Apr 23
Learning
I have two very talented sons in design school—in the last few years their education has been the catalyst of many interesting conversations. As they unfold the intricacies of the business of communications design and ask questions, I must think through and articulate theories and practices I have long taken for granted.
This month on ideabook.com I want to share one of the more controversial issues with you—regarding the concept of self-expression. Even if you don't think this is something you would normally take the time to read, please take a few minutes to read it through and to share your thoughts about it with me.
Commercial graphic design is not self-expression...
In the Ideabook Design Store: Brenner Pricing Tables...
Mar 28
Learning
If you are a friend of this page, you know I don't spend a lot of time waxing philosophical. But a recent experience brought this to mind and, if you will indulge me this once, I'd like to share it with you.
Victor Kryston, Dill Cole, and The Eucalyptus Tree Studio...
In the Ideabook Design Store: Getting It Printed...
Feb 15
Learning
Elif Ayiter is a graphic designer, artist, and design instructor, living and working in Istanbul, Turkey. Her site offers a labyrinth of first class instructional material. One section, The History of Visual Communications, she explains, is loosely based on Phil Meggs' much acclaimed A History of Graphic Design. (I attended Virginia Commonwealth University in the Communication Arts Department when Meggs was teaching there.) Not only is the information worth seeing, her many forms of presentation are equally as interesting.
The History of Visual Communications...
There is much to see on Ayiter's site...
A little about Meggs who passed away in 2002...
In the Ideabook Design Store: Before & After: Page Design...
Feb 13
Learning
This site (for a planned community in Florida) is a lesson in movement. Watch the flips, slides, drawers, reveals, rotations, and so on. You could argue that it is motion for the sake of motion but I think viewing it in whole, it is successful vehicle for establishing a unique identity.
Lake Nona and Nonalogy...
In the Ideabook Design Store: The Desktop Publisher's Idea Book...
Jan 25
Learning
I just got a birth announcement that I am eager to share. Will Sherwood, principle of The Sherwood Group, has kicked off a blog in the last few days titled “Success Secrets of the Graphic Design Superstars.” If that doesn't get your attention (got mine), the list of designers he interviews will. Interviews with Petrula Vrontikis, Luba Lukova, and Andrea Cutler are posted now and upcoming are interviews with others such as Milton Glaser, Ivan Chermayeff, Bill Cahan, Noreen Morioka, Dave Mason, Rick Valicenti, Mike Salisbury, Woody Pirtle, Stan Richards, Chip Kidd, Kim Baer, Mirko Ilic, Jennifer Morla, Margo Chase, Steve Wedeen, and so on.
What is so enticing to me is that the questions are being posed by a designer who knows what he's talking about. We're going to get a different type of information than we would from someone who is simply an interested interviewer. Don't miss it.
Success Secrets of the Graphic Design Superstars...
Will's design credentials...
Jan 9
Learning
Rouxbe.com is a site that will teach you some of the finer points of cooking. It uses video tutorials to walk you through each step of a recipe showing you specifics about details such as the consistency of chopping necessary and so on. I think it is a particularly strong instructional model—simple to use and easy to navigate.
Rouxbe.com...
Oct 29
Learning
There is no better place to get a sense of the Japanese design aesthetic than PingMag —an online design magazine based in Tokyo. They say, “Defining the term design as broadly as we can, PingMag writes about ideas and inspiration coming from both world class designers, and from the little store on the corner.”
PingMag.com...
Sep 26
Learning
I am always interested in knowing what other designers and marketers are reading and thinking. It helps me to stay on course in my effort to add to the ever-growing fabric of ideas. At this writing I am interested, not in your current favorites but, in the dog-eared books you return to time after time.
What do you think? Click here to take the survey...
Aug 29
Learning
Do you know a print buyer? Some are independent, most work for large agencies or businesses. They make their living policing the theme park between client and printer. They submit jobs for bids, negotiate prices, schedule jobs, troubleshoot technical issues, scrutinize quality, and keep everyone on track and in the know.
Most print buyers are high functioning folks. In addition to keeping up on rapid technological changes, the best buyers have superior management and people skills. If you don't know one, allow me to introduce you to one of the best: Margie Dana. She publishes a weekly column that reveals some “inside baseball” on the print buyer world. If you ever buy printing, you will find her insights valuable.
A sample article on Common File Problems...
Her article archive...
Dana's Boston Print Buyers web...
In the Ideabook Design Store: Brenner Pricing Tables...
Aug 27
Learning
Reading Steven Heller's resume makes you wonder if he ever sleeps. Thirty-plus years as an art director at the New York Times, author, co-author, and/or editor of over 100 books, teacher, artist, reviewer, large animal veterinarian (made that last one up). Seriously though, Heller's site is a depository or wonderful insights, interviews, and writings by a designer who has done it all (or at least a lot of it).
Heller’s resume...
Podcasts of Steven Heller’s lectures from the School of Visual Arts...
In the Ideabook Design Store: Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines...
Aug 13
Learning
I suspect that one reason, perhaps the main reason, you are here is because you are interested in seeing what other people are doing. One significant part of being a designer is keeping track of where your audience is heading. Design*sponge is one interesting spot for following trends. Brooklyn-based writer Grace Bonney uses it to focus home and product design but I think lots of what she covers is applicable to our universe.
Grace Bonney's design*sponge...
In the Ideabook Design Store: Searching for just the right InDesign template?
May 2
Learning
I just looked over the most recent issue of @issue:. It is a 40-page, brochure-quality journal published by the Corporate Design Foundation, sponsored by Sappi Fine Papers, and designed by Pentagram under the direction of Kit Hinrichs. As they describe it: "Through real-life case studies and tangible examples, @issue: examines design from a business point of view, and provides useful information on how companies can make design an integral part of their overall business strategy."
@issue: Journal...
Apply for a free subscription...
Mar 23
Learning
Ever wish you could be a fly on the wall when emerging technologies are pitched to venture capitalists and corporate developers? You can. DEMO marries great ideas with the folks who can make them happen. Their site is interesting on two levels: to see how the pitches are made and how complex concepts are communicated—and to get a taste of technology in the works.
DEMO.com...
Jan 24
Learning
They call this conference the “essential hands-on instructional gathering where top art directors, designers, illustrators, and photographers come together to learn about the hottest creativity tools and techniques using Adobe products as well as the latest technology from Apple Computer.” Past instructors include some Adobe heavyweights—Russell Preston Brown, Adobe's Senior Creative Director, Julieanne Kost, Digital Imaging Evangelist, and Adam Pratt, Application Engineer.
The ADIM Conference...
Oct 25
Learning
I'm a big fan of lynda.com and its $25 per month tutorial subscription service. Who wouldn't be—you get access to hundreds of high quality, self-paced QuickTime program tutorials for learning the basic to advanced features and workflows of programs such as Illustrator, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, and InDesign. AND over 150 hours of material is available free to try.
www.lynda.com