Simplicity is not the goal. It is the by-product of a good idea and modest expectations.
October 28th, 2009 |
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Quote of the Week
October 20th, 2009 |
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Quote of the WeekGood graphic design solutions to communication problems can improve the flow of information in society and, therefore, substantially and positively affect education, social well-being and the daily enjoyment of life. In addition, good graphic design solutions can also have a positive economic impact.
October 18th, 2009 |
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Call for submissions: UPPERCASE Magazine
For more information, go to the UPPERCASE web site.
October 14th, 2009 |
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Call for Entires: Project Never
Project Never is a free awards competition created by graphic designers for graphic designers. Thousands of effective designs die each day – often for good reason. At the same time, successful designers and agencies generate many worthy ideas for each project or campaign, only one of which gets chosen for wider audiences. Project Never honors the most creative design concept that never reached production.
Project Never will accept any print or web concepts. Please use your creativity to present your work, as it is an integral part of our judging. There are many ways to submit your concept and we value creative presentation.
Please submit all files in either .jpg or .pdf format. Total file size must be under 5mb. A project description (50-200 words) is also required. Please give us a brief overview of the project and its intended use had it gone into production.
Details
1. Download and complete our interactive PDF Project Never entry form.
2. Enter your concept using our upload form. Entries consist of both an entry form and a concept – incomplete entries will not be accepted.
3. Send your completed entry form to Project Never. Don’t forget to put your name/business in the subject line.
Note: When sending your entry form and concepts, please use the following file-naming structure: “YourProjectName_concept.pdf” or “YourProjectName_entryForm.pdf ”
Print Entries: Fill out the appropriate information on our entry form and upload your concept as a .jpg or .pdf.
Web & Interactive Entries: Fill out the appropriate information on our entry form and include a link to your concept.
October 13th, 2009 |
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Quote of the WeekStyle=fart
October 12th, 2009 |
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Type Means Never Having To Say You’re SorryHere is another article you should read in it’s entirety! But to sum up why I think it’s important for a student is that the really cool jobs you want like those at Wieden + Kennedy and Pentagram, just to name a few, are full of really smart people, who know design history and typography and can spot its misuse a mile away. So you really need to stop and think if your choice of typeface is appropriate or if not appropriate, that the decision was purposeful and can be defended vigorously. Here is a snippet of the article, the rest can be read over at Deign Observer.
“What made you choose this typeface?” I inquired of a lovely young woman whose senior project involved a series of book jackets for Sigmund Freud’s Interpretation of Dreams.
“I liked how modern it was,” she replied.
“Did you read the book?”
She blushed, shook her head no, and looked down at her lap.
I tried a different approach. “Do you know what year this book was published?”
Again, she shook her head, and apologized for the lapse in research. But I wasn’t so interested in the apology (a common refrain, particularly among students) as I was concerned that she was about to graduate and had no fundamental knowledge of design history — a failure of the curriculum, and by conjecture, of the faculty. I explained that when Freud’s book was published in 1899 (and in it’s first English edition the subsequent year) it’s impact was significant — that the whole notion of addressing the subconscious was seen as wholly unprecedented, even radical at the time. And yes, broadly speaking, such a novel concept might be considered to be “modern” — and what might that entail, typographically? I could see that an abbreviated lecture on the rise of modernism in America would be about as pointless as quoting George Santayana — or even Harry Truman — and besides, the next student was already awaiting his turn for review — but the bottom line was: why Futura?
“I just kind of liked it.”
Clearly, designers make choices about the appropriateness of type based on any number of criteria, and “liking it” is indeed one of them. There are an infinite number of considerations to be taken into account, from readability to copyfitting to concerns over what works on a screen to what translates into other languages. Followers of the Beatrice Warde school of thought believe that typography should be invisible, while an equal argument can (and should) be made on behalf of expressive typography — type that extends and amplifies its message through more robust gestures in form, scale and composition. (Guillaume Apollinaire’s caligrammes preceded Renner’s Futura by more than a decade: might not these be considered modern, too?)
October 12th, 2009 |
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Life beyond Google image search!I found this great article on a blog maintained by the AIGA student group at Portland State University. Below is a snippet, the rest of the article can be read here.
Step away from that search engine! Keep your hands where I can see them.
So many design projects begin with the ubiquitous six letters that spell a silly name; Google. A quick switch to ‘images’ and you’re on your way to mining the internet for material for your design.
I am here to tell you there is another way. However, before I reveal the source, brace yourselves. I have met people who have never. used. this resource.
We are talking about the library.
OK, now I’ve lost you, haven’t I. You’re all running away and the thought of entering the library makes you want to set yourself on fire. Please don’t, first of all, and second of all, let me tell you a secret about working designers; they have image libraries, with real books, on real shelves, collecting very real dust at times. But those books are worth their weight in super mega ultra platinum diamonds when it comes to searching for images.
October 11th, 2009 |
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Self-Discipline?Design For Mankind – Dialogue Episode 4 from Design For Mankind on Vimeo.
I found this video over at the blog Design For Mankind. If you have trouble doing the things you know you are supposed to be doing to become a better designer, then this video is for you!
October 11th, 2009 |
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2009 ADC And Nissan Student Brief Competition
Art Directors Club launches inaugural student brief with Nissan. Students currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate level programs in advertising, graphic design, photography, illustration and new media are eligible to enter ADC’s co-presented brief based competition.
Nissan cube® is unlike any other car on the American road. Its funky exterior is punctuated by an asymmetrical rear window and a low, wide stance. Its comfy interior is a place to have fun with friends. It offers multiple options for self expression with features like a removable shag dashboard carpet, multi-color interior mood lighting, and configurable storage. Cube is part car, part social destination.
ADC is inviting students to address these questions:
- How would you introduce cube?
- What creative would you run?
- Where would you run the creative for maximum reach and efficiency?
Develop a campaign, or concepts, that makes Nissan cube a part of our target’s life. The campaign shouldn’t feel like marketing, it should feel like a natural extension of where our target goes and what they do. To this end, use channels and communication vehicles you feel are most appropriate to our target’s lifestyle and what the model represents.
Local dealership location info available upon request. US-based only. International students must respond to US market conditions.
Download PDF of full brief or visit the ADC web site for more details! Deadline: January 29, 2010
October 11th, 2009 |
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Call for Entires: Print in MotionPrint in Motion from Print on Vimeo.
Print magazine’s new competition dedicated to motion graphics. All winning entries will be featured on our website and receive a special mention in an issue of Print.
WHAT’S ELIGIBLE
Work must have been created between November 15, 2008 and November 15, 2009. Proposals and/or rejected spots will not be considered. Entire videos should be entered; stills will not be considered.
DEADLINE
All entries must be postmarked no later than November 15, 2009. Entries postmarked after November 15 require a late fee of $25 per entry. Entries postmarked after December 15, 2009, will not be accepted.