Reconsideration

In truth, I feel quite frustrated right now, like I'm banging my head against a wall without resolution.

I had a meeting with Hannah Tuesday that didn't go anything like I was anticipating, it felt like a rude awakening—yet at the same time it's really just my fault. Somehow, against even my own better senses, I started making things inside my own little world and not showing them to others when I had an opportunity to.

I don't know if I simply felt that time in class was for explicitly talking about our project. Whatever it was, I feel quite stupid, it wasn't my intention to divorce my project of other people's comments and critique. It didn't seem like I was being scolded for not work, but doing something worse, not showing it.

Today in class, I spent time with Erika, Amanda, and Anna going over what I was doing, it was both useful and eye-opening. Admittedly, it was also disheartening, as I found I'd made progress but not in a particularly useful direction. I basically assembled all the scraps of paper and iterations of the logo I'd made, then printed anything off I may have never had and brought it in.

We talked about a sampling of logos student groups already have:





Discovery
I then opened up about some ideas I'd had along the way.





On the one hand, it was nice to hear I wasn't entirely lost. Some of the ideas I'd gone through and sort of dismissed people in my group voiced similar reservations either to the idea or the way in which I explored them. It was also of interest to hear people's interpretation of the images.

Of particular note, Anna pointed out she liked the concept of glasses, because it mimicked the idea of reading and research, that the logo was action oriented. Reality is, I'd not even considered that, I was trying to draw an allusion to Franklin Roosevelt and rejected it because I felt it wasn't firm enough.

Her comment got me thinking about where I ended up, that thinking of a visual image for the research, writing, and publication is really hard. So we moved on to where I was now, and talked about some of the problems with the logo itself and its usage.




They seemed to have a general feeling of 'seal' or 'officiality' that I had intended, but not necessarily in the right manner. Amanda said it felt like a political party, which was not my intention. In fact, that's the reason I'd been pushing away from the moose imagery. The Roosevelt Institute doesn't have political allegiance, it advocates for logical decisions based off research. There was also mention of it seeming similar to Jimmy John's logo, but I think it's more apparent that a circular format with ringed text is pretty common.

Positively, I gleaned from the conversation that the logo did feel authoritative—albeit maybe unimaginatively—and I wasn't totally misguided in my use of it on a poster or flyer, which comments on seemed to be positive but we didn't get to spend a ton of time talking about them specifically.

So maybe I should point back to an earlier blog post. What happens when I drop off this excess? Do I really need to say University of Michigan? Do people care when it's established? Does it even need to say the name? Maybe I was too caught up pursuing a particular aesthetic, than deciding based off a reasoned approach (oh, sweet irony).

So I'm back here:


There is something that draws me to this character. Of the dozens I went through, I think it's fitting to the group because it's bold, robust, unique, and maybe even slightly aggressive. I looked at keywords I'd developed earlier for the group, "student investigate, pragmatic, reasoned," and I do see some correlation between the two. It is a unique group, and students do need to be outgoing and a bit aggressive to initiate projects and get their policies implemented.

On the other hand, perhaps I should learn to kill my dears. Print the letterform 24x36, hang it on my wall and try something completely new again. I'm in murky territory. I've done few logotypes before and advertising for any entire group is a very new experience, I'm finding this all to be much more work than I'd expected, made complicated by the fact I'd not talked with people. Still, I feel an overriding visual simplicity will be helpful. The challenge is always that, when things are simple, every little move must be perfect.

What Next
Unfortunately, I've put myself in a hole. I really do need to get this done soon, but at the same time I shouldn't be rushing the foundation of my project. I need to seek as much input as possible, about both what I've done, what I'm thinking, and remember to continue getting critiqued. As far as my timeline:

1. Finish development of logotype through critique

2. Create poster for regional conference on November 13–14

3. Make flyer for a writing workshop October 27

4. Begin sketches and critique for book jacket of regional publication. This book is a heavy recruitment tool for the group

5. Finalize collected demographic information

6. Use research demographics to create two advertisements for the group that aren’t advertising a particular event, but the group as a whole

7. Write grant proposal

I think it would also help if I didn't think of the project so personally, I'd be more willing to have comments.

How I Spent My Time
Over the weekend I ended up working on both a poster and flyer design (pictured above). Certainly, I spent time reeling from my meeting Tuesday. It took me a few days to lick my wounds, swallow my pride, and try to look at things objectively. I also started looking into how much funding I think I may need for printed materials, which was a convenient segway to class Thursday morning. I also finished A Type Primer by John Kane, which was a great read.

Discovery
It's strange how time apart from work can be productive. There was a funny McSweeney's list that got sent to me I felt explained it perfectly. I went into fall break knowing that I had to come up with two firm design ideas, and did very little constructive work toward them, but came back Wednesday and suddenly I had a few ideas bouncing around.

In truth, I'm trying not to get hung up on what I present in December. I've found thinking about it distracts me from work I've planned to do week-to-week. I've finalized t-shirts and a logo design. I've researched as much demographic information as I can. This weekend I know I need to create a flyer for a writing workshop and poster for the regional event. I'd like to possibly explore hand letter pressed invitations to events.

Beyond that, I need to work on being less reactive. Design work is what I consider 'long-term.' Events and flyers will come up through the course of the year, but being proactive entails planning advertisement and interaction that isn't simply for events The Roosevelt Institute puts on. This is really what I'd like to do before December, have a few solid works in place around campus and photographic evidence of them to generate thought and discussion.

Thursday night, I was at a dinner where Jan-Henrik was present. It was nice to chat with someone new about my project. In discussion and one-on-one meetings, there's a lot of push-back for ideas. Not necessarily because they are bad, but to try and refine them. I'm not sure if this is true for others, but it can create an anxiety that I'm constantly on the wrong path, spinning my wheels in place. It makes me hesitant to move forward.

Yet, Jan excitedly talked about my project, said the group sounded really interesting and that I was pursuing a worthwhile cause. It's rejuvenating mentally to find outright support.

What Next
I have to settle with the fact I am one person, not everything I want to do I can do, so I need to find my focus. I don't care how I hone my thoughts, through coffee, sleep deprivation, or a crippling—but creatively fruitive—drug addiction. I need to finish a poster and flyer for this weekend. I'll stick with that for now.

How I Spent My Time
In honesty, I spent most of fall break sitting around eating a bag of Almond Joys guiltily. This week I regained productivity with sketches. I'm also in the midst of a couple design books, one is A Type Primer by John Kane, the other is Modern Typography by Robin Kinross.

A Brief Update

Discovery
I'm making this short, as I'm leaving town to spend time away from this as much as possible. That's not to say I'm fed up or frustrated with my project. Quite the opposite, I actually feel like I've found direction, but time away for me is just as useful as time working.


I think it's fair to say, less was discovered this week and more was resolved.

What Next
It's simple, I need to make.

1. A large format poster for the regional conference based on the theme of unemployment

2. Some hand-letterpressed invitations or informational guides for the regional conference

3. Spray-chalk stencil

4. Investigate guerilla insertion of advertisements into the Daily.

How I Spent My Time
I spent a lot of time finishing my proposal. I wanted it to be clear for my own sake, not just because that's what we were asked. I spent time pitching the logo idea to the group. I got in contact with Mollie Bates, who is sending me some of her work via snail mail.

I also got in contact with someone who knows the treasurer of American Apparel who can get us shirts at $3.65—nearly 60% off what other places were quoting. After finding that out, I called Adrian's, a local t-shirt printery, and worked out a deal it looks like.

T-Shirt

Discovery
T-shirt design is actually something I try to avoid. It's a very difficult process, as everyone has their druthers. If you try a simple, evocative design, some plead for an illustrative quality. Go too far in the creative direction, it can be unintelligible. Then of course, you have to pick colors. All a careful balance.

I started with sketches, bad first drafts mostly. I knew some people in the group had a visual preference for an image of Eleanor Roosevelt, as they wanted to move away from Franklin Roosevelt. A few drafts of it didn't seem to be working. Eleanor doesn't quite have a face that is easily recognizable, so I moved onward to another mentioned suggestion, Theodore.


Theodore Roosevelt didn't have anything to do with founding the group, but one could argue his policies embody a progressive spirit within the group. So, again, starting with the iconography of Theodore's face. Yet, I began to wonder about attaching ourselves to the imagery of someone who had nothing to do with The Roosevelt Institute.

A face is also not versatile. It's hard to put on a letterhead or publication, it scales down poorly. I began to gravitate more toward the iconography of his glasses, a shared trait between Theodore and Franklin actually. I started to use the two O's in Roosevelt as an old fashioned pair of spectacles, but, it started to feel like I was doing an optometrist's logo. Quite an esoteric reference as well.

But, what of other iconography from the time of Theodore?


The Bull Moose Party was Roosevelt's progressive third-party push to run against his former protogé Taft.


We aren't college Democrats or Republicans, we don't have the luxury—or burden—of co-opting a national image and forming an identity from that. The moose also reminds me of something from Hollister or the like. So how do we strike anew?

I began to think of what Paul Rand might say, shirts are as much for a group as they are an advertisement to others. A strong visual identity is important, yet trying to sum up what The Roosevelt Institute does in a t-shirt would be nearly possible. I became very interested in a conversation starter. Something uncomplicated, but related to the group in the way.


I began to think about the letter R, the way it could be stylized, expressive, but still simple.


Yet, thinking further, if the logo doesn't visualize what The Roosevelt Institute does, then what does the text truly add to it? Anna gave me the design guide for The Phillips Collection, a modern art museum in Washington D.C., and I thought it was interesting their choice of secondary logo had the subtext, which was reserved "For use only in special circumstances."


So what happens if I drop it from mine?


I think I'm beginning to get interested now. It's expressive, but a lack of text would make me want to ask this person what their shirt was about. Maybe combined with a more illustrative element in the background of the shirt, it could capture someone's attention enough for a short conversation.

What Next
This logotype and a shirt design in conjunction of it is going to be a continuing project with plenty of iterations. Making an image that says, "This is who we are," and binding yourself to it for at least a year is a huge step for a student group, one that should be done with careful consideration.

I'm still gathering information from the survey I handed out, but am beginning to learn some interesting information about who is in the group (92% plan on attending law school, 70% of the group is a third-year or more student).

Finally, I'm working on really nailing down my draft proposal, but after some of the meetings today I feel I'm in a comfortable spot.

How I Spent My Time
I think it can be seen from above I worked a lot on a t-shirt idea. It's become quite consumptive. I've kind of been bouncing back and forth between people in the group, and resources within IP for critique with it. Beyond that, I've been utilizing resources given to me by Anna from The Phillips Collection, and also pouring over some really wonderful original design standards manuals produced by Paul Rand for IBM (Photographed briefly in the above section).

And, of course, I formulated a draft of my proposal and a revision of it.

Draft Me A Proposal

What
I want to work with the student group The Roosevelt Institute. In doing so, I hope to involve students not typically active with student groups, increase event attendance and group membership, while promoting the purpose of The Roosevelt Institute on campus.

Why
I'm working with The Roosevelt Institute because combines a group focus on public policy and my passion for politics. By promoting The Roosevelt Institute and involving a broad range of people, I am able to also advocate issues that I feel strongly about.

How
To execute this, I will need to take two routes. The first is a research component, whereby I survey current members to find out where they are from, where they live, if they're part of other student groups, their majors, etc. Using this information, I can design flyers, posters and other media that specifically target this pre-existing, politically oriented demographic that simply does not know what The Roosevelt Institute does.

The second path is to grab the attention of people that are unlikely to come to campus events and have little interest in public policy. This group is important, because if group members and event attendees are always the same people, we merely preach to the choir. This will not be done through targeted designs, but rather unexpected intervention into everyday campus life. This will take a variety of visual forms, including installation, the creation of a viewpoint in the Michigan Daily, and projection work.

Both courses will ideally increase membership and event attendance, but more importantly brand recognition. When people talk of student organizations, The Roosevelt Institute should be among the first few mentioned. I believe this can be achieved through a consistent design and flooding the campus dialogue with Roosevelt Institute material.

If I had unlimited time and funds…
… I would hire a team of ten people to help execute my ideas, place flyers, do installation work with me and document the work. Physical size and material would no longer be a hinderance, where all items, t-shirts, and such could be produced in color. I could then take the campaign to other campuses where the Roosevelt Institute has a presence, adapt my methods, and increase national membership.

If I had no time and was without money…
… I would design a logo for the Roosevelt Institute and create design guidelines using successful commercial brands as a model.

If I were to be realistic…
… Part of my project would be this methodical branding, flyering, postering, document creation, and publication design. The other half would be a more experimental means to reach new audiences. Conceivably, given time, manpower and money, only a few of these could be put together each semester.

The end result would be a design standards publication that explains the reason for design decisions, color choices, placement and the demographic information that supports it, but also documents the more exploratory means of gaining members through installation work. Such a manual can be used by this chapter of The Roosevelt Institute in the future, and is also accessible to other chapters.