Comments on: EdenSpiekermann & Design Students

By: Youssef Sarhan

Youssef Sarhan — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:05:14 +0000

Séan, you’re right that colleges do try to focus more on creativity or creative intent but it needs balance. Being able to work without being afraid to experiment at the same time being aware of standards and restrictions is hugely important. Neglecting the nitty-gritty parts of design in colleges can be misleading. Sometimes it isn’t always the best idea to focus solely on concepts while ignoring it’s implementation or quality of production, all of which goes hand in hand with design. The craft as well as the concept. I love that college is a really exciting place to work but at times it would be nice if people spoke their mind more often rather than skirting the issues. Some critical dialog that deals with the work. This is just an occasional problem and isn’t as chronic as perhaps I am making it out to be, but when it happens it’s not good.

Thanks for the response and it’s good hearing from you Séan.

By: Seán Mongey

Seán Mongey — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:50:05 +0000

Interesting piece. It’s great to get some real life experience under you belt while your still at college, it’ll be a huge advantage when you go back. While it is great that you where learning some of the nitty gritty elements of information design and typography I can’t imagine NCAD every teaching that. I used to rant about similar things when I did my placements but in the long run I realised that fundamental things like typography and more ‘real world’ design are sacrificed in college for the sake of trying to teach students how to thing creatively rather than how to be technically proficient. The advantage in your position is that you’ve got a taste before you’ve finished college so by the time you finish you’ll be really clued in.

I discovered Jost Hochuli and the publications of Hyphen Press while still in college and they changed my perception of design. I’d recommend you look them up if you don’t already know them…

Chat soon, great to hear how you are getting on.

By: Rodrigo Galindez

Rodrigo Galindez — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:44:32 +0000

Really nice! Thanks for sharing.

By: Anika

Anika — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:31:45 +0000

Ah I thought you already flew back to Ireland for a long weekend or something!

Hope you feel better :)

By: Edo

Edo — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:39:16 +0000

Hey Youssef,
Thanks for the nice words about our company and our people! I couldn’t agree more;-)
Tot gauw!

By: Anika

Anika — Thu, 14 May 2009 11:49:43 +0000

So you just started working and are already taking time off?! Nice ;) We were already wondering where you went. Good thing I googled you at the same time I googled St patricks day.

Too bad i can’t see the charts properly btw but it looks good.

Oh, and almost no one uses the word ‘vaarwel’ :P