here is hazel

I recently got my own copy of the school agenda book from OCAD University—which is the art and design school I’m attending this year—and this was one of the guidelines published within. I thought it was funny (and true for the most part), so I’m posting it here.

Kudos goes out to the OCAD Student Union for making such a well-designed, not to mention highly entertaining, agenda book.

Here it is verbatim:

At first glance one is likely to say to themselves, “Wow, what a bunch of hipsters.” The truth is, we’re not hipsters, we’re the people hip have been trying to emulate. OCAD faculty, by means of an interview process hand picks certain kinds of students. By the time we arrive at OCAD U the majority of us fit into one of the following denominations:

• DO-IT-YOURSELFERS: This rag-tag group is pretty easy to spot; self-patched clothing and homemade jewelry or accessories such as woolen hats and scarves. These are the most likely people to give you a birthday present so make sure you share your favourite colour with them, else you end up with a pair of beige woolen mittens.
• THRIFTIES: If you’re having a hard time spotting these folks, think to yourself, “What would my grandpa wear if he were my age?” Floral patterns and paisley are key to any thrifty’s heart. These are the people most likely to be seen on campus with a fedora or a pair of leather shoes. They’re also the most likely to be seen in a Goodwill or Value Village.
• FASHION CENTRIC: Essentially the living, breathing American Apparel ad, the fashion centric are the most likely on campus to have clean and pressed clothing. As every article of clothing, down to the socks, is obviously fresh from a designer sweatshop, your first superficial crush at OCAD U is surely going to be one of these kids. You’ll either learn to dig a little deeper in your affections or you’ll be surprised to find a great person under that fashionista exterior.
• VEGANS: A disproportionate amount of OCAD U’s vegans have dreadlocks, so they’re pretty easy to find. Another way to tell if someone is vegan is the hemp accessories and clothing. If you’re trying to impress one of them, refrain from wearing that leather jacket, then hold the bacon at Karine’s. A common mistake at OCAD is offering the kid with the dreadlocks your joint before offering it to anyone else. Don’t just assume they’re into Rasta culture, start with a conversation on the environment or something. If you’re looking for these kids outside of school, try Kensington Park.
• ACCIDENTAL “HIPSTER”: Though they definitely can’t be called a “hipster”, they sure as hell look like one! Don’t be fooled by the plaid flannel shirt, thick-framed glasses and bicycle cap; these kids are simply victims of circumstance. Sure they’re likely to be seen at a house party drinking tall cans of Pabst, but that’s just cause it’s cheap, okay?!

Artist Austin Kleon wrote a fantastic post on his blog called, “How To Steal Like An Artist (And 9 Other Things Nobody Told Me)”. He brings up a lot of good points and ideas that have been stewing in my brain for a long time and which I could not put into words.

Here are my notes:

1. Steal Like An Artist

I covered this in an older post and I still agree with it.

Don’t copy—steal. Nothing is original. 1 + 1 = 3. You’re only going to be as good as the stuff you surround yourself with.

This is why I closely moderate and regularly prune my friends list, following list and blog subscriptions. Sure it’s nice to laugh at memes, .GIFs, and cat videos from time to time but if that’s all you’re exposed to, then how do you expect to produce good, quality content in your own blog?

You are who you follow.

2. Don’t wait until you know who you are to start making things.

Ever since I saw this quote in one of Emma’s post, I’ve been repeating it like a mantra.

No one really knows what they’re doing. We’re all just stumbling as we go.

This is also a big part of how I dress. Contrary to what people think, I actually don’t shop that often nor do I have that many clothes. Most of them are from thrift stores but I somehow fool people into thinking I’m very stylish, lol.

3. Write the book you want to read.

This is sort of like the first point: You are what you read.

I once saw a quote which was somewhere along the lines of, “If you want to be a good writer, be a good reader.” This is another reason I unfollow certain blogs/sites/tweople. I like to think that reading about design theory helps me become a real designer.

Write the book you want to read. Make the art you want to see. Make the designs that you want to experience.

That is how all great creations are created.

4. Use Your Hands.

Hands are forgotten tools.

Sometimes I wish I lived in the past when graphic designers did not have computers or Adobe Photoshop to do the work for them. Top designers like Alan Fletcher and Massimo Vignelli used x-acto knives and special tools to create their work.

Back then, you had to be exceptionally good and multi-talented to survive in this industry. Now it’s become much too easy.

5. Side projects and hobbies are important.

I like this one because that is what web and graphic design used to be for me: a hobby. Instead of going outside, I holed up in front of my PC as a kid, playing with pixels and learning to code.

Looking at myself now, I still cannot believe I am actually pursuing this. Reading, learning, writing and immersing myself in design is so incredibly exhilarating.

6. The secret: do good work and put it where people can see it.

Step 1: Wonder at something.
Step 2: Invite others to wonder with you.

Hey, isn’t this what I’m doing right now? Awesome!

7. Geography is no longer our master.

Amazing how I can email my pen-pal in South Korea and receive a reply 5 minutes after…

Take advantage of this. Make friends from around the world, collaborate, and share!

8. Be nice. The world is a small town.

Or as Conan O’Brien puts it, “If you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.”

9. Be boring. It’s the only way to get work done.

This is where all the “hard work” comes in. The organization, the time management, the ability to GET THINGS DONE!

Unsurprisingly, this is the one I struggle with most. Working hard is hard work!

10. Creativity is subtraction.

Less is more. Piling lots of things into one design may seem like a good idea, but the best designers are the ones who can strip designs to their bare essentials.

Creativity isn’t just the things we chose to put in, it’s also the things we chose to leave out.

(via )

I was going to take up Project 365 again this year, and take a disposable camera photo everyday for a year. But, to my utter disappointment, I could not obtain a disposable camera in time for the first day of 2011. :(

So I decided to change it up a bit and draw everyday instead! Maybe I’ll post some of my drawings when things get dry around here, but you can expect to see each one for each day on my old, abandoned Project 365 blog.

Any of you taking up a Project 365 of your own?