I've been having a little difficulty narrowing down a topic for research. Many things interest me. Currently I'm thinking about the topic of teaching design. Many times, people assume that knowing photoshop is the same as knowing design and I often give the argument, even amongst coworkers, that my first semester of "design" school in college didn't use the computer at all. Ultimately, "design" is theoretical and those concepts should be learned before applying them to the tools of the trade. We drafted typefaces with ink and tracing paper in order to understand the structures of fonts. I think this is something that is lost in a world that is increasingly focused solely on just getting a job and as a result, the quality of work suffers. School is about learning the basics and this is something I think should be taught.
Secondly, on a similar topic of teaching core subject matter, I also think that art history is lacking in schools today. This is basic knowledge that is applicable not only to artists, but to the world in general and should be more than just glossed over.
I haven't quite gotten to specific questions yet, but these are some topic ideas that I have been tossing around in my head.
Hi Tammy, I am reminded of an interview on NPR about Steve Jobs where he talked about working at a printing press or print shop after he dropped out of college, where they did everything by hand and this is where he developed the love of print and what would develop into the design of fonts. Like in the Waldorf philosophy, they don't use computers in the classroom. They want the students to know how to build a computer and to know the inner workings of the technology. And Photoshop is just a tool after all. In itself it can't teach design, composition, the fine and subtle nuances of art making. It's a tool. I also agree that Art History is so important as it provides a broad understanding of the arts in the context of the amazing and diverse world in which we live. Your two strong and valid interests will help guide you to the questions you seek to explore and research... jot some down!
ReplyDeleteTammy I feel your sense of difficulty as I am also having problems narrowing down my ideas. The design avenue sounds like a perfect fit for you. I know you are already well versed in design, but the summer course at UF, Design Thinking, was able to share with us how we are all designers of a sort because we are designing solutions to problems. It was a great course. Maybe you could use some of the ideologies from that course in your research. If your interested, and you haven't already read it, the book we used was Glimmer by Warren Berger. Good luck with your research!
ReplyDeleteTammy- this post nicely outlines "things I'm interested in thinking more about." Coming to a research question will mean your focus will shift to "what do I want to know?"
ReplyDeleteTammy I must stand up and applaud you! SEVERAL of my first undergraduate design classes were done without the use of computers. Your post calls to mind one particular professor who stressed the idea that design should NOT be done on the computer. We should work it out on paper what we wish to portray, and THEN find the way to make it happen digitally. I admired this professor greatly; his wisdom is still with me today, 12 years later! You are so correct about the need to learn the basics (and learn them well), it is the very reason I decided to teach elementary aged children. I felt that by teaching them the basics well, they will have the foundation they need to sustain any efforts they choose.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful research interest and I hope you pursue it' I would be very interested in reading what you have discovered. Best of luck to you.