Written by Avery Melhado. Graphic by Micaela Alomía.
This month, Jennifer Blanco and John Earles visited SCAD to speak to students about their company, Field of Study, which specializes in design and brand consultancy. The room was packed full of design students eager to hear advice from and see the work of such successful creatives. Throughout the talk, we were able to see both completed and in-progress work from Field of Study while hearing Blanco and Earles discuss their design processes, inspirations and philosophies. It was clear that the duo possessed a dynamic, expansive skill set—incredibly inspiring for students of all majors in attendance.
As students in art school, we’re often hyper-focused on our niche—dedicated to perfecting our specialized craft. It was almost shocking to hear Blanco and Earles immediately discuss their philosophy as a design company—the idea of being a generalist instead of a specialist. This was summarized as having an average but diverse skill set, focusing on being decent at a lot of things instead of having one specific skill or talent. They discussed the concept of Renaissance humanism and the fact that humans are limitless in their capacity for development. Why should we be focused on only one niche? On a single specialization? Why should we not strive to be, as they say, a jack of all trades?
This concept struck me as both essential and extremely underrated. The idea of being able to have complete creative control, of being able to touch all aspects of design, seemed honestly exhilarating. Blanco and Earles discussed striving for competency and the ability to work both collaboratively and wholly, which immediately opened mental doors of possibility. It felt so different from what we are used to being shown—a seemingly impossible picture of inherent genius or talent or excellence. Field of Study’s work simultaneously came across as extremely impressive and genuinely achievable– a uniquely human combination.
A pillar of this was the importance of process. It was emphasized that process, in itself, is design. I wrote in my notebook, “Your most valuable skill is your thinking” and “Let your process define you.” There was something very transparent about this approach, about the work not being the product but the way the product was created. Blanco and Earles touched on the concept of Wabi-sabi, a Japanese philosophy that focuses on beauty in imperfection. They explained that leaving designs a little unresolved with organic imperfections adds to their humanness. It’s good for things to feel a little imperfect, impermanent or incomplete, fostering a sense of tangibility that people can grasp onto.
This goes back to the idea of design being a fundamentally human field. Blanco and Earles explained, “there’s never a part in the design process where a person isn’t involved.” Design is all about empathy and connection—empathy being your primary power as a designer. You simply can’t design without it. Making designs for humans with human processes is what Field of Study seemed to be all about.
This was extremely evident when Blanco and Earles discussed individual clients. They recounted late-night text messages and niche interests that clients were passionate about, showing true care and connection. You really felt like they were friends with their clients, or at least working closely enough that they completely understood one another. They share interests and ideas, from Sci-Fi movies to foreign sports cars. They focus on working within the world of their clients, making things that have a place in their niche. They don’t want their designs to look like they’re influenced by a specific world but like they belong in it. Another note from my journal reads, “Don’t look it—be it!”
It was clear that Field of Study not only defies expectations—they avoid them. I spoke with Edith Manfred, District editor-in-chief, who also attended the event. She said of Field of Study, “I was inspired by their commitment to having an unpredictable style and abandoning the idea of ‘branding’ for simply creating an experience-based design.” Blanco and Earles discussed pushing boundaries and doing the opposite of what people expect you to do. From discussions of being a jack of all trades to creating designs that seem nearly impossible, the talk defied both the expectations of students and the design world itself.
I think it’s fair to say that everyone in the room was left feeling both affirmed and inspired. Though the ideas presented were considerably contrary to what we’re taught in our classes, I personally felt as though I finally understood what design is all about. I think we all know that we’re never going to be the absolute best in the world at one specific thing. It is your mix of skills, your melting pot of ideas and abilities, that makes you a unique designer. Using this power to create human, passionate and empathetic designs is what we should all strive towards—and Field of Study is doing just that.
Avery is double-majoring in Graphic Design and Writing at SCAD. She loves making zines and spending hours in coffee shops reading, writing, and working on projects. When she’s not glued to her laptop, you can find her walking through Forsyth with a dirty chai in hand, probably still writing in her notes app.
