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Polemics & Art
A recent art show in the UK led to a critical debate; we’d like to take a position on the matter.
Artforms—by definition—are unmeasurable acts of self-expression. Such self-expression is by its nature completely given to subjective analysis and valuation, largely based on context. Self-expression cannot be gauged as universally good or bad—who would be the appropriate judge?
The simple polemic of “good” or “bad” is in fact lazy; it’s an indictment of the viewer more than a critique of the art being judged.
Art forms are best discussed in terms of relevancy or resonance. This is why design is not art. Design is problem solving, it can be measured and tested.
Running Up
We’ve been selected by HOW Magazine (May Issue) for a Merit Award in “Your Best Work”, one of only 11 studios/agencies in the U.S. to receive this recognition. The editors reviewed agencies from across the country, judging them on the criteria of their body of work not just a single project.
It’s humbling to be a runner up in this competition (just sharing ink with Wolff-Olins is a lot for a small brand consultancy like ours). In the spirit of camaraderie, we’d love to share who the winners are and congratulate our peers:
Big Agency Winner—Wolff-Olins, Merit Awards—TDA Boulder, Column Five Media, People Design, Red Antler, Hot Studio.
Small Firm Winner—Stitch, Merit Awards— Brittany Phillips, Creative Arts, FÖDA Studio, 3 Advertising, and student Jon Wong. Cheers!
Lucky 13—AIGA Texas Show
FÖDA Studio brought home 13 design awards from the AIGA Texas Show; it’s an embarrassment of riches, given the extraordinary talent of our peers and colleagues.
Humbled by the awards, we only take pride in the diversity recognized by the judges: Violet Crown, Michael Hsu, and South Texas Jazz placed 1st, 2nd & 3rd respectively, sweeping the Brand & Identity category. These projects bear no resemblance to one another. Each project employs radically different strategies developed within a range of budgets that demonstrate (we hope) appropriate aesthetics within context. We put the project’s needs first, and it showed.
Thank you to the jurors. Cheers to the award winners. Respect to the ±500 entrants in the show.
South Texas Jazz scores BIG!
The only thing we like as much as being an award-winning design shop is having accomplished and award-winning clients. Congratulations to The South Texas Jazz Quartet who were voted ‘San Antonio’s Best Jazz Band’ in the 2012 San Antonio Current Music Poll! The recognition comes well-earned and well-deserved in their few short years on the regional music map. Cheers to our inspiring friends who are as much fun to watch as they are to work for.
