Post #599800 by THOR's on Fri, Jul 29, 2011 8:14 AM

HOLDEN! OK NOW I see what you are referring to as "digital" art for mug aps! COOL!! This looks a lot like the stuff I am seeing done in z-brush and sculptress associated programs. Is that what made this or was it a Maya or other? NO question, an excellent tool for getting an image translated into multi dimension and built with that in mind.

I just had a few conversations with students up at Art Center a few day ago regarding all this stuff. The things up there they are creating are mind blowing. I may be back to teaching soon up there and will learn more as I teach and share what I can regarding design and storytelling in design. Digital and non. The one thing fully agreed is...the tool is no greater than the mind and idea it is guided by. If the idea or "story" is not strong and able to maintain that strength in the simplest of tools, no computer or fancy machine will make it better. You just end up with a "well polished chunk of visual noise" as one student phrased it. So, we have to explore the context.

You and I already talked on this mug, so I won't go into it too much other than if you are putting it out for open "critique" and want honest feedback in this thread my thoughts are this connected to digital context. I ask myself, What is the subject of the mug and is this telling as much of a story about the subject at first glace as possible? Is the shape and key feel doing this..before it has type on it? After that...digital art may come in and the process support a production in full dimension and support the digital tool's effectiveness. It doesn't mean more is better either. As a design problem given, it actually gets harder to boil down what makes an image or object capture a "story" or subject. "The Bahooka" to me is little round booths surrounded by aquariums, barrel lights, lots of raised grain wood textures with organic cut outs framing fish and and nautical charm. "Rufus" too...but as a character in this set work. I personally don't feel that just fish and the sea grass and bubbles and the large fish I just happen to know is Rufus cus I know the intent was that, speaks and captures "Bahooka" to me as best as it could be. Again, this is just an "artists critique" like I am used to doing and receiving and the intent is ONLY passion for an exciting "enchanting" design outcome.

I am anxious to see the prototypes on mugs sculpted this way though. If these can be put next to mugs created by human hands and hold up to the organic charm of the styles of the sculptors past that have set the standards on what we like about the look and feel of a mug. This is a fantastic tool in getting faster communication and process and I hope to see more!!

Have a great weekend all!