Zig zag…
An essay…
This last week I was a guest speaker in an Art Appreciation class. Ah, the memories of teaching that a year ago! I am so used to teaching studio classes which are over an hour, that time got away from me. I could not completely finish my presentation but it covered enough to give them an idea of my work and my creative practice.
I like presenting my work. It gives me an opportunity to reflect and see the ups and downs, the mistakes, and the changes over time. When teaching, unless the students ask, I do not make a point to show them my portfolio or talk about my career because there is so much we have to cover. I did take my class though so that they could see that I walk the talk. Since we had web blended on Friday (online assignments) I did not have an opportunity to get their reactions but hopefully I will tomorrow.
My presentation focused on my love for letters and how bad at typography I once was, which I have discussed here before. I decided to show them those bad examples. A funny thing happened when I asked the class, if they thought they were bad. They were silent. I egged them on by telling them they could be honest because one, I knew they were honest, and two, I was asking. Then a few of them observed how terrible they were. I laughed.
That presentation could not have come at a better moment. My students were turning in their typeface design promotional poster right after that talk. For this poster, they pick a typeface and create a poster to promote it. I like this project because it pushes them to think about typography as an art instead of a communication tool. It challenges them to look and pursue the uncomfortable zig zag balance between control and lack of it. It rattles them a little bit. At least some of them feel that way and that is a good thing.
Though I lack hard data, I have observed that most students are either overconfident or phobic of making mistakes. The overconfident thinks anything they throw together is great even when it isn’t and the phobic does not dare to try anything unless they know for sure it is going to work. The problem is that design as a creative practice, does not rely on either attitude. Its process is actually hindered in both scenarios. We need a little of both approaches to get somewhere.
The in-between space, the constant zig zag or back and forth, the iterations, the thinking something is going to work and then it doesn’t, is perhaps the most important foundational framework designers learn to embrace.
The in-between space, the constant zig zag or back and forth, the iterations, the thinking something is going to work and then it doesn’t, is perhaps the most important foundational framework designers learn to embrace. There is no certain path in a trial and error creative practice. The constant groaning I usually get goes like this: “that is what you told me to do…” or “last time you said to do x and y, and I did…” Yes, and yes. But unless we are both psychics, we can’t know for sure it will work. We have to do it and evaluate. And do it again trying other variables and evaluate. And so it goes.
I love what I do. I love teaching the design process, making connections, discussing possibilities, seeing the students try things, failing and getting back up, examining options, and I love to see their process once they are done. Much of what I do is inject the students with a healthy dose of realism, optimism, chastisement, or encouragement depending on where they are and who they are. If they keep up the work, trying, moving back and forth, printing, sketching, the process usually takes care of itself. The question is do we have the persistence to keep up at it? Do we have the commitment to curiously investigate options? Are we okay with living in the zig zag of it all?
My typography practice and later on, my calligraphy practice did not get better overnight. I made a commitment because letters fascinated me. Still do. I told the class that I practice pretty much daily except on Sundays and if I am sick or otherwise away for something. Sometimes the progress felt ever so slow. I don’t do cruises but in the small ones I have done, there is that space of sea where there is nothing except the sea and you inside that cruise. I find that dreadful and not to mention sickening. Many times the progress looks like there is no progress. The zig zags have these in between spaces where there is neither low or high but you are moving forward.
I hope the class which graciously invited me, enjoyed the talk. I ran out of time so I do not know, for sure. My class will tell me tomorrow how it was for them. Let’s hope it was educational and encouraging.
If you’d like to see my presentation, which is a mixture of several others on the same topic, you can get the file here.
Until next week,
Love,
Alma