The natural selection of design dictates that designs build on our current knowledge of art history and cultures that we have come in contact with while growing up.  There was a period in my life that I would equate to an awakening in all forms seen and unseen, of legends neither seen nor heard.  My knowledge of my culture had been a few bits and pieces, including winter Coyote stories, string games, several ceremonies witnessed and as a participant.  It was in these ceremonies that I encountered the raw artistry in creating a sand painting. It was through my grandmother, who was a weaver, that I started noticing the differences in regional styles of a woven rug. It was through my grandparents that I could now see all aspects of my culture in a totally different light.  This, this art, was our legacy in coming in contact with early settlers and explorers!  This brush with early traders and explorers started producing artwork never conceived of before, a legacy that continues today with the current generation of native artists.

The ability to create, interpret and give light to new forms of art is inherent in us, in our genes, and it is a part of what drives us forward.  To keep discovering and to create new mash-ups in art.  For me, 1995 will be the year I found my tribe, the year I started learning and working at the Blue Mountain Trading Post.  I read and absorbed different chants and learned the structure of the Navajo world with fresh eyes, and I also learned the history of our people.  Along the way, I started reading and researching other cultures and their stories and beliefs, which led me to research the artwork of these cultures and see how designs played a role in shaping their view of reality.

Everyone is an artist at heart, but we all follow a pattern, a water faucet looks more or less the same, an automobile has pretty much the same function, the outside determines the beauty, as does the engine that powers it. At the heart of it all are designers and engineers who came together and solved a problem.  Marketing and advertising surround us with brand names, and we welcome new items into our lives and our houses.  An iPhone would not have the same impact it did with our culture, were it not wrapped in beautiful skin, a sandwich would not look good unless its photo/film shoot presents it as the star of the show. From the stove you cook on, to the toilet that you sit on, to the room that you’re currently in, it was designed with a purpose, and it has a name stamped on it.  You can tell from the logo on the product, the amount of pride companies take in bringing you its finished design.  This dedication is built upon years of experience and the only way you can get good at product design is to study and view different sources of design and design theory.

Graphic Design taught me the skills I need to professionally produce art in many forms for clients and myself.  However, I’ve always used references in creating my tool set, and I thought I would share one of those today.  “Principles of Two-Dimensional Design“, by Wucius Wong was a book I found during this time, and it helped me to visualize geometric patterns on baskets and rugs. The book is a great primer into two-dimensional design and helps any artist or designer to create well balanced compositions.  The ideas presented apply to many facets of the art world, from printing, jewelry making, to graphic design; this book will help you in creating well balanced art. To illustrate the theories presented, student exercises are used extensively to show the book principles. These examples show different forms of repetition and form, while maintaining the simplicity and beauty of good design.  While current software easily allows you to duplicate the examples presented, by drawing and painting the examples presented, you gain a better understanding on creating a piece with harmony in both negative and positive space.

Space is important in a well-designed product, a balanced product of our society, whether that be commercial or home brewed is hard to achieve but possible. The brand and identity we create, shape our surroundings and lend to the graphic experience that we call life.  That next logo that you see, that killer t-shirt, a great website, or a painting?  It’s your brand name, because you’re proud of the way your product looks.

http://www.amazon.com/Principles-Two-Dimensional-Design-Wucius-Wong/dp/0471289604