Student Outreach: Quoted Archives

Smart Quote #44: Finding Inspiration

Quoted 06.07.12 posted by Student Editors

Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.

--Salvador Dalí

We found this quote on the awesome site Brainpickings, in a great article on the issue of inspiration and its more extreme form, plagiarism. Great food for thought.

Smart Quote #43: The Reality of a Passion as Business

Quoted 05.24.12 posted by Student Editors

What you need to decide, is if you really want to be a commercial photographer, or if you just like taking pictures. These are two very different things entirely and it's hard for many people to separate these two things. The Photographer from the Commercial photography business owner. You need to love the business side of things and the challenges that come with that.

--Photographer Steve Giralt in response to a student's question about becoming a photographer (via APhotoEditor)

If you're interested in becoming a photographer, Steve's answer is a must-read ... check out the whole thing here. And even if your career interest lies elsewhere, his advice above rings true. It's one thing to do something for fun, as a hobby. It's another to make it your business.

Get more awesome Smart Quotes here.

Smart Quote #42: Dream Jobs

Quoted 03.21.12 posted by The Editors

... don't wait to get assigned your "dream job", it may never happen. Assign yourself, and go and do it. I fully appreciate this can be expensive, but you have to find a way. I am always asking favors of people, and seeing how I can cut corners to save money. Some friends will work for you for free. Your excitement is contagious. But clients are unlikely to assign you work if you can't show them you've already done it. The good idea is hugely important in all this.

--Photographer Andrew Southam in a Q&A over on APhotoEditor.com

Get more Smart Quotes here.

#41: Never Stop

Quoted 04.25.11 posted by Student Editors

I think there is a misconception, especially that students have and I really make a point when I speak at schools to talk about the fact that you never really arrive. You are always working towards something but you never stop. I think there is this crazy idea that you get somewhere and then everything is cool.

--photographer Dan Winters, as stated in an interview on A Photo Editor where he gives a run-through of how he got started in photography.

#40: Type Considerations

Quoted 04.18.11 posted by The Editors

I can write the word 'dog' with any typeface and it doesn't have to look like a dog. But there are people that [think that] when they write 'dog' it should bark.
--Massimo Vignelli

The above quote was mentioned in a UMagazinology blog post about alumni magazine design by designer Claude Skelton, recommended reading for any newbie designer (and some of us oldies too). To further Vignelli's point, Skelton writes:

"The main problem I'm having with many of the magazines I'm seeing is that too many designers are throwing the magazine's typographic identity out the window when it comes to feature stories. ... True, some consumer magazines use typography as art, and when it's done well it can restore your faith in print all over again--but those publications have world-class creative staffs and budgets to match. There are just as many consumer magazines that have a strong, consistent typographic identity and they manage to use it creatively throughout, even in features."

#39: More About Inspiration

Quoted 04.04.11 posted by The Editors

Honestly I don't believe in inspiration. Most good work of mine slowly emerges as the result of sustained hard work and incremental improvements, rather than a sudden flash of insight. Deadlines are inspirational.

--Doogie Horner (via the awesome website 10 Answers featuring interviews with a variety of artists and designers)

#38: Inspiration Is For Amateurs

Quoted 03.21.11 posted by The Editors

The advice I like to give young artists, or really anybody who'll listen to me, is not to wait around for inspiration. Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work.

--Chuck Close (see his full quote on our Tumblr, reblogged via kyleferrino)

#37: Design or Technology?

Quoted 02.28.11 posted by The Editors

Design or technology? Which is more important? Why? No question: Design. Apple without design would be the old Microsoft. JetBlue or Virgin Atlantic without design would be AirTran. More and more of the human experience is, or will be, enabled by technology, but you must add design to technology to make magic.

--Gaston Legorburu, worldwide chief creative officer of SapientNitro, from a Q&A in Communication Arts.

#36: No Slacking Off

Quoted 02.21.11 posted by The Editors

Show up for work, both in mind and body.
-Joseph Caserto, in his blog post on interning advice, a must-read for any current or aspiring intern, no matter your field.

Come hear Joe share more of his spot-on advice in our "Designer Jobs" panel at SPD-U March (Design) Madness on March 14. Sign up now, cause space is limited and filling up fast!

#35: The Difference Between Print and Digital

Quoted 02.14.11 posted by The Editors

I've compared print to new technologies by saying that the difference between reading on an iPad and reading a magazine is the difference between looking at a woman...and having sex with her.
--George Lois, in response to SMH Magazine's question about why print is still important is this increasingly-digital market. Read the full article (featured in our recent "New Work: Student Publications" post) here.

#34: Talent isn't much without Ambition

Quoted 01.10.11 posted by The Editors

All of us want to be good at our jobs, but how good do we really want to be? ... Talent helps, but it won't take you as far as ambition. Everybody wants to be good, but not many are prepared to make the sacrifices it takes to be great. Most people are looking for a solution, a way to become good. There is no instant solution, the only way to learn is through experience and mistakes. You will become whoever you want to be.

--Paul Arden, excerpted from his book It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be

#33: Imagine

Quoted 12.27.10 posted by The Editors

Imagination is more important than knowledge.

--Albert Einstein, as seen on the July page of this designer-friendly 2011 letterpress calendar designed by Fabien Barral

#32: Be Nice

Quoted 12.20.10 posted by The Editors

Sometimes the key to getting things done on time is having friendly relationships with the people in the mailroom, or the assistant to a photographer. It always pays to be nice.

--Megan Cummins, our 2007 Student Design Competition 2nd place winner.

Read more about what Megan learned during her prize internship here. And check out this year's competition rules and info here to win an internship (and money! and things!) of your own.

#31: Appreciate

Quoted 12.13.10 posted by The Editors

Talent recognizes other talent and shows appreciation for it, instead of envy.
--from John Maeda's Twitter feed, via the 99%

#30: A Touch of Color

Quoted 12.06.10 posted by The Editors

Having small touches of colour makes it more colourful than having the whole thing in colour.
--DIETER RAMS (via QuotesOnDesign.com)

Smart Quote #29: Go For It

Quoted 11.29.10 posted by The Editors

Don't be afraid to go out on a limb; that's where the fruit is.
--H. JACKSON BROWNE (quote and illustration via Handlettering Cite, a great blog featuring hand-lettered quotes by designer lettering artist Alexander Savakis, as well as others)

#28: Be Grateful

Quoted 11.22.10 posted by The Editors

In honor of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday...

The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude.
--FRIEDRICH NIETSZCHE

#27: Make Mistakes

Quoted 11.15.10 posted by The Editors

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.
--SCOTT ADAMS (via QuoteGarden.com)

#26: Just Do It

Quoted 11.08.10 posted by The Editors

A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.
--GEORGE S. PATTON (via the spine of GOOD magazine's May/June 2007 issue)

#25: Teamwork

Quoted 11.01.10 posted by The Editors

The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime.
--BABE RUTH (via BrainyQuote.com)

#24: Both Parties Should Be Happy

Quoted 10.25.10 posted by The Editors

Art is like masturbation. It is selfish and introverted and done for you and you alone. Design is like sex. There is someone else involved, their needs are just as important as your own, and if everything goes right, both parties are happy in the end.

--COLIN WRIGHT (via designwashere)

#23: Pay Attention to What Is There

Quoted 10.18.10 posted by The Editors

"Creativity often consists merely turning up what is already there. Did you know that right and left shoes were thought up only a little more than a century ago?"

--BERNICE FITZ-GIBBON (via 1designsource)

#22: Surprise Them

Quoted 10.11.10 posted by The Editors

"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity."
--GEORGE SMITH PATTON (via Design Quotes of the Day)

#21: Make Them Feel Something

Quoted 10.04.10 posted by The Editors

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
--MAYA ANGELOU (via QuotesOnDesign)

#20: Design or Decoration?

Quoted 09.27.10 posted by The Editors

Content precedes design. Design in the absence of content is not design, it's decoration.
--JEFFREY ZELDMAN (via DesignWasHere.com)

#19: Good Design Is...

Quoted 09.20.10 posted by The Editors

Good design is innovative.
Good design makes a product useful.
Good design is aesthetic.
Good design makes a product understandable.
Good design is unobtrusive.
Good design is honest.
Good design is long-lasting.
Good design is thorough down to the last detail.
Good design is environmentally friendly.
Good design is as little design as possible.
--DIETER RAMS (via DesignMuseum.org)

An industrial designer and the head of design at Braun (a German consumer electronics manufacturer), Dieter Rams wrote these 10 principles that guided his work. Learn more about him here.

Smart Quote #18: Design should...

Quoted 09.13.10 posted by The Editors

Smart Quote #17: Energy

Quoted 01.11.10 posted by The Editors

"ENERGY. It's 75% of the job. If you haven't got it, be nice." --Paul Arden

One of the world's greatest advertising creatives, Paul Arden (1940-2008) shares the above advice, wisdom and more in his book "It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want to Be.".

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday, or see past ones here. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Smart Quote #16: What's Your Passion?

Quoted 12.28.09 posted by The Editors

I think a good way to figure out your passions is to look at what you do when you're procrastinating from everything else. --Jessica Hische

That quote (and the above art--our little way of saying Happy Holidays) comes from the FAQ page of designer/illustrator/typographer/etc Jessica Hische. If you're a frequenter of design/craft blogs, you've probably seen links to her Daily Drop Cap blo g. She's done a ton of other great work, and she's a young'un too! Featured in Print, Communication Arts, STEP and by the Art Director's Club in their Young Guns competition, she's made quite a name for herself despite having graduated only 3 years ago in 2006. Check out her entire FAQ page for some awesome insight into design school, entering the real world and making a name for yourself.

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday, or see past ones here. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Smart Quote #15: Bad Leads to Good

Quoted 12.21.09 posted by The Editors

"It's important to take bad pictures. It's the bad ones that have to do with what you've never done before. They can make you recognize something you hadn't seen in a way that will make you recognize it when you see it again."
--Diane Arbus

The same applies to design or anything really. It's all about experimenting, trying to do the same old thing in new ways. That leads to innovation, to discovering something new. Sometimes it will work, sometimes it won't, but even from the failures, you'll learn something.

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The above quote comes from this 1000 Words Photography blog post, via A Photo Editor.

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday, or see past ones here. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Smart Quote #14: DO Stuff

Quoted 12.14.09 posted by The Editors

"Therein lies the best career advice I could possibly dispense: just DO things. Chase after the things that interest you and make you happy. Stop acting like you have a set path, because you don't. No one does. You shouldn't be trying to check off the boxes of life; they aren't real and they were created by other people, not you. There is no explicit path I'm following, and I'm not walking in anyone else's footsteps. I'm making it up as I go."
--Charlie Hoehn
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Smart Quote #13: Great is Not Trendy

Quoted 12.07.09 posted by The Editors

What makes great design "great" is not a trendy technique, but the logic and conceptual aspect that were figured out in the designer's mind--or on more likely, on paper--before a mouse cursor ever opened Photoshop.
--Kyle Meyer, interactive designer

The above quote comes from a thoughtful post on Kyle's blog, Astheria. Kyle is the lead user experience designer at Clockwork Active Media Systems in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and as such, his blog mainly addresses web design. However, many of his points can be applied to print design as well. And well, let's face it, even us die-hard print designers are having to learn the web stuff ... his blog is a good place to get some insight.

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Smart Quote #12: Hard Work and Luck

Quoted 12.01.09 posted by The Editors

Knowing what we wanted from design and having an idea of where we wanted to take our careers was huge. If you don't know what you want it's easy to end up designing credit cards, or the phone book. Creating goals big or small is a good way to avoid settling.

Also we are good at presenting ourselves. If you can't sell yourself and your ideas you will end up working for someone who can sell them for you.

Then comes luck. Luck doesn't seem to strike if you are sitting around smoking weed and tripping off your screen saver. When you work hard people will notice and in turn you will get better opportunities and be surrounded by like-minded people.

--Andre Andreev and G. Dan Covert

The above paragraphs are in response to the question "Are Great Designers Born or Made?" ... a question proposed by students like you to the authors of Never Sleep, a book about the transition from college to the professional world. Check out more great questions on their site here. And hear more from them this Thursday in their live DesignCast online session.

Got questions of your own like those? Then email us! We'll then post your question and our answer here.

And speaking of working hard, why not get started on your Student Design Competition entry!

Smart Quote #11: Not Art

Quoted 11.23.09 posted by The Editors

"For me, the mix of what we deal with as designers -- the mix of words, images and messages -- this is what I was meant to do. I like the fact that design is audience-related. I like the fact that it's not "art" and that you're typically collaborating with other people."

--Stefan Sagmeister

Stefan Sagmeister is a New York-based designer with his own firm, Sagmeister Inc. He's known for his provocative, sometimes controversial designs that are both humorous and sensational. Learn more about his work on his site ... he also has a section just for students, answering questions and addressing many of the frequently worried-about topics.

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The above quote is part of an interview with Sagmeister led by Debbie Millman in her book "How to Think Like A Great Graphic Designer" ... definitely recommended-reading for anyone in the creative field.

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Smart Quote #10: Technology

Quoted 11.16.09 posted by The Editors

"I'm not afraid of technology. Being a photographer, I always have to deal with technology, but I think technology makes people lazy and slow. ... The other day the electricity went off in the office, and all together they [the staff] got up. They stood up, with their hands in their pockets, and said, 'What do we do! We've got no electricity.' I was so mad. 'What do you mean you've got no electricity? You've got a brain!'"
--Oliviero Toscani, in conversation with Terry Jones in i-D magazine

Oliviero Toscani is a fashion photographer and creative director who was the mastermind behind Benetton's controversial advertising campaigns in the '80s and '90s. In the early 90s, he also cofounded the magazine Colors with graphic designer Tibor Kalman (check out many of their issues on the Colors Archive page).

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Thanks to the design blog UnBeige for this quote.

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Smart Quote #9: Details Count

Quoted 11.09.09 posted by The Editors

"You can do a good ad without good typography, but you can't do a great ad without good typography." --Herb Lubalin

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Smart Quote #8: the Art of Magazine-Making

Quoted 11.02.09 posted by The Editors

"There are many different views on what constitutes the perfect sequence of subjects or the rhythm of a magazine... The classic form is quite like that of a grand opera. You whet the appetite with the overture... Next the opera may introduce us to shorter passages and fragments of melodies, building up to the climax of a great aria... .
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Smart Quote #7: Inspiration

Quoted 10.26.09 posted by The Editors

"You know, it sounds really corny to say it, but since most of my projects are book jackets, for the most part I'm inspired by whatever the book is, or by the manuscript itself. And while there aren't a lot of graphic design "rules" that I adhere to, certainly one of them is...somewhere within the problem lies the solution. I do truly believe that. I think the inspiration comes from the text, and then you sort of take it from there."
--Chip Kidd

Best known for his book cover designs, Chip Kidd is an American graphic designer and also an author. His novel The Cheese Monkeys is an extremely fun read for any art or graphic design student, as it's based on his own experiences in school at Penn State. And while his main area of focus is book covers, any designer -- but especially editorial designers -- can take his advice above to heart.

Check out some of his work here, here and here.

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The above quote comes from the book Inspirability: 40 Top Designers Speak Out About What Inspires by Pash. A great source of inspiration in itself!

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.
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Smart Quote #6

Quoted 10.19.09 posted by The Editors

Design is the method of putting form and content together.

Design, just as art, has multiple definitions; there is no single definition.

Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics.

Design is so simple, that's why it is so complicated.

--Paul Rand

You can't get through design school--or life, for that matter--without encountering Paul Rand and his work. Although he is known largely for his corporate logo designs (such as IBM, Westinghouse and ABC), he got his start in page design, first for Apparel Arts magazine and then Esquire at the ripe "old" age of 23, followed by Direction magazine. Learn more about him and see his work here.

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Thanks to Donna Reiss, Art Director of Garden Design and American Photo magazines, for sharing this inspiring quote with us. If you find inspiration or motivation in a particular quote, we'd love to hear it and share it. Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday.

Smart Quote #5

Quoted 10.12.09 posted by The Editors

A good photo is one that communicates a fact, touches the heart and leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it. It is, in a word, effective. --Irving Penn, legendary photographer

As you've probably heard, American photographer Irving Penn died this past Wednesday. Known for his fashion and portraiture photography, he helped shape the path of fashion magazines and photography in general.

Images above from artnet.com See photo editor Greg Pond's reflection of Mr. Penn on our GRIDS blog, here.

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"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Smart Quote #4: Engage

Quoted 10.05.09 posted by The Editors

"Without an active engagement with the material, I'd think the job [of editorial designer] would be minimally rewarding. You need a willingness to read the material, to discuss it thoughtfully and passionately, and to develop visual components that expand the read while still working within the publication's architecture." --Martin Venezky, designer of Speak magazine

That quote comes from Yolanda Zappaterra's book Art Direction and Editorial Design (Abrams Studio) (a great resource, by the way). Wanna know more about this Martin guy and Speak magazine? Click here and here.

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

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Smart Quote #3: Fear is Good

Quoted 09.28.09 posted by The Editors

It's important to feel confident so that you are willing to take risks, but don't get too comfortable even though you are longing to be. Fear is often a good catalyst.
--Debra Bishop, creative director of More

That quote comes in response to the question: "What is the key to producing constant, memorable work over a number of years?" We put that question to her and many others in our book Solid Gold: 40 Years of Award-WInning Magazine Design which you can buy directly from us or other sources of course.

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog ... look for more wise words every Monday. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Smart Quote #2: Internships Work

Quoted 09.21.09 posted by The Editors

"If you want to be involved in the magazine industry in any capacity, whether it be photo research, fashion or editorial, start interning while in college! Take it seriously. An internship isn't a full-time job, but it is a very good way of setting a foundation. If you are a hard worker and approach your internship in a professional manner, people will see that and be more willing to hire you rather than sift through a stack of rÃ©sumÃ©s."

--Kathryn Hurni, Photo Research Editor, W magazine, as quoted in a December 2008 PDN.edu interview

That's what Kathryn Hurni of W magazine says when asked for advice for aspiring photo editors in this interview with her and Mardi Miski, photo assistant at Teen Vogue. Don't forget to sign up by midnight tonight for Thurdsay's Pub Crawl if you want to hear more from Kathryn and the rest of the W magazine staff about how the magazine comes together and what you can do to get a job like theirs.

"Smart Quote" is a recurring feature on the SPD Student Blog... look for more wise words every Monday. Got an inspiring or motivating quote to share? Email us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

Smart Quote #1: Join the Community

Quoted 09.14.09 posted by The Editors

Learn from colleagues: Belong to professional associations; enter contests; read FOLIO: and attend conventions. --Ruth Thaler-Carter, as quoted in the fall 2008 issue of FPO Magazine

Ruth Thaler-Carter may be a writer and not a designer, but that's good advice for any field. Here's our two cents to make it a little more designer-friendly...

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