Process: Concept Help Poster

I'm working as an adviser for the concept help workshop this term with Frido. The goal is to document and streamline my own concept development process as well as teach others how to make their concepts better and become better at generating good concepts overall.

Concept Notes

Preparing for the workshop, these are the questions i have: and my current thoughts

How do you develop a concept? - To develop a concept same as developing anything, process + time. Good concept meets the project goals, starting with strong project goals leads to a strong concept.

What makes a good concept? - still working on this answer. addresses the design brief, does more with less, unique, moral, redefine paradigms, solves problems, addresses cultural and societal values, contextual, basically a strong story...what story you want to tell and why you want to tell it? Is it a story we've heard already? There is value in originality, inventiveness, entrepreneurship, value innovation, decrease cost while increasing value to the user or client.

Why is it important? - Excellent design consists of two sides of the same coin, excellent content and excellent form. Another way to say this is good ideas and good communication of these ideas. Content is the message. Form is the expression of that message. Being strong in form or craft is only one side of the coin, excellent content is even more important. There are different philosophies regarding content and form. I usually default to Form as the expression of Content. I have also heard Content is form. Form is content.
Example GINA light from DesignworksBMW. GINA philosophy is the content, the message, the idea. The expression of this message, the form, is the changing fabrics, surfacing, alternate architecture, the physicality. Another example, from music, there is song and then there is the voice that sings the song, the song is the message, the singng is how that message is conveyed. Excellent music has excellent song or message and an excellent musician who can express the song through their voice or instrument. Same with writing. Good book has strong story and good writing to go with it.

Concept process? - The design process can also be applied to the concept development process. When developing a concept use the same process of research, evaluation, ideations, refinements, and final proposal. The specifics of process are constantly changing within this framework. Creativity applied to concept.

Time? - It takes time to develop anything. The idea of development implies a time characteristic.


05/21/09 Idea Quotes

“Everything begins with an idea.” Earl Nightingale

“An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.” Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.

“A single idea / the sudden flash of a thought / may be worth a million dollars.” Robert Collier

“A pile of rocks ceases to be a rock when somebody contemplates it with the idea of a cathedral in mind.” Antoine de Saint-Exupery

“There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come.” Victor Hugo

“You have to have an idea of what you are going to do, but it should be a vague idea.” Pablo Picasso

"The way to get good ideas is to get lots of ideas, and throw the bad ones away." Linus Pauling

Define the problem, identify the constraints, understand the problem, identify the project goals, self, audience, identify the audience. knowing the audience helps to define the goals, defining the goals helps to arrive at solutions.

Research, explore, gather information relevant to your now defined problem.
Propose solutions. Refine solutions. Choose better solutions and develop further.

Concept definitions: is a cognitive unit of meaning— an abstract idea or a mental symbol sometimes defined as a "unit of knowledge," built from other units which act as a concept's characteristics. A concept is typically associated with a corresponding representation in a language or symbology such as a word. (wikipedia)

Interior 4

Team Project: Stephensanity +T. Armstrong
Create a small interior that is spacious, stylish & smart.

How to get smarter

1. Tackle Something New
-anything that challenges your brain. ie brush teeth with opposite hand, dining somewhere new, talk to someone new. improves memory and intellectual performance.

2. "Brain Rest" Everyday
-45 minutes a day to do nothing. ie listening to music, book reading, walk-but not tv..should be quiet

3. 30 Minutes of Aerobic Exercise
-ie swimming, stair climbing. This increases creativity level. Helps brain cells grow. Exercise improves circulation, more energy goes to your brain, helps you think positively, helps your body and blood pressure.

4. Get Some Sleep
-we are prone to mental lapse and mistakes without enough rest. Learning and memory are solidified in the brain during sleep.

5. Chill
-ie meditation, browsing, anything that cuts stress will help you think creatively and clearly.

6. Eat Brainfood
-omega 3 fatty acids (fish, avocados, walnuts). Improve brain cellrepair and mental functioning.

The clearer you are, the better you'll perform. Problem will be solved easier. Form an dcontent are inseperable.

Painting notes

Bg low contrast value1-3 mg 4 -7 fg value 7-9
light to dark
loose to tight
play with opposites
simple vs complex
light vs dark
positive vs negative space
warm vs cool
rendered vs indicated

The power of one

After a discussion with Andrew. One thing can change a person's life, one sketch , one drawing, one painting, one project can make a career.

Actors or musicians, one performance can make them into a superstar. On the other hand one performance can also ruin a career. But its also possible to make a comeback. One year, one month, one week can make a difference.
Best is even after one great song the artist has another and another, consistency of talent is valuable.

one joke , or one hello can start a new relationship,
one accident can change a whole life,
one chance meeting in an elevator or random location can change the direction of your life.

Anything is possible...what you think about most is what you will become, is what will happen.

Potential Courses

 Many good courses how can i make time and money to afford them? sit in? try to learn for free...
edit 02.07.12 never stop learning...new skills, new techniques, new concepts, new ideas...self education builds a fortune and the knowledge gained and APPLIED compounds...makes you more valuable more marketable

Transportation
DX Mobility I
DX Mobility II
DX Alias II
DX Viscom 7-8 w/ J.Min
DX History of Auto-waive
DX Design Management - replace wit digital portfolio or take with digital portfolio
DX Auto Product Planning - replace w/product III branding
DX Exter 6
DX Inter 6
Exterior 7
Interior 7
Exterior 8
Interior 8
Alias II
DX Viscom6 w/ J. Krysteski
DX World Design

Product
Adv. Product
DX Creative Strategies - TA?
Package Design I
Adv. Product III - Branding
Intellectual Property - M.Katz

Entertainment/Illustration
Design Process II w/S. Robertson
Creative ID Process - Frido
Digital Landscape w/M.Humphries
Color Theory 4 Ent w/R. Keyes
DX Originality/Independent w/N.Pugh
Sketching 4 illustration B.Kato
Architecture G. Meyer
After Effects 4 Ent
DX Adv Entertainment - Mark Goerner


Graphics
Graphic Design II/ Publication design
Type II
ID Graphics
Digital Portfolio...something i can make my intern/scholarship portfolio in
John Chambers' Workshop wed 7-10pm

Other
DX Design theory w/prof Wang-TA/sit in
Entertainment Design w/prof Wang-TA/sit in


CDA Classes
Advanced Viscom w D.Quach
Entertainment projects
Modo
Vehicles and Mechs

Skills to grow:
Proportion 
Form design
Perspective
Lighting
Unique sketch style
Automotive sensitivty
Graphic visual communication
Rapid Vis
Details
Concept
Alias Modeling Skills sketch refine refine
Solidwrks
Rendering
Clay physical modeling

Character design
Anatomy
Creature design
Scene illustration
Lighting

Environments
perspective
atmosphere
composition
texture
landscape painting
brushwork
values

Product design
business side..how to get a product to market
how to deal with manufacturers
distribution
to get something sold in the apple store

Talk to stewart/jay - goal design fundamentals
Senior show project goal-create an entire world.
GPA Goal 3.0+
Focus, focus, time + Discipline
Create a portfolio that's always updateable
Jay says can substitute entertainment courses for viscom 8 and 7th exterior,
so mobility and sponsor and then whatever i want to do


Problems/ Solutions - Come up with a plan to work on my trans portfolio:
what can i do? who can i ask? - go to car shows be inspired by european auto design visit the studios

End Goal? TransFuturism Portfolio. FOCUSED but Balanced.  No one will give you benefit of the doubt. Car design Portfolio needs to have cars in it.  Robot Designer portfolio needs to have robots in it. Lego portfolio needs to have legos in it. bring it all together. Design is Design