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FEATURED CONTRIBUTORSGraphic Design
Graphic designer Lucy Brown spent three months working under the tutelage of visionary typographer, graphic designer and design educator Oded Ezer. Ezer blurs the line between design and art, exploring the anatomy of letters through an almost scientific approach. Over a series of installments Lucy reveals to us how “the many lessons he taught me are invaluable, and will stay with me for the rest of my career.”
When I arrive at Oded's he tells me what he considers to be the best thing about Israel. As a nation they are innovators. They have a desire to move on, to progress and not be complacent. He explains that I should capture that spirit and take it on with me. Maybe this is why Oded's work is innovative, because he grew up in Ramat Gan and has seen the people progress the area before his eyes. Yes, I have graduated and have a good degree in graphic design and 5 years of work experience but I am nowhere near ‘finished’... I realise I should keep that mentality for the rest of my life.
Day 12 Thursday 17/09/09 A day off, and some much needed sleep. While lying in bed in the morning I realised that any piece of work needs an element that the audience is intrigued and engaged with. Something is only interesting when it is new to you, or if you have seen it before but you are invited to see it differently. When things become regular, they quickly become stale, mundane and banal.
In the afternoon I cut out some coloured letters to make up Henry David Thoreau's words, "Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth." Oded has asked to make another stop-motion animation with them over the weekend.
I'm currently on the train to Adit's. Her family has invited me for the Jewish New Year holiday Thursday to Sunday. This will involve four days of eating, sleeping, and not using any electricity.
Day 16 Monday 21/09/09 Share pieces of work with Oded. Both excited about colour. Begin to talk fossils and paleontology.
Day 17 Tuesday 22/09/09 Mostly image research today of fossils and paleontologists and non-banal art. Over lunch Oded and I discuss my future plans. I have no desire to follow the crowd of the city and be a slave for 50 years. He tells me that if I truly know myself, it turns that you will do a good work and succeed. There are different times for prioritising different seasons - work/play, a relationship, a family, and a home.
He explains how he trys to be honest with his clients. If he stops enjoying what he does, there is a problem. He advises me to always ask for a percentage of the payment in advance before commencing work on a job. This is a signed agreement with the client that they respect the preliminary work up until a certain point as equal worth to that of a finished product. This makes sense to me; time and creativity should be respected not abused. He explains how there is always the danger of loosing a client, or not being paid the full amount. In his opinion, if he is not happy, this is down to a problem with a client, which therefore affects his family life. Oded would rather his son, Adar, have a rich relationship with his father, than ever feel secondary to his work pressures. We discuss getting out of the city, setting up as cheaply as possible, on my own, and doing what I love.
Read Lucy's first entry here, and stay tuned for the next installament of Lucy's Design Diary next week. In the meantime, check out Lucy Brown Studio on jotta and her personal website.
