Tarek Fahmy: Cultural Critic

The first thing that I finish in Vis. Com. II is the website. It’s only fitting since I have had experience designing them.

Print, on the other hand is where I need some knowledge and experience in. I still have to tweak the poster, letterhead, and T-shirt design. I have two more classes left plus the survey so I am ahead of schedule.

I will keep ‘you’ posted once I finish the poster, letterhead, and T-shirt.

Taken a step further. I beveled and modeled the main navigation on the left and the top banner. Gave it a little 3d effect.

Although my Communication Design department @ Pratt is mainly Print oriented, they offer a few Digital Design courses and a Digital Design concentration. They don’t have a strictly web ‘DESIGN’ course that encompasses usability standards, GUI design, and a strictly web aesthetic. I mean, I am designing websites in my projects, but for Print oriented classes. I feel that the website will be critiqued from a print aesthetic and view point as opposed to a web oriented criteria.

Using common web design characteristics like drop shadows, outer glows, and the subtle apple web page 3D quality(Macromedia.com had a similar aesthetic; thanks Jay!) are strictly discouraged. Why?

The web ‘aesthetic’ should no be discouraged from a print oriented design program; especially a Digital Design concentration. These characteristics should seep in the design program and have some influence, however marginal. I think overall they have, but not in my Communication Design Department.

For the GEM project, I am designing two variations on the website. A home page that exhibits these aforementioned web qualities and aesthetic, the other done with print sensibilities in mind.

The majority of the projects that I post on here are a work in progress.
They are projects that I am mainly working on for my Graduate degree.
I am always tweaking, revising, editing, and critiquing the work with the help of my professors and colleagues.

So, when are the projects going to be considered complete, ‘you’ might ask?

generally speaking they will be complete at the end of each semester, in December and May.

Some projects might take two semesters to complete. For example, my thesis work will take a year or so to work on. I am considering working on the GEM project, the Grand Egyptian Museum that is slated to open some time in 2011.

Currently I am working on the Museum in my Visual Communication II class, but I might evolve this work and expand it to my thesis.

I might also tackle the Library of Alexandria and develop a visual identity for it, which would include a fully operational website.

My thinking behind the Museum and the library is that they belong in my country of origin, which would be easier for me to land a contract there. I am familiar with the culture, educated in the finest Art schools in New York City, and also speak Arabic fluently. Don’t get me wrong, if I land the right job in NYC I will def. take it; I also will continue to try to land some contracts in Egypt. They need creative, modern and westernized folks. The design field in Egypt needs a face lift.