The Design Dilemma: Compressing Time, Not Quality
Recently our studio had the good fortune to be asked by Corbis Images to create a program that would keep its vast stock image collection top-of-mind with designers and art directors. This we did with 24/7/365, a print, desktop, and online/mobile datebook that featured just a tiny fraction of the 100 million-plus photographs, paintings and illustrations in its collection. The assignment was a designer’s dream because of the wealth of iconic images we could choose from and the user-friendly way that Corbis organizes and curates its offerings.
Nevertheless, it reminded me that a good part of what designers do is edit images. How we approach this task defines our style, infuses the content with a particular point of view, and increases understanding of the subject for our readers. Whether the images come from commissioning original work for a specific project or buying stock, designers are selecting and arranging content. That is central to the creative process. But today the design communication field is undergoing the most revolutionary changes that I’ve seen in my career. Art directors and designers are being asked to accommodate print, online, and mobile platforms and sometimes refresh content not just monthly or weekly, but daily and hourly. In real terms, time is compressed, deadlines are shorter, and budgets are tighter. And more than ever, even those of us who have been in the business for decades are finding that to stay relevant, we need to keep abreast of developments in our industry. But how to find the time? That is why when Corbis proposed underwriting an online design education program for working professionals, I found the idea intriguing. I was even more thrilled when Corbis stated that it wanted to partner with my alma mater, Art Center College of Design, for which I’ve been a member of the Board of Trustees for over a decade.
Administered by Art Center, the speakers series, named “Always On,” features both renowned members of Art Center’s faculty and some of the world’s leading design experts discussing current issues and changing practices faced by designers around the globe. The format varies from a single speaker to panels of experts. The Always On website captures the best of these talks and make them available globally. Art Center will post new presentations throughout 2011. The Corbis website also posts the upcoming slate of speakers and topics, and creates an opportunity for creatives to get involved. For every order made online in 2011, Corbis is donating £1 to Always On. So, no excuses for not staying informed about the trends that will impact our profession. You can view it on your iPad from a hotel room or while lying on your couch. Check out Always On any time, any place, 24/7/365.
This article was last modified on January 6, 2023
This article was first published on April 6, 2011
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