welcome to design explained
design explained is a unique place where graphic designers can come together with artists, doctors, lawyers, businesspeople, food service technicians, executives, stay at home parents, students, sports fans, architects, pilots, taxi drivers, janitors, bartenders, middle managers, lobsters, and anybody else who falls under the massive blanket of “non-designers.” As graphic designers, we realize we are in the minority on this planet, but we like to think we have something worth sharing with everybody. This is, of course, our love of design. As a result of our education, we have been conditioned to look past the surface of everything we see; partially because we are looking for deeper meaning, but also because it is in our nature to deconstruct things.
This is how we operate on a day-to-day basis. We deconstruct, break down and reduce things to their most basic parts to assign and find meaning, and then we reconstruct new things around this found meaning. It’s quite the experience, really. It gives us a unique perspective on the world around us, and it’s one that we feel everybody should have the opportunity to experience. This is where design explained comes in.
what is design explained?
It is simultaneously a resource and a community, which both exist with the intent of making our little world more accessible to everybody else. It is my wish that more people could understand and appreciate what it is that graphic designers do, and my goal with design explained is to make that a reality. I want DE to be a forum for people to share pieces of design with each other, to give short and easy to understand tutorials on design method and/or theory, to share experiences relating to design (on both sides of the fence), and create opportunities for discussion about design in every day life, et cetera.
I honestly feel that the possibilities are numerous, probably even beyond what I have envisioned thus far. However, DE is one thing if nothing else; a chance to bridge the gap between us.
how do i get involved?
Participation and involvement are simple. Start leaving comments on articles. Engage in discussion with one another. Did you find something interesting that would be worthy of being in the center of attention? Submit it for posting! Want to be a regular contributor? Or even a semi-regular contributor? Get ahold of me and I’ll get you set up with an account.
I can’t stress enough that there is no need to be shy. I think everybody has something worthwhile to contribute, even if they may not necessarily be an expert. A different perspective is almost always an interesting one. So get in there, make comments on articles, engage in discussions, author new posts or submit interesting finds. DE thrives and relies upon you.