Student Number 1 This first students work had good potential, signs of emerging talent for sure. His manner of communication was somewhat lacking but understandable. His enthusiasm for what he did and what he wanted to do and learn was nothing short of contagious.
His work was above the norm although a bit predictable at times in terms of style. But I can tell he has the raw skill needed to survive and eventually thrive, he just needs to refine his craft and process. Turns out he's also from Salem so I told him if he ever needs feedback I'd be more then willing to help him out.
Student Number 2 This student was borderline marginal at best. On par with a Kinko's quality design service. His work had a somewhat amateurish flair and made me nervous about his future success. I do feel he can improve but he's a long way from even being a junior designer, more on par with grunt production artist as it stands now.
The common denominator with all his work was the obvious tool-driven design solutions. His concepts were at best half-baked and the execution and attention to detail in his work was pretty weak.
Student Number 3 The third student was absolutely craptacular! I was at a lost as to how to give him any form of positive feedback what so ever. Usually I can find something but in this case it was trying to find the lips on a chicken, they just aren't there. Frankly he should not even be considering this industry as a career. I know that sounds harsh but unfortunately it's an honest and accurate assessment based on his work.
On the review form I filled out I basically told him as much. AIGA told us to be brutally honest with these students so I was. I tried to be as friendly as possible but it's hard to come off that way when everything about the persons work is nothing short of crap. He just doesn't have it.
His work is a testimony to knowing tools of our trade but having zero creative skills to utilize them effectively. He is what I'd consider a 'Hack'. 15 yrs ago he would have never pursued this career because the level of craft needed to even enter into it demanded you could do a certain level of creative work. Well the cheap PC has removed that industry speed bump and we have all sorts of educated tool savy designers flooding the industry who 15 yrs ago would be flipping burgers instead.
I must admit I felt a little guilty writing the review only because I didn't like knowing that my opinion was going to hurt him. I don't like knowing my words will cause him pain. It's this part of doing these reviews that I really don't like. I understand it's necessary but it's certainly not fun.
Student Number 4 At least the fourth student made up for the past two books I had to let assault my eyes. I must say first off that this girls presense is very professional but at the same time approachable and friendly. She is the best designer I've personally seen come out of a local school in four years. Great design but more importantly great concepts behind the design. She is a 'Good Thinker' and thus a good designer. She has a good grasp of how things work and to top it off she is just a good communicator. She is going to go far. Reviewing her work was a true joy, I did have some good feedback about a handful of pieces and how she could improve and strengthen her book but I didn't have to address any of the basics her fundamentals were iron clad and dialed in with precision.
Some firm is going to nab her and be a better place for it.
So How Does This Happen?
You have two students one whose work is on par with a polished turd and another whose work is anything but student in quality? Both have the same tools, both had the same opportunity, both have the same parameters to work by in this industry yet one is good and the other bad. I am not talking personal taste, what I like is what I like and what you like is what you like. This wasn't a vague dislike anymore then it was a vague appeal I had for the other designer. This was an absolute situation and the proof was the work.
Schools do a good job of teaching students how to use the tools. What are the proper techniques and methods used to create the design. But the one thing that seperates the good from the bad seems to be the one area art schools lack in and that is 'Concepts' the art of thinking creatively. How do you teach a student to be creative? How do you teach them to be good thinkers? Can you even? Will our PC society allow us to call a spade a spade anymore as far as talent and skill goes? Can a design teacher just tell a student at some point "Look you need to give it up and find a new career because you are simply not good enough." Allowing these people to further self-deceive themselves into thinking they are legit designers is not only dishonest to them but it hurts our industry as a whole.
I am sure some will take offense at these comments? I know I probably haven't adequately relayed my feelings very well in this regard but I think most designers will understand what I am trying to say? Life is too short for bad design. I always come back to the same thing when I think about design in the larger sense. Creation itself is the ultimate example of good design, you don't find bad design in the animal kingdom. You might find strange beasts but thier purpose puts their seemingly bizarre design into context.
I am not pretending to have any sure fire answers but maybe teachers need to head off these type of portfolios in mid-stream before they waste their time and money pursuing a career that their tool-driven designs cannot help them succeed in?
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