David Carson

My history with graphic design started several years ago when I fell into a job at a copy and print center.  I wasn’t always interested in graphics but I picked it up quickly and learned every thing I could with our limited resources.  I enjoyed my job.  I was going to school to major in Sociology.  “But what do you want to do?” people would ask.  “I want to work in advertising.” And how does that relate to Sociology? Well Sociology is the study of people and society and how people interact to the world around them.  I think people with the greatest understanding of people and society have the best understanding of how to influence people through advertising and graphic design.  This is one of the reasons I was fascinated to learn that David Carson had a degree in Sociology. 

David Carson first got my attention with his “Hanging at Carmine Street.”

In this image Carson uses text as more than just text.  He goes beyond what we think the boundaries are for text and uses it as part of the artwork and not meant to be read.  It is mean to be visually enjoyed and has a meaning in its own.  It is supposed to symbolize and evoke the feeling of "hanging." Being free, having fun, at the pool.  I think the term thinking outside the box fits nicely here.  The idea of most designs it to make the audience feel something and make them remember what they have seen. 

In this next image David Carson uses text for the image itself. 

Carson forms the text to the shape of a face.  The text is not supposed to be legible but just visual.  Carson used many irregular shapes in his designs and this shows his use of "normally diminutive picture captions enlarged into prominent design element." 

This image is one of my favorites.  Carson makes this image look like a photo copy.  The text is faded and slightly illegible but I can read "hollywood the 4th international design conference in Aspen" and the date.  My eye is directed the the match and the red title.  The match feels symbolic to Bernhard and his influence in design.  It is simple in its own way but still has much going on.  Carson makes it so his artwork has to be deciphered by the reader.  Sometimes it is hard to know what is important to read and what is there just to be visual. 

I really like David Carson's work.  I also can see how lots of his creative freedom is due to modern technology and the ability to do many things faster and easier.  I cannot imagine how difficult and  frustrating accomplishing designs such as these would have been without the use of technology today.  Graphic Design would have missed out on so much had it not been for computers and software.  I am excited to see what other advancements we will have in the future in graphic design and other artist that otherwise would not have had the tools to accomplish amazing work,