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This is Briefing 65: An overview of stuff of interest to the design mind.

Enjoy! Chuck Green

P.S. Please check out my template collections:
 
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The use of symmetry in graphic design

I like the way David Pearson used asymmetrical illustrations to create these unique, decidedly symmetrical book cover designs.

The use of symmetry in design has long intrigued me. I guess it is some deep psychological attraction to the foundational balance and order of nature. It pays to recall how profoundly we are influenced by design.

Have you seen any other good examples you can point us to?

Here > David Pearson's Great Journeys series for Penguin...
http://www.davidpearsondesign.com/greatjourneys.html
 
Here > A passage from The Elements of Graphic Design by Alex W. White on Symmetry and asymmetry...
http://ow.ly/kmsk
 
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My favorite graphic designer

Back in February I mentioned that Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California was doing a retrospective of Kit Hinrichs (my all-time favorite designer) titled, The Storyteller's Art. Now that it has closed (and in case you missed it) here is a look.

Who is your favorite graphic designer?

 
 
 
 
 
indesign ideabook
 
Pulp tricks for graphic designers
Some wonderful examples of how to make the paper more important to the design.

Here > A laser-cut design from the Chartula Studio...
http://www.chartula.co.uk/images/Bespoke-Col-Pic-15-TR-c.jpg
 
Here > More from Chartula Studio...
http://www.chartula.co.uk/BSbespokeColln.htm
 
 
Here > More from the Studio On Fire blog, Beast Pieces...
http://www.beastpieces.com/
 
Here > A letterpress thank you card by Page Stationery...
http://site.pagestationery.com/stationery/darcy.jpg
 
Here > More from Page Stationery...
http://www.pagestationery.com/
 
 
Here > More from Huetopia Design...
http://www.huetopiadesign.com/latest-designs/
 
Here > A blind embossing example from Pinball Publishing...
http://www.pinballpublishing.com/coinop/?s=duches
 
Here > More from the Pinball Publishing blog, CoinOp...
http://www.pinballpublishing.com/coinop/
 
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Very unusual typeface but I love the look of it http://ow.ly/hgw9
 
Hahaha... InDesign in action. (why are they rewriting the headline while designing the article?) http://ow.ly/h5tj
 
Homogenizing book designs like this seems to detract from the uniqueness of the title and its author http://ow.ly/h5tV
 
When you need to talk to a real person at a big company use gethuman.com http://ow.ly/gTZs
 
I highly recommend Fred Showker's DT&G newsletter (Design, Typography, & Graphics)--always something worthwhile http://ow.ly/gP6k
 
Interesting brand design brief by The DuPuis Group (1MB pdf ) http://ow.ly/gJFK
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Packaging design trends to watch

Came across this excellent piece on packaging design that is every bit as applicable to today as it was when it was first published a couple of years ago. It was written by Steven DuPuis, the Founder and President of The DuPuis Group, developers of branding programs for clients including Dole, Heinz, Kellogg's, Mattel, The Walt Disney Company, and ConAgra. He seems to know of what he speaks.

Here > 10 Packaging Design Trends To Watch In 2008--or anytime...
http://www.dupuisgroup.com/content/2008%20PkgTrends.pdf
 
Here > A sneak peek at Package Design Workbook by DuPuis Founder Steven DuPuis and John Silva, its Creative Director...
http://www.packagedesignworkbook.com/sneek-a-peek.php
 
Here > Home of The DuPuis Group...
http://www.dupuisgroup.com/
 
 
Graphic Design Referenced 
 
A good lesson in "context" for graphic designers
 
Photograph 1 is fascinating. Photograph 2 is shocking. The difference is not that both animals are strange, the difference is that the second animal is shown in a totally unexpected context--surrounded by a pristine white background.

Makes me wonder how I better communicate a message by taking something people are used to seeing in one context and showing it in another.

 
 
 
Here > See how photographer David Doubilet captured these images on a specially constructed underwater cyc--and I thought I had some bizarre photo shoots...
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/video/player?titleID=1531204600#/?titleID=nudibranchs&catID=1
 
Here > I describe one slightly strange photo shoot here (hop down the page to "The glamorous life of a design executive"...
http://www.ideabook.com/tutorials/inside_ideabook/funny_stuff.html
 
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Meet Jillian Tamaki--editorial illustrator, cartoonest, and storyteller
 
The consensus is good for Canadian illustrator Jillian Tamaki, she was recently awarded Gold medals by both the Society of Illustrators and the Society of Publication Designers. I particularly admire her ability as a storyteller.

Here > An illustration example...
http://www.jilliantamaki.com/folio/mob.jpg
 
 
Here > Tamaki's portfolio...
http://www.jilliantamaki.com/
 
Here > A recent interview with Illustration Friday...
http://www.illustrationfriday.com/interviews/jilliantamaki.php
 
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Drawing graphic design inspiration from historic documents

 
Historic Stock Market is an international online-market for historical shares, old stocks, bonds, and financial documents. Their collection includes at least 20,000 old stock and bond certificates, many of which include elaborate illustrations, ornate typography, and/or highly complex borders and patterns. This is one place to remember when you need some graphic design inspiration.

 
 
Here > If you're interested in exploring further...
http://www.historicstockmarket.com/market/index.php?cPath=207&language=us
 
Here > Another excellent source: George H. LaBarre Galleries...
http://www.glabarre.com/item/Mergenthaler_Linotype_Company/5073/c99
 
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About the briefing
I try to remain as objective as possible about the information I share here. Unless otherwise stated, I receive no compensation from the organizations and people mentioned except for occasional product samples.

Comments? Suggestions? Write me at [email protected]