Consuming Ink and Information

8.3.2013

Consuming Ink and Information:

Armed with a pen and a supply of paper, soon to be supplemented by syllabi and other course information packets, I can feel totally ready to start the semester off, first with typography, then later with Design and its Discontents (whatever that means). My utensil of choice today is labeled Uni-ball Onyx eco micro,  which cost me approximately 60 cents after my employee discount at the University of Minnesota Bookstore in Coffman Student Union. This particular pen was purchased just yesterday, but I have to admit to owning more than a few pens of this variety as I find them easy and fun to use. They don’t have fancy grips or clicking to open systems, they only have a simple pull-off cap. The ink flows easily, and doesn’t bleed which is another bonus. Since receiving one of these pens last year on college day at welcome week, I have been hooked and will only reluctantly use many other types of pens.

Much of the ink consumed from this pen today went towards doodling.

This ink was consumed while simultaneously consuming information about Fall 2013 courses, Typography and Design and its Discontents through syllabi and other course information pages which quickly turned in to doodling outlets as well. Typography was actually quite boring today. There was also some definite Déjà vu, as it is in the exact same room as my last semester’s Graphic Studio class, and has many of the same people in it. The class structure also seems similar which I am not sure I am excited about as I felt it moved somewhat slowly. Anyways, although syllabus day is not expected to be very exciting it was made more bearable by doodling through the day, and forces me to concentrate enough to still pay attention to what the instructor is saying, without crossing over in to the mindless drawing and doodling and sketching mode I often find myself in.  Eventually, every scrap of paper in my possession pertaining to classes usually ends up with some sort of doodle on it, which sometimes can later get on my nerves but never enough to prevent me from doodling in the first place.

Consumption of information:  Well the cost of attending class at the University of Minnesota would include the cost of sitting in a classroom or studio and consuming or absorbing the information imparted there, but I don’t know what the exact cost breakdown would be because there are a few ways it could be broken down; by credit, by hour, by time spent on types of information, by perceived value, etc etc etc. Cost could also be the value of the actual time spent listening to the information, a cost which would be paid at the time. In effect, I bought in to this time spent receiving information when I confirmed my enrollment at the U last year, a choice I made based on my desire to study Graphic Design and the U’s offering a program, gut instinct, and the fact I liked being on the U of M campus, and liked the college of Design.