Monday, April 30, 2007
Thursday, February 08, 2007
finals
inspiration
this japanese logo for Beams Records has the correct direction with "wave form".
This will be a strong inspiration in the form this logo takes.
This will be a strong inspiration in the form this logo takes.
wave farm
a past attempt at a logo
which I have never revisited
and feel is successful
as my own vision,
not the vision on the client.
this is the way I would have done it.
which I have never revisited
and feel is successful
as my own vision,
not the vision on the client.
this is the way I would have done it.
scratch ideas
sacknap
This magnificent book is for the busy university student.
Every day you are on the go with rarely a time to break.
There is always a time to break, and a nap can help your brain restart
midday and improve your awareness during classes.
This book has attached cushioning wrapped
in relaxing jersey knit cotton.
This way, you can fit a tiny bit of relaxation into your bag.
Every day you are on the go with rarely a time to break.
There is always a time to break, and a nap can help your brain restart
midday and improve your awareness during classes.
This book has attached cushioning wrapped
in relaxing jersey knit cotton.
This way, you can fit a tiny bit of relaxation into your bag.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
interview & statement
1. What was your toughest criticism?
It came during my portfolio review to be accepted into the communication design department. One of my website designs had the word revolutionary in it. The website just happened to be my electronic portfolio. An immediate critique arose as this statement was noticed. “How are you revolutionary?” They did not ask me this in the most sincere tone. It was an insulting jab at a misinterpreted quote. Their eyes were glaring at me with a fire, convinced that they were going to get a naïve answer. The truth was that I knew what I was going to say, because I believed it. Explained that design is going through a very rapid change. Past generations only understand the labels of “doctor”, “lawyer”, “teacher”, and other broad positions. For once, people in the field on design are being recognized and appreciated for it. Business is being infused within the designers’ vocabulary. New technologies, installations, and print have become fluid. I knew that I felt and still feel fully prepared to being new concepts and ideas to the arena that is in the middle of a revolution. The portfolio review lightened up after that answer. My answer was not bold and ridiculous, but strong and holds true to what surrounds the design world.
2. How do you feel about appropriating from others?
Design and art have only been able to advance and grow through new ideas. Sometimes new ideas come through the recycling of past work. When things begin to look alike and repeat, the monotony needs to end. Some of the newer ideas that have popularized come directly from the reuse of a past idea. The irony of old work has grown into a movement of reusing past designs. There are reasons why certain designers were so successful. It is not a crime to use a concept and overhaul the idea into a new form. Sometimes a design fad can grow out of hand through appropriation and that is the fall of the idea. This is where new ideas sprout and flourish. There is always an exit with an entrance, but that’s not to say it cannot make a re-appearance down the road. Copying other work and claiming them as you own is very different from appropriating. I think most work is done tastefully and gives due respect to what it originated from. The ones that fail obviously did not bring enough of an edge to what is being recycled.
3. Do you need a degree to be called a designer?
I think that there are three things that define a designer. They need to have a resume, a portfolio, and talent to back them up. A degree can most definitely give you the proper training, but can also be what most use as an excuse from a career. Most students you see calling themselves designers are found with no drive or talent. They have no outside experience and do not have a heart dedicated to what they are creating. A designer needs a strong will power and great work to display. A great friend of mine left design school for a great job offer as a designer and has moved onto doing endless amazing freelance work and starting his own magazines. Sometimes he may be unfamiliar with specific procedure and terms, but he gasps it immediately with no degree. He is highly wanted and is most definitely a great designer. His designs are seen in Whole Food Markets in major cities, magazines, something I may have thought required a degree. It’s all about what you can do.
4. Do you think clients have a realistic view of a designer’s work or realistic expectations?
It truly depends upon the client and the designer. Clients are beginning to understand the true concept behind design and why we make specific choices. We have a stronger voice. But, some designers do not have a strong voice. They do not know how to handle business and how to explain why they have made a decision. They have no sense of authority over their work. A strong designer will sway a clients mind. When a client is stubborn and sometimes right, it is best to collaborate and their expectations can be met. In my experience, I have worked in environments were the clients have the upper hand, but I have also worked where there is a contract over the advertisements I create. In the current publication I am working on, the contract cites that we have full creative control over the advertisements that are bought and the clients only provide the necessary information in type. This helps to keep a strong identity for the magazine and allow the advertisements to be part of a strong publication. The clients comply.
5. What made you want to design?
I have always been fond of reading magazines of books. I love to read, but I like to explore illustration and layout. Something about the way magazines are assembled and thought out always seemed to show a true artistic eye, but also giving a strong career with substance. Magazines led to identity design, logo design, product design, web design, and installation design. They are all interconnected and help promote one anther. I love the directions you can go through the art filter and produce powerful designs. Design surrounds the population of each country. They change and evolve through each culture and that has always been a strong attraction. The ability to travel and work in different design environments and interact with designers who view everything opposite. It is also great to have a printed progress and see where your ideas began and hot they have grown.
Artist Statement
William Nastyn has been communicating through fresh ideas in design that explore cultural and intercultural relationships. Through development in studying corporate identities to local business growth, he has built an internal and external enthusiasm toward his subject matter. By understanding the ideas and compliments behind color schemes, he works diligently to apply the necessary visual impact through imagery. Working especially with vector-based graphical elements constructed from his photography, he retains a personal ingredient in every design. Approaching fabric and patterns has been the latest development in his process. Using these material objects has brought a new ability to represent the graphical and the typographical. He finds long walks through sensory overloading environments and evenings kicked back in the periodicals to be the refreshments he needs to build something stronger.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
noting the following
William is a graphic designer from Queens, New York. He has explored many varieties of graphic design, from print to moving graphics and video during his studies at the University at Buffalo. His freelance designs span five years including establishments such as entertainment complexes, grassroots radio stations, and personal electronic portfolios. He has interned at Eric Mower and Associates, which expanded his knowledge of the corporate environment and their methods, while also designing and presenting work for clients. Upon his return to Queens, he will be continually striving to incorporate an even stronger business identity into his repertoire. He is well versed in all Adobe programs, including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, and Dreamweaver. Whether taking the reigns in web design, large-scale prints, or any logo and collateral design, his ideas have always been backed with thoughtful and powerful concepts.
