tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31710002001942538532023-11-16T03:36:24.716-04:00Juggling man design blogGraphic Design insight, business of design, public speaking, Moncton and assorted tidbitsJuggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-51636498493248503612010-08-18T14:00:00.001-04:002010-08-18T14:01:41.260-04:00Saul Bass on designing for moneyThis made me think hard about design.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tfDCNpaPBiA?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tfDCNpaPBiA?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-7669021874947596832010-01-06T14:17:00.002-04:002010-01-06T14:22:44.068-04:00Another dose of awesomeArtist <a href="www.jenstark.com">JenStark </a>works with paper to create awesome artwork.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-1L6Md0lTky1ujHXlHm3g2XMxJ9oU4TlVrYxZri-KAhmNaK0V5F84yFUf8sDgznd_Wm-j9_zm4VmNvmEc-k8CUhyUAiHe6kIVZ0qbIWw0HjiZynuvDZ6E-qGpsipSzoPNt2DdlHriMc/s1600-h/jenstark%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 392px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-1L6Md0lTky1ujHXlHm3g2XMxJ9oU4TlVrYxZri-KAhmNaK0V5F84yFUf8sDgznd_Wm-j9_zm4VmNvmEc-k8CUhyUAiHe6kIVZ0qbIWw0HjiZynuvDZ6E-qGpsipSzoPNt2DdlHriMc/s400/jenstark%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423693669645782162" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.jenstark.com/">Click to view Jen Stark's art.</a>Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-11005585389039964612010-01-01T16:26:00.002-04:002010-01-01T16:33:50.495-04:00What else is awesome?So now that you've taken a look at the Sun's activity take a look at the <span style="font-style:italic;">entire known universe!</span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/17jymDn0W6U&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/17jymDn0W6U&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Epic!Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-51196667191114928802009-12-31T14:08:00.006-04:002010-01-01T16:26:18.109-04:00What's awesome?The sun is awesome! Below you can view video of <em>raw footage </em>of the activty on the sun's surface.<br /><br />Watch the video, realize how small we are and how strange the universe is, enjoy your day!<br /><br /><object width="400" height="302"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1284717&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1284717&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="302"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/1284717">Brilliant Noise</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/semiconductor">Semiconductor</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/1284717">source</a>Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-76321891435210368782009-12-09T12:02:00.007-04:002009-12-09T12:24:49.230-04:00What's awesome?Having so little time for this blog makes me a little sad. Henceforth I will sporadically post quick entries under a new tag: "What's awesome?". Whenever I come across awesome things that I deem awesome*, I will share the awesomeness with you!<br /><br />So, What's awesome? <strong>Ferrofluids are!</strong><br /><br />From wikipedia: <br /><em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrofluid">A ferrofluid, (portmanteau of the Latin word ferrum, meaning iron, and the word fluid) is a liquid which becomes strongly polarised in the presence of a magnetic field.<br /><br />Ferrofluids are colloidal mixtures composed of nanoscale ferromagnetic, or ferrimagnetic, particles suspended in a carrier fluid, usually an organic solvent or water. The ferromagnetic nano-particles are coated with a surfactant to prevent their agglomeration (due to van der Waals forces and magnetic forces). Although the name may suggest otherwise, ferrofluids do not display ferromagnetism, since they do not retain magnetization in the absence of an externally applied field. In fact, ferrofluids display (bulk-scale) paramagnetism, and are often described as "superparamagnetic" due to their large magnetic susceptibility. Permanently magnetized fluids are difficult to create at present</a>.</em><br /><br />Translation, metallic particles in oil that when exposed to magnetism become awesome! Here are a few videos!<br /><br /><object width="400" height="230"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4288843&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4288843&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="230"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/4288843">Ferrofluid</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1634999">Shawn Knol</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br /><object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=7503139&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=7503139&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/7503139">ARS Electronica , LINZ, ferrofluid</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/jasonp">Jason JAy</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br />Now if that didn't tickle your awesome bone, <a href="http://www.flypmedia.com/issues/12/#15/1">check out Sachiko Kodama who works with ferrofluid as an art medium! Sculptures that appear to breath and live is the result.</a><br /><br /><br />*awesome will be defined by my own set of unwritten, flexible and odd rules.Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-86530018637532068292009-12-07T14:28:00.001-04:002009-12-07T14:30:08.689-04:00Client feedbackView 10 famous works of art, <em>with client feedback.</em> <a href="http://www.crestock.com/blog/design/10-famous-works-of-art-with-client-feedback-179.aspx">Linky!</a>Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-47801180328059664552009-10-01T09:57:00.018-04:002010-04-23T08:58:58.248-04:00Top speed!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTNgK8fTAUBFT-lkSBZH-qog2tz4CmPTEdLoArnF-HiL4THqHA56WlcIY7wNTHayYplTDkpc4X3tCxCMKh6H6bRy1rXjUxGwCF0j1wJ9cBTA9Dod0GqugCSczeKu2cpG6H0jH0XO_GnA/s1600-h/theflash%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTNgK8fTAUBFT-lkSBZH-qog2tz4CmPTEdLoArnF-HiL4THqHA56WlcIY7wNTHayYplTDkpc4X3tCxCMKh6H6bRy1rXjUxGwCF0j1wJ9cBTA9Dod0GqugCSczeKu2cpG6H0jH0XO_GnA/s320/theflash%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387649381008182482" /></a><br /><br /><br />Being employed by a local paper, I've come across some interesting challenges. First, <em>speed</em> is a priority. Deadlines are tight and the workload is huge. How can one increase speed while designing? Here are some Basics.<br /><br /><strong>Styles:</strong> This applies mostly to layout design when working with text in tandem with images and graphical elements. Neswpapers, magazines, annual reports. You can use styles to format text and graphics. Instead of choosing fonts font parameters, formatting paragraphs and colors use styles to reduce your clicking time. <a href="http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/indesign/articles/indcs2at_styles.html">Click here for a crash course in using indesign styles.</a><br /><br /><strong>Actions:</strong> You can program your Adobe software to do a series of operations automatically. Say you have to apply the same level change, unsharp mask and a crop to 8 images. Instead of going through those three steps 8 times do it once and record it. Then playback the action for each image. Very cool!<a href="http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=434249">Click here for an in-depth look at actions.</a><br /><br /><strong>Droplets:</strong> These are an extension of actions but even more powerful! They are great for handling large amounts of files and folders. <a href="http://www.photoshoplab.com/droplets-for-the-lazy.html">Click here for a droplet tutorial.</a><br /><br /><strong>Keyboard shortcuts:</strong> This is an underused way of saving time. If you spend time memorizing keyboard shortcuts you will gain a lot of speed! A quick search in google for shortcuts for the software you use will yield printable files. I keep sheets of keyboard shortcuts near my computer for quick reference. But I've come to know them by heart so that now it's second nature. I've saved many minutes this way!<br /><br /><strong>Study: </strong>Whenever you do have downtime, google tutorials, crack open a book about the software you use, tweak your styles, take a few minutes to learn an extra thing. Knowledge turns into speed down the road.<br /><br /><strong>Be creative in your slow times:</strong> If you finally get a breather, look over your designs and analyze ways to improve them. Study how others are practicing their craft for inspiration. Jot down a few ideas you'd like to try. Got a cool layout in mind? Sketch it quickly and post it on the edge of your screen. When it's hammer time a quick look at your notes will jog your memory and save you a minute or two.<br /><br /><strong>Patience:</strong> You can only do one thing at a time. If you try to rush it too much you'll make mistakes that will cost you valuable minutes. If you have a snag in your software, don't ignore it. Do your best to make the time to resolve hardware and software issues. When left aside, these issues come back to haunt you and punish you.<br /><br /><strong>Take a break:</strong> It may be counter intuitive to stop working when a deadline is hanging like Damocles' sword but in my opinion refreshing your mind and your body for a few minutes encourages productivity. Get some air, stretch your muscles, have a laugh! <br /><br />I hope these tips help! Did you find ways of increasing your speed? Share them if you like in the comments below!<br /><br /><em>image: <a href="http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2009/09/29/an-early-look-at-francis-manapuls-flash/">Francis Manapul via DC blog</a></em>Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-57814358365391743602009-06-11T12:50:00.004-04:002009-06-11T15:57:50.575-04:00Assembling a Paper Cube<embed src="http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/1006984/origami_cube.swf" width="400" height="345" wmode="transparent" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" name="Metacafe_1006984" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br><font size = 1><a href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1006984/origami_cube/">Origami Cube </a> - <a href="http://www.metacafe.com/"></a></font>Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-30190513446143549492009-06-08T09:29:00.006-04:002009-06-09T07:29:27.804-04:00Hard Wired for CreativitySome visuals I've been working on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNa34uYI3LzCpFC-4NAQhZ_EK13o0IFzy8c5zmPOtz20nJ2utJ24Oxdquhjg666ttGmjFPMqDnW5xXdsVLvncGTLSqRuaTz6mx8kSPVf5ZEDBGR4kuDWuVTiBI6M6cdhJuVd4BBi4YjE/s1600-h/Picture-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNa34uYI3LzCpFC-4NAQhZ_EK13o0IFzy8c5zmPOtz20nJ2utJ24Oxdquhjg666ttGmjFPMqDnW5xXdsVLvncGTLSqRuaTz6mx8kSPVf5ZEDBGR4kuDWuVTiBI6M6cdhJuVd4BBi4YjE/s400/Picture-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344948586087831810" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">click for larger image</span></span>Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-7671310641984982482009-05-29T06:40:00.000-04:002009-05-29T06:41:18.273-04:00It's OK to say no sometimes.<a href="http://www.davidairey.com/the-vendor-client-relationship/">Great post on Airey's blog!</a>Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-14425755349049075952009-03-13T01:22:00.003-04:002009-03-13T01:41:59.371-04:00Are you a font geek?Me too! Let's be friends! Check out the periodical table of font-ements. Helvetica trumps all! But I'm disappointed in Rockwell placing 43rd. I have a soft spot for that face.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYZWckIpRv5xCUm93itVnuUj_I1ePxHgBnG8fiMY6u-t395g4GWoz4mmUhjDklhPB2pkVmVJWJ6t7Njw7WwfcE_U6vfqMEKt9e-1x3inlDHp03R2kfUKJMaNbqHbgH4DYxCR-HaDIjG4/s1600-h/Untitled.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYZWckIpRv5xCUm93itVnuUj_I1ePxHgBnG8fiMY6u-t395g4GWoz4mmUhjDklhPB2pkVmVJWJ6t7Njw7WwfcE_U6vfqMEKt9e-1x3inlDHp03R2kfUKJMaNbqHbgH4DYxCR-HaDIjG4/s400/Untitled.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312543389206652706" /></a><br /><br />Click for larger view<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Source: <a href="http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/03/11/the-periodic-table-of-typefaces/">DownloadSquad</a> via <a href="http://forum.howdesign.com/default.aspx">HOWie</a> JRD.</span>Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-5516441160055772312009-02-20T06:47:00.008-04:002009-02-20T08:39:36.055-04:00HOW CAN YOU DO THIS EVERY DAY, FOR 20 YEARS?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcW3VYafbrJ60jqigpeyWgaXRHr05kPFJSQ8QiQpLxri1tGZe7GZzWZS-Dfw_UEb_Yw1jL04GWi3Xkbg50r_e0f9HSo3Uq94ZQyhYvvVXB1jI9bZHpPf3o9HC9UuYlilX4RERViAQ1Ql0/s1600-h/Untitled-1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 127px; height: 125px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcW3VYafbrJ60jqigpeyWgaXRHr05kPFJSQ8QiQpLxri1tGZe7GZzWZS-Dfw_UEb_Yw1jL04GWi3Xkbg50r_e0f9HSo3Uq94ZQyhYvvVXB1jI9bZHpPf3o9HC9UuYlilX4RERViAQ1Ql0/s200/Untitled-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304810478155168978" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;">"HOW CAN YOU DO THIS EVERY DAY, FOR 20 YEARS?"</span><span style="font-style:italic;">(by guest writer Amberlyth)</span><br /><br />That was a question from my teenager who had yet to learn what would truly give her joy in the workplace. After all, we have to work everyday to earn a living. That's a lot to swallow for an 18yr old, then to figure out what vocation they will be working in everyday for the next 30 years, at least. So I started paying attention to her strengths in 5th grade and steered her in the right direction; she's now a junior in a BA program for International Studies and a very talented writer, now in another language: Japanese. I will put my 6th grader on the same road to joy. <br /><br />As for me, my path of joy started when I was 4 and knew that being an artist was where it's at. Just loved to draw and did so all of my life. Through the last 20 years all kinds of curves were thrown my way, but regardless of the many hurdles, side tracks, and adversity you may be presented with during your vocational pursuit, concrete drive and passion will always give you joy at the end of the day - every day. <br /><br />How did I know what made me happy? After embarking on a Production-Illustration degree, it took a few months of analyzing my class assignments and projects, the level of joy, frustrations or talent discovered after finishing those projects to the best of my ability, then putting them in a chart with my goals (short, long, future) up against my financial needs. Plus the reality (in 1990) of a very unrefined job market for "artists". <br /><br />Along with freehand drawing and sketching, found out that I love to watercolor, but didn't have the patience of a fine artist - knew it would be tough to break in right away and make money if I couldn't stay focussed. Took some photos and thoroughly enjoyed arranging them for presentation: a designer was born. Really got into pencil and marker renderings but was graded down - but not for shoddy work, that was top notch - it was for skipping steps. Since my speed was developing, I would always jump from thumbs to final art. Had a real knack for anything computerized and gained a rep right away for being able to solve software, hardware, communication, network - and eventually, project execution problems when taking any data or desktop publishing class (back then they didn't offer specific application/software classes other than Pagemaker). Problem with that was I do not think in code like some programmers I know: so getting a job in computer science would be difficult while at the same time, canceling out the fun I had designing. Little did I know that code can be beautiful; didn't find that out for another 10 years after pursuing a tech degree ;-) When I finally got my hands on an exacto knife and some amberlyth, my natural talent for color cutting and production work was clear - and those jobs were abundant at the time. Using traditional methods, PMT/STAT cameras, chemical development, clay-coated paste-up boards, galley sheets of text spit out by typesetting equipment so large, it took up a whole room; amberlyth overlays registered by hand with registration mark tape. That's traditional graphic production without computers. Knew that I was on to something when I hung up mechanicals at our annual portfolio show.<br /><br />My classmates were all jealous because I was the first one to get a job in the field within my first quarter in the program: at a direct mail firm. You know those missing children cards you get in the mail? I used to make those, and the ads that came along with it (marriage mail). It seems like a lifetime ago working part-time at $6.50 an hour. But there was insurance and 401k benefits for me and my children, so staying in-house seemed to be the righ track until my kids are grown. Since then I've read countless books, honed new skills as a volunteer in my community, attended weekend workshops, and signed up for certificate classes to build on my education, perfect my craft and stay current with trends and latest technologies. I went from drawing and painting, to traditional paste-up and pre-digital print production methods, to web programming, SEO for marketing and UI design - while being a master at anything printed; all the way back to discovering fun new mediums for hand-painted artwork and digital collage work. There is no part of the advertising and marketing industry that I haven't explored, including the management side. Thought I would like that, but it's no fun and all numbers - I missed being in the trenches creating the work and didn't mind being behind the scenes. As long as my boss liked it and my paycheck reflects that - I'm good.<br /><br />Now that college is in sight for my youngest, I will become a solopreneur soon enough, with a business and patent pending that should sustain me for another 20 years or more. But while achieving later solo success remains to be proven, I can share with you what has propelled me to a dream position(and pay grade) I hope to keep until that new journey begins:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">do what gives you joy</span><br />- day after day, year after year, you'll rely on that joy when the honeymoon is over<br />- employers change, mergers happen, and budgets shrink - but if you like what you do, it all works out<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">practice your passion</span><br />- with so many sectors in the industry, find a specialty and immerse yourself<br />- branch out only after you gain confidence in one area and your skills solid<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">breaking into the biz</span><br />- get to know fellow designers through networking, you never know what can come your way<br />- it helps to be involved with your community and get to know your neighbors<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">accept "nature of the beast" in this industry</span><br />- deadline pressure, heavy workloads, errors, late hours, technical issues, print problems, team woes, time-clocks<br />- do your best every time and if there is a mistake, make sure to own up to it right away<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">be who you are, not what you do</span><br />- make a decision early on what you are willing to work on as an artist, making sure that certain industries and projects will not put you in a position of conflict so you can make the decision to never work in those industries<br />- It is totally possible to attain fulfilling employment without compromising your beliefs or expecting an employer to bow to them.<br />- do not limit yourself by your trade, nurture entrepreneurial aspirations outside of your vocation, while using your skills to keep it in motion<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />respect your position and those who support you</span><br />- always remember that your position exists to make your boss - and the company - look good<br />- it is ok to help others by sharing tricks of the trade<br />- frequent communication between you, your co-workers, and your boss will build trust<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">take the hardest projects</span><br />- do not ever get comfortable in your job<br />- always challenge yourself and become known as the one who will take on the hardest projects; this you cannot learn in school, but can take that knowledge wherever you go<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">perpetual learning, stay current but remember your roots</span><br />- books, classes, seminars, workshops, credit courses, continuing education, video lessons, tutorials, trends, tactile experimentation, forums, clubs, volunteer work<br />- that degree 5 years ago is already outdated yes, but stay grounded with traditional trade standards and roots, no matter your profession<br />- I have long believed that it is up to us as designers to be aware of how our products (designs, artwork, prose, images, websites, games, movies, commercials, etc., etc.) can and will be distributed from the inside out.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">ignore titles</span><br />- pay attention only to your job requirements, compensation and job duties. Do not EVER let it take the focus off your job responsibilities. <br />- If you agree to the terms of a prospective job without doing your share of interviewing in the process, you may end up miserable and be tempted to complain DON'T DO IT. Bide your time, do your work, and get another job.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />know when to jump</span><br />- when you do look for another job, make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. Being able to forecast layoffs, bad mergers, poor management, or lack of growth opportunities will mitigate decisions based on pay, benefits, commute, and overall job satisfaction. <br /><br />Most everything listed is related to action, but don't underestimate the importance of planning and thinking. Those undervalued actions dictate project success and your career success - always build it into your time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kjF3ojaNbDKXChfZt3t1qD1ajFPav5mg_If5T5gwrC7GSWIHZz2YYbYhjbLMex4uOB2WmfrjOhEMDfNCIiaNxMlkG1NV0Ha0CYjIHvk_A_NkxwlMHLZ4XYbCK-wGknsY7bT9SImYg2c/s1600-h/seal.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kjF3ojaNbDKXChfZt3t1qD1ajFPav5mg_If5T5gwrC7GSWIHZz2YYbYhjbLMex4uOB2WmfrjOhEMDfNCIiaNxMlkG1NV0Ha0CYjIHvk_A_NkxwlMHLZ4XYbCK-wGknsY7bT9SImYg2c/s320/seal.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304830472657241986" /></a><span style="font-style:italic;">Amberlyth is a veteran graphic designer who is still taking names. She's also a fellow <a href="http://forum.howdesign.com/default.aspx">HOWie</a>. Check out her wonderful blog here -> <a href="http://www.howiehaven.com/howiehaven/Blog/Blog.html">Howie Haven</a></span>Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-16570134370785530572008-11-07T19:36:00.008-04:002008-11-14T16:34:28.395-04:00Real Life PhotoshopBusy busy busy! But I've got a minute for this!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVlXUhS-xidBazp83NOO-tqsUVtMIzVtCeQPqCVIbHLfqBjlnmAuf8JGbi0rgLzs_SAAay24n4U7p11sLjT-inujexzayajUO-mtBJejuB4OTlFOMJFHy86bwQgH3EPg-yPAS5jpFUXg/s1600-h/ps.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVlXUhS-xidBazp83NOO-tqsUVtMIzVtCeQPqCVIbHLfqBjlnmAuf8JGbi0rgLzs_SAAay24n4U7p11sLjT-inujexzayajUO-mtBJejuB4OTlFOMJFHy86bwQgH3EPg-yPAS5jpFUXg/s400/ps.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266065298419292482" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Thanks to fellow <a href="http://forum.howdesign.com/default.aspx">Howie</a> Wendy Oldfield of <a href="http://www.vekay.com/">Vekay</a> fame for this find.</span>Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-58788535099306352412008-10-05T16:31:00.026-04:002008-10-08T00:28:10.403-04:00Moncton Street Signs Improved<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2W34-91CuBsaxURr_do9rCWQWVdDlRu5mRHqM7kGnM_nIPZkLndnJNU-amk4I_M8RLxw9-Z0qoh4IGVk7-i5-y4TFAyjxDQmcMcZ26uMHSuZd0nj0pq6e9ZMzbqlUwc6S5f9dmhLKBkg/s1600-h/street.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2W34-91CuBsaxURr_do9rCWQWVdDlRu5mRHqM7kGnM_nIPZkLndnJNU-amk4I_M8RLxw9-Z0qoh4IGVk7-i5-y4TFAyjxDQmcMcZ26uMHSuZd0nj0pq6e9ZMzbqlUwc6S5f9dmhLKBkg/s320/street.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253946045793199298" /></a>This news comes a tad late. As you can see in the image, the newer version of the sign (top) is wider and has dropped the bilingual St./Rue that are still on either side of the older versions. This allows for wider tracking*. Even for longer street names like Vaughan Harvey. It's a great improvement in my opinion as the signs appear much easier to read at all distances and at significant speeds (don't ask how I tested that). Also, the font itself -which looks a lot like <a href="http://clearviewhwy.com/WhatIsClearviewHwy/">ClearviewHwy</a> and likely is Clearview- is a bit lighter and has less exaggerated thick/thin transitions creating a better balance between positive and negative space. The street names are set in title case. It is common knowledge that title, sentence and lower case text reads better due to word-shape recognition non-existent in upper case text. See below image.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlqrnJH6H2qWGnVwLN4AnlCTBgCm5eZ4U1EuTgldTFwTBJTScxodlBqbXxVsFFYvORiXzFc_SNzHM5zQqjxI7yoLmQfCXfR1oseKqSHthMsd3nD1gKwUwx-ANJXdjAoCbhAA2fBJ7Eo8/s1600-h/word-shape.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlqrnJH6H2qWGnVwLN4AnlCTBgCm5eZ4U1EuTgldTFwTBJTScxodlBqbXxVsFFYvORiXzFc_SNzHM5zQqjxI7yoLmQfCXfR1oseKqSHthMsd3nD1gKwUwx-ANJXdjAoCbhAA2fBJ7Eo8/s400/word-shape.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253943484940729810" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The higher placement of the new signs makes it easier to view them over traffic and positions them nearer to street lamps for better visibility at night. There are a few other features like a white outline and rounded edges to the sign. As far as I can tell most of the major intersections where street lights with dual braces are present sport the improved signs. It makes sense. A single brace would make it difficult to attach a sign. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7P50MXeuXyz25YxJ2QUQXZdweqw4Vxti9pHN2lAcgH94DnsZy7YEbuoOIOGqvLoJ7mNoALzb4m6BJT1zhYg6Vv38VRb8IE7ocvQm6o8_TDUA3cSLyiNiCXPA15LGULkVXDOmrNrLJYBs/s1600-h/dual-brace.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7P50MXeuXyz25YxJ2QUQXZdweqw4Vxti9pHN2lAcgH94DnsZy7YEbuoOIOGqvLoJ7mNoALzb4m6BJT1zhYg6Vv38VRb8IE7ocvQm6o8_TDUA3cSLyiNiCXPA15LGULkVXDOmrNrLJYBs/s400/dual-brace.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253945221535207906" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />My favorite feature of the new font is it's night legibility when refracting light. This is where the design really "shines".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4sD6UdpspCSG6O-xkR3kTbk0eZfOeOuw2VgxPJyTmBibrLfTVE0VFxiX5S4lo-RO8NaUFy7xZKZHgOBDTgmHBy2rz_ccrkwD9QW6hl6LZGUS_wjCs4ozbaHwqaBLttt6dNGBNWvGmVg/s1600-h/DSCN1821.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4sD6UdpspCSG6O-xkR3kTbk0eZfOeOuw2VgxPJyTmBibrLfTVE0VFxiX5S4lo-RO8NaUFy7xZKZHgOBDTgmHBy2rz_ccrkwD9QW6hl6LZGUS_wjCs4ozbaHwqaBLttt6dNGBNWvGmVg/s400/DSCN1821.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254625463309071762" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The change is not complete however. Currently, if you drive from northwest Mountain rd. all the way to the downtown end you will see at least 4 different typefaces on street signs set in both upper and title case. I'm guessing that the job is still under way or that the project so far applies only to major streets where driving speeds are significant and legibility is a higher priority. Hence the reason for adopting the Hwy version of the font. <br /><br />I'd love to see all of Moncton's street signs undergo a typographical makeover. It would go a long way to spruce up the look of the city. Not that I'm complaining about the new signs. Easier to read signs will allow tourists more time decide wether they want to change lanes to turn on Killam or stay in the same lane. Plus it's nice to look at good typography while waiting for the green.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">If you'd like to read more about what goes into a project like this, follow <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/12/magazine/12fonts-t.html?_r=1&ref=magazine&oref=slogin">this link</a> for an in-depth article**.</span><br /><br />*Tracking is the consistent spacing between the letters of a block of text.<br />**Thanks to my fellow <a href="http://forum.howdesign.com/default.aspx">Howies</a> for the help finding the articles.Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-53529649121654282842008-08-08T04:34:00.004-04:002008-08-08T04:39:11.824-04:00Cheap Logos On-Line! Get Them Fast!Ever wonder if those low-priced on-line logo design services are worth it? So did Doug Bartow of <a href="http://www.id29.com/">id29</a>. Read his consumer report on four of these on-line design firms. The results are enlightening! <a href="http://www.underconsideration.com/speakup/archives/005099.html">Click here to read the full article.</a>Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-33194195849107448592008-06-27T01:18:00.014-04:002008-12-11T16:24:53.120-04:00Top 3 Overused, Misused and Abused Software EffectsWowzas! Time flies when you're working like a maniac! Oh well, if you're reading this thanks for being a steadfast Juggling Man blog reader! On to the article!<br /><br />Before I get started I'd like to point out that though this article's purpose is to point out certain design faux pas that seem common, it certainly doesn't mean that one should quickly discount an effect as being tacky right. All of the below effects have been used very effectively by skilled designers. However, wether it be because of their commonality or for some other reason, the effects listed below tend to come off as well, tacky.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />#3 on the most overused software effects list: The Drop Shadow!</span> <br /><br />Let's get this out of the way. Adding a drop shadow to images of your product will not make potential customers flock to your product thinking that your loaf of bread or whatever is magic because it can levitate. Also, drop shadows generally don't belong in logos! <br /><br />Drop shadows tend to work better on screen. Why? Though print technology has come a long way, there are still many circumstances where a drop shadow will not reproduce well. If the stock is of inferior quality for instance. In which case it will just look like blob of ink. When do drop shadows come in handy? Well, when the design piece calls for a real shadow. Say you cut out a photo of a person to use in a layout for an ad. Good use of a drop shadow might make the image appear more natural if a shadow is cast behind the person.<br /><br />Use drop shadows sparingly and with common sense.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhxt0JUegnpQ6R_d9ugXmaAIrEiZXM_vK2X-GJT_ZhWHlaEqAcIrTrnwmalAo0VKnvVk70Y2EbgfLI63ogYsyWc50Z6ZkR4qJvRCEWiF360-mfjCnn0moExdPQ0LBua8L73_O8SEeeeY/s1600-h/bread.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhxt0JUegnpQ6R_d9ugXmaAIrEiZXM_vK2X-GJT_ZhWHlaEqAcIrTrnwmalAo0VKnvVk70Y2EbgfLI63ogYsyWc50Z6ZkR4qJvRCEWiF360-mfjCnn0moExdPQ0LBua8L73_O8SEeeeY/s400/bread.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216442502752344738" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">#2 on the list: Lens flare!</span><br /><br />I remember the first time I used Adobe Illustrator and found the lens flare tool. I played with it for about 15 minutes! Woo! Lens flare! <br /><br />That got boring quickly. But apparently many have a much wider attention span than I do because I see lens flares all over the place. What's a lens flare? It is light refracted through a lens that creates an effect that looks something like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYOsc67wAnG2ICmFzihxPIkkcHkE9G1nf0jl5wV8SVgrF6VV4xiUEm1J9sS-iypn7YDWA8tIXohAOYiIzucm9TAHKgiPnVLH4ttM3WpD1QkUcwZrk_py2zinTaXnH1gcYpZ3G5ooD7c0/s1600-h/flare.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYOsc67wAnG2ICmFzihxPIkkcHkE9G1nf0jl5wV8SVgrF6VV4xiUEm1J9sS-iypn7YDWA8tIXohAOYiIzucm9TAHKgiPnVLH4ttM3WpD1QkUcwZrk_py2zinTaXnH1gcYpZ3G5ooD7c0/s200/flare.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216435149655495922" /></a><br />It's actually a photographic error but sometimes, when the light is at just the right angle and the aperture setting is just right, you can get a very dramatic and gorgeous lens flare effect. But those are rather rare and generally a lens flare is undesirable. Software can reproduce this effect (sort of) so that you can apply lens flare to anything! Even your cat! <br /><br /><a href="http://www.underconsideration.com/mt_uc/mt-search.cgi?search=lens+flare&Template=search_brandnew&IncludeBlogs=4">Lens flare has been used successfully in some good designs </a> but more often than not the effect just looks cheap.<br /><br />Flare at your own risk.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />#1 Most Overused, Misused and Abused Software Effect:</span><br /><br />Drum Roll please ...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Bevels!</span><br /><br />My goodness! Some people love their bevels don't they? A false assumption, similar to the one associated with drop shadows is that bevels will make things "pop". The truth is a bevel will likely just look like a cheap effect. Beveling has been put to good use in combination with subtle gradients to create some truly lovely logos. But more often than not bevels are applied as an after thought to text or images and end up making things a mess. See example below *shudder*.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXywTU1MOAR10rn4wJN3qgUNbQzpe4_pJAn6MEsK1LEjF9KDboGAS2A08EIfBjUA7-Blk2K3VGUv-mrSGJ-4a44ECMjGeyg2AhNHuUUSk0FVmntGt8qtnF2PV0x2-AccpOHWljuvstDzw/s1600-h/bevel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXywTU1MOAR10rn4wJN3qgUNbQzpe4_pJAn6MEsK1LEjF9KDboGAS2A08EIfBjUA7-Blk2K3VGUv-mrSGJ-4a44ECMjGeyg2AhNHuUUSk0FVmntGt8qtnF2PV0x2-AccpOHWljuvstDzw/s200/bevel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216433668953592562" /></a><br /><br />If you're like me and are often tempted to just use effects simply for their novelty appeal; remember, nothing beats good ol' fashioned application of design principles. Not even a bevel.<br /><br />What other effects have you noticed are overused, misused and abused?Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-53706733067108775302008-05-13T12:56:00.004-04:002008-12-11T16:24:53.343-04:00What's In A Name?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SQPpa_dk-HAnU7Su0XfYtQ2BkbhyphenhyphenNRRlUBMXy6Vw-4T4gApody73Pjo5O7qEmbyhFRGBMaHPx0TWpRupRUzC1O4tyY9dl3ka1rdRPVPdtbbJL6i2IBS5ST1RQc5zKxn4DZe6YNk7TSQ/s1600-h/brandequals.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SQPpa_dk-HAnU7Su0XfYtQ2BkbhyphenhyphenNRRlUBMXy6Vw-4T4gApody73Pjo5O7qEmbyhFRGBMaHPx0TWpRupRUzC1O4tyY9dl3ka1rdRPVPdtbbJL6i2IBS5ST1RQc5zKxn4DZe6YNk7TSQ/s400/brandequals.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199909316678882818" /></a><br />Do you doubt that a logo can evoke strong feelings in others? If you do check out <a href="http://www.brandtags.net/">this site</a>. It is an experiment in brand perception. Several different brands are listed and put up for tagging. When you tag the brand it puts your tag in a list with everyone else's tag. The more often a tag is repeated, the larger it appears in the list. Check it out! -> <a href="http://www.brandtags.net/">brandtags.net</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">also available: <a href="http://celebtags.com/">celebrity tags</a></span>Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-62252565163832239452008-05-09T18:20:00.001-04:002008-05-09T18:22:27.107-04:00Dove Denies RetouchingDove has released an official statement regarding the "real beauty" kafuffle mentioned in the previous article. Stay abreast of this story's development <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/brandnewday/archives/2008/05/dove_deny_deny.html?campaign_id=rss_blog_brandnewday">here</a>.Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-8216529097862701132008-05-08T07:01:00.000-04:002008-12-11T16:24:53.538-04:00The Real Truth About "Real Beauty"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NYUMkqi6FSsr-tcOyNZl-M5peYsS0LwiPDJ8BgwtPLuobewBVFzDEnbe30eyo1SDwow0hkMyoOAko55ykVDEUX9lKT_DWgCi90oFqwTOo1ocvfTPRI45ZshT0vTqYf4sXDwsiaN039M/s1600-h/irony.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NYUMkqi6FSsr-tcOyNZl-M5peYsS0LwiPDJ8BgwtPLuobewBVFzDEnbe30eyo1SDwow0hkMyoOAko55ykVDEUX9lKT_DWgCi90oFqwTOo1ocvfTPRI45ZshT0vTqYf4sXDwsiaN039M/s320/irony.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197931701468450722" /></a>It would seem that the images Dove uses in it's "Real Beauty" campaign go through as much re-touching as a Cosmo cover. Ironic much?<br /><br />Coverage <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/brandnewday/archives/2008/05/surprise_doves.html?campaign_id=rss_blog_brandnewday">here.</a>Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-41158910659132631712008-05-05T07:03:00.020-04:002008-12-11T16:24:53.742-04:00Six Visionary Rules of DesignWell, they're not visionary, just basic common sense really. And they're not really rules more like good reminders. But I wasn't in the mood to make the title of this article "six basic common sense good reminders of design". What I did do though is <a href="http://www.translation-guide.com/free_online_translators.php?from=English&to=Latin">translate each "rule" into latin</a> so that they <span style="font-style:italic;">sound</span> visionary and authoritative. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGaVg8lk-qv62lzQoo57VxSZZrJH_1O5719_ABaK_tUls86y5UmfaxBLVaC1S1Z8a-GHHbTjjEasfG51c_0EZt5jBKv-LSFfKRF9CMOvhdjW4keDvM0vqpTvi7g7pdyL81HHR36vHS7c/s1600-h/zeno.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGaVg8lk-qv62lzQoo57VxSZZrJH_1O5719_ABaK_tUls86y5UmfaxBLVaC1S1Z8a-GHHbTjjEasfG51c_0EZt5jBKv-LSFfKRF9CMOvhdjW4keDvM0vqpTvi7g7pdyL81HHR36vHS7c/s200/zeno.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196858618734174658" /></a>#1: <span style="font-weight:bold;">Levo. Sursum. Penicullus</span> <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Pick. Up. A. Pencil</span><br /><br />I've <a href="http://jugglingman.blogspot.com/2008/03/pick-up-pencil.html">already elaborated</a> on <a href="http://jugglingman.blogspot.com/2008/03/more-on-importance-of-sketch-process.html">this</a> so I'll spare you.<br /><br />#2: <span style="font-weight:bold;">Teneo vestri thema</span> <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Know your subject </span><br /><br />Other wise known as research. Before even picking up your pencil it's important to know your subject. If you are designing for a restaurant, what food do they serve? What does it taste like? What sort of clientèle do they have? What is the main competitor? What are the exact coordinates? Of course, the amount of research you do will vary from project to project but there is always time to squeeze in research.<br /><br />#3: <span style="font-weight:bold;">Nixor intellego calx</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Strive to understand the objective </span><br /><br />Knowing the subject, what is the objective of the design? Ease of use? Promotion? Attract new clientele? Keep existing customers? Knowing the objective will help you <a href="http://jugglingman.blogspot.com/2007/11/how-to-stay-on-track-while-designing.html">stay on track</a>.<br /><br />#4: <span style="font-weight:bold;">Vindico est melior quam "frigus"</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Appropriate is better than "cool"</span><br /><br />What message can you deliver through the design that will make the design reach it's objective? If you are designing a package for a cellular phone, you will surely not approach it the same way you would a package for a soy milk product. A design doesn't have to look cool, it has to be appropriate.<br /><br />#5: <span style="font-weight:bold;">Vestri intentio non super utor vel nocens utor presencia </span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Your design must not overuse or misuse software effects</span><br /><br />It's so easy to fall in a rut of using drop shadows, gradients and other neat effects. They are quick, easy and fun. BUT, it's important to not use these effects as a crutch. There is no substitute for rigorous application of solid design principles.<br /><br />#6: <span style="font-weight:bold;">Clementia in otium strenuus </span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">You must take a break </span><br /><br />My favorite one! Deadlines, nervous clients, "enthusiastic" art directors, they can be great motivators. However, nothing beats a little downtime to refresh your creative batteries!<br /><br />Next article will go into more detail about those software effects that are so often abused. Until then, <span style="font-weight:bold;">vis exsisto vobis!* </span><br /><br />*may the force be with you<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">image: public domain</span>Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-50489719939415334882008-05-01T09:10:00.000-04:002008-12-11T16:24:54.000-04:00Logo Smackdown!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JUBhbPmWt3idqP-q7PJaWKQywqqWc0s9H7N-NDPRWKjPxqzSlwRaYqXoN9iyRyk4Jbjfl20SvPtvhqnHsHjh28N5SO2oxeDpVvB4AKiaLs7EFpF3Gx3oof0Rx77S08UewdSYLuGZrhY/s1600-h/iron+man.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JUBhbPmWt3idqP-q7PJaWKQywqqWc0s9H7N-NDPRWKjPxqzSlwRaYqXoN9iyRyk4Jbjfl20SvPtvhqnHsHjh28N5SO2oxeDpVvB4AKiaLs7EFpF3Gx3oof0Rx77S08UewdSYLuGZrhY/s200/iron+man.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195380750552392082" /></a>Nothing like a good ol' fashioned logo fight to determine what is the best logo ever! Check it out <a href="http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/in_brief_logo_tournament.php">here</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">image: marvel entertainment</span>Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-18497200198413586782008-04-28T06:00:00.000-04:002008-04-28T03:40:24.284-04:00It's World Graphic Design Day!Actually it was yesterday. Didn't even know there was such a thing. Read about it <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_graphic_design_day">here</a>.Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-43035222411471773352008-04-21T09:39:00.004-04:002008-04-21T09:46:43.169-04:00Dali Goes DisneyDid you know Dali sought out a collaboration with Disney in 1946? They did some sketches and a little animation but the project was turfed. It was released as <a href="http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/news/2003/09/60385">"Destino" </a>in 2003.<br /><br />Check out a scene from the 6 minute film.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qOyi6RDyMPw&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qOyi6RDyMPw&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-27452076411567005852008-04-16T18:53:00.002-04:002008-04-16T18:56:09.678-04:00It's the NBC Disco Logo Compilation!Get up and dance!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/H0Ztp4pnIaA&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/H0Ztp4pnIaA&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171000200194253853.post-43012750392211619932008-04-14T14:48:00.002-04:002008-04-14T14:51:55.102-04:00Presenting A LogoWatch this video of the new soccer team "Seattle Sounders" introduction and crest unveiling. During the last minute the logo appears and it is a riveting presentation!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6WI3Dfj9NCM&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6WI3Dfj9NCM&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Juggling Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508204489483085428noreply@blogger.com0