archie tolentino
(210 )
Artist Info
| 9:30:00 AM Wednesday, December 10, 2008
I was just wondering, how far has kicksguide gone since it began? I browse the site religiously and perpetually but I can't really seem to think or measure or put into words how has it been really in the design scene in this site. I mean, I look at past artist series works and for me and I think there is a decline in the design sense(including me) judging from the present works, not to take away anything from anyone or pinpoint anyone in particular for that matter, I just think that the usual format of how things are done or work is judged could be tweaked a little, maybe put into consideration the production process or there could be certain specific limitations for monthly themes except of course for the theme itself. I don't know. What do you guys think? Suggestions on improving the creative grind around here. |
archie tolentino
(210)
Artist Info
| 9:34:00 AM Wednesday, December 10, 2008
BTW, the first local sneaker magazine here in the Philippines, Ms.Clavel was launched last monday, too bad I wasn't able to attend.
Check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VurTQZ5AlHw
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archie tolentino
(210)
Artist Info
| 9:38:00 AM Wednesday, December 10, 2008
does this work?
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VurTQZ5AlHw][/url]
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Nick Huber
(154 )
Artist Info
| 10:40:00 AM Wednesday, December 10, 2008
I dont know if there is a decline in design sense. I think that just like anything else some months are better than others. If you look at the work from this year (as a whole) it is better than years past. You are def right about consideration of production process. I dont think that people should go to crazy though in focussing on production, this site is all about blue sky and what if, but some stitch lines would be nice to see. I think that the rating system some times turns into a popularity contest, or a pretty rendering contest, rather then rating the concept. I find myself rarely agreeing with the ranking of shoes each month. All and all this site is a great one for learning how to be better footwear designers. Many designers owe their career to this site and the helpful feed back of the moderators and readers. Speaking of careers im searching again so if you know of something hit me up. :D In the mean time ill now have more time to enter these competitions again.
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Titus Ares
(101)
Artist Info
| 1:12:00 PM Wednesday, December 10, 2008
i don't know if you guys remember the whole debacle with one of the former regulars, but he would give everyone 5's while giving his designs all 10's. he said it would balance out because he felt everyone was low-balling his stuff. it turned into a whole 3-pager on the forums, but anyway, he pouted about it and ended up leaving the site (or at least he stopped contributing).
i think that in terms of design, archie is right, KG hit it's pinnacle a while back, but it's not due to a lack of talent visiting the site. i think that with our field getting more and more exposure and recognition, people are more cautious about putting work up (mostly newbie designers who feel their ideas are wholly original and are scared to get it stolen). also, the talent here may be finding jobs, thus restricting what they can contribute to a public site because they work for a private company with strict guidelines on intellectual property.
i think that criteria should be tightened up, but then that opens up a whole new can of worms. i mean, entries come in all mediums, whether it be marker, pencil, cad, ps...who's to say which one is better? i mean, it can be pretty but what if the actual shoe itself sucks and would never work? on the other hand, the judges also have to take into account innovation and creativity. look at alpha project's works...some of it is crazy, but due to his creativity (with mostly marker, mind you), he's earned a spot as a hero to most of us.
i think in the end, as long as you did what you could, it's all up to the judges. at least you get another piece to put in your portfolio, right? |
Nick Huber
(154)
Artist Info
| 2:42:00 PM Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Titus i think you are right. As far as the scoring goes i think they have done a good job making it more honest in the last year since people have to put their name behind the score they give and why. i think thats how it works, its been a while since ive entered.
" think in the end, as long as you did what you could, it's all up to the judges. at least you get another piece to put in your portfolio, right?"
Ironically the only 2 kicksguide shoes in my portfolio are 2 of my 3 lowest scoring shoes. haha go figure.
but like i said before this site is all about growing as a designer. If you thing the designs are falling off then it is time to step up to the plate and knock one out of the park.
people should not be afraid to show their work because it might get stolen. you dont get a job and paid because of the ideas you had in the past. you get a job because of the ideas you are going to have. |
Titus Ares
(101)
Artist Info
| 3:25:00 PM Wednesday, December 10, 2008
"people should not be afraid to show their work because it might get stolen. you dont get a job and paid because of the ideas you had in the past. you get a job because of the ideas you are going to have."
right on, nick. a lot of my friends who are in design of some sort ask me why i post so much stuff up on the internet when there's going to be a chance of getting stuff ripped off or stolen...and i tell them that regardless of how unique we may feel our ideas are, they've probably already been concieved by someone else, somewhere else. hell, i got my lebron logo design ripped off by someone here on this very site...and they put it on THEIR lebron shoe and submitted it as an entry. it's funny how KG even commented on it (i inserted it as an image below). the point is, it shouldn't deter folks from contributing...i mean, imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery, and in the end, those guys aren't designers anyway, they're rip-off artists.
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stephen christian
(402)
Artist Info
| 5:36:00 PM Wednesday, December 10, 2008
on the point of grading criteria, i still think it would be optimal if each rendering had a few different categories. categories like ingenuity, plausibility, aesthetics, things like that, would be a fair way to judge things. it would help out the artist if their concept scored an 8, but the aesthetic quality received only a 4. it would bring more balance to the table, in my opinion. one think i don't know is whether or not this site has that sort of rating capability.
one more element that would be interesting would be contests where the entries could be only pencil/marker renderings (even though the use of photoshop could trick people on that front...)
just a few pennies from my pocket... |
archie tolentino
(210)
Artist Info
| 6:49:00 PM Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Nick, I agree that some months there is that chance that the prettiest rendering gets the highest rank, I think that roots from the fact that most of us here are really learning to design and most of the time is taken away by such presentation techniques that they fail to critique with much sense. I also agree that we are getting attention because of what we are able to do, maybe what we've done in the past serves as a record but ultimately designers are designers, finding inspiration and being able to see things in another perspective. Copy me? I say go ahead, you will never be satisfied or understand fully my design, heck, there's more where that came from.
Titus, I agree on your attitude on the ripping-off. One time or another, copycats would get what they deserve. True talent will always show, and that can never be ripped-off.
Stephen, I think that is a great idea. The judging on a criteria. That way we could know and point out what areas of the work we/they did good, either a pretty rendering or a great idea, or both or whatever. Then we could get the average to get the final rating. I really don't know what to do on the popularity issue though, It will always play a role in the rating not unless we take a subjective take on the process of rating, It will ultimately depend on us, the contributors, spectators and visitors.
Nick, I'm wondering now if you rated my work and what you commented. LOL |
Nick Huber
(154)
Artist Info
| 11:51:00 PM Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Archie: i dont think i voted in either of the months that you have renderings submitted. I have been away from the site for about a year, only checking in occasionally. I hope to contribute more to the site to improve my game and if i can help some else out that would be great too. Its a hard world out there for us young designers and we got to stick together and help each other out. |
archie tolentino
(210)
Artist Info
| 10:51:00 AM Thursday, December 11, 2008
yes, let's do that and I hope all of us would be more serious, take more responsibility and caution in rating this year. Don't you guys get tired of getting comments like "nice rendering" or "great work" or any of those so I say safe or cliche type of remarks? Anyway, let's take this site a step further this season, er this year.
Just a question, "rendering of the year" corresponds to the best rendering and not the best design right? I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, I'm just asking. |
Ryan Holler
(1145 )
Moderator
Artist Info
| 2:53:00 PM Friday, December 12, 2008
Footwear/fashion design is a living/breathing thing, constantly evolving. I don't think a confident designer is overcome by fear of his/her ideas being stolen. There will ALWAYS be more to come from the exact same place my best past ideas did. That's my mindset. Do I know my ideas can be taken and used plagiaristically? Yes, of course, but it did not deter me in the least before I started doing this for a living. Showing your work will help you far more than it will hurt you. And I challenge ANYONE to make a case otherwise. |
archie tolentino
(210)
Artist Info
| 1:51:00 AM Saturday, December 13, 2008
New Kobe's... It looks too plain for a Kobe shoe... what about you guys? What do you think?
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justin taylor
(363)
Artist Info
| 3:37:00 AM Saturday, December 13, 2008
I totally agree with Ryan. Not to mention that if your idea is stolen, it will be a many months before the shoe is actually available to the public. By then, if you are truely growing as a designer, you should be on to bigger and better things. |
stephen christian
(402)
Artist Info
| 9:15:00 AM Saturday, December 13, 2008
i like the new kobe's. looks like a solid ball shoe. keeping it simple. now if nike would just take all patent leather out of their kicks, the world would be a better place. unless it's the AJXI. of course.
ideas get stolen all the time. once it's online, i think that's called public disclosure. i agree, if you had good ideas then, you'll have good ideas now, and you probably will down the line as well. |
Ryan Holler
(1145)
Moderator
Artist Info
| 5:34:00 PM Saturday, December 13, 2008
Wow, Justin! As I wrote my little sermon above, some of my thoughts were exactly what you just stated. I just didn't want to dilute my first point within the same post. Very well put on your part, and right on time! |
archie tolentino
(210)
Artist Info
| 10:25:00 PM Saturday, December 13, 2008
OK, so, on to another question, how is the design industry there considering the current economic situation? The latest news I've heard are the Detroit automakers troubled finances. Are you guys there also affected? Anyone losing regular jobs or company's down sizing recently? |
Nick Huber
(154)
Artist Info
| 12:44:00 AM Sunday, December 14, 2008
Yes, the economic situation is affecting design jobs, I lost my job because of it. Now im waiting tables again and even that is being affected. Restaurant sales are down and so are tip percentages. |
johnny szabo
(890 )
Artist Info
| 5:01:00 AM Sunday, December 14, 2008
Damn, its a sad thing but if companies are gonna cut their budgt, then designers are in the worst situation if you ask me. Since then they'll say that they dont need as much innovation they just want to amke it through this period, am I wrong?
Kobe's are nice if you ask me, Are there gonna be high cut one's? Have ya'll seen the new LeBron's? Those are dope on my opinion.
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Ryan Holler
(1145)
Moderator
Artist Info
| 11:59:00 AM Monday, December 15, 2008
Archie, here's how it's affecting me... Revisions, revision, revisions; each round aiming to lower the materials/production cost. And creatively, it's both stifling and stimulating. Your original ideas are not allowed to grow freely, but when the stripping-down of the shoe is put back on you, the designer, you have a choice... (1) get pissed and let a bad attitude affect your work, or (2) accept it as a new challenge and go knock it out. The latter will likely produce the best results for your company and makes you more valuable to them.
That's what you have to concentrate on. You can't let fear affect your attitude or creativity, because its impact will always be negative. It's no different from most other jobs. |
Ryan Holler
(1145)
Moderator
Artist Info
| 12:16:00 PM Monday, December 15, 2008
It's cool to see a designer's "sig moves" pop up across 2 different brands. Both of these shoes were likely designed by Chris Brewer, years apart. He's worked for Mizuno, then Fila, now Under Armour. Check out the toe of each design...
Brewer is responsible for designing all the midsole technologies used by each of those brands' performance running collections...
• Mizuno - Wave
• Fila - Flow
• UA - Cartilage |
Christoph Döttelmayer
(445)
Artist Info
| 4:25:00 PM Monday, December 15, 2008
on this colorway the yellow Under Armour shoe looks really cool.
But on the website, it just looks like every other normal running shoe. On the other hand, their new Prototype series really stands out. I think there is too less " WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE " in this one! |
Titus Ares
(101)
Artist Info
| 4:31:00 PM Monday, December 15, 2008
i think that's cool how a designer has a "go-to" or "sig move". i mean, i think it's more prevalent with artists because they're all defining themselves with their individual style (dali and his melting of images is one example), but with industrial designers, since we're usually designing for other folks, it's more about creating a different experience with every idea. if it really is brewer's flare that he's infused into multiple shoes, i think that's awesome...as long as he doesn't sacrifice overall design just to put his own personal stamp on a product. |
Ryan Holler
(1145)
Moderator
Artist Info
| 5:52:00 PM Monday, December 15, 2008
Titus, I think what makes his little "Brewerism" so cool is that he did it while keeping with each of those brands' respective design languages. The two shoes don't look like they are from the same brand, but if you're looking for it, you can see his signature on both. |
Ryan Holler
(1145)
Moderator
Artist Info
| 5:59:00 PM Monday, December 15, 2008
At all three brands he's worked for, he's used plastic mid-sole components for support and heel-to-toe transition aids. You see Mizuno and UA above. To see some work he did at Fila go here...
http://www.endless.com/Fila-Mens-Flow-Sanctuary-Running/dp/B000Q6T2WK |
Titus Ares
(101)
Artist Info
| 7:13:00 PM Monday, December 15, 2008
very true...you must have followed his work very closely to be able to see and recognize his work, huh? it's either that or you saw the work, found out it was from that particular designer, and THEN drew the comparisons.
that's interesting. any other designers in the industry have a signature form or style that they know of? |
archie tolentino
(210)
Artist Info
| 10:49:00 AM Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Ryan, I agree with you, endless revisions, always looking to something that would lower costs, I encounter that everyday at work. It drives me crazy. Practicality is always the top priority specially in these times. I sometimes become a middle man in design development, something purely design is handed-off to me then I try to incorporate the concept of the design into something logical and buildable. I enjoy the problem solving part of it, but then explaining it to the client is the difficult part, they always look for something more, in this case less expensive. |
Ryan Holler
(1145)
Moderator
Artist Info
| 1:21:00 PM Tuesday, December 16, 2008
I haven't been following his work long. I've only been running for a couple years. I found out about him maybe 6 months ago through Mike Rush, my local running store owner, when he told me that Under Armour had hired a designer formerly of Mizuno and Fila. I asked his name and he told me Chris Brewer. It seems he lays pretty low though. You can't research him very well online. |
Christoph Döttelmayer
(445)
Artist Info
| 2:06:00 AM Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Merry Christmas to everyone! |
johnny szabo
(890)
Artist Info
| 8:47:00 AM Thursday, December 25, 2008
Yeah, Merry Christmas ya'll! |
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