Learn to unlearn
With Liv Strawbridge
Learn to unlearn
A fresh perspective is a valuable tool to have as a designer. One way to get a fresh perspective is to unlearn what you usually default to. By letting go of familiar techniques and opening your mind to unexplored possibilities, you’ll be able to approach each project with a new mindset. Here’s some ideas for putting this into practice:
Unlearn Colour Palettes. Instead of relying on your go-to colour combinations, try an unexpected combo and see where it takes you.
Unlearn Symmetry. If symmetry is your safe choice, experiment with asymmetrical concepts. Play with off-centre focal points and unconventional compositions.
Unlearn Minimalism. While clean, simple logos have their place, unlearning a minimalist mindset can lead to more expressive concepts and storytelling potential. Layer shapes, add textures, or incorporate illustrative elements.
Make unlearning an ongoing practice, and continuously question your design habits and defaults. Although it may feel uncomfortable at first, the process of unlearning will not only help you grow as a designer, but also help you deliver more unique and memorable logos.
Libre fonts by Womxn
As designers, it's easy to feel like we're not making a positive difference in the world, especially when compared to those working directly to help people in need. But we have the power to drive social change through the resources we use – even the fonts we choose. Behind every font, there is a person or a team who created it, and by being mindful of who designed the fonts we choose, we can support and empower marginalised communities.
So, the next time you select or purchase a font, consider supporting women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and gender-diverse creators. Using fonts from these underrepresented groups is a social impact opportunity, as you are voting with your dollar and contributing to their empowerment.
Libre Fonts by Womxn is a curated collection from women and gender-diverse individuals, to help you do just that :).
I've added this resource to my toolkit.
How to randomly transform a pattern in Illustrator
If you make randomised patterns in Illustrator by manually tweaking the size and placement of each object individually, there’s a quicker way to do it.
Select the pattern, go to Object > Transform > Transform Each and adjust the scale and move settings. Then, check the Random option to apply random transformations to the objects within the pattern.
