My unhealthy preoccupation with design is now blogged for your enjoyment.

MoveSeniors.com redesign

2009-03-26T10:59:00.000-07:00

I want to take a moment to announce the relaunch of moveseniors.com. The previous iteration of this website was confusing to navigate, visually unappealing, and lacked a sound information architecture. Important content was difficult to find and a wealth of text was rendered as images—hidden from search engine spiders. Our goal with this redesign was to improve SEO, ease of navigation, accessibility and overall friendliness

The site needed to provide resources for aging adults transitioning into smaller homes while also serving as a training portal for aspiring senior relocation professionals. My roles in this project included information architecture planning, front end design, (X)HTML/CSS construction, Javascript implementation and content management. Click here to launch the site.

Moved by type

2009-03-25T11:26:00.000-07:00

Beautiful typography, thumping backbeats, retro aesthetic. Does it get any better? This "typographic orgy" from Sebastian Lange rocked my world when I first saw it. Clearly I'm a sucker for typography in motion. But this video experiment for the song "flickermood 2.0" by FORSS turned me into a full-blown junkie.

OwensArtwork.com Gets Painted Anew

2009-03-07T16:23:00.000-08:00

As a gift to my good friend and celebrated artist Matthew Owens, I offered to redesign his website. The previous iteration didn't reflect his sense of style or personality in the least. It felt like someone altogether different—a crafty homebody masquerading as the erudite, talented and slightly peculiar artist that many Chicagoans know and love.

Unfortunately, politics got in the way of launching the redesign and kept it in a holding pattern for the last year and a half. That is, until today. The new version of owensartwork.com launched with dark motifs of moody grays, painterly details, and a background scanned straight from a Jean Paul Gaultier shirt—nothing could be more Matthew than that.

Julie's Pseudo Birthday Gift

2009-02-20T08:22:00.000-08:00

We all have tough months. Mine was February. The aftermath of the holidays, some unexpected expenses and a dip in freelance work left my wallet thinner than usual. I can handle living on a shoestring. However, my fiancée's birthday just happened to coincide with this perfect storm of financial wallops, leaving me empty handed in the gift department. Not good. So this year, in lieu of an actual gift, I designed her this five panel, vertical accordion folding card and she loved it.

Nikon D60

2009-02-15T12:11:00.000-08:00

Shortly after the holidays I treated myself to a fancy new camera. The Nikon D60 entry level digital SLR had been calling me ever since I saw the photos taken by a fellow traveler on our trip to Peru. The deep, saturated colors that she captured on her D60 were all I needed to convince myself that dropping several hundred on the camera was an absolute necessity. Not to mention the fact that every designer needs a good camera, right?! See here, here and here.

Below is a selection of photos captured on the new DSLR since January. If you want to follow my photographic endeavors, here is the photostream.

Happy Holidays from Studiostein

2008-12-18T09:26:00.000-08:00

Viva Las Incabators

2008-12-17T08:14:00.000-08:00

A friend recently told me that in film making you will spend roughly six hours in the editing room for every one hour of completed footage. Over the past two weeks I had the opportunity to test this theory, and found that it is extraordinarily optimistic. Last month Julie and I took our first vacation in five years to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and along the way we got about two hours of footage. Editing it down to a thirty minute movie took me at least twenty hours. Granted, I'm a film making novice with a computer not optimized for video editing. However, I prefer to convince myself that the reason it took so long was because I did such a damn fine job on it. I hope you enjoy the finished product.

Harmony

2008-04-10T11:05:00.000-07:00

Here is my Word It submission for April. This month's word is Harmony: a consistent, orderly, or pleasing arrangement of parts; congruity. In addition to interpreting the definition, I did a little deconstruction. Harmony became Harm/on/Y, so I literally placed the word harm onto the letter Y. I also considered a treatment where harm was being done to Y, but then remembered I was at work, and if I didn't get back to my billable projects, harm was going to be done to me. Enjoy.

Wanderlusting

2008-04-07T12:02:00.000-07:00

I've never been a huge Bjork fan, but I am always impressed by the limitless, childlike creativity that shines through in everything she does. Her latest video, Wanderlust, is one of the most visually arresting experiences I've come across. Like walking into another person's lucid dream, Wanderlust is somewhat disturbing, highly ambiguous and completely overwhelming. The colors sizzle and the contours undulate as you travel through this amalgamation of Tibetan folklore and hallucination. This shouldn't be surprising. In the directors' words, the creative process "involved using psilocybin mushrooms…and going into nature in kind of a perturbed state."

Wanderlust, much like Bjork's early video for Human Behavior, evokes an intimate sense of place. Whether its stomping through a moonlit forest glen in the stomach of a life size teddy bear or careening down a river on the back of a Tibetan yak in the painterly Himalayan sunlight, you will certainly leave these videos with a sense of having experienced something profoundly unusual. You can view Wanderlust below, but I highly recommend watching the large format version here. And keep your eyes out for the 3D version to be released soon.

Illustrating the Holidays

2008-04-04T07:19:00.000-07:00

On a rare occasion I get to wear the hat of an illustrator. Its something that I always enjoy, but hardly ever have the opportunity to do. Consequently, I've never developed my own style of drawing. Yesterday I was asked to create some holiday related marketing pieces. The client was intent on focusing the design around highly obvious holiday subjects: Santa, turkey, fireworks, and so on. I learned quickly that the royalty-free stock photography reserve of holiday themes is just downright bad. I figured, the only way to make this project work without compromising too much on aesthetics was to embrace the cliche and illustrate them by hand. Here are a couple of the illustrations that were settled on:

The Propagandizer is back

2008-03-25T08:23:00.001-07:00

I've been ignoring my obligation to provide society with more propaganda, political and otherwise. But at the urging of a good friend and mentor, I finally got off my lazy butt and designed up some new spin for all to download and paste up in their neighborhood alleyways, coffee shops and store fronts. To see the latest blitz of social manipulation from Studiostein, go to www.propagandizer.blogspot.com.

Revolution

2008-03-07T11:25:00.000-08:00

Here is my Word It submission for March. This month's word is Revolution: a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system. I had actually been developing this icon as a new logo for the Propagandizer, but decided instead that it was better suited for this purpose. Enjoy.

The Story of Stuff

2008-02-22T07:13:00.001-08:00

After a two month blogging hiatus in the wake of a busy holiday season I'm finally back with Stuff to share. A friend of mine emailed me this video with the statement "Watch this movie when you have 20 minutes and an open mind." In all honesty, I have an open mind—very much so in fact—but I'm still weary of any call-to-action that requires it: Greenpeace representatives for example, standing outside of my local coffee shop hoping to accost unsuspecting passers-by. I avoid them at all costs. Nevertheless, I clicked on the link in my friend's email.

The video called The Story of Stuff is a "fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns." With well executed and witty animation by Louis Fox, and Ruben DeLuna, this film is entertaining, educational & powerful. Watch the full video by clicking here, or view the first chapter below.

Happy Holidays

2007-12-21T10:37:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to wish you Happy Holidays and say thanks for visiting my blog. This site rarely gets more than 10 hits in any given day, but I value each visit more than you know. Above is a slightly adapted version of the post card that Julie and I sent out to our usual holiday mailing list. Thank you to Michael Schwab for providing the inspiration.

What type am I?

2007-12-12T14:38:00.000-08:00

My obsession with Typography is overwhelming. I often interrupt my girlfriend, Julie, mid-sentence to enthusiastically point out a billboard type treatment or poor use of Helvetica on public signage. She humors me by feigning genuine interest, and I appreciate her all the more for it.

The latest trend in typography; chunky, geometric, illustrative wording with the counters removed, has me both enthralled and perplexed. When executed well it can make a bold graphic statement, but it also has the allure of a fad so ostentatious that it's days are numbered. In spite of my better judgment, I found myself so caught up in this über hip typographical style that I started re-designing the Studiostein logo in it. It took me only about an hour to render all the letterforms—an indication that this style doesn't require exceptional finesse. I knew there was tweaking to do, but I felt confident in the design overall. So I presented it to Julie, who I jokingly refer to as my Art Director (I pretend it's a joke, but she's actually very deserving of the title) and waited with baited breath for her response.

Okay, my breath wasn't actually bated. I knew Julie would see through the stylistic excess and realize that this type treatment didn't actually connect with the Studiostein identity. She was right.

Eye magazine creative director, Nick Bell, wrote that there are two types of designers; "agents of neutrality" and "aesthetes of style." While I often fantasize about being the latter—designing exclusively for the sake of expressing my raw creative vision—I think it's more accurate to concede that my purpose as a designer is to communicate the client's message. I reserve self gratification for one side project in particular: The Propagandizer.

While I'm still trying to develop a unique visual language to call my own, this exercise (and Julie in particular) helped me remember that my style isn't dictated by fads. I think it's critical to stay current on design trends and to incorporate them sparingly, but in the end they all pass.

Studying Schwab

2007-11-26T10:56:00.000-08:00

Back in school we used to get away with replicating other artists' signature styles by deeming the work a "study". This practice was often encouraged, but as we became upperclassmen with unique visual styles of our own, it died out.

For this year's holiday card Julie and I decided to revisit this activity and borrow the charming and timeless look of Michael Schwab's illustrations. While I will refrain from posting the finished card design, here are the studies:

Word it for November

2007-11-15T08:42:00.000-08:00

Drumroll please…here is my Word It submission for November. This month's word is Next: coming immediately after the present one in order or space. As if enough typographic solutions to "next" involving arrows and X's hadn't already been submitted, I proceeded boldly with my own take on the arrow-X treatment. Is this X headed in next, or is it headed out? Ponder that.

My Favorite Typefaces

2007-11-04T23:51:00.000-08:00

My original intent was to begin this post with a butchered rendition of "My Favorite Things" reinterpreted to express my love for all things Type. But I figured everybody involved would be better off if I forgo the shenanigans and dive straight into the post. There are many typefaces that I love, but these are some I've found popping up in my work frequently over the last five years. The obvious trend—lots of slab serif or no serif at all.

The Edit Aesthetic

2007-10-16T10:01:00.000-07:00

I just finished a small stationery re-design for a non-profit association that, in their best interest, will remain anonymous. The back of the letterhead features a list of all the board member names which require annual updates. Herein lies the subject of this post. This particular client constructed an elaborate and aesthetically satisfying piece of her own by listing the edits in a Mind Map-ish sort of way. I love the look of it and in spite of the visual complexity, I understood it all.

Kinetic Artwork

2007-10-09T11:47:00.001-07:00

As a kid I had a fascination with the incredibly complex and always whimsical devices I would later come to know as Rube Goldberg Machines. Although in my youth I simply though of them as really cool ways to make breakfast (Pee-Wee's Big Adventure) or open your front gate (The Goonies). There is a great DIY aesthetic to the engineering of these devices that commands our attention no matter what age we are. And they remind us that the tangible world of physics, chemistry, engineering and sheer dumb luck still offer spectacles that computer graphics and super-slick art direction can't beat.

These are some of the more noteworthy Kinetic art pieces I've come across. Included are two works by Theo Jansen, a Dutch sculptor who creates large kinetic machines that can be set into motion by slight forces, such as a gust of wind or a gentle push.

The Way Things Go - Peter Fischli and David Weiss

Honda Ad

Theo Jansen - BMW Ad

Theo Jansen - Animaris Rhinoceros

Japanese Rube Goldberg Machines

Studiostein Has Arrived

2007-10-08T20:14:00.000-07:00

If you've spent any amount of time exploring this blog, you've likely been directed toward a rather sub-par holding page at studiostein.com. Well, I'm happy to say that the site is now complete—ish. Over the next couple of months I will be making minor updates: creating a flash image scroller on the "Work" page; updating the portfolio; adding case studies; and more. Take a look around. If you come across any typos or grammatical errors—and you probably will—please let me know.

Aaron Cool

2007-09-27T22:04:00.000-07:00

On a recent trip to California I drove through the town of Cool, a small unincorporated community with a smaller population than my high school. Cool hardly seemed to live up to its name—that is until I drove past a back road that caught my keen attention. Keep in mind, my name is Aaron:

Neighborhood Type - Part 1

2007-09-12T13:52:00.000-07:00

Whether beautifully rendered or just noteworthy in their junkiness, these typographic finds always seem to catch my eye. Here is the first part in an collection of photos of found type from my neighborhood—Lakeview, Chicago.

Serendipity

2007-09-06T09:26:00.000-07:00

Here is my Word It submission for September. This month's word is Serendipity: the occurrence and development of events in a happy or beneficial way. I took a very simple approach to this. Enjoy.

The Propagandizer

2007-09-04T10:28:00.000-07:00

I just want to take a moment to announce a new project that my girlfriend Julie and I are starting called the Propagandizer. Click here to check it out. Spurred by the fulfillment of designing the 9/11 General Strike Poster, we are launching this project as a small contribution to a world desperately in need of change. I for one have never been the type of activist to march in rallies, stage sit-ins or throw eggs at the presidential motorcade, so we believe this undertaking will drown out any other attempts we could make to have our voices heard.

On a continual basis we will post original propaganda that you can download, print & post in your neighborhood if you are so inclined. If you disagree with the point of view expressed by the Propagandizer, let us know (as I'm sure you will). If you wish to contribute your own propaganda, please do so. Prepare your artwork as a PDF file and email it to this address. Please keep the file size below 5MB.

Day of nothing

2007-08-26T22:34:00.001-07:00

I don't delude myself that visitors to this blog want to read about my political leanings. This little corner of the internet is about design, not politics. I am neither learned in the political sciences nor thoroughly up to date on world affairs. My political convictions are based largely on what I hear on NPR a couple times a week, what I see in the headlines of CNN.com, and what I feel in my gut when I take all this, and much more into consideration. That being said, I promise to keep all political ramblings to a minimum.

At the urging of my gut, and aided by a strong desire to do more "extracurricular" design, I created this poster to promote the 9/11 General Strike. Whether or not they include it on the official website for download by the public is yet to be determined, but you can download the full size PDF here, print it and post it in your neighborhood if you are so inclined.

Regardless, it felt good to break from client projects and create something that reflects my personal convictions. While I don't think that design alone can change the world, I do believe that it is a critical tool in bringing about political, social and environmental progress.

Spoke Cards

2007-08-10T08:56:00.001-07:00

I ride my bicycle every day: to work, to client meetings, back home, the grocery store, the bar, wherever. It's a large part of how I define myself—my own personal culture. I ride a messenger bike and I wear a messenger bag and I roll my jeans like messengers do. In spite of this, I am not part of the messenger community. Nevertheless, I enjoy observing this rapidly growing, always proud, and often arrogant group of cyclists in all their tight-pants glory.

One detail of messenger culture has always intrigued me; spoke cards. Used to identify competitors in alleycat races these cards are one of the few points where print design and messenger culture intersect. Here are some of the more artistic spoke cards I pulled off the web for your viewing pleasure.

Coke vs. Pepsi (Aesthetically Speaking)

2007-07-13T05:45:00.000-07:00

Less is definitely more. The Coca-Cola Company proved that with the recent enema it performed on the famous Coke can. This simple redesign turned out to be one of the best product packaging overhauls of the last several years, and it is one that will go largely unnoticed by the general public. Instead, consumers will experience a barely detectable sense of nostalgia and perhaps an enhanced connection to the bubbly beverage, and nothing more. Why such a slight consumer reaction? Rather than slapping swooshes, splashes and halftone patterns onto the design, they removed extraneous design elements and, in so doing, returned the Coke can to its long-ago simple glory.

In a marketing milieu where corporations flood the public with visual noise, a move like this from such a large player should be applauded. Now Coca-Cola actually deserves the name "classic".

On the other end of the boxing ring stands Pepsi. Now I should probably mention that I have little conviction about which is a superior soft drink. My girlfriend Julie feels very strongly that Coca-Cola is the apex of all beverages. Because of this, no Pepsi can has ever seen the inside of our refrigerator. That notwithstanding, Pepsi's latest marketing effort takes the exact opposite approach as Coca-Cola, and quite frankly their new cans turn my stomach.

Adorned with flashy, urban patterns this suite of 15 unique designs attempts to speak directly to young consumers in what Pepsi calls "a salute to the spirit of youth and discovery". Unfortunately, these cans only succeed in widening the gap between mega-corporation Pepsico and it's consumers by trivializing youth culture with graphics of car rims, snowboarders and DJs. For Pepsi's full spectrum of youth culture clichés, click here.

The news never looked so purdy

2007-07-11T07:56:00.002-07:00

Before I dive into this post, I'd be remiss not to make a quick address. I'm a bad blogger. It's true. The only excuse I can present for being such a sporadic author it that, at the detriment of my blog, I've been highly productive in other areas of my life. So to any of you out there who actually look forward to my posts—if there are any of you out there—I apologize for keeping you hanging.

Back to the news. I have an online fetish. It doesn't involve web cams, internet porn, or Myspace. No, this is much more highbrow than any of that. It's the news. CNN.com to be exact. Why the sudden interest in world affairs? Well, its never looked so darn good before. CNN.com went live with their newly designed website early this month and has set a new standard for news coverage on the web.

I won't even begin to mention the myriad technical ways that the site has been improved. For more on that check out Andy Rutledge's article "Quiet Structure". I will however say that CNN definitely knows how to clean shop. The ease of understanding has been vastly improved. Before the viewer would have to tediously sift through the stacks of often strangely worded headlines. Now, with so much less visual noise, the content finds you. This transformation perfectly illustrates the value of thoughtful design.

Make it Shiny-er

2007-06-01T14:51:00.000-07:00

This past week Apple Inc. announced its partnership with YouTube. From the looks of it, the Apple design team broke out the chamois and polished the YouTube logo to a high-gloss sheen. While I understand this was necessary to inject YouTube into the Apple TV environment, it concerns me that they would hand their identity over to Apple with such ease.

Nowhere on the YouTube do the glossy, reflective surfaces of the new mark exist. This leaves me wondering, is it important for major web companies to follow the same rules of branding vital to the rest of the business world? Or does the kaleidoscopic internet universe require enterprises to be fluid right down to their corporate identity?

Web 2.0, I love you

2007-05-15T08:57:00.000-07:00

Just a quick memo to proclaim my love for the era of immediate information. I'm smitten with the Internet. I love it in the same way I love my bicycle or Dunkin Donuts coffee. It's always there, ready to take me new places, show me new things and answer my questions. It's my professor, my doctor, my tour guide, my mailman, my megaphone, and my community.

Whether this is good or bad for the other relationships in my life is a question for the true, living-breathing apple of my eye, Julie. But I must admit that my infatuation with the Internet is long-standing and still going strong.

On a side note, you can now check out my fickr photostream by clicking on the flickr badge in the sidebar. Meet our menagerie of pets and catch a glimpse into the daily goings-on at the Weinstein/Vazquez household.

Labor of love

2007-05-13T21:02:00.000-07:00

I'd like to take a moment to announce the website redesign of my girlfriend Julie's pet care business, Park Place Bark. While I still have a lot to learn about web design and development, I progressed leaps and bounds while working on this site. The original site was thrown up in a matter of days. Built with tables, cumbersome images, and shoddy code, it was in need of a revamp.

With the help of css, Park Place Bark now has one of the most sophisticated websites in the Chicagoland pet care industry—an industry that is riddled with mediocre websites. Big snaps to Julie for her excellent art direction. I don't just say this out of obligation to my girlfriend. She really did provide an abundance of strategic and creative direction and the end product wouldn't have been nearly as successful without her expertise.

The new site features rotating pet quotes and tips, a service area map, a client gallery, an "anatomy" component, and a highly informative blog.

Egg'd!

2007-04-18T06:39:00.000-07:00

A funny thing happened on my way home from work that has nothing to do with design, but is noteworthy nonetheless. My preferred method of transportation involves two wheels, a crank shaft, and a hard leather saddle. I'm an urban bicycle commuter, and I love it. But this Monday my daily commute was disrupted by a band of 10 year old punks.

As I approached Cabrini Green, I took momentary notice of the abundance of people enjoying the beautiful Spring day. It seemed only natural that a group of kids should be strolling the courtyard, smiles ablaze in the sunlight. As they rapidly approached the bicycle path I noticed the smile in one boy's eyes quickly change into wicked determination. In that moment before his dastardly act was executed, I was swept back to a distant childhood memory.

In this memory I was riding my bike to the end of the cul de sac and through a neighbors lawn to a place we called Dirt Valley; a network of twisting, hilly paths tucked away in the woods. As I approached the bottom of the street I glimpsed Sean Perkins, a chubby boy 3 or 4 years younger than I with a broomstick clinched high above his head, and the same look of wicked determination in his eyes. Without hesitation, he released the broomstick, lodging it squarely in my spokes and sending me sprawling across the pavement.

Flash forward—I noticed something white and round in the evil-eyed boy's hand and began to realize that this was no innocent interaction, it was an ambush. Blocked by a solid row of cars to my left, I had no choice but to stay the course. I curled my shoulder down and turned my head away as the boy took aim and pelted the egg with surprising accuracy. The projectile hit me squarely in the leg and sent a gelatinous mélange of yolk and white across my frame, handlebars and shoes. I was egg'd! His band of hellions instantly burst into laughter as I did all I could think of—yelled obscenities and rode on.

Humiliated and slightly amused, I began to think that I was not so different when I was a kid. I wrought havoc with rolls of toilet paper and cartons of eggs. I stole beer from open garages and turned people's televisions off with a remote from outside their living room windows. What right had I to loathe this boy for egg'ing me? It was merely karma coming full circle. Rather than brooding over the event, I've decided to focus my energy on developing creative ways to get revenge if the band of kids ever makes a follow-up appearance. So far my favorite scenario was suggested by my girlfriend: pudding filled water balloons in an easy-access pouch. I'll simply grab as many balloons as I can hold in one hand and with the momentum of my cycle, lob the balloons at the group of kids and laugh malevolently as I ride into the distance.

If you can think of other creative methods for me to foil the band of 10 year old punks, please let me know. If it seems feasible and won't call the attention of their older brothers, perhaps I will put your plan into action.

Word it

2007-03-30T13:55:00.000-07:00

Word it is your opportunity to express in any manner you wish and with as many (or as little) other graphic elements as you need, what best describes each monthly word.

I originally started participating in this monthly project to drive traffic to my site. Now it's become a quick and fun exercise that I look forward to every month. Here are my word it designs submitted to to Speak Up over the last three months.

March: "I"
For March I arrived at my design by thinking of "I" as it pertains to the concept of self. "I" and "Identity" can nearly be used to define one another. The fingerprint was just the natural next step.

February: "Yell"
I'll be the first to admit that on the rare occasion I loose my patience and yell, my dog Gweck is probably on the receiving end (that or perhaps a designer tantrum is in progress). However infrequent reactions like this are, they are something that I strive to eliminate entirely. February's "Yell" was a comment on this verbal sort of abuse that happens toward animals all the time and often goes unnoticed.

January: "Wonder"
No matter what the word of the month may be, someone always seems to put a political spin on it. Here is my little bit of anti-establishment conspiracy theorist petition signing Adbusters reading personality coming through.

How CSS made me a better print designer

2007-03-25T00:11:00.000-07:00

Things change. I've realized this inevitability of life and embraced it. The last two years have been marked by a dramatic change in my work away from print and into the expansive realm of web design. That's why when I was asked to design a 150+ page training book this past month, I jumped at the opportunity. "It'll be like old times" I thought to myself. The endless expanse of folios; the grids; the typesetting; and when it's done—ahhh—the smell of fresh ink on paper.

The allure of designing a substantial printed piece, not a mere letter size flier or trifold brochure, but a book is undeniable. It's a problem solver's playground—taking a graceless Word doc and transforming it into literature. So, with mouse in hand, I set off to design a book with the noble charge of educating it's reader and I discovered some interesting things along the way.

Lesson 1: Feeling trapped? Build some walls.
My design process isn't a speedy one. I'm a perfectionist; constantly going back and rethinking each decision I've made up to the present. The result of this agonizing process is often substandard productivity and a finished piece that I can't stand to look at. There is a threshold that I pass through when so much energy has been invested into a project that I can no longer love it, no matter how good it may be. This is the plight of the perfectionist.

Surprisingly, it was web design that lead me away from my perfectionist tendencies. I'm now used to working within the constraints of the web: scant typeface selection; low screen resolution; image optimization; plus a myriad of technical limitations. When I dug my heels in on the book project I decided to approach it much like a website by limiting my options. I created an on-the-spot style guide dictated by the basic demands of the project: lots of information = highly legible typefaces; thin photography budget = dramatic use of scale to create visual interest. By building walls for the path ahead I could find the door at the end of my creative corridor without getting lost along the way. Rather than agonizing over the thousands of typefaces to choose from, I considered larger design issues. In the end, my finished piece is all the better for not having traveled the path of perfection. Plus, I can look at it without cringing.

Lesson 2: The idea is it
The most dramatic shift in design thinking I've undergone over the last couple years has been that aesthetics aren't it. The crux of any great design is not the look, but the idea and the quality of the idea's execution. Doug Fuller, my first art director and design mentor, tried to instill this in me but it didn't fully take hold until I began learning CSS web design. With CSS it is vital that the designer carefully consider the site's content, and how to best communicate it. In this mode of though the substance defines the look, not the other way around. While designing the training book I found myself surrendering the look to the idea more than ever before.

Lesson 3: Get some style(s)
When designing in page layout programs I had always used styles, or so I thought. I certainly created lots of styles, a method for applying particular attributes to blocks of text with the click of a button, but how well did I implement them, or even understand them? After using styles in web design I began to realize how poorly I had employed this method in print. I'd often create a style but then not use it, opting instead to format subsequent blocks of text by hand because it just seemed easier. Or creating a style only to change it's formatting by hand, but not apply the new formatting to the style. For styles to work, they have to be maintained and used across the board. If type formatting changes need to be made, they should be done via the style, and not the paragraph.

CSS style sheets for web design have taught me to give styles the respect they deserve. As with all things on the web, they have to be built right or they won't perform. And so, after agonizing over so many web style sheets I finally found myself getting the most out of my print styles on the training book. Between this and the other lessons I've learned from CSS, my book actually turned out looking good, ahead of schedule and under budget. Style me happy.

Couldn't have said it better myself

2007-03-07T19:40:00.000-08:00

While combing motionographer this morning over a heaping bowl of Raisin Bran I came across this fabulous Craigslist post that's just too good not to share. Here it is, re-posted* for your enjoyment:

Every day, there are more and more Craigslist posts seeking “artists” for everything from auto graphics to comic books to corporate logo designs. More people are finding themselves in need of some form of illustrative service.

But what they’re NOT doing, unfortunately, is realizing how rare someone with these particular talents can be.

To those who are “seeking artists”, let me ask you; How many people do you know, personally, with the talent and skill to perform the services you need? A dozen? Five? One? …none?

More than likely, you don’t know any. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be posting on craigslist to find them.

And this is not really a surprise.

In this country, there are almost twice as many neurosurgeons as there are professional illustrators. There are eleven times as many certified mechanics. There are SEVENTY times as many people in the IT field.

So, given that they are less rare, and therefore less in demand, would it make sense to ask your mechanic to work on your car for free? Would you look him in the eye, with a straight face, and tell him that his compensation would be the ability to have his work shown to others as you drive down the street?

Would you offer a neurosurgeon the “opportunity” to add your name to his resume as payment for removing that pesky tumor? (Maybe you could offer him “a few bucks” for “materials”. What a deal!)

Would you be able to seriously even CONSIDER offering your web hosting service the chance to have people see their work, by viewing your website, as their payment for hosting you?

If you answered “yes” to ANY of the above, you’re obviously insane. If you answered “no”, then kudos to you for living in the real world.

But then tell me… why would you think it is okay to live out the same, delusional, ridiculous fantasy when seeking someone whose abilities are even less in supply than these folks?

Graphic artists, illustrators, painters, etc., are skilled tradesmen. As such, to consider them as, or deal with them as, anything less than professionals fully deserving of your respect is both insulting and a bad reflection on you as a sane, reasonable person. In short, it makes you look like a twit.

A few things you need to know;

1. It is not a “great opportunity” for an artist to have his work seen on your car/’zine/website/bedroom wall, etc. It IS a “great opportunity” for YOU to have their work there.

2. It is not clever to seek a “student” or “beginner” in an attempt to get work for free. It’s ignorant and insulting. They may be “students”, but that does not mean they don’t deserve to be paid for their hard work. You were a “student” once, too. Would you have taken that job at McDonalds with no pay, because you were learning essential job skills for the real world? Yes, your proposition it JUST as stupid.

3. The chance to have their name on something that is going to be seen by other people, whether it’s one or one million, is NOT a valid enticement. Neither is the right to add that work to their “portfolio”. They get to do those things ANYWAY, after being paid as they should. It’s not compensation. It’s their right, and it’s a given.

4. Stop thinking that you’re giving them some great chance to work. Once they skip over your silly ad, as they should, the next ad is usually for someone who lives in the real world, and as such, will pay them. There are far more jobs needing these skills than there are people who possess these skills.

5. Students DO need “experience”. But they do NOT need to get it by giving their work away. In fact, this does not even offer them the experience they need. Anyone who will not/can not pay them is obviously the type of person or business they should be ashamed to have on their resume anyway. Do you think professional contractors list the “experience” they got while nailing down a loose step at their grandmother’s house when they were seventeen?

If you your company or gig was worth listing as desired experience, it would be able to pay for the services it received. The only experience they will get doing free work for you is a lesson learned in what kinds of scrubs they should not lower themselves to deal with.

6. (This one is FOR the artists out there, please pay attention.) Some will ask you to “submit work for consideration”. They may even be posing as some sort of “contest”. These are almost always scams. They will take the work submitted by many artists seeking to win the “contest”, or be “chosen” for the gig, and find what they like most. They will then usually have someone who works for them, or someone who works incredibly cheap because they have no originality or talent of their own, reproduce that same work, or even just make slight modifications to it, and claim it as their own. You will NOT be paid, you will NOT win the contest. The only people who win, here, are the underhanded folks who run these ads. This is speculative, or “spec”, work. It’s risky at best, and a complete scam at worst. I urge you to avoid it, completely. For more information on this subject, please visit www.no-spec.com.

So to artists/designers/illustrators looking for work, do everyone a favor, ESPECIALLY yourselves, and avoid people who do not intend to pay you. Whether they are “spec” gigs, or just some guy who wants a free mural on his living room walls. They need you. You do NOT need them.

And for those who are looking for someone to do work for free…please wake up and join the real world. The only thing you’re accomplishing is to insult those with the skills you need. Get a clue.

* This was originally posted on Craigslist by an anonymous author.

Talent out the wazoo

2007-02-23T13:01:00.000-08:00

Since the subject of type in motion has been on my mind a lot lately, I feel the need to point out a killer piece of work that I found via Design Observer. This class project was created by Jarratt Moody, a student at Savannah College of Art and Design, which reminds me—students who produce work this good piss me off. I don't know how long Jarratt has been has been designing for, but his resumé doesn't cite any experience prior to 2004, so I assume it hasn't been long. No student work should be this good. Granted, I haven't been designing much longer then he has, so I should probably shut up and create something genius to feel worthwhile again.

On being creative in a vacuum

2007-02-19T14:17:00.000-08:00

Today I had my first real designer tantrum. I've often played the part, casting stacks of paper to the floor, smashing mock-ups and yelling "how can I be expected to create genius ideas when...(insert rub here)." But never has such an outburst been genuine. To see how I crossed the threshold into the realm of the temperamental artists, I have to take a step back.

My first job in design was at Hinge Incorporated, a corporate branding firm based out of Washington DC. With four creatives, we were a small outfit big on corporate culture. The creative jam sessions; the company field trips; the weekly traffic meetings; the homework assignments; the studio open houses; the food eating competitions; and best of all, the simulated designer tantrums, kept us sane and thinking creatively.

Flash forward to present day. I'm the lone graphic designer working for a small print brokerage named dbp | chicago based out of—you guessed it—Chicago. While this position rarely keeps me in the office past 6:00, and challenges me less then Hinge ever did, I find my stress level has actually increased rather then subsided. Why is this? Shouldn't my stress level be in direct relation to the external pressure placed on me?

Along with the late hours that are no more, and the all-seeing art director who doesn't exist to criticize my work, my current job lacks the corporate culture that made my experience at Hinge so enriching. The gap between then and now becomes particularly clear when I recall the simulated tantrums that made working at Hinge so exciting. The only rule that governed these outbursts was not to erupt while our marketing head was cold calling. At my current job, such a display of mock volatility would be received with puzzled expressions. Perhaps the office manager would even toss on her HR hat and call me out for bad behavior. Needless to say, a creative person can only last so long in this carefully controlled environment before things go haywire.

That's why I lost it today (for real this time) when a sales rep asked me to convert a Word document into a print ready 3 color PDF—"and, um, I need it now." I obliged, but not without copious amounts of heavy sighs and audible swearing, followed by a livid demeanor for the remainder of the day. While this was far less dramatic than many tantrums I've staged in the past, I nevertheless felt embarrased for behaving so immaturely before onlooking coworkers.

Perhaps, the job of advocating culture in my office rests on my shoulders. Everybody says I'm the creative thinker of the bunch. I could be the go-to guy for good vibes; the man in demand for corporate shenanigans—also available for organizing retreats and brainstorm meetings. After all, who is more unprofessional, a designer who throws fake tantrums suffused with humor every so often, or one who throws the real thing somewhat less often?

Thank you for perfect typography

2007-02-11T18:50:00.000-08:00

Even though this has been written about on several other blogs, I'd like to give kudos to Shadowplay Studio for creating one of the most typographically perfect opening sequences I've seen in a long time in Jason Reitman's comedy, Thank You for Smoking. With smooth transitions, vibrant colors, and fabulously executed type they cleverly weaved together a sequence rich with vintage iconography that nearly upstages the very movie it opens.

Another often talked about opening sequence that I'd like to throw in for good measure is that of David Fincher's thriller, Panic Room. This is a case where, for better or worse, the opening does indeed upstage the movie. If you haven't seen it, or just haven't seen it in a while, you should give it a viewing.

Baby mooner update

2007-02-05T07:41:00.000-08:00

I just received word that the little hellions are on their way. My brother Josh and sister in law Trish are snapping on the shackles of parenthood today and I couldn't be happier for them. All I can say is be warned—the cycle of deviance is coming full circle. Anyone who's known my brother Josh since his formative years knows that up until his twenties he had a close relationship with trouble. All signs point to him as the genetic origin of the mooning incident explained in the previous post. As the very soon-to-be uncle, I'm tickled by the idea that the brother who used to pin me down and dangle loogies mere inches from my face will soon have to endure the fruit of his own loins. Go buy yourself some Advil right now brother. I'll reimburse you for it.

Josh and Trish, I know that you will be incredible parents. Don't worry, Ethan and Hailey won't be the deviants that I've painted them to be. I love you and will see you and the little angels soon.

Baby mooner

2007-02-02T23:34:00.000-08:00

My brother Josh, and his lovely wife Trish are having twins. The whole family is waiting with bated breath for the arrival of our newest family members, Ethan and Hailey. From the looks of the latest sonogram, at least one of them is going to be a hell-raiser.

This image, taken January 19, revealed one of the babies in the taboo act of mooning the camera. Not just a quick shot of the rear, this flagrant disrespect for authority was done with gusto. Pictured below are both ass-cheeks clearly stripped bare and pressed to the camera lens. The identity of the delinquent can't be verified due to image distortion common to sonograms, but it is safe to say that both babies will be taken into custody and interrogated shortly after their birth.

Here goes...

2007-01-26T21:17:00.000-08:00

After viewing my friend Jonah's blog yesterday I decided that perhaps it's time I jump on the bandwagon and create a blog of my own that nobody will read. Last month I gave myspace a try, and already I've had enough of it. Granted, I like the concept of social networking, but the execution falls undeniably short. The animated ad of a half naked girl swiveling to and fro; the banner telling me that I've won a new laptop; the way everybody rocks blue steel in their avatar.

So now I'm embarking on a new project: my own blog, or as I prefer to call it, a web journal. I think this will be far better suited to my many convictions on the subject of design. Not that I have any time in my life to dedicate to this. But like my mother taught me, you make time for the things you enjoy. I enjoy the process of creation; the way it is before a committee gives it's fourth round of feedback; the way design genius Jessica Helfand explains it:

"Drawing is the point of contact in which idea begins to approximate form. There is a kind of transcendent energy in the sketchbook, or the tissue, or even the napkin upon which the simplest of doodles begins its long, twisted road to realization. It’s all grist for the mill, and the studio is its incubation chamber: not the studio with the white board and the IT guy and the phones ringing and the incessant emails, but the studio in which the ideas seek, and ultimately start to find, their burgeoning, fledgling form."

This thrill of creation is what brings me to the blogging world. It isn't something I could have achieved on myspace, right below a blinking advertisement for Classmates.com. That being said, perhaps there is some worth in rocking blue steel every so often. I'll leave you with my best execution of it.