David Carson & Everything Design- A Masterclass that Evolved Me

David Carson is an icon in the graphic design game, potentially the most famous commercial graphic designer ever. He revolutionised the industry with his unconventional 'grunge typography' and style of art-direction. To get a #Masterclass from the one and only was all I needed to get me started with my creative process.?

Every session was opening up my mind to new possibilities when it comes to how we view each element of design. Whether it was anatomy of #typography by understanding letterform alongside major Latin font groupings or going off the grid to capture abstract compositions by not always following the design playbook( I would have done it with this article if LinkedIn allowed me). This Masterclass really inspired me to look at everything in a new way. Here are three important things I found to be extremely precious from the class that I think any designer can gain from.

Make Your Mark

The elaboration given to #logo design and its relevance was key for me as I have found this creative process very special. It is widely known that the best logos demonstrate what both the brand and its audience represent, and what sets them apart from the competition. The relevance of simplicity, striking uniqueness and a message well communicated is the foundation of a great logo. Keeping that all in mind, it’s crucial that all visual elements – from color palette to typefaces, text alignment, photography style, and copywriting– share a cohesive approach. The most powerful logo provides a versatile backbone that supplies endless possibilities without losing its recognisability.?

“A logo is an image, just like a word is an image,” says David. “A logo is something we want to recognize from a distance, that people want to put on their hats, T-shirts, certainly their website, and maybe their expensive car, too.” - David Carson

Ripped From The Headlines

A 'Hero of Deconstruction', the way David Carson has shared about the unmentioned obsession around #collageart really made me happy. His goal with collaging is to be able to show how much can be conveyed through graphics without using words. It is about realizing that an abstract visual can communicate relevant, grounded ideas with more than an emotion. The endless possibilities that one can generate through colours, textures and contrast that compliment each other in distinct ways. That’s the Collage Life.

The Business End

Every designer understands that winning #work is simply the first step. Next is to make the magic happen. The truth is, each client wants something new and different, but in the best way possible. In order to make it happen, the best insights were given in this chapter. Starting from pushing your creative #imagination with the extra force of your #strengths to making your work visible through the wide range of options that reflect your #authenticity, all of this results in extraordinary results. It is necessary to factor that your performance has to be good for the right reason, which is not just for a payout but for the purpose of it being a work of art. Such strong beliefs will always lay a foundation for the next great thing.

I think David Carson has changed my outlook by helping me find a different perspective to shuffle between the many I have created as a #design student. In the end, I loved it when he said, “I stay away from anything that feels too popular—too common, too forgettable.” This inspired me the most and I am excited to continue my journey as a #designer after having experienced his MasterClass .