Results tagged “TDC” from :: ( CRIT ) :: DESIGN BLOG ::
Springtime will soon be here and there are many events to attend this month. To start off March, we're giving away 10 free tickets to the AIGA/NY Jessie Auersalo talk. To get a ticket, just post a comment and share an event we can blog about. First come first serve.
1. Small Talk: Jessie Auersalo/BIG ACTIVE
In his first-ever U.S. presentation, Jesse Auersalo will discuss his design background, its relationship to his personal background and how they all affect what he is doing now. Jesse is an illustrator dividing his time between Brooklyn and Helsinki. His distinctive, character-driven work is marked by an aesthetic he describes as, "polished and clean, as well as sticky and dirty." His images are uniquely powerful, dark, intriguing and captivating.
http://www.aigany.org/events/details/10S5/
When: March 3, 2010, 6:30 pm–8:00 pm
Where: Bumble and bumble, 3rd fl, 415 West 13th Street, New York, NY
Price: $20 members, $10 student members, $35 general public
2. Armory Arts Week
Art insiders spend their whole lives traveling from fair to fair—Venice, Basel, Miami Beach, London—but each March they return to New York for Armory Arts Week. "With Basel, in Miami, it's like the whole world moves [there] for one week, but for the rest of the year it's not really an art city," says Katelijne De Backer, longtime director of The Armory Show,"New York is the center of the art world." The Armory Show: New Art by Living Artists (Pier 94) and Modern: Art of the 20th Century (Pier 92). The twelfth edition marks another milestone for the fair with the introduction of Armory Focus, a new section that will feature an important art community every year and is premiering with Berlin. This year The Armory Show features 267 galleries from 31 countries.
http://www.armoryartsweek.com
When: March 4-7, 2010, 12:00 pm–8:00 pm
Where: Various locations, New York, NY
Price: $30 general public, $10 students
3. Working with Inhibitions to Creativity
Marilyn LaMonica, MPS, NCPsych, will discuss how psychoanalytic theory provides a unique explanation of impediments to creative work. Clinical cases of a filmmaker, a painter and a writer will be used to demonstrate how explorations of fantasized object relations lead to freer access to creative potential.
http://www.schoolofvisualarts.edu/events/index.jsp?sid0=70&page_id=181&content_id=3265
When: March 5, 2010, 6:30 pm–8:00 pm
Where: MPS Art Therapy, 133/141 West 21 Street, room 101C, New York, NY
Price: Free and open to the public. RSVP 212.592.2610 or arttherapy@sva.edu
4. The Tablet
Khoi Vinh, design director of NYTimes.com, and Matt Jacobs, designer for Six Apart, will discuss new modes of media presentation. They will address how the size of an object frames the user experience and how designers need to consider grid, typography and behavior differently. Books. Magazines. Televisions. We hear these words, and understand well what shape their content will take. But “tablet?” “Digital magazine?” How does the size of the objects frame the user experience? Influence their portability or accessibility? How will the experience with these devices compare with other more “fuller-figured” media? How do we need to consider grid, typography, and behavior differently? Hear from four perspectives how telling stories in new spaces influences new experiences.
http://interactiondesign.sva.edu/events/entry/lecture_the_tablet/
When: March 10, 2010, 6:30 pm–8:30 pm
Where: Galapagos Art Space, 16 Main Street, DUMBO, Brooklyn
Price: $6 general public, register at http://svaixd-tablet.eventbrite.com
5. Collaboration: Pablo Medina/Parsons School of Design
Can Collaboration Help Haiti? On Thursday, January 28th, Pablo Medina gave a tough assignment to the 15 students in his Experimental Typography class at Parsons The New School for Design: Use the medium of typography to help Haiti. Students are now working in pairs to satisfy the assignment. Each pair has one week to come up with 15 ideas and one more week to execute the very best of those 15 ideas. On March 11th, Pablo and his students will jointly present each of the final solutions. At the end of the presentation, the audience will vote for the most successful project and that project will - in the following weeks - be executed to achieve the ultimate goal: to help Haiti. All event proceeds will be donated to Yéle Haiti.
http://www.aigany.org/events/details/10C3/
When: March 11, 2010, 6:30 pm–8:00 pm
Where: Museum of Arts and Design, 2 Columbus Circle, New York, NY
Price: $13 members, $26 general public
6. Chris Hacker: Design Thinking & Sustainability
At the top of Chris Hacker’s agenda is the imaginative application of sustainable design thinking. He has overseen this process as Chief Design Officer at Johnson & Johnson for the last five years, and at Aveda™ for the previous five. Dubbed as “the man to bring sustainable design to corporate America”, by ID Magazine, Hacker and several members of his design and engineering team will explain their approach to sustainability in both design and business, illuminating his mission: to change the way designers think about sustainability. They will discuss how they have updated the design process at J&J, where over the last 5 years Chris has built a 120-person think tank, including an award-winning design team, where environmentally conscious decisions are a fundamental part of the process. Hacker is Chief Design Officer of the NY-based Global Strategic Design Office, Johnson & Johnson Group of Consumer Companies, leading all creative processes for brand identity, packaging design and brand imagery at J&J Consumer. Prior to J&J, Hacker lead Marketing and Design for Aveda™. His work was awarded the 2004 National Design Award for Corporate Achievement from the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.
http://www.aigany.org/events/details/10DS/
When: March 12, 2010, 6:30 pm–8:00 pm
Where: Tishman Auditorium, 66 West 12th Street, New York, NY
Price: $20 members, $10 students, $30 general public
7. Design Trust: Partnerships to Improve Public Space
Deborah Marton, executive director of the Design Trust for Public Space, will provide an overview of several of the organization’s projects, the process that went into shaping them and their influence on public space in New York City.
http://dcrit.sva.edu/view/events/lecture-with-deborah-marton/
When: March 16, 2010, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm
Where: Design Criticism MFA Department, 136 West 21st Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY
Price: Free and open to the public. RSVP 212.592.2228 or dcrit@sva.edu
8. The Buzellis, A Marriage of Art Direction & Illustration
Soo Jin Buzelli is the creative director of PLANSPONSOR, PLANADVISER and ai5000 magazines; Tim O'Brien once said SooJin's magazines were like "Fantasy Island for illustrators." Chris Buzelli is an award-winning illustrator who works in advertising, publishing and editorial for clients pretty much everywhere. Together they make a powerful and creative team whose love and support for illustration is hard to match. Chris Buzelli will be signing limited-edition prints after the lecture.
http://www.spd.org/calendar.php
When: March 16, 2010, 6:30 pm–8:30 pm
Where: Design Criticism MFA Department, 136 West 21st Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY
Price: $10 members, $7 students, $15 general public RSVP 212.838.2560 or jessica@societyofillustrators.org
9. Type Salon: Cooking with Type
Douglas Riccardi will speak about his cookbook work for Mario Batali and give an survey of cookbook design and typography through the years: discovering trends, uncovering the roots of conventions, and perhaps even discovering new possibilities. After working in New York and Italy for 10 years, Ricardi founded Memo Productions in 1993. The studio’s work focuses on brand identity and development with many clients in the restaurant, food and hospitality industry. He has designed 8 best-selling cookbooks and for Mario Batali and 8 restaurants for celebrity chef Mario Batali.
http://tdc.org/tdc/archives/1049
When: March 18, 2010, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm
Where: Type Directors Club, 347 West 36th Street, Suite 603, New York, NY
Price: Free for members, $15 students, $20 general public RSVP 212.633.8643 or director@tdc.org
10. Stewart Smith
Greg Brunkalla has been directing commercial content, music videos, and other moving images in New York City since 2002. He has recently founded a new media company with industry friends called Legs, based out of Milk Studios in NYC. Legs' first project was a multifaceted black-and-white film campaign for Diesel.com. Greg was nominated for an Emmy for a series he directs for The New York Times Style Magazine. Other clients include: Nike, Levi's, Kia, and Diet Coke. Agencies he has worked with include: Mother, Taxi, Farfar, Duetsche, 180, and Ogilvy. He lives in Brooklyn. Greg is part of the ADC Young Guns 6 class of winners, honored in 2008.
http://www.apple.com/retail/soho/
When: March 22, 2010, 6:30–8:00 pm
Where: Apple Store SoHo, 103 Prince Street, New York, NY
Price: Free, no reservation required
11. E Pluribus Unum: Creating Design Policy in the U.S.A.
Casey Jones, Director of Design Excellence and the Arts for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), will discuss his role in overseeing the design and development of new and renovated federal buildings as well as the artwork commissioned for them. Previously, Jones led jones|kroloff with Reed Kroloff (Director of Cranbrook Academy), an architect selection advisory firm whose clients included the Whitney Museum of Art, Yale University, Friends of the High Line and Brad Pitt’s Global Green USA.
http://dcrit.sva.edu/view/events/lecture-with-casey-jones/
When: March 30, 2010, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm
Where: Design Criticism MFA Department, 136 West 21st Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY
Price: Free and open to the public. RSVP 212.592.2228 or dcrit@sva.edu
November is bountiful with thanks, turkey AND design! Be sure to sign up before these great events get sold out. We'll be giving away tickets, so stay tuned and check back. Do you have more events to add to our roll-call? Email us!
///// EXHIBITION
How do the new forms of mobile media, networks, information and communication systems inform the architecture of an urban space? Does computing influence our behavior with the city? Organized by the Architectural League of New York, this exhibition will explore the evolving relationship between ubiquitous computing, architecture and the city.
TOWARD THE SENTIENT CITY
Through November 7, 2009
The Architectural League
7 East 7th Street
New York, NY
Click here for details
///// EXHIBITION
In & Out of Amsterdam: Travels in Conceptual Art is an exhibition of 75 works by ten American and European artists relating to travel and the city of Amsterdam focusing on Conceptual art practices between 1960 and 1976.
IN & OUT OF AMSTERDAM
Through November 09, 2009
The Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53rd Street
New York, NY
Click here for details
///// EXHIBITION
Letterforms transformed into beautiful prints, patterns, products, installations and sculptures is a striking counterbalance to their regular rigid typographic confine. This exhibition honors House Industries's oeuvre to conquer mediocrity and their passion for creating type as the objects they have become.
TYPE AS OBJECT
Through Friday, November 20, 2009
Type Directors Club
347 West 36th Street, Suite 603
New York, NY
Free exhibit
Click here for details
///// EXHIBITION
MoMA played a leading role in the definition and dissemination of "Good Design", a concept that took shape in the 1930s. This installation presents collection that illuminate the primary values of "Good Design" with iconic pieces by Charles and Ray Eames and Hans Wegner alongside unexpected items, such as a hunting bow and a plumb bob, an iron, a hamper, a rake, a cheese slicer, and Tupperware.
WHAT WAS GOOD DESIGN?
Through November 30, 2009
The Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53rd Street
New York, NY
Click here for details
///// EXHIBITION
Expressive lettering and hand-typography is an emerging trend these days that was first started by Herb Lubalin with his groundbreaking work for Avant Garde, Eros and Fact. View selected posters, original sketches, magazines, motion graphics, and more by internationally recognized graphic designers like Marian Bantjes, Deanne Cheuk, Rick Valenti, and Herb Lubalin that will illuminate Lubalin's influence on contemporary graphic design.
LUBALIN NOW
Through December 8, 2009
Opening Reception Thursday, November 5, 2009 6:00—8:00PM
The Cooper Union
41 Cooper Gallery
New York, NY
Free exhibit
Click here for details
///// EXHIBITION
The future of ink on paper is investigated through this collaborative exhibition between Parsons and the Royal College of Art, London.
Possibilities of customized digital art and design are displayed, alongside limited edition prints by a number of notable artists and designers who play with the notion of technology.
CONTROL/PRINT
Through Sunday, December 20, 2009 Open 12:00—6:00PM
Parsons School for Design
Saint Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Gallery
2 West 13th Street
New York, NY
Free exhibit
Click here for details
///// FAIR
The annual IFPDA Print Fair is unique among the world's major art fairs for its focus on fine prints. Over eighty members from Europe and North America will exhibit works across a wide range of specialties, from old master to contemporary, including Japanese fine prints from all periods.
IFPDA PRINT FAIR
November 5—8, 2009
The Park Avenue Armory
643 Park Avenue
New York, NY
Click here to buy tickets
///// TALK
Stuck in print? Learn how to make a smooth transition into web with basic theories and practices of designing for the web from web designer Kevin Barnett of NYMag.com, faculty of MFA Interaction Design and graphic designer Rebecah Hodgson of Blurb, Etsy, Creative Director of Norton and annual report extraordinaire, Nicholas Felton of Daytum.com.
PRINT TO WEB 101
Thursday, November 5, 2009, 6:30—8:30PM
Museum of Arts and Design
2 Columbus Circle
New York, NY
Click here to register
///// GAME
If you've ever wanted to be on the Price Is Right, but except instead of Plinko and bidding on a brand new car while clutching onto Bob Barker you imagine yourself playing typography trivia alongside the likes of Paula Scher, Louise Fili, Jonathan Hoefler and others, then COME ON DOWN! Tons of fun, fonts, raffles and prizes to be had.
THE TYPE IS RIGHT
Monday, November 9, 2009, 6:30—8:30PM
Galapogos Art Space
16 Main Street
Dumbo, Brooklyn
Click here to register
///// WORKSHOP
Bring your laptop and take part in this hands-on workshop lead by Catharine Taylor (Adverganza) to maximize your brand through blogs and social networking platforms.
CATHERINE TAYLOR: SOCIAL PLATFORMS
Monday, November 9, 2009, 5:00—8:30PM
The Art Directors Club
106 West 29th Street
New York, NY
Click here to register
///// COFFEE
Start your morning off with an engaging conversation with In-House Design guru, Andy Epstein over delicious Mud coffee, muffins and croissants.
BREAKFAST CLUB
Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 8:00—9:30AM
Mud Café
307 East 9th Street
New York, NY
FREE EVENT
Click here to RSVP
///// LECTURE
MFA Design Criticism Department presents conceptual artist Martin Beck to discuss the methodological aspects of working with design history from an artistic perspective.
SELECTED FOR THEIR IMPLICATIONS
Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 6:00—8:00AM
136 West 21st Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY
Free lecture
Click here for details
///// TALK
The most innovative and interesting work is often found within self-initiated, personal projects. Explore a breadth of work from London-based designers, Tony Brook and Adrian Shaughnessy who started their own publishing house, and will be talking about their first book, Studio Culture, an exploration of the secret life of a design studio, among other projects.
THE DESIGNER AS PUBLISHER
Friday, November 13, 2009, 8:00—9:30AM
Bumble & Bumble
415 West 13th Street
New York, NY
Click here to register
///// FOOSBALL
Do you have what it takes to battle out in the 6th Annual World Graphic Design Foosball Championship among 70 other teams for the coveted one-legged challenge cup trophy?
WGDFC
Friday, November 13, 2009
The Art Directors Club
106 West 29th Street
New York, NY
Click here for details or to register a team
///// FORUM
Design for social change has become a hot topic across all business models. Yes, you can indeed build a career while changing the world. Engage with designers like Bill Drentell of Winterhouse Studios and Design Observer, Paula Scher of Pentagram, Mark Randall of World Studios and Blake Mycoskie of Toms Shoes, who drive social and political change through their work.
DESIGNISM 4.0
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The Art Directors Club
106 West 29th Street
New York, NY
Click here to register
///// TALK
Get out of your comfort zone and discover the design and art of food styling. See the work of the world's leading food photographer, Mitch Feinberg, food stylist and recipe developer, Victoria Granof, essayist Tacey Rosolowski, and award-winning sommelier, Andrew Bradbury. Hosted by New York Times restaurant critic, Frank Bruni, this round-up of seasoned foodies will undoubtedly titillate your taste buds.
THE DESIGN OF FOOD PRESENTATION
Friday, November 20, 2009, 8:00—9:30AM
Tishman Auditorium
66 West 12th Street
New York, NY
Click here to register
///// TALK
ADC Young Guns presents selected winners to showcase their work at the Apple Store in SoHo. This month's speaker is Justin Cignac.
Gignac (jee-nak) is an artist, entrepreneur and freelance art director living in New York. After graduating from the School of Visual Arts in 2002 he held full time jobs at Ogilvy, Fallon NY and Toy. In early 2007, Justin left full-time agency life to focus on his artistic endeavors, but still dabbles in the ad world as a freelancer. Gignac was part of the ADC Young Guns 5 class of winners, honored in 2006.
JUSTIN GIGNAC
Monday, November 23, 2009, 6:30—8:00PM
Apple SoHo
103 Prince Street
New York, NY 10012
Free talk
Click here for details
///// EXHIBITION
How do the new forms of mobile media, networks, information and communication systems inform the architecture of an urban space? Does computing influence our behavior with the city? Organized by the Architectural League of New York, this exhibition will explore the evolving relationship between ubiquitous computing, architecture and the city.TOWARD THE SENTIENT CITY
Through November 7, 2009
The Architectural League
7 East 7th Street
New York, NY
Click here for details
///// EXHIBITION
In & Out of Amsterdam: Travels in Conceptual Art is an exhibition of 75 works by ten American and European artists relating to travel and the city of Amsterdam focusing on Conceptual art practices between 1960 and 1976.IN & OUT OF AMSTERDAM
Through November 09, 2009
The Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53rd Street
New York, NY
Click here for details
///// EXHIBITION
Letterforms transformed into beautiful prints, patterns, products, installations and sculptures is a striking counterbalance to their regular rigid typographic confine. This exhibition honors House Industries's oeuvre to conquer mediocrity and their passion for creating type as the objects they have become.TYPE AS OBJECT
Through Friday, November 20, 2009
Type Directors Club
347 West 36th Street, Suite 603
New York, NY
Free exhibit
Click here for details
///// EXHIBITION
MoMA played a leading role in the definition and dissemination of "Good Design", a concept that took shape in the 1930s. This installation presents collection that illuminate the primary values of "Good Design" with iconic pieces by Charles and Ray Eames and Hans Wegner alongside unexpected items, such as a hunting bow and a plumb bob, an iron, a hamper, a rake, a cheese slicer, and Tupperware.WHAT WAS GOOD DESIGN?
Through November 30, 2009
The Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53rd Street
New York, NY
Click here for details
///// EXHIBITION
Expressive lettering and hand-typography is an emerging trend these days that was first started by Herb Lubalin with his groundbreaking work for Avant Garde, Eros and Fact. View selected posters, original sketches, magazines, motion graphics, and more by internationally recognized graphic designers like Marian Bantjes, Deanne Cheuk, Rick Valenti, and Herb Lubalin that will illuminate Lubalin's influence on contemporary graphic design.LUBALIN NOW
Through December 8, 2009
Opening Reception Thursday, November 5, 2009 6:00—8:00PM
The Cooper Union
41 Cooper Gallery
New York, NY
Free exhibit
Click here for details
///// EXHIBITION
The future of ink on paper is investigated through this collaborative exhibition between Parsons and the Royal College of Art, London. Possibilities of customized digital art and design are displayed, alongside limited edition prints by a number of notable artists and designers who play with the notion of technology.
CONTROL/PRINT
Through Sunday, December 20, 2009 Open 12:00—6:00PM
Parsons School for Design
Saint Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Gallery
2 West 13th Street
New York, NY
Free exhibit
Click here for details
///// FAIR
The annual IFPDA Print Fair is unique among the world's major art fairs for its focus on fine prints. Over eighty members from Europe and North America will exhibit works across a wide range of specialties, from old master to contemporary, including Japanese fine prints from all periods.IFPDA PRINT FAIR
November 5—8, 2009
The Park Avenue Armory
643 Park Avenue
New York, NY
Click here to buy tickets
///// TALK
Stuck in print? Learn how to make a smooth transition into web with basic theories and practices of designing for the web from web designer Kevin Barnett of NYMag.com, faculty of MFA Interaction Design and graphic designer Rebecah Hodgson of Blurb, Etsy, Creative Director of Norton and annual report extraordinaire, Nicholas Felton of Daytum.com. PRINT TO WEB 101
Thursday, November 5, 2009, 6:30—8:30PM
Museum of Arts and Design
2 Columbus Circle
New York, NY
Click here to register
///// GAME
If you've ever wanted to be on the Price Is Right, but except instead of Plinko and bidding on a brand new car while clutching onto Bob Barker you imagine yourself playing typography trivia alongside the likes of Paula Scher, Louise Fili, Jonathan Hoefler and others, then COME ON DOWN! Tons of fun, fonts, raffles and prizes to be had. THE TYPE IS RIGHT
Monday, November 9, 2009, 6:30—8:30PM
Galapogos Art Space
16 Main Street
Dumbo, Brooklyn
Click here to register
///// WORKSHOP
Bring your laptop and take part in this hands-on workshop lead by Catharine Taylor (Adverganza) to maximize your brand through blogs and social networking platforms. CATHERINE TAYLOR: SOCIAL PLATFORMS
Monday, November 9, 2009, 5:00—8:30PM
The Art Directors Club
106 West 29th Street
New York, NY
Click here to register
///// COFFEE
Start your morning off with an engaging conversation with In-House Design guru, Andy Epstein over delicious Mud coffee, muffins and croissants.BREAKFAST CLUB
Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 8:00—9:30AM
Mud Café
307 East 9th Street
New York, NY
FREE EVENT
Click here to RSVP
///// LECTURE
MFA Design Criticism Department presents conceptual artist Martin Beck to discuss the methodological aspects of working with design history from an artistic perspective.SELECTED FOR THEIR IMPLICATIONS
Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 6:00—8:00AM
136 West 21st Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY
Free lecture
Click here for details
///// TALK
The most innovative and interesting work is often found within self-initiated, personal projects. Explore a breadth of work from London-based designers, Tony Brook and Adrian Shaughnessy who started their own publishing house, and will be talking about their first book, Studio Culture, an exploration of the secret life of a design studio, among other projects.THE DESIGNER AS PUBLISHER
Friday, November 13, 2009, 8:00—9:30AM
Bumble & Bumble
415 West 13th Street
New York, NY
Click here to register
///// FOOSBALL
Do you have what it takes to battle out in the 6th Annual World Graphic Design Foosball Championship among 70 other teams for the coveted one-legged challenge cup trophy? WGDFC
Friday, November 13, 2009
The Art Directors Club
106 West 29th Street
New York, NY
Click here for details or to register a team
///// FORUM
Design for social change has become a hot topic across all business models. Yes, you can indeed build a career while changing the world. Engage with designers like Bill Drentell of Winterhouse Studios and Design Observer, Paula Scher of Pentagram, Mark Randall of World Studios and Blake Mycoskie of Toms Shoes, who drive social and political change through their work.DESIGNISM 4.0
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The Art Directors Club
106 West 29th Street
New York, NY
Click here to register
///// TALK
Get out of your comfort zone and discover the design and art of food styling. See the work of the world's leading food photographer, Mitch Feinberg, food stylist and recipe developer, Victoria Granof, essayist Tacey Rosolowski, and award-winning sommelier, Andrew Bradbury. Hosted by New York Times restaurant critic, Frank Bruni, this round-up of seasoned foodies will undoubtedly titillate your taste buds.THE DESIGN OF FOOD PRESENTATION
Friday, November 20, 2009, 8:00—9:30AM
Tishman Auditorium
66 West 12th Street
New York, NY
Click here to register
///// TALK
ADC Young Guns presents selected winners to showcase their work at the Apple Store in SoHo. This month's speaker is Justin Cignac.
Gignac (jee-nak) is an artist, entrepreneur and freelance art director living in New York. After graduating from the School of Visual Arts in 2002 he held full time jobs at Ogilvy, Fallon NY and Toy. In early 2007, Justin left full-time agency life to focus on his artistic endeavors, but still dabbles in the ad world as a freelancer. Gignac was part of the ADC Young Guns 5 class of winners, honored in 2006. JUSTIN GIGNAC
Monday, November 23, 2009, 6:30—8:00PM
Apple SoHo
103 Prince Street
New York, NY 10012
Free talk
Click here for details
Guest Editorial
We're always excited to get a guest contributor at CRIT. We're delighted that one of our readers, Danielle Filsinger, submitted a lovely piece on the TDC Night of the Italians event.
When the moon hits your eye…
It may be because there was an Italian behind that design. Or more likely an expatriate Italian Designer.
But what does it mean to be an Italian Designer today? Does it really matter anymore? That was one of the many topics discussed Thursday, October 16, 2009 at the TDC’s presentation of La Notte Degli Italiani (The Night of the Italians). The panelists, Louise Fili, Francesco Cavalli, Massimo Vignelli, and Matteo Bologna, all seemed to be well adept in their approach and have a strong love of design. Here is what I took away from the panel:
1. An individual’s heritage is not important in today’s culture. What is important is the strength of your approach and the ceilings that constrain you. According to Francesco Cavailli, New Yorkers don’t know Italy very well... but they like it a lot.
2. Italy is for laying back and taking it easy. Italy is a really great place to hang out, especially as a designer. As Matteo Bologna pointed out, Italians are still known for the 3 F’s: Food, Fashion, and Furniture.
3. Italy is not easily linked to innovation. When designers come here (NY) they are able to experiment more and come up with something new, different and exciting. New York is the source of inspirations for Italians, just like the rest of us.
4. Italy vs. New York: Italy is all about creativity but, as a whole, tends to lose interest when it comes down to the final stages. In America you deal primarily with middle management – as they put it, "marketing is the art of protecting your back". Also observed was that Americans are more pragmatic and analytical in their approach.
5. On Clients: Typeface is the voice of the client. Web is most exciting thing there is today; the book is dead. Anything on-line reaches millions (unlimited people) - books can’t do that; they have a limited run - they’ve reached the ceiling.
6. On Style: It takes time to develop style. Looking inward you never see it. You need to be a problem solver: there are always 100 different solutions; but the way you solve a problem is your style. Solve a problem, know how to work with clients, and show you have a design voice. Style will come-out from inside you. It’s important to develop your own approach not style. Your interpretation of reality is what counts – when you’re grasping to understand something it tends to look like you’re coping someone else. Strive for appropriateness, discipline, consistency and logic in your design.
7. A few additional words of advice: Color makes people respond; strength is in the approach and type is all about kerning. And finally, as the moderator, Paula Antonelli had said, “Study in Italy but work in New York.”
Thanks to Danielle for her great post. If you're interested in contributing to CRIT, send us an email! We'd love to have more guest contributors.
Have any pictures from the event? Comments? Post them! We’d love to hear your thoughts.
We're always excited to get a guest contributor at CRIT. We're delighted that one of our readers, Danielle Filsinger, submitted a lovely piece on the TDC Night of the Italians event.
When the moon hits your eye…
It may be because there was an Italian behind that design. Or more likely an expatriate Italian Designer.
But what does it mean to be an Italian Designer today? Does it really matter anymore? That was one of the many topics discussed Thursday, October 16, 2009 at the TDC’s presentation of La Notte Degli Italiani (The Night of the Italians). The panelists, Louise Fili, Francesco Cavalli, Massimo Vignelli, and Matteo Bologna, all seemed to be well adept in their approach and have a strong love of design. Here is what I took away from the panel:
1. An individual’s heritage is not important in today’s culture. What is important is the strength of your approach and the ceilings that constrain you. According to Francesco Cavailli, New Yorkers don’t know Italy very well... but they like it a lot.
2. Italy is for laying back and taking it easy. Italy is a really great place to hang out, especially as a designer. As Matteo Bologna pointed out, Italians are still known for the 3 F’s: Food, Fashion, and Furniture.
3. Italy is not easily linked to innovation. When designers come here (NY) they are able to experiment more and come up with something new, different and exciting. New York is the source of inspirations for Italians, just like the rest of us.
4. Italy vs. New York: Italy is all about creativity but, as a whole, tends to lose interest when it comes down to the final stages. In America you deal primarily with middle management – as they put it, "marketing is the art of protecting your back". Also observed was that Americans are more pragmatic and analytical in their approach.
5. On Clients: Typeface is the voice of the client. Web is most exciting thing there is today; the book is dead. Anything on-line reaches millions (unlimited people) - books can’t do that; they have a limited run - they’ve reached the ceiling.
6. On Style: It takes time to develop style. Looking inward you never see it. You need to be a problem solver: there are always 100 different solutions; but the way you solve a problem is your style. Solve a problem, know how to work with clients, and show you have a design voice. Style will come-out from inside you. It’s important to develop your own approach not style. Your interpretation of reality is what counts – when you’re grasping to understand something it tends to look like you’re coping someone else. Strive for appropriateness, discipline, consistency and logic in your design.
7. A few additional words of advice: Color makes people respond; strength is in the approach and type is all about kerning. And finally, as the moderator, Paula Antonelli had said, “Study in Italy but work in New York.”
Thanks to Danielle for her great post. If you're interested in contributing to CRIT, send us an email! We'd love to have more guest contributors.
Have any pictures from the event? Comments? Post them! We’d love to hear your thoughts.
Gelato is one of the most fascinating aspects of Italian culture—or at least the tastiest! But, it’s far from the only thing we love about Italy. For years, Italy has been known to produce powerhouses of art and design. Think about the top fashion icons: names like Armani, Cavalli, Ferragamo, Prada, Gucci, and Versace immediately spring to mind. Now, let’s consider the automobile: Buggati, Ferrari, Vespa, Lamborghini are synonymous with automobile innovation. And art? Where to begin?! Caravaggio, Giotto, Botticelli, Bernini, the list is endless; even in popular culture, the famous Ninja Turtles were all posthumously named after Italian artist of the Renaissance.
What about graphic design? For years, the closest link between graphic design and Italy has been Alessi.
Allora! This week, the Type Directors Club will host a unique panel featuring four of the major Italian graphic designers that greatly influence our culture with their creations. Moderated by MoMA curator, Paola Antonelli, The Night of the Italians will gather Louise Fili, Francesco Cavalli, Massimo Vignelli and Matteo Bologna.
We think that what Milan Fashion Week offers to fashion lovers in inspiration, The Night of the Italians will hold for graphic designers. Wouldn’t it be amazing if they served gelato at the reception? Consider you’ll have tickets to front row seats to design artigianale.
Ciao ciao! A presto!
The Night of the Italians
Thursday, October 15 at 6:00pm — 9:00pm
Panel discussion moderated by Paola Antonelli
Louise Fili, Louise Fili Inc.
Francesco Cavalli, LeftLoft
Massimo Vignelli, Vignelli Associates
Matteo Bologna, Mucca Design
SVA Theatre 333 West 23 Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues)
TDC Member: $15
Non Member Students: $20 (with proper id)
Non Members: $25
To register email director@tdc.org or call 1-212-633-8943
MODERATOR
Paola Antonelli
Antonelli is one of the world's foremost design experts and was recently rated as one of the top one hundred most powerful people in the world of art by Art Review. She is a curator in the Department of Architecture and Design at The Museum of Modern Art. Italian, and an architect by training, Antonelli has curated architecture and design exhibitions in Italy, France, and Japan. She has been a contributing editor for Domus magazine and the design editor for Abitare. A lecturer at Harvard's Graduate School of Design, she is an instructor at the School of Visual Arts, and is also the author of MoMA's Objects of Design and Safe: Design Takes on Risk.
PANEL
Louise Fili
The daughter of Italian schoolteachers, Fili visited her parents’ homeland at sixteen, quickly became addicted to Italy and has visited virtually every year since. Growing up, she developed a love of typography, stealthily carving letterforms into the wall over her bed at night. A graduate of Skidmore College, Fili designed at Knopf, Herb Lubalin, and Random House. Fili’s passion for 1930s Italian and French poster design, as well as all that ephemera that once adorned her office—the Italian candy wrappers, soap packages, wine labels and signage—migrated from her book covers to her restaurant design. In fact, while researching Italian Art Deco in Italy in 1990, she stumbled onto a collection of pasticceria papers that enticed her to switch from books to food packaging. For over twenty years, Fili has been an instructor at the School of Visual Arts and has taught at the New School, New York University and Cooper Union. She has lectured on design across the world and has won awards from just about every design organization. The woman in black who raised the bar on book jacket design in the 1980s has now clearly set a new standard for restaurant and food packaging design. Louise Fili reinvented herself in a way that has been marvelously inspiring for all of us who have ever wondered what’s next.
Massimo Vignelli
Italian graphic artist and designer, Vignelli studied architecture at Milan Polytechnic and Venice University. In 1965, Vignelli and his wife moved to New York, where they opened a Unimark branch in 1966 that specialized in developing corporate logos and designing the corporate look of major firms. In 1971 the practice became Vignelli Associates. Firms and institutions whose corporate image was styled by Lella and Massimo Vignelli include Knoll International, for American Airlines, Bloomingdale's, Cinzano, Lancia, United Colors of Benetton, Ford Xerox, and the International Design Center New York. In 1972 they designed a new signage system for the New York subway.
Matteo Bologna
Born and raised in Milan, Italy, Matteo’s grounding in architecture, graphic design, illustration and typography facilitated his early business successes and inspired his decision to create a New York agency, Mucca Design. Mucca’s award-winning work includes André Balazs’ Properties, Starr Restaurants, Patina Restaurant Group, Sant Ambrœus, Balthazar, Schiller’s Liquor Bar, Pastis, Morandi, Country, Victoria’s Secret, Adobe, Target, Harper Collins, Penguin, Random House, Domaine de Canton and Butterfield Market. When he isn’t obsessing over boring design details of a typeface, Matteo can be found obsessing over his daughters Olivia and Sofia.
Francesco Cavalli
Founder and creative director of Leftloft.
What about graphic design? For years, the closest link between graphic design and Italy has been Alessi.
Allora! This week, the Type Directors Club will host a unique panel featuring four of the major Italian graphic designers that greatly influence our culture with their creations. Moderated by MoMA curator, Paola Antonelli, The Night of the Italians will gather Louise Fili, Francesco Cavalli, Massimo Vignelli and Matteo Bologna.
We think that what Milan Fashion Week offers to fashion lovers in inspiration, The Night of the Italians will hold for graphic designers. Wouldn’t it be amazing if they served gelato at the reception? Consider you’ll have tickets to front row seats to design artigianale.
Ciao ciao! A presto!
The Night of the ItaliansThursday, October 15 at 6:00pm — 9:00pm
Panel discussion moderated by Paola Antonelli
Louise Fili, Louise Fili Inc.
Francesco Cavalli, LeftLoft
Massimo Vignelli, Vignelli Associates
Matteo Bologna, Mucca Design
SVA Theatre 333 West 23 Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues)
TDC Member: $15
Non Member Students: $20 (with proper id)
Non Members: $25
To register email director@tdc.org or call 1-212-633-8943
MODERATOR
Paola Antonelli
Antonelli is one of the world's foremost design experts and was recently rated as one of the top one hundred most powerful people in the world of art by Art Review. She is a curator in the Department of Architecture and Design at The Museum of Modern Art. Italian, and an architect by training, Antonelli has curated architecture and design exhibitions in Italy, France, and Japan. She has been a contributing editor for Domus magazine and the design editor for Abitare. A lecturer at Harvard's Graduate School of Design, she is an instructor at the School of Visual Arts, and is also the author of MoMA's Objects of Design and Safe: Design Takes on Risk.
PANEL
Louise Fili The daughter of Italian schoolteachers, Fili visited her parents’ homeland at sixteen, quickly became addicted to Italy and has visited virtually every year since. Growing up, she developed a love of typography, stealthily carving letterforms into the wall over her bed at night. A graduate of Skidmore College, Fili designed at Knopf, Herb Lubalin, and Random House. Fili’s passion for 1930s Italian and French poster design, as well as all that ephemera that once adorned her office—the Italian candy wrappers, soap packages, wine labels and signage—migrated from her book covers to her restaurant design. In fact, while researching Italian Art Deco in Italy in 1990, she stumbled onto a collection of pasticceria papers that enticed her to switch from books to food packaging. For over twenty years, Fili has been an instructor at the School of Visual Arts and has taught at the New School, New York University and Cooper Union. She has lectured on design across the world and has won awards from just about every design organization. The woman in black who raised the bar on book jacket design in the 1980s has now clearly set a new standard for restaurant and food packaging design. Louise Fili reinvented herself in a way that has been marvelously inspiring for all of us who have ever wondered what’s next.
Massimo Vignelli Italian graphic artist and designer, Vignelli studied architecture at Milan Polytechnic and Venice University. In 1965, Vignelli and his wife moved to New York, where they opened a Unimark branch in 1966 that specialized in developing corporate logos and designing the corporate look of major firms. In 1971 the practice became Vignelli Associates. Firms and institutions whose corporate image was styled by Lella and Massimo Vignelli include Knoll International, for American Airlines, Bloomingdale's, Cinzano, Lancia, United Colors of Benetton, Ford Xerox, and the International Design Center New York. In 1972 they designed a new signage system for the New York subway.
Matteo BolognaBorn and raised in Milan, Italy, Matteo’s grounding in architecture, graphic design, illustration and typography facilitated his early business successes and inspired his decision to create a New York agency, Mucca Design. Mucca’s award-winning work includes André Balazs’ Properties, Starr Restaurants, Patina Restaurant Group, Sant Ambrœus, Balthazar, Schiller’s Liquor Bar, Pastis, Morandi, Country, Victoria’s Secret, Adobe, Target, Harper Collins, Penguin, Random House, Domaine de Canton and Butterfield Market. When he isn’t obsessing over boring design details of a typeface, Matteo can be found obsessing over his daughters Olivia and Sofia.
Francesco Cavalli Founder and creative director of Leftloft.
