Simplicity

Simplicity is not an easy thing. People will always tell you to make your communication more simple so that everyone can understand. That's what I think is funny - not everyone will understand your work. And guess what? That's completely okay.

Why is it almost more offensive when people don't understand our work? It's a different story when they don't like it, because we don't care when people don't like it. It's their problem, not ours. When people don't understand our work, it hits us at our core. Why? Because we put our soul into it. That hurts us more when they don't understand the work; it's like they don't understand us for who we are. We also need to understand the different personality types out there.

Me? I'm an introvert. I haven't always been, but that's where I'm at right now. Other people might see your work, say something boisterous, and move on. I'm extremely observant (to a fault) and I notice the smallest stuff happening in a room, and the little quirks people have that they think no one notices. At the same time, I love people. Maybe I'm slightly an ambivert. I don't like crowds, but I love being with like-minded people. The world is not a simple place, but if we allow our minds to relax and take in the world as if they were ocean waves - each event coming and crashing, disappearing, the next wave rolling in and watching where it goes, then we can react accordingly.

In the world of art and design, it's as though you are putting your work out into a tsunami of people. Yeah, that's scary, I know. But when you let your work express who you are, what you feel and think - your philosophies - that's when people react. People are absolutely drawn to authenticity. BE AUTHENTIC. BE REAL. It's so easy to spot the fakers. The ones who just want to make money and don't care about their work. You can want to make money, nothing wrong with that. But caring about the work. CARE. HAVE EMPATHY. It's okay to feel something.

When you care about your work, things start to happen. They are NOT always big things. But notice the small things. The simple things. It's never as bad as it seems. I've turned in projects where I wanted to throw up afterward because I thought it was that terrible and I didn't want people thinking that my brain came up with that piece of crap. It's okay to fail. The wonderful thing about life is that it is FULL of chances. Second chances. Third chances. Nine hundred and fifty-seventh chances. Each one gives you opportunity to grow and learn from mistakes you've made.

Having a clear head is key to simplicity. Ask yourself, "what is completely necessary?" If you find things in your life that are weighing you down, drop it like an anchor. And I mean drop it fast. The longer you hold onto pain and suffering, the longer it can hit your right where it really hurts - the heart. Do calming things - whatever the heck that means to you. Personally, I throw a record on, light some incense, and just sit, usually draw, maybe just browse some inspiration. Some people may say that you can relax wherever you are, but that's only true to a degree. If you need to go on a hike and sit on top of a mountain to be calm, then get outside and start climbing that mountain.

With the notion of having a clear mind, understand that design works in a similar way. Minimalism is fine - but CREATE something. Details are something that needs to make a comeback. I've been seeing all of these logos made out of circles and new typefaces that seem to come out of the designer's head like it was inspired from an Irish fairytale. Detail is not lost, and it is an art. Ornateness can be absolutely gorgeous, but the concept needs to be simple, see? Simplicity is in the understanding of our perspective. In this way, we must communicate our designs so that the message is clear. Even if something is only pleasing to the eye, there is a reason for that, and the viewer immediately recognizes it.

Be simple. Care about your work.

Regards,

Vinyl Creative