Pixelgawker

Please allow me to preface the following essay, by briefly introducing a guest contributor to Pixelgawker. Haley Querro is a junior at CCS and ads her voice to the blog by way of an essay that explores the life and career of Detroit poster artist Gary Grimshaw. Haley’s contribution expands the discourse of Pixelgawker, by offering us a glimpse into a portion of Detroit’s rich design history. I am especially excited to introduce a new writer to the blog, and I’m anxious to see how we together, can continue informing and engaging our readers, on a diverse range of topics. 

Past posts on this blog have stressed the need for students to become more aware and more involved with the communities in which we live, work and play. Though many could talk for days (and do) about the many social, political, and economic struggles that have plagued Detroit, far less speak about the vast number of influential artists and designers that have emerged from the city in recent years. While Haley’s essay draws our attention to one of these important figures, I would urge everyone to continue their own research and take the time to discover the multitude of influential individuals who call Detroit their home.  

Gary Grimshaw: Detroit Poster Artist
By: Haley Querro

He describes himself as chronically unemployed and unemployable – A hippie, an artist, an activist, and a Vietnam War veteran. Although he hasn’t experienced much nationwide success, he is a hometown Detroit hero in many respects. He has produced many pieces of art that are held close to the hearts of Detroit music lovers from the past as well as the present. Anyone who calls themselves a Motor City music enthusiast will have seen his work at some point, whether it was sold at concerts, printed on t-shirts, on the cover of an album, or hung up around the city. Gary Grimshaw helped put a face to the Detroit music scene as it came into existence in the late 60’s, when local kids found themselves in the aftermath of Motown and in the middle of a political upheaval. His psychedelic style and unique hand crafted typography are directly connected to this time in history and the need for music poster artwork he helped to establish would continue to live on to the present.  Grimshaw was one of the artists at this time in history that would realize their voice could be heard through art as well as music, and that the two could join together to convey a stronger message. As a young boy growing up in Detroit, he would never have guessed that his artwork could make such an impact – But being in the right place at the right time will often work to one’s advantage.

(more…)

This past summer, I had the pleasure of working among a small group of students to collaboratively design a series of light pole banners for six distinct Detroit neighborhoods. These particular neighborhoods, as it was explained to us, all have a high population of children, and need outside support in order to ensure the continued success of their young inhabitants. Over the 8-week class period, our task would be to design a set of publicly displayed banners that capture the spirit of each community, while also identifying the community to others in the city. The process went as such: We were given a tour of each neighborhood by appointed neighborhood leaders, who educated us on the area’s important cultural and historical details. We then would collectively distill this research, organizing notes and ideas into mind maps and word lists. Then, of course, we would discuss concepts and begin designing, designing, designing. We pumped out version after version, editing nothing. In class, the group would have small critique sessions, though these would generally be focused less on aesthetic and more on idea. We continued cycling through this process until it was time for our first community meeting, where residents of the community would see the designs for the first time. With community members gathered around a long, narrow table, we each stood up and took turns explaining the conceptual basis behind each of our designs. We elaborated on details from our tours and research, expounding upon the reasons behind many of our design decisions. When each of us were through presenting, the door was cordially opened for feedback. After all, none of us lived in the communities for which we were designing, and we understood that the success of this project depended substantially on the communities acceptance of the work. Yet none of us anticipated what happened next. Silence. Not a word. We nervously glanced at one another, half smirking with confidence, half sinking in defeat. A very boisterous and vocal woman eventually spoke up, to begin what we’d later dub “the meeting where we all really sucked.” To put it lightly, they HATED the designs! Comments ranged from “too static,” to “too boring.” Questions followed like “What’s that supposed to represent,” and “Aren’t those McDonald’s colors.” We awkwardly stood rejected and unsure of what to do next. I suppose what we did do would be what any young, tactful designer would do; we thanked everyone for their feedback, regrouped, then went back to the drawing board. (Speaking only for myself, I additionally went home to a glass of red wine and two Excedrin)

(more…)

The fall semester is now upon us. Class schedules are being finalized, supplies are being purchased, and the work load, no doubt, will soon be piling up. For those of you who may be new to Pixelgawker, welcome, and thanks for taking the time to peruse. And for all of you returning visitors, thanks for coming back! Created to foster a critical design discussion among students, Pixelgawker celebrates it’s one year anniversary this fall. Since its launch towards the end of 2007, the site has been tastefully redesigned, while the discussion continues to expand. A blog that started with one student’s timid first essay, has now morphed into a full blown student forum, receiving over 100,000 hits in the first 9 months. Just like last year, Chad and I are still seeking contributors who may be willing to write, or have already written on a topic suitable for discussion. Please contact Chad or myself if you’re interested in writing. Let your voice be heard! (Otherwise your stuck with me and my opinions for the next 15 weeks)

Okay, now that the shameless promotional work is out of the way, I’d simply like to encourage everyone to have a FUN and productive semester. As students, we know all to well the high level of commitment that is required from us if we are to learn and better our skills. That commitment to success, along with the pride we each take in our work, are both qualities that we should commend ourselves for possessing. This strange realm of higher education we dabble in, can be challenging, frustrating, exciting, or unbearable; but it can ultimately be fulfilling. It’s fulfilling when you have a useful crit, it’s fulfilling to connect and share with your peers, it’s fulfilling to have a great discussion with your favorite teacher, it’s fulfilling when you finally complete a daunting project and, in time, it’s fulfilling when you leave as a fresh college graduate. So please…as the semester gets underway, and the energy drinks are re-introduced to our clean, summer systems, and the work piles up, and the wireless refuses to work, and the security guards kick us out of labs, and Kinkos can’t print our files, and we feel like we’re being pulled in 97 different directions (and probably are)…please, PLEASE try to stay positive. We have all chosen to be here, and we are all in this together, and with each other we’re all working towards a similar goal. So with that, I say keep the designing on high and the moping turned low. Get ready. For today, it begins.

In recent months, my contribution of new material to Pixelgawker has slowly dwindled. “WRITE FOR BLOG” - over the course of last semester, these three words, though often written big and bold, then circled and highlighted, moved further and further down my “to-do” list, eventually landing somewhere between “change oil in car” and “vacuum apartment.” Other tasks and other classes always took precedence over the blog, even when I tried to intentionally pencil the time into my schedule. This absence of my voice from the blog, was not a sign that I lost my desire to write, nor did it indicate that I had run out of ideas. In fact, I had many ideas floating around my head, many of which I thought would serve as a nice foundation to a useful and engaging discourse. But no matter how many times I told myself to write for the blog, I just couldn’t seem to find the time or energy to compose some words into a thoughtful and meaningful essay. So I didn’t.

(more…)

pixelgawker started out last fall as an experiment. there was and continues to be a need for critical writing in the classroom as well as a forum to articulate observations, tendencies and sometimes frustrations about being a student and faculty. since then, this blog has slowly emerged as a focal point for conversation, rants and a good dose of perspective. Since August, traffic on this site has reached over 75,000 visits. In 2008 alone, our traffic was over 46,000. Numbers can be deceiving but what this traffic honestly depicts is a demand for content.

(more…)

I compulsively check my email countless times throughout the day. Logging onto instant messenger has become just as much a part of my daily routine as, say… brushing my teeth. The photo sharing world of Flickr has changed, dare I say ruined, my life forever. I’ve abandoned the coalition of desktop users and joined the laptop alliance. My computer follows me around, and to it, I remain perpetually “plugged-in” to the vast world that surrounds us. (more…)

As Programming Chair on the AIGA Detroit board, I am proud to announce the Celebrate Michigan Design Poster Competition. It is AIGA Detroit’s intent to become the prominent leader and voice in the design community. I believe that this competition will not only give us a mechanism to tell our stories but bring the community together to share those experiences with each other. This is a great opportunity for us to grow and create positive change. The following excerpt is an introduction to competition.

Michigan has had a long-standing and prominent reputation as the home to many great and influential designers and artisans, many of whom have defined past generations and continue to be influential in our state, national, and global economies. From art and design schools to furniture companies, from the big three to the many smaller firms, Michigan hosts a world-class collection of artists and designers residing and working within its bounds. (more…)

I’m a transplant. I was born and raised on the southside of Chicago. Until I moved to Michigan 3 years ago, I didn’t know a tremendous amount about the state. Sure, I spent time at the beaches on the “west coast,” I knew that a place like Frankenmuth scared me and Detroit was a place that I thought I would never want to visit. I now work in Detroit and call SE Michigan my home. I commute downtown every day and live in the shadow of a city struggling to rediscover itself. To outsiders, Detroit is defined by high crime, misery (see Forbes) and a sinking automotive industry. To those same outsiders, Michigan is characterized by foreclosures and the mass exodus of unemployed individuals. Unfortunately, I have learned that most of these are accurate assessments. What I have also learned is that many of these characterizations can be applied to other states throughout the country. The difference is Michigan has done a better job of mismanaging their economy and a poor job of diversification.

(more…)

PIXELGAWKER IS LOOKING FOR WRITERS

Pixelgawker was instigated in the fall of 2007 to foster the development of critical writing in the undergraduate classroom. Now, past its infancy, Pixelgawker has become a solid online platform for the ongoing discussion of graphic design issues, with a focus on topics surfacing in design education. It attempts to further the development of design students by encouraging users to seek problems and pose questions from a critical standpoint.

Pixelgawker now seeks to expand and diversify the voices heard by offering others the opportunity to contribute to the dialogue. If interested, please submit a .pdf containing a writing sample (min. 250 words), name of school and contact information to: pixelgawker@spirit3design.com. We begin reviewing submissions on February 25, 2008.

A few short weeks ago Julia and Brian were kind enough to ask if I would consider writing a short piece for this years Spine. We agreed that posting this essay on Pixelgawker might be a good way to generate some discussion from several different student perspectives. Their goal with this years issue, is to provide current undergraduate design students with an honest, helpful, and exciting look at what they can expect after leaving the classroom environment. (more…)