The Learning Zone

 with Atika Tariq

Hi my name is Atika Tariq. I am going into my final year of Environmental Design and minoring in Sustainability. As a designer, I believe in the ability to strengthen to improve our communities and have a positive influence on the environment through architecture and research combined with design thinking. I don’t just want to create buildings; I want to inspire others with my imagination and ingenuity, designing structures that are out of the ordinary and make people feel at ease in their surroundings.

Drawing has always been a passion of mine since I was a kid. I enjoy making realistic drawings, focusing on the nuances, and attempting to mimic anything I see. I took an architecture class in high school because I enjoyed drawing and wanted to learn how to use AutoCAD and SketchUp. I’ve always loved creating things that people can build and use.

Do you have a favourite Architect or designer or style of architecture that inspires you?

Islamic architecture is a style that inspires me, Islamic architecture is one of the world’s most celebrated building traditions. It’s known for its bold colours, intricate patterns, symmetrical silhouettes, and meticulous attention to detail. Geometric designs adorning Islamic architecture have always captivated me.

What are you reading?

Currently, I am reading Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz written in 1960. This book is about changing your perception of yourself and mastering your mind. It focuses on how to use your mind to help you achieve positive goals and achieve success. As the name suggests, psycho- cybernetics takes you on a quest to discover how the human mind perceives the world and its psychological makeup.

Be sure to visit the OCAD  U Library and discover your next read.

with Camille Gan

Welcome to the Learning Zone’s first post in the series “What are you reading?” We start this series with Graphic Design student, Camille Gan. Camille is also an avid zine collector and maker. When not reading zines, Camille enjoys reading art history books and discovering designers from the past.

Camille’s first impression of art began when she was 3 years old, doodling a spider web on a square piece of paper which she has long since lost; she is 99% sure it was because she took it outside of the house at some point. By the time Camille entered elementary school she would tell her teachers that she wanted to become either an artist, historian or archaeologist. In some ways she has become all three when she enrolled in OCAD U to study design. Since middle school, Camille has enjoyed reading art history, something that she still continues to do in her spare time.

What influenced your decision to major in Graphic Design?

I heard from many people that graphic design is a really flexible degree and it opens doors to many disciplines. For example, I can do packaging design, web design, branding or even illustrations. It seemed attractive since I’ve always been plagued with the idea, what if I don’t like this specialization?

Who are your favourite graphic designers?

I tend to look at specific movements as inspirations more than individual graphic designers, to be exact, Art Nouveau and the Vienna Secession are my favourite movements, I think many people are familiar with Alphonse Mucha and I am also a big fan of Julius Klinger.

The later 20th century graphic designers I like have an illustrative approach to design; Tome Eckersley, Olle Eksell, Alvin Lustig and Hervé Morvan. I think the cartoony, boldly coloured forms used in their illustrations may look childish to some people today, but I think how clearly those designers expressed ideas in those illustrations is what makes their work endearing to this day.

What are you reading right now?

Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. Lately, I’ve been digging into Russian literature. I haven’t  encountered many people who have dabbled into that nation’s literary traditions. Despite the novel being over 800 pages long and over 150 years old. I think it still offers a great look at how the human condition and emotions haven’t changed.

Have a passion for art history and Leo Tolstoy’s works? Please visit the OCAD U Library.