Head of 2D Design Department at Cranbrook Academy of Art speaks to graphic design students at USU

By Ashlie Albrecht
 
Art students should be willing to forego the traditional rules of design they have learned in their schooling and use a process of trial and error to see what works for them, according to Elliott Earls, the designer-in-residence and head of the 2D Design Department at Cranbrook Academy of Art. On Thursday night, Earls gave a seminar to students from the Utah State University Art Department and encouraged this experimental thinking.

“My responsibility, I believe, is to the work and to the truth of the work, not to orthodoxy,” Earls said.

Instead of starting his presentation talking about his greatest successes, as he said most designers would, Earls instead began his presentation with an overview of his biggest failures, including being fired from two designing jobs. Through these experiences he said he learned it is possible to try too hard.

“My life has been deeply meaningful through the struggle, not through the successes and not through the failures, but through the absolute struggle,” Earls said.

Mike Daines, a graphic design professor at USU, hosted Earls’ visit to campus and thought the advice Earls had for students was very beneficial.

“I think a great thing that Elliot brings is understanding how to kind of flip the traditional design process and to think in a way that’s almost the reverse of what we usually teach students,” Daines said. “It’s exposing them to a different methodology in working within graphic design.”

Reed Brenchley, a USU graphic design student, was inspired by Earls’ lecture to try to create more eccentric pieces.

“I definitely want to be able to go past the boundaries and go past normal everyday stuff,” Brenchley said. “I do a lot of logos, page layouts, web design and traditional commercial things, but I want to get past that stuff and make things that are really interesting like Elliott does.”

 

 

USU holds first Monster Mural Contest

By Ashlie Albrecht

Participation in Utah State University’s first Monster Mural Contest was not as high as the creators had hoped, despite their attempts at recruiting contestants.

Abbie Lewis, who helped plan the contest, was disappointed in the low turnout of competitors. Only three people entered.

“I wish we would have received some more participation,” Lewis said. “We have had signs and fliers in our cafe and other operations for weeks. I received only two emails asking to participate.”

To enter, students needed to email Lewis to reserve their spot. Since only two students entered, Lewis had to ask an employee at the cafe where the contest was held to participate. Entries were created on both Monday and Tuesday in the Artist’s Block Cafe and Bakery located in the Fine Arts Visual Building. Contestants were asked to draw their best monster depiction onto the cafe’s chalkboard wall.

Aubrey Christensen, the winner of the competition which was judged on Wednesday, was notified of the contest when she saw a flier in the campus food court, The Hub.

“Later my friend, who works at the cafe, said nobody else had signed up and that I should do it,” Christensen said.

Lewis said the contest was created to help encourage imagination and to help students get into the spirit of Halloween.

“We did it to try and get more creative things on our chalkboard wall,” Lewis said. “There is so much potential there and we do get some amazing things, but more often we get little drawings. This contest was done to help promote artistic flow.” 

 

Parker Pratt, who competed in the contest, enjoyed the experience and looks forward to participating again next year.

“I had a great time drawing and trying out a new skill,” Pratt said.

Lewis hopes to continue the themed contests in the future and to engage more contenders.

“It was so fun to see the awesome murals that came from the participants,” Lewis said. “I am hoping to do more for each season.”