Madness Unleash

MAD in... Webdesign

2009-08-04T16:38:00.003+08:00

I've been blabbering about how M.A.D is part and parcel of everyday life. But, what about something more related to the creative industry?

Thought I'd start with webdesign (since it's something that I've had my nose in a couple times). How is M.A.D integrated into designing a simple, say, blogskin?

Well, let's first talk about the process of designing a blogskin.

You come up with a theme for your blog (or maybe you based the theme something you've created). From the theme, you conceptualize which parts of the blog goes where, and what content should be given a space on the skin. After you've decided what content is in and what is out, you proceed to lay the skin (ie. Layout of the blogskin). After you do the layout, you would either apply it to your own blog, or upload it onto, say, blogskins.com and hope that viewers like your blogskins and download them.

Now, let's split up the elements:

1. Design - the skin itself, the layout of the skin

2. Marketing - the conceptualization of the theme and what content is in, what content is out.

3. Advertising - uploading it onto a portal for others to view and download.

Now, what about if you use it on your own blog?

Chances are, if you use it on your own blog, you want to achieve:

1. Visual Appeal
2. Drive more traffic to your blog
3. Possibly some comments from viewers on how well done the skin is.

Knowing what you want to achieve is equivalent to Marketing. After you've applied the skin, you'd probably blast out to your friends, "Hey! I've just changed my blogskin! Go take a look!" That's Advertising.

So you see? Even in the simplest, and non-profit, design, M.A.D comes into play, whether you realise it or not.

Posted by: Vivienne, Programme Executive, School of Communication + Design

MAD in Everyday Life

2009-07-31T11:07:00.004+08:00

Many of you do not realize that, as long as there is design, there is marketing and advertising components intertwined within as well. What constitutes a good design? I guess the most general and all-encompassing answer would be something that appeals to the masses ( in general, as not all are inclined to view the same piece of art in the same light).

Think about it. What are some of the most common types of design you see everyday? I would have to say that one of the most prominent ones is image design.

What do I mean by IMAGE DESIGN? I mean you. Designing you persona. You do realize that it is a design in itself? What you choose to wear, how you choose to package yourself. PACKAGE. That's what image design is about. It's how you choose to PACKAGE yourself.

And how do you go about choosing how to PACKAGE yourself? You try to appeal. Who to? Everyone. So you think through your choices, what do you want others to see in you? That's the MARKETING part. You do your "research" (in this case, what are the traits the society view as GOOD?) and you work towards reaching out to your target (in this case, the society in general).

After you got your clothes chosen and nicely ironed out based on the decisions you made earlier, you put them on and leave the house, projecting your image with confidence. That's ADVERTISING for you. The execution of the idea, the theory.

THAT's everyday Marketing, Advertising, Design for you.

Posted by: Vivienne, Programme Executive, School of Communication + Design

What is MAD?

2009-07-29T15:08:00.002+08:00

Maybe the concept of Marketing, Advertising & Design sounds foreign to you - Maybe you don't realise how these 3 elements are integrated.

Marketing is the conceptualization of an idea or a product that will serve to benefit potential clients, as well as a set of skills that allow for communication of an idea, or the presenting of a product, to an audience of potential clients. Through aural and visual cues in a good marketing strategy, “want” and impulse can be created in the audience, leading them to respond positively to the ideas or products.

Advertising combines the various elements of design as well as marketing to reach out to an even bigger audience, bringing more potential clients. Through advertisements, the impact of the idea or product can be amplified, therefore crating a more intense feeling of "want" as well as increasing the impulse factor of the potential client.
Design is about using various elements to create visually stimulating and enticing pieces to express and present ideas, as well as to captivate and intrigue audiences. The best designs are able to leave a deep impression on the individual exposed to it therefore allowing the idea presented to be retained in the audience’s memory.

Posted by: Vivienne, Programme Executive, School of Communication + Design

What Madness?

2009-07-28T15:47:00.000+08:00

You know, I can just HEAR you asking yourself, 'What's this madness? What madness unleash?'

It's a good thing, seriously. Everything in this world is MAD. EVERYONE is MAD. Without MADness... life would be REALLY BORING...

Okay, so I guess I better make myself clear. MAD - Marketing, Advertising & Design - is the essence of life.

Imagine this : You see a cute girl (or guy, for that matter), and you want to make friends (and more) with said cutie. How does MAD come into play?

1. Marketing - You've zoomed in on your target. You want to catch the cutie's attention. You form a concept of what the cutie likes based on various cues - his/her dressing, his/her speech, etc. You then move on to close your target. But, first, how do you catch the cutie's attention?

2. Advertising - So you got the concept. Now you need to implement it. How do you implement a good move so that she/he will notice you? You choose the correct spots to loiter, you choose the correct tone to speak, you put on a nonchalant expression. But, there is something else...

3. Design - To ensure that your plan works, you must be properly packaged, right? So you neaten your hair, adjust your clothes, touch up your make-up (for the girls).

Now, imagine again, the cutie walks pass you. You've got your moves, you've planned it all down to the details... and ... BINGO! Hooked just like you want him/her to.

Sounds good? Well, that's how MAD is part of life. Can't live without it.

Posted by: Vivienne, Programme Executive, School of Communication Design