Week 1 — Assignment “Influences”
Discuss + Studio due Sunday (end-of-day). Comments on other people’s posts due Tuesday.
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Discuss: Listen to the 2019 podcast episode— Scratching the Surface. Interview with graphic designer, Jerome Harris.
Write your responses as a comment to this post (200 word minimum).
Use this word counter tool wordcounter.net to check how many words you have written. It should be 200.
1. How does Jerome Harris differentiate between the work of graphic designer versus a production designer?
2. What is the “machine” Harris describes and why is it important that designers learn to work that way?
3. On a personal note, what inspired you about Harris’ design work and life story?
Reply to at least two other people’s posts below on classblog. Due Tuesday. Everyone’s comments will be made visible Monday morning.
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Studio: Create a single image “self page” of your influences—a visual composition of element(s) that inspire/describe you. Use the dimensions (letter) 8.5 x 11 in. Respond visually to these questions:
1. Who are your influences?
2. What are your sources of inspiration?
3. What archives or collections interest you?
Upload the “self page” visual as a PDF — to your individual folder in our class drive folder. Provide a link to your project in your discussion post below.
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Links:
Jerome Harris
As, Not For
Buddy Esquire
[from Jarrett Fuller, the Scratching the Surface podcast host]—
“Jerome Harris is a designer, educator, and curator. He’s currently the design director of Housing Works and recently taught at MICA and curated the show As, Not For, a survey of African American graphic design. In this episode, Jerome and Jarrett talk about his background as a flyer designer and dancer, how thinking about design history changed his own approach, and why we need to include as wide a range of work as possible when teaching design.”
1. Jerome Harris explains the work of a production designer as redesigning things on the internet and the work of a graphic designer as conceptual thinking used to put thoughts into a design.
2. Jerome Harris taught a class called “GD for Mike,” in this class, students would learn how to systematically make a machine and pump content through it. Harris thought it was important to be generative, to produce many ideas in order to have many options to choose from. At the end of the class, the machine was put to work and students were able to problem-solve and figure out what worked and what didn’t. I think this is a super important lesson for designers. Designers learn to create lots of content, and if one idea fails they will know how to fix it or they will have other content to fall back on.
3. As someone who grew up in the dance world I have always had an eye for the arts, I found it super interesting how Harris used his dance background and incorporated it into his design work. This makes me think of using dance movements to inspire strokes on a page. Harris also talks about how choreographing a piece and composing a piece are quite similar.
Hi Victoria! I also agree that it’s pretty admirable how Harris used his dance background and added it to his design work! I think it’s interesting that Harris was able to do so both dance and design and be pretty successful in both.
Hello Victoria!
I enjoyed hearing about his different interests under the scope of the arts! I would’ve of never heard of the story of a destined graphic designer from being a dancer/choreographer!
Week 1- Influences
Jerome Harris differentiates between the work of a graphic designer and a production designer as a graphic designer being freer to create, and to use their own voice in their piece, while a production designer makes something for a large scale company that gets rid of the artist’s voice entirely, leaving a product.
The “machine” that Harris describes is actually the mind, and the reason it’s said to be important is because of how someone can think critically, while creating complex, conceptual work that not only expands the artists understanding of their own process and signature but also pushes the viewer to try to look further than just the visual appearance of the work but to also take into consideration its history, creator, and other context.
Personally, Harris’s design work and life story inspired me because of how he came to working on graphic design. I think in the current social set up of America it’s heavily pushed that everyone should know what they want to do from a young age, and that’s just not reasonable. I find it really reassuring that Jerome Harris only had a vague idea, and even got rejected from a school, for something he would end up doing full time and being successful at. His natural, slow ascent to his dream job through the print shop, and then to school is something that makes my own path feel much more reachable.
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Hi Lucio I really enjoyed reading your comment especially the way you wrote to questions 2 & 3 was really nice to read! I love the fact that you brought up in your 3rd comment how Harris didn’t know what he really wanted to do. But his rejection in art became what he does for a full time career. I agree that hearing someone’s story that is very relatable on how he got to where he is really makes me reflect that I could also do what I really want to do.
Hey Lucio, I totally agree with your definition of the “machine”. I can defintely see why Harris’s students struggled when trying to make their “machine”. It takes a lot of time and energy to think critically about your work to expand one’s process. I also agree with Harris’s sucess story being inspiring. It’s really scary to think about one’s future career after college but Harris’s journey helps put my future into perspective. Things take time to figure out and one day all will manifest into one’s life.
Hi Lucio!
I also find it comforting that Harris only had a vague idea of what his life would look like. The pressure to know exactly how your life and career will turn out is quite daunting. It is nice to hear a story where someone has a slow path to a happy, fulfilled life.
Hey Lucio, I agree with your last point a lot. I find it really inspiring too to hear an artist like Harris talk about feeling lost in life, and being rejected from the same kind of institutions he would later be teaching at! I hope anyone our age can hold the same kind of grace for themselves that Harris shows, and be privileged enough to have the time to explore their interests at their own pace.
Hey Lucio, I really agree with your response on how Harris’ work inspires you. His story and journey also inspired me as he never stopped believing in himself now did he bend to the stereotypes of this generation.
1. Jerome Harris differentiates between the work of graphic design versus a production designer by explaining that when you do production, that is for someone like a production company or developer. Jerome explains production work as taking things that already exist from the internet and reworking it, preparing it to be finished by said developer or production whereas a Graphic designer is preparing something from scratch on a blank canvas of sorts whether that’s HTML or Photoshop for example, that is conceptual, and generative.
2. The “Machine” described by Jerome refers to a logical way of breaking down thinking in terms of Graphic Design. Jerome explains a way of thinking like making a machine, using your content as pieces to assemble conceptually, in a way that makes sense.
3. What inspired me about Jerome Harris’ story was how human it was. What I mean by this is that Jerome did not go into his field thinking “this is what I am going to do for sure,” but instead rather took many roads that lead to shaping his success. I am someone who is very passionate and enjoys taking on as many creative ways to express myself or create as possible, branching into areas like Dance and Piano as well. Hearing that Jerome was also just someone trying to figure out where his passions tied into his life and supporting himself is comforting.
Hi Jackson!
I completely agree with your point about how human Jerome’s story was. I also really enjoyed how he described the different paths he took- from doing track and field to becoming a professional dancer, and eventually merging all his passions into his career as a graphic designer. I love when people, especially artists, talk about how diverse our paths can be and how possible it is to combine all the things we love, instead of feeling like we have to stick to just one thing.
Harris’ story is very human, I agree. Old dreams can dissapate or resurface. With a lot of us creatives, we have many ambitions because there’s so many avenues of expression, so it’s difficult to just settle on one. Though you may excel at one or two, many disciplines overlap, leading to many possibilities.
Hi Jackson, your responses are really insightful. I really love how you connect with Harris through his many different artistic methods, from dance to graphic design. I also found his rather broad casting net to be really inspirational.
https://uncg-my.sharepoint.com/:i:/g/personal/r_riley_uncg_edu/EcfSwgvd1mZJr7ZE3f1n5FUB2yZdavzMAaUHI8XRPMI_Vg?e=DVb1LP
Link to my image 🙂
How Jerome differentiates between a graphic designer and a production designer is for him a graphic designer is original. Graphic designers produce their own ideas from scratch while a production artist takes someone else’s idea, reworks it, and edits it. But to Harris this is not true graphic design as the artist is not learning the ways of design.
The machine Harris is describing is how he teaches his class of designers to think conceptually and systematically. Looking forward to the end result, which would be the work the designers would produce. This allows the designer to think about building and assembling this “machine.” It makes the designer think more conceptually and push their ideas further. This leads to more work being produced by the designer and becoming this “machine” allows them to rethink and edit their work to be stronger.
What inspired me about Harris’ design work and his story of how relatable it is and how strong his work really is. Throughout the interview he discussed feeling different from his professors and his classmates. Whether it was the way he thought or his creative concepts. But still throughout his career he has stayed true to what he believes and creates. His rough start with working paycheck to paycheck in New York, then trying to pursue a career in dance, and then eventually realizing he can work in graphic design is relatable and inspiring. I personally relate to his feeling of not belonging in the fine art space for certain classes. And not wanting to work a job I do not want and wanting to achieve what I really want to do in life.
His work highlighting and showcasing the work of other Black artists is inspiring to see that support. Throughout all of this he is still doing art and dance, which is something I want to do and find inspiration from Harris to know I can if he could.
Hi Sarah!
I also found Harris’ story quite relatable, often, I feel my work is different from classmates and professors. Additionally, I want to have a career in which I am truly happy. It’s very inspirational to see how Harris struggled but eventually made a life for himself where he was fulfilled.
Hi Sarah, your response is very well thought out. You write very eloquently, especially in your description of the machine. The way you explain the assembly of the “machine” is very well written. I interpreted his description of the “machine” slightly differently, and I find it fascinating to see how others learn and interpret what’s said differently from myself.
Hi Sarah! I also found the story quite relatable. His work really shows not that he’s just good at the craft, but that he enjoys it and is able to put all of his passion into it. I definitely can relate to filling out of place most times, especially when I feel less familiar with programs than other people around me; however, I definitely think it’s that that draws most of us together than we think, in the sense that we have in common, but don’t know.
How Jerome differentiates between a graphic designer and a production designer is for him a graphic designer is original. Graphic designers produce their own ideas from scratch while a production artist takes someone else’s idea, reworks it, and edits it. But to Harris this is not true graphic design as the artist is not learning the ways of design.
The machine Harris is describing is how he teaches his class of designers to think conceptually and systematically. Looking forward to the end result, which would be the work the designers would produce. This allows the designer to think about building and assembling this “machine.” It makes the designer think more conceptually and push their ideas further. This leads to more work being produced by the designer and becoming this “machine” allows them to rethink and edit their work to be stronger.
What inspired me about Harris’ design work and his story of how relatable it is and how strong his work really is. Throughout the interview he discussed feeling different from his professors and his classmates. Whether it was the way he thought or his creative concepts. But still throughout his career he has stayed true to what he believes and creates. His rough start with working paycheck to paycheck in New York, then trying to pursue a career in dance, and then eventually realizing he can work in graphic design is relatable and inspiring. I personally relate to his feeling of not belonging in the fine art space for certain classes. And not wanting to work a job I do not want and wanting to achieve what I really want to do in life.
His work highlighting and showcasing the work of other Black artists is inspiring to see that support. Throughout all of this he is still doing art and dance, which is something I want to do and find inspiration from Harris to know I can if he could.
https://uncg-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/r/personal/r_riley_uncg_edu/Documents/_Rachele%20Riley/teaching/S25/ART%20341%E2%80%9302/Sarah%20Hines/week%201/Sarah%20Hines%20Week%201%20Self%20Image.pdf?csf=1&web=1&e=xxYRLI
Your self page is so eye catching, I enjoy the rgb textures. I think it’s cool that you found a story that personally resonates with you and inspires you.
I also thought it’s really inspiring to hear about how Harris continued to make art the way he wanted to even if it was totally unconventional and got a lot of push back from his teachers. and I think it’s really cool that he uplifts other black artists not just in his work but also in his classes.
Hey Sarah. I really enjoyed seeing your design. It really captivates what you like, and it looks like a poster that you would see in the city. Great work.
1. Jerome Harris differentiates a graphic designer from a production designer by emphasizing the level of creative decision-making involved. A graphic designer is responsible for conceptualizing and developing visual communication, making design choices related to typography, layout, and messaging. A production designer focuses more on executing and refining those ideas within an existing framework, ensuring consistency and technical accuracy. The production designer’s role is often about applying established design systems rather than creating new ones.
2. The “machine” Harris describes refers to the structured processes, systems, and industry expectations that govern professional design work. He shows the importance of designers learning to work within these frameworks because understanding the “machine” allows them to navigate, critique, and ultimately reshape it. By mastering industry conventions, designers can push boundaries while still functioning effectively within professional environments.
3. His story inspired me to find my voice in graphic design. Through design, I can share my stories and culture while also influencing how people see things. It’s not just about making things look good, it’s about communicating ideas and changing perspectives. His journey showed me that design can be a powerful tool for storytelling and making an impact.
Hi Tre!
I agree about the differences between graphic designer and production designer. I didn’t think of the “machine” as being specifically related to industry expectations, but I totally agree! And I agree that design is all about communicating ideas and changing perspectives. It can have much more of an impact than people think!
Hi Tre!
I agree with your observation about industry standards and learning to work with them. I also liked your statement about graphic design. Most of the time, I feel like people don’t really think about the storytelling part of design. I thought your self-page was really nice, too! I like the asymmetrical balance.
1. How does Jerome Harris differentiate between the work of graphic designer versus a production designer?
The production design work he referred to (with the students he was working with doing more production style work vs graphic design) was being able to find and replicate an already made design with your own spin on it while being a graphic designer was using the machine he referenced and generating a lot of your own completely new designs from scratch. So where the work differentiates is from the goals and ideas/reasoning behind what they are designing.
2. What is the “machine” Harris describes and why is it important that designers learn to work that way?
The machine is essentially our own minds and abilities according to Harris. As he explains it in the podcast we need to be able to work the machine and generate conceptual ideas. Or how he put it “Think systematically, make a machine and then pump your content through it…” With that being its being able to do a lot of designs, edit a lot of those designs, revamp them (all being components of the machine), and then put the machine to work and do finalized work.
3. On a personal note, what inspired you about Harris’ design work and life story?
A lot of inspiration I got from Harris’ work was to just go all out and do what you truly enjoy no matter what. He did quite a few different jobs and career paths throughout the beginning of his journey but he then eventually found some genuine graphic design jobs, despite all of the negativity and the struggles that he went through. In the end he got to where he got because he did not give up and just kept giving it his all.
Hello Jon! I enjoyed reading your response. I definitely agree that Jerome Harris worked hard through multiple jobs to get to where he wanted to be. Despite his struggles, he never gave up and I think that’s very important to note.
Link to project
https://uncg-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/r/personal/r_riley_uncg_edu/Documents/_Rachele%20Riley/teaching/S25/ART%20341%E2%80%9301/Jon%20Johnson/Week%201/Inspiration.pdf?csf=1&web=1&e=1r5feG
Hey Jon!
Coming from being told that the arts weren’t a stable career path but more of a dream or hobby, it was very interesting and refreshing to hear such a down-to-earth story about many paths taken!
1. Jerome Harris differentiates between the work of graphic designer versus a production designer by defining a graphic designer as someone who essentially brings in their cultural experience/life experiences into their work and incorporates the things that matter to them within that work. This is something that makes each person’s work unique rather than a copy and paste (acceptable) way of design that is approved by corporations that Jerome defines as production design. Jerome talks about how the difference between these two types of designers is that production designers don’t know how to think or use their creative minds to come up with something new and instead results in a default way of designing stuff whereas with graphic designers he believes that these people are pushing boundaries and coming up with new ideas.
2. The “machine” that Harris describes is a combination of conceptual thinking with system development. He talks about thinking systematically and using that system as a “machine” to pump your ideas through it to create your work. It is important that designers learn to work this way because it allows for a variety of work to be done and for a lot more options to choose from so that you can see what really works and looks good, or what doesn’t.
3. On a personal note, the things that inspired me about Harris’ design work and life story is how he knew that the things he was making even back in college at Yale and prior was graphic design even if his teachers claimed it not to be. He didn’t let this stop him from doing the work that he wanted to do and making it how he wanted it to look. I think that this is a huge testament to his character and the kind of person he is. I love the way that his unique style was developed along the way without him really even knowing.
Hey Hayden, I also think it’s really cool how Harris was able to develop his own style naturally without a lot of intention to “find” a style. Sometimes, even though I trust professors to have student’s best interests in mind, what a developing artist needs isn’t always a clear arrow saying “do this!”. But rather the freedom to explore themselves and their work, and the tools to do that effectively, I think.
Hey Hayden!
I enjoyed your explanation of Jerome’s “machine”, I believe because of how vague it was for me to understand or pay attention to what Jerome was entailing, I didn’t quite see the big picture of his “machine.” But your explanation makes it even clearer!
Link to my project:
https://uncgmy.sharepoint.com/:b:/r/personal/r_riley_uncg_edu/Documents/_Rachele%20Riley/teaching/S25/ART%20341%E2%80%9302/Hayden%20Swoap/Week%201/Week1_Self-Page_Influences.pdf?csf=1&web=1&e=bXcwb2
Harris talks about how being a graphic designer requires thinking. One of the problems he had with professors was that they were teaching students how to be a production designer. His students were only tasked with replicating and copying from well-known graphic designers. He goes on to say that “…what I’m not doing is trying to make my classroom a mini-Bauhaus is, which is what I feel like a lot of graphic design teachers do”. What he wants for his students is for them to learn how to think and become innovative with the work that they produce.
The “machine” to Harris is the process of thinking systematically and conceptually in producing work. It is important for designers to learn to work that way to because it allows them to innovate and push out concepts that may or may not work. Harris calls this way of thinking “generative.”
What inspires me about Harris’s work is the fact that his history and identity are very present in his work. He started out making flyers for parties which he then translated into his design. He also states in the podcast that he researched Black graphic designers and took influence from them. It was unfortunate that he had to go out of his way to learn about these people because he was taught about white men in his schooling.
hey, Mar!
I totally get and follow your points about Harris’ identity and history being present in his work, both in practice and actual thematics, I think this even shows up in his teaching too.
Hello, Mar I enjoy reading your response. Harris tries his best to help the student understand and encounter the possibilities when thinking creatively. I think one of my favorite parts is when he talked about the machine. The way he took the time for the students to process their creativity by thinking systematically when very interesting. Overall, you did a great job!
1. Jerome Harris explains the difference between the work of a graphic designer and a production designer as Production Design being creating something that only works within a defined, preexisting system or as he describes it, a “machine.” The work of a Graphic Designer is to create something that works on a personal level external to any system they may have come from. A good way he describes this is by explaining that Production design is something that is made by mimicry and copying what “works” within the machines they’re a part of.
2. The aforementioned “Machine” mentioned by Harris is a system that is put together for someone to put content into and see what happens to it after putting it into the machine on a systematic level. For instance, a social media platform could be a good example of this where you make your posts from yourself and maybe people react to it, maybe leave likes. I believe this is the kind of cause-and-effect relationship Harris is talking about when he brings up the idea of a “machine.” I also think it’s vital that he describes a machine as something constructed by people, because so many other people think of a system like that as something far off and separate from us average people when machines like that are created by people and can be altered and recreated as well.
3. I do like Jerome’s thoughts on larger systems and the difference between content and art. Being an artist who currently relies on systems such as social media, and the social medium in general, I appreciate his reminder that systems like that are not as out of my control as I sometimes want to believe they are. I do appreciate that he comes from a background of feeling out of place in his environment and instead of trying to blend in with his surroundings he decides to stand out, I relate to that especially.
Hi Finn!
I really liked how you gave an example of the machine Jerome talked about in the podcast and connected it to a cause-and-effect relationship. The machine he refers to is all about input, how it functions, whether changes are needed, and then editing things based on the results and feedback you get. I think the same idea applies to the Instagram post, as you mentioned. By looking at how well your post performs, like measuring likes and engagement, you can figure out what’s working and what might need a little improvement, just like in graphic design.
link to my project
https://uncg-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/r/personal/r_riley_uncg_edu/Documents/_Rachele%20Riley/teaching/S25/ART%20341%E2%80%9302/Finn%20Horstman/week%201/inspiration%20collage%20typography.pdf?csf=1&web=1&e=ndBEEU
1.) Jerome Harris describes the differentiation between the works of a graphic designer and production designer basically by one having more creativity and soul, while the other, while looking pretty and neat, lacking any creative inspiration. He describes graphic design as your own original creative works, and production designer as taking too much inspiration from other existing works and, attempting to “copy” them.
2.) I believe the machine Jerome was talking about that is important to learn is thinking conceptually. He spoke about how he often just did he projects by simply opening photoshop, and getting to it. He even states how he struggled to understand what thinking conceptually meant whenever he was being told to do it by his instructors. Although he believed (and still does) that creativity should be the main focus of graphic design, it is also highly important to think conceptually while doing so, being careful to not let the creativity take over too much.
3.) For me personally, I think what inspires me the most from Jerome’s story is how he kind of just took a shots in the dark to get to the successful position that he is in today. He described how he didn’t really have any formal training, and just made a portfolio of what he had, applied to jobs/schools, and just took opportunities in general to see where it landed him. As someone who is about to graduate, this helps me feel a bit assured that through hard work and leaps of faith, even though I don’t know when or where, that I’ll eventually land something.
Hi Ethan!
I agree that the work of a graphic designer is more creative than a production designer, though I disagree that Harris was saying production designers lack *any* creative inspiration or that they take too much inspiration from existing works. I don’t think he was putting down production designers, but simply saying that the way they work is different from a graphic designer.
I was also inspired by him getting to where he is without any formal training. I think it’s really admirable and also makes me feel better about not having everything planned out in advance.
Hey Ethan! I love how you highlight the difference between graphic and production designers by identifying the difference in creativity that Jerome highlights. I feel like this distinction is a bit harsh personally, but see where he is coming from based on his experiences. I really think that you taking away inspiration for your future career from Jerome’s story is super beneficial and will benefit you in the long run as it took time to achieve the career he has now. Great work!
Hi Ethan! Really great comment and I really liked the way you wrote your response! Harris provides his students a more conceptual way of working on design coming from his experience, like you wrote, just opening Photoshop and getting to work. To me, this shows how Harris grew as an artist. Also, this adds to your comment for question 3 that he had really no formal training but still tried is really inspiring for young college kids to hear how to really achieve being an artist.
1. Harris says that production designers redesign and copy preexisting designs, while graphic designers create entirely new designs with more personal artistic involvement on their end. He acknowledges that both roles are useful and important, but they are distinct and shouldn’t be treated as one in the same.
2. The “machine” Harris describes is a conceptual way of thinking, where one’s creative work process is likened to a machine, that you must build and put to work when creating something. You build the machine (decide on a work process), create content using the machine (create content following that work process), and then you determine whether the machine (the process) functions as needed, or if you need to make adjustments (in how you work.)
3. I relate to Harris exploring other avenues before landing on graphic design. I originally was a Theatre major as I didn’t know what I wanted to do and had done theatre in high school. But during my first semester I realized that wasn’t what I wanted to do, and that I actually have a passion for graphic design that I hadn’t really noticed before. The way that he started out just making simple flyers and realized he was interested in graphic design through that reminds me of how I realized I liked graphic design through creating Powerpoint presentations for class assignments.
Link to my Self Page: https://uncg-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/r_riley_uncg_edu/EUej1zGFY7NLv_fK64LuE0EBFMEaj5TXgDsclfa7oPCypw?e=hccLpa
Hey Simon, I agree with your distinction between the roles of a production designer versus a graphic designer. I also appreciate your definition of what the “machine” is. In all honesty I was struggling to put into words what the machine is and your definition helps me comprehend Harris alot better. Hearing your story about finding your major is quite relatable. I found myself only really picking this major because I could not fathom doing anything else. Maybe my small business with kick off but only time will tell.
Hi Simon, The way you have broken down the concept of the ‘machine’ is really useful as I now understand it much better, thank you! I also think that it’s really cool that you tried out a different major before deciding you liked graphic design, I think having knowledge in other areas can sometimes help to elevate our designs as graphic designers! Also you made such a cool colourful self board!
In Scratching the Surface episode 127 with guest Jerome Harris, he and interviewer Jarrett Fuller cover themes of identity and finding oneself. They get onto the topic identity, which led to Harris defining the work of a graphic designer vs a production designer. A graphic designer is a “literacy engineer” whose purpose is to conceptualize and convey emotion. They transform typeface into art. A production designer, on the other hand, designs for corporate, resulting in “stale” and “sanitized” designs. They recycle existing designs for products; personal identity is undetectable.
Fortunately, there is a tool that can be harnessed by designers that fuses identity and efficiency: the machine. The machine is “learning how to be generative, learning how to edit.” It’s going “this doesn’t work, I need to change this.” It is crucial for artists to learn to work this way as it allows them to explore new ideas and let go of old ideas that may be holding them back.
When Harris brought up his love for fantasy worlds due to their rich visual language, I went “me too!!” Fantasy is my favorite genre in media due to its expressiveness and sometimes it’s nice to let your creativity loose!
SELF PAGE (2 Versions):
Version 1: https://uncg-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/r/personal/r_riley_uncg_edu/Documents/_Rachele%20Riley/teaching/S25/ART%20341%E2%80%9302/Autumn%20Breeze/Week%201/autumn_breeze_typography_influences_page_ver_1_pdf.pdf?csf=1&web=1&e=LF2Zlz
Version 2: https://uncg-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/r/personal/r_riley_uncg_edu/Documents/_Rachele%20Riley/teaching/S25/ART%20341%E2%80%9302/Autumn%20Breeze/Week%201/autumn_breeze_typography_influences_page_ver_2_pdf.pdf?csf=1&web=1&e=rUwdXJ
Hi Autumn! I definitely enjoy the fantasy that can come from peoples art as well and I appreciate the way you use it as a tool to express yourself just like he does, speaking as someone who has seen your work. I think it’s really important to allow yourself to let loose and just create some thing.
Hi Autumn,
I definitely feel the fantasy thing. I think there is something so fascinating about creating this whole other world, full of all sorts of life and objects. Living in reality can be overwhelming sometimes, so it feels like an escape from our normal day to day life.
Hi Autumn!
I love how you interpreted the difference between a production designer and a graphic designer, especially where you said that a production designer “recycles existing designs for products,” which I absolutely agree with. Even with those designs, they’re designed in a way where it’s simple but “memorable” enough to become a mass-produced design.
1. Harris describes the work of a graphic designer as a system that engages in conceptual and strategic thinking and also focuses on crafting ideas and narratives. He describes the work of a production designer as focusing on the technical and mechanical aspects of design. They focus on the aesthetics of displaying already-made work to fit within the general concept of such exhibitions.
2. The machine Harris describes is a metaphor for designing a systematic structured process. It creates a framework or system that can efficiently generate, organize, and push out creative ideas. Designers need to work this way because understanding how to conceptualize designs and ideas can help transform content into meaningful outcomes.
3. The progression of his life from getting rejected from Tyler’s School of Art with his portfolio of party flyers to returning to get his master’s at Yale and eventually becoming a professor of graphic design is what inspired me about Harris’s work and life was how he handled rejection and setbacks throughout his life and still pushed forward to refine his craft. His lack of traditional studio art experience at a university did not hold him back from designing these party flyers, which became his little niche. I like how he pushed back against modernism and wanted his work to be original and not like others.
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Hi Taylor! I agree that Harris’s description of a graphic design “machine” is a great way of explaining the process of design and just how structured the system of design should be. It makes for efficient design and meaningful projects!
1) Jerome mentioned, in the later half of the podcast, that production artists typically create work that mimics established, corporate designs, like Chobani, which he referenced when talking about his graphic design class that he was teaching. Graphic design, on the other hand, is more about experimentation, where designers adapt their art based on personal inspiration rather than strictly commercial influences. He explains that graphic design is more about balancing individual creativity rather than creating work that will look good and be profitable in the real world.
2) Harris describes “the machine” in the podcast as a mental framework for designers. It’s about learning to take pieces of an idea (whether from themselves or collaborators like creative or art directors) and figuring out what does and doesn’t work. The machine is a process of conceptual refinement, helping designers rearrange and test ideas to create a final product that makes sense. This practice is important for effectively communicating ideas and concepts through design.
3) I really enjoyed how Harris shared his unique career path and interests, starting with majoring in Marketing, then becoming a professional dancer, all while staying true to his initial love of graphic design. It’s important to talk about the different journeys people take to end up where they are today.
Harris views production artists as subtractive in their role. Their work is to conform the grander conceptual/communicative work of graphic design to a product or targeted audience, rather than generating original work in the space. I especially found his allusions to Chobani amusing. To study what makes existing design products successful is beneficial, but I feel Harris’ contention is with solely focusing on learning to emulate or rework existing concepts.
From what I understand from Harris’ explanation, the machine he describes is essentially a personal system based workflow you develop in order to generate new ideas and angles quickly/iteratively. Having this sort of system allows you to better deal with rejection of pitched work. I would imagine It could also generate enthusiasm for a would-be rejected idea by presenting it from many angles at once.
I really enjoy how much Harris stays true to himself throughout all of it. The segment about code switching was particularly insightful, as it is clear through how Harris describes the interaction that he had no interest in being anything other than his genuine self. I feel like it perfectly ties into the above mentioned idea of the artist’s role. To dilute yourself is to dilute your art. Harris believed in his choices both artistically and personally. He knew better than to write off his instincts based on the passive aggressiveness of those who didn’t understand his vision.
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Hey Zeus! I took away a similar idea of the machine that Jerome talks about in the sense that it is kind of a individualized system that allows you to produce various works for the benefit of you and/or your employer. Being able to pivot from one idea to another is definitely an advantage of using this “machine” as you can come up with ideas and spit things out just to see what works and what doesn’t. Great job!
1. How does Jerome Harris differentiate between the work of graphic designer versus a production designer?
He defines a production designer as someone who creates designs that can easily be mass-produced, they’re clean and made to look a certain way to fit a certain standard. They’re a redesign of already-made designs and fulfill the needs of a corporate or big-name company is looking for, something that is “interesting enough” but not too complex or else it would ruin their image. As for the work of a graphic designer, they’re more personal and experimental. There isn’t a limit or expectation placed on their work, and it can be as simple or as complex as they want it to be, as long as they’re given the freedom/options to do so.
2. What is the “machine” Harris describes and why is it important that designers learn to work that way?
The “machine” Harris describes is like this system where you essentially start off by brainstorming a bunch of ideas and then you take one of those ideas and think about how you want to bring that idea to life, eventually producing that end result. Be able to pick and choose from this incredible stack of ideas you kept note of or stored away, and learn how to make it a reality. I think it’s important for designers to learn to work that way because it doesn’t limit them from generating endless ideas. Rather it allows them to truly sit down and ponder about which idea suits a concept best, whether it be from one thought they had a long time ago, or by merging multiple ideas into one. It gives them options to choose from, instead of feeling constrained.
3. On a personal note, what inspired you about Harris’ design work and life story?
That no matter how many times people had doubted him, he continued to keep on doing what he loved, as long as he believed in himself when no one else did.
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Harris describes production designs as copies. He says that his students looked at things that look good and just copied it. Although it looks clean and resolved he says it’s not the work of a graphic designer. For a graphic designer Harris wanted them to create a machine that would make it so they have to think hard about their ideas, to expand and make changes if needed.
The machine Harris describes is basically a system made of conceptual thinking. So you are thinking of ideas that create a machine that pumps out your content. This made Harris students upset because they were thinking way too hard. But that is exactly what Harris wanted. Harris wanted his students to think harder than they ever had to be prepared for their future. He wanted to show that when they get a job, that their ideas will not always make it, so they need to put their machine to work so they can bring out a lot of ideas, make stuff and make changes if necessary.
I thought it was really inspiring the fact that Harris was able to do both graphic design and dance! I love how at one point in his life he was able to pursue both dance and his graphic design job and he was able to be pretty successful in both. He mentioned that there are a few similarities between graphic design and dance but other than that they are very different, which is very inspiring that he was able to pursue both although they were quite different from each other.
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Hi Ximena! I completely agree with your response. It’s impressive how Jerome Harris could balance his passions and do great in both! It reveals how creative skills can transfer across different disciplines, even if they appear unrelated, and in the end – they can be beneficial all around!
Hi Ximena,
I agree that I thought it was very inspiring as well too! I can sort of relate to him when it comes to that. I’m sure many of us have vastly different interests that we want to pursue and become good at, and those interests interact with each other in some way or another despite that.
1) Jerome believes that the role of a graphic designer goes beyond the capabilities of a production designer. He distinguishes production designers as those who derive their work solely from the imitation of pre-existing works or by following trends. It is clear Jerome believes that graphic designers are more creatively-versed and strong conceptual thinkers as opposed to the more technical focused aspects of production design.
2) The machine Jerome describes is a system he taught to his students that aids designers through their individual design processes. The sole purpose of the machine was to generate a variety of creative options so that the designer has a higher chance of making a design more desirable for final production. Jerome also believes that this would help his students enhance their systematic thinking and ultimately result in stronger designs with better quality.
3) Jerome’s battle with conventional modernist art clashing with his own style was particularly inspiring to me. Despite having struggled in the past to have people recognize his designs as ‘good’ he continued to embrace his identity and stylistic choices. Rather than conforming to the conventional ideal, Jerome pushed against it and stayed committed to his desire to create designs that reflected his own tastes.
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I also really appreciated how much he resisted influence from the academics around him. He knew what he was doing was perfectly relevant and didn’t let the ignorance of others persuade him.
Jerome Harris differentiates between the work of a graphic designer and a production designer by reeling in on the fact that graphic design involves more than just copying what’s trending visually, or creating polished works deemed as “perfect”. Based on everything that Jerome has said, the work of a graphic designer requires creativity, conceptual thinking, and the ability to generate ideas. Production designers tend to focus more on executing specific designs that are pre-established, and not coming from a place of deeper thought.
The “machine” that Harris describes basically refers to a system to which designers can use to produce and iterate designs. Harris believes that it is important for designers to learn how to create these machines in order to learn how to generate options, test them, and refine their ideas.
What inspired me about Harris’s work and life story is the fact that he had interests within multiple mediums of art (dance and graphic design) and was not afraid to try to pursue them, even as a hobby. As an artist with interests in different aspects, I don’t want to be tied down and labeled as one specific thing because I feel as if I would have to commit to that for the rest of my life. Jerome’s story gave me confirmation that I can explore other aspects and be successful while not having to be stuck to that specific title.
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Jerome Harris explains that a graphic designer focuses on creating original ideas and solving problems, while a production designer just executes or mimics trends. He thinks true graphic design is more than making something look good. It’s actually about meaning and concept. Production designers might polish work or copy popular styles, but graphic designers think deeper, building ideas and using their creativity to make work that stands out. Harris also says he gets frustrated when work looks professional but lacks thought. That’s because to him, graphic design is about creating, not just producing .
From what I got, the “machine” Jerome Harris talks about is a way designers build to help them organize/generate their ideas. It’s like creating a process that allows them to produce work efficiently while staying focused on the concept that they have. He says it’s important because it teaches students to think through their ideas, figure out what works, and improve as they go. It also helps them prepare for real world challenges, where they will need to create alot of work quickly without losing quality or consistency.
What inspired me about Jerome is how he’s stayed true to himself, and continued to pursue what he wanted to do in life, despite challenges from being rejected and dismissed. He used that rejection to fuel his future. He didn’t let that stop him. It hits close to home a little bit, cause I can sorta relate to the challenges he faced when it came to people doubting him.
1. When talking about the rising design students in his classes, Jerome Harris made the observation that they seemed to be confused about the role of a graphic designer. He said that they “…redesigned things on the internet and then they just copied it, you know, and it looks clean and like resolved but it’s not the work of a graphic designer” (Harris 47:10). He goes on to explain that the work of a graphic designer is essentially more generative and “rough” than the more defined and polished work of a production artist. To be a graphic designer is to make ideas and concepts visual to a partially realized degree to solve a problem. Harris says that it requires conceptual thinking and an ability to visually generate multiple ideas for a given project to choose from. Production designers then take that final choice and turn it into something more definitive; they create the final product from the idea originally crafted by the graphic designer. Both roles are crucial to the creation of a product but they have two very distinct functions and require two different creative philosophies. Ultimately, they make for a more efficient and streamlined process for the creation of a design.
2. Harris describes the process of graphic design as similar to building a “machine.” He uses a straightforward analogy to clearly explain how complex graphic design really is and the amount of care design students should be putting into their work. In this analogy, the “machine” serves as the design that the artist is creating. To build up this machine, the designer must assemble together conceptual thoughts and ideas in a meticulous way that ensures that the “machine” works the way it needs to; in other words, the artist must experiment with and assemble these conceptual ideas in a manner that precisely conveys the message that the product is intended to convey. It is important that designers (especially in professional environments) understand that they are not just creating visually appealing images, but visual messages that are told through their design choices. The designer must be able to think conceptually and generatively so that if what comes out of the machine (that being the message the design conveys) does not turn out the way it was intended to, they have other avenues to explore until they do get to their final intended destination.
3. I was inspired by the way that Jerome Harris goes beyond established/academically “standard” design philosophies to explore different (and often unacknowledged) cultures and voices. In the podcast, Harris details his experience in grad school as one of the few black students in his program and how that influenced his relationship with researching design history (and subsequently how he approached design as a professional). He explains this pressure from his (predominantly white) professors for his work to fit into the mold of modernism and how he as a rising professional should alter his identity to fit into “more professional” spaces. In reality, he was being asked to erase his black identity to appeal to a white market. He wanted to experiment with different designs that tied back to his personal experience and was essentially told that they weren’t good enough, even though his peers were doing the same thing just from a non-black view. Despite this, he was passionate about exploring the history of design outside of what was commonly taught in academic settings. For his class, he explored the work of Buddy Esquire. Later on in his professional work, he explored more work from historically influential black designers and has expressed a keen interest in understanding and implementing the design philosophies of various other American subcultures that often go unacknowledged. I am inspired by how passionate Harris is about pushing against established but often outdated rules or standards for the sake of creating a more diverse and creative world of graphic design.
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1. Jerome Harris differentiate between production artists and graphic designer as production artist don’t think creatively as much as graphic designers. Production artists work towards the client and the ‘corporate world’. Graphic designers are more tuned into their art more creatively and conceptually.
2. The machine that Jerome Harris is speaking of is where a person is generative with ideas and designs and after making a lot of things choose which works better for different things and which ideas can then be edited. The machine is not neccessarily a real thing but a way of thinking and working for artists. The reason why I think the machine is along those lines is because Harris describes that when working with a hierarchy of artists on a project or a job, there are times that your ideas will not be picked for the project.
3. Harris’ story really inspired me with the way that he pivoted and was doing the things he loved and continued to figure out what he wanted for a career and what he didn’t and the balance between his art. Even though Harris did pursue dance as a career at one point he realized that wasn’t wanted to do as a ‘job’. He had spoken about how he wanted a job that didn’t feel like work but sometimes some hobbies or pathways don’t fit the slot like he originally thought. Jerome still teaches dance so he does have a love for the craft but he was honest with himself and I am inspired by that. I think its amazing how he takes the changes in his life and mentality and makes a shift that can be scary to others.
Hi Raquel! I was also inspired by Harris’s story! It’s nice to hear that he was able to do the things he loved and was able to do both dance and design at one point. He chose what he thought would be best for him in his future which ended up being design, but he still teaches dance because it’s something he loves to do. It’s admirable to see someone be able to do the things they love to do!
😮
Hi Rocky!
I really liked your interpretation of Harris’s idea of the “machine.” I also agree that it is a way of thinking for artists to generate ideas and designs which will help them decide which one would work better for a certain concept and how they can edit that idea to make it fit better. I was also inspired by Harris’s story, especially by how he was eventually able to find a balance between his love for design and dance!
He explained that they are both good environment systems, however he talked more about production designers. In the podcast, they mention the opportunities and how important coding can be. The production designer takes that concept in taking prepared output for final output when creating websites. He also said the HTML and CSS importance. In general, he explains that graphic design takes you in the creative route while production designers invest more time into digital agencies/creating websites, or finding a way to think interpretatively like UX UI design
As he mentioned in the podcast. In the beginning, he thought it was the class he took called GD. It is a particular conceptual thinking like a system. So learning how to think systematically makes the machine pump content through it and see what happens on the other end. The machine brings the idea of learning to build the machine and thinking conceptually that will help you assemble the machine in some way. All of this was important because the students would have to think harder, providing them with much more thinking. This embraced them in the fact that at the end of the road whenever they get the job done; the student would have an incredible final result. They would have a creative director an art director, and maybe a senior designer. All of this would allow the students to have more ideas/choices.
This interested me in many ways. I did know the differences and how creativity is involved in both. I believe Harris made me realize how you can find art everywhere and what concepts can be beneficial as an art student. As much as he was changing his paths he made sure to be open-minded and learned almost everything to his advantage.
He explained that they are both good environment systems, however he talked more about production designers. In the podcast, they mention the opportunities and how important coding can be. The production designer uses that concept when taking prepared output for final output when creating websites. He also talked about the importance of HTML and CSS. In general, he explains that graphic design takes you in the creative route while production designers invest more time into digital agencies/creating websites, or finding a way to think interpretatively like UX UI design
As he mentioned in the podcast. In the beginning, he thought it was the class he took called GD. It is a particular conceptual thinking that is like a system. So learning how to think systematically makes the machine pump content through it and see what happens on the other end. The machine brings the idea of learning to build the machine and thinking conceptually that will help you assemble the machine in some way. All of this was important because the students would have to think harder, providing them with much more thinking. This embraced them in the fact that at the end of the road whenever they get the job done; the student would have an incredible final result. They would have a creative director an art director, and maybe a senior designer. All of this would allow the students to have more ideas/choices.
This interested me in many ways. I did know the differences and how creativity is involved in both. I believe Harris made me realize how you can find art everywhere and what concepts can be beneficial as an art student. As much as he was changing his paths he made sure to be open-minded and learned almost everything to his advantage.
Cindy, the art is everywhere approach you talk about is definitely a powerful mind frame. To see Harris take so much influence from elements that others might find trivial or not even notice shows how much a well trained eye can inform someone.
How does Jerome Harris differentiate between the work of graphic designer versus a production designer?
Harris makes the distinction between a graphic designer and a production designer by how original the work is; insinuating that a graphic designer takes influence from previous work, as opposed to a production designer who creates pieces as visually-similar to previous artwork as it can be.
What is the “machine” Harris describes and why is it important that designers learn to work that way?
As far as I understand it, the “machine” Harris describes is individual models/work-processes of generating a plethora of artwork efficiently. So that in the future, his students are able to create authentic artwork consistently while being able to navigate the realities of corporate oversight shooting down or limiting their ideas.
On a personal note, what inspired you about Harris’ design work and life story?
I find Harris’ devotion to his own authenticity as an artist even in the face of academic or professional conventions really inspiring. I agree with his point that within the arts many students are taught to be “production designers” replicating conventional influences rather than unique artists themselves who come with them their own influences and style. I appreciate him bringing this mindset into his classroom as well; encouraging students to be autonomous and focusing on giving them the tools to create the work that excites them rather than the technique necessary to be an “artist”. I find his concept of a “machine” to create work in a professional setting really interesting, however, I’m kind of biased towards not really liking it because I just, personally, am very dissatisfied with how a capitalist economy restricts people’s creativity and ability to create. So I would rather not use a concept in my day-to-day life that entertains that system. Although, I definitely think it’s a helpful way of creating work that you are satisfied with consistently, and that efficiency as an artist is something I’m trying to find myself.
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Hello Johnny,
I fully agree with your perspective in regards to the last question. I also found Harris’ strong resolve with creating unique art to be very inspiring. You make a great point that Harris is trying to ensure that his students become graphic designers rather than production designers. By introducing his students to the ‘machine’, Harris hopes to allow his students to create more individualistic art, with more variety for selection. I would be curious to see how such a machine would work, as I don’t believe it was described in full detail. I wonder how much it is truly catered to a capitalistic society or to the individual making the art.
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1. Jerome Harris talks about how the work of a production designer is just a reinterpreted version of existing works found on the internet. It still looked good and clean, but it’s essentially just a copy – while graphic designer is more experimental.
2. The machine Jerome Harris describes is a way to organize a designer’s work and ideas. They learn how to think conceptually, then put their ideas into it and see what comes out of it on the other end. It’s important because it helps designers think in a structured way to build on their own ideas.
3. What inspires me most about Jerome Harris’s story is how he started with party flyers, which led him to multiple career paths he hadn’t even considered at the time. He even states that one project he did with Laurel Schultz invited him back into that space – where he created a project that took him back to his party flyer days. It’s inspiring for me because I am currently working towards a career in graphic design, but my plan coming into college was a concentration in painting. When I was a freshman in high school, I got a job for being an artist at the McDonald’s in my hometown – I didn’t even think that was possible. I painted for them for a while, but then it turned into making posters, calendars, and flyers. I’ve been doing this ever since, and I’ve learned to enjoy making these things – this is why I went into a New Media & Design concentration. My work has improved over the years, but hearing Jerome talk about how his party flyers relate to his work over the years and even now – inspires me.
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Hi Christina,
Your insightful thought process behind Harriss description of what the “machine” is quite insightful. The push towards Designers having their thoughts and input into their work rather than simply copying what has been already made. My thought process after listening to Harriss referring to the “machine” was more of the rejection of conformity in design. Christina, Hearing about your pathway towards the New Media and Design program is inspiring. How our original career goal can shift with something as simple as transitioning painting into posters, calendars, and flyers. Looking forward to seeing more of your talent in the future.
1. How does Jerome Harris differentiate between the work of graphic designer versus a production designer?
Jerome Harris described the work as a production designer as copying the aesthetic without incorporating the individual’s thought process. Throughout the podcast, Harriss encourages individuality bringing in your previous experiences and individuality towards design. Within the graphic design industry, Harriss described the process of working within a team in addition to being a trade of multiple skills.
2. What is the “machine” Harris describes and why is it important that designers learn to work that way?
The “machine” removes your identity to conform to the more corporate design style. To constantly mimic a similar style or type of graphic design work. On the podcast, Harriss described his distaste for instructors’ habits of constantly showing the same artist and or style. Harriss goal way to combat conformity was to show a variety of content. To give students the space to explore self-expression.
3. On a personal note, what inspired you about Harris’ design work and life story?
Before joining this class, I had not heard much about Harris. Listening to Harris’s Life story through the podcast provided me with a different perspective. Much joy was derived from hearing the perspective other another Graphic designer’s unplanned life. Don’t get me wrong, it’s unfortunate to hear about the adversity Harris faced as both an instructor and Graphic Designer. Living alone with my partner as an artist instantly provides a lot of financial pressure and worry around economic gain. Making art as a career changes the narrative of the type of art you but should it change who you are as an artist?
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After listening to the podcast and hearing from Jerome Harris, my perception is that Jerome believes that a production designer, or as he states ‘artist’ , is someone that may look at someone elses work for inspiration and copy their design concept. However, he believes that a graphic designer would create their own take on a design, they may look at others work for inspiration but in the end use it to create their own idea entirely. This is where his idea of the ‘machine’ comes in, I believe that he is almost referring to the brain when he uses the word machine, and by the sounds of it he talks about teaching his students not just to build the machine, but to learn conceptually how to assemble the machine. This therefor would help them move their work more from the style of a production designer to that of a graphic designer. I would say that this inspires me as it teaches me to break down my idea and look at where my inspiration has come from and create something that hasn’t been seen before. I also really liked the part in the podcast where he says I ‘pick up printed material’ says that it makes him think ‘this is so nice’ as I think it is important to find physical inspiration, not just things you see on your computer screen. To hold a piece of design can spark great ideas too and I think helps you to see it better when the design becomes a product.
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Jerome Harris differentiates between the work of graphic designer and a production designer by explaining that the work that was done by a production designer felt more like a copy instead of feeling like an original idea that a graphic designer should be coming up with. The machine that Jerome Harris is referring to is the system of thinking that is used to input concepts for ideas when it comes to art and the output of how it is done. It is important for designers to think this way because it allows them to not think as hard about a singular idea and instead give them multiple avenues and options to choose from and think more freely. What inspired me about Jerome Harris’ life story was that I can relate to his journey in a similar way. The same way he came into college because of track and field, I played football in high school and was being approached by multiple college coaches for a full scholarship. But how he hated it and wanted to do more in the world of art, I turned down all of their offers because I hated playing and wanted to branch out in the world of art.
– Jerome Harris differentiates between the work of a graphic designer and a production designer by explaining how a production designer may “reproduce” or “redesign” the work and/or image of someone else or off the internet.
– The “machine” that Jerome Harris goes into vague detail about is what I believe to be your mind or critical thinking skills. He went on about how he believes it is important for graphic designers to create a machine in order to think more abstractly than other artists or graphic designers may have and to make sense of this, in order to put together their composition.
– I’m inspired to hear how he’s the first and only person who genuinely stands up for himself and his students to continue personal work and critique his students appropriately which their non-ethic teachers can’t quite relate to. Also, I believe his work and that of his friend during his exhibition were absolutely amazing and honestly make me think of them as trailblazers, to find fellow graphic designers of similar communities and identities because there is a greater need for recognition of artists outside of the Western/White-European scope. In conclusion, this podcast and looking up Jerome’s work made me feel a sense of pride within myself and more of a reason not to stray away from personal work but it is still a goal of mine to produce more creative work, outside of my life story.
Hello Brianna,
I also found it inspiring that Jerome stood up against adversity he faced creating unique art by teaching his students to do the same. By introducing his students to the ‘machine’, Jerome gifted them with the freedom to market their individualistic art styles within the fast-paced corporate realm of art. I really appreciate his ability to adapt and overcome these challenges. Even more I am inspired by his selfless resolve to help other artists do the same.
Hey Brianna, I completely agree with you. Jerome Harris explained how production or design works. I like how you mention that the machine is someone with your thinking skills. I think he also does a great job of inspiring his students to do their best.
1. Jerome Harris differentiates between the work of a graphic designer and a production designer by explaining how a production designer may “reproduce” or “redesign” the work and/or image of someone else or off the internet.
2. The “machine” that Jerome Harris goes into vague detail about is what I believe to be your mind or critical thinking skills. He went on about how he believes it is important for graphic designers to create a machine in order to think more abstractly than other artists or graphic designers may have and to make sense of this, in order to put together their composition.
3. I’m inspired to hear how he’s the first and only person who genuinely stands up for himself and his students to continue personal work and critique his students appropriately which their non-ethic teachers can’t quite relate to. Also, I believe his work and that of his friend during his exhibition were absolutely amazing and honestly make me think of them as trailblazers, to find fellow graphic designers of similar communities and identities because there is a greater need for recognition of artists outside of the Western/White-European scope. In conclusion, this podcast and looking up Jerome’s work made me feel a sense of pride within myself and more of a reason not to stray away from personal work but it is still a goal of mine to produce more creative work, outside of my life story.
Studio: https://uncg-my.sharepoint.com/:i:/g/personal/r_riley_uncg_edu/EesabBDjv6VJgIVoFf5iZRkB5iO9Cw-16iFh9OCG2GctMQ?e=cg84S3
Jerome Harris described the work of graphic designer as creating original art through software like with his experience taking classes learning Photoshop in a computer. He said he would make collages, flyers and designs for his t-shirt business. He mentioned how this made him want to continue this work of graphic design. Meanwhile he described how a production designer is creating mock-up art that resembles other trends and is a form of copying other artwork
Jerome describes the “machine” as a conceptual way of thinking when it comes to creating designs. He is referring to it as making a system of generating plus playing with all kinds of your own work and ideas until you create the outcome. This is important for us to take our time to generate everything that we can so that we can have more original ideas in our plate.
On a personal note, this inspired me because in his story he seemed to be all over the place with different careers, jobs and classes. But at the end of the day you can see how all of this has helped him grow as an artist and to find his own unique niche and career. This reminds me that we all start somewhere even if it is not of a beginning that what we hoped for.
My Self-Page :
https://uncg-my.sharepoint.com/:i:/r/personal/r_riley_uncg_edu/Documents/_Rachele%20Riley/teaching/S25/ART%20341%E2%80%9301/Debora%20Guevara/Week%201/Self-Image.png?csf=1&web=1&e=StpFdx
1. How does Jerome Harris differentiate between the work of a graphic designer versus a production designer?
Harris differentiates between the work of a graphic designer versus a production designer by how refined the work is. A graphic designer’s work is more generative and experimental, while it is a production designer’s job to clean up the graphic designer’s rough draft into the final product.
2. What is the “machine” Harris describes and why is it important that designers learn to work that way?
The “machine” Harris describes is a thought process you would have while you work that involves learning to parse through a wall of ideas to see what works best and actively looking for and changing what does not work for multiple ideas when they are designing. It is important that designers learn to work this way because it helps keep the process moving and prevents a designer from being committed to one design.
3. On a personal note, what inspired you about Harris’ design work and life story?
I thought Harris was a relatable artist. I found it really comforting that we both share/shared feelings of self-doubt when it comes to sharing our work or comparing it to our peers, especially the conflicting feeling of wanting to do work that I like while also feeling the pressure to do work that looks a certain way because it’s better received.
I really like the free-hand look of the writing and shapes I saw in his pieces in the As, Not For exhibit. I thought it was a cool way to bring attention to specific details.
self page:
https://uncg-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/r/personal/r_riley_uncg_edu/Documents/_Rachele%20Riley/teaching/S25/ART%20341%E2%80%9301/Maria%20Mendoza-Regalado/week%201/Maria%20Mendoza-Regalado%20self%20page.pdf?csf=1&web=1&e=8ouUxG
Hi Maria, I really agree with you too that sharing work with peers can be difficult sometimes especially when its not our best work, but were all here to learn and I can’t wait to build up my skills this semester! I really like you’re self page, the items on the page look well places and harmonic!
Jerome differentiates these differences by focusing on other aspects of each role. These aspects seem to look further in the context, purpose, and the execution of work rather than simply differentiating the two concepts by definition. This is a strong way of thinking, and Harris talked about how graphic designers put more emphasis on visual communication for media and specific projects. Production designers were described as designers who created more functional environments that help produce a narrative.
I have heard this term many times throughout my own career and in classes with graphic design, and the arts. The term “machine” is a type of thinking method where you are “conceptualizing” your work. It is where you build this new way of thinking and then put your work through it. It’s important to work this way because it allows designers to see how their designs work, and if they need to change things or make something completely new.
I found Harris’ design work and story truly describe how unique a life as an artist/designer can be. His story tells the harsh reality and life that artists endure when it comes to finding themselves, their work, purpose, drive, and passions in the art field. His life came with many unexpected twists and turns, and it is inspiring that he was able to still strive to be himself through it all. Harris was able to continue his passion despite what others thought. No matter what state he was in, Harris did not fall under the pressures of the world and he refused to change his thoughts or work. He talked about the different trials in his life when it came to his work, and now as a teacher he is using his job as a way to show others a new perspective on art/design. Jerome thinks in a very creative way, and as an artist myself it inspires me to want to be the best self I can be.
https://uncg-my.sharepoint.com/:i:/r/personal/r_riley_uncg_edu/Documents/_Rachele%20Riley/teaching/S25/ART%20341%E2%80%9302/Alex%20Gentry/Week-One/Self-Page(2).jpg?csf=1&web=1&e=0kMlzN
hey William!
I liked your focus on the purpose of creation when it came to the way Harris defines the difference between graphic and production designers.
Hi Simon! Harris did a wonderful job of distinguishing the roles of a production designer and a graphic designer. Production artists do, to an extent, copy the designs often made by the graphic designer to create a more finished product. Graphic designers are more about the ideation process! Harris’s journey to becoming a designer is also very relatable! I also wasn’t originally in the New Media program, starting out in animation but eventually finding myself more attracted to graphic design. I admire his journey to becoming the professional that he is today!
Graphic designers focus on creating original ideas from scratch, building something entirely new to fit a vision or purpose. Production, on the other hand, works with existing material, adjusting and reimagining them to suit the needs of a scene.
The “Machine” is a conceptual way of thinking. You take your ideas, work to bring them to reality, and produce an end result. It allows you to create many products, some of which may turn out to be great pieces, while others might be rejected and serve as valuable learning experiences. He believed that this way of thinking was needed to succeed in getting work done, even if it meant adopting a more systematic way of doing things, instead of letting creativity take over.
What inspired me about this was how he started out. He tried many different things before landing on graphic design and had no prior experience, yet he took the time to learn and seized opportunities when they came his way. I was working full-time before coming to college and had no prior experience in graphic design either, but I was really interested in learning. Taking the leap to come to college and pursue this field was my way of taking a chance, just like he did.
from Rory Bohn
n the Scratching the Surface podcast episode, Jerome Harris differentiates between production design and graphic design as recreating or redesigning images versus more conceptual work that uses the “machine”. He discusses the fact that he was doing work that he thought was considered graphic design, but upon applying/reaching out to schools, he was told it was not.
I think the “machine” Harris describes is the process of thinking conceptually. He says that they need to learn how to be generative, make things, and learn how to edit. He states that designers should put their art through it to see what comes out of it.
After listening to Jerome talk, I felt inspired to freely explore my interests more to help me find the career path I want. The fact that he went from designing flyers, to dancing, then back to design inspired me to be a bit less uptight and anxious about my future, an issue I struggle with a lot as a college student. He also inspired me to be more conceptual with my work and to be more free in that aspect as well.