The Concept: A guest editorial by Justin D. Anderson

As a designer and artist, one is always faced with a blank canvas before the start of a project. Where do you start? From the outset of my design career, I always implemented the phrase “less is more”. Keeping an idea simple keeps things from becoming complicated during the design phase.

Simplicity can be implemented in the use of your color palette (2-3 colors) or using fewer elements along with your concept. If computer aided design is your forte, putting together a concept can begin with good old pencil and paper. Sketching out a rough comp will save any designer precious time in reference to a project. Your sketches can include your thoughts, ideas, and any reference related to your concept. Themes and metaphors are great for ideas. A decent theme (basing an idea on a movie, favorite food, place or object) will allow creativity to flow and will help steer your design to a finished product.

If you are still stuck starting at a blank canvas, get away from your computer for a few minutes or however long you may need. When I become stuck in this what, a trip to the local bookstore always gets the juices to flow. The bookstore is filled with tons of reference and visuals to feed your budding ideas. This method may not work for everyone; never underestimate talking to a human being once in a while. We all don’t think alike so bouncing ideas off a colleague is a great help. Just remember that you’re trying to get your creative juices flowing and a fellow artist or good friend are perfect resources. Also be sure that any ideas meet what you set out to achieve.

For a composition to work the overall image must have an interesting balance. Never place every element in the center. If all elements are placed in the center, you’ll draw in the viewer’s eye but they will lose interest because there’s nowhere else for the eye to go. Don’t be afraid to use blank space in your image. You don’t want cluttered mess. This will also allow the viewer’s eye to move around your image. Be aware of what’s around you. Look at other compositions in magazines or on posters or even an artist you admire. Ask yourself why some compositions are more successful than others and apply this to your own work.

I hope this bit of info is useful to you. Knowing where to start is a necessity in design and artistry.




Stay thirsty my friends!




Justin D. Anderson,

Designer/Illustrator

http://www.xclusiveimg.com