reaction to Chimero's advice.

"Frank Chimero's Advice To Graphic Design Students" article can be found here (thanks MML).

Advice is just that, the automated thoughts associated with a given topic. We fuse together our thoughts of advice based on our own observations, be that first-hand, second-hand, or many sets of mouths later. With that idea, it makes sense that much of what Chimero stated I knew or had heard before, but that did not make any of it less important. Graphic design or being a creative is about interacting with everything and not necessarily putting one experience before another.

As designers we are merely interpreting data in a visual language, same as foreign language interpreters, translating information in one format to another. The great and difficult part about our language as designers is knowing the correct layout, wording, imagery and appeal to attain the target audience and inform them. Through our process we figure that out all of that, as well as battle our own demons, which sometimes get in the way of executing the designs. To be a great + effective designer, we must constantly re-observe + re-experience the world in as many ways as possible.

My favorite Chimero quotes that also helped to form the above response were:
“Sympathy is medicine."
“Aesthetics are fleeting, the only things with longevity are ideas.”
“Take things away until you cry.”
“The best communicators are gift-givers.”
“Look people in the eyes when you are talking or listening to them.”