Chuck Green's Design Likes
Greetings

Thank you for subscribing.

You're going to meet at least three creative folks today--Eric Baker, Nigel Buchanan, and Fred Showker. Each sees graphic design from a different perspective--all valid, interesting, and individual. It reminds me that design is a lot of things--challenging, mysterious, complex, ever-changing, and so on--but most of all, it is a joy.  
 
Enjoy, Chuck
 
P.S. Don't forget to checkout my desktop publishing template collections--an ideabook and 300 plus templates on a dual format (Mac/PC) CD-ROM...

For Adobe InDesign > For Adobe PageMaker > For QuarkXPress
 

A little kick in the brain

Eric Baker started out spending 30 minutes each morning finding and sending odd and interesting images to a friend online-a good idea soon draws a crowd. If you need an occasional creative nudge, check out Eric Baker's Today, it just may do the trick.

Here > Baker's first post from October 2008-Today on designobserver.com...

Here > A recent example...

Here > The archive...

Here > Baker is one of the principals at The O Group. Their portfolio...
 

Meet illustrator Nigel Buchanan

What first drew me to Nigel Buchanan's illustrations was how adeptly he tells a story. They are, at once, striking, unusual, and technically interesting.

But he really got me wondering about the tools he uses to create his illustrations--it looks like he uses an old-fashioned mechanical airbrush but they also have a distinctive digital quality about them. So I asked.

He tells me he primarily uses Adobe Photoshop--at times creating images with as many as 100 layers. If the illustration includes elements such as typography or mechanical-looking items he might also incorporate Adobe Illustrator. "I used an (mechanical) airbrush years ago," Buchanan says, "and the computer technique I use now employs the same principles; paths as masks and a pressure sensitive stylus."

But here's the takeaway for young illustrators: his emphasis is on creating a clear concept and a beautiful drawing to work from. "It is too easy to rely on computer programs (and filters or trace tools) to make an illustration look acceptable. What many illustrators forget is that it's the strength of the image and the idea behind it that makes an illustration successful."

Well said.

Here > Example 1...

Here > Example 2...

Here > Example 3...

Here > An interview with the artist...

Here > Buchanan's site...
 

So how did I miss Rocketboom?

I'm so engrossed with the design world that I often miss the mainstream stuff. From the look of it Rocketboom has quite a following. Each day its correspondents dig into a subject and report on it from unusual angles. Mostly humorous, often insightful, always interesting--Rocketboom.

Here > Here, for example, is coverage of the Futura vs. Verdana IKEA Smackdown...

Here > Another, a brief biography of Edgar Allan Poe...

Here > Rocketboom also produces Know Your Meme...
 

From the Ideabook.com Design Store

Tintbook CMYK Process Color Selector, on Coated or Uncoated Stock...
 
 

Meet Fred Showker and the Design & Publishing Center

What I like so much about Fred Showker is that he sees the graphic design industry from more than one angle--he's is a working designer, an experienced teacher and presenter, a bit of a technoid, and the creative mind behind one of the top marketing and design resources on the Web--the Graphic Design & Publishing Center.

Not only does he stay curious about what's next, he has amassed a huge archive of insightful articles and tutorials on design, photography, typography, marketing, and the business of graphic design.

He recently did a major reorganization and re-launch of the site so, if you haven't already, I urge you to take a look.

Here > The Design & Publishing Center...

Here > Example 1: Visual Proofreading: 10 Rules...

Here > Example 2: Designing Spaces...

Here > Example 3: Throw Your Press Release in the Trash...

Here > Fred's bio...

Here > I've been a subscriber to his newsletter, DT&G NEWS, for years...
 

Recent Tweets http://www.twitter.com/ideabook

REALLY bored? Read about me and my chair http://ow.ly/1bMn9
 
Life's great moments: You've planned well and worked hard--it's the moment you realize, whatever it is, is going to succeed.
 
A interesting visual organization idea: picturing the past 10 years http://ow.ly/156GQ

The web assigns more importance to your ideas than it does your talent for public speaking. Bloviators beware.

The toughest work looks simple, is easy to understand, and is "I could have thought of THAT" obvious.
 

Meet YouWorkForThem.com: a new (to me) source of fonts, vectors, images, and brushes

YouWorkForThem.com is a shop founded by two talented designers--Michael Paul Young and Michael Cina. Their eclectic collection is certainly worth adding to your list of resources.

Here > Example 1: Stock Images > Oils & Ink...

Here > Example 2: Stock Vectors > Flowers...

Here > Example 3: Fonts > Blou...

Here > Web of founder Michael Paul Young...

Here > Web of founder Michael Cina...

Here > YouWorkForThem.com...

 

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 chuckgreen@ideabook.com

Chuck Green