Direction for Visual Diagram

During a chat with matt in the studio, we identified two potential routes for my cop project to go in. The first was about the isolation illustrators may experience when they are working freelance either from home or in a studio just for themselves. This led on to topics of feedback and the value of communication between creative people and how important these things are. 

The other idea was looking into the value of work that only exists in a digital cloud. This borders a philosophical debate of whether digital work actually exists or not and whether it can be valued and fallen in love with as a physical artefact can. I think there is more mileage in my first topic because it provides a starting point for some character based work and narratives. I think I will find it more interesting doing a diagram about this rather than the second topic. I also think it will be more relatable to the people I am presenting to and I can incorporate my own ideas and opinions into my research.  

Ideas for a visual diagram showing...

• Why feedback matters.
• Educational theories - Kolb’s learning cycle. 
• The dangers of working alone. 
• The dangers of working in your home environment (procrastination).
• The many stages of procrastination.

Map of Understanding and 35 pieces of information

This is my map of understanding which is exploring different pathways stemming from the question of my essay. I have looked into themes of social media, technology addiction, the value or digital work as oppose to hand crafted, the freelancing lifestyle and isolation. I will continue my research before deciding which pathway I am going to take in order to produce my final visual diagram. 

5 Quotes

‘PhotoShop has certainly not replaced illustrators altogether (and many fine illustrators employ PhotoShop as a tool), but this tool is far more threatening than any previous technological development in the history of illustration’ - Steve Heller, 2003

'It is not uncommon to witness a raw visual mix of the digital, the analogue, the traditional, the photographic and the stencilled, as well as hand-drawn and painted marks within the images of contemporary illustrators.' - Lawrence Zeegen, 2012

‘Computers are to design as microwaves are to cooking.’ - Milton Glaser

‘Good design is good business.’ - Thomas Watson Jr

'Nothing stays still in this constant changing industry. It is fickle and one minute you can be hot next you are yesterdays news.’ - John Holcroft, 2013

5 Statistics/ facts

71% of internet users have a Facebook account.

24% of the creative workforce in the UK are freelancers. 

Etsy is launched in 2005 which allowed creatives to sell their work and buy supplies in a online, creative marketplace.

14 minutes is the global average amount of time people spend on Facebook each day. 

Shutterstock claims that between 2011 and 2012, there has been a 134% growth in apps (buttons and icon design), a 60% growth in packaging (illustrated labels), and a staggering 525% increase in infographics.

5 Significant moments in history

Ink Jet Printing Technology was created - 1976

First computer generated film title sequence (Superman) - 1978

The first handheld mobile phone becomes commercially available - 1983

San Fransisco MOMA launches ‘Playstation 2 010101 - Art in Technological Times’ exhibition - 2000

Adobe Creative Suite is launched - 2003

5 People of note

Thomas and John Knoll - developers of the regional Photoshop ‘ImagePro.'

Mark Zuckerberg - co-founder of Facebook, a key figure of the social media revolution. 

Tim Berners-Lee - introduced the world wide web.

Steve Jobbs - co-founder of Apple.

Steve Wilhite - inventor of the GIF (graphics interchange format).

5 Images/ photos/ maps/ drawings/ charts

 5 Inventions/ objects/ garments/ artefacts

The internet

Adobe Creative Suite

Wacom tablet and Cintiq

Smartphones

3D printer

5 Locations/ environments/ countries

London - the hub of creative freelancing in the UK 


Cupertino, California, USA - Apple Headquarters

Mountain View, California, USA - where Adobe Systems was founded

Home studio environment

The middle of nowhere - the internet can reach everyone.