Learning new things requires both a broad overview of the subject-to-be-studied, and intensive drilling-down in specific areas. Educator and designer Matt Baker found a deficiency in the first area, where more visual aids would be helpful.
"I'm what you'd call a visual learner," Baker writes. "I have found that in early grades, visual materials tend to be incorporated often. However, once a person reaches the higher grades, learning becomes almost exclusively based on reading texts and listening to lectures. There is often very little visually-based material available on more advanced subjects, particularly in the humanities."
With this in mind, Baker began filling that void, designing helpful charts on topics that interest him. Interest in Baker's charts grew; they've been published by the BBC and NASA, among others, and Baker now sells them on UsefulCharts.com. As an example, here's a cool chart he did on the Evolution of the Alphabet:
And another on the Writing Systems of the World:
I think both of these would make perfect gifts for graphic designers. (For industrial designers, that Raymond Loewy chart is tough to beat.)
"Obviously, one cannot learn everything they need to know about a subject simply by looking at a chart," Baker acknowledges. "However, I find that charts often work well as both a starting point and an overall framework that can be continually returned to as one incorporates new material."
Check out more of his stuff here.
Cash-strapped creatives who already have a Bachelors: Wouldn't it be fantastic to pursue a graduate design education without having to stress out about the tuition? Well, good news, as today the Cranbrook Academy of Art announced they've launched a new fellowship program with full tuition coverage. Their Director's Fellowship Program
G18, stands for the 18th edition of the graduation show, one of the main presentations during the yearly Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven. The 208 projects from 185 graduates – and over 11 miles of power cable to get everything wired – demonstrate the scale of this year's presentation by
In the Dubai Design District, groups of students in school uniform roll around in Thomas Heatherwick's chairs. Buggies transport visitors from one exhibition to another. In the plaza, pop up installations draw visitors in with their cooling mist spray and shade. The coffee shops are crowded with young designers, chatting
The deadline for applying to SVA's MFA in Products of Design program is just one month away on January 15th, so if you're interested in grad school, you'll want to give this a hard look. Chaired by Core77's Allan Chochinov, the program sits at "the sweet spot between design thinking
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