Let's Danz

As I watched a recording of my daughter's dance recital I got to thinking that dance is a lot like design.

STYLE:  There are many different styles.
Dance: The waltz, the rumba, salsa, hip hop, ballet, jazz, modern …
Design: Modern, traditional, conservative, minimalist, grunge, elegant … 
 
MEDIUM:  The foundation upon which each is expressed is unique and varied.
Dance: In dance the music is central to its expression and is as varied as the style of dance.   
Design: Graphic design mediums include anything from print, electronic, video, outdoor, promotional, etc. 

THE PERFORMANCE
Dance: For every discipline each dancer has their own style, character and passion. No two dancers are the same, which is why shows like, "Dancing with the Stars," are so popular. 
Design:  There are so many combination's of color, fonts, white space and graphics that unless a design has intentionally been copied, no two designs are the same. They should be as unique as the people / companies they are created for. 

THE AUDIENCE: The final piece of the equation is the viewer or audience.
Dance: Different  types of dance appeal to different people. I like jazz and hip hop.  You might enjoy ballet or salsa.
Design: The same applies to design. Some like minimalist, some prefer grunge and others prefer conservative. Some like red, some like blue and others like brown.

The similarities between dance and design are interesting and noteworthy. What can you take away?  Appreciate the differences within, and similarities between these two artistic forms of expression . . . and more importantly, when you're evaluating design, understand that it can take on many, many different looks and while you may not like what you see, the design must resonate with the most important critic . . . your customer.

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