 Greetings -- thank you for subscribing. I spend lots of time digging around to find this stuff because, when it comes to design and typography, there are very few truths but many religions.
I can't tell you how many times I've caught myself believing I knew what the truth was when, in actuality, I had only a small fraction of the information necessary to make such a claim. I hope this issue of Design Likes finds you ready and willing.
Be well, Chuck
Check out my Adobe 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...
A beautifully designed, technically rich source of scoring and folding inspiration
-- FREE from SappiHere is a "must have" publication for graphic designers, printers, corporate end users, and publishers who either specify fine coated paper or who are interested in applying folding and scoring techniques. The Standard No. 4, Scoring & Folding was designed by legendary designer Kit Hinrichs, Studio Hinrichs, with content provided by Trish Witkowski, foldfactory.com. With all of the focus on web design in recent years, it's easy to lose track of how interesting and effective folding and scoring can play in print production. This book is a great reminder. Never ordered a paper sample? For the uninitiated, paper manufacturers produce samples such as this to show off the quality and versatility of their papers. If you wonder whether or not you qualify for samples, the rule of thumb is this: that you are in a position where you could potentially purchase or recommend the purchase of paper for a particular project. They define it broadly but I respect the notion that they don't want to send samples to people who are clearly not prospects for their products. Here > Here are a few shots of the book...Here > An overview of the book on Sappi's site...Here > Here's where you order a free copy...Here > An article I wrote a while back: The form and function of folds...Discuss this topic here...
Will this idea cause a fundamental shift in the way we learn?
Sal Khan has produced 2100 10 to 20 minute video instructive lessons on subjects as varied as Inductive Reasoning and the French Revolution. Khan narrates the lessons himself in an interested, enthusiastic tone, and like any good teacher, has a talent for breaking complex concepts into understandable, easily digestible explanations and examples.
Khan's idea is to provide teachers and students with free access to his lessons and to monitor and improve the lessons as they are used. His theory is that relieving teachers of the need to prepare and present lectures will free them up to spend time working with students on a one-to-one basis.
I point you to this because I don't think there is anything more important in professional development than to have a sense for where our world is headed. If you were a graphic designer before the advent of desktop publishing, you know how dramatically the new tools changed our profession. I'm guessing the fundamental changes we are witnessing in how people learn and share information will make the changes we experienced in the first twenty-five years of the technological revolution pale in comparison.
These times are exciting, frightening, unpredictable, and present virtually unlimited opportunities.
Here > The Khan Academy...
Here > The idea...
Here > Bill Gates talks about Sal Khan...
Discuss this topic here...
A 1970s publication that influences 2011 typographyAs a young designer, I waited with bated breath for the next issue of U&LC (Upper and Lower Case) - a who's who and what's what of typography in the 1970s. Herb Lubalin was the editorial and art director of the first issue and through it, helped to inspire and motivate an entire generation of designers. Allan Haley is the former executive vice president of International Typeface Corporation (ITC) - the company that published U&LC. In recent months he has been discussing the magazine and posting scans of each issue in full. He has promised to re-publish them all, over 9,000 pages in low and high resolution. Thanks to John McWade at Before & After for pointing us to it. Here > Volume 1, Issues 1-3...Here > Volume 2, Issues 1-4...Here > Volume 3, Issues 1-4...Here > Volume 4, Issues 1-4...Here > Volume 5, Issues 1-4...Here > About the publisher, International Typeface Corporation (ITC)...Discuss this topic here...
An amazing, idea-rich websiteWow. There are so many good ideas here: The floating navigation that gives you access to everything everywhere. The combination of graphics and video - watch how the vessel circles and shines light on the round badges. How various layers flow at different speeds to create a sense of depth. And the gradual, fluid movement of the line that leads you down the page. And that's just what I like about the first page - gorgeous design. Here > Expedition Titanic...Here > Firstborn, the design firm that created the site, is cutting a new paths in website design...Discuss this topic here...
Notable web design layout ideasI often take note of layout ideas that could be used in my own designs. Here are a few recent examples... Here > The Napa Valley Reserve: Nest the information within a photograph...Here > Cooper: "Swipe" from section to section as if you are navigating a giant page. Gives you a bit of the same sense as the iPad/iPhone "swipe" from left to right...Here > LensCrafters: Pop sections from a structured list of categories...Here > Aliena Restaurant: Produce a long, unlabeled series of images give the reader a sense of a place...Discuss this topic here...
The future of identity systems? A logo for the organization and versions for each person within itAs Creative Director and Designer Richard The explain MIT's new identity, "The logo is based on a visual system, an algorithm that produces a unique logo for each person, for faculty, staff and students. Each person can claim and own an individual shape and can use it on their business card a personal website. The design encompasses all collateral, business cards, letterhead, website, animations, signage etc. A custom web interface was developed to allow each person at the Media Lab to choose and claim an own individual logo for his/her business card, as well as a custom animation software which allows to create custom animations for any video content the lab produces." The design is billed as a collaboration with TheGreenEyl, designers Richard The and E Roon Kang, and programmer/designer Willy Sengewald (of TheGreenEyl). Nice idea. Here > Designer Richard The...Here > TheGreenEyl...Here > E Roon Kang...Discuss this topic here...
From the Ideabook.com Design StoreTintbook CMYK Process Color Selector: A palette of 25,000 CMYK process colors in print... Here > http://www.ideabook.com/store_tintbook.htmlColor Harmony Guide: From French designer Dominique Trapp... Here > http://www.ideabook.com/store_color_harmony.htmlCommunicating With Color: Based on Leatrice Eiseman's seminars on the psychology of color... Here > http://www.ideabook.com/store_pantone_guide.htmlThe Copywriter's Handbook: Bob Bly's classic guide to copywriting... Here > http://www.ideabook.com/store_copywriters_handbook.htmlGraphic Design, Referenced: A Visual Guide to Graphic Design: One of my favorite design books... Here > http://www.ideabook.com/store_copywriters_handbook.htmlGetting it Printed: How to wrestle control of your printed work... Here > http://www.ideabook.com/store_getting_it_printed.htmlDesign-It-Yourself: Graphic Workshop: How to design logos and newsletters... Here > http://www.ideabook.com/store_graphic_workshop.html
About the briefing I try to remain as objective as possible about the information I share here. Unless I tell you otherwise, 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
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