Jakob Trollback

Jakob Trollback:

Motion Graphics Movie

“I used to just design stuff. It was a lot of fun. I'm self taught and copied everybody.”

In this stage of my schooling, I feel like I just design stuff. It is a lot of fun but inevitably it is to pass this review and to learn. Designing stuff is cool, but most times, it's just stuff. The last thing I designed with my own purpose was a lithograph I made last semester. It was a skull that transitioned into a scroll with the text “A conclusion is a place where one tires of thinking.” To me that meant a lot, it was to be a symbol of how I am going to approach my work from that point on, to never settle. I feel like with that attitude my abilities can only progress. Trying new things and not giving up on problems will only benefit my skills in the long run.

“The hardest thing you can do is to change somebody's mind”

I am stubborn in plenty aspects of my life but with failures, I am learning to compromise and take others opinions, and am finding that it only expands my way of thinking. If you remain in your comfort zone, you're work becomes stagnant. Let someone try and change you're mind, you may find out you were wrong initially. and if not, then I guess in you being right all along, you get a nice little ego boost on the side.

“Participation is Best”

Doesn't have to do with outsider participation, but it has to do with leaving something out. What it does is it sparks your thought process and makes you feel involved in the concept. Like a good joke you leave something out so the participant can make the connection. It makes you think, “oh, hey I get it!” This concept relates in design as well. Things can only be aesthetically pleasing if everything you need is right in front of you. But if something is left out, requiring a connection to be made and some type of interaction between concept and viewer, the piece becomes engaging and in turn successful.

“Storytelling”

This part of the question section caught my attention. The concept of being a storyteller as part of being a designer I feel is important. Trollback tells us that just because you express an interest in design doesn't mean that you are born with a magical storytelling characteristic, but it's something that must be acquired. He advises to write, stories, short stories, music, to gain this storytelling knowledge. Unfortunately for me, writing along with most reading are two things that I dislike doing to most. So how do I work on my storytelling abilities? In school the basic layout of your story is set out in a syllabus, or project outline. But still somehow, you need to add your own story, or personal touch to set yourself apart from the rest.

“Work Discussion”

Although he tends to be very monotonous I really enjoy Trollback's modesty in when he discusses his work. His way of presenting his work, doesn't really need hype or praise from the designer because when you see it works for itself. When he describes the processes that go into his work I feel like it is clear the depth and process that went into the final project. What I want to know from him is his process. He doesn't talk very much in detail about the length of time and steps each project required. It's usually a brief overview and I am intrigued to see how a designer of his caliber works. Especially in a field such has three-dimensional/motion graphics. I personally although tedious have taken a liking to After Effects and the products that it can produce, along with the countless possibilities for a final project. So to see the paths that he takes to get to a final project in a field that has just been introduced to us would be interesting to witness.

Questions:

What is graphic design? A social responsibility to activate the viewers mind, make them think. Give them enough information to figure it out but leave something out to make them participate.

What is typography? Typography is the explanation of why the graphic design got them involved in the first place. This design got me intrigued, now tell my why typography.

What are my responsibilities? To keep people guessing, to not be stagnant, to not be mediocre. To involve society with my projects, and to keep people wanting more.

How can I make classes more valuable? To not be stubborn, to stay open, to challenge other people and let them challenge me. Experiment with having people make the connection and not giving it to them up front.

“A conclusion is a place where one tires of thinking”