systems and variations

In the final input session of the course Typografie Intensiv, we examined “Systems and Variations” of design. At first, it wasn’t quite clear to me what that meant, but after some explaining, I got it.

Everything is designed. Few things are designed well. – Brian Reed
In short: everything in this world is designed. Every design has a system underlying it. And within this system, there can be endless variations.
Snowflakes are one natural example. Or leaves.
Lots of variations can be found in architecture: windows, doors, staircases, door handles even… all of these are variations of the same design within a system.
Applied to typography, that means: Every possible layout of a page is a variation of the system – hopefully a grid – underlying that layout. Also: every font is a variation of its underlying system, the alphabet.

And that is what makes design so great. We saw it time and time again over the past two years: put 20 people in a room together and give them the same design brief – and you’ll get 20 different results. Even if the results are similar (which they hardly ever were) – they’re not the same.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” – Pablo Picasso
Over the past two years I have learned a lot about typography, grid systems, kerning, good and bad design. But what I’ve really learned: if you are aware of the system (or, best case, you made it yourself), you can move about freely in it. You can even break out of it, if you’re courageous enough.

This also applies to life outside of design*: in the decisions we make as consumers, as voters, as members of society, it’s important to be informed about the system, so that you can move about freely in it. And maybe even break out of it.

(*yes, I am aware we just agreed everything is designed, which would theoretically make ‘life outside of design’ impossible, but you know what I mean.)

systems all around
My heightened awareness for systems and design caused me to browse through my personal photographs. I noticed quite a while ago that when I’m not stressed, when I’m “in the zone” or “in the flow”, I take good photos. And it’s not just that I like them more because I feel the positive energy I felt while taking them; I try different things, photograph from different angles, try various compositions – I simply see the world differently. To my surprise, quite a few of these good photos included patterns. Which, in essence, is of course nothing if not systems and variations of systems. (Please note that this is quite a loose category; basically, it’s everything that repeats itself in some way and therefore qualifies as a variation of the thing next to it.)
So here they are, the ‘systems and variations’ I saw even before I was aware of them. Now that I’m aware, I hope to capture them even better – on camera, in my designs, and in a conscious lifestyle. Maybe they’ll inspire you to do the same. If not, you’ll have looked at some pretty patterns, which is always nice. Enjoy!

 

air conditioning. Hong Kong_the wordsmith

air conditioning. Hong Kong

balconies galore. Innsbruck, Austria_the wordsmith

balconies galore. Innsbruck, Austria

birds. Alpenzoo_the wordsmith

birds. Alpenzoo

bridge and buildings. Frankfurt, Germany_the wordsmith

bridge and buildings. Frankfurt, Germany

chrysanthemums_the wordsmith

chrysanthemums

colored paper for printing. Kösel Druckerei_the wordsmith

colored paper for printing. Kösel Druckerei

colored spools of yarn for books. Kösel Druckerei_the wordsmith

colored spools of yarn for books. Kösel Druckerei

construction in front of lit wall. Bangkok_the wordsmith

construction in front of lit wall. Bangkok

construction. Bangkok, Thailand_the wordsmith

construction. Bangkok, Thailand

cow butts. Carinthia, Austria_the wordsmith

cow butts. Carinthia, Austria

crates for flowers. Bangkok_the wordsmith

crates for flowers. Bangkok

Eiffel Tower_the wordsmith

Eiffel Tower

flags in the street. Bangkok_the wordsmith

flags in the street. Bangkok

flower float. Chiang Mai flower market_the wordsmith

flower float. Chiang Mai flower market

flowers. Bangkok flower market_the wordsmith

flowers. Bangkok flower market

flowers. Chiang Mai flower market_the wordsmith

flowers. Chiang Mai flower market

forest ground_the wordsmith

forest ground

incense_the wordsmith

incense

lamps on a boat. Hong Kong_the wordsmiith

lamps on a boat. Hong Kong

Lindt Easter bunnies_the wordsmith

Lindt Easter bunnies

mall in Frankfurt_the wordsmith

mall in Frankfurt

more balconies. Bangkok_the wordsmith

more balconies. Bangkok

more flowers. Chiang Mai flower market_the wordsmith

more flowers. Chiang Mai flower market

plastic windmills. Thailand_the wordsmith

plastic windmills. Thailand

prayer bells. Chiang Mai_the wordsmith

prayer bells. Chiang Mai

shoes_the wordsmith

shoes

square with pegs. Paris_the wordsmith

square with pegs. Paris

system interrupted. Chiang Mai flower market_the wordsmith

system interrupted. Chiang Mai flower market

temple pillars. Koh Samui, Thailand_the wordsmith

temple pillars. Koh Samui, Thailand

temple wall again. Bangkok_the wordsmith

temple wall again. Bangkok

temple wall. Chiang Mai_the wordsmith

temple wall. Chiang Mai

temple. Bangkok_the wordsmith

temple. Bangkok

temple. Bangkok, Thailand_the wordsmith

temple. Bangkok, Thailand

tile floor transition. Thailand_the wordsmith

tile floor transition. Thailand

tile floor. Chiang Mai_the wordsmith

tile floor. Chiang Mai

cracks and shadows_the wordsmith

cracks and shadows

window and shadow_the wordsmith

window and shadow

windows and laundry. Italy_the wordsmith

windows and laundry. Italy

windows. Hong Kong_the wordsmith

windows. Hong Kong

wood_the wordsmith

wood