On two separate occasions, I’ve been asked if I’ve ever heard of the double diamond model of the design process. I’ve said no both times.
Paisley or Nearly
This ink and watercolor drawing is part of a paisley study series I did awhile ago, and is still the most popular.
David Ogilvy on being creative
Spotted this in the caption of a photo. The post is on Jack Martin’s A Folk Musician blog: David Ogilvy’s 10 Rules for Headlines. Why is a folk musician writing about David Ogilvy? Jack asks, and answers, that question, too.
Your brain can do some pretty amazing stuff (as well as some incredibly aggravating things). You are actually way cooler than your brain, which is simply a very fantastic thinking tool.
As we mature, we have the opportunity to get to know what our unique brains can and cannot do. It never ends.
I’ve been examining a web design sweet spot that falls at the intersection between Credibility, Relevance and Findability. These are all ideas that extend past just design for the web. They apply, either concretely or in a more abstract sense, to any communication art. Credibility includes Aesthetics, User Experience, Authority and Authenticity.
New patterns releasing for sale next week (4/23/13)
Look for new patterns and pattern colorways, scheduled for release about April 23. They’ll be available as fabric, wallpaper, wall decals, and giftwrap, too.
Evolution of the Big Fat List
Years ago, I posted a simple and practical article about gearing up for a big project, called The Big Fat List (I think it was this blog’s second post!). A lot of people loved it, and most of the feedback was about the surprising power […]
Reading Simon Garfield’s Just My Type, this made me cry:
“Twenty years ago, no one
had the slightest idea what a
type designer was.
If they had miraculously heard
of it, they would say things like,
[…]
Cooperative Projects: Wake a Sleeping Dragon
Bringing ideas to life is now my #2 high.
Helping others feel that feeling has become #1.
With my most recent volunteer creative project, I’d say a close third is learning that the project giftee has reaped profound meaning and sustenance from the gift (which happened, and it was heart-melting). However, keeping in mind […]
What is the Most Essential Design Tool?
Design is all about the tools—the technology. And design has got absolutely nothing to do with the tools.
Just like ink pens and sign brushes, the mastery-required-or-we-won’t-hire-you tools you’re working with today will be replaced.
What is much more important is developing your design character
How important is function to you? What is […]
im·ag·i·na·tion
[ih-maj-uh-ney-shuhn]
–noun
1. the faculty of imagining, or of forming mental images or concepts of what is not actually present to the senses.
2. the action or process of forming such images or concepts.
Dictionary.com. […]
Discussion about website design for eCommerce tends to revolve around the sale of physical merchandise and concert tickets; I have yet to come up with the magic search string that will yield wisdom about design for big-ticket events (and I’m sure it’s out there). In the meantime, here are some personal notes for anyone facing […]
Community Collaboration: School Mural Project
This summer, I designed and directed a mural project for Saturn Elementary, a Los Angeles city school.
I’ve got nothing against low-priced design. You generally do “get what you pay for”, but there are exceptions, and really, it may be all you need.
Morgan Lynch, founder of Logoworks, tells a story of the disappointment and expense that led him to start the company. Designers should read it, and
Making Projects Work: Harnessing Feedback
Feedback is central to collaboration. This is true for any size project, but truer and truer the bigger it gets.
No doubt, it’s a two-edged sword that can cut a project to pieces, fracturing its focus and gutting its spark.
Designers have been complaining for years about decision-makers who request outrageous changes at the worst […]
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