I have always been the type of guy that thinks of new ideas, sometimes far-fetched, sometimes not, and doodles them down on paper. These ideas have ranged from new products, to sci-fi weapons, to fantasy characters, to simple video game ideas, to marketing campaigns. My doodling ability has made it possible for me to communicate these ideas, occasionally, to clients. In order to enhance my rudimentary drawing skills, I decided to take a few course at the School of Visual Arts here in NYC. I am currently taking a really nice figure drawing class. I enjoy it thoroughly and hope I am getting better. I like to think I am.

In more recent years I have become fully infatuated with the idea of becoming an Industrial Designer. I read the magazine (ID), and look at websites, and I have continued to doodle. I do not possess any real skills in this area outside of some of these rudimentary ideas. For a while I pursued getting a job with an ID company that did digital stuff as well (frog design for one), where some of my professional skills of programming and information architecture might transcend dotcom clients and lead to some interesting crossover work. I would hope that I could pick up some skills from the professionals. Well, the economy is plummeting, and my dream of doing, without ever having studied, is becoming all but a fantasy. Therefore, I have recently begun investigating the possibility of getting a master’s degree from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY in Industrial Design. My research is preliminary at best.

Over the past few months I have found an outlet for some of my frustrations, and a forum to find other like-minded people. I have no idea there were so many. My favorite place to visit is Conceptual Design Forum, a great forum site dedicated to these people, that hosts and post images for people to discuss. They provide some tutorials, and other good resources for those interested in the pursuit of conceptual design, from an ID perspective as well and a fantasy art / video game concept perspective. It’s really quite fantastic.

I found it while visiting the site of a super good concept artist who’s work I really enjoy, Francis Tsai. His work is very much in the style I would like to use. My favorite artist however is someone I found through the forum. His work is quite unbelievable, and if you go to no other links from this post, you should still check out the work on Scott Robertson’s, drawthrough.com.

Well, that’s all I have to say about all that. I hope you enjoy some of those URLs.