Super photo howtos

To round out 2010, I 've included a bunch of great photography links provided via one of my favoritest blogs ever (Lifehacker). This is one of the "go-to" sites for graphic-design know how. Previous articles have included rigging lighting setups, basic retouching, and many other great tips too numerous to mention. Whether you are a student or a hobbyist, you'll benefit from at least a once-through on this site and a bookmark for repeat searches.

PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS, TRICKS, and HACKS

• take a people-free photo of a busy spot
• vignette shot
• fixes for common photo woes
• image editing tricks
• 3-D (stereoscopic) images
• getting good color
• graycarding for whitepoint 
• using a smartphone for great photos
• using a point-and-shoot for great results
• modding your camera
• 'analog-look' photos
• DSLR lens selection
• photos on your iOS device
• videos from capable DSLR cameras
• making blurry photos usable
• photosynths (like QTVR)

"BRILLIANT" logos... (REDUX)

I originally posted this several months ago in its original form. I since have update the link to two source blog sites. This was a response to a cavalcade of student logos that I find either lacking, or overworked (think of a solarized band logo for 'that dude he knows' band). It even garners a comment by one of my old instructors / a Milwaukee Metro market design business owner.

What is a logo anyway? A textbook answer might be something like: "A mark that articulates the brand to the world..."

There are a lot of very good logos in the world that are examples of great design, and just as many that aren't. Funny thing is, successful logos populate both camps. Some have figured out a way to create a memorable visual hit upon the viewer without being design world darlings.

I think the commonality is the effective research and processing of communication and marketing information, organizing and prioritizing that data to desired short and long term outcomes, and the skill at visually expressing everything in support of the developing brand.

If it is done with a high-minded design school flair, or a practical everyman visual style, the logo then requires repeated exposure to the public, and popular support and commitment. It also doesn't hurt to be clever. Sometimes clever can backfire a bit (think Red Dog beer a few years back)--so peruse some examples of clever, but not too clever... [link below]

brilliant logos 1
brilliant logos 2

GREAT DESIGN IS TIMELESS

I am a HUGE fan of CORE77 (an online design magazine/blog/resource). I think any serious students of design are well-suited to study the "big picture" of design, and not just their specialty or focus. Design is an overarching discipline, and its a shame that in todays educational marketplace we cannot keep the fraternal and guild-like atmosphere established by historic schools like the Bauhaus...but I digress...

CORE77 recently ran a 3-parter on cases to hold stuff. Much of the innovation was born of necessity by the (now extinct) door-to-door salesman, and later the POP display for the corner shop. Take a look at this wonderfully functional design for a peek at how the solution to sewing-machine needle replacement evolved.

sewing-machine needle sales POP

So You Need a Typeface

In the past, I've posted cool freeware app links for students to go to. There are a plethora of like free type resources that you can turn to as well. TYPENOW, DAFONT and 1001 FREE FONTS are all great resources. Those who have had me as an instructor (and thusly been exposed to the great movie HELVETICA, may additionally ask the question, "Do I really need that many fonts?")

Whatever your inclination on the thesis of HELVETICA (the movie), there is a neat flowchart style  poster project cobbled together by a fellow named Julian Hansen, with aquite a bit of research on font usage trends via Font foundries and retailers.

I neither espouse nor reject the premise, but present it to you as a very well prepared flowchart that would still be preferable to randomly flipping through your favorite font browser or playing "eenie-meenie-minee-moe..."

So You Need a Typeface?

Tasty Treats on the Go for the Holiday Season

'Tis the season, and student friends who have to rush about at semester end (as well as non-students who double as busy shoppers this time of year) can both appreciate some eats on the go. While I'll readily admit--and my figure will attest to this--that the items we mention have no business in a healthy and regular diet, they are darn goooood!  They are also only Available for a limited time.

Lest you think me a corporate shill, I own no stock in either of these companies. They just both make a damn fine holiday product that I readily admit a mild addiction towards. McDonald's gets two endorsements from me (as useless as that is). One for their warm and delicious Caramel Mocha (nder 3 bucks for a medium), and another for their pumpkin and holiday pies. The pumpkin is in the late fall, then after Turkey day most franchisees switch over to offer the Holiday pie (sweet cream or custard in some circles). Both are easily eaten with one hand for driving/eating pleasure.

Hardee's offers the ridiculously good Caramel Crumb biscuits in the A.M. They area sweet and tasty offering as an alternative to their savory loaded omelette biscuits and breakfast sammies. heck, maybe get a frisco breakfast sandwich and the Caramel Crumb buscuits.

FOR THE GUY WHO HAS EVERYTHING

And those who have plenty o' money to blow on something for them. With the Holidays around the corner, I threw in the crazy new SWISS ARMY KNIFE. Only $1,400, it boasts a tool lineup of dang near everything. Probably doesn't fit so hot in the pocket. At first, I thought this was a hoax. It is (really) real! It has also been getting scads of coverage in magazines and online. SWISS ARMY THINGY

MORE FROM THE CLOUD...

CLOUDWARE...in the cloud... you've likely heard this before. It's the new trend in things that are actually old. Cloud computing is actually a phoenix-like rebirth of NETWORK computing. Lo all those years ago when the computer market traveled the route of the PC (personal computer) over the NC (network computer)-- primarily due to the limitations of networking technology.

Flash forward to the post-internet world, and network computing starts (just the genesis mind you) to make sense. As Larry Ellison (Oracle) once famously stated, 'why go and buy software and manuals printed on paper, packaged in a cardboard box, stocked on shelves? With all the time delays from the release date and additional cost and manufacturing overhead that brings? Why not use network software, and instantly have updates?

Admittedly, it is still in its infancy. But check out this plethora of cloudware that can replace software for about 80% of the average users. Imagine substitutes for Photoshop, Illustrtator, Powerpoint, Soundbooth, Acrobat, Word, and many others! Very very nice. Mostly free.

CLOUDWARE LINK

Something Useless (in time for Halloween)

Sometimes the apps on here are incredibly useful. Other times...eh... not-so-much.
So here's "iStache." Totally useless, yet strangely therapeutic. Enjoy sensibly.

 

iStache

DESIGN DISCIPLINE: ARCHITECTURE

Design is basically problem-solving. The sphere within which problems are solved is the variable to the constants shared among the various design disciplines.

Like many others who have been educated as designers, I have a fascination with design as a general overarching discipline. I don't claim any kind of expertise in any of the other design sub-disciplines, (other than my own) but I love experiencing good design: products, interiors, clothing, gastronomics, transportation, and the foundation (pardon the pun) of good design--architecture.

While reading the regular array of magazines (print as well as online), I absolutely became enchanted with two architectural designs. They each embody what I identify with as the discipline of design.

The SKY RANCH
in Seattle (Miller/Hull) takes advantage of otherwise unused space to create an economical and efficient living space with amazing advantages (and in the case of Sky Ranch, stunning views).  With literally millions of unused square feet of space above warehouse and production facilities, the elegant solution looks  to the natural symbiosis. A simple rethinking of the traditional setting for a home: retain the  desireable traits, while using the item in surplus (unused space) as the staring point for solving the problem. See more about the Sky Ranch here.

The ROLLING HUTS (Olson Kundig) are equally as clever. A solutionequally as beautiful and elegant as the Sky Ranch, yet with its genesis more evolved from commercial pragmatism, the huts were created to make rentable vacation cabins in the Methow Valley of Washington.  The 200 plus square feet glassed cabins (nicknamed the herd) feel incredibly more spacious with the open planned layout. The wheels on the huts and small footprint, while being incredibly smart, were actually a solution to land zoned only for  trailers. Check out more about the HUTS at this link.

SIMPLE IDEA...SIMPLY AWESOME....

found while culling the net one night...
simple idea, with awesome application