CREATORS WHO INSPIRE MY DESIGN IDEALS

If you’ve been reading my blogs, it should be crystal clear by now that I am a design devotee. I love to implement the ideals of aesthetics and design into as much of my life as I can. From things like PowerPoint presentations to the outfits I wear, the theory of art is a fundamental part of my life. As you’re reading this blog, I assume you too place a great degree of value on artistic taste and or developing it. A part of my last blog post that I’d like to elaborate on is taking inspiration from others. Our perceptions on life and the many facets it presents us, derive a great deal from our experiences. Which is why I would like to share with you creators who inspire my design ideals. 

This is a list of artists of all mediums (i.e., film directors, writers, painters, photographers, etc.) who have played a strong influence on my aesthetic principles. And please keep in mind that although I place a heavy emphasis on aesthetics, these creators are not all partaking in visual mediums. Yet they find a way to communicate certain visuals that find a way into your consciousness. This list will be broken down into 2 different categories. Firstly will be the storytellers, these are artists whose works are able to beautifully convey a narrative/message. And secondly  it will be artists whose works somehow capture a feeling and translate it into whichever medium they work on. 

The Storytellers

Wes Anderson

Wes Anderson is one of the few directors today who have put tremendous thought into every shot of his films. The man works meticulously to make sure his scenes are trife with superb visual imagery, all of which help to push the story he tells forwards. His films always contain charming colour palettes and striking centered shots. Below is an example of one of his infamous centered shots in the film The Grand Budapest Hotel. 

Kurt Vonnegut

Vonnegut is one of potentially one of the most popular names to come out of 20th century literature. Kurt Vonnegut has quite the way of getting his points across. His use of english is quite succinct and efficient. As I read more of his works I feel his influence on my writing style more and more.  I highly recommend reading if Slaughterhouse-Five if you are looking to give him a shot. 

Stanley Kubrick

Another director whose works will go down in history as some of the greatest. Stanley Kubrick's philosophy was to immerse viewers in the world he was presenting to them. He took great pride in pushing the storytelling of his movies to new heights by paying an insane amount of detail to the elements which appeared in every one of his film shots. Below is an astonishing frame from his magnum opus, 2001: A Space Odyssey.  It has often been said that everything in a Kubrick frame can be analyzed. 

Zimri Mayfield

Zimri Mayfield is definitely one of the logo makers I take the most lessons from these days. His graphic design has such a way of expressing the story of the company he's working on. The logos he designs are simple yet deliberately designed to communicate the narrative that the brand is trying to sell. Check out some of his work here: www.zimrimayfield.com

FEEL THEIR ART

The following are artists whose works do not need to be understood, but felt. 

David Lynch

No one can say that they truly understand the meaning of a Lynch film. His works often take an odd surreal approach to conveying a story, and while there is a story in his films, they are just there for the sake of being there. The real beauty in his art comes from his ability to make viewers feel as if they are in a dream themselves. In the end, although you can't truly understand the logic of his films, it is easy to understand the feelings which are expressed through his films. The films often show hazy and ethereal feeling images, things that have truly affected the way I think as a photographer and aspiring filmmaker. Below is a shot from his hit film, Mullholland Drive. 

Todd Hido

Hido is a photographer who I discovered in mid 2019. His works always convey this surreal feeling, akin to that of Lynch's work. The moods he conveys in his photos are unmatched- leaving his photos with this lasting impression. Attached below are some of my favourite of Hido's photographs.

Conclusion

So now that I've shared a few creators who play a big inspiration in the work I do. I'd like for you to think about some of the creators who inspire you. How do they inspire you? What is it about their work that your appreciate so much? When you think about these things, you will understand the power of these creators' works even more profoundly.