Aesthetic Systems

Definition

The term Aesthetic System describes a programmatic solution to a design problem.

Characteristics

A programmatic design solution can be:

1. alive
   • reactive
   • emergent
   • interactive
2. serializable
   • scalable (duplicable, transmedial)
   • customizable
   • infinite variations
3. a problem specific tool
   • transferable (useable by other designers, clients, end users etc.)
   • new aesthetics (breakout of the design tool ghetto)
   • free from traditional boundaries
4. open
   • collaborative (see transferable)
   • toolkit solutions (i.e. reusing code, programming libraries etc.)
   • recursive; meta systems are not only limited to usage but open for modification (i.e. open source approach etc.)

Effects

Effects on the creative process:

1. Requires a clear formulation of the idea beforehand
   — suggests an iterative approach to the development of the system
2. The result is not automatically emotional and personal (i.e. as it normally is in traditional illustration)
   — requires special attention to the emotional and personal aspects of the design
3. The process is not automatically intuitively accessible
   — requires an extra effort to make the system’s internals accessible (i.e. user interfaces)
4. Selection becomes equally important to the production
5. Initial development is relatively work & time intensive

trust & reputation is a designers best selling method.

• divide the day into 1-3 focussed working sessions of 1-3 hours each
• each session needs to be followed by a 30min - 1h break somewhere else than on your desk
• define a clear task for each session
• make it clear when you start or end a session. keep record.
• turn off email, instant messaging, unused processes and other sources of noise
• answer your email, browse the web and chat only inbetween sessions
• dont interrupt the other one when its not time-pressing
• communicate important things and news in written messages
• when others show up and ask for help, make an appointment with them for after your current session
• have a 15mins chat about topics and status in the morning, after lunch and before dinner
• explain to yourself and the other one what you plan to do, how long you expect it to take, and why.
• avoid having these chats during meals
• end the working day with dinner
• fill 1.5 to 2 days of the weekend with completely different stuff