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CRAFT: Roy Montibon | Design + Imaging Work 1 
 
 
 Roy Montibon's personal imagery and design work crosses boundaries - it's incursive and relentless. Indeed, in Roy's design process, files output from the computer are often only the beginning. He uses various combinations of digital and analog processes to achieve his ends. He also doesn't use a typical linear design process, but rather a more organic process he calls, "Design as Discovery". "Most designers are complete control freaks", Roy says. "You pretty much have to be to survive - if you subscribe to the usual planning/execution model." That's because the typical design process is highly procedural: planning (design) is followed by execution (production), each sub-divided into discrete step-by-step sequences. "There are many instances in life where this method is valuable and necessary. But if you are an artist or designer dreaming up something totally new out of thin air, the planning/execution model can be an impediment to good design," Roy says.  "This approach has two inherent problems" Roy explains. "First, most designers consider the design process to be "interesting" and the production process to be "boring". Thus, most successful designers farm out the production steps to assistants or interns. By default, the production side becomes "non-creative". Second, for all practical purposes, design becomes a process of generating instructions, and production becomes a process of executing instructions. The entire thing degrades into an excercise in control." Roy bypasses these traps, particularly in making images, by applying what he terms, 'recombinant techniques' to 'clouds of possibility'. He explains further: "One generates variety and chooses wisely." According to Roy, this process allows him to get 'outside of himself' and discover things he would have never come up with otherwise. And the entire process, from end-to-end, is creative. He explains further: "It's like exploring an alien landscape. You only have a general objective to guide you and you have no idea what's around the next corner. Is it a city of gold or a pit of vipers? Astute observation and improvisation become more important than control. In fact, you've essentially given up control. The ability to pay attention to exactly what is happening and connect the dots becomes crucial."  "History will show whether you made good choices or not. There's no way to know in the moment - you've got to go with your instincts, and you have to be prepared for anything. You think you are looking for one thing but end up discovering something else entirely. " NEXT: Roy Montibon | Design + Imaging Work 2 Back to The Montibon Company HOME |