I'm having a blue moment...

I've just gotten back from much life travels and have been catching up on blogs and twitters. Twittering, that just doesn't sound right does it. Better yet, can I tweet you :-) I remember the first time I said I needed to Google some software, I thought my husband would laugh his, well you know. Google is now part of everyone's lexicon.

 Yet I have found a flaw in Google. Mind you I would love to own a piece of that company. They are geniuses in current technology. An area I am not in the least savvy on, but admire their approach to artificial intelligence. Simplifying a complicated process and making it mass market friendly. I even like saying the word, "google". You know to go ogle. Look at something with envy. How many companies envy this behemoth of a search engine.

Yet there is that flaw, and I am sure it will be addressed as they are smart ones there. Their top designer, Doug Bowman, just resigned to head off for other pastures leaving a really frank report on why. Without blaming, he was  respectful of Google's stance. He understood their constraints were not ones he could work within. Google's left brain is not balanced with it's right.

It was all summed up in a blue moment, 41  shades of blue.  There was an instance when  a designer chose a shade of blue, but  conflict when a product manager chose a different shade. The Vice President of Search Product and User Experience decided to settle things by choosing a color in the middle then getting data on 41 shades of blue and find which color people hit on the most. 

While every good designer knows that you have to understand the market you are trying to reach. Which is their job to know what appeals to a prospective client. Researching 41 shades of blue is overkill. There are too many variables in the test. In the Carolinas, you test people from Duke and they will hate that sky blue of UNC, but love that dark navy of their alma mater. Psychology affects choices.

A good designer also knows sometimes their job is to create the atmosphere where people are compelled to use their product just by the ambiance of the whole package. I think of Starbucks.

No way in college would I have thought to pay four dollars for a coffee. Yet, I migrate to Starbucks  on a regular basis. Why, because I was sucked in with the rest of you. I don't even like coffee. I like the atmosphere of people talking and working. The offerings that are custom made. The opportunity to meet a business associate in a non-work setting is appealing, breaking up the drearydom of offices or worksites. I don't think Starbucks did a market test on 41 colors of brown. They looked at the whole package, the integrated design and how the whole picture came together. That would be the ultimate in micromanaging.

Having said that, I am a colormaniac. I notice the slightest incremental difference and it is one of the areas I am called in to consult on quite a bit. My ability with color is a natural affinity as a singer would have to perfect pitch.  There are issues with the methodology Google is using to choose colors. Perfect blue cannot be found simply by presenting a color swatch.

Because color is affected by light, unless you take the two into consideration together, well it will skew your results. In your own home watch the color shift of your walls as lighting changes during the hours of a day. If it is a computer, lighting the screen will be crucial in the effect. Try going to your local Best Buy and look at the same picture on several different manufacturer screens. The colors are all slightly different. Televisions are the same as well. So, testing 41 different colors of blue is a waste of time/dollars. Also, placing a blue next to different colors will trick the eye into making that color view in a different shade. Look at blue next to white, red, green, yellow and orange. (A great technical reference on this is Color Index) Pairings make a huge difference.  Add to that the psychology. Color design involves the whole package.

So, I will forgive Google, for its faux pas in overuse of their left brained mentality. I certainly couldn't have written the program for a search engine and I'm sure they can find fault with my use of internet technology. The only difference being I've never tried to tell a techie how to do their business. 

Okay, let me have my smug moment.

Cheers.  

Mr. Pink and a Right Directed Brain please...

1. Daniel Pink wrote a book, wrote several books really, but the one I just read was about right and left brain and the conceptual age.

2. Daniel Pink's book was on the table next to the chair where my husband, Al,  fell asleep while in B&N. (On his behalf, we just returned from a birthday celebration) I noticed it while off to get us a cup of coffee.

3. Daniel Pink's book, " A Whole New Mind", broke my time limit of handling a book in B&N, so I had to buy it. (Time limit is 60 seconds. It's just good manners after handling something long enough to get a decent sample of DNA)

4. Read Daniel Pink's book. Found Daniel Pink's website, twitter and his speaking schedule.

5. Daniel Pink was to speak in Savannah at SCAD, Trustees Theatre. A mere 4 hours away on the upcoming Friday, following stop on this speaking leg Korea.

6. Decided to go hear Daniel Pink speak. If I am going to recommend, I have to meet the person myself somehow. So, I chose to go to Savannah, Korea doesn't have pirates.

7. Daniel Pink spoke on the first really spring like day of the year. He kept it brief, witty, honest and educational. Realized this is a keeper, a moment.

Okay,  the lists thing was for Dan, he likes lists.  As an ex-speechwriter he also says repetition with humor is good. 

Dan did a Q&A-where he was asked everything except how to attain world peace. He responded with genuine interest and wisdom. 

Notice first picture below, in which I was fortunate to get a derriere shot (bad  photo design).

 and the second photo which caught Dan staring in my direction. Probably because I just took a flash shot of a guy's bottom, really up close.

Good news was that Dan was going to sign some of his books.  Just couldn't bear to have him sign the paperback I've written in and page-wore in just a week. Al opted to pick up a proper hardback plus added Dan's other books as well. Thoughtful husband then told me I couldn't use the hardback, it was to go on one of our library shelves. Now, Dan, I never heard him say that before. We know you must be pleased.

From a lifelong designer, who has battled the L-Directed brain business mentality for years. Thanks. I too believe it takes both sides of the brain to be successful in the coming economy, in life really. An integrated partnership, or should I say a symphony. 

I'll only say this once. Read it over several times, because if you don't read, " A Whole New Mind", you will be left in the dust in our new conceptual age. This designer says, thanks Dan and thanks to SCAD for making it possible.

And please, I know the photo below looks like I a begging, I'm not. Just talking with my hands. I'm not let out from the studio much. Cheers.

Challenges

Really, working in a left brain leaning world is difficult. I say things and people cock their head sideways like a dog...the body language of "huh". (Yes, that is my dog Zoe you see here) If one more person tells me we've never done it like that before, arghhh!  

Then really that's why we have right/left brain leaning people. We both need each other. I never thought I would have to design with words and symbols, instead of paper and pencil. Now, I design using the best of both worlds. By hand and with a computer. I'm faster by hand, but changes are easier made with computer. Integrated design. It saves time and money. 

Now, I'm trying to grasp the left brain of technology by integrating facebook and twitter,  with my regular work. I have to go where my clients go, and they are mobile enabled. (Twitter me @redbydesign)

Tip for everyone: life is changing, market is plunging. It is a good time for creativity and innovation. Historically, it is the time designers are more needed than ever. In times of affluence and plenty, people feel free to jump in and make mistakes-no master plan needed. When money is tight, well there is less room for error and designers are in demand. It's easy to prove my theory, look at previous years Oscar fashions, then look at this year. Better choices by far.

On days, when I have to venture to the left brain side with technology, Well, I'll do what I've got to do to meet deadline: I revert to playing "Right Round" (click it on playlist below) on the ipod and go with the flow till the chore is over.