The Design Journalism workshop

The Design Journalism workshop started on 26th of January 2009 and ended on 30th. It was 4 packed days. Prof. Masayo Ave, Head of EAA product design department and Coco Gediehn, journalist, architect and psychologist, editor of Elle Decoration, Germany, worked on analyzing, eye training, what a picture says and at the end making photography and laying out them for magazine.
At the first it looks unorganized, finding the EKA building, no body knows where I have to go, no body knows about the workshop… .In this day, during three lectures by Prof. Masayo, Prof. Koji Akamatsu and Coco Gediehn, some theoretical maters in visual communication and journalism basement rules thrashed out. In next day, we analyzed one article from a magazine and discussed about different ways of communicating. This part was useful as long as we were focused on visual communication issue in viewpoint of journalism and not art. How layout helps the content.
Finding letters in nature, second day was a motivating training for eyes. I personally believe that when comes to art, indirect way of education works the best. As try to look at usual objects to see and find something else is an important point in journalism. Now, if your eyes are trained enough make your own studio and take picture of some usual tools. Undoubtedly it goes by your new way of looking. “Professional equipments are not important to take best photos but professional eyes”, Masayo said. We saw how can make photo studio by simple tools.
I imagine this workshop was a compact package of tools for visual communicators as we could expect from a product designer for making useful packages.
The last point is how design an article for a magazine.
During these days, having different examples on hand, Masayo talked about her professional experiences and findings. She in position of an active tutor in companion with Coco by her journalism knowledge and experience, made a serious, dynamic, informative workshop on a new topic for me. Perhaps this course, in the role of pilot project for a program will work. Although, only if I want to prejudice, being package is one of the characteristics of it and stretching the content will change the aspects.
Thank you Masayo thank you Coco. Hope to see you soon.

Maziar Zand
Oslo national Academy of Art (KHIO)