I have not posted in quite a while, for I have been busy working on my manifesto and preparing for final critiques, but I have tons of updates and works to share, so stay tuned for new posts over the next couple of days.

A Painting. Abstractedly

This is an old abstract painting that I made a couple of years ago. Although not utilizing discrete ethnic tones, it showcases a similarity of emotions that men can share despite their race or culture. The simple and beautiful element of the cry is used as an example here.

Just thought I'd share old work for a little morning inspiration.

John Maeda Lecture on "The RISD Idea"

A couple of weeks ago, Washington University hosted John Maeda, the 16th President of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). During his time here, Maeda, a quite youthful and witty designer, lectured on what he deems the "RISD Idea." I don't necessarily know or understand why he felt compelled to share the philosophies of his school on another's campus, but it was quite an intriguing engagement nonetheless.

Here are some notes:

STEM v. STEAM
STEM Education: Science. Technology. Engineering. Mathematics.
STEAM Eduction:  Science. Technology. Engineering. ideA. Mathematics.
IDEA: Intuition. Design. Emotion. Art.

Design v. Art 
Designers think like engineers. Artists think like scientists (?).
Designers believe audiences are important. Artists think audiences are optional.
Themes in design are relevant. Themes in are are liberated.
The outcomes of design are predictable. The outcomes of art are imaginable.
Designers value pragmatism. Artists value passion.

Design is about making solutions.
Art is about making questions.

"All artists yearn to struggle. They don't feel alive without the struggle."

Nonetheless, it was quite an interesting lecture.

Design Manifesto, Draft 1

The Catalyst Designer, Criteria by which to Use Design as a Means for Activism in Society

Before proceeding, please recognize that the contents of this document may not be valued by everyone who reads it, not even every visual designer.

We- we who have both talent and heart- are never content. We recognize the void and concern within the local and larger community, we seek to both know and engage the issues that arise within them, and we not only respond to these issues with design, art, and other creative means, but we take responsibility for generating awareness proactively to others in efforts to take hold of the issues before the rest of the world tells us that we should join its bandwagon in caring. We create the bandwagon, for

We are the creative catalysts.

We are those designers, artists, dancers, singers, poets, creative writers, actors, and other creative individuals who are passionate about issues of community engagement, cultural identity development, social justice, and progress within society and inhabit a gift and visual talent or skill to communicate this in the world via dynamic and compelling visual form.

We are continually committed to

Using LOVE at the core of each communication and creative exchange,

Exuding PASSION for their work in the form of effort, attitude, action, and attention to detail,

Generating AWARENESS through concise, blatant visual communications systems and media- whether film, graphic, poster, book, interactive, web, experiential, or social design, and

Developing and Articulating a VISION and VOICE in relation to social issues that serves as the catalyst of individual and/or group development and change.

And we recognize that there are very few within the design population- maybe just 2 out of 40 people, who wholeheartedly ascribe to these ideals like us.  This is something that makes us special and gives us a heavy responsibility to society. However, it does not and should never make us elitist, arrogant, and lacking of a collaborative spirit, but should be the very reason by which we embrace and value every other designer and creative being that exist.

The Criteria of the Catalyst Design(er)

First and foremost, the catalyst designer should be like a hammer[1]. Our impact must transcend our function. Initially we may metaphorically just nail into wood- to make an initial impact, but that nailed wood should then be used to build a house, which then expands into providing a home for those in need. Our efforts must move beyond immediate viewer and client gratification and strive for permeation within a larger audience. We should hold aesthetic refinement to a high value, but not let our obsession with such detract from core essence of our work.

As well, as a change agent in society, the catalyst designer should not work for immoral purposes, but instead work against them with more “good” design. Propoganda should aim to incite positive and progressive action, but not purposefully to the demise of others. We must strive to visualize the core message, not those things that lie in the prepositional phrases.

As a final note, the catalyst designer should not stick solely to computer-driven media in efforts to connect with the people. Using graphic media should be a tool, but not a required resource. Instead, the catalyst designer should be willing to embrace alternative, yet still appropriate media, in order to target the message of the various topics and issues that exist.

These are the values of the catalyst. This is the role that we wish to upkeep.

---

[1] as explained by Project H Design in it’s (Anti)Manifesto on Design.

IDEA: An Infographic on Racial Profiling Incidents on Campus

As I was pursuing research for my final video documentary project, I found the map below, which shows the number of search and arrest cases that occurred at traffic stops in Columbia. I mentioned an idea before to a friend about mapping out/ locating the various spots on campus whereby men have been stopped and addressed on campus by police or officials. After seeing this, I now feel that this could be a compelling info-graphic to create. 

How this Film Will Work

Below is the initial email that I sent to students who agreed, inquired, or were selected to participate in this film.

Read it, and if you are interested, join in by commenting and letting me know!

I am De Andrea Nichols, a senior communications design major in the Sam Fox School of Design at WashU. I am writing you because you have either inquired, been selected, or agreed to participate in a student documentary project on racial profiling that I am currently pursuing under the guidance of Professor Frank Oros in the art school. 

The purpose of this short film project is to capture the diverse opinions, perspectives, and reflections of men across Washington University on the subject of racial profiling on and off of our campus. As recent incidents and StudLife articles have disclosed, this is an issue that affects the living experiences of both graduate and undergraduate students, and our community is ready and eager to listen to the various opinions and stories that men, both victims and non-victims, have to share. A project of this dynamic has NEVER been pursued at WashU before, so let's make this groundbreaking. 

HOW FILMING FOR THIS PROJECT WILL WORK

As this is partially an academic endeavor, there is indeed a deadline for shooting. A whenisgood link is below that will allow you to arrange a time for shooting with me, but read below to see what the options are. Also, feel free to forward or pass this along to other men who would like to participate.

http://whenisgood.net/documentary

There will be 4 main ways by which to share your opinions with this project (you can provide others if you desire). Express your choice(s) by emailing profilingwu@gmail.com.  

1. Webcam.
Self-explanatory. If you are no longer a student at WU, but have something to say, webcam videos are welcomed. Send them to profilingwu@gmail.com or post them to the FB event wall.

 2. Studio PSA.
I will reserve the art school's film studio every SUNDAY 12-4 for use in this project. *** This is the best option to dynamically and/or creatively share your experiences and/or opinions, so PLEASE let me know if you want to do this. Men who opt for this will need to dress in a solid black shirt on the day of the shoot. I will send you further directions once you commit.

3. Profiled Campus Tour.
For those of you who have experienced, seen, or been victims of racial profiling on campus or in St. Louis, I would like to film you showing and discussing where

4. Pure Audio.
If you have something to say, but do not want to show your face, send an audio clip or set up a time with me via the when is good link so that I can capture you solely in audio.

**5. Your choice.
Don't like the first four options? Get creative, and send your own, and I will try to implement it into the project.     

Please fill the whenisgood cal and let me know what options you desire to pursue ASAP. Email all content, suggestions, questions, choices, and concerns to profilingwu@gmail.com. 

Thanks again for your help with this,

De

Final Documentary Project

This semester, I am a student in a video documentary class in Sam Fox under the guidance of Professor Frank Oros. Thus far this semester, I have practiced this media via the class assignments as well as through shooting various events and going out into the St. Louis community to capture more on my camera. 

Now, we are at our final project for this semester, and I have chosen to pursue a short documentary project that may rough some feathers on my campus. In lieu of the recent Mother's Bar Incident in Chicago faced by men on my campus and the recent Student Life articles disclosing issues of that have occurred on campus, I will be creating a film about Racial Profiling in the College Community. 

As this is partially a class assignment, partially a Stories Project endeavor, partially a manifestation of my CDes manifesto, partially a goal for Connect 4, and WHOLY something I care about, I am excited to commit to this project, and I look forward to working with the many men (and women) who will be participating in it. 

Good Design Book

In my CDes class, Voice, we recently finished creating books about products/objects that we fit our criteria of "good design." For my piece, I chose the product, Magic Bullet, that I feel comprises an efficient use of aesthetic and functional design. Below, I have posted images of my final book, one that reinforces my ideas about the Bullet by having a dual function as both a book and banner-like poster. On one side of the accordion-style book is a detailed analysis of the Magic Bullet and the criteria that renders it as good design. On the other is a simple statement by Steve Jobs that dictates "Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works." This serves the point of the book quite well, I must say.

New Stories Project Blog Look

A Story to Inspire Us All: Precious

I teared from the trailer. We HAVE to See this movie.

Sweatshop video, pretty cool

Found this on vimeo:


SWEATSHOPPE, 4spots, the landing extras from SWEATSHOPPE on Vimeo.

Torn Apart, by ColorLines

Final Quote Poster

Learning and Articulating My Process, a Preview

One of my goals a senior designer this year is to really define and hone in on my individual design process.  This is something that I will be establishing more and more throughout the year, but within my first projects of this semester, I have defined 7 crucial steps that I have noticed most in my process, and they are as follows:

1. Initial Ideation
2. Research
1. Content, Information
2. Visual 
3. Conceptualization
1. Sketches
2. Mood boards
3. Creative briefs
4. Color palette generation
5. Typographic ideation (haven't really mastered this one yet)
4. Streamlining Ideas, "The Funnel"
5. Refinement of Strongest Ideas
6. Critique
1. Self-Critique
2. Peer Critiques
7. Revisions

Essentially there are five steps, but I consider my final critiques and revisions to be core elements, for these show the success and effectiveness of the first five. 

I will elaborate more on these as I progress, but until then, look out for a process post pertaining to the map/and or quote poster projects.

Quote Poster: New Concept Development

Above is a screenshot of progress that I've been making on the map project. I pulled out the Wacom for this one, and just had fun. I like the results. I will be changing the visual  vocabulary of everything, but this was a great start- refreshing.