Chuck Green's Design Likes
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A desktop publishing program doesn't make you a designer any more than a stove makes you a chef.

 

Where is your passion? That's the minimum price of admission to the ranks of creative professionals. Even then, passion just gets you through the door. To get good you've got to be willing and able to explore the many facets of your life -- the student, the artist, the politician, and the inventor. 

 

Professional status (to me) is a lifelong pursuit -- and an attainment you can only grant yourself.  

 

After many years of being paid to design, I still question my abilities and qualifications.


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...
 
John Warnock on innovation and management

Attention, in particular, managers. Here's a rare interview with one of the co-founders of Adobe, John Warnock where he discusses innovation and the manager's role in it.

On the future of computing, Warnock tell those students contemplating a career in computer science, "...There is so much more room to innovate now than there was when I was growing up with computers - and there's so many more inventions to make, and there's so much more to conceive of and build because of the capabilities of the machines, that the opportunity now is greater than ever - and the returns are greater than ever..."

Here > No business lasts forever (except PostScript)...

Here > An official Warnock bio...

Here > And on Wikipedia...

Here > From The Wharton School: Warnock on the Competitive Advantages of Aesthetics and the 'Right' Technology...

Discuss this topic here...
 

Design (and lots of other subjects) from a slightly weird angle

David Friedman is photographer who, as he explains it, "...Sometimes gets ideas for photos, designs, gadgets, and other projects." Ironic Sans is where he writes about such things.

Here > You got your picture in my logo...

Here > They don't make computer manuals like they used to...

Here > Idea: Pre-pixelated clothes for reality TV shows...

Here > Idea: A new typography term...

Discuss this topic here...


Old school logo design, lettering, and calligraphy with Raphael Boguslav

"You have to convince the client you have as much at stake as he does." Those are the words of the late designer and calligrapher Raphael Boguslav (1929-2010). You'll see many familiar brands in his portfolio. There's lots to see and learn from this old school icon.

Here > Logos...

Here > Lettering...

Here > Calligraphy...

Here > A video profile from the 1980s...

Discuss this topic here...
 

The United States of Design -- kinda

In October, Fast Company publishes its annual look at "Masters of Design" and "The United States of Design". I say "kinda" because we all recognize that the state of design changes hourly. A design in development this afternoon will likely sway our thinking shortly.

But it's fun to see who the design establishment - the educators, editors, pundets, curators, and organization heads - recognize as the current leaders in the field (I fear it will be another generation before the effusion about 3M and Post-It Notes finally dies down).

It's well worth a look.

Here > The United States of Design...

Here > Fast Company's 50 most influential designers in America...

A few examples of those cited...

Here > Ji Lee, Facebook's creative director...

Here > Scott Wilson...

Here > Ben Fry...

Discuss this topic here...


Recent Tweets from http://twitter.com/ideabook
and posts from  http://www.facebook.com/ideabookfb

A seismic read from Seth Godin today: The forever recession (and the coming revolution)
Here > http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2011/09/the-forever-recession.html?utm_source=feedburner

Have a comment about my rant on becoming a professional designer?
Here > http://www.facebook.com/notes/ideabookfb/about-becoming-a-professional-designer/267603656607413

Using expletives such as **** and **** was once edgy, now it merely demonstrates a lack of creativity...

I like these new Toyota spots. Great line: "I'm their only child, except for my sister."
Here > http://adland.tv/commercials/toyota-cross-country-2011-30-usa


Inside the inside of packaging

If you're enamored with Dieline.com, you'll love Boxvox.com. How do I explain the difference? Let me put it this way, I've come to think of Dieline.com as a fashion show and Boxvox.com as a sewing machine. Randy Ludacer's blog looks at the fabric of packaging: the current state of packaging, the history of packaging, the technical side of packaging, and all threads in between.

Here > Chained Polyhedral Portion Packs...

Here > Package as a metaphore...

Here > Geografia's Polyhedral Planet...

Here > Edge matching puzzles...

Here > Randy, who is also a musician, even writes songs about packaging (bottom of the page)...

Here > But don't miss Dieline.com either...

Discuss this topic here...


Forging a collaboration between artists and designers

When I saw this lovely lithograph by Angie Lewin, it made me think there are probably many ways it could be used for commercial purposes. On the cover of a brochure for a spa, to illustrate a web page for a bed and breakfast, and so on.

My point is, we shouldn't be shy about inviting artists to collaborate on projects. In some cases, artists will be receptive to the possibility, in some cases not. I'm just suggesting it's worth investigating. (I'm using Ms. Lewin's work as an example - I'm not implying that she would be interested, but I'm guessing most artists would be willing to entertain a proposal.)

Here > A lithograph by printmaker Angie Lewin...

Here > While we're on the subject of printmaking - my niece, Summer Ventis, is also an accomplished printmaker...

Here > BTW: If you're not familiar with the various printmaking techniques, MOMA explains the processes: woodcut, etching, lithography, and screenprints...

Discuss this topic here...


Meet illustrator Mark Bender

Mark Bender's bio says his work contains influences from advertising posters of the 1920's and 1930's, Folk Art, Cubism, Constructivism, and Surrealism. It's all there, interpreted with a bright palette of colors and a lyrical style.

Here > Example 1...

Here > Example 2...

Here > Example 3...

Here > Bender's website...

Discuss this topic here...


From the Ideabook.com Design Store

IDEO Method Cards
Here > http://www.ideabook.com/ideo_method_cards.html

Tintbook CMYK Process Color Selector: A palette of 25,000 CMYK process colors in print...
Here > http://www.ideabook.com/store_tintbook.html

Color Harmony Guide: From French designer Dominique Trapp...
Here > http://www.ideabook.com/store_color_harmony.html

Communicating With Color: Based on Leatrice Eiseman's seminars on the psychology of color...
Here > http://www.ideabook.com/store_pantone_guide.html

The Copywriter's Handbook: Bob Bly's classic guide to copywriting...
Here > http://www.ideabook.com/store_copywriters_handbook.html

Graphic Design, Referenced: A Visual Guide to Graphic Design: One of my favorite design books...
Here > http://www.ideabook.com/store_copywriters_handbook.html

Getting it Printed: How to wrestle control of your printed work...
Here > http://www.ideabook.com/store_getting_it_printed.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 [email protected] 


Chuck Green