Info

Profile

Hello, my name is Jon Yablonski and I believe that good design will change the world. I believe in the power of ideas, the responsibility of the designer to society and the mission to design "more useful, lasting and democratic forms of communication" set forth in the First Things First Manifesto. I believe that to be a responsible designer is to believe in what is being communicated and to do so in the most honest, clear and sustainable way possible. I also believe in the craftsmanship of design and the value of a hard days work, which I learned while studying at Memphis College of Art. It was there that I received a Bauhaus style education and was exposed to not only graphic design but traditional fine art, cultural and art theory, art history and philosophy. The influence of such diversity inspired me to redefine what design could be and to seek a more meaningful purpose than simply selling a product. I have since strived to follow these principles through work for both clients and self-initiated projects in the form of identity development, print design, web design and illustration. When not designing for listening or old-school punk rock I am enjoying the outdoors or geeking out on typography, mid-century modernism or Swiss graphic design.

Methodology

My methodology of design is guided by the principles of form, function and simplicity. These principles serve as a guide in a constant process of reduction in an effort to find the essence of the idea being communicated— to find the true form of the idea, and thus the most honest visual representation possible. The ultimate focus should be on the message first, leaving the visual language used to communicate this message playing a supportive role as opposed to visual 'fluff' taking up the slack of an idea that lacks a coherent message. I believe that if this methodology is followed then the result is a design solution which focuses entirely on what really matters to those being communicated to: essentially a trust is established, and therefore the idea being communicated is infinitely more honest and by extension more effective.

Process

My approach to the design process begins with observation, which is essential to understanding the subject, defining what features make it unique and how people interact with it. This is followed up by extensive research into the origin and history of the subject as well as it's competition, goals and future ambitions. The process of prototyping is next, which involves exploring various solutions focused on solving the specific need of the subject and finally initializing a working example of a solution which is designed to solve the need of the subject. The final stages involve moving into a more refined design stage which sees the prototype evolve into a more mature and thought-out solution; and last is deployment, where the solution is release and then monitored for effect.

Services

• Identity Development

  The identity of a company or organization is absolutely essential to how it is perceived. Whether it is a logo, stationary, business cards or all the above, a cohesive image that illustrates who you are and what you do must be representative and memorable.

• Web Design

  A presence on the web is essential these days. With the growing number of devices available that can access the web, it is important that a website can adapt to the screen it is being viewed on, and provide content that is optimized and suited for that user.

• Print Design

  Nothing can quite compare to the beauty of well thought-out design on the printed page. There is a human connection to paper and what can be expressed on it that will never go away. It is that connection which the digital age will never quite be able to replace.

• Illustration

  This timeless medium can transform the visual message in ways that is not possible with simple photographs. The expressiveness of illustration, in addition to "touch of the hand" that it embodies, makse for a truly powerful tool in the arsenal of design.

• Wordpress

  The Wordpress platform is an invaluable tool in the arsenal of a web designer these days. From the easy to manage CMS capabilities and ever growing development community to just down right awesomeness, Wordpress is here to stay.

• Editorial Design

  Again, nothing can quite compare to the beauty of well thought-out design on the printed page and nowhere does this become more evident than in the simple complexity of a great and thought provoking magazine. This one has a special place in my heart.