Aainaism

Flowery designs on a business card, too many words on a greeting card, too many images on a poster and too much information on a logo. These are few of many things that can make design look immature and unsophisticated. One rule that has always been prevalent in design is “less is More” and you can never go wrong when following this rule. Intriguing design shows its audience what’s been conveyed rather than telling them. The less a designer shows in a particular piece of design, the more others are compelled to ask questions about it. I believe that a certain design is successful when the audience that it’s catering to actually relates to the design.

In a poster for an event or an organization, it’s most important to apply the rule of “less is More.” Today’s generation is always on its toes, running from home to work and work to the supermarket, etc. People today have no time to stand at one place and look at things around them. It’s a designers responsibility to make them look at their poster. The average time that a designer has to capture people’s attention is 4 seconds. So, the poster has to be appealing and simple enough for people to glance at it in 4 seconds and grab their interest. If a poster passes the “4-second test” (as my teacher likes to call it), it’s a successful poster. In order for it to pass the 4-second test, it needs to be special, different from other posters around it. This is where “Less is More” comes in. Keeping the poster to the point and witty is a must. How many times have you seen posters with pictures of a band and big type on it? Or a poster with a picture of books asking you to borrow money for college? Amidst poster like these always stands out a poster with minimal information and a strong message.

Lately, I have noticed that designers that design stationary systems for companies have managed to cut down on the amount of information they have on a letterhead, envelope and business card. I think this is a great idea as the world is changing in terms of the way people communicate now. An e-mail address should be the primary method of contact listed on a business card unless the nature of a particular business demands other methods of contact to be listed as well. The key point here is to keep is minimal. Just like crowding a small room with a lot of furniture can look messy, crowding a business card with a whole bunch of useless information can make it look cluttered and unappealing.

These days, I am trying to observe more and gather information on how the design world is changing in terms of creating more simplistic and sophisticated pieces. I believe in this “type” of design because sophisticated design is the kind of design that actually looks like it’s designed. I hope that made sense.

I had a wonderful opportunity of traveling in an airline that’s, well let’s just say different from the other leading airlines. I am talking about Sir Richard Branson’s well-thought out creation, Virgin America. So, what’s so different about Virgin America? Well, for one, the airplanes have a unique interior to them. It doesn’t feel like you’re entering into a regular airplane. The mood lighting throughout the airplane and the elegant seats add to the sleek interior.

Now, I am somewhat of a scaredy-cat when it comes to flying long distances [long distance for me = more than 1 hour]. I flew from San Francisco to New York and the total flight time was five hours and 25 minutes. The idea of going high up in the clouds in a big, heavy machine with so many other people inside it makes me, worried, to say the least. I wasn’t comfortable about flying this time either but since I had no other option, I decided to stay calm and focus on the positive. Much to my surprise, the take-off, actual flying time and landing were very smooth. The entertainment that Virgin America provides through the RED in-flight entertainment system added to the smooth flight as it kept me distracted and entertained. You can listen to songs from your favorite artists, watch music videos, play games, chat with friends or people on other seats and if that’s not enough, you can even enjoy 18 different channels. VA also lets you order food and drinks from the convenience of your seat. Simply choose what you’d like to order, swipe your credit card and you’re good to go. And the best part of that is that the food isn’t all that expensive. Talking about inexpensive, the fares are nominal and service is excellent, you’re sure to get a warm smile from the crew.

All in all, I had an awesome experience both ways and I’d love to fly with VA again, whatever chance I get.