do something experimental. It’s all well and great to do unique and inspiring work, like design blogs such as FormFiftyFive publish, but what’s the point of following a type (or design) trend if it has such a limited application? A mastery of classic type is a much broader skillset that can inform experimental applications where they are appropriate rather than trying to apply existing trends where they are not.

I continue to remind myself that there will always be time to get experimental and loud, but in order to do that successfully I need to master the tried and true methods of type.

The work of William Boone.

Welcome to 2009! After summing up 2008, and reading Nubby’s post… I got to thinking of my goals for 2009. 2008 brought me a lot of firsts; my first two internships, my first blog, my first dollars made from art/design, my first art show, and designing my first pages in one of my favorite magazines. 2009 will be all about building upon these experiences!

1. Update and redesign my online portfolio.
2. Continue to learn more about editorial and web design. Possibly intern at another magazine?
3. Get up to an average of 5+ posts per week, reach over 150 subscribers, and launch paid adspace on the blog.
4. Have my first solo art show.
5. Sell 5 pieces of work on Etsy.
6. Feature more work from students at SVA, Pratt, MassArt and art schools other than Parsons.
7. Build upon new skills I’ve picked up in 2008 like photography, sewing, and printmaking.
8. Submit work to the Society of Publication Designer’s Student Competition.
9. Have a little bit of pointless fun everyday. (This should be easy!)

Just wanted to share with you some amazing photos taken by an old roommate; Lily Ferguson.

The model is my friend Jill who I’ve posted about before and the photos were taken in my hometown of Madison, Connecticut.  Makes me miss home!  Lily is a photo major at Parsons and she has interned for GIANT Magazine and award-winning photographer Ryan McGinley.