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There was a time when I pondered my own tortured thoughts in solitude. Now, with the advent of social networks, a multi-trillion-dollar technological infrastructure, and an ever-evolving relaxation of psychological barriers, I am able to share those thoughts with you--smiley face eh?
Be well,
Chuck
Have you seen my InDesign Ideabook?
315 template files in 19 different categories -- Everything from brochures, newsletters, and direct mail to packaging, calendars, and books (one CD works with both Mac and PC). Use two or three files and you'll pay for the entire book and disc...
For Adobe InDesign
For QuarkXPress
Jared Jacob's fools you into thinking that tight is loose
Jared Jacob's work is loose and lyrical. But, it's easy to miss the fact that it is also very tightly designed--meaning he is meticulous about the detail of each element, the piece's overall composition, how he fills negative space, and so on.
An example of what I mean by tight and loose...
Example 2...
Example 3...
Jared Jacob's website...
An interview with Jacob from the Logo Lounge...
From Spoon Graphics: One method for achieving a similar type of distressed look in Adobe Illustrator...
How to design an embroidered patch
These patches, designed by Ben Noe for Expedition Collectables, are not only beautiful, they offer a great lesson in how to design for the medium. If you've ever designed artwork that will be stitched, you know how vexing the decision-making process can be. Great compositions, deft use of typography, and I love the color palettes.
The Dream Series...
The Seven Summits Series...
The Colorado Collection...
Expedition Collectables...
Ben Noe's website...
Meet my favorite children's book illustrator, Robert McCloskey
I have a tangential connection to Mr. McCloskey. In the third grade I was the curtain puller in the Cherry Hill Elementary School production of "Homer Price" (yes, I did get my name in the program-trophies for everyone was in full effect even then.) An, even more pivotal is the fact that, as an adult, I spent my solo days (in an Outward Bound program) on an island very near to where McCloskey and his family spent their summers. Pretty amazing legacy huh? Well perhaps not.
But I did love reading his books to my sons. For whatever reason, his illustration style rang true to me.
His home town, Hamilton, Ohio, is duly proud of its connection...
An illustration from "Homer Price"...
Sketchs for "Make Way for Ducklings" from Boston Public Library...
A McCloskey bio...
McCloskey spent summers on Scott Island, a small island off Little Deer Isle in East Penobscot Bay in Maine...
One Morning in Maine...
If you want a challenging introduction to the region, I can't recommend Outward Bound Schools highly enough (there are programs for ages 12 through adult)...
Here's one for your marketing and advertising ethics class:
What is this ad (in my Facebook feed) all about? I recognize the names I have blurred out as people who I am friends with on Facebook. But, curiously, I don't see any of their names as people who have commented on or "liked" this "Sponsored" ad. I also checked out the "About" section of a couple of those folks and I see no mention of Amazon.
The questions? What algorithm determines that all these people, in some nebulous way, endorse Amazon? But, larger than that, who/what gives Facebook and Amazon permission to imply to the less vigilant reader (and I think it does) that they endorse this product?
I'm guessing, of course, this is all small print transparent and legal. But is it ethical? I'm not implying wrongdoing, I just want to understand what's going on.
A wonderful resource for restaurant branding and design
Grits and Grids is a blog created by restaurant branding firm Vigor. As is so often the case, the highest quality coverage of a subject comes from people with a passion for the subject-the site is curated by Joseph Szala, Vigor's owner.
As they tell it, "It started as a means to build inspiration and bring the awesome world of restaurant branding and design to creatives, but was also meant to raise awareness around the power of restaurant branding for the food service industry."
"The site covers all forms of restaurant design, branding, marketing and thought leadership for our readership of designers, chefs, restaurant owners, and various other wanderers of the interwebs. Our mission: to showcase inspirational restaurant-related design to build awareness in both the restaurant and creative industries."
If you're at all interested in this design niche, Grits and Grids is a wonderful resource.
The restaurant: Le Diplomate in Washington D.C....
The designers: De Vicq Design...
The restaurant: Ficattola in Buenos Aires...
The designers: Yani Arabena & Guille Vizzari...
The restaurant: Oysters & Co in Guadalajara...
The designers: Monotypo...
There's MUCH more to see at Grits and Grids...
The folks behind Grits and Grids are Vigor...
Hot new fonts...
Some designers seem to accomplish ten times what I do
We all know this type of person: They seem to accomplish ten times what most of the rest of us accomplish and when they do something, they seem to do it well.
From the outside looking in, I think of designer and illustrator Tom White is one of those people. First and foremost, he creates highly-detailed, finely-tuned illustrations that are beautifully composed and executed in a distinctive style that I have always found particularly mesmerizing.
But second (and third and fourth) I see now that he is into producing giclée original and reproduction prints and, along with his wife, has started an art gallery where they are the artist's in residence. (Looks like, in his spare time, he is also a principal of the design studio FinGenuity.)
I mean really. It's all I can do to work with a short list of clients and keep a blog up and running. What am I missing here? Maybe I need to start taking vitamins.
9 Surf Editions: Makers of museum-quality giclée original and reproduction prints...
Tom and Lois White: Collaborative husband and wife artists...
The Exhibit No. 9 gallery...
Tom White's design and illustration studio...
White is also a principal of FinGenuity...
An example of White's commercial work...
A treat for print lovers: Canada Post's look at successful direct mail
Canada Post publishes a quarterly magazine, "Incite," that features successful direct mail campaigns. It's almost always interesting to see what others are doing, but of particular note to see what has worked.
Incite Volume 2...
Incite Volume 3...
Incite Volume 4...
Incite Volume 5...
Incite Volume 6...
Incite Volume 7...
There's lots more direct mail marketing intelligence to be found on Canada Post's website-for example, here's a raft of case studies...
And their business marketing hub...
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