For example, clicking on this image:
leads to this one:
which then leads to this one:
which leads to...
As a graphic designer, I find this site incredibly useful in the process of image research for projects because I can easily hone in on a particular mood, look, or style when collecting images to inspire a similar mood in my own piece. However, past research, I know that I have easily spent hours recreationally perusing the site because of the manner in which one image leads so easily to another, creating a nice, linked flow through image files. I have literally had to give myself time limits in order to keep myself from spending too much time on this website.
However, my one criticism of the site is that I wish it contained more information about the visual content it presents. While it is convenient that the layout is not complicated by copious amounts of text, it would be helpful in some cases to have a bit of information on the page without having to hyperlink to the source. Sometimes I would like to know more about a certain picture's context, since that can layer an image with a lot more meaning than it may contain self-sufficiently. In this way it is a unique type of artistic forum since most of the images are separated from their context, source, and artist by at least one degree.
Overall, though, I feel like ffffound.com's formatting supports its content appropriately for its purpose. The way it tosses images into a sort of visual gumbo gives users license to approach it as a site to inspire new designs and enable a certain recycling of visual media. Therefore, if you are in search of the perfect picture to support a new idea or just a visually and creatively stimulating way to spend the next hour, look no further.
Wow! I am so glad that I clicked into your blog and discovered the ffffound! website. I feel that this website that you have shown me is the Pandora.com of graphic design. Actually, I think that ffffound is more artistically stimulating than Pandora, because it suggests a number of images that you may like and lets you choose instead of simply directing you to a single image that it thinks you will like (the way Pandora does with songs). I can definitely see how you could lose hours journeying through image upon image of interesting design.
ReplyDeleteI see what you mean with your observation that the website might be more helpful if each design were accompanied by a short amount of descriptive text, but I also agree with your overall assessment that the website works as it is. I think that part of the website’s charm is the stream-of-consciousness feel to the emergence of pictures. I really like your suggestion to browse through the website in search of a picture to support an idea that I might have. I have bookmarked the website and will certainly use it in the future. So far, this is my favorite image:
http://ffffound.com/image/303c9f0389a9df574d0e5e2bae518bc125f37e85
I am OBSESSED with this website, and am so glad you introduced us to this site. I completely agree with Olivia, about how this website is like the Pandora for design work, and it is a great source of motivation. I immediately fell in love with one work, and continuously clicked on the “suggested” images, and found more and more work/ artists that I loved. It is a great place to find new artists and new work that may inspire your work, or inspire you to try a different technique or medium.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of linking photographs; it's an interesting idea and definitely is visually stimulating but also thought provoking. For instance, even just in the images you linked together here in your blog as an example, I found myself wondering how the images related and I studied each of them for some time before I came to any sort of conclusion. For there, I'd be interested to learn more about the site and see hands-on for myself, how particular images come to be linked. I agree that contextual text would help make those connections, but sometimes we need the "surprise!" goodie bags and Christmas stockings in life to keep us on our toes in anticipation and wonder. Knowing everything would perhaps ruin the fun of it and deplete the child-like fascination.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your blog post I went to the website and I believe I will also have to limit the amount of time I spend on ffffound.com! What a great resource for graphic design! There are so many clever concepts all with such diverse content that I imagine this site is the perfect resource for you to get inspiration. From getting ideas for designing anything from a brochure or poster to even a party invitation, it looks like this website has it covered! It really is frustrating that the designs have hardly, if any, information about the artist’s intent or symbolism of the content. I wonder how the copyright works on that…
ReplyDelete