Last weeks winner is Pattie of The Joy of Nesting! Congratulations! You have won one of one of Lynn's resin pewter Faux-tiques! Send Lynn an email and she will get it right out to you.
Welcome to the studio of Cindy Gimbrone and Studio Saturday!
I've been thinking alot about design lately. I'm seemingly all over the place what with the new bronze Art Nouveau style pieces, Stile Floreal
and then I seemingly create something completely different with my Twilight Inspired Necklaces.
I've always been eclectic in my style and approaches. In high school, I was voted most versatile. So when you go to my site, you'll see eclectic, but what explains how I create and design those pieces? What is my design style and philosophy?
I don't sketch out designs often, I never sketch a necklace before I create one. I need to have materials laid out on the table to pick and choose. My process doesn't feel haphazard to me, but to someone else, it may. So I'd like to be able to describe it better. I decided to do a little research.
Design as defined in Wikipedia is "art with a clearly defined purpose" and "implies a conscious effort to create something that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing."
Ok, I can see that - when I'm designing beads or jewelry, my goal is to make something that functions as adornment and is aesthetically pleasing. But it doesn't really describe how I don't regularly draw designs and pre-plan.
I read further in the Wikipedia entry and found this:
Mark Getlein suggests the principles of design are "almost instinctive", "built-in", "natural", and part of "our sense of 'rightness'."
That's it!
When I'm designing jewelry, I act on my intuition and what feels right.
I'm an intuitive designer.
So, dear readers, today's question is What kind of designer are you? Intuitive or more methodical? Do you sketch out designs or do you go with what feels right?
Please leave a comment and win one of my Stile Floreal Tulip charms!
I look forward to reading what you have to say!
34 comments:
First congrats to Pattie. She will love this!
This is an interesting questions, one I even think about from time to time. I usually put myself in the methodical class, especially when making components for others to use. It has to work right as well as being pleasing. But the actual process of getting the design out is much more intuitive. I add, subtract until a piece feels right. Then it goes into the more methodical part of 'production.'
I'm definitely an intuitive designer. Can't think of the last time I drew a design. I'm predominately a bead embroiderer, but enjoy a variety of styles.
Arline
I'm mostly intuitive, but every now and then I need to sketch something out.
Love the new bronze Art Nouveau style pieces - one of my favorite styles!
Thank you for sharing this! I'm intuitive also - nice to have a "title". I may plan something in my head, but it's not until I see, touch and feel my materials that I know what I want to do with them. i "intuit" what they want me to do with them.
I have done both, but I think my intuitive designs are better. In my sketches, I can invent beads and items that I need, but sometimes I can't find those items in real life. Having to work with items that I have already have forces me to be more intuitive--and creative.
Mostly I am intuitive, but there are times when an idea comes to mind when I am not with my beads. That's when sketches can come in handy.
-Suzann Sladcik Wilson
I'm more of an intuitive designer however as of late I've been sketching here and there. Usually the finished piece doesn't even end up looking like the sketch. Although my metalsmithing pieces usually resemble my sketches but that's because I can't be as flexible in changing them midway as I can with beading.
As much as I was pressed to sketch when in school, now when ai make thinks I just jump in and do it. Totally intuitive. And it has to feel right as well as look right. My daughter is so funny, this morning as I unloaded charms from the kiln, she was taking them and rubbing the backs of the charms she like against her neck. She took the ones that not only did she like the image, but that felt good on her skin, so design has to be more than just visual
Pam
I'm definitely intuitive. Very rarely do I plan a project and if I do, it is only the beginning and I just take off from there.
Hi Cindy,
I'm an instinctive/intuitive designer -- I never draw out my ideas. However, If I have created a design I like, I might repeat it with different beads or colors, so that is more thought out. I'd love to win your bronze pendant!
Emanda
www.ArtemisiaStudio.Etsy.com
I do all kinds of design sketches and them pretty much ignore them. So I attempt to be methodical and end up intuitive. :)
Good question Cindy! I think that I am much more intuitive...I "talk" to the beads and let then tell me where they want to go...but I do sometimes sketch..like the bee piece I am concocting...because by the time I find or purchase all the materials that I want to use, I might forget how I want to use them! I wish I were better at sketching, because sometimes it just looks like funny blogs... Thanks for the great inspiration today! Enjoy the day! Erin
As a graphic designer I will sketch an outline of the form and sometimess the colours. From then on the components that select me dictate the final project so I am both, with intuitive usually winning
I feel like I'm a bit of a combo...I will sketch out ideas when they pop into my head, but they are VERY rough ideas (especially since drawing is NOT my strong suit...). So, I start with a very rough idea of what I want, and the rest comes together as I pull things out and take a look to see what works with the idea I have in mind.
Yippppeeeee I WON!!!!!!! I LOVE everything that comes out of Lynn's or so creative soul!!!!
I'm most definitely intuitive, I always have been and not just with my art!! :)
Pattie ;)
Mazatlan Mx.
Though I have sketched a few designs, most of my jewelry is created intuitively. I might put something together and then take it all apart because it just doesn't feel right. Lately, there have been too many times that the beads just get put back away for this reason. Sometimes that can be somewhat of a curse, but the good thing is that I am always glad I kept with it until it was just right.
Your charms and jewelry are just beautiful!
Cindy,what a really neat bead.My daughter wants one,says it's in tune with the vampire shows on now,so don't be surprised.If I made beads,it'd definitely be intuitive.My whole life has been lived that way,it's not likely to change styles for a bead.
I love the styles you are trying out now,so anyway,I guess you'll be seeing some money from me,because I love my daughter,too.
I'm definitely more intuitive- sometimes I'll draw things out before hand, or do sketches of ideas, but I never know if my ideas will actually work until I sit down with my materials, so I don't worry too much about sticking to my plans. I think it's best to be flexible- sometimes I'll start out with a very clear idea of what I want to make, and then over the course of making it, I'll end up with something completely different.
Intuitive and not very good.
I'm generally intuitive when I sit down to make jewelry - only rarely do I do anything that is pre-planned, and usually that's just because I've gotten a great idea in the shower or in the middle of the night. I've probably sketched out... oh, maybe three ideas that I've ever had? :P Definitely not many, although I think that in the future, sketching in order to further develop a design could be a productive habit for me to acquire. The main reason for this is because one of my flaws in designing intuitively is that just because things "come together" doesn't mean they always work. I've had ideas I've loved as they developed that just haven't been executed as smoothly.
I am definitly an intutive designer. Colors and shapes of beads speak to me. Now that I have been doing Lampwork for a while. Those focals will guide me on the colors or design that will work best for the piece from simple to elaborate.
Cindy,
Your bronze piece is wonderful. It's unique, interesting, and the dimension you bring to it stimulates the designer in me. I never sketch out designs. I buy beads and unique pieces that catch my eye either because of color or the design itself. Then, I look at beads and findings that I have accumulated already to see what works together and go from there. The design creates itself on my desk in my studio. My pieces are all unique, I never duplicate any piece. So, yes, I agree that design is within youself, and not everyone is fortunate enough to hear it speak. I'm an interior designer, have done floral design and enjoy jewelry design....design is design, it's within your soul, a part of you, it cannot be learned, it has to come from within.
' love your work, continued success to you.
Chris
This is a great question. I am definately an intuitive designer. I have tried to sit down and sketch something to make it happen but what works best for me is to just sit down and play with my beads. It is just amazing to see something just happen as I play. I have a bag full of rejects but for each group I have a great finished piece that came out of the playing.
Thanks for commenting, Summer Studio :-)
Sounds as if your design process is intuitive but your philosophy for your designs is the function for the end user because you have specific criteria you're looking at for the end design.
My designs are creative intuitively, rarely drawn but they are protyped where I wear them and see if the design is durable and wearable. I'm concerned about the end user or buyer of the jewelry. Functional use is important to you like it is to me.
Thanks for the feedback!
Cindy
Hi Arline,
Thanks for weighing in on this question - love to hear from all kinds of beaders!
Cindy
Hiya Dawno!
Glad you like the Art Nouveau style pendants and charms!
Thanks for sharing your intuition! :-)
Cindy
When it's slow at my desk I dream of beads and sketch, but when those beautiful supplies are in front of me, I just start playing and changing things here and there until i'm happy with it. Sometimes I amaze myself. Other times I have to come back to the piece later. Cindy your pendants are fab and that Twilight Romance necklace is very Edward & Bella. Best regards, Mel
Hi Terry,
Yes, it's always nice to have some awareness and way to explain what you're doing - especially if you blog and write a Studio Saturday post! ha ha! Along with that, though, it's just helps you understand who you are.
I think there are quite a few of us who are intuitive designers. I'm among great company here!
Intuitively yours :-)
Cindy
Hi Michelle,
Ah! There's the rub, huh? You can invent beads that don't exist. That's in part why I became a beadmaker, I had designed beads in my head and couldn't find them so I was forced to get over my fear of the fire and make my own! ha ha!
If you could find or make those beads you invented, would you draw your designs more or about the same?
Curiosly yours,
Cindy
Hi Suzann,
Very true about the notebook coming in handy when a design pops into your head and you're not at your workbench. I carry a small notebook for the same reason. I'm mostly an intuitive designer but there are times I do plan - especially bead styles.
Reflectively yours,
Cindy
Hi Diana,
I agree that it's easier to change a bead stringing design mid way through than a metalsmith design or a bead design (which is what I usually use the notebook for).
Understanding your design style allows you to know which "tool" to use when.
Agreeably yours,
Cindy
Hi Pam,
I'm with your daughter! Once I prototype a design, I wear it for awhile because if it doesn't lay right, or if I feel any rough spots on my skin, I tweek the design. It's got to lay and feel right for the customer.
You've made a very good point about design is about alot of things and not just the composition.
Tactilely yours, ;-)
Cindy
Ooh! I'm excited I won this!
To answer your question, Cindy, I would still keep drawing if I knew I could get those imaginary beads. In fact, I bet I would draw even more!
Here's a photo of the bookmark I made with Cindy's pendant. So much fun! Thanks for the inspiration!
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