unsolicited opinions on random things
Even though I don’t design packaging myself, I like to check in and see what’s trending in that industry (and like everyone else, I’m certainly swayed by good package design when I’m shopping). I enjoy browsing through The Dieline – a comprehensive website covering the latest and greatest in package design. It’s an excellent resource for design inspiration.
How cute is that hot dog wrapper up there? Read more about it here.
[top image: Kinnon’s letterpress projects. She has mad skills. bottom image: my letterpress project, based on a quote from Samuel Beckett. A fitting passage for my lack of skills.]
On Saturday, Kinnon and I attended an “intro to letterpress” workshop at Kozo Studio. All of the print design work I do is designed on the computer and printed on digital presses, so working by hand on old-school presses was a real change. Things that are so easy to do on the computer (layout changes, kerning letters, justifying text) is NOT so easy to do by hand. But it’s so much more rewarding when you get it right!
I was a bit disappointed to learn that “real” letterpress work doesn’t actually impress/indent on the paper. The ink should just “kiss” the paper, leaving a print, but not a pushed-down indentation in the paper. Our instructor taught us that pushing so hard as to make an impression on the paper is hard on your metal type (it wears it down quickly). But it’s so popular now to use letterpress to get the indent on the paper on purpose. That’s what sets it apart from digital printing – there’s so much texture that you can’t get with digital. If I were to do more letterpress work, I’d say “to hell with the metal type” and definitely make indentations in the paper.
Overall, I had a great time, but learned that I am not so good with movable type. It takes too much time to position your letters properly. If I were to do letterpress projects, I would design them on the computer and have photopolymer plates created. Then I could take the plates and run those through the press.
Now I have even more respect for printers and those that are doing letterpress work by hand. Just look at this blog post from our instructor at Kozo Studio – that’s pretty insane. And cool.
I just saw this post from a few days ago on Smashing Magazine – it’s a round-up of beautiful paper art. I am amazed and inspired – these paper cuts and paper art pieces are pretty unbelievable. Like that picture above, of the “Paper Craft Castle On The Ocean” by Japanese art student Wataru Itou. He built it all by hand, out of paper (complete with lights and a moving train), over the course of 4 years. Click here for more pictures of the Paper Craft Castle, and here for all the other paper art on Smashing Magazine.
I like to change the wallpaper on my computer regularly. Keeps things interesting. At the start of every month, I check out the monthly desktop wallpaper available on Design*Sponge and Smashing Magazine.
Over at Design*Sponge, one artist is asked to make a wallpaper each month. So while they’re usually gorgeous (this month is no exception – check out that stunner from Chris Bettig above, first), they don’t offer much choice or variety.
At Smashing Magazine, they do an open call for designers and illustrators to make monthly desktop wallpaper. Since the selection isn’t curated, it really runs the gamut from lame-o to awesome. But I can usually find one I like in the 50 or so they have each month.
I think I’m going to put the Design*Sponge choice (above, first) on my laptop, and this one (above, second) from Smashing Magazine on my desktop computer (I went with the non-calendar version, but there is one with the days of the month available too. There’s even a version for your iPhone).
I was just catching up on my design blog reading, and came across this post featuring Applied Arts Photography Award winners Roth & Ramburg. The Calgary-based photographers won seven awards for their Newfoundland road trip self-promo calendar and postcard. They blogged their trip, and turned the whole thing into a promotional piece. While that sounds like a whole lot of work to me (traveling is for fun and vacationing, not for work), it obviously worked for them.
Aren’t these images gorgeous? They make me want to go to Newfoundland.
aken directly from her website, “Jessica Hische’s work combines equal parts design, typography, illustration, brown sugar, and heavy cream.”
I like her illustrations and her design work, but what really blows me away is Jessica Hische’s hand lettering. Hand lettering is a big trend right now, but this girl seriously does it the best. Just look at her ribbon type. Or check out her Daily Drop Cap project, where she does a new illustration of a letter every day. That probably sounded like a good idea at first, but keeping that up every day, after 6 months? That takes serious skill. (those are her letters up there, and the “T” over there at the left came from Daily Drop Cap)
Her blog is great (especially this post about why you shouldn’t hire non-web designers to design websites, and also this guide to twitter that’s gone viral). I really like Jessica Hische’s irreverent writing style on her blog and website. She’s not too stuffy with her professional writing – her personality shines through. Obviously it’s working for her – she’s only 25 years old and has a portfolio and client list that much older designers would kill for.
[image above: wooden animal figurines by enormous champion, courtesy of Design*Sponge]
[image above: animal stamps from ink & wit, courtesy of Design*Sponge]
Over in New York, the National Stationery Show is in full swing. Every year during the Show, my favourite design blogs write posts and put up amazing photos of what they’re seeing. I don’t work in the stationery industry (not directly at least), but I’ve always wanted to go to the National Stationery Show just to see all the pretty paper. I think it would be quite inspiring.
But, I already took one trip to New York this year, so for now I have to read the blogs and get inspired from a distance. Over at Design*Sponge, they noticed a big trend at the Show for animals, floral, nautical, food/homesteading, and calendars. So every day this week, they’re posting pictures and descriptions from each of those trends. Today was animals – check it out.
The folks from UPPERCASE mag are down at the National Stationery Show too. Check out their picks here.
I heart Design*Sponge. I’ve been reading this blog for years – long before I was a designer. I have always been drawn to owner/blogger Grace Bonney’s excellent sense of style (usually on a budget no-less), and her candid, friendly writing. It’s been so cool to watch this blog grow over the years. At first, Grace would write about a whole bunch of topics (all relating to interior design), and throw them all together in one place (hmmm… kind of like the blog you’re reading right now). But over time, Grace developed clearly recognizable categories for her blog posts – “Before and After”, “DIY”, “In the Kitchen”, “City Guides”, and my favourite: “Sneak Peeks” (where she gets interesting people to post photos and descriptions of their homes. Kind of like The Selby, but not so weird). She even has a schedule for the categories: Mondays are for Sneak Peeks, Tuesdays are for Guides, etc.
I recently launched some blog design services, and when I work with my blogger clients, I always use Design*Sponge as an example of what an excellent blog can be. Have a strong, clear, interesting voice in your writing, and give your blog some structure. It’s a formula that has worked very well for Grace (she has 60,000 daily readers, over 10 contributing writers, and is coming out with a book). I think her daily schedule for her blog categories is brilliant – it keeps things interesting, and most importantly, it gives the reader a reason to come back to the blog every day. Oh yeah, and don’t you love the look of the blog itself? It was custom designed for Design*Sponge. Gives the site a completely original look. Love it.
It’s Monday morning, and if you’re like me, you need a little distraction. So check out My Milk Toof – the undeniably adorable animated photo stories created by Inhae. Follow the adventures of Ickle and Lardee as they go on big adventures, build snowmen, and get into trouble. If you don’t think this is irresistibly cute, there’s something wrong with you.
I love visual art. I like to go to art museums. Often I see stuff that I remember learning in school. And I kind of remember why it’s important, or what the piece is all about. But sometimes I forget, or I don’t know… and that’s where SmartHistory comes in. It’s a website that knocks the socks off any art history text book. Forget words – this site is loaded with video, images, a blog, and lively discussions.
If you thought you didn’t understand art, or maybe you’re intimidated by it, check out SmartHistory. It was created by some real smarty pants artsy types. They know what they’re talking about. Watch and learn. And enjoy!
