Filter Foundry - Eloudi Coetzer

<p>Every emerging technology undergoes the test of fire which is a given fact and HTML5 is no exception in the strict sense. Touted to replace flash, HTML5’s proponents blew its capabilities out of proportion even while HTML5 was still in its nascent stages. This, over the past months, has been fueling a glaring gap between what’s expected of HTML5 and the actuals. Although developers are tearing ahead making considerable headway, it’s the browsers that need to catch up.</p> <p><center></p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37118" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37118 " height="448" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/hole-600x448.png" style="border: 0px;" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/vimeo.com">Source</a></p></div> <p></center></p> <h2></h2> <h2> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Browser Bottleneck</span></h2> <p> </p> <p>The developer community has always been head over heels about latest technologies and shows no inhibitions to embrace it with both hands. Developers have a clear idea about what HTML5 is capable of given the stance of certain platform vendors. Despite the official validation not expected before 2020, developers are in no mood to slow down. While this can be a problem of sorts when viewed from the standardization point of view, but for the developer community it’s a free world with no rules/guidelines.</p> <p><center></p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37119" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37119 " height="257" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/browser-600x257.png" style="border: 0px;" title="browser" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/infocustesting.net">Source</a></p></div> <p></center><br /> Keeping apace with the progress being made by the developer community, browsers are toiling day in and day out to support the capabilities acquired by HTML5. In the days to come, HTML5 support would be the key defining factor as far as browser capabilities are concerned. This is because the advancement in HTML5 is of little meaning if browser capabilities are not enhanced parallelly.</p> <p>The rampant use of HTML5 to build apps and sites have put tremendous pressure on browser developers to prepare browsers that are fast, light on resources and efficient. As of now Internet Explorer 9 & 10, Firefox 7 and higher, Chrome 14 and higher, Safari 5 and higher, Opera 11 and higher, Mobile Safari 3.2 and higher, Opera Mobile 5 and Android 2.1 support HTML5 elements. However, in order for browsers to support all HTML5 elements, there’s still a long way to cover as revealed in the Ringmark test.</p> <p>Various studies, particularly by IDC, predict HTML5 to form a major portion (if not 100%) of mobile apps’ code in the near future. And the ratio of HTML5 in mobile apps can only be expected to go north. Having said that, the question looms large for adopters – has HTML5 matured enough? Well, this would need a collective answer from all the quarters.</p> <p> </p> <h2><span style="text-decoration: underline;">HTML5 Woes</span></h2> <p> </p> <p>HTML5 is surely on its way to glory unless it gets over the woes that are a constant irritant for developers and users.</p> <ul> <li> Out of sync</li> </ul> <p style="padding-left: 60px;">The offline and online nature of apps is an area of concern especially when it comes to syncing of data. While being connected, syncing is automatic but when not, syncing doesn’t happen. And when substantial amount of data is accumulated in the server, synchronization can be a major headache. It’s the same case when the app is accessed from a different device or location.</p> <ul> <li>Namesake database</li> </ul> <p style="padding-left: 60px;">A salient feature of HTML5 is offline data storage, wherein the data is stored in the browser. This is one reason why HTML5 is adored because it gives a desktop type feeling to the user. But the flip side to this feature is that the user has no means to access the data like they do on a desktop. The user can’t see where the data is stored; they can’t know the contents, create copies or backup the data. Since the format in which the data is stored is unknown, the user cannot surf through the data if they need any information.</p> <ul> <li>Data insecurity</li> </ul> <p style="padding-left: 60px;">HTML5 has limitations in storing data and that’s why we’ve the servers, be it cloud or not. Now the user pay for the app, the device, the service and even for the hosting, but what’s the right the user has on their data? The terms and conditions speak nothing about ownership of data. They’re more or less a virtual ownership of one’s data and occurrences of loss of data ain’t uncommon wherein the server people just wash their hands off the issue. Neither HTML5 nor the hosting company can guarantee that your data will stay.</p> <ul> <li>Compulsory upgradation</li> </ul> <p style="padding-left: 60px;">Ever thought upgrades would be a problem? Upgrades for HTML5 powered apps are imposed on its users even if they don’t want it. This poses serious risks to the users in the form of corrupt allied programs or apps that worked well pre-upgradation.</p> <p style="padding-left: 60px;"> <h2><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Bridging The Gap</span></h2> <p> </p> <p>The tremendous pace at which changes are being introduced is a reason why developers and users aren’t on the same page. At times it is confusing as to what’s developed and for whom the development is being done.</p> <p><center></p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37121" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37121 " height="390" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/bridging_gap11-600x390.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text"><a href="http://chasingtheperfectmoment.com/bridges/">Source</a></p></div> <p></center><br /> For users it is essential that they clearly put across what they expect from the HTML5 website or app to avoid any future discontentment. Users should know that the mind blowing capabilities of HTML5 is not something that is independent but a combination of various technologies tied to the browsers’ capabilities. Needless to say that this technology is evolving and a clear cut timeframe about when all the proposed capabilities are realized is obscure</p> <p>Developers should have constant interaction with the users in order to have a clear idea about the expectations. Provide the users with snapshots of how their app or site would look like, since seeing is believing. Make them understand as to how much of their expectations can actually be met because no matter what potential HTML5 holds, the end product should reflect the users’ needs and expectations.</p> <p> </p> <table style="padding: 15px; border: 5px solid #5d5d5d; background-color: #30302f;"> <tbody> <tr> <td><img alt="Rohit Singhal" class="alignright" src="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/0baada9baeb3c9cec4099a744f8dccc8?s=75&d=identicon&r=G" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;" width="100? height=" /></p> <h3>About the Author</h3> <p>Rohit Singhal is an emarketer working with PixelCrayons, a web development company. The company specializes in ecommerce solutions, CMS solutions, <a href="http://html.pixelcrayons.com/responsive-design-coding.html">responsive web design</a> implementation, <a href="http://html.pixelcrayons.com/">HTML5 Web Development</a> and more.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/guest-blogger/" rel="author">Guest Blogger</a></p><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/UI9svPxSUZ4" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

7 Vector Starburst

<p style="text-align: justify;">A lot of graphic designers and artists all over the world employ a number of elements in their designs and artwork making them extremely complicated and intricate. But as most people would say, the devil is in the details. And the mark of a true artist may usually be seen when his work is scrutinized to the smallest part of his masterpiece.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">That is the reason why it is very important for graphic artists, both novice and professional alike to pay attention to the details of their work as meticulously as possible. Every element, every layer and every stroke should be given an appropriate amount of attention. Background images and design accents for example play a pivotal role in tying up the overall look and feel of a design, which in turn makes for a well-polished and balanced work.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">We at You The Designer recognize this need, so today, we are giving you this amazing set of 7 starburst vector graphics that will definitely add some fine details into any design.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-37112 aligncenter" height="1000" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/post-cover.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="600" /></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Download this stunning set of vector graphics by tweeting or sharing over Facebook. Click the button below and unlock the awesomeness! (Email subscribers, please visit the actual post page to download.)</p> <p><center></center></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">So there you have it guys. What other freebie do you want me to make for you in the future? Do tell us by leaving a comment below. You can also find us on <a href="http://facebook.com/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/cadencewu" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116824150281780256954/" target="_blank">Google Plus</a> or subscribe to our blog through our <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/YouTheDesigner" target="_blank">RSS Feeds</a>. And please, do check out our <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/blank-print-templates" target="_blank">print templates</a> page and download any of our blank print templates for all your print designing needs.</p> <p> Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/geno/" rel="author">Geno Arguelles</a></p><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/X_5uWWbZZ7A" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy

<p>Most live action movies today are based if not in best-selling books, are from classic comics and graphic novels. Major characters in comics especially most of our favorite superheroes have been transformed into major motion pictures today which appeal not only to kids and fans but across all ages.</p> <p>A successful superhero live action movie is mostly dependent on how the filmmakers have captured the exact character found on its two-dimensional, spandex-clad superhero origin. The classic look and style in comics combined with some modern aspects like slight changes in costumes and storyline is a common technique found in making movies today. To remember how much the comic stylings of the 60’s and 70’s have inspired modern films, Brazilian artist <a href="http://www.behance.net/butcherbilly"><strong>Butcher Billy</strong></a> created an awesome project which answers his thought about just how thin is the line that separate movies from comics.</p> <p>Butcher Billy, who focuses on graphic design and illustration created the series called “<a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/The-Superhero-Media-Crossover-Project/6192521"><strong>The Superhero Media Crossover Project</strong></a>” which features a mash-up of images combining art from classic comic books overlapped on screenshots from the latest superhero films. The project makes us realize how often movie makers rely on the format of classic comic books and graphic novels, making them easy to translate them on the screen by interlacing cinematography with storyboard.</p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="size-full wp-image-37070 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/112.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" /></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="size-full wp-image-37072 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/210.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" /></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="size-full wp-image-37075 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/34.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" /></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="size-full wp-image-37076 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/42.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" /></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37077" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/52.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" /></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="size-full wp-image-37079 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/62.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" /></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37080" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/72.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" /></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37081" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/82.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" /></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37082" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/93.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" /></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="size-full wp-image-37084 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/102.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" /></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37085" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/113.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" /></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37086" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/122.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" /></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37087" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/132.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" /></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37088" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/142.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" /></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37089" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/152.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="The Superhero Media Crossover Project by Butcher Billy" width="600" /></p> <p> </p> <p>The series is a homage to various comic artists from the 60′s and 70′s such as Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and John Romita Sr. and nice way of showing how their timeless works continue to inspire modern media and all of us. Check out more of the amazing works of Butcher Billy on his <a href="http://www.behance.net/butcherbilly">Behance</a> page.</p> <p> </p> <hr noshade="noshade" />  <br /> Which among the crossover designs is your most favorite? Share to us your thoughts and as well as your suggestions by commenting below. Find us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/youthedesigner"><strong>Facebook</strong></a>, <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/youthedesigner"><strong>Twitter</strong></a>,</strong> <a href="https://plus.google.com/116824150281780256954/posts"><strong>Google Plus</strong></a> and <a href="http://pinterest.com/cadencewu/"><strong>Pinterest</strong></a> for more design awesomeness! Also, don’t forget to <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/YouTheDesigner">subscribe</a> to our blog for the latest design inspirations, stories and freebies. Speaking of freebies, check out our <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/blank-print-templates">free print templates</a> page where you can download templates for calendars, brochures, business cards and more! Stay awesome everyone!</p> <p> Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/kerby/" rel="author">Kerby Rosanes</a></p><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/lxahROMCX04" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Announcing the Winners of the YTD – Themespectrum Giveaway

<p>Hello everyone! We’re now here to announce the 5 winners of our giveaway last week . But before that, we would just like to thank everyone who joined our giveaway which was sponsored by our friends from Themespectrum.</p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="328" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/superslide.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="735" /></p> <p> </p> <p>Here are the 5 winners of the 5 premium themes from Themespectrum that includes premium support and free future updates:</p> <p> </p> <ul> <li> <h2>Susan Geiger</h2> </li> <li> <h2>Ricardo Gonzalez</h2> </li> <li> <h2>Michael Paul</h2> </li> <li> <h2>Naomi Estreicher</h2> </li> <li> <h2>Rony Mattar</h2> </li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>For our lucky winners, please accept our warmest congratulations and please wait for an email from a representative of Themespectrum as they will contact you shortly to instruct you on how to claim your prize. As for those who joined, again, please accept our sincere appreciation. For those who didn’t win, we have a new <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/2012/12/10/im-creator-and-ytd-nexus-7-giveaway/" target="_blank">giveaway</a> on our site, so by all means, feel free to join.</p> <p>For any questions, suggestions, or sponsorship offers, please feel free to contact us using the contact form in our Contact Us page or just leave a comment below and we’ll certainly give you feedback. Lastly, please don’t forget to <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/YouTheDesigner" target="_blank">subscribe</a> to our blog or add us up on <a href="http://facebook.com/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/cadencewu" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116824150281780256954/" target="_blank">Google Plus</a> for more design related news, features, <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/blank-print-templates" target="_blank">freebies</a> and of course giveaways. Stay Awesome everyone!</p> <p> </p> <p> Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/cadence/" rel="author">Cadence Wu</a></p><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/K9ZrCrmD_1c" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

You! Be Inspired! – Creative Mug Designs

<p style="text-align: justify;">For most part of the world, Christmas is often associated with cold weather. This is probably because there have been many types of media in the past that mentions of a white Christmas, with houses covered in a layer of snow and people huddle near a fire place to drink coffee or hot chocolate. So in today’s You! Be Inspired! post, we decided to showcase 25 of the most creative mug designs that will certainly get you in the mood this holiday season.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mugs have been around for more than 5000 years and were used by early civilizations for the sole purpose of drinking water or any form of fluid from it. Earlier forms of mug were produced by shaping clay or carved wood. However, these types of mugs were very hard to use especially with their thick walls that were unfit for the mouth. This changed upon the invention and discovery of different alternative materials like metal, porcelain and eventually plastic.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Today, mugs are produced in a variety of ways using different materials, sometimes even combining two or more materials in order to come up with the best result for a product. So without further ado, here are the 25 creatively designed mugs we’ve collected from the far reaches of the online world.</p> <p> </p> <hr noshade="noshade" /> <p> </p> <p><center></p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37020" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37020" height="600" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/r2d2-600x600.jpeg" title="r2d2" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">For the Star Wars fan <a href="http://www.bitrebels.com/geek/star-wars-r2-d2-coffee-tea-mug/">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37021" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-37021" height="522" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/biscuit-pocket.jpg" title="biscuit pocket" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">For the Biscuit Lover <a href="http://justamazingthings.blogspot.com/2012/07/top-10-creative-coffee-cup-designs.html#.UMfakuTYdSQ">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37022" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37022" height="508" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/chemist-600x508.jpg" title="chemist" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">For the Chemist <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/111658600/coffee-caffeine-molecule-etched-coffee">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37023" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-37023 " height="420" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/tennis-player.jpg" title="tennis player" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">For the Tennis Player <a href="http://decorating-ideas-for.com/decorating-ideas-for-coffee-mugs/">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37024" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-37024" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/angel-and-devil.jpg" title="angel and devil" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Good vs Bad <a href="http://decorating-ideas-for.com/decorating-ideas-for-coffee-mugs/">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37026" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-37026 " height="600" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/golfer.jpg" title="golfer" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The Golfer’s Mug <a href="http://egotvonline.com/2011/10/06/25-awesome-mugs/">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37029" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37029 " height="600" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dog-lover-600x600.jpg" title="dog lover" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Dog Lover’s Mug <a href="http://dogmugs.blogspot.com/2011_12_01_archive.html">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37031" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-37031" height="637" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/musician1.jpg" title="musician" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Musician’s Mug <a href="http://dogmugs.blogspot.com/2011_12_01_archive.html&quot">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37032" style="width: 600px;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-37032" height="483" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/poop.jpg" title="poop" width="590" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Poop Mug <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/cool-coffee-mugs">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37033" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-37033 " height="574" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/spill-proof-mug.jpg" title="spill proof mug" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Spill Proof Mug <a href="http://ilovecoffee.co.za/2011/02/17/cool-coffee-cups/">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37039" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-37039 " height="339" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/knuckle.jpg" title="knuckle" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The Knuckle Mug <a href="http://bifty.com/cool-stuff/thabto-coffee-mugs/2204/">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37040" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37040" height="600" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ninja-600x600.jpeg" title="ninja" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Ninja Mug <a href="http://thecooleststuffever.com/ninja-coffee-mug">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37041" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-37041" height="600" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/cookie.jpg" title="cookie" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Cookie Mug <a href="http://www.barnorama.com/cool-coffee-and-tea-mugs/">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37042" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-37042 " height="447" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Gun-Handle-Mug.jpg" title="Gun-Handle-Mug" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Gun Handle Mug <a href="http://www.likecool.com/Gun_Handle_Mug--Office--Gear.html&quot">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37043" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37043" height="519" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/twitter-600x519.jpg" title="twitter" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Twitter with Hashtag Mug <a href="http://www.forkparty.com/28384/ten-cool-tech-company-coffee-mugs-gallery/coffeemugs001">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37044" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37044" height="600" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/keyboard-600x600.jpg" title="keyboard" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Programmer’s Mug <a href="http://www.shop4juan.com.ph/Cool-Unique-Keyboard-Design-Coffee-Mug-Set_p_19.html">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37045" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37045" height="591" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/cow-600x591.jpg" title="cow" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Cow Mug <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005QB9TEQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl? ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005QB9TEQ&linkCode=as2&tag=squid0d8-20">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37046" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-37046 " height="641" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/camera.jpg" title="camera" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Photographer’s Mug <a href="http://www.flavorwire.com/96838/design-porn-coffee-mugs?all=1">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37047" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37047" height="600" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/behind-600x600.png" title="behind" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The Behind Mug <a href="http://www.tripwiremagazine.com/2011/12/unique-and-creative-mugs.html">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37048" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37048" height="564" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/creature-cups-600x564.jpeg" title="creature cups" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Creature Cups <a href="http://creaturecups.com/store">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37049" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-37049 " height="600" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/animal-nose.jpg" title="animal nose" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Animal Nose Cup <a href="http://www.designrulz.com/product-design/2011/07/creative-clever-coffee-mug-designs/">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37050" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37050" height="552" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/gameboy-600x552.png" title="gameboy" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Gameboy Mug <a href="http://churchm.ag/2012/02/page/3/">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37051" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-37051" height="558" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/rubix-cube.jpg" title="rubix cube" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Rubix Cube Mug <a href="http://1oet.com/funny-coffee-mugs-pictures/">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37064" style="width: 610px;"><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/self-stirring.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-37064" height="449" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/self-stirring-600x449.jpg" title="self stirring" width="600" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Self Stirring Mug <a href="http://find-gift-ideas.net/tag/creative-coffee-mug">Source</a></p></div> <p> </p> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37052" style="width: 610px;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-37052 " height="600" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/toilet.png" title="toilet" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Toilet Mug <a href="http://www.tripwiremagazine.com/2011/12/unique-and-creative-mugs.html">Source</a></p></div> <p></center></p> <hr noshade="noshade" /> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: justify;">And that concludes today’s edition of You! Be Inspired! So which mug design did you find most interesting? Tell us by leaving a comment below. For other design related news, features and freebies, do <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/YouTheDesigner" target="_blank">subscribe</a> to our blog or drop by our <a href="http://facebook.com/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/cadencewu" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116824150281780256954/" target="_blank">Google Plus</a> social profiles.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Lastly, if you’re currently working on a project that involves a print product, don’t forget to check out our <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/blank-print-templates" target="_blank">print templates page</a> and download any of our 1,100 templates completely FREE!</p> <p> Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/zyril/" rel="author">Zy Gonzales</a></p><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/NgrBxr9kNvE" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

The Battle between Lettering and Calligraphy

<p>Typography techniques are improved by constant practicing and when given the challenge of competition. This idea inspired the new website called “<a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/"><strong>Lettering vs. Calligraphy</strong></a>” which features two amazing Berlin based designers in a unique challenge celebrating the creative process of hand drawn lettering and penned calligraphy.</p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Lettering vs. Calligraphy" class=" wp-image-36963 aligncenter" height="1038" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/lvsc1.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="Lettering vs. Calligraphy" width="524" /></p> <p> </p> <p>The type designers involved are <a href="http://www.martinaflor.com/">Martina Flor</a> and <a href="http://www.resistenza.es/">Giuseppe Salerno</a> who are both exceptionally talented and have been in the industry for more than a decade. The duo create a design each day based on a keyword provided by a moderator. Then they post their work online and let the viewers vote for their favorite. The two go head to head each day – the unique hand drawn lettering of Martina Flor versus the exquisitely penned calligraphy of Giuseppe Salermo. The adventure aims to explore and showcase the capabilities of the two technical approaches in type design. Below are some of the latest designs featured on their website (left – lettering, right – calligraphy):</p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/distinguished-u/"><img alt="DISTINGUISHED “U”" class="size-medium wp-image-36966 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/U-600x300.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="DISTINGUISHED “U”" width="600" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Distinguished “U”</strong></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/v-for-vendetta/" target="_blank"><img alt=""V" for Vendetta" class="size-medium wp-image-36967 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/v-600x300.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title=""V" for Vendetta" width="600" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>“V” for Vendetta</strong></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/j-bizarre/" target="_blank"><img alt="Bizarre "J"" class="size-medium wp-image-36969 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/j-600x300.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="Bizarre "J"" width="600" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Bizarre “J”</strong></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/swashy-t/" target="_blank"><img alt="Swashy "T"" class="size-medium wp-image-36970 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/t-600x300.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="Swashy "T"" width="600" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Swashy “T”</strong></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/dynamic-n-2/" target="_blank"><img alt="Dynamic "N"" class="size-medium wp-image-36971 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/n-600x300.png" style="border: 0px;" title="Dynamic "N"" width="600" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Dynamic “N”</strong></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/b-happy/" target="_blank"><img alt="Happy " B"" class="size-medium wp-image-36972 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/B-600x300.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="Happy " B"" width="600" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Happy “B”</strong></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/simple-z/" target="_blank"><img alt="Simple "Z"" class="size-medium wp-image-36973 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Z-600x300.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="Simple "Z"" width="600" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Simple “Z”</strong></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/art-nouveau-9" target="_blank"><img alt="Art Nouveau "9"" class="size-medium wp-image-36974 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/92-600x300.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="Art Nouveau "9"" width="600" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Art Nouveau “9″</strong></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/sophisticated-3/" target="_blank"><img alt="Sophisticated "3"" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-36975" height="300" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/33-600x300.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="Sophisticated "3"" width="600" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sophisticated “3″</strong></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/shop/time-to-fight-postcards/" target="_blank"><img alt="Time To Fight postcards" class="aligncenter wp-image-36978" height="318" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/time-600x318.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="Time To Fight postcards" width="600" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>“Time To Fight” postcards</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Which of the type designs is your most favorite? Vote for them on their official <a href="http://www.letteringvscalligraphy.com/">website</a>. This amazing project is not just a design challenge but an opportunity to discover the various styles and possibilities in type design in both lettering and calligraphy. Moreover, the series will be a huge source of inspiration for typography addicts out there as the battle continues.</p> <p>Tell us your thoughts as well as your suggestions by commenting below. Find us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/youthedesigner"><strong>Facebook</strong></a>, <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/youthedesigner"><strong>Twitter</strong></a>,</strong> <a href="https://plus.google.com/116824150281780256954/posts"><strong>Google Plus</strong></a> and <a href="http://pinterest.com/cadencewu/"><strong>Pinterest</strong></a> for more design awesomeness! Also, don’t forget to <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/YouTheDesigner">subscribe</a> to our blog for the latest design inspirations, stories and freebies. Speaking of freebies, check out our <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/blank-print-templates">free print templates</a> page where you can download templates for calendars, brochures, business cards and more! Stay awesome everyone!</p> <p> </p> <p> Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/kerby/" rel="author">Kerby Rosanes</a></p><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/oU1Onf6UAXY" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Win a Depositphotos Free Subscription and $50 UPrinting Print Credits in this International Giveaway!

<p>This week, <a href="http://depositphotos.com/">Depositphotos</a> and <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/?utm_source=youthedesigner.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=gdm_ytdcon_0612">UPrinting</a> are collaborating to give you an international giveaway! Here you can win a 20-day free stock photo subscription where you can download 10 images a day (the normal setup is 7 days and 5 images a day), and $50 worth of print credits to spend however you like too!<br />  <br /> Here are the various means of entry:<br />  <br /> - Follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Depositphotos">@Depositphotos</a> on Twitter<br /> - Like the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/DepositPhotosEN">Depositphotos (English)</a> Facebook page<br /> - Tweet about this giveaway – you can find the premade tweet in the PunchTab app<br /> - Like the You The Designer blog (we know you do, it’s just that sometimes we need reminding!)<br /> - Leave a comment on this post saying what you’ll use the subscription and the print credits for<br /> - Visit (and join, if you like!) the <a href="http://www.ucreative.com/?utm_source=youthedesigner.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=gdm_ytdcon_0612">UCreative Network</a>, the social network for creative professionals!<br /> - Give the <a href="https://plus.google.com/116824150281780256954/">You The Designer Google+ page</a> a +1</p> <p> <br /> <strong>Make sure you do all that via the PunchTab app</strong> so all your entries are counted! As usual, the more times you enter, the better your chances of winning.<br />  <br /> <center></center><br />  <br /> Giveaway ends on <strong>Saturday, June 16, 2012, midnight PST. International except where prohibited.</strong><br />  <br /> Print credits do not include shipping costs. If the print job costs less than $50, the remaining print credits may be subtracted from the shipping costs.<br />  <br /> Once the giveaway ends, the PunchTab widget will reflect this, and we’ll publish another post to announce the winners as well as notify the winners privately.<br />  <br /> Now that you’ve read all that, start submitting your entries and good luck, everyone!<br />  <br /> <em>In case you need some printing done right now and can’t wait for this giveaway to end, UPrinting has a <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/coupons.html?utm_source=youthedesigner.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=gdm_ytdcon_0612">summer marketing sale</a> going on – that’s up to 20% off selected products until the 28th. <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/coupons.html?utm_source=youthedesigner.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=gdm_ytdcon_0612">Check it out!</a></em><br />  <br /> <em>If you are looking for quality images, and the subscription you can win isn’t enough for you, feel free to join Depositphotos. You will have an ability to use <a href="http://depositphotos.com/free-photos.html">free images</a> with their Free Trial Program!</em></p> <p>  Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/cadence/" rel="author">Cadence Wu</a></p><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/6V4eEMK19_M" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR

You! Be Informed! #0008 – Bonnaroo 2012, WordCamp NYC 2012, and The Innovation Whiteboard

<p>This week, as I was browsing <em>The New Yorker</em> magazine’s site for covers</a> (thanks to the curiosity sparked by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/2012/06/06/the-art-of-the-new-yorker-magazine-covers/" target="_blank">one of our articles</a>), I saw this <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2012/06/loving-ray-bradbury.html" target="_blank">tribute</a> to Ray Bradbury written my Junot Diaz. It was an intimate look at how he is well-loved by his fans and friends. Of all the tributes I read about him this week, one that discussed his answer to a question on passing a legacy to future generations is my favorite — </p> <p> </p> <p><em>“If you don’t read or write, you can’t be educated, you can’t care about anything — you’ve gotta put something in people’s heads so the metaphors bounce around and collide with each other and make new metaphors. That’s the success I’ve had of daring to put different metaphors together, mashing their heads together, saying, ‘Oh my god, I didn’t think of that — how wonderful!’”</em></p> <p>  </p> <p>Continue learning and discovering new things by signing up for our <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/signup/" target="_blank">monthly newsletter</a> and subscribing to our <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/YouTheDesigner" target="_blank">RSS Feed</a>. Enjoy this week’s edition of You! Be Informed! </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Bonnaroo 2012</strong></p> <p>Four days of camping out in Manchester, Tennessee with more than 10 stages for music performance is what the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is all about! Mingle with fellow revelers and explore the different options for food and entertainment! Know more about what you can bring, how to behave yourself during the festival, and more useful things <a href="http://www.bonnaroo.com/festival-info/" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Bonnaroo2012-via-YouTheDesigner.com_.jpg"><img alt="Bonnaroo2012 via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26585" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Bonnaroo2012-via-YouTheDesigner.com_.jpg" title="Bonnaroo2012 via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> <br />  </p> <p><strong>Gallery 1988 – “Excuuuuuse Meeeeeeeee”</strong></p> <p>One of our favorite galleries is holding an exhibit that’s beyond awesome for words. Gallery1988 Venice will be holding <strong>“Excuuuuuse Meeeeeeeee,”</strong> a tribute to one of my favorite funnymen, Steve Martin. Artists participating in the exhibit created pieces inspired by Steve’s work in movies, books, TV, and music. The opening gala will be held on June 8, Friday, and the gallery will be up until the end of June 2012. If you’re a Steve Martin fan, or you just want to unwind by looking at contemporary art pieces, take time to drop by Gallery1988 Venice!</p> <p><em>Images from <a href="http://g1988.tumblr.com/post/24405864636/this-friday-at-g1988-venice-we-open-excuuuuuuse" target="_blank">G1988</a></em></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Gallery-1988-Steve-Martin.jpg"><img alt="Gallery 1988 Steve Martin Exhibit via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26524" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Gallery-1988-Steve-Martin.jpg" title="Gallery 1988 Steve Martin Exhibit via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Gallery-1988-Michael-DePippo.jpg"><img alt="Gallery 1988 Michael DePippo via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26526" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Gallery-1988-Michael-DePippo.jpg" title="Gallery 1988 Michael DePippo via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Gallery-1988-Jason-Edmiston.jpg"><img alt="Gallery 1988 Jason Edmiston via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26525" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Gallery-1988-Jason-Edmiston.jpg" title="Gallery 1988 Jason Edmiston via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Gallery-1988-Nicole-Gustafsson.jpg"><img alt="Gallery 1988 Nicole Gustafsson via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26527" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Gallery-1988-Nicole-Gustafsson.jpg" title="Gallery 1988 Nicole Gustafsson via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> <br />  </p> <p><strong>WordCamp New York City 2012</strong></p> <p>WordPress users in New York, rejoice! WordCamp New York City 2012 is upon you, and it will be held on June 9-10, 2012 at Baruch College in Manhattan. Gear up for two whole days to learn the latest about everything and anything about WordPress. If you’re planning to attend the event, learn more about it <a href="http://2012.nyc.wordcamp.org/" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/WordCampNYC.jpeg"><img alt="WordCampNYC via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26531" height="500" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/WordCampNYC.jpeg" title="WordCampNYC via YouTheDesigner.com" width="500" /></a></center></p> <p> <br />  </p> <p><strong>Asketic Riga – getCirulis</strong></p> <p>We’re all about discovering and learning new things here at You the Designer, that’s why finding something graphic designers will find useful excites us. Asketic Riga is a design office from Riga, Latvia that’s taking a bold step to turn one of the region’s most unique typefaces, Cirulis, into a usable font family. <a href="http://getcirulis.com/" target="_blank">Sign up</a> and be among the first designers to receive Cirulis Pro Bold! </p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/getCirulis.jpg"><img alt="getCirulis via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26538" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/getCirulis.jpg" title="getCirulis via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Cirulis-poster.jpg"><img alt="Cirulis-poster via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26541" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Cirulis-poster.jpg" title="Cirulis-poster via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Cirulis-book.jpg"><img alt="Cirulis-book via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26540" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Cirulis-book.jpg" title="Cirulis-book via YouTheDesigner.com" /></a></center></p> <p> <br />  </p> <p><strong>AFA – Maurice Sendak Retrospective Exhibit</strong></p> <p>On the day before what would have been Maurice Sendak’s 84th birthday, AFA (Animazing Fine Art) will be opening a retrospective exhibit featuring his art. The exhibition will open on Saturday, June 9, and will be up until Labor Day. Original artwork and published pieces that celebrate the life of Maurice Sendak will be on display. Learn more about the exhibit by visiting the <a href="http://afanyc.com/" target="_blank">AFA website</a>. </p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Maurice-Sendak-Retrospective-Exhibit-via-YouTheDesigner.jpg"><img alt="Maurice Sendak Retrospective Exhibit via YouTheDesigner" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26561" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Maurice-Sendak-Retrospective-Exhibit-via-YouTheDesigner.jpg" title="Maurice Sendak Retrospective Exhibit via YouTheDesigner" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Maurice-Sendak-Retrospective-Exhibit-02-via-YouTheDesigner.jpg"><img alt="Maurice Sendak Retrospective Exhibit 02 via YouTheDesigner" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26559" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Maurice-Sendak-Retrospective-Exhibit-02-via-YouTheDesigner.jpg" title="Maurice Sendak Retrospective Exhibit 02 via YouTheDesigner" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Maurice-Sendak-Retrospective-Exhibit-03-via-YouTheDesigner.jpg"><img alt="Maurice Sendak Retrospective Exhibit 03 via YouTheDesigner" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26560" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Maurice-Sendak-Retrospective-Exhibit-03-via-YouTheDesigner.jpg" title="Maurice Sendak Retrospective Exhibit 03 via YouTheDesigner" /></a></center></p> <p> <br />  </p> <p><strong>The Innovation Whiteboard</strong></p> <p>A month ago, The New York Times invited readers to share innovations that would make daily life easier. They called this <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/magazine/innovation-whiteboard.html" target="_blank">The Innovation Whiteboard</a>, a repository of ideas that features lifehacks. </p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Innovation-Whiteboard-via-YouTheDesigner.com_.jpg"><img alt="Innovation Whiteboard via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26570" height="55" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Innovation-Whiteboard-via-YouTheDesigner.com_.jpg" title="Innovation Whiteboard via YouTheDesigner.com" width="600" /></a></center></p> <p> </p> <p><center><a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Innovation-Whiteboard-02-via-YouTheDesigner.jpg"><img alt="Innovation Whiteboard 02 via YouTheDesigner" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26569" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Innovation-Whiteboard-02-via-YouTheDesigner.jpg" title="Innovation Whiteboard 02 via YouTheDesigner" /></a></center></p> <p> <br />  </p> <p>Also share and discuss graphic design news with other You The Designer readers through our <a href="http://facebook.com/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Twitter</a> accounts! </p> <p>  Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/chin/" rel="author">Chin de Vera</a></p><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/a6hvP3cXl_w" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR

Logo Design: Raster Graphics or Vector Graphics

<p>Logo design is made up of different defining aspects – from the designer’s influences and personal whims, to the design’s colour and its shape. We’ve discussed how logos are defined by colour and shape in our <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/2012/06/05/logo-design-the-color-and-the-shape/">previous post</a>. This time we’d like to talk about the file types and the things that you ought to know when you’re designing a logo for different media.</p> <p> </p> <p>As technical as these two graphic design terms may sound, they’re actually very simple. Raster graphics are basically made up of pixels, the things you see on your screen, the rough edges that you see on an image when you zoom in too much. On the other hand, vector graphics are made up of lines and anchor points that are auto-adjusted by Adobe Illustrator (or any other vector software editor you’re using) when you’re resizing your work. That’s the basic gist of raster and vector graphics, but let’s delve deeper into the abyss and know where and when to use them, and on what project, aside from logo design, you can use them.<br />  </p> <p><center><img alt="Sample Raster Logo via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26546" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/full_ps.jpg" title="Sample Raster Logo via YouTheDesigner.com" /></center><br /> <em>Upon first inspection, raster and vector graphics will basically look the same way. The difference becomes apparent once reproducing the design becomes an issue.</em></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><br /> <h3>Raster Graphics</h3> <p></strong></p> <p>If you’re going to zoom in on an image, you’ll notice that the edges become more pixelated. This is because most images (JPEG, JPG, PNG, etc.) are rasterized to allow an artist or photographer to manipulate the image using a graphics editing software, like Adobe Photoshop.</p> <p> </p> <p>A raster graphic image is made up of pixels, with each pixel having only one colour. This means that if you have fewer pixels in your image, you’ll have lesser colour and a low quality image. Otherwise, you’ll have a perfectly crisp and sharp image.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Why it’s not for any logo project</strong></p> <p>The primary concern in using raster graphics to create your logo design is the resolution. As I’ve mentioned before, rasterized images tend to be more pixelated or jagged on the edges. Resizing will be the main problem when it comes to reproducing a rasterized logo. You may be able to produce high resolution image on Photoshop, but you’ll never know how big the logo needs to be in actual production.</p> <p> </p> <p><center><img alt="Sample Raster Logo via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26546" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/zoom_ps.jpg" title="Sample Raster Logo via YouTheDesigner.com" /></center><br /> <em>A logo design that’s created using Photoshop will show pixels once you zoom in within the image. This becomes an issue when you need to create a larger design from your original.</em> </p> <p> </p> <p>Another issue is professional quality. If you’re designing logos as a professional, you’d aim for the best quality and using a raster file for your project doesn’t help your cause. As mentioned earlier, upon closer inspection rasterized images would eventually produce pixelated images. This’ll reflect your knowledge about industry standards and practice, which is better that you know it now, than later.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>What’s it for?</strong></p> <p>Photos and graphic rendering are done in raster graphics. Because of the extensive colour manipulation capabilities of raster graphic editors, they’re apt tools in adding and editing colours, tones, and textures on images, and photos. Usual projects done in Adobe Photoshop are web design, promotional graphics, and your usual illustration colour rendering.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong><br /> <h3>Vector Graphics</h3> <p></strong><br /> In simple terms, vector graphic images are collections of lines and anchor points that make up a whole image. The lines serve as your drawing’s outline and the anchor points control where your lines should go. It’s similar to how the Photoshop pen tool works. If you’re familiar with it you’ll be fine, if not it’s time you work on it.<br />  <br /> The anchor points and lines that make up a vector graphic image are manipulated through mathematical calculations (done by the software you’re using, no worries), which make the image done in vector to be scalable to any size.<br />  <br /> <strong>Why it’s used in creating logos</strong><br /> Because of the ease in resizing a vector graphic image, logo designers find it easier to reproduce a logo in any size, any time, without losing quality. Aside from resolving sizing issues on a logo design, editing it will be a lot easier. Logos made in vector graphics are more adaptable and streamlined when applied to different media – from promotional prints and corporate stationery, like <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/business-cards.html?utm_source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youthedesigner.com%2F&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=gdm_ytd_0612" target="_blank">business cards</a> and letterheads, to web design applications and other media.<br />  </p> <p><center><img alt="Zoomed in Vector Logo via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26549" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/zoom_vector.jpg" title="Zoomed in Vector Logo via YouTheDesigner.com" /></center><br /> <em>Vector Graphics’ primary strength lies on its scalability. Since you’ll be applying the logo on different media, you’ll have to create different sizes of the same design. But if you’ve created the logo design as a vector graphic, size and scaling issues are easily resolved.</em><br />  </p> <p><strong>Other applications</strong></p> <p>Most conceptual artists directly sketch their work on vector graphic editors and just render them on Adobe Photoshop, or other raster graphic editors. Because of the power combination of Adobe Illustrator’s intuitive drawing tools that work best with a tablet – this makes it easier for artists and illustrators to create sketches, concept designs, or adding details to a drawing easier.</p> <p> </p> <p>Look out for our other logo design posts for the month of June. Make sure that you’re subscribed to our <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/YouTheDesigner" target="_blank">RSS Feed</a> to receive awesome design news and inspiration. If you’ve got any questions, topic suggestions, or some love to share, just hit us up on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Facebook </a>or <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. </p> <p>  Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/cadence/" rel="author">Cadence Wu</a></p><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/NbyxvDmYX_E" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR

You! Be Inspired! #0008 – Conrad Roset, Chibi Tarot, and Project: Rooftop

<p>As you’ve seen in our recent posts, we’re cooking up a series of articles focusing on logo design and the issues and elements concerning the design process as well as the technicalities that come with it. Watch out for this week’s upcoming posts – we’ll be featuring illustrated covers of The New Yorker magazine, we’ll also publish another logo design post discussing the difference between raster and vector graphics.</p> <p> <br /> Going into the things I dug up the past weekend, here are some amazing graphic design samples, illustrators, and their artwork:</p> <p> <br />  <br /> <strong>Emma Block – Illustrator</strong></p> <p>We’ve seen some amazing illustration from <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/2012/05/30/you-be-inspired-0007/" target="_blank">last week’s Be Inspired</a> post, this week we’ve got another female illustrator in <a href="http://emmablock.co.uk" target="_blank">Emma Block</a>. Her work has a touch of 1930s jazz and 1950s lifestyle, some of her works somehow reminisce the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s and a little hint of Dorothy Parker’s era.<br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Emma Snow via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26481" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/emma01.jpg" title="" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Emma Snow via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26482" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/emma02.jpg" title="" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Emma Snow via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26483" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/emma03.jpg" title="" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Emma Snow via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26484" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/emma04.jpg" title="" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Emma Snow via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26485" height="580" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/emma05.jpg" title="" width="600" /></center></p> <p> <br />  <br /> <strong>Chibi Tarot – A Cute Take on an Ancient Tradition</strong></p> <p>A project by artist Adam Bodgett, the <a href="http://chibitarot.com/" target="_blank">Chibi Tarot</a> project aims to recreate the major and minor arcana of the Tarot deck, through the lens of chibi. If you’re not familiar with the term chibi meaning “Short Person”, it’s used to describe a thing or person as cute or small.<br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Chibi Tarot by Adam Bodgett via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26469" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/chibitarot01.png" title="" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Chibi Tarot by Adam Bodgett via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26470" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/chibitarot02.png" title="" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Chibi Tarot by Adam Bodgett via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26472" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/chibitarot03.png" title="" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Chibi Tarot by Adam Bodgett via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26473" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/chibitarot04.png" title="" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Chibi Tarot by Adam Bodgett via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26474" height="1111" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/chibitarot05.png" title="" width="600" /></center></p> <p> <br />  <br /> <strong>Conrad Roset – Illustrator</strong></p> <p>A common muse among graphic artists and illustrators is the image of a woman. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/conradroset" target="_blank">Conrad Roset’s gallery</a> of works exemplifies this appreciation of the female form – from his muse collections to his commercial works. Though Conrad’s work primarily focuses on the sensual form of a woman, his portfolio boasts an assortment of different projects, from photography to <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/postcard-printing.html?utm_source=youthedesigner.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=gdm_ytd_0612" target="_blank">postcard prints</a>, and children’s books.<br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Conrad Roset via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26476" height="925" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conrad01.jpg" title="" width="600" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Conrad Roset via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26477" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conrad02.jpg" title="" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Conrad Roset via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26478" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conrad03.jpg" title="" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Conrad Roset via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26479" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conrad04.jpg" title="" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Conrad Roset via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26480" height="830" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conrad05.jpg" title="" width="600" /></center></p> <p> <br />  <br /> <strong>Movie Posters by Neil Kellerhouse</strong></p> <p>If you’re into films and <a href="http://www.uprinting.com/poster-printing.html?utm_source=youthedesigner.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=gdm_ytd_0612" target="_blank">movie posters</a>, you’ll love <a href="http://kellerhouse.com/" target="_blank">Neil Kellerhouse’s work</a>. He has worked on the posters for <em>The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</em>, <em>The Social Network</em>, and <em>I’m Still Here </em>among others. His unique, sleek, and compact style in photography, and the typography he uses together in the movie posters provide a unique character to each film’s promotional media.<br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Neil Kellerhouse via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26486" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/neil01.jpg" title="" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Neil Kellerhouse via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26487" height="888" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/neil02.jpg" title="" width="600" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Neil Kellerhouse via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26488" height="944" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/neil03.jpg" title="" width="600" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Neil Kellerhouse via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26489" height="888" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/neil04.jpg" title="" width="600" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Neil Kellerhouse via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26490" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/neil05.jpg" title="" /></center></p> <p> <br />  <br /> <strong>The Great Showdowns – Scott Campbell</strong></p> <p>Everyone has a favorite scene from a film – from the first Matrix’s bullet time fight scenes to Gandalf’s epic confrontation with the Balrog. These have been memorable scenes from our most beloved movies. Now, Scott Campbell recreates all the battle scenes, the close encounters, and the conversations into cute and cuddly illustrations. Check out his project, <a href="http://greatshowdowns.com/" target="_blank">The Great Showdowns</a> on tumblr for more action!<br />  <br /> <center><img alt="The Great Showdowns via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26496" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/scott01.jpg" title="" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="The Great Showdowns via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26497" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/scott02.jpg" title="" /></center></p> <p> <br />  <br /> <strong>Project: Rooftop</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.tencentticker.com/projectrooftop/about/" target="_blank">Project: Rooftop</a> aims to promote and expand the founders’ idea of superhero costume and character redesign as a skill. It’s being spearheaded by comic book artist Dean Trippe and journalist Christ Arrant. The project was inspired by reality shows and other related superhero literature, and by the trend of costume redesign on different superheroes.<br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Project: Rooftop via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26491" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/rooftop01.jpg" title="" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Project: Rooftop via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26492" height="330" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/rooftop02.jpeg" title="" width="600" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Project: Rooftop via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26493" height="423" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/rooftop03.jpg" title="" width="600" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Project: Rooftop via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26494" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/rooftop04.jpg" title="" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Project: Rooftop via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26495" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/rooftop05.png" title="" /></center><br />  <br />  <br /> <strong>Vintage Book Collection by Mallory McInnis</strong></p> <p>“In the Thrift Shop we trust” – that pretty much sums up my affection for thrift shops that sell pre-owned and cheap curiosities. One of the nice things that you’ll never regret buying off thrift shops are books. Now, Mallory McInnis, a curious online case of a curator, has compiled more than a hundred vintage books and posted their prints online. The prints from her collection have a unique and eerie feel (well, most vintage books have eerie illustrations), and somehow transport you back in time. Check out her collection at <a href="http://myvintagebookcollectioninblogform.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My Vintage Book Collection</a>.<br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Vintage Book Collection by Mallory McInnis via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26498" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/vintage01.png" title="" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Vintage Book Collection by Mallory McInnis via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26499" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/vintage02.png" title="" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Vintage Book Collection by Mallory McInnis via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26500" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/vintage03.png" title="" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Vintage Book Collection by Mallory McInnis via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26501" height="948" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/vintage04.png" title="" width="600" /></center><br />  <br /> <center><img alt="Vintage Book Collection by Mallory McInnis via YouTheDesigner.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26502" src="http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/vintage05.png" title="" /></center></p> <p>Got something awesome to share, or a topic you want us to discuss? Hit us up on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/youthedesigner" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Also be more amazing and subscribe to our <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/YouTheDesigner" target="_blank">RSS Feed</a>. </p> <p>  Read more posts by <a href="http://www.youthedesigner.com/author/victor/" rel="author">Victor Pontejos</a></p><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/YouTheDesigner/~4/MVnVWKIh9To" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR

TECHI.COM

SHOW NEXT 5 >

Prop replica of Back to the Future hoverboard

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Light it up with a matchstick floor lamp

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Spidey powers tingling for the Kisai Spider LCD watch

<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.techi.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/spider_watch_silver-green.jpg"><img alt="spider_watch_silver-green" class="aligncenter wp-image-33623" src="http://cdn.techi.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/spider_watch_silver-green.jpg" width="600" /></a></p> <p>If you are looking for a timepiece that will not only provide you with an optical illusion while making you feel like a superhero too than we have found one to swing around your wrist.</p> <p><span id="more-33622"></span></p> <p>The <a href="http://www.tokyoflash.com/en/watches/kisai/spider/">Kisai Spider LCD Watch</a> uses a transparent LCD to craft the illusion that time is floating on your wrist. Four uniquely displayed various proportionally sized numbers and interface is inspired by that of the concentric rings of a spider’s web and with the LCD slightly smoked it is easier to tell the time.</p> <p>Although the hexagonal rings is not how we are used to telling time it soon becomes second nature as displayed in the diagram. The glass is see-through and you can choose various settings and it comes in an array of colors.</p> <p>This cryptic watch will have you looking suave, classic and feeling like a super hero.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.techi.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Kisai_Spider_LCD_Watch.png"><img alt="Kisai_Spider_LCD_Watch" class="aligncenter wp-image-33625" src="http://cdn.techi.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Kisai_Spider_LCD_Watch.png" width="600" /></a><a href="http://cdn.techi.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/diagram.gif"><img alt="spider watch diagram" class="aligncenter wp-image-33624" src="http://cdn.techi.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/diagram.gif" width="600" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.techi.com/2012/12/spidey-powers-tingling-for-the-kisai-spider-lcd-watch/"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p> <img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techirss/~4/BKV7o_B8kd4" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

A breakdown of the average corporate e-mail [infographic]

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

V3Solar Spin Cell transfers light into electricity in nanoseconds

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

How the visually impaired uses Instagram on the iPhone

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

The most bizarre hairbrush

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

The best Zombie t-shirt to ever exist

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Eliminate cord clutter with the circular power strip and surge protector

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Now create infographic resumes with Visually

<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.techi.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/create-infographic-resumes-with-Visually.png"><img alt="create infographic resumes with Visually" class="aligncenter wp-image-33594" src="http://cdn.techi.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/create-infographic-resumes-with-Visually.png" width="600" /></a></p> <p>As images keep dominating the web through various uploads of personal photos on social sites like Facebook or Instagram to social image bookmarking sites like Pinterest. We love sharing our interests. As much as we love sharing, we love learning and the faster the better. That is why visual data such as infographics have been such a popular source to gain knowledge from with little to no hassle of retaining it within our minds.</p> <p>People naturally associate images better with words and are able to remember visually more so than without images, it is why brands have logo’s and profiles have avatars. Our digital education is progressing and as we now can learn many things within one infographic about a subject, we too can learn a variety of subjects from in-depth to mundane information in a matter of minutes.</p> <p>This form of communicating information has captured the Internet and many websites are unseen without a placement of an infographic at one point in time, this visual data we are becoming more and more accustomed to, is growing as we speak, literally.</p> <p><span id="more-33593"></span></p> <p>The well-known infographic resource hub, Visually (Visual.ly) has been making great strides in the growth of the Infographic Industry, not only by making a variety of various free infographics available to the public, which has been both beneficial for marketers and viewers, they have also enabled the ability to have your desired infographic created by the graphic designers within their established community, through the <a href="https://marketplace.visual.ly/">Visually Marketplace</a>. Furthermore, they have just announced a brand new way of displaying resumes, that’s right, they want you to make yours visually. (Pun intended)</p> <p>Physical resumes are passé and are often discarded in the technological age that we have become. Other computerized resumes can be too lengthy and as our attention spans have shortened nobody has the time to review a resume, even when it is requested. There needs to be a faster process to gain the information about an inquiring potential employee than having to sift through a stock pile of pages or resume profiles around the web.</p> <p>Visually has now found an easier solution by partnering with a leader in providing workforce solutions, to provide a visual tool that creates a resume infographic based entirely on a person’s LinkedIn profile, known as <a href="http://www.kellyservices.com/Global/Home/">Kelly Services</a>. Together they will provide a resume generating tool that has been designed by professional graphic designers and with the help of the expertise of data visualization personnel your resume will look sharp, inviting, advanced and you will have the quick ability to make any changes on-the-go.</p> <p>Welcome to the new-age of resumes known as <a href="http://blog.visual.ly/visually-and-kelly-services-now-providing-visual-resumes/">Visually Visual Resumes</a> that will allow you through the <a href="http://create.visual.ly/kelly/">Visual.ly Create</a> section on Visually in which you can explore the latest form of infographics as resumes. There, you are able to utilize the tool to generate automated infographics for various types of data. Visually is changing the way we see information, one infographic at a time, and now using your resume.</p> <img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techirss/~4/AWPBSxaWTa8" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

SPECKYBOY DESIGN MAGAZINE

SHOW NEXT 5 >

The Dark Side of User Experience Design

<p><a href="http://rss.buysellads.com/click.php?z=1259958&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=30596&c=996784401" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://rss.buysellads.com/img.php?z=1259958&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=30596&c=996784401" /></a></p><br /><p>User Experience Design became a huge trend in the Interactive Industry. Working as a UX designer, UX manager and finally creating <a href="http://uxpin.com/">UXPin – The UX Design Online App</a> – I soaked up the design field. Even so, this UX revolution came to me as a surprise.</p><h4>Time for UX Design</h4><p>“Design and marketing aren’t just as important as engineering: they are way more important” <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2010-02-01/the-value-of-design-to-startupsbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice">says Dave McClure</a>, founder of <a href="http://500.co/">500 Startups</a> – one of the most important startup accelerators in the world. In recent years his words have been proven by well designed, successful products, co-founded by designers e.g. YouTube, Airbnb, Flipboard, Square, Pinterest, Etsy, Path, AboutMe and Slideshare.</p><p>User experience design just stopped to be a niche and became a standard. It’s easier now to find an internet company without the SEO guy (after <a href="http://www.seroundtable.com/google-panda-20-15789.html">Panda</a>… I wonder why) than without a UX designer on board. According to LinkedIn there are more than 900,000 people somehow connected to UX design and almost 17,000 open job positions as of October, 2012.</p><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/darkside_02.jpg" /><small>Full Infographic available here: <a href="http://blog.uxpin.com/1176/the-age-of-user-experience-design/">The Age of User Experience Design</a></small></p><p>Seems like everyone wants to have at least one UX Designer in their team and luckily a lot of people want to become UX Designers.</p><p>And you know what? I’m not surprised that people want to be UX Designers. It’s a lot of fun! We make life a little bit easier for millions of people. Isn’t that satisfying?</p><p>UX is meaningful, no questions here, but I’m afraid it’s not only joy, relax, cute animals and rainbows. There’s a dark side of UX – every day work focused on constant optimization.</p><h4>The Dark Side of UX</h4><p>Let me tell you couple of words about my pre-startup, full time UX Manager job: My user experience design team was constantly occupied with lots of tiny tasks focused on the optimization of the User Interface. Believe me it was not something you could brag about during a family dinner (hardly noticeable things aren’t particularly admired). We were performance-obsessed. We measured thoroughly what and how our users do and we tried to make every small fragment of the UI optimized.</p><p>It required a lot of scientific-like approach – very methodological and precise. And yes! There’s more math and analytical thinking than visually appealing stuff. That’s the reality. The Dark Side. That’s the real User Experience Design.</p><p>User Experience Design lies at the crossroads of art and science. It’s a magical mixture of visual art, hard-boiled psychology and numbers. Non of these nobel ingredients can be omitted, as it may put your whole design endeavor at risk.</p><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/darkside_03.jpg" /><small>UX Design is a Magical Mixture. Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mgdtgd/">Everyone’s Idle</a></small></p><p>I’m afraid UX is a much harder work than it looks on the outside and you must be ready for that, no matter if you want to become UX Designer, you run your own company and care for UX, you work with UX Designers, or you’re just generally interested in the field.</p><p>Dozens of tests checking the influence of every tiny fragment of the design – this is the road you will take if you want to sky-rocket your conversion and reach the ultimate goal: design of well-performing product.</p><p>There are no shortcuts. I spent four years constantly fighting for the conversion rate of one web service and right now we’re spending every living moment at optimizing <a href="http://uxpin.com/">UXPin</a> for our UX users. It might not sound like fun, but it works so well.</p><p>Step into the Dark Side of UX and create products that really work.</p><h4>Conversion Rate?</h4><p>Oh yes, some of you may wonder what a conversion is and what a conversion rate is. Though these terms have made an amazing career in recent years, I that it’s really easy to grasp their meanings. Let see…</p><p>Conversion – is an act in which users change a casual visit to a website/mobile app, etc. into the achievement of a desired action (business goal).</p><p>Filling in a form might be considered a conversion, so could buying a product, sharing a message with friends, etc. It depends on our business goals.</p><p>Conversion Rate – is the ratio of users who change their casual visit into a desired action (business goal).</p><p>Therefore, optimizing conversion means taking certain actions with a plan to increase the conversion rate. Users are part of the conversion rate equation so you really need to get to know them. How can you do that? Test, test, test, test – by testing your designs you’re gathering knowledge which will help you make the right design decisions.</p><p>In reality you’ll be forced to get to know the tiniest emanations of your users’ behavior. Only hundreds of tests, psychological tricks and hard work on the interface architecture ma lead you to double digit growths in the conversion rate. I’ve been there and I’ve tried to make it easier, only to learn that there’s no “easier”.</p><p>All my experience taught me that conversion optimization is not a weekend-long job – it’s a way of developing your service.</p><p>That’s the tiresome reality. The true Dark Side.</p><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/darkside_01.jpg" /><small>Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/isherwoodchris/">CJ Isherwood</a></small></p><h4>Summing Up The Dark Side</h4><p>So in my salvational monologue about the Dark Side, I’ve tried to express that you need to test, test, test and… test, even if it doesn’t sound very sexy.</p><p>Most probably it’s in your power to double your current conversion rate, but, as Spiderman once said, with great power comes great responsibility. Your responsibility is to test your design conceptions and choose the best one.</p> <br /><p><a href="http://rss.buysellads.com/click.php?z=1259961&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=30596&c=975330550" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://rss.buysellads.com/img.php?z=1259961&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=30596&c=975330550" /></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=J_HQtSyMZGY:jer2MAMuPe0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=J_HQtSyMZGY:jer2MAMuPe0:-BTjWOF_DHI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=J_HQtSyMZGY:jer2MAMuPe0:-BTjWOF_DHI" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=J_HQtSyMZGY:jer2MAMuPe0:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=J_HQtSyMZGY:jer2MAMuPe0:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=J_HQtSyMZGY:jer2MAMuPe0:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=J_HQtSyMZGY:jer2MAMuPe0:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=J_HQtSyMZGY:jer2MAMuPe0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=J_HQtSyMZGY:jer2MAMuPe0:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=J_HQtSyMZGY:jer2MAMuPe0:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/speckboy-design-magazine/~4/J_HQtSyMZGY" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

WordPress 3.5 Released: What All Does it Offer?

<p><a href="http://rss.buysellads.com/click.php?z=1259958&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=30617&c=1395323715" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://rss.buysellads.com/img.php?z=1259958&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=30617&c=1395323715" /></a></p><br /><p>This week, WordPress 3.5 “Elvin” was <a href="http://wordpress.org/news/2012/12/elvin/" target="_blank">released</a>. This new version comes with certain tweaks and improvements, primarily focusing on user interface and experience.</p><p><span id="more-30617"></span></p><p>The most noteworthy change introduced in this new release of WordPress is that of the Media Manager and Image Uploader. Unlike the previous one, the new Media Manager shows you thumbnail previews of all your uploaded images. Obviously, this new Manager interface has been designed with the heavy-usage photo uploaders in mind: you can easily drag and drop images to sort and organize them in your galleries.</p><p><img alt="New WordPress Media Manager" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wp35_01.jpg" /></p><p>Beyond that, WordPress 3.5 also comes packaged with the responsive <a href="http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/twentytwelve" target="_blank">Twenty Twelve</a> (which was released earlier this month) as its default theme. Plus, WP 3.5 is now retina-ready, and with HiDPI display support, it sure looks all prepared to sizzle and shine on your iPhone and iPad screens.</p><p><img alt="Retina Ready WordPress" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wp35_02.jpg" /></p><p>The Links section, also often termed as Blogroll, has now been eliminated. If you need that feature, you can opt for the <a href="http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/link-manager/" target="_blank">Links Manager</a> plugin. Furthermore, the color picker has been given a facelift, the privacy settings have been moved to the Settings–>Reading page, and before I forget, you now have the ability to mark selected plugins as ‘Favorites’, and then access them directly from the admin panel.</p><p>JavaScript libraries such as <a href="http://backbonejs.org/" target="_blank">Backbone</a> and <a href="http://underscorejs.org/" target="_blank">Underscore</a> are now included in WP 3.5. Also, TinyMCE and other components have been updated, the multisite support has been retouched, enhanced support for meta queries has been added, and WordPress API is now enabled by default.</p><p>Still need more? Check out this vid from WordPress:</p><p></p><p>What do you think of the new WP update?</p> <br /><p><a href="http://rss.buysellads.com/click.php?z=1259961&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=30617&c=1584413800" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://rss.buysellads.com/img.php?z=1259961&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=30617&c=1584413800" /></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=rYx0MPeYwU0:UCHEXj31ow4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=rYx0MPeYwU0:UCHEXj31ow4:-BTjWOF_DHI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=rYx0MPeYwU0:UCHEXj31ow4:-BTjWOF_DHI" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=rYx0MPeYwU0:UCHEXj31ow4:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=rYx0MPeYwU0:UCHEXj31ow4:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=rYx0MPeYwU0:UCHEXj31ow4:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=rYx0MPeYwU0:UCHEXj31ow4:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=rYx0MPeYwU0:UCHEXj31ow4:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=rYx0MPeYwU0:UCHEXj31ow4:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=rYx0MPeYwU0:UCHEXj31ow4:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/speckboy-design-magazine/~4/rYx0MPeYwU0" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

My Essential Design Resources

<p><a href="http://rss.buysellads.com/click.php?z=1259958&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=29872&c=1831886478" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://rss.buysellads.com/img.php?z=1259958&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=29872&c=1831886478" /></a></p><br /><p>Great tools make a huge difference in how quickly you can complete a task. I’d like to share a few tools I use when designing web applications to help me work faster and more efficiently. This isn’t a massive list of every design resource I could find on the web. Instead, I included just the ones that I and a few of my friends use to create great designs.</p><div class="greybox">Nathan Barry is the author of <a href="http://nathanbarry.com/app-design-handbook" target="_blank">Designing Web Applications</a>, a complete guide to designing beautiful, easy-to-use web software. He also writes about design and business at <a href="http://nathanbarry.com/" target="_blank">NathanBarry.com</a>.</div><h2>Patterns & Textures</h2><p><img alt="Subtle Patterns" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/1-Subtle-Patterns.jpg" width="640" /></p><p>When it comes to patterns and textures, there are two sites that have all my needs covered. <a href="http://subtlepatterns.com" target="_blank">Subtle Patterns</a> is my favorite, but I’ve also picked up a lot of great resources from <a href="http://tileabl.es" target="_blank">Tileables</a>. When using their resources remember that you can modify them in Photoshop to create a look that better matches your design. Besides, who wants to use the defaults?</p><p><img alt="Tileables" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/2-Tileables.jpg" width="640" /></p><h2>Icons</h2><p>I have three go-to sources for icons: The Noun Project, Glyphish, and Fugue. Each fills a slightly different need in my design portfolio.</p><p><a href="http://thenounproject.com" target="_blank"><strong>The Noun Project</strong></a><br /> Often it can be hard to decide what visual metaphor best represents a word. This could be for logos, icons, or just the overall style for your design. So I like to plug a few words into The Noun Project to see the metaphors they used. Sometimes one of their icons fits perfectly.</p><p><img alt="The Noun Project" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/3-noun-project.jpg" width="640" /></p><p><a href="http://www.glyphish.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Glyphish</strong></a><br /> Glyphish is an icon set originally created for tab bars in iOS applications, but I love using them all throughout my designs. The simple style works well on solid colors, doesn’t draw too much attention, and can easily be styled with a highlight (for the selected navigation item). The free set includes 200 great icons, but for $25 you can get the Pro set (which I use) that includes 400 icons at multiple sizes.</p><p><img alt="Glyphish" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/4-glyphish.jpg" width="640" /></p><p><a href="http://p.yusukekamiyamane.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Fugue</strong></a><br /> Fugue is a massive set of small, 16 pixel square, color icons. These days I prefer to use flat, monochromatic icons, but when a project calls for small icons with detail, Fugue is my set of choice.</p><p><img alt="Fugue" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/5-Fugue.jpg" width="640" /></p><h2>Inspiration</h2><p>There are tons of sites available for finding inspiration, but only two that I keep coming back to: Dribbble and PatternTap.</p><p><a href="http://patterntap.com" target="_blank"><strong>PatternTap</strong></a><br /> When designing web applications, I often want to know how other applications tackled a really specific problems. Rather than looking for a specific style, I want to see how they solved the user-experience problems. This is where PatternTap really shines. Want to see popovers in use throughout designs? There is a tag for that.</p><p><img alt="PatternTap" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/6-pattern-tap.jpg" width="640" /></p><p><a href="http://dribbble.com" target="_blank"><strong>Dribbble</strong></a><br /> Dribbble is where I turn when I want style inspiration. The screenshots are too small and focused to get an idea for the user experience, but the designers produce some great stylistic work. I’ve followed my favorite designers, so there is always something good in my feed.</p><p><img alt="Dribbble" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/7-Dribbble.jpg" width="640" /></p><h2>Design Elements</h2><p><a href="http://premiumpixels.com" target="_blank"><strong>Premium Pixels</strong></a><br /> For little design elements, Premium Pixels is the best place to go. These are small PSDs that are always wonderfully polished. I’ve used their browser chrome, maps, and several more. It is well worth your time to browse the site.</p><p><img alt="Premium Pixels" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/8-premium-pixels.jpg" width="640" /></p><p><a href="http://designmodo.com/the-bricks-addons/" target="_blank"><strong>The Bricks</strong></a><br /> The Bricks is a massive template of design elements that look really nice. While I don’t use them myself, several friends do and they absolutely love it! It’s a paid set, but looks to be well worth the money.</p><p><img alt="The Bricks" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/9-bricks.jpg" width="640" /></p><h2>Mockups</h2><p><a href="http://invision.com" target="_blank"><strong>InVision</strong></a><br /> I sketch all my mockups on paper first, then design in Photoshop. When sharing with a team I like to use InVision to turn my flat design images into a interactive web application. You can define clickable areas and share with the rest of the team for feedback. Comment threads can be started on any design element, so it keeps any discussions focused and in context. You can use it for one project for free; multiple projects start at $15 a month.</p><p><img alt="InVision" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/10-Invision.jpg" width="640" /></p><p><a href="http://www.zurb.com/playground/responsive-sketchsheets" target="_blank"><strong>Responsive Sketchsheets</strong></a><br /> Zurb’s Responsive Sketchsheets are great for designing how your application will look at different device sizes. Print them out for free and start sketching!</p><p><img alt="Responsive Sketchsheets" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/11-sketchsheets.jpg" width="640" /></p><p><a href="https://gomockingbird.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Mockingbird</strong></a><br /> If you like to use software to create your mockups, then you should check out Mockingbird. One friend just loves using them. Mockingbird is browser based, so your mockups are available anywhere and easy to share. They also have a “one project free” plan. Paid plans start at $9 a month.</p><p><img alt="Mockingbird" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/12-Mockingbird.jpg" width="640" /></p><h2>Code</h2><p><a href="http://twitter.github.com/bootstrap" target="_blank"><strong>Bootstrap</strong></a><br /> The fastest way to have clean buttons, forms, and menus in your web application is to use Bootstrap. Created by two former Twitter designers, Bootstrap is an HTML and CSS library for quickly styling your application. Even if you don’t use the entire thing, some of their JavaScript code for popovers and modals are really helpful.</p><p><img alt="Bootstrap" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/13-bootstrap.jpg" width="640" /></p><p><a href="https://wrapbootstrap.com/" target="_blank"><strong>{wrap} bootstrap</strong></a><br /> The only downside to Bootstrap is that if everyone uses it, all the sites will start to look the same. So you need to customize Bootstrap to get the most value out of it. {wrap} bootstrap sells themes for Bootstrap so you can get a more unique style, while still using all of Bootstrap’s great features. The themes are around $20 each. You can also get free themes from <a href="http://bootswatch.com/" target="_blank">Bootswatch</a>.</p><p><img alt="{wrap} bootstrap" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/14-wrap-bootstrap.jpg" width="640" /></p><p><a href="http://css-tricks.com/sass-vs-less/" target="_blank"><strong>LESS & SASS</strong></a><br /> I’m sure I’m not the first person to tell you this, but LESS and SASS are amazing. For those who don’t know, LESS and SASS are CSS preprocessors that add a bunch of extra features. If you’ve ever wished you could seamlessly reuse bits of code or define variables in your CSS, then you want to check out these preprocessors. If you are trying to decide which one to use, check out Chris Coyier’s article on the subject.</p><p><img alt="LESS & SASS" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/15-LESS.jpg" width="640" /></p><p><a href="http://www.zurb.com/playground/jquery-joyride-feature-tour-plugin" target="_blank">jQuery Joyride</a><br /> When a user first signs up for your application, you should give them a brief introduction to the interface. Instead of a series of screenshots or a wizard process, you want to point out features directly in the interface. The jQuery Joyride plugin from Zurb makes this really easy.</p><p><img alt="jQuery Joyride" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/16-joyride.jpg" width="640" /></p><h2>Start Using Them</h2><p>That concludes the list of my favorites. Go download the free ones and definitely consider any of the paid options as well. The resources listed above are key to my workflow and to the design process for many other designers as well.</p> <br /><p><a href="http://rss.buysellads.com/click.php?z=1259961&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=29872&c=907943154" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://rss.buysellads.com/img.php?z=1259961&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=29872&c=907943154" /></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=wMQ2s_q2KT4:dnMeVTcjjLA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=wMQ2s_q2KT4:dnMeVTcjjLA:-BTjWOF_DHI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=wMQ2s_q2KT4:dnMeVTcjjLA:-BTjWOF_DHI" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=wMQ2s_q2KT4:dnMeVTcjjLA:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=wMQ2s_q2KT4:dnMeVTcjjLA:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=wMQ2s_q2KT4:dnMeVTcjjLA:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=wMQ2s_q2KT4:dnMeVTcjjLA:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=wMQ2s_q2KT4:dnMeVTcjjLA:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=wMQ2s_q2KT4:dnMeVTcjjLA:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=wMQ2s_q2KT4:dnMeVTcjjLA:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/speckboy-design-magazine/~4/wMQ2s_q2KT4" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Photoshop and Illustrator Christmas Tutorials

<p><a href="http://rss.buysellads.com/click.php?z=1259958&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=30564&c=1616089724" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://rss.buysellads.com/img.php?z=1259958&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=30564&c=1616089724" /></a></p><br /><p>Have you ever wanted to design Christmas trees, bells, candles and other things things? How about drawing a cute Reindeer, a Christmas stocking choc-full of presents, or even a zombie Santa Claus?</p><p>Well, today, we have put together a collection of Photoshop & Illustrator tutorials — all related to Christmas festivity. So put your learning hat on, and explore some new creative ideas this festive season!</p><p><span id="more-30564"></span></p><div class="split-post-left"><h4><a href="http://abduzeedo.com/merry-christmas-illustrator-tutorial" target="_blank">Merry Christmas Zombie Poster</a><br />(Illustrator Tutorial)</h4><p><a href="http://abduzeedo.com/merry-christmas-illustrator-tutorial" target="_blank"><img alt="Merry Christmas Zombie Poster - Illustrator Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_01.jpg" width="295" /></a></p><p>In this not so festive Christmas tutorial you will learn how to create the above Zombie Santa Claus using some simple Illustrator tips.</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://abduzeedo.com/merry-christmas-illustrator-tutorial" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p><h4><a href="http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/3d/festive-cocktail-photoshops-3d/" target="_blank">Create a Festive Cocktail</a><br />(Photoshop Tutorial)</h4><p><a href="http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/3d/festive-cocktail-photoshops-3d/" target="_blank"><img alt="Create a Festive Cocktail - Photoshop Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_02.jpg" width="295" /></a></p><p>With this tutorial, you will be shown how to create this festive and delicious looking cocktail using Photoshop’s 3D capabilities.</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/3d/festive-cocktail-photoshops-3d/" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p><h4><a href="http://tuts.3d2dizayn.com/index.php/2011/12/painting-a-santa-christmas-greeting-card-with-adobe-photoshop/" target="_blank">Painting a Santa Greeting Card</a><br />(Photoshop Tutorial)</h4><p><a href="http://tuts.3d2dizayn.com/index.php/2011/12/painting-a-santa-christmas-greeting-card-with-adobe-photoshop/" target="_blank"><img alt="Painting a Santa Greeting Card - Photoshop Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_03.jpg" width="295" /></a></p><p>This tutorial will take you through the step-by-step process of how the digital painting above was created, learning advanced painting techniques such as working with custom brushes and color arrangement.</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://tuts.3d2dizayn.com/index.php/2011/12/painting-a-santa-christmas-greeting-card-with-adobe-photoshop/" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p><h4><a href="http://www.yvelledesigneye.com/2011/12/22/creating-a-christmas-tree-in-illustrator/" target="_blank">Creating an Earthy Christmas Tree</a><br />(Illustrator Tutorial)</h4><p><a href="http://www.yvelledesigneye.com/2011/12/22/creating-a-christmas-tree-in-illustrator/" target="_blank"><img alt="Creating an Earthy Christmas Tree - Illustrator Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_04.jpg" width="295" /></a></p><p>Using Illustrator CS5, this tutorial will show you how to create the above Christmas tree giving it a lovely earthy/grainy feel.</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.yvelledesigneye.com/2011/12/22/creating-a-christmas-tree-in-illustrator/" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p><h4><a href="http://alfoart.com/christmas_night_card.html" target="_blank">Magic Christmas Scene with Flying Santa</a><br />(Photoshop Tutorial)</h4><p><a href="http://alfoart.com/christmas_night_card.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Magic Christmas Scene with Flying Santa - Photoshop Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_05.jpg" width="295" /></a></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://alfoart.com/christmas_night_card.html" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p><h4><a href="http://blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/tutorials/create-a-cute-vector-reindeer-character-in-illustrator" target="_blank">Create a Cute Vector Reindeer Character</a><br />(Illustrator Tutorial)</h4><p><a href="http://blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/tutorials/create-a-cute-vector-reindeer-character-in-illustrator" target="_blank"><img alt="Create a Cute Vector Reindeer Character - Illustrator Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_06.jpg" width="295" /></a></p><p>In this tutorial you will learn how to design the cute little vector reindeer you can see above. You'll begin by creating the basic structure of the reindeer with basic shapes, then build up the details with gradients and effects.</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/tutorials/create-a-cute-vector-reindeer-character-in-illustrator" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p><h4><a href="http://abduzeedo.com/beautiful-fluffy-clouds-photoshop-christmas-tutorial" target="_blank">Create Beautiful Fluffy Christmas Clouds</a><br />(Photoshop Tutorial)</h4><p><a href="http://abduzeedo.com/beautiful-fluffy-clouds-photoshop-christmas-tutorial" target="_blank"><img alt="Create Beautiful Fluffy Christmas Clouds - Photoshop Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_07.jpg" width="295" /></a></p><p>In this Photoshop tutorial you will be shown how to create dramatic fluffy clouds with the added bonus of Father Christmas flying through them on his sleigh.</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://abduzeedo.com/beautiful-fluffy-clouds-photoshop-christmas-tutorial" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p><h4><a href="https://tutsplus.com/tutorial/gingerbread-cookies/" target="_blank">Create a Gingerbread Cookie Scene</a><br />(Photoshop Tutorial)</h4><p><a href="https://tutsplus.com/tutorial/gingerbread-cookies/" target="_blank"><img alt="Create a Gingerbread Cookie Scene - Photoshop Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_08.jpg" width="295" /></a></p><p>In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to build a seasonal gingerbread cookie using copies of a single Smart Object. This technique will allow you to quickly update the shape of the cookie with very little effort so that you can make multiple cookies for the overall scene.</p><p><a class="button-med" href="https://tutsplus.com/tutorial/gingerbread-cookies/" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p><h4><a href="http://alfoart.com/christmas_card_1.html" target="_blank">Unusual Christmas Card Tutorial</a><br />(Photoshop Tutorial)</h4><p><a href="http://alfoart.com/christmas_card_1.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Unusual Christmas Card Tutorial - Photoshop Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_09.jpg" width="295" /></a></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://alfoart.com/christmas_card_1.html" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p><h4><a href="http://www.noupe.com/tutorial/adobe-illustrator-tutorial-create-a-christmas-greeting-card.html" target="_blank">Create a Christmas Greeting Card</a><br />(Illustrator Tutorial)</h4><p><a href="http://www.noupe.com/tutorial/adobe-illustrator-tutorial-create-a-christmas-greeting-card.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Create a Christmas Greeting Card - Illustrator Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_10.jpg" width="295" /></a></p><p>This Illustrator tutorial takes you through the steps of creating a nice Christmas greeting card with colorful presents to stuff the Christmas stocking.</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.noupe.com/tutorial/adobe-illustrator-tutorial-create-a-christmas-greeting-card.html" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p></div><div class="split-post-right"><h4><a href="http://www.adobetutorialz.com/articles/2530/1/Pretty-Girl-in-Christmas-Suit" target="_blank">Pretty Girl in Christmas Suit Tutorial</a><br />(Photoshop Tutorial)</h4><p><a href="http://www.adobetutorialz.com/articles/2530/1/Pretty-Girl-in-Christmas-Suit" target="_blank"><img alt="Pretty Girl in Christmas Suit Tutorial - Photoshop Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_11.jpg" width="295" /></a></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.adobetutorialz.com/articles/2530/1/Pretty-Girl-in-Christmas-Suit" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p><h4><a href="http://www.pxleyes.com/tutorial/photoshop/2653/Create-a-Christmas-Holiday-Portrait.html" target="_blank">Create a Christmas Holiday Portrait</a><br />(Photoshop Tutorial)</h4><p><a href="http://www.pxleyes.com/tutorial/photoshop/2653/Create-a-Christmas-Holiday-Portrait.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Create a Christmas Holiday Portrait - Photoshop Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_12.jpg" width="295" /></a></p><p>Using only one brush and the Smudge, Line, Burn & Dodge tools, in this tutorial you will learn how to replicate the Christmas themed portrait that you can see above.</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.pxleyes.com/tutorial/photoshop/2653/Create-a-Christmas-Holiday-Portrait.html" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p><h4><a href="http://www.vectorious.net/blog/how-to-draw-a-cute-santa-in-illustrator/" target="_blank">How to Draw a Cute Santa</a><br />(Illustrator Tutorial)</h4><p><a href="http://www.vectorious.net/blog/how-to-draw-a-cute-santa-in-illustrator/" target="_blank"><img alt="How to Draw a Cute Santa - Illustrator Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_13.jpg" width="295" /></a></p><p>You will learn how to create the above vector illustration of Santa Claus in this tutorial, using gradients, shading and lighting.</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.vectorious.net/blog/how-to-draw-a-cute-santa-in-illustrator/" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p><h4><a href="http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/designing-tutorials/how-to-create-a-glittery-christmas-card/" target="_blank">Create a Last-Minute Holiday e-Card</a><br />(Photoshop Tutorial)</h4><p><a href="http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/designing-tutorials/how-to-create-a-glittery-christmas-card/" target="_blank"><img alt="Create a Last-Minute Holiday e-Card - Photoshop Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_14.jpg" width="295" /></a></p><p>This Photoshop tutorial shows you a very easy way to create a beautiful Christmas wallpaper or even an e-card to send to your friends or clients.</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/designing-tutorials/how-to-create-a-glittery-christmas-card/" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p><h4><a href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/tutorials/beautiful-christmas-vision-tutorial-and-wallpaper/" target="_blank">Beautiful Christmas Vision Tutorial</a><br />(Photoshop Tutorial)</h4><p><a href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/tutorials/beautiful-christmas-vision-tutorial-and-wallpaper/" target="_blank"><img alt="Beautiful Christmas Vision Tutorial - Photoshop Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_a.jpg" width="295" /></a></p><p>This Photoshop tutorial will show you how to create this beautiful Christmas wallpaper, teaching pen tool and smudge tool techniques and about using paths effectivley.</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/tutorials/beautiful-christmas-vision-tutorial-and-wallpaper/" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p><h4><a href="http://www.psd-dude.com/tutorials/photoshop.aspx?t=christmas-photoshop-tutorial" target="_blank">Christmas Scene Tutorial</a><br />(Photoshop Tutorial)</h4><p><a href="http://www.psd-dude.com/tutorials/photoshop.aspx?t=christmas-photoshop-tutorial" target="_blank"><img alt="Christmas Scene Tutorial - Photoshop Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_15.jpg" width="295" /></a></p><p>In this tutorial you will learn how to turn a daytime summer photo into an seosonal night time scene and creating a Christmas card with Santa visiting kids' houses and leaving gifts.</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.psd-dude.com/tutorials/photoshop.aspx?t=christmas-photoshop-tutorial" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p><h4><a href="http://alfoart.com/christmas_fairy_wallpaper_1.html" target="_blank">Create a Magical Christmas Calendar</a><br />(Photoshop Tutorial)</h4><p><a href="http://alfoart.com/christmas_fairy_wallpaper_1.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Create a Magical Christmas Calendar - Photoshop Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_16.jpg" width="295" /></a></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://alfoart.com/christmas_fairy_wallpaper_1.html" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p><h4><a href="http://abduzeedo.com/node/17631" target="_blank">Christmas Wallpaper</a><br />(Photoshop Tutorial)</h4><p><a href="http://abduzeedo.com/node/17631" target="_blank"><img alt="Christmas Wallpaper - Photoshop Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_17.jpg" width="295" /></a></p><p>In this tutorial you will be shown how to create a tasty candy-cane styled 3D text in Cinema 4D, then importing it into Photoshop to create the background.</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://abduzeedo.com/node/17631" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p><h4><a href="http://www.adobetutorialz.com/articles/2910/1/The-Santa-Claus-Wallpaper" target="_blank">Santa Claus Wallpaper Tutorial</a><br />(Photoshop Tutorial)</h4><p><a href="http://www.adobetutorialz.com/articles/2910/1/The-Santa-Claus-Wallpaper" target="_blank"><img alt="Santa Claus Wallpaper Tutorial - Photoshop Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_18.jpg" width="295" /></a></p><p>In this tutorial you will learn how to design a Christmas desktop wallpaper with a very cheerful and bright Santa Claus at its center.</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.adobetutorialz.com/articles/2910/1/The-Santa-Claus-Wallpaper" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p><h4><a href="http://design.creativefan.com/create-a-festive-ornamental-christmas-text-effect/" target="_blank">Festive Ornamental Christmas Text Effect</a><br />(Photoshop Tutorial)</h4><p><a href="http://design.creativefan.com/create-a-festive-ornamental-christmas-text-effect/" target="_blank"><img alt="Festive Ornamental Christmas Text Effect - Photoshop Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_19.jpg" width="295" /></a></p><p>In this tutorial you’ll learn how to create 3D Studio Max 3D text, and then how to import the ornamental text effect into Photoshop.</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://design.creativefan.com/create-a-festive-ornamental-christmas-text-effect/" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p></div><h2><a href="http://www.adobetutorialz.com/articles/30971014/1/how-to-create-happy-new-year-2013-holiday-card-photoshop-cs6" target="_blank">Create a 2013 Happy New Year Card</a> (Photoshop Tutorial)</h2><p><a href="http://www.adobetutorialz.com/articles/30971014/1/how-to-create-happy-new-year-2013-holiday-card-photoshop-cs6" target="_blank"><img alt="Create a 2013 Happy New Year Card - Photoshop Tutorial" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ps_ill_xmas_20.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>In this Photoshop CS6 tutorial you will learn how to create this cheerful and colorful 2013 New Year holiday card.</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.adobetutorialz.com/articles/30971014/1/how-to-create-happy-new-year-2013-holiday-card-photoshop-cs6" target="_blank">View the Tutorial →</a></p> <br /><p><a href="http://rss.buysellads.com/click.php?z=1259961&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=30564&c=1228335356" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://rss.buysellads.com/img.php?z=1259961&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=30564&c=1228335356" /></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=eedzsBwntpU:ZPk0S1gqEEs:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=eedzsBwntpU:ZPk0S1gqEEs:-BTjWOF_DHI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=eedzsBwntpU:ZPk0S1gqEEs:-BTjWOF_DHI" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=eedzsBwntpU:ZPk0S1gqEEs:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=eedzsBwntpU:ZPk0S1gqEEs:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=eedzsBwntpU:ZPk0S1gqEEs:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=eedzsBwntpU:ZPk0S1gqEEs:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=eedzsBwntpU:ZPk0S1gqEEs:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=eedzsBwntpU:ZPk0S1gqEEs:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=eedzsBwntpU:ZPk0S1gqEEs:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/speckboy-design-magazine/~4/eedzsBwntpU" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

The Flat Design Aesthetic: A Discussion

<p><a href="http://rss.buysellads.com/click.php?z=1259958&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=30483&c=953742402" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://rss.buysellads.com/img.php?z=1259958&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=30483&c=953742402" /></a></p><br /><p>A growing trend in web and UI design lately has been the use of “flat design” and it’s clearly a hot topic at the moment – full of lively discussion and plenty to learn about. I’ve always been drawn to minimalism, so flat design is an aesthetic that has inspired me, especially while working on the recent redesign of <a href="http://quoterobot.com/28c34a" target="_blank">QuoteRobot</a>, the proposal writing app I co-founded back in 2010.</p><p>In this article I’m going to talk about what flat design is, review what other designers are saying about it, and offer some tips on how to achieve it in your own designs.</p><h3>What Is Flat Design?</h3><p>In practical terms, flat design means designing without the usual gradients, pixel perfect shadows, and skeuomorphism that’s been rampant in recent years (more on this later) to achieve what appears to be a “flat” interface.</p><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/layervault.png" /></p><p>Allen Grinshtein of <a href="http://layervault.com/" target="_blank">Layervault</a> may have coined the term “<strong>flat design</strong>” originally. In an article that trended on HackerNews, he said…</p><p>“<em>Well-loved products on the web share a similar design aesthetic, with roughly the same kinds of bevels, inset shadows, and drop shadows. For designers, achieving this level of “lickable” interface is a point of pride. For us, and for a minority of UI designers out there, it feels wrong.</em>“<br /> <small>~ Allan Grinshtein (Layervault)</small></p><p>If you take a look at Layervault, it’s beautifully designed in it’s simplicity, even without the use of extra design details that we as designers often work so hard to achieve. It’s interesting to learn and look at the gradients and styles we apply as a current trend in UI design, one that is potentially changing.</p><h3>Examples Of Flat Design</h3><p>With the new version of <a href="http://www.squarespace.com/" target="_blank">Squarespace</a>, they’ve opted for an almost completely flat interface. You can really tell the time they spent wireframing and working out the UI, it’s quite complex but still easy to navigate.</p><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/squarespace.png" /></p><p>Although I haven’t used LayerVault myself, from what I’ve seen, the new flat UI looks really simple and easy to use.</p><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/layervault.png" /></p><p>Facebook has almost always embraced a flat design aesthetic – only lately introducing some slight bevels.</p><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/facebook.png" /></p><p>“<em>Facebook is the perfect example of interface trending towards flatness. Their major actions buttons still have a slight bevel, but lots and lots of the secondary actions are completely flat. And judging by the fact that they haven’t changed their interface style, it must be working.</em>“<br /> <small>~ <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=ianstormtaylor" target="_blank">Ian Storm Taylor</a> (Segment.io)</small></p><p>Even though they’ve been criticised over the years for making many changes to the interface, it’s one of the most used web sites on the internet, and hey, millions of people can’t be wrong.</p><p>The latest Rdio interface is so flat and minimalist, it’s almost completely without shadows, gradients, or even colors.</p><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/rdio.png" /></p><p>I had the pleasure of making a very small contribution to Nest’s front-end code prior to their launching, and I was completely enamored with the flat aesthetic they rolled out.<br /> The designers who embrace flat design are really passionate about it.</p><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/nest.png" /></p><p>“…as interactive designers—we should embrace the medium with which we work, and steadily reject the skeumorphic, dropshadow-y hellhole we’ve found ourselves in.”<br /> <small>~ Daniel Howell (Howells)</small></p><h3>A Backlash Against Skeumorphism</h3><p>Like the minimalist movement in architecture in the 20th century was a backlash against the over ornamentation of architecture in previous centuries, the flat design aesthetic may be a backlash against the over designed, or overly ornamented web sites and interfaces that have been produced for years now. A common example is the overuse of skeuomorphism that people have been criticising Apple over lately.</p><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/apple.png" /><small>Apple received a lot of criticism from designers for the unnecessary use of leather texture on their calendar app.</small></p><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeuomorph" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> defines skeuomorphism as:</p><p><em>A design element of a product that imitates design elements that were functionally necessary in the original product design, but which have become ornamental in the new design.</em></p><p>For example, we often apply gradients and drop shadows to elements that are meant to be buttons, because buttons in the real world have these features, even though they are unnecessary in the setting of a computer user interface.</p><p>“<em>So a weather app with a picture of a glass thermometer is skeuomorphic: the glass was necessary in the original (the real-world thermometer) but becomes purely ornamental in the new design.</em>“<br /> <small>~ <a href="http://sachagreif.com/" target="_blank">Sacha Greif</a></small></p><p>Was it really necessary to put a leather texture on the calendar app? In the same vein, is it really necessary to make our buttons with gradients and 3d edges, or do users know to click them anyway? How much ornamentation is necessary? Is any?</p><p>“<em>In real life, when a button is pushed, you can feel its give and its bounce, but on a phone or on the screen, there is a lack of that physical feedback. A physicality that your mind knows exists but in skeuomorphic reality it doesn’t. So for me at least, it becomes one of those moments where reality doesn’t meet expectations and that disappoints me</em>.”<br /> <small>~ Allan Yu (svpply / eBay)</small></p><p>So, flat design could be a backlash against the overuse of ornamentation in interface design, in a similar way that minimalism was a backlash against the gaudy imperialist architecture of the past.</p><h3>Form Follows Function, Embracing Flatness</h3><p>That same 20th century minimalist movement in architecture yielded some great design quotes like “form follows function” and “less is more” that we still talk about today. Similarly, I love this quote from sculptor Michaelangelo when asked about how he created the iconic David statue.</p><p>“<em>It is easy. You just chip away the stone that doesn’t look like David.</em>“<br /> <small>~ Michaelangelo</small>)</p><p>In user interface design, it’s often stripping away things that really brings an interface to life. The team at <a href="http://37signals.com/" target="_blank">37signals</a> is notorious (and very successful) as a result of applying this principle to their products, like Basecamp. In the world of flat design, less really is more.</p><p>In order to achieve the flat design aesthetic, we designers must focus on what things do, rather than what they will look like. This is key, and the reason why wireframing is so important to the design process.</p><h3>Aesthetics Are A Matter Of Opinion</h3><p>In my research for this article, I hardly found any scientific research backing up whether buttons on screen that look like buttons are actually more clickable. There’s plenty of evidence backing up contrast, color theory, and heirarchy, but I’d be willing to bet that a flat orange button is just as effective as a beveled orange button when set in an appropriate context. Here are a few opinions of other designers.</p><p>“<em>It’s no different than runway fashion– everybody starts doing the same thing; when it’s everywhere, to stand out as a designer, you have to do the exact opposite.</em>“<br /> <small>~ <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=gem_ray" target="_blank">Cemre Güngör</a> (Branch)</small></p><p>“<em>Saying that “skeuomorphism is bad design” would be like saying that “purple is an ugly color” or “ellipses have no place in web apps”. It simply doesn’t mean anything</em>.”<br /> <small>~ Sacha Greif</small></p><p>“<em>Why promote a certain design aesthetic over something else without proof that what you are promoting is actually better? Is making something aesthetically more pleasing worth a potential drop in usability?</em>“<br /> <small>~ <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=tensafefrogs" target="_blank">Geoff Stearns</a> (formerly YouTube)</small></p><h3>Good Design Is Good Design, Regardless of Aesthetic</h3><p>So, if bevels, gradients and shadows are a matter of opinion, then what makes a good design? Whether you’re going to use a flat aesthetic or not, user interface is about the planning. I believe flat design simply makes it easier to recognize a great design, since there’s less clutter between the design and how it works.</p><p>Here are some tips for great user interface design:</p><p><strong>Consistency</strong><br /> By using common UI elements and styles, you help users know what to expect, therefore making it easier to use your application.</p><p><strong>Contrast</strong><br /> Clickable elements should contrast elements that aren’t clickable. This can be done with color, size, positioning, and yes, style too.</p><p><strong>Layout</strong><br /> Using a grid based layout like 960gs is a great way to establish some visual guidelines to your design. The eye will naturally follow lines and ratios established by content, so understanding and using a grid is a great way to reinforce visual balance.</p><p><strong>Hierarchy</strong><br /> I like to think about this as “user actions”. I could write an entire article about this, but making the most common user actions (sometimes referred to as use-cases) easily found while burying less common actions is a great way to simplify an interface and make it easier to use. As a general rule, what’s most important should be more visible than what’s less important.</p><p>“<em>My experience is that flat or “realistic” doesn’t matter. What matters is that hierarchy is evident at a quick scan and that users can find their way to the next actionable item easily</em>.”<br /> <small>~ <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=CarolineKeem" target="_blank">Caroline Keem</a> (writer)</p><p><strong>Target Audience</strong><br /> Some target audiences will gravitate toward different aesthetic styles. Architects, designers, and fashion conscience audiences might embrace flat design, while children, clowns, and some others might enjoy playful textures and colors.</p><p><strong>Feedback</strong><br /> When clicks occur, immediate and clear feedback is necessary. Animation is a common way to provide visual feedback, for example, spinning loader images after clicking something. Also related to feedback is the need for engaging and informative help and status messages at appropriate times.</p><p><strong>Remove Friction</strong><br /> In general, removing number of steps to let a user reach their goal creates a more fluid experience. Any interruptions or extra steps will decrease conversion rates.</p><p><strong>Encourage Exploration</strong><br /> Once a user gets past the most basic uses of your interface, it’s good to reward their exploration with expected results when they venture further.</p><p><strong>Wireframing</strong><br /> If you want to pull off an effective flat design, I can’t stress enough the importance to wireframing and planning. Figure out the common use cases, write them down, and rework your wireframes until everything makes sense. I like to do this on paper, but there are a number of great wireframing tools available as well.</p><p>“<em>Flat design certainly has it’s place in the world but it’s important to keep in mind that ultimately it’s just another aesthetic. Distressed, Glossy, Flat, Matte, Woodsy, etc, these are all just styles that lay on top of what is good information architecture and interaction design.</em>”<br /> <small>~ Mike Cuesta (carecloud)</small></p><h3>Please Share, Comment, and Tweet</h3><p>If you’ve enjoyed this article, been inspired by it, or disagree, I’d love for you to comment, share or tweet it. Let’s keep the discussion going. Also, if you have to write proposals, I’d love for you to check out QuoteRobot, where I’m the lead designer and cofounder.</p><p><strong>More on Flat Design:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="http://sachagreif.com/what-skeuomorphism-is-and-isnt/" target="_blank">What Skeuomorphism Is (And Isn’t)</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeuomorph" target="_blank">Skeuomorph on Wikipedia</a></li><li><a href="http://layervault.tumblr.com/post/32267022219/flat-interface-design" target="_blank">The Flat Design Era</a></li><li><a href="http://howells.ws/posts/view/160/on-the-flat-design-aesthetic" target="_blank">On the “flat design” aesthetic</a></li><li><a href="http://branch.com/b/is-flat-ui-design-better" target="_blank">Is “Flat” UI design better?</a></li><li><a href="http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4571551" target="_blank">The Flat Design Era – Discussion on Hacker News</a></li></ul> <br /><p><a href="http://rss.buysellads.com/click.php?z=1259961&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=30483&c=1011047994" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://rss.buysellads.com/img.php?z=1259961&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=30483&c=1011047994" /></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=kxIHROuarPg:ZI-MojrXMS0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=kxIHROuarPg:ZI-MojrXMS0:-BTjWOF_DHI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=kxIHROuarPg:ZI-MojrXMS0:-BTjWOF_DHI" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=kxIHROuarPg:ZI-MojrXMS0:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=kxIHROuarPg:ZI-MojrXMS0:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=kxIHROuarPg:ZI-MojrXMS0:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=kxIHROuarPg:ZI-MojrXMS0:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=kxIHROuarPg:ZI-MojrXMS0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=kxIHROuarPg:ZI-MojrXMS0:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=kxIHROuarPg:ZI-MojrXMS0:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/speckboy-design-magazine/~4/kxIHROuarPg" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Inspiring & Powerful Documentary Photography

UPDATED: 1 YEAR

20 New and Free Icon Sets for Web Designers

<p><a href="http://rss.buysellads.com/click.php?z=1259958&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=24473&c=1432346913" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://rss.buysellads.com/img.php?z=1259958&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=24473&c=1432346913" /></a></p><br /><p>As we do once or twice a year, today we are featuring some of the best recently released free web design icon-sets. Just like previous times we have found a fantastic selection for you, covering most aspects of web and mobile development. You will find some glyphs & pictograms sets, a couple of mini sets, mobile app icons and finally, a small selection of beautifully designed social media icons.</p><p>You will love them all!</p><div class="greybox">You may also like…<br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2011/12/12/top-50-web-development-design-and-application-icon-sets-from-2011/">Top 50 Web Development, Design and Application Icon Sets from 2011</a>, <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2010/12/06/top-50-web-development-design-and-application-icon-sets-from-2010/">from 2010</a> or <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2009/12/21/the-top-50-web-development-icon-sets-from-2009/">2009</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2011/08/24/50-social-media-bookmarking-icon-sets-2011-edition/">50 Social Media Bookmarking Icon Sets – 2011 Edition</a>, <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2010/04/14/50-social-bookmarking-icon-sets-for-bloggers-part-2/">2010 Edition</a> & <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2009/07/20/50-social-service-and-bookmarking-icon-sets-for-bloggers/">2009 Edition</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2010/07/04/25-completely-free-fonts-perfect-for-fontface/">25 Completely Free Fonts Perfect for @fontface →</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2012/02/13/20-fontface-icon-sets/">20 @fontface Icon Sets →</a></div><h2><a href="http://brankic1979.com/icons/" target="_blank">Pixel Perfect Icon Set</a></h2><p><a href="http://brankic1979.com/icons/" target="_blank"><img alt="Pixel Perfect Icon Set" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_01.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong><strong>Number of Icons:</strong></strong> 350<br /> <strong><strong>Format(s):</strong></strong> PSD</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://brankic1979.com/icons/" target="_blank">Pixel Perfect Icon Set →</a></p><h2><a href="http://www.jigsoaricons.com/" target="_blank">Jigsoar Icons</a></h2><p><a href="http://www.jigsoaricons.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Jigsoar Icons" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_02.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Number of Icons:</strong> 60<br /> <strong>Format(s):</strong> AI & PNG</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.jigsoaricons.com/" target="_blank">Jigsoar Icons →</a></p><h2><a href="http://karimartin.cz/#freshy" target="_blank">Freshy Icons</a></h2><p><a href="http://karimartin.cz/#freshy" target="_blank"><img alt="Freshy Icons" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_03.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Number of Icons:</strong> 99<br /> <strong>Format(s):</strong> PSD</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://karimartin.cz/#freshy" target="_blank">Freshy Icons →</a></p><h2><a href="http://jospinoj.deviantart.com/art/minicons-292943928" target="_blank">Minicons</a></h2><p><a href="http://jospinoj.deviantart.com/art/minicons-292943928" target="_blank"><img alt="Minicons" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_04.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Number of Icons:</strong> 100<br /> <strong>Format(s):</strong> PSD</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://jospinoj.deviantart.com/art/minicons-292943928" target="_blank">Minicons →</a></p><h2><a href="http://freebie.secretpixels.com/icon/" target="_blank">Secret Pixels</a></h2><p><a href="http://freebie.secretpixels.com/icon/" target="_blank"><img alt="Secret Pixels" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_05.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Number of Icons:</strong> 35<br /> <strong>Format(s):</strong> EPS & PSD</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://freebie.secretpixels.com/icon/" target="_blank">Secret Pixels →</a></p><h2><a href="http://www.yanlu.de/Yanlu/Freecns.html" target="_blank">Freecns</a></h2><p><a href="http://www.yanlu.de/Yanlu/Freecns.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Freecns" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_06.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Number of Icons:</strong> 200<br /> <strong>Format(s):</strong> PNG</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.yanlu.de/Yanlu/Freecns.html" target="_blank">Freecns →</a></p><h2><a href="http://freebiesbooth.com/glyph-icons-patriglyphs-1" target="_blank">Glyph Icons</a></h2><p><a href="http://freebiesbooth.com/glyph-icons-patriglyphs-1" target="_blank"><img alt="Glyph Icons" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_07.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Number of Icons:</strong> 50<br /> <strong>Format(s):</strong> PNG & CSH</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://freebiesbooth.com/glyph-icons-patriglyphs-1" target="_blank">Glyph Icons →</a></p><h2><a href="http://dribbble.com/shots/587469-Free-16px-Broccolidryiconsaniconsetitisfullof-icons" target="_blank">Visual Idiot Icon Set</a></h2><p><a href="http://dribbble.com/shots/587469-Free-16px-Broccolidryiconsaniconsetitisfullof-icons" target="_blank"><img alt="Visual Idiot Icon Set" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_08.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Number of Icons:</strong> 108<br /> <strong>Format(s):</strong> PSD</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://dribbble.com/shots/587469-Free-16px-Broccolidryiconsaniconsetitisfullof-icons" target="_blank">Visual Idiot Icon Set →</a></p><h2><a href="http://www.icondeposit.com/theicondeposit:21" target="_blank">Pixel UI Icon Set</a></h2><p><a href="http://www.icondeposit.com/theicondeposit:21" target="_blank"><img alt="Pixel UI Icon Set" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_09.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Number of Icons:</strong> 77<br /> <strong>Format(s):</strong> PSD, PNG & CSH</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.icondeposit.com/theicondeposit:21" target="_blank">Pixel UI Icon Set →</a></p><h2><a href="http://sublink.ca/icons/sweetieplus/" target="_blank">SweetiePlus</a></h2><p><a href="http://sublink.ca/icons/sweetieplus/" target="_blank"><img alt="SweetiePlus" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_10.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Number of Icons:</strong> 120<br /> <strong>Format(s):</strong> PNG</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://sublink.ca/icons/sweetieplus/" target="_blank">SweetiePlus →</a></p><h2><a href="http://www.icondeposit.com/theicondeposit:27" target="_blank">Micro Icon Set</a></h2><p><a href="http://www.icondeposit.com/theicondeposit:27" target="_blank"><img alt="Micro Icon Set" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_11.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Number of Icons:</strong> 110<br /> <strong>Format(s):</strong> PSD</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.icondeposit.com/theicondeposit:27" target="_blank">Micro Icon Set →</a></p><h2><a href="http://www.icondeposit.com/theicondeposit:24" target="_blank">Glyph UI Icon Set</a></h2><p><a href="http://www.icondeposit.com/theicondeposit:24" target="_blank"><img alt="Glyph UI Icon Set" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_12.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Number of Icons:</strong> 48<br /> <strong>Format(s):</strong> PNG, PSD & CSH</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.icondeposit.com/theicondeposit:24" target="_blank">Glyph UI Icon Set →</a></p><h2><a href="http://vicbell.co.uk/shop/tinycons-freebie-pack/" target="_blank">Tinycons (Freebie Pack)</a></h2><p><a href="http://vicbell.co.uk/shop/tinycons-freebie-pack/" target="_blank"><img alt="Tinycons (Freebie Pack)" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_13.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Number of Icons:</strong> 40</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://vicbell.co.uk/shop/tinycons-freebie-pack/" target="_blank">Tinycons (Freebie Pack) →</a></p><h2><a href="http://pixiconz.janjan.in/free/index.html" target="_blank">Pixiconz</a></h2><p><a href="http://pixiconz.janjan.in/free/index.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Pixiconz" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_14.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Number of Icons:</strong> 33<br /> <strong>Format(s):</strong> PSD</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://pixiconz.janjan.in/free/index.html" target="_blank">Pixiconz →</a></p><h2><a href="http://dribbble.com/shots/476791-Pico-icons-9x9px-2?list=tags&tag=icons" target="_blank">Pico Icons</a></h2><p><a href="http://dribbble.com/shots/476791-Pico-icons-9x9px-2?list=tags&tag=icons" target="_blank"><img alt="Pico Icons" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_15.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Number of Icons:</strong> 85<br /> <strong>Format(s):</strong> PNG</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://dribbble.com/shots/476791-Pico-icons-9x9px-2?list=tags&tag=icons" target="_blank">Pico Icons →</a></p><h2><a href="http://pixlsby.me/fb/portfolio/free-colored-minicons/" target="_blank">Colored Minicons</a></h2><p><a href="http://pixlsby.me/fb/portfolio/free-colored-minicons/" target="_blank"><img alt="Colored Minicons" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_16.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Number of Icons:</strong> 25<br /> <strong>Format(s):</strong> PNG</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://pixlsby.me/fb/portfolio/free-colored-minicons/" target="_blank">Colored Minicons →</a></p><h2><a href="http://dribbble.com/shots/490010-Free-icon-set-First-attempt-?list=tags&tag=icons" target="_blank">Free Icon Set</a></h2><p><a href="http://dribbble.com/shots/490010-Free-icon-set-First-attempt-?list=tags&tag=icons" target="_blank"><img alt="Free Icon Set" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_17.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Number of Icons:</strong> 22<br /> <strong>Format(s):</strong> PSD</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://dribbble.com/shots/490010-Free-icon-set-First-attempt-?list=tags&tag=icons" target="_blank">Free Icon Set →</a></p><h2><a href="http://hsigmond.deviantart.com/art/Android-UI-Design-Default-Icons-4-grouped-294529917" target="_blank">Android UI Default Icons 4</a></h2><p><a href="http://hsigmond.deviantart.com/art/Android-UI-Design-Default-Icons-4-grouped-294529917" target="_blank"><img alt="Android UI Default Icons 4" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_18.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Format(s):</strong> SVG</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://hsigmond.deviantart.com/art/Android-UI-Design-Default-Icons-4-grouped-294529917" target="_blank">Android UI Default Icons 4 →</a></p><h2><a href="http://www.purtypixels.com/purty-social-icon-set/" target="_blank">Purty Social Icon Set</a></h2><p><a href="http://www.purtypixels.com/purty-social-icon-set/" target="_blank"><img alt="Purty Social Icon Set" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_19.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Number of Icons:</strong> 40<br /> <strong>Format(s):</strong> PSD & PNG</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.purtypixels.com/purty-social-icon-set/" target="_blank">Purty Social Icon Set →</a></p><h2><a href="http://dribbble.com/shots/384760-Free-Social-Icons" target="_blank">Social Icons</a></h2><p><a href="http://dribbble.com/shots/384760-Free-Social-Icons" target="_blank"><img alt="Social Icons" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_20.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Number of Icons:</strong> 48<br /> <strong>Format(s):</strong> EPS</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://dribbble.com/shots/384760-Free-Social-Icons" target="_blank">Social Icons →</a></p><h2><a href="http://www.dannydiablo.de/" target="_blank">Social Icon Bundle</a></h2><p><a href="http://www.dannydiablo.de/" target="_blank"><img alt="Social Icon Bundle" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_21.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Number of Icons:</strong> 22<br /> <strong>Format(s):</strong> PSD</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.dannydiablo.de/" target="_blank">Social Icon Bundle →</a></p><h2><a href="http://pixlsby.me/fb/portfolio/simple-social-buttons/" target="_blank">Simple Social Buttons</a></h2><p><a href="http://pixlsby.me/fb/portfolio/simple-social-buttons/" target="_blank"><img alt="Simple Social Buttons" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/new_icons_22.jpg" /></a></p><p><strong>Number of Icons:</strong> 27<br /> <strong>Format(s):</strong> PNG & PSD</p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://pixlsby.me/fb/portfolio/simple-social-buttons/" target="_blank">Simple Social Buttons →</a></p><h2>You might also like…</h2><p><a href="http://speckyboy.com/2011/12/12/top-50-web-development-design-and-application-icon-sets-from-2011/">Top 50 Web Development, Design and Application Icon Sets from 2011</a>, <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2010/12/06/top-50-web-development-design-and-application-icon-sets-from-2010/">from 2010</a> or <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2009/12/21/the-top-50-web-development-icon-sets-from-2009/">from 2009</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2011/08/24/50-social-media-bookmarking-icon-sets-2011-edition/">50 Social Media Bookmarking Icon Sets – 2011 Edition</a>, <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2010/04/14/50-social-bookmarking-icon-sets-for-bloggers-part-2/">2010 Edition</a> or <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2009/07/20/50-social-service-and-bookmarking-icon-sets-for-bloggers/">2009 Edition</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2010/07/04/25-completely-free-fonts-perfect-for-fontface/">25 Completely Free Fonts Perfect for @fontface →</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2012/02/13/20-fontface-icon-sets/">20 @fontface Icon Sets →</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2010/06/20/30-of-the-best-web-development-and-design-mini-icon-sets/">30 of the Best Web Development and Design MINI Icon Sets →</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2010/04/19/15-uniform-payment-options-icon-sets-for-ecommerce-design/">15 Uniform Payment Options Icon Sets for Ecommerce Design →</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2010/03/08/14-free-mobile-app-development-icon-sets/">14 Free Mobile Application Development Icon Sets →</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2009/11/30/8-free-pictogram-icon-libraries-and-collections/">8 Free Pictogram Icon Libraries and Collections →</a></p> <br /><p><a href="http://rss.buysellads.com/click.php?z=1259961&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=24473&c=1436344875" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://rss.buysellads.com/img.php?z=1259961&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=24473&c=1436344875" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/2MFgkK0ZDRbL9nvx7HkGgTVhA4s/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/2MFgkK0ZDRbL9nvx7HkGgTVhA4s/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/2MFgkK0ZDRbL9nvx7HkGgTVhA4s/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/2MFgkK0ZDRbL9nvx7HkGgTVhA4s/1/di" /></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=5kE7BzvFrJU:hN4JuA0d8jo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=5kE7BzvFrJU:hN4JuA0d8jo:-BTjWOF_DHI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=5kE7BzvFrJU:hN4JuA0d8jo:-BTjWOF_DHI" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=5kE7BzvFrJU:hN4JuA0d8jo:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=5kE7BzvFrJU:hN4JuA0d8jo:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=5kE7BzvFrJU:hN4JuA0d8jo:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=5kE7BzvFrJU:hN4JuA0d8jo:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=5kE7BzvFrJU:hN4JuA0d8jo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=5kE7BzvFrJU:hN4JuA0d8jo:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=5kE7BzvFrJU:hN4JuA0d8jo:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/speckboy-design-magazine/~4/5kE7BzvFrJU" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR

Fascinating and Expressive Conceptual Art

<p><a href="http://rss.buysellads.com/click.php?z=1259958&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=24685&c=107782875" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://rss.buysellads.com/img.php?z=1259958&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=24685&c=107782875" /></a></p><br /><p>Conceptual art is an art form that tends to give more importance to the idea or meaning being expressed by a masterpiece rather than focusing on the product itself. It somehow gives a deeper realization and life to the artwork without having to look at it as it is.</p><p>According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conceptual_art" target="_blank">Sol LeWitt’s definition of conceptual art</a>, he said, "In conceptual art the idea or concept is the most important aspect of the work. When an artist uses a conceptual form of art, it means that all of the planning and decisions are made beforehand and the execution is a perfunctory affair. The idea becomes a machine that makes the art." Sol Lewitt is considered as one of the brilliant American artists who gave meaning and life to conceptual art letting people view this avenue in a whole new perspective.</p><p>By working on this art form, your idea is always the concern and root of your actions or style in expressing yourself. Whether you are creating a painting, sculpture, or graphic design, the concept behind it must always be reflected and strengthened.</p><p>To give you an idea on how impressive and imaginative conceptual art can be, here are 20 creative sample artworks:</p><hr /><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conceptual-art-01.jpg" /></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/The-Critique-of-Gesture/3902367" target="_blank">Source →</a></p><hr /><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conceptual-art-02.jpg" /></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/phatpuppycreations/5230882190/" target="_blank">Source →</a></p><hr /><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conceptual-art-03.jpg" /></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/images_fantasy/7297052804/" target="_blank">Source →</a></p><hr /><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conceptual-art-04.jpg" /></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/SOUL-ART-2/1226871" target="_blank">Source →</a></p><hr /><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conceptual-art-05.jpg" /></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/NEW-YORKER-COVERS/558246" target="_blank">Source →</a></p><hr /><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conceptual-art-06.jpg" /></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://mihai82000.deviantart.com/art/Intelligence-of-Wood-61323472" target="_blank">Source →</a></p><hr /><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conceptual-art-07.jpg" /></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristiannem/3833901112/" target="_blank">Source →</a></p><hr /><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conceptual-art-08.jpg" /></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/Conceptual-Surreal/47747" target="_blank">Source →</a></p><hr /><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conceptual-art-09.jpg" /></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sassroberts/5835470984/" target="_blank">Source →</a></p><hr /><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conceptual-art-10.jpg" /></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://theflickerees.deviantart.com/art/The-Painter-141831120" target="_blank">Source →</a></p><hr /><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conceptual-art-11.jpg" /></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://koyamori.deviantart.com/art/memory-286532410" target="_blank">Source →</a></p><hr /><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conceptual-art-12.jpg" /></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://benheine.deviantart.com/art/Pencil-Vs-Camera-23-165368938" target="_blank">Source →</a></p><hr /><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conceptual-art-13.jpg" /></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/55765578@N00/45949316/" target="_blank">Source →</a></p><hr /><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conceptual-art-14.jpg" /></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://mihai82000.deviantart.com/art/Chronology-67476147" target="_blank">Source →</a></p><hr /><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conceptual-art-15.jpg" /></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://dsiqueiros.deviantart.com/art/French-Art-105750565" target="_blank">Source →</a></p><hr /><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conceptual-art-16.jpg" /></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8815881@N06/6662569123/" target="_blank">Source →</a></p><hr /><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conceptual-art-17.jpg" /></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://mihai82000.deviantart.com/art/the-sleep-of-conscience-62270442" target="_blank">Source →</a></p><hr /><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conceptual-art-18.jpg" /></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/towati/6817952230/" target="_blank">Source →</a></p><hr /><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conceptual-art-19.jpg" /></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://jan4all.deviantart.com/art/Domination-300999459" target="_blank">Source →</a></p><hr /><p><img src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conceptual-art-20.jpg" /></p><p><a class="button-med" href="http://sicklilmonky.deviantart.com/art/Flashback-conceptual-cover-1-8312153" target="_blank">Source →</a></p><hr /><p>Making your own masterpiece using conceptual art can help you hone your skills in building imaginative and surreal ideas. Let your creative juices flow and you might just create an artwork that will also be recognized and admired by many, who have found purpose through this art form.</p><h2>You might also like…</h2><p><a href="http://speckyboy.com/2010/12/21/50-beautifully-designed-posters-with-amazing-typography/">50 Beautifully Designed Posters with Amazing Typography →</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2011/01/06/30-beautifully-colorful-typographic-book-cover-designs/">30 Beautifully Colorful Typographic Book Cover Designs →</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2011/02/04/the-beauty-of-minimalist-music-posters/">The Beauty of Minimalist Music Posters →</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2010/06/27/the-complete-web-design-style-series-700-designs-in-14-categories/">The Complete Web Design Style Series (700 Designs in 14 Categories) →</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2010/11/01/10-album-covers-for-eye-grabbing-color-scheme-inspiration/">10 Album Covers for Eye-grabbing Color Scheme Inspiration →</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2010/09/09/eight-helpful-rules-for-logo-designers/">Eight Helpful Rules for Logo Designers →</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2010/09/23/the-trend-of-minimalist-graphic-design/">The Trend of Minimalist Graphic Design →</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2009/07/31/a-gallery-of-slightly-odd-and-wonderful-photography-from-mr-toledano/">A Gallery of Slightly Odd and Wonderful Photography from Mr Toledano →</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2009/07/09/50-beautiful-hdr-images-from-50-world-cities/">50 Beautiful HDR Images from 50 World Cities →</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2009/05/18/20-beautiful-examples-of-photoshopped-smoke-art-and-technique-tutorials/">20 Beautiful Examples of Photoshopped Smoke Art and Technique Tutorials →</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2009/05/01/30-creative-photography-examples-using-the-polar-panorama-effect/">30 Creative Photography Examples using the Polar Panorama Effect →</a><br /> <a href="http://speckyboy.com/2009/01/27/20-amazing-images-that-could-be-hdr-but-are-definitely-not/">20 Amazing Images That Could Be HDR – But are definitely Not →</a></p> <br /><p><a href="http://rss.buysellads.com/click.php?z=1259961&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=24685&c=2073831637" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://rss.buysellads.com/img.php?z=1259961&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=24685&c=2073831637" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/eZbPhtPMXYs6tY9Lq9M7tNzkwYg/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/eZbPhtPMXYs6tY9Lq9M7tNzkwYg/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/eZbPhtPMXYs6tY9Lq9M7tNzkwYg/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/eZbPhtPMXYs6tY9Lq9M7tNzkwYg/1/di" /></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=z_uiJI29UzA:HHDUCA9tv1g:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=z_uiJI29UzA:HHDUCA9tv1g:-BTjWOF_DHI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=z_uiJI29UzA:HHDUCA9tv1g:-BTjWOF_DHI" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=z_uiJI29UzA:HHDUCA9tv1g:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=z_uiJI29UzA:HHDUCA9tv1g:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=z_uiJI29UzA:HHDUCA9tv1g:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=z_uiJI29UzA:HHDUCA9tv1g:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=z_uiJI29UzA:HHDUCA9tv1g:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=z_uiJI29UzA:HHDUCA9tv1g:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=z_uiJI29UzA:HHDUCA9tv1g:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/speckboy-design-magazine/~4/z_uiJI29UzA" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR

The Best Programming Text Editors for Windows, Mac and Linux

<p><a href="http://rss.buysellads.com/click.php?z=1259958&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=24609&c=1312445098" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://rss.buysellads.com/img.php?z=1259958&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=24609&c=1312445098" /></a></p><br /><p>Seasoned programmers often eschew an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) in favor of a lightweight, barebones text editor. The reasons are obvious enough: text editors place little strain on system resources, are very versatile, and provide hardcore developers with the thrill of writing a program from scratch in a focused, bloat-free environment. For sheer simplicity and ease of use, nothing can beat a solid programming text editor.</p><p>The default Notepad app in Windows might be suffice for making to-do lists or jotting down ideas, it falls woefully short for development purposes. So, here is a list of the best programming text editors for Windows, Mac, and Linux:</p><h2>Windows</h2><h4>1. Notepad++</h4><p><a href="http://notepad-plus-plus.org/" target="_blank">Notepad++</a> has been the go-to choice since 2003 for Windows users who want to upgrade from the default Notepad to a more powerful, feature rich, yet lightweight text editor. It was one of the first Windows applications to support multiple tabs within the same window (a boon to all multitaskers — and coders usually are). It also includes a multi-item clipboard, which streamlines coding and increases efficiency.</p><p><img alt="Notepad++ - Programming Text Editor" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/texteditor_01.jpg" width="640" /></p><p>The list of programmer-specific features is long: it supports syntax highlighting and code collapsing. A built-in FTP browser makes uploading files onto your server effortless. With support for split-screen editing, file-compression, and auto-completion, there is nothing not to love about Notepad++. And since this text editor has been around since 2003 with a devoted developer community supporting it, there are now dozens of plugins that can extend its functionality beyond this already impressive base.</p><p>To round up the pros, Notepad++ is also free. While it may not be the best-looking text editor out there (which shouldn’t be a concern if your primary use is coding) or the most user-friendly, it is powerful, free, and offers the key features that all programmers need.</p><h4>2. SublimeText</h4><p><a href="http://www.sublimetext.com/" target="_blank">SublimeText</a> picks up where Notepad++ leaves off. It is a gorgeously designed, powerful, feature-rich text editor built specifically for coding. Besides basic features such as syntax highlighting, code collapsing, etc., it also supports macros and snippets to automate coding and increase your efficiency. Whereas Notepad++ has a UI that can leave even experienced users scratching their heads, SublimeText uses a minimalistic UI with little to come between you and your code.</p><p><img alt="SublimeText - Programming Text Editor" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/texteditor_02.jpg" width="640" /></p><p>The only downside of this text editor is its price: at $59, it isn’t cheap. You can download a copy for evaluation purposes, but you’ll have to shell out 59 dollars to use it beyond the evaluation period.</p><p>Besides Windows, SublimeText is also available for OS X and Linux.</p><h4>3. UltraEdit</h4><p><a href="http://www.ultraedit.com/products/ultraedit.html" target="_blank">UltraEdit</a> prioritizes ease of use and efficiency over any other feature, and the result is a userfriendly, feature-rich text editor that runs blazingly fast with ample support for programmers.</p><p><img alt="UltraEdit - Programming Text Editor" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/texteditor_03.jpg" width="640" /></p><p>Built-in FTP support, file comparison, and automation through macros are just a few among its long list of features.</p><p>On the price front, a single license costs $59 — the same as the easier-on-the-eye SublimeText.</p><h2>OS X</h2><h4>1. TextMate</h4><p><a href="http://macromates.com/" target="_blank">TextMate</a> has become the de-facto choice of programmers on the Mac platform over the past couple of years, courtesy of its lengthy list of developer-oriented features. Auto-indent, advanced search-and-replace, foldable code blocks, column selection, clipboard history, visual bookmarks, and support for recordable macros are just some of its features.</p><p><img alt="TextMate - Programming Text Editor" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/texteditor_04.jpg" width="640" /></p><p>The end result is a product bred thoroughly in the Apple spirit of simplicity that, nevertheless, holds the heart of a true programming text editor.</p><p>Price: $58.</p><h2>Linux</h2><h4>1. Emacs</h4><p>Of the three major computing platforms (Windows, OS X, Linux), Linux boasts of the largest selection of powerful text editors designed specifically to fit the needs of programmers (who also happen to form the platform’s largest user base). Emacs is programming text-editor royalty — an extremely powerful (albeit complicated) piece of software that has been ported to virtually every platform imaginable (including Windows, OS X, BeOS, etc.). Like all Linux software, Emacs too is free and can be downloaded in multiple flavors, of which <a href="http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/emacs.html" target="_blank">GNU Emacs</a> happens to be the most popular.</p><p><img alt="Emacs - Programming Text Editor" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/texteditor_05.jpg" width="640" /></p><p>In terms of features, Emacs is heavily inclined towards hard-core programming with extensive support for automation through powerful macros. A content-sensitive editing module, a large library of extensions, and a fully customizable interface round up the list of impressive features.</p><h4>2. Kate</h4><p><a href="http://kate-editor.org/get-it/" target="_blank">Kate</a> can almost come across as Emacs-lite. It’s UI is very easy to use (compared to the almost draconian Emacs) and the text editor is extremely easy to get started with. Hidden beneath the user-friendly interface, though, is a very powerful text editor that can make a programmer smile in delight.</p><p><img alt="Kate - Programming Text Editor" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/texteditor_06.jpg" width="640" /></p><p>It has support for all the features you’d expect: syntax highlighting, macros, code collapsing, code automation with argument hints, session support, etc. and then some more.</p><h2>Conclusion</h2><p>There are dozens of text editors on the market, and this list barely scratches past the surface of this niche industry. Finding a programming text editor that fits your needs is a matter of trying out the different editors and poking around for a few hours until you get a good feel of the product. Programmers tend to be creatures of habit; once you get used to a particular text editor, you wouldn’t want to use anything else.</p> <br /><p><a href="http://rss.buysellads.com/click.php?z=1259961&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=24609&c=42941342" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://rss.buysellads.com/img.php?z=1259961&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=24609&c=42941342" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/QdM4SuGBu9CKjYA2rbyT7Ubqo7o/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/QdM4SuGBu9CKjYA2rbyT7Ubqo7o/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/QdM4SuGBu9CKjYA2rbyT7Ubqo7o/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/QdM4SuGBu9CKjYA2rbyT7Ubqo7o/1/di" /></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=DT3Jq6j7rg0:wYLeWl2agdg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=DT3Jq6j7rg0:wYLeWl2agdg:-BTjWOF_DHI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=DT3Jq6j7rg0:wYLeWl2agdg:-BTjWOF_DHI" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=DT3Jq6j7rg0:wYLeWl2agdg:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=DT3Jq6j7rg0:wYLeWl2agdg:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=DT3Jq6j7rg0:wYLeWl2agdg:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=DT3Jq6j7rg0:wYLeWl2agdg:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=DT3Jq6j7rg0:wYLeWl2agdg:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=DT3Jq6j7rg0:wYLeWl2agdg:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=DT3Jq6j7rg0:wYLeWl2agdg:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/speckboy-design-magazine/~4/DT3Jq6j7rg0" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR

How to Properly File a Digital Millennium Copyright Act Complaint

<p><a href="http://rss.buysellads.com/click.php?z=1259958&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=24730&c=311415627" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://rss.buysellads.com/img.php?z=1259958&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=24730&c=311415627" /></a></p><br /><p>One of the great things about the internet is how it has transformed access to information and sources of knowledge, from newspapers to private blogs and even self-written electronic books and other helpful content. While the majority of content featured on the internet is original content written by just one author or a collaborative community of authors, there exists a small but growing number of websites which are designed to illegally duplicate that information and give it away for free.</p><p><img alt="A thief steals the ideas of a man" height="220" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/copyright_01a.jpg" width="640" /><small>Image Source: <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-96854686/stock-vector-a-thief-steals-the-ideas-of-a-man-who-is-distracted.html">A Thief Steals the Ideas of a Man</a> via Shutterstock</small></p><p>This undercuts the ability of the internet to be a profitable or informational tool altogether. These “information piracy” websites cause content creators to be underpaid and unacknowledged, and they foster a sense of entitlement among the wider internet audience. When people learn that even the best content is available for free, illegally or not, many of them will opt to bypass paying for an author’s work and instead direct their traffic toward an information piracy site.</p><p><img alt="Making Economic Returns to the Ideas or Creativity" height="220" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/copyright_02a.jpg" width="640" /><small>Image Source: <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-96854584/stock-vector-the-illustration-is-a-metaphor-about-making-economic-returns-to-the-ideas-or-creativity.html">Making Economic Returns to the Ideas or Creativity</a> via Shutterstock</small></p><p>Luckily, the practice of copying and distributing someone else’s online content or information has long been criminalized in the United States as part of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act" target="_blank">Digital Millennium Copyright Act</a>. The law was passed by the United States Congress in 1998 partially in response to two treaties ratified by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Intellectual_Property_Organization" target="_blank">Intellectual Property Organization</a>. Those treaties condemned the theft of electronic information, ranging from print sources to videos, music, and most anything produced by one person and distributed against their will by another.</p><p><img alt="A Person Affixing the Seal of Copyright" height="220" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/copyright_03a.jpg" width="640" /><small>Image Source: <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-96854950/stock-vector-a-person-affixing-the-seal-of-copyright-in-their-ideas.html">A Person Affixing the Seal of Copyright</a> via Shutterstock</small></p><p>Part of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act allows for original content creators to report incidents of theft to search engines like Google or even the company which is providing web space and bandwidth to the individual which is hosting the stolen content. This is a two-pronged approach that is relatively effective at eliminating the distribution of stolen intellectual property.</p><p><a href="http://support.google.com/bin/static.py?hl=en&ts=1114905&page=ts.cs" target="_blank">Notifying Google</a>, or any major search engine, of the intellectual property theft taking place at a domain will cause that company to eliminate the offending website from any search result for a given piece of written, recorded, or other intellectual property. On the other hand, sending the same notice to a web host will cause them to investigate the activity going on with a certain user’s account or a certain domain name, they’ll likely issue a temporary or permanent suspension of services to the offending website. That virtually assures that the original content author will be able to rehabilitate their image, recoup their profits, and recover from what is generally perceived to be one of the biggest threats to modern-day content creators.</p><p>Any notice sent to a major corporation under the <strong>Digital Millennium Copyright Act</strong> (DMCA) must follow a certain format and be sure to point out any violations of the policy, any examples or evidence that a violation is taking place, and a statement of good faith and contact information on behalf of the content creator who is filing the complaint.</p><p>Here’s a step-by-step guide which will explain how to create the best DMCA intellectual property theft notice.</p><h4>Step 1: Develop the Digital Millennium Copyright Act Notice with a Proper Business Header</h4><p>Because the DMCA notice which wil be sent to a major corporation is essentially a corporate communication between two entities, the top of the document should look like a standard business memorandum header. It should include the name of the business which received the notice as well as their address, and it should list their address as well as the date it was sent from the intellectual property owner. A prime example looks like the one listed below:</p><pre class="brush: plain; title: ; notranslate"> Date: May 22, 2013 Yahoo! Inc. Attn: DMCA Copyright Complaints Department 701 1st Ave. Sunnyvale, CA 94809 </pre><p>Following this rather standard business header, be sure to address the leader to “<em>To Whom It May Concern</em>.” This is the most formal and gender-neutral way of addressing whoever may receive the complaint and validate the contents of the intellectual property holder. With that part of the document complete, it’s time to get into the real “meat” of a DMCA notice, where the concrete proof of theft will be displayed and the company will be asked to take action against the violating website or distribution outlet.</p><h4>Step 2: Explain that the Letter is Being Sent to Address Copyright Infringement</h4><p>Now it’s time to tell the company listed in the first part of the letter why they’re receiving written communication from you in the first place. The intellectual property holder must make it clear, in just a few sentences at the top of the document, that they’re contacting the company because of a certain provision of United States copyright law. This provision is contained within a section of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and, once the provision is identified to the company in question, they’ll know exactly how to proceed in order to verify the theft and take action to prevent its recurrence.</p><p>Here’s a great example of how to notify the company that the letter to follow will deal with a complaint under the United States Digital Millennium Copyright Act:</p><pre class="brush: plain; title: ; notranslate"> To Whom It May Concern, This notice serves to notify you that I wish to report a violation of United States copyright law under section 512(c) of the U.S. Copyright Law under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of 1998. It is my belief that the distribution channel in question has not properly obtained licensing or distribution rights for this content and, as your service is promoting their works to the wider online audience, I have sought to address this concern with your office. </pre><h4>Step 3: Identifying the Exact Material Which is Believed Stolen Without Payment or Due Credit</h4><p>The next step of the DMCA notice process is to list the exact intellectual property which has been stolen by the offending internet user, in a list format, until each instance of theft has been exhaustively documented to, in this case, the executives at Yahoo. This will be in a new paragraph below the introduction to the letter, and a great example of how to formulate this paragraph exists below:</p><pre class="brush: plain; title: ; notranslate"> There are several incidents of theft where copyrighted material which I produced, and to which I have exclusive publication and distribution rights, have been duplicated on the offending website. These works include the following: 1. Article 1 About Cars, posted on May 14, 2012, at the following URL: http://domain.com/link-to-cars-article/ 2. Article 2 About Transmissions, posted on May 12, 2012, at the following URL: http://domain.com/link-to-transmissions-article/ 3. Article 3 About Kia Motors, posted on May 8, 2012, at the following URL: http://domain.com/link-to-kia-article/ 4. Article 4 About Auto Loans, posted on May 1, 2012, at the following URL: http://domain.com/link-to-loans-article/ 5. Article 5 About Interest Rates, posted on April 28, 2012, at the following URL: http://domain.com/link-to-interest-article/ Each of these websites is displayed in a typical Yahoo! search when the visitor searches for "Domain.com cars articles," and it is severely impacting my traffic, impressions, and revenue. </pre><h2>Step 4: Tell the Company in Question How to Contact You About Their Resolution of this Matter</h2><p>Next, the company which has received the Digital Millennium Copyright Act notice must be aware of how to contact you after they have properly investigated this alleged occurrence of plagiarism or theft. It’s a good idea to include a home address as well as a business address, and be sure to include both daytime and evening phone numbers so that you can be reached no matter when the company decides to communicate about their investigation and the actions they’re taking to resolve the matter. Here’s a sample of that part of the letter:</p><pre class="brush: plain; title: ; notranslate">I have included my contact information below, and I kindly request that correspondence be maintained between your company and myself as the prosecution and resolution of this matter unfolds. I have included both home and office contact information, as well as daytime and evening phone numbers, for your convenience as well as my own. My Name 123 Main St. Town Goes Here, DE 19801 TEL: 302-555-5555 My Office Name Attn: My Name 2345 Office St. Suite L Town Goes Here, DE 19801 TEL: 302-555-5555 ext. 000 Please contact me using my office information between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. After the close of business hours, please contact me using my home address or telephone information regarding the status of this incident.</pre><h4>Step 5: Verify that You Declare Yourself the Copyright Owner Under Penalty of Perjury</h4><p>Because this is essentially the beginning of a legal proceeding, the copyright owner must declare that they are the owner of the material in question under penalty of perjury. This is generally to prevent the actually infringers from trying to take down the original source material for their own personal gain. This is a relatively simple statement included at the end of the letter, and it looks pretty much identical to the “penalty of perjury” clause at the end of job employment applications and other legal documents.</p><p>Here’s a great template for the statement:</p><pre class="brush: plain; title: ; notranslate">Under penalty of perjury, I hereby swear that all of the information contained in the above notification of copyright infringement is true and accurate. I swear that I am the content owner or that I am authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the above referenced copyrighted content which I have alleged in this notification to have been infringed.</pre><h4>Step 6: Send Out the Digital Millennium Copyright Notice to Each Targeted Corporation via U.S. Certified Mail</h4><p>In most cases, people would simply send a notification to a corporation using regular mail (officially known as Priority Mail in the United States), but this is not sufficient for official communication as it pertains to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Instead, those filing a complaint with a corporation in order to reclaim their copyrighted content must opt for certified mail when sending a letter to take down an offending website or distribution channel.</p><p><img alt="Metaphor About the Author who Retains Ownership" height="220" src="http://speckycdn.sdm.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/copyright_04a.jpg" width="640" /><small>Image Source: <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-96854566/stock-vector-metaphor-about-the-author-who-retains-ownership-of-their-ideas-or-works.html">Metaphor About the Author who Retains Ownership</a> via Shutterstock</small></p><p>This is an excellent idea for a few reasons, the most notable of which is that letters sent via Certified Mail can be tracked using a typical United States Postal Service tracking number. Beyond that, however, sending a letter via Certified Mail also allows the sender to request that they receive a “read receipt” when the letter has been received by the company on the end end of the dispute. This allows them to keep records of official communication in case further legal action is involved. Specifically, courts will want to see a “good faith” effort made by the copyright owner or their representative, and they’ll want proof that the company was contacted and that they failed to follow the DMCA guidelines appropriately. This is a great backup plan, and one can never have too much documentation when it comes to preserving the integrity of their intellectual property.</p><div class="greybox-tut"><a class="button-med-tut" href="http://speckyboy.com/demo/dmca_letter/DMCA-Example-Letter.txt" target="_blank">View the Entire Letter</a><a class="button-med-tut" href="http://speckyboy.com/demo/dmca_letter/DMCA-Example-Letter.zip">Download the Letter as a .txt file</a></div><p>After the notice has been sent, the company will begin investigating allegations of copyright infringement and contact the intellectual property owner with any results or requests for additional information which may be required.</p> <br /><p><a href="http://rss.buysellads.com/click.php?z=1259961&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=24730&c=822806355" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://rss.buysellads.com/img.php?z=1259961&k=53ef29bf69caaf7b9711bf01cd3ee13b&a=24730&c=822806355" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/jwJvnUPQcer7HxLfPO7Ht58_XBE/0/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/jwJvnUPQcer7HxLfPO7Ht58_XBE/0/di" /></a><br /> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/jwJvnUPQcer7HxLfPO7Ht58_XBE/1/da"><img border="0" ismap="true" src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/jwJvnUPQcer7HxLfPO7Ht58_XBE/1/di" /></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=gKRnhYOvYDk:XMD9V_KhOpg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=gKRnhYOvYDk:XMD9V_KhOpg:-BTjWOF_DHI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=gKRnhYOvYDk:XMD9V_KhOpg:-BTjWOF_DHI" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=gKRnhYOvYDk:XMD9V_KhOpg:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=gKRnhYOvYDk:XMD9V_KhOpg:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=gKRnhYOvYDk:XMD9V_KhOpg:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=gKRnhYOvYDk:XMD9V_KhOpg:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=gKRnhYOvYDk:XMD9V_KhOpg:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?a=gKRnhYOvYDk:XMD9V_KhOpg:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/speckboy-design-magazine?i=gKRnhYOvYDk:XMD9V_KhOpg:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/speckboy-design-magazine/~4/gKRnhYOvYDk" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR

COMPUTER ARTS DAILY

SHOW NEXT 5 >

The designer Christmas gift guide, part five

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Introducing Robo-Lomo

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

World's first audience-edited commercial

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Morph is back

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Character design and art festival returns to Berlin

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Barking mad new music video

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Detox Fashion

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

The designer Christmas gift guide, part four

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

The designer Christmas gift guide, part three

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

A big hand for Elijah Wood

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

3D WORLD - THE MAGAZINE FOR 3D ARTISTS

SHOW NEXT 5 >

Video tutorial: Rig your own Transformer in LightWave

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW119.t_trans.opener.jpg" rel="lightbox[35093]"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-35098" height="348" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW119.t_trans.opener.jpg" title="TDW119.t_trans.opener" width="580" /></a></p> <p class="strap">Transformers week draws to a close with this video training from Dan DeEntremont. Master key animation skills in this Transformer-style tutorial as you rig a robot to animate its transformation from train to humanoid</p> <p>To celebrate <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/07/digital-tutors-releases-new-transforming-robot-tutorials/">Digital-Tutors’ new Transformation training</a>, we thought we’d make an event of it and post online all things Transformery!</p> <p>We’ve already posted up two making-of Transformers articles:<br /> <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/07/the-making-of-transformers/">The making of Transformers</a><br /> <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/08/the-making-of-transformers-2/">The making of Transformers 2</a></p> <p>And you can also read a making-of article on the cult Transformers-style advert for Citroën – <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/13/the-embassy-the-art-of-robotics/">The Embassy: The art of Robotics</a></p> <p>To complete the Transformers roundup, here’s the train-transforming video tutorial from <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2009/07/02/3d_world_119_now_on_sale_in_the_uk/">issue 119 of 3D World magazine</a>.</p> <h3>Rig your own Transformer in LightWave</h3> <p>This article demonstrates the workflow for creating a transforming robot, similar to the designs in the live-action Transformers movies.</p> <p>The films’ director, Michael Bay, is well known for taking the level of special and visual effects over the top in his films. These Transformers are not the simple ones everyone has seen in the cartoon show, but a gigantic mass of moving metal that somehow manages to form a human-like (or sometimes animal-like) robot. The transforming train that you’ll rig and animate has about 300 moving parts.</p> <p>There are three videos available to show in detail the techniques described here. The first two videos focus on setting up the upper arms of the robot: you can take the principles you learn and apply them to the remaining parts of the figure. The first video will focus on rigging the upper arms. In this section, you will also be setting up the rig in a way that helps to cut the animation time nearly in half, using the useful Follower modifier. Bones will be used for moving the parts instead of separate layers.</p> <p>In Video 2, we will continue with the animation of the rigged upper arms. Here, I will demonstrate how to bring each piece to its destination position without causing geometry to intersect. I will also demonstrate a number of key techniques to help the movement of the different sections to be more realistic.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35099" style="width: 590px;"><p class="wp-caption-text">Discover how you can rig this robot to animate its transformation from train to humanoid</p></div> <p>Video 3 has a completely rigged transforming train. This video focuses on animating the transformation from a train to a robot, ending in a cool pose. A proxy version of the train will be used in this video. IK/FK Blending will also be implemented to allow smoothness in the transformation. If you get stuck at any point, the CD includes completed scene files you can study.</p> <p><em>Click Next to begin the train-transforming video tutorial</em></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d821264/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Video+tutorial%3A+Rig+your+own+Transformer+in+LightWave&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F16%2Fvideo-tutorial-rig-your-own-transformer-in-lightwave%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dvideo-tutorial-rig-your-own-transformer-in-lightwave" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Video+tutorial%3A+Rig+your+own+Transformer+in+LightWave&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F16%2Fvideo-tutorial-rig-your-own-transformer-in-lightwave%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dvideo-tutorial-rig-your-own-transformer-in-lightwave" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200441230/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d821264/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200441230/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d821264/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200441230/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d821264/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/VscwAZ8sOVc" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS

Friday Animation Fun: For the Remainder

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/ftr.jpg" rel="lightbox[35136]"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35137" height="243" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/ftr.jpg" title="ftr" width="580" /></a></p> <p class="strap">Find out how this atmospheric, painterly animated short was created using Maya, Photoshop and After Effects. Watch the film here too</p> <p>For the Remainder depicts the last moments of a house cat who bids farewell to its home before leaving to perish. The short was a graduation project created by Omer Ben David while studying at the <a href="http://www.bezalel.ac.il/en/">Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design</a> in Jerusalem, Israel. Ben David first began working on the plot in November last year. </p> <p>“I was dwelling on a concept of a cat that leaves his house and searches for his final resting place for some time before then,” he says. “I pondered on that notion since hearing the rumour that old cats sometime leave their home to die somewhere else unseen by their beloved ones or enemies. I felt that this essence of a story is very poetic and thus should be treated as a song rather than a narrative.”</p> <h4>First impressions</h4> <p>After developing the main plot, the director carefully considered the importance of the film’s characters and what role each would play. </p> <p>“From the beginning, the story was about a cat and a house,” Ben David explains. “The cat’s owner was also a main character but I wasn’t sure if he would be performing or his presence just suggested. The spider came somewhat in the middle of the storyboarding stage, when I was searching for a death motif to allow the cat to deal with.”</p> <p>“I was greatly inspired by sketches and calligraphy, and some colour blocking when searching for the look of the characters. I figured the house, as a character, should be mostly colour blocked while the cat should be wired so they were in contrast.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/ftr1.jpg" rel="lightbox[35136]"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35138" height="243" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/ftr1.jpg" title="ftr1" width="580" /></a></p> <h4>Creating perfect brush strokes</h4> <p>The film’s unique style was inspired by a number of sources. “I was very moved by a series of paintings by <a href="http://lukpazera.blogspot.com/">Lukasz Pazera</a> called <a href="http://postcardsfromthezone.com/">Postcards from the Zone</a> and his brilliant <a href="http://lukpazera.blogspot.com/2011/06/dog-of-zone-animation-sample.html">Dog of Zone</a>, which I figured would be awesome animated,” Ben David says.</p> <p>While researching, the director also watched Andrei Tarkovsky’s film Stalker. “I thought it to be the exact poem-like atmosphere I was searching for both visually and musically. I love the ambiance and slow rhythm,” he says. “I was also greatly inspired by color block paintings such as <a href="http://www.gerhardmozsi.com/">Gerhard Mozsi’s</a>, and the dreamy feel and pace in animated films such as Tekkonkinkreet or Ghost in the Shell which I adore.”</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35159" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/remainder_infl.jpg" rel="lightbox[35136]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35159" height="389" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/remainder_infl.jpg" title="remainder_infl" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">One of the film’s main influences was a series of paintings by Lukasz Pazera called Postcards from the Zone. You can see similarities in tone and style between them and For the Remainder</p></div> <p>Ben David’s extensive research and inspirations helped him to develop the unique painterly style of the film. In order to achieve this in 3D, he turned to the powerful tools of Maya. </p> <p>“This software was vital to production,” he explains. “It was an inherent rendering method that got the look for my characters and objects, combined with the overlapping textures on the sets. Photoshop was of course crucial for painting the textures, but Maya allowed me to rig and control almost everything I needed.”</p> <p>The film’s style, however, also presented some technical challenges. “The whole sketchiness and painterly look was the biggest technical issue,” says Ben David. “I did a lot of research about NPR (non photo realistic) rendering before developing the technique for creating it, and it was pretty much an experiment throughout the entire process. I didn’t have a clear point of reference on a technical level on how to achieve this look, and so I did a lot of testing until I reached a certain point where I knew that the composited render would satisfy me.”</p> <p>Despite extensive research and testing, Ben David managed to complete the film within a fairly short time period. “It took me around nine months to finish the short,” he says. “I did some touch-ups, on and off, for a few months afterwards as I was not completely happy with some renders and I’ve worked some more on mastering the soundtrack with <a href="http://onili.com/">Onili</a>. I’m very pleased with the final result. Both on the aesthetics and the feel of it.”</p> <p></p> <h3>Like this film?</h3> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/category/showcase/shorts/">Check out the selection of other awesome animations on our shorts page</a></p> <p><em>Make sure you visit next week for more Friday Animation Fun!</em></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d81a18a/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Friday+Animation+Fun%3A+For+the+Remainder&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F16%2Ffriday-animation-fun-for-the-remainder%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dfriday-animation-fun-for-the-remainder" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Friday+Animation+Fun%3A+For+the+Remainder&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F16%2Ffriday-animation-fun-for-the-remainder%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dfriday-animation-fun-for-the-remainder" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200396320/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d81a18a/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200396320/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d81a18a/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200396320/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d81a18a/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/W9nf4RJbbCw" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS

Disney’s John Carter: The VFX of Cinesite

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_desert_cinesite.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="Disney's John Carter movie still" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-35150" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_desert_cinesite.jpg" title="Disney's John Carter movie still - opener" width="580" /></a> <p class="strap">Cinesite has completed 831 VFX shots and converted 87 minutes of film into stereoscopic 3D for Disney’s John Carter, which hit cinemas last week</p> <p>The 3D work in John Carter – Andrew Stanton’s first live-action feature film, based on Edgar Rice Burroughs ‘Mars’ series of novels – was split between three leading London FX houses: Cinesite, Double Negative and The Moving Picture Company. </p> <p>Cinesite, renowned for its photoreal environment work, was responsible for creating and populating the majority of environments for John Carter. The team of 310-strong completed 831 visual effects shots, which included creating and populating the majority of environments for the film. They also converted 87 minutes of the film into stereo 3D.</p> <p>Cinesite’s VFX supervisor Sue Rowe spent several months on set in the UK and Utah. Due to the scale of the project, Rowe divided the work between four other VFX supervisors.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35151" style="width: 590px;"></p> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_wireframe_helium_cinesite.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="John Carter VFX shots" class="size-full wp-image-35151" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_wireframe_helium_cinesite.jpg" title="johncarter_wireframe_helium_cinesite" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Helium is shown from different angles throughout the film, and is used as the backdrop for the final battle sequence</p></div> <p>Christian Irles supervised work on Princess Dejah’s city, Helium. The city presented a challenge as it had to match the art department concept stills. While this was easy enough to do in matte painting, it was very time-consuming and render heavy to get actual full 3D renders. Projections were created for the terrain and these were worked up in matte painting to achieve the level of detail required. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35152" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_helium_cinesite.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="John Carter Helium city" class="size-full wp-image-35152" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_helium_cinesite.jpg" title="John Carter Helium city" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Cinesite created a matte painting of the outside of the city of Helium and, using projections, built up the terrain using high-res stills taken on location in Utah</p></div> <p>The shots presented the city as a whole with both Helium Major and Helium Minor visible, resulting in a huge amount of texture maps and shaders. Render time was very high for these shots and all layers, such as crowds, terrain, etc were rendered separately. </p> <p>Helium stats:</p> <ul> <li>346 models in the city structure</li> <li>74 individual props created</li> </ul> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35153" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Zodanga_cinesite.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35153" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Zodanga_cinesite.jpg" title="Zodanga_cinesite" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The mobile city of Zodanga crawls like a myriapod across the surface of Mars: giving the city a sense of scale and animating the digital legs was challenging</p></div> <p>Jonathan Neill supervised Cinesite’s work on the mobile city of Zodanga, a mile-long rusty metal tanker that crawls like a myriapod across the surface of Mars. The city was heavily textured using a combination of Photoshop, Mari and Mudbox in tandem with bespoke shaders and lighting development, to give an industrial look and feel.</p> <p>A handful of sets were built which were locations within the city, but these needed considerable extension work to make the depth and scale of the city believable. Cinesite modelled thousands of pieces of geometry for the city buildings, and created hundreds of CG props to dress the sets.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35154" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_city_cinesite.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="John Carter VFX. Interior of city" class="size-full wp-image-35154" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_city_cinesite.jpg" title="John Carter VFX. Interior of city" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Cinesite filled the city with warships and troops, before dressing it with hundreds of CG props</p></div> <p>With 674 legs, the mobile city was technically challenging to animate: Timed animation caches were used to ensure the digital legs moved in a random fashion. “Variations in movement and secondary animation such as cogs and cabling were used to create interest in the leg movement,” says Cinesite.</p> <p>Zodanga City Model stats: </p> <ul> <li>291 structural element models</li> <li>Up to 20,000 objects in a single shot</li> <li>1-2 billion polygons, dependent on camera position and detail required</li> <li>242 CG props created to populate the city</li> </ul> <p>Zodanga City Legs stats:</p> <ul> <li>674 legs </li> <li>44 claws</li> </ul> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35155" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_airship_cinesite.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="John Carter" class="size-full wp-image-35155" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/johncarter_airship_cinesite.jpg" title="johncarter_airship_cinesite" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The texturing and detailing of the giant airships had to be spot on since they feature in many close up shots</p></div> <p>Ben Shepherd oversaw the huge aerial battle between Zodanga and Helium. His team created each side’s airships which use solar wings to travel on light, as well as explosions, fire, people and set extensions.</p> <p>The giant airships needed to be finely detailed for close-up shots. A challenge for look development was that they were required to be more like a 19th-Century sailing ship, than the type of spaceship which a modern-day audience might expect. </p> <p>For Sab’s flagship corsair, a partial set was created for the bridge/cockpit and one deck of a single ship. This was scanned and photographed for reference and recreated. The remaining areas were created as full CG models. </p> <p>Dejah’s ship and the flagship Helium ship, the Xavarian, were created in 3D also. Each ship had a full set of wings which were sized and laid out specifically for each ship. These were controlled by pulleys and ratchet-type controls to give a sailing look. Each of the wings was covered in hundreds of individual solar tiles which needed to be able to be controlled in animation. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35156" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Thern-Sanctuary_Final-Comp.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="John Carter movie" class="size-full wp-image-35156" height="242" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Thern-Sanctuary_Final-Comp.jpg" title="John Carter movie" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The entire Thern effect system was designed and built from scratch using a combination of Maya, Houdini and custom software developed in house</p></div> <p>Simon Stanley-Clamp directed work on the Thern sanctuary, a huge underground cave that forms around Carter and Dejah as self-illuminating blue branches as the characters walk through it. </p> <p>The entire Thern effect system was designed and built from scratch using a combination of Maya, Houdini and custom software developed in house. Based on the principles of nanotechnology, the system provided a semi-automated way to ‘grow’ Thern into any environment and geometry. It took a full year of development time to evolve and bring to the big screen.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35157" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Thern-Sanctuary_3_Final-comp.jpg" rel="lightbox[35145]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35157" height="247" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Thern-Sanctuary_3_Final-comp.jpg" title="Thern-Sanctuary_3_Final-comp" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">These ‘growing Thern’ shots were some of the most complex VFX shots Cinesite undertook, and can be seen to great effect in 3D</p></div> <p>In the sequence, as the tunnel itself ends, the main Thern Sanctuary room is seen to build itself, opening out within the Thern matrix of the pyramid interior. This shot required extensive Thern simulation and growing effects, blending multiple elements together in Nuke to build the shot up.</p> <p><em>John Carter is in cinemas now. We’ve not seen the film yet, and reviews so far seem to be fairly mixed, so if you do go, let us know what you think of it via the comments box below, or on Facebook or Twitter </em></p> <h3>The making of John Carter</h3> <p>This article focuses on Cinesite’s contribution to the film, but the 3D work was split between three leading London FX houses: Cinesite, Double Negative and The Moving Picture Company. </p> <p>Read the making-of John Carter article in issue 155 of 3D World magazine, where Renee Dunlop takes us behind the scenes of all three VFX facilities.</p> <p><strong>Issue 155 of 3D World goes on sale on 27th March</strong></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d801946/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Disney%E2%80%99s+John+Carter%3A+The+VFX+of+Cinesite&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F16%2Fdisneys-john-carter-the-vfx-of-cinesite%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Ddisneys-john-carter-the-vfx-of-cinesite" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Disney%E2%80%99s+John+Carter%3A+The+VFX+of+Cinesite&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F16%2Fdisneys-john-carter-the-vfx-of-cinesite%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Ddisneys-john-carter-the-vfx-of-cinesite" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200459259/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d801946/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200459259/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d801946/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200459259/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d801946/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/SAa9hvj4MmU" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS

Weta Digital on the making of The Adventures of Tintin

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin17_998034v28.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-35134" height="247" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin17_998034v28.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.tin17_998034v28" width="580" /></a> <p class="strap">Weta Digital embarked on a new quest with The Adventures of Tintin, complete with crashing waves, pirate battles and an extremely stylish wardrobe. Renee Dunlop takes us behind the scenes</p> <p>As the Blu-ray of The Adventures of Tintin goes on sale, we thought we’d share this article from <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/01/07/3d-world-152-create-fire-water-and-more/">issue 152 of 3D World magazine</a>. </p> <p>If you haven’t watched the film already, we suggest you do – The Adventures of Tintin looks like a mix of live-action and CG, which adds up to something unique on screen. It’s possible that The Adventures of Tintin missed out at the Oscars this year because of this very thing, which is a real shame as we think the film has some of the best CG we’ve ever seen. </p> <h3>Weta’s Adventures of Tintin</h3> <p>Weta Digital is delving into a new world – that of the journalist. Enter Tintin, a popular post-World War One comic strip hero who travels about with his dog, Snowy, cracking cases with a little help from his friends. Created in 1929 by the artist and writer best known as Hergé, the stellar artists of Weta, led by director Steven Spielberg and producer Peter Jackson, have brought the story to 3D animated life on the big screen. </p> <p>It took some of Weta’s best to tackle the wide array of arduous effects required to complete the film. Keith Miller, one of five VFX supervisors, was among those appointed to the task. He was in charge of roughly 340 shots.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35113" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.opener_ships1.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35113" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.opener_ships1.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.opener_ships1" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">An epic sea battle required Weta Digital’s team to simulate stormy ocean waves</p></div> <p>For Miller, the big challenge was the pirate battle. “It’s such a dynamic sequence,” he says. “There are nearly 60 pirates running about, two ships that are sailing in 60-metre seas complete with lightning storms, rain, hurricane winds, fire, explosions – you name it, it’s all there.” The most difficult challenge was the water, with 60-metre waves interacting with the ships that needed to compositionally match the representations provided by the pre-viz team.</p> <p>Miller’s team approached the work from a few different angles. “First, we updated our FFT [fast Fourier transform] library, a system of generating waves using measurements collected in oceanic research,” says Miller. They also completely rewrote their library using a more up-to-date spectrum that provided the ability to incorporate the ideas of the depth of the ocean and the fetch, or the distance that wind stays at a constant velocity. “We added those new variables into the system and we were able to generate much more realistic wave scenarios for the high wind systems,” he adds. </p> <p>Weta’s FX team did quite a bit of work approximating the surface velocity from the newly generated ocean surfaces and applied those to Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) particle simulations, much of which was used for the white water simulation, breaking waves that rode on top of the ocean surface. These were pushed through Weta’s in-house 3D effects solution, Synapse, a node-based system that’s a container for solvers. In some cases, Naiad data was also incorporated into Synapse for the initial bounded simulation elements.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35116" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.pirate1.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35116" height="245" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.pirate1.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.pirate1" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The battle sequence combines water, fire, wind and lightning, and featured as many as 60 pirates in combat</p></div> <p>In addition to reworking the FFT system, senior water TD Chris Horvath updated Weta’s shading model for raytraced water, using an improved model for participating media for underwater light extinction and scattering. He also made improvements to the procedural texture foam system. </p> <h4>Creating the hands</h4> <p>While Miller and his team battled with the pirate ships, Weta’s digital creature supervisor Simon Clutterbuck focused on some of the smallest of details through his modelling department. “We build the animation puppets, the deformation rigs, we do all the cloth and hair simulations, muscle dynamics, flesh dynamics – anything that has to do with the monster or character,” he says. “We interact with all the departments in the studio to produce stuff for them to use, like the puppets or the baked light, and we work closely with shots and animation.” </p> <p>The creature department work includes providing all the puppets for the animators. “Our animation puppet isn’t the thing that gets cached and ends up in the shot,” says Clutterbuck. “The animation puppets are kind of an interactive, almost real-time version of the character. They don’t have to see amazing hand deformations to pose the hand correctly, so they’re just posing [and] animating this thing that’s much lower resolution.” Clutterbuck’s Creature Department provides the animators with approximations of clothes and low-res hands and bodies that allow for faster animation. “Then the animation data is cached off of that puppet and plugged into a high-resolution creature rig, which gets cached and given to lighting,” he says. “This way there’s no requirement for interactivity in our actual deformation models.” </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35111" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.new_013025261.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35111" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.new_013025261.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.new_013025261" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">A single complex rig was used as the basis for all characters’ hands</p></div> <p>It’s hardly all low-res work, though. “There’s a big focus on faces and hands in the show, so a good deal of time was focused on building a detailed hand rig,” says Clutterbuck. “We had all these incredibly close shots of Tintin’s hands. It’s a treasure hunt, so there are all these clues that lead to the treasure, and there are lots of shots where he’s inspecting things. The shots are incredibly long, so you’ll have minutes focused on their face or hands. The stability of the cloth solve, the fidelity of the hands [and] the deformation all had to be very high. It was pretty unforgiving.”</p> <p>Weta Digital’s workflow uses a generic model called Gen Man as a baseline for building humanoid characters. This starting point is used for reference, scanning and motion capturing, tailoring clothes, and even cross-referencing MRI data. Clutterbuck explains: “We produced a whole bunch of life casts in all different poses that were used to build support moulds, 36 in all, that went into the MRI machine, so the character could put his hand into a similar pose and hold it there. Then we could derive the meshes of his joints from the MRIs.” The result was a series of high-resolution joint meshes of his actual skeleton in the selected poses. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35110" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.new_00402825.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="The story requires characters to grip and manipulate objects" class="size-full wp-image-35110" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.new_00402825.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.new_00402825" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The story is a treasure hunt, so there are lots of shots where the characters have to pick things up and be able to manipulate them</p></div> <p>“The metacarpals in the wrist do all these crazy rolling motions – it’s really complex,” Clutterbuck says. “We couldn’t build that complexity into the animation puppets because it would have been prohibitive to animate with, but we also needed the correct degrees of freedom in the wrist and joints to give us the right deformations of the hand.” It took nearly five months to get the hands working the way they wanted.</p> <p>“The hand rig looks pretty amazing,” says Clutterbuck. “The hand model propagates out into the show, procedurally warped into new shapes, so we built one hand rig and it was fitted to all the characters’ hands. We have a process that was developed on Avatar to transfer the rig and deformation data onto other models.” </p> <p>Weta Digital’s model supervisor Marco Revelant was responsible for all the assets created in the model department and was involved with grooming and developing the fur system from the user side for the dog, Snowy. However, it was the clothing that both Clutterbuck and Revelant found the most challenging. The multiple layers and the way the different fabrics fell and moved presented a daunting task. </p> <h4>Folding the clothes</h4> <p>Weta Digital set up a Tintin-specific costume department that helped define the design of the clothing, offering insight into how the fabric would drape and move over a character. “The problem is,” says Revelant, “when you do digital clothing and give it to a modeller, the modeller will try to put in features like wrinkles and folds, but won’t necessarily take into account the quantity of fabric.”</p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35114" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.other1_04800542SS_dist.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35114" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.other1_04800542SS_dist.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.other1_04800542SS_dist" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Care was taken with getting clothing folds to animate correctly</p></div> <p>To manage this issue, the Creature Department worked closely with modelling, providing tools that helped drape the character as they were modelling so that they could see how the fabric was behaving, rather than waiting until the Creature Department ran their simulations. Weta used NCloth in Maya, but spent a huge amount of time up-front shooting parameters and getting the topology in the models and construction correct, especially in cross-sections such as sleeves. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35124" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin8_020003215SS.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35124" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin8_020003215SS.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.tin8_020003215SS" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">There are eight principal characters, and several have multiple costumes. In all, there were 551 individual costumes to build for the film</p></div> <p>Several characters had multiple layers of clothing, requiring layers of geometry to simulate friction. There were eight principal characters, and several – including Tintin, Captain Haddock and Sakharine – have multiple costumes. In all, there were 551 individual costumes to build for the film. “Take the Captain,” Clutterbuck says. “He had a big woollen jacket, a woollen jumper, trousers, and socks and shoes.” Again, proper reference was key. Weta filmed a man running on a treadmill wearing a tailored suit they provided, and gathered reference on how cloth breaks across the seams, collecting data on details such as the effects of double versus single stitching. </p> <p>Weta first tried just solving the visible clothing, but found that it didn’t quite look correct. “We ended up going for full coupled solutions where everything was solved,” says Clutterbuck. “Tintin might enter with his trench coat on, then take it off and toss it onto the back of a chair, and continue the scene wearing the rest of his costume,” says Clutterbuck. “We had to handle this level of complexity where we had all these variations of costume elements and they had to solve coupled. We hadn’t really done anything that complicated before in terms of clothes.” </p> <p>Coupling affects even supporting characters such as Silk, who dresses in a formal jacket, a waistcoat and a shirt. “We didn’t solve the shirt, then put the waistcoat on, then the jacket,” says Clutterbuck. “We solved everything at the same time, so the solutions were all fully coupled. All the costume elements are plugged into one solver. Since they’re all plugged in, they all interact.”</p> <p>Weta defers everything to its render wall. The costumes were assembled as a master file that contained a costume description. During the baked simulation step that file would assemble the costume, plug it into all the solvers, bring it in, attach it to the character, then do the simulation. The result was a final sim and a series of files generated to show what Weta calls pre-files, which are pre-simulation. The individual costume assets are iterated in parallel as an ensemble of costume elements. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35130" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin14_03802770SS.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35130" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin14_03802770SS.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.tin14_03802770SS" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text"> “There’s a big focus on faces and hands in the show, so a good deal of time was focused on building a detailed hand rig,” says Clutterbuck</p></div> <p>The costumes took several minutes a frame to simulate, but there was no interactivity requirement because that’s all happening on the render wall and animation was working with real-time puppet versions. “So we have these two parts of every character, with the puppet which goes to animation and the creature deformation model that’s the thing the animation curves get plugged into that simulates on the wall,” says Clutterbuck. </p> <p>Weta’s flexible pipeline paid off, according to Miller. “I know a lot of facilities tend to lock down their technology, branch it off and continue developing it outside of current shows, but that’s very different from how Weta works,” he says. “It’s got pros and cons for sure, but it’s one of those things that helps us to stay at the leading edge of technology. We’re constantly throwing in new technology and updating and developing new aspects, and trying to get it pushed into production all the way through the course of the show.” </p> <h4>Setting the scene </h4> <p>The entire Tintin project was done in-house at Weta Digital, including the artwork for the environment and character studies. The translation of the environments from 2D to 3D was left to Weta’s modelling department under modelling supervisor Marco Revelant’s guidance. An internal art department was assembled to research information about the time when the film takes place. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35133" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin16_08900835.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35133" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin16_08900835.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.tin16_08900835" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">“Every element that was drawn in the book, we tried to find the respective real element from that period that could have been the inspiration for the Hergé drawing," explains Revelant. "Everything was checked against real period data.” </p></div> <p>“One important thing is [creator] Hergé was very careful in depicting a kind of reality that was around the 1940s,” explains Revelant. “Every element that was drawn in the book, we tried to find the respective real element from that period that could have been the inspiration for the Hergé drawing. Everything was checked against real period data.” </p> <h4>Creating the hair </h4> <p>Weta was working on Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Tintin at the same time. While the requirements for hair on Tintin weren’t anything near what they were for Apes, some of the aspects translated over. Tintin required wind effects, wet hair and a lot of development to get the hair to work coupled with the clothes. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_35125" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin9_030016v405.jpg" rel="lightbox[35108]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35125" height="246" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW152.f_tintin.tin9_030016v405.jpg" title="TDW152.f_tintin.tin9_030016v405" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Character hair in The Adventures of Tintin has to interact with objects and the environment</p></div> <p>With the hat on, the Captain has a groom, styled so his hair doesn’t stick through the hat. When the hat is off, the hair is groomed appropriately. Sometimes the Captain put his hat on or took it off, so transitional shots with appropriate grooms were needed. The Captain’s hair ended up having a very dense particle set on the hair and collision objects with the hat, and his hair would spring up a bit during the transition. </p> <p><a href="http://www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/design/3dworld-magazine-back-issues/3d-world-feb-12/">Buy issue 152 of 3D World magazine to read the full article</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Tintin-Two-Disc-Blu-ray-Digital/dp/B0034G4P4Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1331150699&sr=8-3">Buy the Blu-ray of The Adventures of Tintin via Amazon</a></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d77d052/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Weta+Digital+on+the+making+of+The+Adventures+of+Tintin&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F15%2Fweta-digital-on-the-making-of-the-adventures-of-tintin%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dweta-digital-on-the-making-of-the-adventures-of-tintin" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Weta+Digital+on+the+making+of+The+Adventures+of+Tintin&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F15%2Fweta-digital-on-the-making-of-the-adventures-of-tintin%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dweta-digital-on-the-making-of-the-adventures-of-tintin" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200327135/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d77d052/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200327135/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d77d052/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200327135/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d77d052/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/D4s7vJZZjr8" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS

New animation short: The Accuracy of Time

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/19.jpg" rel="lightbox[35032]"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35091" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/19.jpg" title="19" width="580" /></a></p> <p class="strap">Find out how this ultra photorealistic film was pieced together using 3ds Max and V-Ray. Watch the animated short here too</p> <p><span id="more-35032"></span></p> <p>The Accuracy of Time is a depiction of part of the process of building a watch, more specifically the ceramic crown. Created by art director Javi Martinez, the short was made as a case study for his upcoming <a href="http://lightrendergroup.com/">CGI training roadshow TAOT2012</a>.</p> <p>The idea was to replicate a real advertisement and the entire production process behind it. The film will be used as part of the roadshow training to highlight some of specific challenges currently facing digital artists.</p> <p>The project was created using a 3ds Max and V-Ray pipeline. “The decision to use this software was simply to make a technical demonstration of the many capabilities offered by the two working together,” explains Martinez. </p> <h4>3ds Max and V-Ray: an ideal combo</h4> <p>“3ds Max allowed us to develop the short very easily using the new MASSFX to perform physical dynamics and the ceramic particles and at the same time offered great performance in the modelling and animation of objects and cameras. The reason we chose V-Ray was the quality of representation of light, versatility, simplicity to recreate materials and the optimisation of production times.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/14.jpg" rel="lightbox[35032]"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35092" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/14.jpg" title="14" width="580" /></a></p> <h4>More-than-reasonable render times</h4> <p>Rather amazingly, The Accuracy of Time was created using only one workstation! It just goes to show what can be achieved if you’ve got the right amount of dedication: “The short includes the processing of raw materials [to create the watch], the material injection to obtain the piece itself, then it passes through the baking stage and ends with the exposure of the product with elegance and quality,” says Martinez. “But the whole film was in fact a very simple macro CG production playing with a basic geometric model, a virtual light and virtual camera. Given that the piece was produced using a single workstation, the render times were very manageable, ranging from five to 35 minutes per frame.”</p> <h4>Playing with the look</h4> <p>It wasn’t all plain sailing, however. Due to the style and close-up nature of the short, Martinez had to work out solutions in order to achieve the correct look. “The animation treatment and lens blurs were resolved by ZD channels and working on it in post,” Martinex explains. “The animation of the camera lens can easily change the meaning of a sequence so experimenting with this technique was very attractive to me.”</p> <p>Overall, the short took Martinez approximately just under a year to complete from start to finish. “The 10-month production time was an amazing experience,” Martinez says. “But it led to a lot of sacrifice and [it was a] joy to finally get my work out to reach the community of artists in an industry which is so difficult and exquisite.”</p> <h4>Watch the new animation short:</h4> </p> <p></p> <h4>Watch The Accuracy of Time making of video:</h4> <p> <p> </p> <h4>Want more animated shorts of the same calibre?</h4> <p>If you liked this film, check out a selection of other awesome animations on our <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/category/showcase/shorts/">Shorts page</a></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d6f8c5d/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=New+animation+short%3A+The+Accuracy+of+Time&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F14%2Fnew-animation-short-the-accuracy-of-time%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dnew-animation-short-the-accuracy-of-time" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=New+animation+short%3A+The+Accuracy+of+Time&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F14%2Fnew-animation-short-the-accuracy-of-time%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dnew-animation-short-the-accuracy-of-time" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200299806/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d6f8c5d/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200299806/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d6f8c5d/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200299806/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d6f8c5d/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/HB_RZPTmu4k" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS

The Embassy: The art of robotics

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW94.t_trade.ad_seq3.jpg" rel="lightbox[35067]"><img alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-35088" height="348" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW94.t_trade.ad_seq3.jpg" title="TDW94.t_trade.ad_seq3" width="580" /></a></p> <p class="strap">Do you remember the original Transformers-style Citroën C4 spot? Five years ago it became a worldwide cult hit and we asked The Embassy’s CG team to reveal some of the ad’s technical secrets. Catch up as Transformers week continues…</p> <p>To celebrate <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/07/digital-tutors-releases-new-transforming-robot-tutorials/">Digital-Tutors’ new Transformation training</a>, we thought we’d make an event of it and post online all things Transformery!</p> <p>We’ve already posted up two making of Transformers articles:<br /> <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/07/the-making-of-transformers/">The making of Transformers</a><br /> <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/08/the-making-of-transformers-2/">The making of Transformers 2</a></p> <p>We plan to post up a <strong>train-transforming walkthrough tutorial</strong> this week too, so remember to check back.</p> <h3>Here’s the Embassy’s making of the Citroën ‘Runner’ spot</h3> <h4>ABOUT THE ORIGINAL AD</h4> <p>Created for the launch of Citroën’s C4 range, The Embassy Visual Effects’s original 2004 ad, ‘Alive with Technology’, opens with a hand-held camera shot of a car that transforms into a robot, performs an?impromptu series of dance moves and then reverts back to vehicular form.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_35068" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW94.t_trade.orig_ad.jpg" rel="lightbox[35067]"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-35068" height="320" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/TDW94.t_trade.orig_ad.jpg" title="TDW94.t_trade.orig_ad" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The Embassy Visual Effects’s original 2004 ad, ‘Alive with Technology’, opens with a hand-held camera shot of a car that transforms into a robot, performs an?impromptu series of dance moves and then reverts back to vehicular form</p></div> <p>As well as making other VFX teams green with envy, the spot proved to have unexpected longevity. A full two years on, it was regularly appearing on TV, picking up fresh awards, and inspiring numerous spoofs and tributes, including a memorable parody replacing the C4 with a rather less glamorous Citroën 2CV and a viral for Danish bacon. The Mill even got a shot at producing a follow-up, before The Embassy itself jumped back on board for a third in the series.</p> <p>“It’s hard to say what it was about that original ad that hit people,” says studio president Winston Helgason. “Technically we did a good job, but something else struck a chord with them. While the ad has that geek factor, it’s just really fun to watch.”</p> <p>Television audiences got their first taste of vehicular dancefloor magic back in 2004. A?relative newcomer to the field of CG, Vancouver-based VFX studio The Embassy Visual Effects had already turned heads with its viral short film <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1zGLx6H3f4&feature=related">Tetra Vaal</a> and some impressively photoreal ads for the likes of Nike.</p> <p>But it was the Citroën ‘Alive with Technology’ ad that really put the studio on the map – and a spring in the step of CG?based car ads. Fusing perfectly believable virtual visuals, directorial flair, and some seriously cool dance moves, The Embassy created what is now regarded as a?genuine classic.</p> <h3>Watch the Citroën ‘Alive with Technology’ spot</h3> <p></p> <p>Now the studio is back on board for the third spot in what is becoming an increasingly long-running campaign, and has been working hard to push the concept of a car that transforms into a robot to even greater heights.</p> <p>In contrast to the original spot, for which director Neill Blomkamp utilised a virtual camera and 3D environment constructed from photographs, the new ad’s director, Trevor Cawood, chose to undertake a live shoot in South Africa – a location chosen principally for its favourable lighting conditions. A new transforming CG vehicle was then integrated into the plates with the help of elements rebuilt in?3D to aid the creation of shadows and reflections.</p> <p>“The brief was pretty open,” says The Embassy president Winston Helgason. “The idea was to have the robot running, but other than that, it was simply ‘make it look cool’. The client did come back and ask if we could find something else for the robot to do, though, so we came up with the rail slide [which the bot performs along the restraining barrier by the side of the road].”</p> <p>Here, the studio’s 3D and compositing staff reveal just how their cybernetic star was rigged and animated to perform such a stunt. They also explore some of the shading and lighting techniques used to generate the photorealistic renders of the modified car necessary to composite it seamlessly into the background plate.</p> <p>Helgason reveals that the studio’s preferred tool for this kind of work is LightWave 3D’s own renderer, its raytracing proving particularly well suited to hard surface lighting. Dropping HDRI set data into the program and adding additional lights, the studio is able to get a scene fully lit in a matter of minutes. But ultimately, he says that the real secret of photorealism in the Citroën ads is simply attention to detail.</p> <p>“The most important thing is to understand how lighting really works, and then learn to match the way it reacts to metallic surfaces,” he says. “That, and then adding loads of extra model detail is what makes the results so effective.”</p> <h3>Watch the Citroën ‘Runner’ spot</h3> <p></p> <p><em>Click Next to read about how ILM had to rip apart the original robot design</em></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d689117/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=The+Embassy%3A+The+art+of+robotics&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F13%2Fthe-embassy-the-art-of-robotics%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dthe-embassy-the-art-of-robotics" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=The+Embassy%3A+The+art+of+robotics&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F13%2Fthe-embassy-the-art-of-robotics%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dthe-embassy-the-art-of-robotics" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200298402/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d689117/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200298402/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d689117/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129200298402/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d689117/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/z_DGLpUWdbI" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS

Software review: iClone5 Pro

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.hero_.jpg" rel="lightbox[35061]"><img alt="iClone's new toon shader" class="alignright size-full wp-image-35062" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.hero_.jpg" title="iClone's new toon shader" width="580" /></a> <p class="strap">Real-time 3D animation tool, iClone, has everything you need to set up your directorial ?debut. But is it too limited, asks Paul Champion?</p> <p>PRICE?: $200.? Upgrade from $120. ??Other editions: Standard, $80??<br /> PLATFORM?: Windows??<br /> MAIN FEATURES: <ul> <li>Real-time animation?</li> <li>In-screen motion editing and puppeteering?</li> <li>Advanced timeline editing with transition curve?</li> <li>Animate in real-time with motion-capture device??</li> </ul> <p>DEVELOPER: <a href="http://www.reallusion.com">Reallusion</a></p> <p>Converting your finished story idea into a pre-viz or polished animation often presents some daunting challenges, and selecting the right software applications to use can be a key factor in the time (and cost) spent completing it. </p> <p>iClone5 Pro offers a happy medium between high-end applications that have seemingly endless options to tweak, and frustratingly feeble, user-unfriendly low-end software. The latest version of iClone has new animation tools, is still a breeze to use and remains competitively priced.?</p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_35063" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.assets.jpg" rel="lightbox[35061]"><img alt="iClone5" class="size-full wp-image-35063" height="463" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.assets.jpg" title="iClone5" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Now you can create your own version of Pixar’s The Incredibles, in a park and on a merry-go-round!</p></div> <p>If you’re unfamiliar with iClone, it’s primarily a template-based hassle-free solution for real-time animation with plenty of bells and whistles. In terms of workflow, you’re limited to working with the rudimentary content supplied with the application, unless you’re prepared to buy additional assets via Reallusion’s Content Marketplace (which always seems to have some sort of deal on offer). </p> <p>Getting your own assets into iClone5 Pro is quick and easy, but it requires Reallusion’s 3DXchange4, which converts files from applications such as ZBrush, Photoshop, Blender, Poser, Daz Studio, Vue and Maya, and costs $80 for the Standard version. You’ll need 3DXchange4 Pro ($120) to use assets in FBX, 3DS, OBJ and SKP formats. ?</p> <p>Pre-viz users or anyone presenting a concept pitch to clients should find that the content provided is more than adequate for demonstration, where the actual look of assets is less relevant. End users, who will no doubt grow tired of the limited content provided, will be disappointed that they have to shell out for 3DXchange to import more material.?<br /> With the assets in place, it’s time to animate, and there are many new tools to help you with this.??</p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_35064" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.market.jpg" rel="lightbox[35061]"><img alt="iClone5" class="size-full wp-image-35064" height="402" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.market.jpg" title="iClone5" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Whether it’s sexy girls, gym kits or vampires you’re after, the marketplace has plenty of assets for you to buy</p></div> <h4>New features</h4> <p>?<br /> Direct Puppet lets you record your actor’s animation in real time, and if necessary lock body parts to locations. MixMoves enables seamless blending between motions. Body Motion Puppeteering enables the user to control the animation speed and direction. ?</p> <p>Simple floor contact is taken care of with Human IK Motion Editing for Actors, and allows props (which can now be animated in real time) to be held onto realistically. The Timeline has been updated so that animation curves can be varied in playback by adding curve adjustments such as Ease In and Ease Out. For physics animation there are Rigid and Soft Body options for simulation, and other uses such as game prototyping.?</p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_35065" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.effects.jpg" rel="lightbox[35061]"><img alt="iClone5" class="size-full wp-image-35065" height="464" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.effects.jpg" title="iClone5" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Effects can help to enhance your movies, but they are limited to a maximum of five within a project</p></div> <p>The premium new animation tool being touted for use with iClone5 Pro is the Mocap Device plug-in. With this you can act out your animations in real-time – the recorded mocap data is then applied to actors. </p> <p>At $140, this is a lot cheaper than buying your own professional mocap studio, although it requires you to have an Xbox 360 with Kinect. It’s also only compatible with the Pro edition. </p> <p>The plug-in is a significant add-on that falls outside the remit of this review. Judging by forum responses, however, it’s a successful product and great for anyone who wants to physically generate their own movement.</p> <p>?Other notable tools and settings, with which Reallusion is catching up with market competitors rather than introducing groundbreaking innovations, include Ambient Occlusion, which improves the quality of visual output with barely any impact on render times; post-FX tools for colour and blur, which are easy to apply; and cartoon rendering, which can be achieved with just a few clicks and some minor texture corrections. ?</p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_35066" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.rigid_.jpg" rel="lightbox[35061]"><img alt="iClone5" class="size-full wp-image-35066" height="371" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.rigid_.jpg" title="iClone5" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Rigid body simulations can pep up high-speed chases. In iClone5 Pro they are easy to deploy</p></div> <p>There’s still plenty of room for improvement in the renderer. The options are minimal and simplistic – which is part of the general charm of iClone, but it doesn’t always do justice to the end result. Multiple cameras and Picture-In-Picture features offer greater control between shots. Much-requested duplication settings enable you to instance objects with ease, and adjustable pivots, snapping and aligning tools are now possible for objects.?</p> <p>More resource-hungry improvements include higher poly counts for actors, with notable increases to head meshes, which enable more natural deformations. In practice this works far better than before, and since faces are areas that most viewers’ eyes are naturally drawn to, it’s a clearly visible improvement. However, it can still be difficult and time-consuming to tweak. </p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_35062" style="width: 590px;"><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.hero_.jpg" rel="lightbox[35061]"><img alt="iClone's new toon shader" class="size-full wp-image-35062" height="326" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/r_iclone5.hero_.jpg" title="iClone's new toon shader" width="580" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The new Toon Shader is found in the Atmosphere section of the Stage tab, and can be adjusted for your project needs</p></div> <p>Cartoon character facial controls have been advanced to include exaggeration. Height Map Terrains now allow bigger landscapes, but they are limited to just five. Smart iProps have been updated for game-like interaction.</p> <p>?During testing, these new tools all worked admirably, yet iClone crashed a number of times for no apparent reason. When pushed to reasonable extremes for any shot – such as 20 actors set up with different parameters and animations applied – iClone responded well. But other times it would crash with, for example, a fairly empty scene during terrain set-up. Ordinarily, this would only be a minor annoyance, but since there’s no autosave option in the program, it becomes more ?of a frustration. </p> <p>?Hardware-wise, iClone doesn’t require an overly demanding system. Rather misleadingly, it’s listed as being 32-bit and 64-bit Windows compatible, but it’s not actually a native 64-bit release, so it won’t take advantage of any extra memory installed over 32-bit limitations. It’s rumoured that a 64-bit update will be released, although this was unconfirmed as we went to press.?</p> <p>Overall, iClone5 Pro remains an easy-to-use application, and it can be a real time-saver for pre-viz work and presentations. The learning curve isn’t too steep, and setting up shots is intuitive. For existing iClone users, it should be a no-brainer to upgrade because content from previous versions is compatible, the upgrade price is good, and the new tools (and mocap plug-in, if you choose to buy it) will enhance its usability. New users will need to assess whether they have the funds for additional content and a copy of 3DXchange. </p> <h3>VERDICT</h3> <h4>PROS</h4> <ul> <li>Simple for novices without previous animation experience?</li> <li>Easily modifiable preset models?</li> <li>Ready-made animation categories?</li> <li>Intuitive editing?</li> <li>Options for advanced animators</li> </ul> <h4>??CONS</h4> <ul> <li>Facial profiles are difficult to tweak?</li> <li>Additional content incurs extra costs</li> <li>Rendering options still limited?</li> <li>Not a true 64-bit application??</li> </ul> <p><strong>A speedy solution for pre-viz but hampered by limited content options, basic render settings, and lack of true 64-bit support</strong></p> <h4>About the author</h4> <p>?Paul Champion is the demonstrator for undergraduate and postgraduate 3D and VFX courses at the National Centre for Computer Animation, Bournemouth</p> <h3><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/02/06/win-a-copy-of-reallusions-iclone5-pro/">Win a copy of Reallusion’s iClone5 Pro</a></h3> <p>Enter our <a href="http://http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/02/06/win-a-copy-of-reallusions-iclone5-pro/">iClone5 Pro prize draw</a> for your chance to win one of four packages featuring Reallusion’s real-time animation suite, <strong>worth $1,352 in total</strong></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d5d1225/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Software+review%3A+iClone5+Pro&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F12%2Fsoftware-review-iclone5-pro%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dsoftware-review-iclone5-pro" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Software+review%3A+iClone5+Pro&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F12%2Fsoftware-review-iclone5-pro%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dsoftware-review-iclone5-pro" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129168239143/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d5d1225/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129168239143/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d5d1225/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/129168239143/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d5d1225/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/FfSl8XDXlLw" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS

Bioware’s Mass Effect 3: Take Earth Back trailer

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Mass_effect_3_trailer.jpg" rel="lightbox[35052]"><img alt="Mass Effect 3 trailer" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-35053" height="325" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Mass_effect_3_trailer.jpg" title="Mass Effect 3 trailer" width="580" /></a> <p class="strap">Remember the phenomenal CG trailer that Bioware released a few weeks ago? Don’t worry if you missed it: as Mass Effect 3 goes on sale in the UK, we take a look at Bioware’s cinematic for the final installment of the massively popular RPG</p> <p>We’re so lucky that big budget games can’t be released without an accompanying cinematic teaser to go alongside the standard gameplay trailer, as the animations produced are truly stunning. </p> <p>Bioware’s Mass Effect 3 trailer is a fine example – the teaser features children, aliens and devastating lasers. The cinematic action really gets your adrenaline pumping. </p> <p>One YouTube user commented that if the video keeps going like it does, [the character you play] Shepard has only got about 30-35 minutes to take back Earth, tops, before it’s completely annihilated!</p> <h3>Watch Bioware’s Mass Effect 3 trailer online</h3> <p></p> <h3>Want to learn how Bioware created the cinematic?</h3> <p>So do we, that’s why we’ve asked Bioware to contribute a ‘making of’ article for 3D World magazine. So look out for that in the next issue!</p> <h3>Want more like this?</h4> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/03/09/platige-images-witcher-2-trailer-and-making-of-video/">Watch Platige Image’s Witcher 2 trailer and making of video</a></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d4c5888/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Bioware%E2%80%99s+Mass+Effect+3%3A+Take+Earth+Back+trailer&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F09%2Fbiowares-mass-effect-3-take-earth-back-trailer%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dbiowares-mass-effect-3-take-earth-back-trailer" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Bioware%E2%80%99s+Mass+Effect+3%3A+Take+Earth+Back+trailer&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F09%2Fbiowares-mass-effect-3-take-earth-back-trailer%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dbiowares-mass-effect-3-take-earth-back-trailer" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698767040/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4c5888/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698767040/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4c5888/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698767040/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4c5888/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/NvLT8p93M8g" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS

Friday Animation Fun: Synaesthesia

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Scene-2.jpg" rel="lightbox[35045]"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35047" height="244" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Scene-2.jpg" title="Scene-2" width="580" /></a></p> <p class="strap">Find out how this new short about a fascinating sensory condition was created using a combination of Maya, After Effects and Photoshop. Watch the film here too</p> <p>Synaesthesia tells the life experience of a synaesthete; a person with a condition where two or more of the five senses that are normally experienced separately are involuntarily and automatically joined together. Synaesthetes can experience sounds, tastes, smells, shapes, or touches in almost any combination. Synaesthesia features a character as a small boy, an adult worker and a retired man, who can see and feel shapes and depicts his different reactions to the phenomenon.</p> <p>The short was a final year project created by four students – Tien Hee, Kasumi Saito, Leo Chida and Nikko Hull – of <a href="http://www.massey.ac.nz">Massey University</a>, New Zealand. The quartet had to think of an idea to suit the brief of the school, which had a self-driven component as well as a pre-defined part. “This was basically to pick a topic and find a need or something that needs changing etc,” says Hull. “We chose Synaesthesia.”</p> <h4>Things shaped up nicely</h4> <p>In order to tackle such a complicated condition, the team spent a lot of time researching Synaesthesia and how it was going to affect their characters and set designs. “We decided during the research stage what we were going to do,” says Chida. “Each character was associated with a shape as were the environments. These were contrasting, for example, the first scene the kid was a circle, round and innocent and the environment was a triangle, sharp, scary and alert.”</p> <p>The team also used many sources of inspiration to achieve the look and style they were after. “For the environments, I looked at lots of animations, <a href="http://www.studio4c.co.jp/english/">Studio 4°C</a>, <a href="http://vimeo.com/user2825043">Team Cerf</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0831888/">Tekkonkintreet</a> etc and mixed them all together to get the end result,” says Saito. “It was hard to simplify the forms to get it right. We ended up mixing all of these with our own ideas to get the style we came up with.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Scene-1.jpg" rel="lightbox[35045]"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35046" height="247" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/Scene-1.jpg" title="Scene-1" width="580" /></a></p> <h4>Added Layers</h4> <p>With set and character designs completed, the team began creating the film’s assets in Maya and UV layout tool, <a href="http://www.uvlayout.com/">Headus</a>. “This software is pretty awesome, I was really happy with how Headus sped things up,” says Chida. They also adopted a rendering technique which helped with production times.</p> <p>“The process was quite simple, which also helped in a way,” says Hull. “Each layer was kind of easy, it was just a matter of putting it all together in After Effects. We found the technique demonstrated (kind of) on <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/">Deviant Art</a>, I can’t remember the specific artist, but then we tried to figure it out in Maya and it worked quite well. But we didn’t choose that because of its ease, we chose it because of the style.”</p> <p>The scenes were separated to make the whole process more manageable. “The old man walking down the hall is a good example,” says Hull. “We had the walls, which were all on different render layers. The background and walls were a single layer and frame. Then anything which was moving, so the phone and the character, were on their own layers and were the only sequences. There also had to be a sequence for the shadows so they could cast on the walls. Then we had diffuse, shadows, highlight, AO and particle layers. This all went into After Effects with some lights and colour correction.”</p> <p>After two semesters worth of work, the student team completed the film and are pleased with the final result considering their prior experience in animation. “Up until the end, you have no idea what it’s going to turn out like,” says Chida. “But it was so rewarding finding out that all the effort wasn’t wasted and the film actually looked OK. I mean, some was wasted but we’re learning so it’s all good. Our degree consisted of lots of general design and even fine art so we’ve only really had about a year of animation training (in total). With this in mind, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.”</p> <p></p> <p>Like this film? <a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/category/showcase/shorts/">Check out the selection of other awesome animations in our shorts section</a></p> <p><em>Make sure you visit next week for more Friday Animation Fun!</em></p> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d4bec67/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Friday+Animation+Fun%3A+Synaesthesia&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F09%2Ffriday-animation-fun-synaesthesia%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dfriday-animation-fun-synaesthesia" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Friday+Animation+Fun%3A+Synaesthesia&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F09%2Ffriday-animation-fun-synaesthesia%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dfriday-animation-fun-synaesthesia" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698680485/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4bec67/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698680485/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4bec67/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698680485/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4bec67/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/_jN_z2Gm7AM" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS

Platige Image’s Witcher 2 trailer and making of video

<p><a href="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/witcher2_09032012.jpg" rel="lightbox[35048]"><img alt="Witcher 2" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-35049" height="317" src="http://www.3dworldmag.com/files/2012/03/witcher2_09032012.jpg" title="Witcher 2" width="580" /></a> <p class="strap">Watch the jaw-dropping animation in the trailer for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. Then catch Platige Image’s ‘making of’ video too… </p> <p>In January, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and CD Projekt RED released the epic and impactful CG intro trailer for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, produced by the award-winning animation studio, Platige Image. </p> <p>We were simply blown away when we watched this four-minute cinematic online at the start of the year. Directed by Tomek Bagi?ski and produced by Platige Image, this trailer is packed with stunning animation and effects. Watch it below.</p> <p>Now Platige Image has produced a behind-the-scenes look at the production of the trailer, from the early renders and mocap sessions to the final clip. You can also watch this three-minute video below.</p> <h4>Behind the scenes of Witcher 2</h4> <p>“The idea of the script came from CD Projekt couple years ago, right after the premiere of ‘The Witcher’. It was so called ‘soft’ version and we used it as basis for the work. In spite of vast changes we made, the project went on hold for almost two years until it was brought back to life in Xbox 360 version.”</p> <p>“As it turned out these two years gave both parties necessary perspective. Once we started working on the script again we were able to create new, better and richer version very fast.”</p> <p>“What was left from the original is the ship and main characters. All the rest has been changed. For example in the first version a hornet’s nest was used in the attack. The ship was turned into chaos – all crew started running around. They looked like a group of crazy or electrocuted people. Well… we got rid of this ‘dance’ but left the chaos and add a lot of steroids. It helped,” says director Tomek Bagi?ski.</p> <p>“It was one of the most demanding projects in Platige Image history. The script set up very high standards. As for such a short movie there were a lot of main, detailed characters, difficult face close-ups, very dynamic action full of special effects: cloth and particles simulation and hard slowmotion shots.”</p> <p>“The ship also became one of the main characters. First our graphic artists created a fantastic scenery and most of all great, very detailed sailing ship. Then the particles simulation team went rough with it. They created a vast interaction system covering the whole construction with milions of ice crystals and they smashed the whole thing,” adds CG Supervisor Maciek Jackiewicz.</p> <p>The team of 40 graphic designers and animators was involved in the project for couple moths.</p> <p>The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is due on on Xbox 360 on 17 April. The Windows version is shipping now.</p> <h3>Watch the Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings trailer:</h3> <p></p> <h3> Watch the making-of video for the cinematic:</h3> <p></p> <p><a href="http://www.cgsociety.org/index.php/CGSFeatures/CGSFeatureSpecial/the_witcher_2_cinematic">Read a longer interview with CG supervisor Maciej Jackiewicz on CGSociety</a></p> <h4>If you liked this, look out for our ‘making of’ Mass Effect 3 cinematic, due in the next issue of 3D World</h4> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://3dworldmag.com.feedsportal.com/c/33151/f/538495/s/1d4b9af0/mf.gif" width="1" /><div class="mf-viral"><table border="0"><tr><td valign="middle"><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Platige+Image%E2%80%99s+Witcher+2+trailer+and+making+of+video&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F09%2Fplatige-images-witcher-2-trailer-and-making-of-video%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dplatige-images-witcher-2-trailer-and-making-of-video" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Platige+Image%E2%80%99s+Witcher+2+trailer+and+making+of+video&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3dworldmag.com%2F2012%2F03%2F09%2Fplatige-images-witcher-2-trailer-and-making-of-video%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dplatige-images-witcher-2-trailer-and-making-of-video" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698762514/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4b9af0/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698762514/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4b9af0/a2.img" /></a><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/127698762514/u/49/f/538495/c/33151/s/1d4b9af0/a2t.img" /><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/3dWorldrss/~4/b7YwnVrsgeA" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS

JUST CREATIVE DESIGN

SHOW NEXT 5 >

Recent Web & Branding Work (Jul-Dec)

<p class="intro">Back in July I posted some of my <a href="http://justcreative.com/2012/07/27/recent-web-design-work/" title="Recent Web Work">recent work</a> for <a href="http://justcreative.com/2012/07/29/comedians-in-cars-getting-coffee/" title="Jerry Seinfeld">Jerry Seinfeld</a>, <a href="http://justcreative.com/2012/07/11/sweetn-low-website/" title="Sweet N Low">Sweet’N Low</a>, <a href="http://justcreative.com/2012/06/01/energy-kitchen/" title="Energy Kitchen">Energy Kitchen</a> and now six months later, I have a few more web & branding projects to share with you. Thanks for looking!</p> <h2>Ruff Club</h2> <p><a href="http://ruffclub.com" title="Ruff Club NYC">Ruff Club</a> is a dog-friendly social club and contemporary pet care hub based in East Village, New York City. I had the pleasure of branding this new business from the ground up, creating their logo, overall look & feel and web site design.</p> <p>The positioning of the brand shies away from the “boutique hotel experience” and instead, true to the East Village, offers a laid-back environment where dogs and humans are treated with dignity and respect but never pampered or infantilized.</p> <p>Ruff Club is built on the idea that people can channel the love and humility their dogs provide, into new relationships and collective community engagement.</p> <p>Ruff Club will be opening their doors very soon. I’ll share more photos once they become available.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone"><img alt="Ruff Club Logo" class=" " height="457" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/RUFF-Club-Logo-640x457.jpg" title="Ruff Club Logo" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Ruff Club Logo</p></div> <div> <div class="mceTemp"></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone"><img alt="Ruff Club Logo Reversed" class=" " height="457" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/RUFF-Club-Logo-Dark-640x457.jpg" title="Ruff Club Logo Reversed" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Ruff Club Logo Reversed</p></div> </div> <div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11470"><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Ruff-Club-Website-Home-Page.jpg"><img alt="Ruff Club Website Home Page" class="size-large wp-image-11470" height="421" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Ruff-Club-Website-Home-Page-640x421.jpg" title="Ruff Club Website Home Page" width="640" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Ruff Club Website Home Page</p></div> </div> <div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11471"><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Ruff-Club-Website-SubPage.jpg"><img alt="Ruff Club Website FAQ Page" class="size-large wp-image-11471" height="655" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Ruff-Club-Website-SubPage-640x655.jpg" title="Ruff Club Website FAQ Page" width="640" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Ruff Club Website FAQ Page</p></div> </div> <div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11465"><img alt="Ruff Club Letterhead (Logo Stamped On) & Business Card" class="size-large wp-image-11465" height="477" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Ruff-Club-Stationery-640x477.jpg" title="Ruff-Club-Stationery" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Ruff Club Letterhead (The logo & text are stamped on) & Business Card</p></div> </div> <div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11438"><img alt="Ruff Club Pre Launch at the NYC Halloween Dog Parade " class="size-large wp-image-11438" height="480" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Ruff-Club-Launch-640x480.jpg" title="Ruff Club Pre Launch at the NYC Halloween Dog Parade " width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Ruff Club pre launch at the NYC Halloween Dog Parade.</p></div> </div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11439"><img alt="Ruff Club Store" class="size-large wp-image-11439" height="480" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Ruff-Club-Store-640x480.jpg" title="Ruff-Club-Store" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Outside of the Ruff Club store front, providing support for pets effected by Hurricane Sandy.</p></div> <h2>Coffee Shop Restaurant, NYC</h2> <p>When Ammirati (the agency I work at) was asked to rebrand & refresh the iconic <a href="http://thecoffeeshopnyc.com" title="The Coffee Shop NYC">Coffee Shop</a> restaurant in Union Square, our stomachs growled at the opportunity. We designed a sexy new website that visually reflected their 23 opening hours, both for the desktop and mobile.</p> <p>Each of the 23 squares on their home page represents 1 hour of the day and a photo taken within that hour is randomly displayed each time the page is loaded. The website is scalable ensuring that screen sizes are used to their maximum potential. Viewing the menu and ordering online is just one click away too.</p> <p>My role in this project was coming up with the 23 hour grid concept and the overall UX / UI design for the desktop and mobile versions of the site.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11391"><img alt="Coffee Shop Website" class="size-large wp-image-11391" height="468" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Coffee-Shop-Website-640x468.jpg" title="Coffee-Shop-Website" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The Coffee Shop Website</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11295"><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Coffee-Shop-Final.jpg"><img alt="Coffee Shop Union Square, NYC" class="size-large wp-image-11295 " height="445" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Coffee-Shop-Final-640x445.jpg" title="Coffee Shop" width="640" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The home page for the 'Coffee Shop' Union Square, NYC</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11296"><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Coffee-Shop-Menu.jpg"><img alt="Website Menu Page for 'Coffee Shop' Union Square, NYC" class="size-large wp-image-11296" height="445" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Coffee-Shop-Menu-640x445.jpg" title="Coffee-Shop-Menu" width="640" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The menu page for 'Coffee Shop' Union Square, NYC </p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11321"><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/CoffeeShop-Mobile.jpg"><img alt="Coffee Shop NYC Mobile Website" class="size-large wp-image-11321" height="354" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/CoffeeShop-Mobile-640x354.jpg" title="CoffeeShop-Mobile" width="640" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Coffee Shop NYC Mobile Website</p></div> <h2>Au Natural <em>In The Raw</em> Facebook App</h2> <p>The Au Natural <em>In The Raw </em>app allows users to upload their own food photo, censor it, and then share their successful creation. Friends can then click on the shared photo and “reveal” the sweet creation via an interactive slider. Users can then share their own photo, view the Au Natural gallery and gain access to secret <em>In The Raw</em> recipes.</p> <p>My role in this project was the interaction design for both the mobile & desktop versions of the Facebook application; including the overall architecture of the app, the user experience & user interface design. Designed & developed at Ammirati.</p> <p>The mobile version can be seen here (must be viewed on a Mobile device):<br /> <a href="https://www.hotintherawaction.com/mobile/" target="_blank">https://www.hotintherawaction.com/mobile/</a></p> <p>The desktop version can be seen here:<br /> <a href="https://www.hotintherawaction.com/" target="_blank">https://www.hotintherawaction.com/</a></p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11312"><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/ITR-Mobile.jpg"><img alt="In The Raw Mobile" class="size-large wp-image-11312" height="457" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/ITR-Mobile-640x457.jpg" title="ITR Mobile" width="640" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">In The Raw Mobile Facebook App</p></div> <p><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/02-Au-Natural-Facebook.jpg"><img alt="Au Natural Food Porn Gallery Facebook Cover Photo" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11204" height="560" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/02-Au-Natural-Facebook-640x560.jpg" title="02-Au-Natural-Facebook" width="640" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/03-Au-Natural-Home.jpg"><img alt="Au Natural App Home Page" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11205" height="962" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/03-Au-Natural-Home-640x962.jpg" title="03-Au-Natural-Home" width="640" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/04-Au-Natural-Censor.jpg"><img alt="Au Natural: Censor Your Food Photo" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11206" height="856" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/04-Au-Natural-Censor-640x856.jpg" title="04-Au-Natural-Censor" width="640" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/05-Au-Natural-Success.jpg"><img alt="Au Natural Sweet Success - Food Photo Censored" class="size-large wp-image-11207" height="1059" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/05-Au-Natural-Success-640x1059.jpg" title="05-Au-Natural-Success" width="640" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/06-Au-Natural-Slide.jpg"><img alt="Au Natural Food Photo Slider Reveal" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11208" height="1447" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/06-Au-Natural-Slide-640x1447.jpg" title="06-Au-Natural-Slide" width="640" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/09-Au-Natural-Recipe.jpg"><img alt="Au Natural Food Recipe Page" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11210" height="1253" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/09-Au-Natural-Recipe-640x1253.jpg" title="09-Au-Natural-Recipe" width="640" /></a></p> <div> <a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Au-Natural-Mobile.jpg"><img alt="Au Natural In The Raw Mobile App" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11211" height="410" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Au-Natural-Mobile-640x410.jpg" title="Au-Natural-Mobile" width="640" /></a></div> <h2>Vero Water</h2> <p><a href="http://verowater.com" title="Vero Water">Vero Water</a> is the industry leader for the finest still and sparkling water and is based in Miami, USA. I created this logo / brand identity / bottle design back in 2009 however they’ve just had a photo shoot and thought I would share some of the new shots.</p> <div><img alt="Vero Logo" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11091" height="457" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Vero-Logo-640x457.jpg" title="Vero-Logo" width="640" /></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div><img alt="VERO Water Bottles" height="372" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/vero-water-bottles.jpeg" title="VERO Water Bottles" width="600" /></div> <div></div> <div><img alt="VERO Water Bottling System" height="400" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/vero-water-bottling-system.jpeg" title="VERO Water Bottling System" width="600" /></div> <div></div> <div><img alt="VERO Miami" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11093" height="408" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/vero-miami.jpeg" title="vero-miami" width="612" /></div> <div></div> <div><img alt="VERO Restaurant" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11094" height="342" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/vero-restaurant-640x342.jpg" title="vero-restaurant" width="640" /></div> <div></div> <h2>Appex</h2> <p>Another client, <a href="http://appex.no" title="Appex">Appex</a>, that I designed the brand identity for in 2009 has been expanding very fast. Here are some snaps showing their identity in use, from yo-yos, to soccer jerseys, to 8-foot high signage. Great to see it all come alive!</p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11329"><img alt="Appex Front Desk with Yo-Yos and Balloons" class="size-full wp-image-11329" height="427" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Appex-Front-Desk.jpg" title="Appex-Front-Desk" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Appex Front Desk with Yo-Yos and Balloons</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11330"><img alt="Appex Lobby" class="size-large wp-image-11330" height="427" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Appex-Lobby-640x427.jpg" title="Appex Lobby" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Appex Lobby</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11328"><img alt="Appex Welcome Chair" class="size-full wp-image-11328" height="800" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Appex-Chair.jpg" title="Appex-Chair" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Appex Welcome Chair</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11332"><img alt="Installing The Appex Signage" class="size-large wp-image-11332" height="427" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Appex-Signage-Installation-640x427.jpg" title="Appex-Signage-Installation" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Installing The Appex Signage</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11333"><img alt="Appex Signage" class="size-large wp-image-11333" height="427" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Appex-Signage-640x427.jpg" title="Appex-Signage" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">8 Foot Appex Signage</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11331"><img alt="Appex Newspaper Ad" class="size-large wp-image-11331" height="480" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Appex-Newspaper-Ad-640x480.jpg" title="Appex-Newspaper-Ad" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Appex Newspaper Ad</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11334"><img alt="Appex Football Team" class="size-large wp-image-11334" height="338" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Appex-Soccer-Team-640x338.jpg" title="Appex-Soccer-Team" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Appex Football Team</p></div> <p>Thoughts and comments are always welcome. Thanks again for looking!</p> <p>As a heads up, the Just Creative blog may be a bit quiet over the December holiday break as I will be traveling. Happy Holidays all!</p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=VDJFQ0wBdDQ:pG9baofuqzo:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=VDJFQ0wBdDQ:pG9baofuqzo:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=VDJFQ0wBdDQ:pG9baofuqzo:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=VDJFQ0wBdDQ:pG9baofuqzo:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=VDJFQ0wBdDQ:pG9baofuqzo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=VDJFQ0wBdDQ:pG9baofuqzo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=VDJFQ0wBdDQ:pG9baofuqzo:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=VDJFQ0wBdDQ:pG9baofuqzo:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=VDJFQ0wBdDQ:pG9baofuqzo:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=VDJFQ0wBdDQ:pG9baofuqzo:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

4 Lessons to Learn from Charles and Ray Eames

<p><em>*This is a guest article contributed by Aniya Wells.</em></p> <p class="intro"><strong>Charles and Ray Eames</strong> were the design power couple of the 20th century. Their Eames Lounge chair for Herman Miller, shown below, is one of the most lusted-after furniture designs in the world, and is only the best known example of their vast output.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11415"><img alt="Eames Lounge Chair" class="size-large wp-image-11415" height="357" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/eames-lounge-chair-640x357.jpg" title="eames-lounge-chair" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Eames Lounge Chair</p></div> <p>For over 35 years, Charles and Ray lived as husband and wife, but also as partners in a design practice that put forth such remarkably varied fruits as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eames_House" title="Eames House">Eames Case Study House</a>, the film <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powers_of_Ten" title="Powers of Ten">Powers of Ten</a>, and the exhibition Mathematica, still on view today at the Boston Museum of Science.</p> <p>Though slogan writing was not one of their advertised areas of expertise, Charles had a particular knack for the pithy, memorable quotation. I have drawn on some of them, published in the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/100-Quotes-By-Charles-Eames/dp/B003CMTHQQ" title="100 Quotes from Charles & Ray Eames">100 Quotes by Charles Eames</a>, in order to suggest a handful of lessons we can learn from the Eames Office:</p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11413"><img alt="Charles Ray Eames" class="size-full wp-image-11413" height="443" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/charles-ray-eames.jpg" title="charles-ray-eames" width="600" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Ray & Charles Eames</p></div> <h3>1. “The role of the designer is that of a very good, thoughtful host anticipating the needs of his guests.”</h3> <p>This quote from Charles Eames succinctly sums up the couple’s philosophical approach to design, and it explains the charm, detail, and accessibility that characterize so much of their work. The word “guest” is tossed around so much these days as a euphemism for “customer” that it’s easy to lose track of the original meaning of the word.</p> <p>The Eameses, as global travelers and enthusiastic amateur anthropologists (indeed, they saw this as part of their role as designers) learned firsthand the value of hospitality, and the role of a designer in smoothing the way for people to live and work. This means not only making things more functional, though that’s of primary importance. It also means making them more pleasing. As Charles often admonished designers:</p> <div class="superquote"> “Take your pleasures seriously.” </div> <h3>2. The more you do, the more you can do.</h3> <p>Perhaps the greatest secret to the success of the Eameses was that they refused to specialize. By taking commissions and launching new projects of their own for architecture, film, furniture, toys, games, museum exhibits, textiles, magazines, and more, they developed a comprehensive, even universal approach to their work. “We work because it’s a chain reaction, each subject leads to the next,” Charles said. A varied career has a way of cross-fertilizing from one domain to another.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11414"><img alt="The Eames House" class="size-full wp-image-11414" height="480" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/eames-house.jpg" title="eames-house" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The Eames House. Photo by Thomahalk1.</p></div> <h3>3. “Innovate as a last resort. More horrors are done in the name of innovation than any other.”</h3> <p>Great designers are voracious scavengers. In this age of sampling, mashups, and copyleft activism, we can look back and see that Charles and Ray were far ahead of their time in their collage-like approach to creativity. They disapproved of the cult of originality in their time, and saw that often the best solutions come from the ground up.</p> <div class="superquote"> “Eventually, everything connects – people, ideas, objects. The quality of the connections is the key to quality per se.” </div> <p>This should extend to your interactions with fellow designers. Being competitive is natural, but try to create a space for idea incubation, exchange, and riffing. After all, “Ideas are cheap. Always be passionate about ideas and communicating those ideas and discoveries to others in the things you make.”</p> <h3>4. A partnership is more than the sum of its parts.</h3> <p>While most of us are not married to our professional colleagues (and if we are, we know it certainly presents complications absent from our romantic daydreams), nevertheless this is true of even purely creative relationships. Think about how you can create this type of nonzero economy in your own interactions. When working with a client, don’t impose your own vision from outside, but consider what unique qualities you can draw out from them.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11425"><img alt="La Chaise" class="size-full wp-image-11425" height="480" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/la-chaise.jpg" title="La Chaise" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">La Chaise Lounge Chair</p></div> <p>With all their diverse accomplishments, the greatest example the Eameses left us is their dynamic, symbiotic life together. As Charles put it, “Any time one or more things are consciously put together in a way that they can accomplish something better than they could have accomplished individually, this is an act of design.”</p> <p>For more Eames, this <a href="http://fuckyeahrayandcharleseames.tumblr.com/archive" title="Ray Charles Eames">Tumblr has a nice visual overview</a>. <strong>Do you have a favorite Eames piece?</strong></p> <p>–</p> <p><em>*Aniya Wells is a freelance blogger who primarily writes for <a href="http://www.onlinedegreeprograms.com/" title="Online Degree Programs">www.onlinedegreeprograms.com</a>. She also enjoys investigating trends in other niches, notably technology, traditional higher education, health, and small business. Aniya welcomes reader questions and comments.</em></p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fMLskbSeW1Y:q3UwEFRP93c:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=fMLskbSeW1Y:q3UwEFRP93c:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fMLskbSeW1Y:q3UwEFRP93c:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=fMLskbSeW1Y:q3UwEFRP93c:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fMLskbSeW1Y:q3UwEFRP93c:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fMLskbSeW1Y:q3UwEFRP93c:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fMLskbSeW1Y:q3UwEFRP93c:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fMLskbSeW1Y:q3UwEFRP93c:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=fMLskbSeW1Y:q3UwEFRP93c:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=fMLskbSeW1Y:q3UwEFRP93c:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS

My Fav Tweets From This Week (Nov 2-9)

<p class="intro">Here are a few interesting links that I tweeted this week. <a href="http://twitter.com/justcreative" title="Just Creative on Twitter">Feel free to follow @justcreative for more</a>.</p> <p><img alt="Twitter Bird" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11182" height="400" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/twitter-bird.gif" title="twitter-bird" width="640" /></p> <ul> <li>Pretty solid advice and tips from <a dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/teehanlax">@teehanlax</a>: 10 Years of Teehan + Lax <a dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/9BvpYvZl" target="_blank" title="http://bit.ly/Py3RRP">http://bit.ly/Py3RRP</a></li> <li>Did you know you can save paths within JPGS? Here’s how. <a dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/B1Vv7jwl" target="_blank" title="http://bit.ly/PGKs19">http://bit.ly/PGKs19</a></li> <li>Instagram gets profiles, here’s mine – <a dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/fISJZ03O" target="_blank" title="http://bit.ly/RJOy6L">http://bit.ly/RJOy6L</a></li> <li>A neat little stunt releasing the new Sony Xperia phone – <a dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/bKSThrni" target="_blank" title="http://bit.ly/WBR2Kq">http://bit.ly/WBR2Kq</a></li> <li>Appex, a client I designed the brand identity for has recently installed a rather massive sign on their building. <a dir="ltr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/appex/7985402043/in/photostream" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/RFh8q4 </a></li> <li>Hurricane Sandy is “likely the most digitally captured event in history”. 1.3 million photos were tagged with <a dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Sandy&src=hash"><s>#</s>Sandy</a>. <a dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/4yUr5UAi" target="_blank" title="http://on.mash.to/Wr8Wzj">http://on.mash.to/Wr8Wzj</a></li> <li>Although Hurricane Sandy was bad, I certainly wouldn’t wanna come across a fire tornado! Damn! <a dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/2E98BpWk" target="_blank" title="http://bit.ly/YyRmaQ">http://bit.ly/YyRmaQ</a></li> <li>ikonic 150 vector icon set by <a dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/rakeshdesign">@rakeshdesign</a> looks pretty neat <a dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/ovJlzJ2m" target="_blank" title="http://bit.ly/VXHq6N">http://bit.ly/VXHq6N </a> Free 25 too!</li> <li>A sneak preview of the new <a dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/RuffClubNYC">@ruffclubnyc</a> website that I created the brand identity / website for. <a dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/JF8WYrQX" target="_blank" title="http://bit.ly/XP6q3L">http://bit.ly/XP6q3L</a></li> <li><a dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/NRL">@NRL</a> Rugby League launches new brand logo <a dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/4t5k2RZk" target="_blank" title="http://bit.ly/Rfz74f">http://bit.ly/Rfz74f </a></li> <li>A Year In Full Colour stop motion video – <a href="http://youtu.be/7Q9XvlMITrQ" title="YouTube">http://youtu.be/7Q9XvlMITrQ</a></li> </ul> <p>Stay tuned for more.</p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=0Oqch38j_uE:L8rCxgMpnyw:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=0Oqch38j_uE:L8rCxgMpnyw:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=0Oqch38j_uE:L8rCxgMpnyw:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=0Oqch38j_uE:L8rCxgMpnyw:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=0Oqch38j_uE:L8rCxgMpnyw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=0Oqch38j_uE:L8rCxgMpnyw:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=0Oqch38j_uE:L8rCxgMpnyw:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=0Oqch38j_uE:L8rCxgMpnyw:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=0Oqch38j_uE:L8rCxgMpnyw:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=0Oqch38j_uE:L8rCxgMpnyw:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

UPDATED: 7 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

7 Ways Designers Can Get Their Foot in the Door

<p><em>This is a collaborative guest article between Jamie Wayne* and I.</em></p> <p class="intro">Whether you’re a graphic <a href="http://justcreative.com/category/design-for-students/" title="Design For Students">design student</a> or a young professional, getting your foot in the door is not as simple as it sounds. Taking the first step requires initiative, patience and some wisdom too.</p> <p>Thankfully, there’s always a way to make it in and this article will provide seven different ways for you to get your foot in the door.</p> <div><img alt="Foot In The Door" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11123" height="426" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/foot-door-640x426.jpg" title="Foot In The Door" width="640" /></div> <h2>1. Network at Conferences & Events</h2> <p><a href="http://jamiewayne.com/2012/02/04/xcviii-why-you-should-start-networking-now-instead-of-later/" target="_blank" title="Why you should start networking now instead of later">Networking</a> at <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2012/10/25/upcoming-web-design-development-conferences-2012-2013/" target="_blank" title="Design Conferences 2013">design conferences </a>and professional events can be a good way to get meet new people and build a professional stronghold. From conversing with other graphic designers to developers, copywriters, and business owners, exposure from these events can lead to great opportunities. With this said, walking into an event blindfolded may set you up for trouble as first impressions are everything. It’s imperative to keep a few things in mind when making your first impression – be admirable and memorable.</p> <p><strong>Be Admirable</strong></p> <ul> <li>Plan ahead for networking opportunities by <a href="http://www.howdesign.com/design-career/job-search-tips/present-your-portfolio/" title="Portfolio Polish">polishing up your portfolio</a> & <a href="http://www.yourbusinesscardsucks.com/" target="_blank" title="Your Card Sucks">business cards</a>.</li> <li>Be presentable for the occasion. Is it casual or formal?</li> <li>Ask questions and be interested (or act it) in every discussion.</li> <li>Don’t try to oversell your skills or services. Tell don’t sell.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Be Memorable</strong></p> <p>Small talk & <a href="http://justcreative.com/2008/10/02/design-elevator-speeches/" title="Elevator Speeches">elevator pitches</a> are common within these arenas, so listen well, show courtesy and thank those you talk to for their time. Don’t be afraid to smile and lighten up the mood a bit. Offer your business card as you close the conversation and you’ll most likely get the other person’s card in return. Keep the card in case you want to follow up with this person in the near future.</p> <h2>2. Follow Up, Use LinkedIn & Other Social Sites</h2> <p><a href="http://mashable.com/2012/05/23/linkedin-beginners/" target="_blank" title="LinkedIn Beginners">LinkedIn</a> is a great tool for building networks <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8MDihYKZTU" title="How to get clients on LinkedIn">and getting clients</a>, however it’s also a very handy tool to follow up with those you have briefly conversed with. A quick search of their name should yield a number of results. Before you contact them, think of the best way to contact them? Would they prefer an email rather than a LinkedIn connection?</p> <h2>3. Seek a Mentor</h2> <p>Having a mentor is a great way to learn the ropes. You will learn things such as <a href="http://justcreative.com/2009/02/26/how-much-to-charge-for-design-work/" target="_blank">how much to charge for design</a>, <a href="http://justcreative.com/2010/06/24/design-agency-vs-freelance-life/" target="_blank" title="Design agency vs freelancing">the pros and cons of freelancing</a>, <a href="http://justcreative.com/2007/12/27/how-to-boost-your-creativity/" target="_blank" title="Creativity">how to improve your creative process</a>, <a href="http://justcreative.com/2011/11/29/designer-office-set-up/" target="_blank" title="Designer Tools">recommended tools</a>, how to present your work, and much more.</p> <p>It’s important to understand the relationship between a mentor and mentee. Like a relationship between a couple, the mentor/mentee is also a two-way commitment that requires trust and honesty. Help them and they will help you. Ask for advice, seek out new opportunities & if you have to get the coffee, do it with a smile.</p> <div><img alt="Mentor" height="424" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/mentor-640x424.jpg" title="Mentor" width="640" /></div> <h5><strong>How do you find a mentor?</strong></h5> <p><strong></strong> It all depends on the scenario however there are a <a href="http://www.howdesign.com/design-career/mentoring/" title="Find a design mentor">few methods of finding a mentor</a>;</p> <p><strong>In Person</strong></p> <p>Once you’ve connected with someone and got to know them and have established some trust, it wouldn’t hurt to ask if they have the time to show you more of the ropes. Let that person know you’re interested in learning from them and see what they have to say. Be flexible with them, as it’s them doing you a favor.</p> <p><strong>Online</strong></p> <p><strong></strong>If you’re breaking the ice online, take extra care in crafting your approach, as it can be very difficult to convey personality through written communication. Always let them know you appreciate their time. If the person doesn’t have the time available, then it wouldn’t hurt to ask a few questions. At the very least, seldom communication may lead to a slowly growing relationship. Get them on your radar, and keep them there without being a pest.</p> <h2>4. Take Up Pro-Bono Work</h2> <p>Taking up <a href="http://www.davidairey.com/pro-bono-design/" target="_blank" title="Pro Bono Design">pro-bono work</a> will not only help a special cause, but it will build up your portfolio which will help you land more projects & strengthen your credibility in the long term.</p> <div><img alt="Pro Bono Work" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11122" height="496" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/charity-640x496.jpg" title="Charity" width="640" /></div> <p>Before taking on pro bono work consider the following; Is there enough time to make the commitment? Are you financially capable of accepting a pro-bono project? What kinds of organisations would you do pro-bono work for? Make sure you are suited to take on pro-bono work before endorsing a false commitment.</p> <h2>5. Get Your Work or Portfolio Reviewed</h2> <p>Sharing your portfolio with seasoned professionals and asking for a review can help you gain new insights on the execution of your creative ideas. <a href="http://blog.teamtreehouse.com/the-art-of-the-design-critique" target="_blank" title="Constructive Criticism">Constructive criticism</a> is encouraged and you should always aim to take away new ideas and possibilities. Follow the motto; <a href="http://www.nwicreative.org/learn/get-your-portfolio-up-to-snuff/" target="_blank" title="Get your portfolio up to snuff">seek criticism, not praise</a>.</p> <p>Sharing your work will also allow other designers to observe your style, thought process, and results. This will allow others to lend you advice, which may lead into a steady stream of communication.</p> <h2>6. Start a Blog & Guest Author</h2> <p>Don’t overlook the benefits of <a href="http://justcreative.com/2011/04/27/building-a-personal-brand/" target="_blank" title="Starting A Blog">starting a blog</a>. In conjunction with social media sites, a blog can help establish your online presence, as well as be the frontier of your voice and portfolio.</p> <p>While some authors write on their own blog, others will contribute their articles elsewhere as a guest author. Guest authoring is a great way to share your voice with audiences elsewhere and connect with others on an international scale.</p> <div><img alt="Im Possible" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-11124" height="423" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/im-possible-640x423.jpg" title="Possible" width="640" /></div> <p>While each one of these ways can help you gain more exposure, utilizing several, if not all, will maximize your chances significantly.</p> <h2>7. Take Action</h2> <p>As a last piece of advice, I want to recite a few words, courtesy of my mentor, <a href="http://www.chasetalon.com/" target="_blank" title="Chase Talon Design">Chase Talon</a>, that inspired me to push myself through the doors.</p> <blockquote><p><em>“There is one thing and one thing alone that leads to success. That is action. Make a decision on what you want and begin moving forward with an unwavering, unrelenting, incessant vigor to see your goal to it’s end. Never letting fear guide you. It’s an illusion. All fear, and negativity are, is a test to prove how bad you want something.”</em></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.whosay.com/BillMaher/videos/5963" title="Wish It. Want It. Do It.">Wish it, want it, do it</a>.</p> <p><strong>Have you got any other tips on how designers can get their foot in the door?</strong></p> <p>–</p> <p><em>*<a href="http://www.jamiewayne.com/about/" target="_blank" title="Jamie Wayne | Valparaiso Northwest Indiana Graphic Designer">Jamie Wayne</a> is a graphic designer for <a href="http://www.adforcecreative.com/" target="_blank" title="Ad Force Creative">Ad Force Creative</a> in Northwest Indiana, a webmaster & graphic designer for the Center for Innovation through Visualization & Simulation at Purdue University Calumet, and a member & writer of the Northwest Indiana Creative Professionals. Photos from <a href="http://bigstock.com" title="Big Stock">BigStock</a>.</em></p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=D2AsBRt0gGs:ZL4lCnAFyN4:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=D2AsBRt0gGs:ZL4lCnAFyN4:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=D2AsBRt0gGs:ZL4lCnAFyN4:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=D2AsBRt0gGs:ZL4lCnAFyN4:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=D2AsBRt0gGs:ZL4lCnAFyN4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=D2AsBRt0gGs:ZL4lCnAFyN4:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=D2AsBRt0gGs:ZL4lCnAFyN4:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=D2AsBRt0gGs:ZL4lCnAFyN4:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=D2AsBRt0gGs:ZL4lCnAFyN4:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=D2AsBRt0gGs:ZL4lCnAFyN4:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

UPDATED: 7 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

Iceland Adventure Photos

<p class="intro">I recently came back from 1.5 weeks traveling around Iceland, an extremely beautiful country. You can <a href="http://on.fb.me/W95OVX" title="Iceland Photos">view a few snaps on Facebook</a> and read more about the trip below.</p> <p>I went with a company called <a href="https://www.striking.ly/founderexcursionsiceland#0" title="Founders Excursions">Founders Excursions</a> who organized a trip of 14 like-minded entrepreneurs from Iceland and USA, to travel through Iceland doing <a href="http://siadv.is/?page_id=933" title="Adventure Tours">adventurous activities</a> while networking at the same time.</p> <div><a href="http://on.fb.me/W95OVX" title="Iceland Photos"><img alt="Iceland" class="alignnone wp-image-11035" height="424" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Iceland-Photos-39-of-51-640x424.jpg" title="Iceland" width="640" /></a></div> <h3>Highlights of the Trip</h3> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jiRegEs83A0" title="Canyoining Iceland">Canyoning</a> (climbing and swimming up waterfalls, then floating back down)</li> <li>Super jeeping (4×4 driving through the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landmannalaugar"><em>Landmannalaugar</em></a> mountains)</li> <li>Enjoying bonfires, beers and Icelandic BBQ</li> <li>Having tea & coffee at the US Embassy</li> <li>Driving through the back country & around the glaciers / volcanoes</li> <li>Viewing the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_%28astronomy%29"><em>Northern Lights</em></a></li> <li>Speed boating & exploring <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vestmannaeyjar"><em>Vestmannaeyjar Islands</em></a></li> <li>Swimming at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Lagoon_%28geothermal_spa%29"><em>Blue Lagoon</em></a> (Geothermal spa), one of National Geographic’s Seven Wonders of the World</li> <li>Taking in the glorious<em> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B6kuls%C3%A1rl%C3%B3n">Jökulsárlón</a> </em>(Glacier Lagoon – where the lake’s glaciers go out to sea)</li> <li>Bathing in the natural geo thermal springs while the mountains surrounded us</li> <li>Participating in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifting_stone"><em>steintökin</em></a> (strong man competition). Needless to say, I am no Viking!</li> <li>Having my shoes stolen on the first day at a public pool (Yup!)</li> <li>Enjoying the “Bæjarins beztu pylsur” (best-in-town Icelandic hotdogs). Can’t say much about the <em>Harðfiskur</em> (wind dried fish). Also loved the <em>Skyr</em> (drinkable yogurt).</li> <li>Overall, just enjoying the beautiful, peaceful Icelandic scenery.</li> </ul> <p>If interested in a similar experience get in contact with our awesome guide, Siggi from <a href="http://siadv.is/">South Iceland Adventure</a> or <a href="http://www.mattwilson.tv/" title="Matt Wilson">Matt Wilson</a> from Founders Excursions. I’d highly recommend it!</p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=rQlhH0ax2BY:4LLyquN_hs8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=rQlhH0ax2BY:4LLyquN_hs8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=rQlhH0ax2BY:4LLyquN_hs8:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=rQlhH0ax2BY:4LLyquN_hs8:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=rQlhH0ax2BY:4LLyquN_hs8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=rQlhH0ax2BY:4LLyquN_hs8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=rQlhH0ax2BY:4LLyquN_hs8:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=rQlhH0ax2BY:4LLyquN_hs8:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=rQlhH0ax2BY:4LLyquN_hs8:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=rQlhH0ax2BY:4LLyquN_hs8:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

UPDATED: 8 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Boost Your Computer’s Speed with a Quick SSD Upgrade

<p class="intro">I was recently approached by Samsung to take part in their <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SamsungSSD" title="SSD Drivers">SSD Drivers program</a> which would allow me (and a few others) to test out their latest <a href="http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/solid-state-drives" title="SSD">SSD</a> (Solid State Drive) and review it here for you guys. After reading up on SSD drives and their <a href="http://www.samsung.com/us/article/top-ten-benefits-of-ssd" title="Benefits of SSD">benefits</a>, I decided to join the program and the results so far have been awesome.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_11011"><img alt="Samsung SSD Drivers" class="size-large wp-image-11011" height="236" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/samsung-ssd-drivers-640x236.jpg" title="samsung-ssd-drivers" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Samsung SSD Drivers (Yours truly on the far right)</p></div> <h3>What is a SSD?</h3> <p>A solid-state drive is a data storage device that uses solid-state memory to store data. SSDs have the same purpose as traditional mechanical hard drives, but there is one major difference – they’re electronic devices and don’t have any mechanical parts. Unlike HDDs, SSDs don’t store data on spinning platters, but use flash memory instead.</p> <div class="superquote"> In short, this means that a SSD will make your computer considerably faster in a more reliable, silent and energy efficient manner. </div> <h3>Easy Installation</h3> <p>Samsung originally sent me a complimentary <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005T3GQ0G/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005T3GQ0G&linkCode=as2&tag=justcrea-20" title="Samsung SSD 256GB">256GB SSD</a> however I decided that I <del>wanted</del> needed a 512GB so I sent the 256GB back to them and instead bought my own <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005T3GPXO/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005T3GPXO&linkCode=as2&tag=justcrea-20" title="Samsung SSD 512GB">512GB SSD</a> to review.</p> <p><img alt="Samsung SSD 512GB" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11015" height="380" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/samsung-ssd-512gb1.jpg" title="Samsung SSD 512GB" width="640" /></p> <p>After receiving the SSD, I watched a video from Samsung on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mihb8YQzDxw" title="How to install SSD for Mac">how to install it on a Mac</a> and after a quick stop at the hardware store for a new screwdriver, I was good to go. I copied 480GB of data from my previous HDD to the new SSD, which took about 7 hours overnight. After that was done, the physical installation / swapping of the drives took just 10 minutes.</p> <h3>Benefits of SSD vs HDD</h3> <p>There are a number of benefits of using a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJMGAdpCLVg" title="SSD vs HDD">SSD vs a HDD</a>, and I personally noticed a huge difference in the speed of my daily routines. Before I get into the differences, let me outline my current <a href="http://justcreative.com/2011/11/29/designer-office-set-up/" title="Hardware">hardware</a> & <a href="http://justcreative.com/2011/12/22/recommended-software-for-designers/" title="Software I use as Designer">software</a> I use as a designer.</p> <p>I use a Macbook Pro 17″ (3.06 GHZ Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB DDR Ram) attached to a 27″ display and at nearly all times I have these programs open; Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat Pro, InDesign, Mail, Tweetdeck, Chrome, Firefox, as well as Font Explorer, Spotify, TextMate, Bonjour, TextExplorer and Dropbox.</p> <h3>Increased Speed & Productivity</h3> <p>Within the first hour of using the new SSD I could visibly notice the speed difference in nearly every task performed. The most notable differences are listed below.</p> <ul> <li>Faster boot time (Even faster when I cleaned my computer with <a href="http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/11582/onyx" title="Onyx">Onyx</a>)</li> <li>All programs open much faster, especially the Creative Suite. The most notable speed difference is on startup as I have my programs set to auto start.</li> <li>Search is much faster, especially when combined with my productivity bud, <a href="http://www.alfredapp.com/" title="Alfred App">Alfred</a>.</li> <li>Moving between programs is much more responsive, eg. when changing from Photoshop, to Illustrator, to InDesign.</li> <li>Opening files and using Finder is way faster, as well as using program menus.</li> <li>The battery life seemed to last a bit longer too, only about 15-30 minutes but still noticeable.</li> <li>The only downfall I could think of would be the price (the 500GB was $608 after tax). The 256GB or 128GB gets you more bang for your buck, but you do get less space.</li> </ul> <p>Anyway, I’d definitely consider getting an SSD for a much faster & more reliable computer experience.</p> <p><strong>What has your experience been like with SSDs?</strong></p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=8yuPa8WLv6w:O9ytCVh77vI:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=8yuPa8WLv6w:O9ytCVh77vI:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=8yuPa8WLv6w:O9ytCVh77vI:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=8yuPa8WLv6w:O9ytCVh77vI:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=8yuPa8WLv6w:O9ytCVh77vI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=8yuPa8WLv6w:O9ytCVh77vI:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=8yuPa8WLv6w:O9ytCVh77vI:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=8yuPa8WLv6w:O9ytCVh77vI:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=8yuPa8WLv6w:O9ytCVh77vI:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=8yuPa8WLv6w:O9ytCVh77vI:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

UPDATED: 8 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

The Art & Secrets of Personal Branding

<p><em>I originally wrote this article for the book, <a href="http://logonest.com" title="LogoNest Vol 2">Logo Nest Volume 2</a>. It has been republished here with permission. Photos are the end of the article.</em><hr class="thin" /></p> <p class="intro"><strong>Personal branding</strong> is by no means a new or light topic, but with the rise of social technologies, personal branding is as accessible as ever, meaning you have so much more opportunity, but also so much more competition.</p> <p>For you to stand out amongst the noise, you must become a valued brand. That brand is ‘You’. Take a closer look at the (st)art of personal branding and see how you can use it to start building your own personal brand. Brand You™.</p> <h2><strong>1. Set Goals, Plan & Define Your Brand</strong></h2> <div><img alt="Step One. Set Goals, Plan & Define Your Brand" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10949" height="400" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/step1.gif" title="Step One. Set Goals, Plan & Define Your Brand" width="640" /></div> <p>Before creating your brand, you must <strong>set specific goals and plan accordingly</strong>. You should take a look at where you are at now and where you want to be in the future.</p> <p>Are you trying to become an authority in your niche? Why? Are you planning to get a new job position or become a stay-at-home freelancer? Are you trying to find more clients and / or increase your prices?</p> <p>Figuring out <em>why and where</em> you want to be in the future will help you decide <em>how</em> to do it.</p> <div class="superquote"> Ultimately, your goal should be to make your planned self-impression equal to how other people perceive you. </div> <p>Re-read that. If you can do this, then you will become a master of your domain.</p> <p>As an example of a ‘successful’ personal brand, <a href="http://www.problogger.net/" title="Darren Rowse">Darren Rowse</a> is the leader in the ‘how to make money blogging’ niche (among others) and although his site is not self-named, his personal brand has grown based how he communicates through his own brand, websites & social channels.</p> <p>After you have figured out your goals, chosen your niche and set out a plan, you need to start creating your brand.</p> <h2><strong>2. Know, Understand & Believe In Your Brand</strong></h2> <div><img alt="Step Two Understand & Believe In Your Brand" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10950" height="400" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/step2.gif" title="Step Two Understand & Believe In Your Brand" width="640" /></div> <p>Your personal brand needs to have a look and feel, as well as a way to communicate, but this goes much further than having a logo & social media accounts. You need to maintain a consistent ‘corporate image’ in all mediums and at all times. See the <a href="http://justcreative.com/2010/04/06/branding-identity-logo-design-explained/" title="Branding Explained">differences between branding & visual identity</a> here.</p> <p>The fundamental idea and core concept behind having this ‘corporate image’ is that everything you do, everything you own and everything you produce, should reflect the values and aims of your personal brand as a whole.</p> <div class="superquote"> It is the consistency of this core idea that makes your brand. It shows others what <em>you</em> stand for, what <em>you</em> believe in and why <em>you</em> exist. </div> <p>As an example, let’s look at the well-known IT company, Apple. Although they are not a personal brand, the branding concept remains the same; they have a consistent ‘corporate image’.</p> <p>Apple projects a humanistic corporate culture and a strong corporate ethic, one, which is characterised by volunteerism, support of good causes & involvement in the community. These values of the business are evident throughout everything they do, from their innovative products and advertising, right through to their customer service. Apple is an emotionally humanist brand that really connects with people – when people buy or use their products or services; they feel part of the brand, like a tribe even. It is this emotional connection that creates their brand – not purely their products and a bite sized logo.</p> <p>If you can apply these same core principles to your own brand then it will be easier for others to see & know what you’re all about.</p> <address>“Remember, it’s not how good you are, it’s how good you want to be.”<br /> <em>-PAUL ARDEN</em></address> <h2><strong>3. Create & Maintain Your Brand</strong></h2> <div><img alt="Step Three - Create and Maintain Your Brand" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10951" height="400" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/step3.gif" title="step3" width="640" /></div> <p>After you have set your goals, outlined your target market & defined how you wish to be perceived, then you can start to form the foundation of your brand. Below are the essential building blocks that will help you do this.</p> <h4><strong>A Unique Visual Identity</strong></h4> <p>One of the easiest ways to differentiate your self from the competition is by having a unique <a href="http://justcreative.com/2012/09/11/branding-tips/" title="10 Must Know Tips for Creating Winning Visual Brand Identities">visual identity</a>. This visual identity should be consistent and reflective of your initial goals, yet flexible enough to work across all areas of your communication. Ensure, at minimum, that you have a business card, letterhead, an up-to-date CV, website and a variety of online social profiles.</p> <h4><strong>Your Own Website, Domain Name & Email Address</strong></h4> <p>Do you know what comes up when people type your name into Google? Hopefully your name and website, but if not, a quick way to climb to the top of search engines is by having your own domain such as JohnSmith.com.</p> <p>On your website, you should have information about you, links to your other websites, your social profiles, as well as a blog and if applicable, a portfolio.</p> <p>You should also set up a personally branded email address such as john@johnsmith.com as this looks much more professional than a free email service such as <a href="mailto:johnsmith@gmail.com">johnsmith@ymail.com</a>.</p> <h4><strong>Social Networks. (Engage & Communicate!)</strong></h4> <p>It’s one thing to have Facebook or Twitter, but actually using it right for your personal brand is another thing. You should remember that everything you do, say and share is reflective of ‘Brand You’, both personally and professionally.</p> <p>Ask yourself, what value are you providing to your friends and followers? Are you engaging and communicating with people, not just sharing what you had for breakfast? Have you filled out your online profiles to their fullest extent? Are you linking to your websites within each profile? What about your <a href="http://justcreative.com/2008/08/10/how-to-get-more-email/" title="How to get more email">email signature</a>?</p> <p>There are many ways to help promote you and your brand, but the simplest way is by making it easy for people to find and communicate with you. When they do, be sure to engage & provide value.</p> <h4><strong>Brand Maintenance, Security & Monitoring</strong></h4> <p>Your brand is your business and your reputation. Why wouldn’t you monitor what people are saying about you?</p> <p>Use <a href="http://www.google.com/alerts">Google Alerts</a>, Twitter Search and the many other tools available to you so you know when you are mentioned somewhere on the web. This allows you to put out fires early, as well as network and thank people who are helping or linking to you.</p> <h3><strong>The Secret To Personal Branding…</strong></h3> <div><img alt="Secret to Personal Branding" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10972" height="400" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/secret-personal-branding.gif" title="Secret to Personal Branding" width="640" /></div> <p>Remember, planning is the foundation of your personal brand and the execution builds the structure of that brand, but ultimately, it comes down to what people say about you, not what you say about yourself, thus the ultimate goal is to make your planned self-impression equal to how other people perceive you.</p> <p>That is the secret to personal branding.</p> <h3><strong>More branding & logo articles:</strong></h3> <ul> <li><a href="http://justcreative.com/2010/04/06/branding-identity-logo-design-explained/" rel="bookmark" title="Branding Explained">Branding, Identity & Logo Design Explained</a></li> <li><a href="http://justcreative.com/2008/04/18/a-comparative-study-of-logo-design-between-the-70s-and-90s/" rel="bookmark" title="Logos 70s 90s">A Comparative Study of Logo Design between the 70s and 90s.</a></li> <li><a href="http://justcreative.com/2012/09/11/branding-tips/" rel="bookmark" title="Branding Tips">10 Must Know Tips for Creating Winning Visual Brand Identities</a></li> <li><a href="http://justcreative.com/2011/08/02/12-ways-your-logo-impacts-social-media-marketing/" rel="bookmark" title="Social Media Logos">12 Ways Your Logo Impacts Social Media Marketing</a></li> <li><a href="http://justcreative.com/2010/11/09/a-look-at-consumer-emotional-attachment-to-brands-and-logos/" rel="bookmark" title="Logos and Emotions">Consumer Emotional Attachment to Brands and Logos</a></li> </ul> <div><img alt="Cover of Logo Nest Vol 2" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10108" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/00-cover.jpg" title="Cover of Logo Nest Vol 2" width="640" /></div> <div><img alt="Contents" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10106" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/02-contents.jpg" title="02-contents" width="640" /></div> <div><img alt="Art of Personal Branding" class="alignnone size-full" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/01-art-personal-branding.jpg" title="01-art-personal-branding" width="640" /></div> <div><img alt="Art of Personal Branding by Jacob Cass" class="alignnone size-full" height="689" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/art-of-personal-branding-jacob-cass.jpg" title="art-of-personal-branding-jacob-cass" width="640" /></div> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=5GOKdtLthXg:ls_PddWu8B0:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=5GOKdtLthXg:ls_PddWu8B0:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=5GOKdtLthXg:ls_PddWu8B0:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=5GOKdtLthXg:ls_PddWu8B0:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=5GOKdtLthXg:ls_PddWu8B0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=5GOKdtLthXg:ls_PddWu8B0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=5GOKdtLthXg:ls_PddWu8B0:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=5GOKdtLthXg:ls_PddWu8B0:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=5GOKdtLthXg:ls_PddWu8B0:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=5GOKdtLthXg:ls_PddWu8B0:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

UPDATED: 9 MONTHS

10 Must Know Tips for Creating Winning Visual Brand Identities

<p class="intro">On Friday I attended the <a href="http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnewconference" title="Brand New Conference">2012 Brand New Conference</a>, a one day event focusing on the practice of corporate and brand identity. The event went smoothly <a href="http://justcreative.com/2010/11/06/2010-brand-new-conference-summary-quotes/" title="Brand New Conference 2010">again</a> (hat tip to Armin Vit for organizing) and the speakers shared some great tips and stories on a large variety of topics.</p> <p>The most notable talk of the day for me, was by <a href="http://twitter.com/manchipp" title="Simon Manchipp">Simon Manchipp</a>, the CD & co-founder of <a href="http://www.someoneinlondon.com/">Someone</a>. Simon’s talk was built around ten things to consider when creating a new visual brand identity.</p> <p>Below are some of the notes I took from his talk. There are some loose ends, but there are still a number of key takeaways so enjoy.</p> <p><img alt="Tips to consider when branding" height="612" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/branding.jpg" title="Tips to consider when branding" width="612" /></p> <h1>10 things to consider when creating a new visual brand identity</h1> <h3>1. Make it coherent, not consistent.</h3> <p><strong>A new logo is born useless.</strong> The media demands an approach that is instantly useful. Make your new logo useful. <strong>Create landscapes that can change and adapt.</strong> Information can and should fuel the design and pattern.A brand should be adaptive & coherent, not just consistent.</p> <h3>2. Do more than a logo.</h3> <p>The logo is dying so ask yourself <strong>how can you brand without badging?</strong></p> <h3>3. Brand without badging</h3> <p>A rubber stamped logo is not a brand. Remember…</p> <div class="superquote"> “A new logo should be a symbol of change, not a change of symbol.” </div> <h3>4. The big idea is not the big idea.</h3> <p>The big idea is not the big idea, but rather hundreds of ideas that form the brand. These ideas should be multi-channelled & multi-faceted.</p> <h3>5. Own moments</h3> <p>Find ownable moments that can be a spring point for the brand. eg. a color, season, taste, feature, etc.</p> <h3>6. Remove the fear</h3> <p>Branding is all fear & risk is attached to everything, but smart clients are those without the fear.</p> <div class="superquote"> We are hired for our principles, so stick to them. </div> <h3>7. Weird works</h3> <p>Weird shit creates monopolies. Trust the risky weirdo called creativity.</p> <h3>8. Make it people-centric</h3> <p><strong>We are not in design business but in the people business.</strong> Educated clients believe in coherent brand worlds. Winning companies are placing design at the heart of their business.</p> <h3>9. Create assets not costs</h3> <p>Design is often seen as a cost in the boardroom but it needs to be seen as an asset. The reason behind it being seen as a cost is that everyone considers themselves as a designer.</p> <p>“No one trusts creativity because of the dolphin duvet.” (aka everyone is a designer, I chose this dolphin duvet cover for my home). The goal is to show that design is an asset.</p> <h3>10. Chase the opportunity.</h3> <p>Chase the opportunity, not the money. If you are doing interesting work and having fun, enough money will come.</p> <p><strong>Have you got any other branding tips to share?</strong></p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=iDBstlGPQaM:bSX6oaXQznU:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=iDBstlGPQaM:bSX6oaXQznU:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=iDBstlGPQaM:bSX6oaXQznU:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=iDBstlGPQaM:bSX6oaXQznU:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=iDBstlGPQaM:bSX6oaXQznU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=iDBstlGPQaM:bSX6oaXQznU:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=iDBstlGPQaM:bSX6oaXQznU:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=iDBstlGPQaM:bSX6oaXQznU:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=iDBstlGPQaM:bSX6oaXQznU:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=iDBstlGPQaM:bSX6oaXQznU:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

UPDATED: 9 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Future of Web Design 2012 + More Conferences

<p class="intro">I’ve been a media partner for <a href="http://www.futureinsights.com/">Future Insights</a> conferences for a <a href="http://justcreative.com/2011/11/07/future-of-web-design-conference-day-1-review/" title="FOWD 2011">few</a> <a href="http://justcreative.com/2011/11/15/future-of-web-design-conference-day-2-review/" title="FOWD 2012 Day 2">years</a> now and have been to a fair few of their events which are always <em>insightful</em>. This post is just letting you know that there is a web conference in <a href="http://futureofwebdesign.com/new-york-2012/" title="FOWD New York 2012">NYC</a> coming up in October and you can get 10% off. Details are below along with a few other conferences to be aware of.</p> <div><a href="http://futureofwebdesign.com/new-york-2012/" title="Future of Web Design 2012 NYC"><img alt="Future of Web Design NYC 2012" class="border" height="520" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/fowd-nyc.jpg" title="Future of Web Design NYC 2012" width="640" /></a></div> <p><strong>What:</strong> <a href="http://futureofwebdesign.com/new-york-2012/" target="_blank">Future of Web Design</a><strong><br /> When:</strong> Conference days: October 22 & 23. Workshop day: October 24<strong><br /> Where:</strong> <a href="http://www.newworldstages.com/">New World Stages</a> & Lighthouse International Conference Centre<strong><br /> Info:</strong></p> <div> <ul> <li>3 days, 30+ sessions, 4 full-day workshops</li> <li>Top-notch <a href="http://futureofwebdesign.com/new-york-2012/speakers" target="_blank">speakers</a>, including: Chris Coyier, Zoe Gillenwater, Darcy Clarke, Meagan Fisher, Dan Rose, Karen McGrane, Edward Boatman, Lis Hubert, and many more.</li> <li>Talks on CSS3, JQuery Performance, Typography, Icon and symbol design, frontend development, HTML5, responsive web design, UX, wireframing, and more</li> <li>Check out the <a href="http://futureofwebdesign.com/new-york-2012/schedule" target="_blank">full schedule</a> for more details.</li> </ul> <p><strong>10% off for Just Creative readers</strong><em><br /> Just Creative</em> readers are able to grab 10% off 2-Day Conference Passes or Workshop + 2-Day Conference Passes. Simply enter <em>JustCreative</em> on the registration page. Do remember to check out the handy <em><a href="http://futureofwebdesign.com/new-york-2012/downloads/FOWD-NYC-ConvinceYourBoss.pdf" target="_blank">Convince your Boss PDF</a></em> for help getting your approval.</p> <h3>More Conferences</h3> <p><strong><a href="http://uxweek.com/2012/">UX Week</a><br /> When:</strong> August 21-24, 2012<br /> <strong>Where:</strong> San Francisco, CA, USA</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.aneventapart.com/2012/chicago/">An Event Apart Chicago</a></strong><br /> <strong>When:</strong> August 27-29, 2012<br /> <strong>Where:</strong> Chicago, IL, USA</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.uxaustralia.com.au/">UX Australia</a><br /> When:</strong> August 28-31, 2012<br /> <strong>Where:</strong> Brisbane, Austalia at Sofitel Brisbane Central<br /> UX Australia also presents <a href="http://www.uxaustralia.com.au/agileux-2012/">Agile UX</a> and <a href="http://www.uxaustralia.com.au/servicedesign-2012/">Service Design 2012</a>.</p> <p><strong><a href="http://2012.dconstruct.org/">dConstruct</a><br /> When:</strong> September 7, 2012<br /> <strong>Where:</strong> Brighton, UK at the Brighton Dome</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2012/05/25/first-smashing-conference-coming-community-event-web-designers/">Smashing Magazine Conference</a></strong><br /> <strong>When:</strong> September 17-19, 2012<br /> <strong>Where:</strong> Freiburg, Germany</p> <p>Please feel free to share more web conferences if you know of them.</p> </div> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=QNGiDVr0duo:mIJJbvcPbM0:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=QNGiDVr0duo:mIJJbvcPbM0:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=QNGiDVr0duo:mIJJbvcPbM0:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=QNGiDVr0duo:mIJJbvcPbM0:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=QNGiDVr0duo:mIJJbvcPbM0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=QNGiDVr0duo:mIJJbvcPbM0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=QNGiDVr0duo:mIJJbvcPbM0:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=QNGiDVr0duo:mIJJbvcPbM0:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=QNGiDVr0duo:mIJJbvcPbM0:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=QNGiDVr0duo:mIJJbvcPbM0:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

UPDATED: 10 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Logo Lounge Vol. 7 Arrives

<p class="intro">Last September, I wrote about how <a href="http://justcreative.com/2011/09/08/6-logos-selected-for-logo-lounge-vol-7/" title="Logo Lounge 7">six of my logos and a case study</a> were to be featured in the next edition of the <a href="http://logolounge.com" title="Logo Lounge">Logo Lounge</a> series, that being Logo Lounge 7. Well, I’ve just recently received the hard cover book in the mail and thought I’d share a few snaps.</p> <p>You can read the <a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC008921.jpg" target="_blank" title="Menu Cover Depot">case study of the logo</a> I created for Menu Cover Depot here in image format (not in text format unfortunately).</p> <p>You can <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1592537278//ref=cm_sw_su_dp?tag=logolounge-20" target="_blank" title="Logo Lounge 7">purchase this book on Amazon</a> for $29.50.</p> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_10733"><img alt="Logo Lounge Book 7 Side View" class="size-full wp-image-10733" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC00884.jpg" title="Logo Lounge Book 7 " width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Logo Lounge Book 7 Side View</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_10734"><img alt="Logo Lounge Book 7 Front Cover" class="size-full wp-image-10734" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC00885.jpg" title="Logo Lounge Book 7 Front Cover" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Logo Lounge Book 7 Front Cover</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_10735"><img alt="Levi's Case Study" class="size-full wp-image-10735" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC00886.jpg" title="DSC00886" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Levi's Case Study</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_10737"><a href="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC008921.jpg"><img alt="Menu Cover Depot Case Study" class="size-full wp-image-10737 " height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC00892.jpg" title="Menu Cover Depot Case Study" width="640" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Case study of my Menu Cover Depot logo.</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_10738"><img alt="Eton Financial" class="size-full wp-image-10738" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC00894.jpg" title="DSC00894" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">My featured work: Eton Financial Logo</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_10739"><img alt="My featured work: Radar Logo" class="size-full wp-image-10739" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC00895.jpg" title="My featured work: Radar Logo" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">My featured work: Radar Logo</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_10740"><img alt="My featured work: Onyx Logo" class="size-full wp-image-10740" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC00899.jpg" title="My featured work: Onyx Logo" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">My featured work: Onyx Logo</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_10741"><img alt="My featured work: Yoga Tripper Logo" class="size-full wp-image-10741" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC00900.jpg" title="My featured work: Yoga Tripper Logo" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">My featured work: Yoga Tripper Logo</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_10742"><img alt="My featured work: Japan Tribute Logo" class="size-full wp-image-10742" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC00902.jpg" title="My featured work: Japan Tribute Logo" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">My featured work: Japan Tribute Logo</p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_10744"><img alt="Logo Lounge 7 Back Cover" class="size-full wp-image-10744" height="425" src="http://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC00906.jpg" title="Logo Lounge 7 Back Cover" width="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Logo Lounge 7 Back Cover</p></div> <p>This makes a total of 29 logos of mine that have been published in Logo Lounge’s books, as outlined below. Quite humbling!</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://justcreative.com/2011/05/10/logo-lounge-vol-6-book-review/" title="Logo Lounge 6">Logo Lounge Vol. 6</a> (6 logos)</li> <li><a href="http://justcreative.com/2009/08/17/logo-lounge-volume-5-book-review/">LogoLounge Vol. 5</a> (2 logos)</li> <li><a href="http://justcreative.com/2010/09/26/logo-lounges-master-library-book-3/">LogoLounge Master Library – Shapes & Symbols</a> (9 logos)</li> <li>LogoLounge Master Library – Typography and Enclosures (6 logos)</li> </ul> <p>If you’re interested in having your work considered for their next book, you can <a href="https://www.logolounge.com/join.asp">become a member</a> of Logo Lounge ($99) & start uploading your work. I am not affiliated with Logo Lounge… JUST sharing the love. Good luck & thanks for looking.</p> <hr /><br /> © This article is copyright of <a href="http://justcreative.com">JUST™ Creative</a> and should not be found elsewhere.<br /><br /> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ZlZuXtDmp18:LiPcB0gvlZU:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=ZlZuXtDmp18:LiPcB0gvlZU:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ZlZuXtDmp18:LiPcB0gvlZU:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=ZlZuXtDmp18:LiPcB0gvlZU:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ZlZuXtDmp18:LiPcB0gvlZU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ZlZuXtDmp18:LiPcB0gvlZU:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ZlZuXtDmp18:LiPcB0gvlZU:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ZlZuXtDmp18:LiPcB0gvlZU:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?i=ZlZuXtDmp18:LiPcB0gvlZU:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?a=ZlZuXtDmp18:LiPcB0gvlZU:I9og5sOYxJI"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustCreativeDesignBlog?d=I9og5sOYxJI" /></a> </div>

UPDATED: 10 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

I LOVE TYPOGRAPHY

SHOW NEXT 5 >

TDC type-design competition 2012

<p class="intro">The <a href="http://tdc.org">Type Directors Club</a> in New York City has been holding an annual competition for the best in typography (that is, the use of type in graphic design) since the 1950s. In 1997, James Montalbano and Paul Shaw founded TDC2, a second competition that dealt specifically with the design of typefaces. Together, they chaired the first two TDC2 competitions, and they have remained closely involved with it ever since.</p> <p><span id="more-13538"></span></p> <p>As Paul wrote in his chairman’s statement for that first competition, “The genesis for the Type Directors Club Type Design Competition (TDC2) came about from my frustration, shared by the other type designers on the Board of Directors of the TDC, over the number and quality of type designs chosen in the annual competition.” Until then, type designs had been judged alongside books, brochures, annual reports, and packaging. Now they would be judged on their own merits, by judges who understood the design of type.</p> <p>One of the crucial factors in judging the design of a typeface is seeing it in use. For the first TDC type competition, Montalbano and Shaw devised a template that they hoped would show all of the typefaces in comparable situations, at a variety of sizes. As James said in his chairman’s statement, although they had “created a poster that most people liked,” they had also “created submission templates that most people hated.” In later years, designers were free to send in their typeface samples in any form they liked, though the organizers encouraged them to include a complete character set and to show off their work at its best. (When I chaired the type-design competition in 2001, we asked for 11&#8243×17&#8243 or A3 proof sheets, one typeface per sheet, and explained: “Each proof should show the typeface in whatever way seems appropriate for that face; proofs may include, but are not limited to, headlines, short or long passages of text, sample pages/double-page spreads of book or magazine make-up, or multiple-column text.”) But not all type designers, even the best ones, are very good graphic designers; this problem of displaying the typeface at its best for the judging has bedeviled the competition from the beginning.</p> <p>This year’s competition—the fifteenth, if I’m counting right—was chaired by Maxim Zhukov, who chose an all-star jury of well-known names: Matthew Carter, Roger Black, Erik Spiekermann, and Paul Shaw. The number of submissions was slightly down from the year before (173 entries from 27 countries); submissions from outside the United States outnumbered the US entries, but not by as much as they had the year before. (In 1997, that first competition had twice as many submissions – but then, it <em>was</em> the first, and its scope was larger, as it covered the entire decade up to then. Subsequent competitions have covered only single years.)</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/12/TDC12001_Judging_007.jpg" title="TDC12001_Judging_007" /></p> <p>From the outset, the TDC type design competition has encouraged submissions of non-Latin type designs, although it is sometimes a problem making sure that there are judges who are familiar with each script. Many type designers can judge the soundness of character designs in a script that they can’t read, but to evaluate how a text typeface works in practice requires familiarity with the language it’s used for. Even when he wasn’t chairing the competition, Maxim has made heroic efforts over the years to back up the juries with expert advice on unfamiliar writing systems.</p> <p>The judging takes place in New York over a weekend in January. The essentials of a type-design judging are always the same: the judges walk along a series of long tables where the type specimens are laid out side by side, peering down at the designs, sometimes bending close to examine details, other times clustering together to discuss a particular question. The first cut is where the unsuccessful designs get weeded out. In some competitions, the judges choose which ones to eliminate; in others, they indicate which ones they think should stay in for the next round, and the rest are eliminated. TDC2 uses the latter method. Either way, the second round is where it gets interesting: narrowing it down to the truly best designs. This is where the judges start arguing, or at least discussing the merits of particular typefaces and what works and doesn’t work about them. As I recall from the year I chaired the competition, these discussion were the most fascinating; they really brought out the judges’ individual experiences and knowledge, as each wrestled with fundamental questions of how to evaluate quality.</p> <p>This year, the TDC2 jury chose only thirteen typefaces as winners – an unusually low percentage of those that were entered. The general feeling among the judges seemed to be that while there were plenty of good type designs submitted, there weren’t very many that stood out for their excellence. As Paul Shaw said afterward, “During the judging we all agreed that the level of type design has risen so much in recent years that we found ourselves looking for typefaces that had something extra. Just being a very good, very usable typeface was no longer enough to be chosen.” Many of the entries seemed to be good but not great: “We had a difficult time finding typefaces that seemed fresh and exciting.” Or, as Roger Black put it, “As we’ve seen in magazine and web site design, if the bottom is to be raised, the best design has to be more than accurate, clean and professional. It has to hit it out of the park.”</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/12/TDC12001_Judging_014.jpg" title="TDC12001_Judging_014" /></p> <p>This is a constant debate in design competitions: should the winners be limited to those that are spectacular and original, or should they include those that are steady and craftsmanlike but not outstanding? It’s far from obvious which answer is preferable. In every aspect of graphic design, including the design of type, there is work that’s pyrotechnic and in your face, but that lacks real craft in how it’s put together. Then there is work that is solid and reliable, that rises to the best standards of competence, but that doesn’t break out of the box in any way.</p> <p>As Roger Black pointed out, “The problem here is exactly what the AIGA was trying to address [in a recent debate about its own design competitions]: how do you judge design, when all the qualities may not be on the surface? A print advertising competition, a book cover competition, or even a book design competition are easier to judge than, say, a web site, where how it works is as important a part of the design as how it looks. With typefaces, the TDC is relying on the experience of judges to assess these issues. A stylish new stencil font (which was a winner this year), is easier to vote for than a new agate font, which really must be seen in use… And as for web fonts, God spare the judges.”</p> <p>It’s easy to forget that during the judging process, the jury is seeing a whole host of entries all at once, which have to be judged quickly, intuitively, without any time to put them through their paces and see how they work in the real world. (The equivalent in book-design competitions is that the judges don’t have time to sit down and try to read any of the books, which is the ultimate test. It’s always easier, and tempting, to judge by the display typography or the images or the title page.)</p> <p>A counter to this, for the individual submitters, is to produce a specimen showing off their typefaces the way they would most like to see them used. But too many of them don’t do this very well. “Some perfectly good typefaces were probably unfairly rejected,” according to Paul Shaw, “but the fault lay with the submitters more than with the jury. Many submitters do not showcase their typefaces properly.” The designs of the typeface showings need to be “both compelling and appropriate.” Paul said that he had voted for some typefaces that he was already familiar with and thought were excellent, but that the other judges didn’t agree. “Upon reflection, I realized that the showings were a let down. I was able to see beyond that because I had previously seen what the fonts were capable of. This may seem unfair, but it is the same way that fonts are often judged in the marketplace. It is not enough to be a good typeface. It is essential that a typeface show why it is good and what it is good for.”</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/12/TDC12001_Judging_042.jpg" title="TDC12001_Judging_042" /></p> <p>There is another factor, which complicates the matter of showing all the aspects of a digital font: the increasing popularity of advanced OpenType layout features, whether they be something subtle like small caps and alternate styles of numerals or something exuberant like an explosion of ligatures and alternate letter forms. Complex scripts like Arabic or Devanagari complicate the problem because there’s so much to show; similarly, Chinese and Japanese fonts contain so many characters that it would be almost impossible to showcase them all in any meaningful way. As Maxim, this year’s chairman, put it, “Evaluating and judging OpenType entries to design competitions has become more challenging for the jurors than TrueType or Type 1 fonts, partly for the same reason: their glyph sets often transcend the traditional boundaries of text, display, pi, Latin, and other design and script categories used for the submission of entries.” Not only might a single OpenType font include a plethora of alternates and special features, it might also contain what is essentially more than one typeface. Many current type releases, for instance, include Latin, Greek, and Cyrillic versions in one font. (This is what Adobe means when it calls a font “Pro,” although most of us tend to think of this as indicating the presence of small caps, old-style figures, and related typographic niceties of the Latin alphabet.) All of this needs to be displayed gracefully and compellingly in the type specimen, if the designer hopes to have the jury adequately judge his or her work.</p> <p>It’s also possible, as Maxim points out in his chairman’s statement, for one part of a large OpenType font to work better than another. Does the display version work as well as the text? Does the Greek match the quality of the Cyrillic? In past TDC competitions, sometimes the judges have decided to give an award to just one part of a type family, even though the whole family was submitted as one entry.</p> <p>Paul Shaw sums up the perennial problem of judging a design competition: “I am looking for excellence more than innovation, but innovation always gets one’s attention.” But let’s give Roger Black the last word:</p> <p>“When the TDC judges went over to a Pratt Institute building that weekend to look at the type design submissions, we saw a variety of designs, representing a wide range of styles from informal cursives to fresh takes on classic Romans. Nothing knocked us dead. But there were no howlers, either. We agreed that the bottom has been raised a great deal. There is better type design education (at Reading, RISD, and now Cooper), and better training of junior designers at dozens of foundries (following the example of David Berlow and the Font Bureau). This is encouraging, but we were left wistful and unsatisfied.”</p> <p class="footnote">Video of TDC Salon: The Judges Night 2012. A panel discussion with Roger Black, Matthew Carter, Paul Shaw and Erik Spiekermann. Moderated by Maxim Zhukov.</p> <p></p> <p class="footnote"><a href="http://johndberry.com">John Berry</a> usually describes himself as an editor & typographer — reflecting his care for both the meaning of words and how they are presented. He is president of ATypI (Association Typographique Internationale) and the former editor and publisher of U&lc (Upper & lower case). He writes, speaks, and consults extensively on typography, and he has won numerous awards for his book designs. He has written and edited several books, including Language culture type: international type design in the age of Unicode (ATypI/Graphis, 2002), Contemporary newspaper design: shaping the news in the digital age (Mark Batty Publisher, 2004), and U&lc: influencing design & typography (Batty, 2005). He has been a program manager on the Fonts team at Microsoft, where he established improved typographic standards for Windows and other Microsoft products. He lives in Seattle with the writer Eileen Gunn.</p> <p><br /><br /> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250"><img src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/idlewild-light-fonts.png" /></a> <br /> Sponsored by <a href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250">H&FJ</a>. <br /><br /><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/12/09/tdc-type-design-competition-2012/">TDC type-design competition 2012</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=yeLuwPI0LuA:ZVN2bvQtX4g:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=yeLuwPI0LuA:ZVN2bvQtX4g:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=yeLuwPI0LuA:ZVN2bvQtX4g:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=yeLuwPI0LuA:ZVN2bvQtX4g:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=yeLuwPI0LuA:ZVN2bvQtX4g:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=yeLuwPI0LuA:ZVN2bvQtX4g:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=yeLuwPI0LuA:ZVN2bvQtX4g:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=yeLuwPI0LuA:ZVN2bvQtX4g:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=yeLuwPI0LuA:ZVN2bvQtX4g:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=yeLuwPI0LuA:ZVN2bvQtX4g:TzevzKxY174"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=TzevzKxY174" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ILoveTypography/~4/yeLuwPI0LuA" width="1" />

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

The Voice of all the Gods

<p>Today I’ve released two limited edition prints along with some originals. The prints are based on words penned by William Shakespeare and Dylan Thomas.</p> <p><em>‘The Voice of all the Gods’</em> is a quote from Shakespeare’s ‘Loves Labours Lost.’ The first time I read the passage in which this phrase occurs I couldn’t get it out of my head for weeks. The words are extraordinarily rich, and I wanted my visual interpretation to reflect this. The main source of inspiration for the letterforms comes from the 18th century, but I’ve tried to rework or re-imagine them in the spirit of our time. Above all, I wanted my interpretation of Shakespeare’s words to capture their shimmering beauty and harmony.</p> <p><span id="more-13549"></span><br /> <a href="http://seblester.co.uk"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13558" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/11/VoiceOfAllTheGods_4_LR.jpg" title="VoiceOfAllTheGods_4_LR" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: lemonde-sans, sans-serif; font-size: .9em;">‘The Voice of all the Gods’<br /> Signed edition of 100, 594 X 420 mm.<br /> Metallic Gold ink on black Plike art paper.</p> <p>Dylan Thomas’s <em>‘Do not go gentle into that good night’</em> is one of the most powerful and compelling poems I know. I have always found the words incredibly moving. Dramatic, fiery, beautiful and poignant — I wanted my interpretation to capture that. I developed a modern, sharpened italic style which I felt suited the tone of the piece, with what might be described as sharpened flourishes carefully integrated into the design. The forms are based on my cursive italic calligraphy which you can see demonstrated in the video below. I tried to do something unconventional and progressive with this piece. I wanted all the forms to be extremely graceful but also have a tension about them in keeping with the words. I wanted to evoke flames, lightning, and stars blazing in a night sky.</p> <p><a href="http://seblester.co.uk"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13565" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/11/DoNot_Detail2_LR.jpg" title="DoNot_Detail2_LR" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: lemonde-sans, sans-serif; font-size: .9em;">‘Do Not Go Gentle’<br /> Signed edition of 200, 594 X 420 mm.<br /> Gold foil blocked on Midnight blue Plike art paper.<br /> © The Trustees for the Copyright of Dylan Thomas</p> <p>I have also released several original pieces of art today. Here are two of them, the rest are on my website.</p> <p><a href="http://seblester.co.uk"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13570" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/11/Arse_Bollocks_sebLester.jpg" title="Arse_Bollocks_sebLester" /></a></p> <p>I designed bespoke Roman monumental capital letters. I then commissioned a very talented and respected letter carver to carve rude words into the finest Welsh slate using them.</p> <p><a href="http://seblester.co.uk"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13569" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/11/Bollocks_Slate1_LR.jpg" title="Bollocks_Slate1_LR" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: lemonde-sans, sans-serif; font-size: .9em;">‘Slate 1’<br /> Bespoke Roman monumental capitals carved in Welsh slate.<br /> 50cm X 12.5cm X 7.5cm. Signed by the artist.<br /> One of a series of three.</p> <p><a href="http://seblester.co.uk"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13566" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/11/Slate_2_LR.jpg" title="Slate_2_LR" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: lemonde-sans, sans-serif; font-size: .9em;">‘Slate 2’<br /> Bespoke Roman monumental capitals carved in Welsh slate.<br /> 25cm X 12.5cm X 7.5cm. Signed by the artist. <br /> One of a series of three.</p> <p>It has become apparent to me that doing calligraphy makes you a better type designer, and doing type design makes you a better calligrapher. That was a beautiful revelation to me and one that I hope I will continue to benefit from.</p> <p></p> <p class="footnote"><a href="http://seblester.co.uk">Seb Lester</a> is a designer and artist whose clients include Apple, Nike, Intel, Absolut Vodka, Levi’s & The New York Times. You can find him on <a href="https://twitter.com/seblester">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seb-Lester/143768095661303">Facebook</a>.</p> <p><br /><br /> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250"><img src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/idlewild-light-fonts.png" /></a> <br /> Sponsored by <a href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250">H&FJ</a>. <br /><br /><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/11/01/new-prints-from-seb-leste/">The Voice of all the Gods</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CNQE-Ih7y5s:vhX0SwLP_eo:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=CNQE-Ih7y5s:vhX0SwLP_eo:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CNQE-Ih7y5s:vhX0SwLP_eo:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=CNQE-Ih7y5s:vhX0SwLP_eo:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CNQE-Ih7y5s:vhX0SwLP_eo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CNQE-Ih7y5s:vhX0SwLP_eo:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=CNQE-Ih7y5s:vhX0SwLP_eo:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CNQE-Ih7y5s:vhX0SwLP_eo:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=CNQE-Ih7y5s:vhX0SwLP_eo:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CNQE-Ih7y5s:vhX0SwLP_eo:TzevzKxY174"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=TzevzKxY174" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ILoveTypography/~4/CNQE-Ih7y5s" width="1" />

UPDATED: 7 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

Hipster Hummingbirds

<p class="byline">The week in type</p> <p>Let’s start with some fantastic news: Issue #2 of <a href="http://codexmag.com/" title="codex journal of typography">Codex magazine</a> is now available for pre-order. What’s more, you can now purchase a subscription. The second issue is rather special — A new Editor in Chief (Paul Shaw), a complete redesign (Linda Florio), more pages, more of the very, very best content. Spread the word.<br /> <span id="more-13222"></span><br /> <a href="http://codexmag.com"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13533" height="288" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/codex-ilt.png" title="codex-ilt" width="500" /></a></p> <h3>Inspiration</h3> <p>More <a href="http://vimeo.com/13124405">Luca Barcellona</a> in action in Firenze:</p> <p></p> <p>Erik Spiekermann talks about Type on Screens at <a href="http://www.creativemornings.com">Creative Mornings</a> Berlin:</p> <p></p> <p>I posted this Ampersand Balloon project by <a href="http://www.conoranddavid.com/project/ampersand-poster/">Conor & David</a> months ago. Have just discovered the making of video:</p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://uppercasemagazine.com/beautifulbitmaps">Beautiful Bitmaps</a>, a project from Uppercase mag. Here are a couple of my favorites:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://uppercasemagazine.com/beautifulbitmaps"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13458" height="311" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/beautiful-bitmaps.jpg" title="beautiful-bitmaps" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Each letter of the alphabet is available as a print from the <a href="http://uppercasemagazine.com/beautifulbitmaps">Uppercase</a> store.</p> <p>Great idea from Tim Brown: <a href="http://nicewebtype.com/notes/2012/10/05/type-set-match/">Type Set Match</a> hosted on Dribbble.</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://nicewebtype.com/notes/2012/10/05/type-set-match/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13523" height="188" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/type-set-match.jpg" title="type-set-match" width="500" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://50watts.com/20-Swedish-Posters-for-1930s-Hollywood">Twenty Swedish Posters</a> for 1930s Hollywood:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://50watts.com/20-Swedish-Posters-for-1930s-Hollywood"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13522" height="715" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/01-Eric-Rohman-poster-for-Sky-Hawk-1929.jpg" title="01-Eric-Rohman--poster-for-Sky-Hawk-1929" width="500" /></a></p> <p>HT: @<a href="http://twitter.com/tealtan">tealtan</a></p> <h3>Books</h3> <p>I’ve ordered mine, and can’t wait to get my hands on it. <a href="https://www.uniteditions.com/shop/herb-lubalin" title="Herb Lubalin">Herb Lubalin</a> from Unit Editions:</p> <p><a href="https://www.uniteditions.com/shop/herb-lubalin"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13326" height="252" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/HL_banner_3_page-header-500x252.jpg" title="Herb Lubalin" width="500" /></a></p> <blockquote><p>This meticulously researched book offers a complete career overview of Herb Lubalin, beginning with his early days as one of the original Mad Men in the New York advertising world of the 50s and 60s, and continuing into the years of his greatest achievements as one of the world’s most influential typographers and graphic designers.</p></blockquote> <h3>Process</h3> <p>An interesting short read on a logo(type) <a href="http://www.typejockeys.com/blog/Cleaning-Up">redesign</a> by Typejockeys:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.typejockeys.com/blog/Cleaning-Up"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13330" height="274" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/Saubermacher-logo-old-new-500x274.gif" title="Saubermacher logo old and new" width="500" /></a></p> <p>The <a href="http://klim.co.nz/blog/airnz/">Air New Zealand Logotype</a> Design Process from Kris Sowersby:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://klim.co.nz/blog/airnz/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13333" height="300" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/AirNZ-Sketches-Composite-500x300.jpg" title="AirNZ Sketches Composite" width="500" /></a></p> <h3>New fonts</h3> <p><a href="http://www.fountaintype.com/typefaces/taca" title="Taca fonts from fountain type">Taca</a> designed by Rúben Dias, and released through Fountain Type — a kind of Jean Claude Van Damme meets Eurostile:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.fountaintype.com/typefaces/taca"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13469" height="832" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/Taca_spec.png" title="Taca fonts" width="500" /></a></p> <p>The really lovely <a href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/laura-worthington/hummingbird/">Hummingbird</a> from Laura Worthington. Replete with a bucket-load of contextual alternates:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/laura-worthington/hummingbird/"><img alt="" class="noborder" height="491" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/hummingbird.png" title="hummingbird font" width="500" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.fountaintype.com/typefaces/gira-sans" title="Gira Sans fonts">Gira Sans</a> by Rui Abreu of Fountain Type:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.fountaintype.com/typefaces/gira-sans"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13337" height="766" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/GiraSans.png" title="Gira Sans fonts" width="500" /></a></p> <p>And a lovely promo <a href="http://vimeo.com/48936929" title="Gira sans fonts promotional video">video</a>:</p> <p></p> <p>Another script from the maestro Ale Paul. <a href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/sudtipos/hipster-script-pro/" title="hipster script font">Hipster Script</a>:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/sudtipos/hipster-script-pro/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13319" height="500" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/ILTdiscount-500x500.jpg" title="Hipster Script Pro font from Ale Paul of Sudtipos" width="500" /></a></p> <p>New from Typotheque, <a href="http://www.typotheque.com/blog/beauty_and_ugliness" title="karloff fonts">Karloff</a>:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.typotheque.com/blog/beauty_and_ugliness"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13452" height="800" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/karloff-fonts.png" title="karloff-fonts" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Read more about the design process and inspiration in <a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/09/25/beauty-and-ugliness-in-type-font-design/" title="beauty and ugliness in font design">Beauty & Ugliness in Type Design</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>A large family from Adobe, <a href="http://sourceforge.net/projects/sourcesans.adobe/">Source Sans Pro</a>. And free to download, including the source files (open source):</p> <p><a href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/cultivated-mind/luella/">Luela</a> from Cindy Kinash is fun. Combine it with Luela Frames for Etsy-esque feel:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/cultivated-mind/luella/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13462" height="250" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/luella-500x250.jpg" title="luella fonts" width="500" /></a></p> <p>From Font Bureau, <a href="http://www.fontbureau.com/ReadingEdge/">The Reading Edge</a>™ Series of fonts for small sizes on screens:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.fontbureau.com/ReadingEdge/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13322" height="386" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/Screen-Shot-2012-09-13-at-6.53.52-PM-500x386.png" title="reading edge series of fonts for small sizes on screens" width="500" /></a></p> <p>The site itself is testament to what can be achieved typographically on screen. Great stuff.</p> <p>A fun way for kids or adults to learn Korean:</p> <p> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/25892113">Korable Block</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user5164213">Allied Operations</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p> <h3>Type-related book marks</h3> <p><a href="https://github.com/daneden/Baseline.js">Baseline.js</a>, a jQuery plugin for fixing vertical baselines.<br /> <a href="http://observatory.designobserver.com/michaelbierut/feature/the-typeface-of-truth/35428/" title="The Typeface of Truth">The Typeface of Truth</a>.<br /> <a href="http://www.kerning.it">Kerning</a> — the Italian typography conference.<br /> <a href="http://fontsinuse.com/uses/2181/paris-vs-new-york-a-tally-of-two-cities">Paris vs New York</a> — Fonts in Use.<br /> <a href="http://blog.typekit.com/2012/09/24/introducing-adobe-edge-web-fonts/">Abobe Edge Webfonts</a>.<br /> <a href="http://webfonts.info/using-font-face-resolution-independent-graphics">Using @font-face for resolution independent graphics</a>.<br /> <a href="http://craigmod.com/satellite/publishing_startups/">Publishing startups and great fuzziness</a>.</p> <h3>Finally</h3> <p>Don’t forget to order your copy of <a href="http://codexmag.com">Codex journal of typography</a>! You’ll love it.</p> <p><br /><br /> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250"><img src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/idlewild-light-fonts.png" /></a> <br /> Sponsored by <a href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250">H&FJ</a>. <br /><br /><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/10/16/hipster-hummingbird-type-font-news-ilt/">Hipster Hummingbirds</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CnED0fPdQo4:bNl3mFQrRRs:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=CnED0fPdQo4:bNl3mFQrRRs:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CnED0fPdQo4:bNl3mFQrRRs:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=CnED0fPdQo4:bNl3mFQrRRs:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CnED0fPdQo4:bNl3mFQrRRs:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CnED0fPdQo4:bNl3mFQrRRs:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=CnED0fPdQo4:bNl3mFQrRRs:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CnED0fPdQo4:bNl3mFQrRRs:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=CnED0fPdQo4:bNl3mFQrRRs:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=CnED0fPdQo4:bNl3mFQrRRs:TzevzKxY174"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=TzevzKxY174" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ILoveTypography/~4/CnED0fPdQo4" width="1" />

UPDATED: 8 MONTHS

Beauty and Ugliness in Type design

<p class="intro"><a href="http://www.typotheque.com/authors/peter_bilak" title="Peter Bi?ak">Peter Bi?ak</a> on the process of designing his newly released <a href="http://www.typotheque.com/blog/beauty_and_ugliness" title="Karloff fonts">Karloff</a> typeface, demonstrating just how closely related beauty and ugliness are. Karloff explores the idea of irreconcilable differences — how two extremes could be combined into a coherent whole.</p> <p><span id="more-13370"></span></p> <p>In 2010 I was invited to a design conference in Copenhagen to speak on the subject of conceptual type. The organisers were interested in examples of typefaces whose principal design feature was not related to aesthetic considerations or legibility, but rather some underlying non-typographical idea. In my address I argued that there is no such thing as conceptual type, since type design is a discipline defined by its ability to execute an outcome; the process that transforms the pure idea into a functional font is a critical part of the discipline. Having rejected the topic of the conference, I nevertheless went on to speculate on what a true example of a <a href="http://www.typotheque.com/articles/conceptual_type">conceptual typeface</a> might be like.</p> <p><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13374" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/Karloff-sketch1080.jpg" title="Karloff-sketch1080" /></p> <p>At the time I was also interested in the idea of irreconcilable differences and how two extremes could be combined into a coherent whole. As an example, I looked for the most beautiful typeface in the history of typography — as well as the ugliest one — and for a way to meld them.</p> <p class="no-indent"><strong>The Beauty</strong><br />While any choice representing beauty is bound to be very personal and subjective, many agree that the high-contrast typefaces created by Giambattista Bodoni and the Didot clan are some of the most beautiful in existence.</p> <p>Bodoni was one of the most widely-admired printers of his time and considered amongst the finest in the history of the craft. Thomas Curson Hansard wrote in 1825 that Bodoni’s types had “that beautiful and perfect appearance, which we find it difficult and highly expensive to equal.”<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ILoveTypography?format=xml#_ftn1" id="_ftnref1" name="_ftnref1">¹</a> In his <i>Manuale Tipografico</i> of 1818, Bodoni laid down the four principles of type design “from which all beauty would seem to proceed”, namely: regularity, clarity, good taste, and charm.</p> <p><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13426" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/Manuale-Tipografico1.jpg" title="Manuale Tipografico, Bodoni" /></p> <p>His close competitors in France were the Didots. Not only did François-Ambroise Didot invent many of the machines used in printing, but his foundry endeavoured to render the types more beautifully than his rivals Baskerville and (later) Bodoni. Some considered Didot’s works the most beautiful types that had ever been used in France (up to that period),<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ILoveTypography?format=xml#_ftn2" id="_ftnref2" name="_ftnref2">²</a> though others found them delicate but lifeless.<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ILoveTypography?format=xml#_ftn3" id="_ftnref3" name="_ftnref3">³</a></p> <p><img alt="Didot, Impremirie Nationale, 36pt" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13407" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/IN-didot-36pt.jpg" title="Didot, Impremirie Nationale, 36pt" /></p> <p class="no-indent"><strong>The Ugliness</strong><br />I have to admit that dealing with ugliness was a lot more interesting than revisiting the beauty contests of the classicist printers. The search for ugliness triggers a certain primal, voyeuristic curiosity, and from the designer’s perspective there is simply a lot more space to explore. Capturing beauty has always been considered the primary responsibility of the traditional artist, and even now it is rare to find examples of skilled and deliberate ugliness in type design, (although examples of inexperience and naïveté abound).</p> <p>The eccentric ‘Italian’ from the middle of the Industrial Revolution was a clear choice. This reversed-contrast typeface was designed to deliberately attract readers’ attention by defying their expectations. Strokes that were thick in classical models were thin, and vice versa — a dirty trick to create freakish letterforms that stood out in the increasingly saturated world of commercial messages.</p> <p><img alt="Five-Line Pica Italian" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13413" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/5-line-pica-italian.jpg" title="Five-Line Pica Italian" /></p> <p class="no-indent">No other style in the history of typography has provoked such negative reactions as the Italian. It was first presented in Caslon & Catherwood’s 1821 type specimen, and as early as 1825, in his <i>Typographia</i> Thomas Hansard called the type a “typographic monstrosity”. Nicolete Gray called it “a crude expression of the idea of perversity”<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ILoveTypography?format=xml#_ftn4" id="_ftnref4" name="_ftnref4">?</a>, while others labeled it as “degenerate”.<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ILoveTypography?format=xml#_ftn5" id="_ftnref5" name="_ftnref5">?</a></p> <p><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13429" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/FourLinePica.jpg" title="FourLinePica" /></p> <p>The goal of my project was to show just how closely related beauty and ugliness are. Donald Knuth, an American computer scientist with a special interest in typography identified over 60 visual parameters that control the appearance of a typeface. I was interested in designing typeface variations that shared most of these parameters, yet included both the ugliest and most beautiful letterforms.</p> <p><a href="http://www.typotheque.com/fonts/karloff_positive">Karloff</a>, the result of this project, connects the high contrast Modern type of Bodoni and Didot with the monstrous Italians. The difference between the attractive and repulsive forms lies in a single design parameter, the contrast between the thick and the thin.</p> <div class="img-caption-overlay"> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typotheque.com/fonts/karloff_positive"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13415" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/Positive.png" title="Karloff Positive" /></a> <div class="caption-overlay">Karloff Positive</div> </div> <div class="img-caption-overlay"> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typotheque.com/fonts/karloff_positive"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13417" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/PositiveItalic-new.png" title="Karloff Positive Italic" /></a> <div class="caption-overlay">Karloff Positive Italic</div> </div> <div class="img-caption-overlay"> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typotheque.com/fonts/karloff_negative"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13419" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/Karloff-Negative-Bold.png" title="Karloff Negative Bold" /></a> <div class="caption-overlay">Karloff Negative Bold</div> </div> <div class="img-caption-overlay"> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typotheque.com/fonts/karloff_negative"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13420" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/Karloff-Negative-Bold-Italic.png" title="Karloff Negative Bold Italic" /></a> <div class="caption-overlay">Karloff Negative Bold Italic</div> </div> <p>I asked Pieter van Rosmalen for help, and both of us worked on both versions. While at the beginning I looked at the Didot from Imprimerie Nationale as a reference, Pieter departed from this model and made the project more personal. We worked on both models at the same time, trying to be very strict about mathematically reversing the contrast between two weights. The advantage of working on both versions together was that we could adjust both of them to achieve the best forms, rather than creating one as an afterthought of the other.</p> <p><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13422" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/AAA.png" title="AAA" /></p> <p><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13423" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/BeautyUgliness_orange.png" title="BeautyUgliness_orange" /></p> <p>Towards the end of the project, I worked with Nikola Djurek, our frequent collaborator, who helped with interpolation and fine-tuning of the fonts. Having designed two diametrically opposite versions, we undertook a genetic experiment with the offspring of the beauty and the beast, interpolation of the two extremes, which produced a surprisingly neutral low contrast version. Karloff Neutral required only minimal intervention, because the master weights from which it was interpolated were well defined.</p> <p class="no-indent"><strong>About the name</strong><br />Karloff was the artistic name of the British actor William Henry Pratt. He chose this pseudonym to prevent embarrassment to his dignified family, who considered him the black sheep of the family. Although he played mainly sinister characters, in real life, Karloff was known as a very kind gentleman who gave generously, especially to children’s charities.</p> <p class="no-indent"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13424" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/boris_karloff.jpg" title="boris karloff" /></p> <p class="footnote no-indent"><em>Thanks to Paul Shaw, James Clough, and David Shields.</em></p> <p class="footnote no-indent"><a id="_ftn1" name="_ftn1">1.</a> Hansard, Thomas C. <i>Typographia: an Historical Sketch of the Origin and Progress of the Art of Printing</i>, 1825.<br /> <a id="_ftn2" name="_ftn2">2.</a> <i>Encyclopædia Americana</i>, 1832.<br /> <a id="_ftn3" name="_ftn3">3.</a> Updike, Daniel B. <i>Printing Types: Their History, Forms, and Use</i>, 2001.<br /> <a id="_ftn5" name="_ftn4">4.</a> Gray, Nicolete. <i>Nineteenth Century Ornamented Typefaces</i>, 1938<br /> <a id="_ftn5" name="_ftn5">5.</a> Benson, John H and Carey, Arthur J. <i>The Elements of Lettering</i>, 1940</p> <p><br /><br /> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250"><img src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/idlewild-light-fonts.png" /></a> <br /> Sponsored by <a href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250">H&FJ</a>. <br /><br /><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/09/25/beauty-and-ugliness-in-type-font-design/">Beauty and Ugliness in Type design</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=Oeh9NVfwBLY:JhyOWNg7qT8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=Oeh9NVfwBLY:JhyOWNg7qT8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=Oeh9NVfwBLY:JhyOWNg7qT8:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=Oeh9NVfwBLY:JhyOWNg7qT8:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=Oeh9NVfwBLY:JhyOWNg7qT8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=Oeh9NVfwBLY:JhyOWNg7qT8:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=Oeh9NVfwBLY:JhyOWNg7qT8:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=Oeh9NVfwBLY:JhyOWNg7qT8:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=Oeh9NVfwBLY:JhyOWNg7qT8:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=Oeh9NVfwBLY:JhyOWNg7qT8:TzevzKxY174"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=TzevzKxY174" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ILoveTypography/~4/Oeh9NVfwBLY" width="1" />

UPDATED: 8 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS

The Complete Engraver

<p class="byline">A review by James Puckett</p> <p>When it comes to the Gilded Age, the canon of design history teaches of broadside posters and the Kelmscott press. Wood type and artistic printing have attracted a following and are fighting their way in. Further outside the canon lies a neglected facet of design woven into society, personal lives and business — engraved stationery. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616890673/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1616890673&linkCode=as2&tag=japanagocom-20"><em>The Complete Engraver</em></a> introduces engraving as a subject worthy of the canon, and is an approachable, interesting, and compelling read.<br /> <span id="more-13345"></span><br /> Designer, teacher, and historian Nancy Sharon Collins is a leader in the preservation and revival of engraved stationery. She collects engraved ephemera, restores vintage presses, and designs stationery that has drawn praise from the likes of <em>Martha Stewart</em> and <em>Vogue</em>. Collins is erudite, formerly of the elite New York design establishment, and now works in New Orleans. She is eminently qualified to tackle the challenge of broadening our view of design history.</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616890673/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1616890673&linkCode=as2&tag=japanagocom-20"><img alt="The Complete Engraver cover image" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13353" height="700" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/CompleteEngraver_cover_41.jpg" title="The Complete Engraver cover image" width="500" /></a></p> <h3>Writing</h3> <p>Like letterpress and lettering, engraving is attracting renewed interest from artists and designers who want to express themselves via analog processes. Collins writes for them, and for those who aspire to be them, persuading readers to engage with a tradition that is not dead, but merely in slumber. </p> <p>Collins reminds us that engraving is an integral part of the bigger picture of printing and design history. She makes this case by weaving an elaborate history from threads about paper, department stores, and postal mail. These connections are critical to bringing engraving into the canon of design history rather than treating it as an aside. </p> <p>Of course Collins explores the intersection of type design and engraving. Around the turn of the twentieth century type designers blatantly lifted designs from the work of engravers. Engravers later used popular typefaces in modern business stationery. We see stark evidence of this mutual expropriation in a specimen of engraved lettering styles that includes Franklin Gothic Extended, Helvetica, and Eurostile’s predecessor, <a href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/urw/microgramma/">Microgramma</a>.</p> <p>What makes engraving an especially compelling aspect of design history is the personal significance of engraved stationery. Stationery was inextricably linked to Gilded Age high-society, with young people demanding impeccable calling cards that spoke to their status. Personal monograms were common among the upper classes. Mourning required special stationery that changed to express the stages of grief.</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616890673/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1616890673&linkCode=as2&tag=japanagocom-20"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13358" height="405" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/SteelDie.jpg" title="Steel Die" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Collins does not limit herself to engraving’s past. <em>The Complete Engraver</em> introduces engraving and printing techniques. Logo designers will find her examination of monograms and ciphers relevant. And Collins makes a case for reviving the calling card as a sort of business card without static contact details. The practice of serious letter writing is explained and advocated, although it may be a lost cause in this age of poor penmanship.</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616890673/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1616890673&linkCode=as2&tag=japanagocom-20"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13359" height="511" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/steel_Die.jpg" title="steel Die" width="500" /></a> </p> <h3>Format</h3> <p>Designers Paul Wagner and Elena Schlenker created an appropriate vehicle for this content and subject. Formal script juxtaposed with all-caps sans type has never looked so good in a book. Similar to Marian Bantjes’ digestibly small <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580932967/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1580932967&linkCode=as2&tag=japanagocom-20">I Wonder</a></em>, Collins’s <em>The Complete Engraver</em> is an octavo that one can sit down and read comfortably. Books this size are welcome in design, a field overrun with bloated, oversized tomes best suited to <a href="http://www.subtraction.com/2012/09/12/are-design-books-meant-to-be-read">winning awards and collecting dust</a>.</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.fonts.com/browse/promotions/the-complete-engraver"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13355" height="731" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/09/jmc-engraver.png" title="jmc engraver" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Two companion fonts, both revivals of engraving alphabets, were created by Steve Matteson and Terrance Weinzierl of Monotype. A short study of their process is presented as an appendix. Both fonts can be <a href="http://www.fonts.com/browse/promotions/the-complete-engraver" title="free fonts">downloaded for free</a> from fonts.com.</p> <h3>Conclusion</h3> <p>Covering so much in 216 richly illustrated pages makes <em>The Complete Engraver</em> more of a complete introduction than a comprehensive encyclopedia. But The Complete Engraver is a grand introduction that should ignite further explorations of engraving. Collins herself will no doubt follow with years more writing and speaking. And young designers with a passion for elegance will find plenty of historical inspiration and justification for their work. <em>The Complete Engraver</em> succeeds as a welcome addition to the canon of design history.</p> <p class="footnote"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616890673/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1616890673&linkCode=as2&tag=japanagocom-20">The Complete Engraver: A Guide to Monograms, Crests, Ciphers, Seals, and the Etiquette and History of Social Stationery</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=japanagocom-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1616890673" style="border: none !important; padding: 0; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br /> ISBN: 978-1-61689-067-4<br /> <a href="http://www.nancysharoncollinsstationer.com/">Nancy Sharon Collins</a><br /> Foreword by Ellen Lupton</p> <p class="footnote">James studied graphic design at the Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington, DC. He developed a love of typography at the Corcoran and wrote a thesis about the development of versatile typefaces as branding devices. After graduating with honors James decided to pursue type design full-time. In 2009 he started <a href="http://www.dunwichtype.com/">Dunwich Type Founders</a> in New York City.</p><</p> <p><br /><br /> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250"><img src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/idlewild-light-fonts.png" /></a> <br /> Sponsored by <a href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250">H&FJ</a>. <br /><br /><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/09/24/free-fonts-and-book-review-the-complete-engraver/">The Complete Engraver</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=tF-Pm7Rxxbg:ZPXuwZkh6Yc:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=tF-Pm7Rxxbg:ZPXuwZkh6Yc:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=tF-Pm7Rxxbg:ZPXuwZkh6Yc:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=tF-Pm7Rxxbg:ZPXuwZkh6Yc:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=tF-Pm7Rxxbg:ZPXuwZkh6Yc:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=tF-Pm7Rxxbg:ZPXuwZkh6Yc:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=tF-Pm7Rxxbg:ZPXuwZkh6Yc:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=tF-Pm7Rxxbg:ZPXuwZkh6Yc:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=tF-Pm7Rxxbg:ZPXuwZkh6Yc:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=tF-Pm7Rxxbg:ZPXuwZkh6Yc:TzevzKxY174"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=TzevzKxY174" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ILoveTypography/~4/tF-Pm7Rxxbg" width="1" />

UPDATED: 8 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS

Condensed Typeface Design Program

<p class="intro">The <a href="http://coopertype.org/condensed">Condensed Typeface Design Program</a> at the Cooper Union is a five-week-long studio course that at first glance, simply teaches the basics and traditions of typeface design. In reality, it was an amazing and intense summer spent with passionate people immersed in the world of type. During the 12-hour days (with breaks!) we studied type history, calligraphy, different drawing techniques, and learned the process of designing and digitizing a font. Most of the program time was spent on a final project in which each of us created an industry-standard OpenType font.</p> <div id="theDeck-1"></div> <p><span id="more-13231"></span></p> <p class="no-indent">This year we were split into two groups, each taught by renowned typeface designers. Group 1 was with Just van Rossum and Hannes Famira; group 2 with <a href="http://typofonderie.com/about/foundry-team/">Jean François Porchez</a> and <a href="http://www.stephaneelbaz.com">Stéphane Elbaz</a>. <a href="http://stonetypefoundry.com/aboutsumnerstone.html">Sumner Stone</a> was on hand with his expertise and knowledge of design history, as were other visiting designers and lecturers who rounded off the course. As a student it was incredibly enriching to be around these luminaries, and the diversity of our peers only enhanced the experience. The 29 students represented 16 different countries; most being graphic designers, and all sharing a passion for typography. Some of us came with the intention of becoming typeface designers, while others wanted to better understand type to become better designers. Experience levels were across the board: some had never drawn letters before, while others had published multi-weight typefaces.</p> <div class="img-caption-overlay"><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/"><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/08/cooper-type-condensed.jpg" title="cooper-type-condensed" /></a> <div class="caption-overlay">Left: Critique session with Erik Van Blokland.<br />Right: Class with Just Van Rossum.</div> </div> <p class="no-indent"><strong>The Final Project</strong><br />At our final presentations on the last day, we each introduced our completed typeface and talked about the journey we took to get there. Despite everyone beginning the course the same way, we all were pleasantly surprised to see the variety of work. Projects ranged from revivals based on tombstone lettering, to traditional Baskerville-inspired faces, to beautifully ornate display type, to text families with 7 weights geared towards publications. Some had created a bold version to accompany their font, while others created a sans accompaniment. Knowing how much time and effort we put into our work, each and every one of us was proud of the results.</p> <div class="img-caption-overlay"><a href="http://ilovetypography.com"><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/08/condensed-type-design-sample1.png" title="condensed-type-design-sample" /></a> <div class="caption-overlay">Just five of the many typefaces. Clockwise from top left: Barapa by Etienne Aubert Bonn; Moriarty by Kevin Paolozzi; Cancellarecta by Lara Captan; Cumulus by Laura Coombs; Robin by Sian Binder.</div> </div> <p class="no-indent"><strong>How We Got There</strong><br />Before we started on our final font design, the instructors put us through the following course of exercises aimed at teaching us the ins and outs of letterforms, their traditions and history, the rules of construction (and how to modify them), and how to critique our works in progress.</p> <p class="no-indent"><strong>Calligraphy</strong><br />During the first days we did not touch a computer, but instead kicked things off with an introduction to calligraphy. We began with the broad-nib pen, focusing on correct construction of the letterforms, a process that helped us understand the proportions of each letter and why they look the way they do. Group 1 also worked on italics and how they differ from roman shapes, while Group 2 worked on Carolingian and Renaissance models before moving on to tracing the letters, then modifying the outlines and creating new forms.</p> <div class="img-caption-overlay"><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/"><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/08/calligraphy.jpg" title="calligraphy" /></a> <div class="caption-overlay">Left: Chalk Calligraphy.<br />Right: Chavelli’s Calligraphy.</div> </div> <p class="no-indent"><strong>Understanding Serifs</strong><br /><br /> Using selected letters to base our alphabet on, we worked on refining them by hand (again, based on broad-nib pen strokes) and adding serifs. After focusing on medium contrast forms, we moved on to low contrast then high contrast forms which taught us the relationship between serifs and letter strokes.</p> <p class="no-indent"><strong>Sketching & Exploring</strong><br /><br /> When it came time to consider our final project, some people had ideas for the direction they wanted to go in, but others were open to ideas and were encouraged to sketch and seek inspiration for their final project (or use TypeCooker!). For some that meant looking at found letters and developing a full font based on those forms; and for others it meant applying a strict set of rules and a concept to drawing new letters. There were a variety of approaches and sources of inspiration.</p> <div class="img-caption-overlay"><a href="http://ilovetypography.com"><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/08/draw-trace.jpg" title="draw-trace" /></a> <div class="caption-overlay">Left: Ron’s Carolingian Calligraphy.<br />Right: Ron’s tracing.</div> </div> <p>We were taught to approach a typeface design by first experimenting, drawing by hand, searching for the right forms, and only then, when the design is cohesive and consistent, go to the computer. Instructors showed us Gerrit Noordzij’s approach to sketching letters, a method more efficient than drawing outlines first, as the focus is more on form and contrast from the outset.</p> <p class="no-indent"><strong>Digitizing</strong><br /><br /> After a quick FontLab tutorial we were expected to dive straight in, scan our precise sketches and move to drawing bezier curves instead of pencil lines. We had wonderful TA’s to help and answer questions, they themselves having gone through the same learning process as they were students in the <a href="http://coopertype.org/extended/" title="typeface font design education">Extended Type@Cooper program</a>. The fonts were all digitized and perfected using the program of our choice. We learned how to use <a href="http://www.fontlab.com" title="fontlab font editor">Fontlab</a>, but <a href="http://doc.robofont.com" title="robofont font editor">RoboFont</a> and <a href="http://glyphsapp.com" title="Glyphs app font editor software">Glyphs</a> were other options too.</p> <div class="img-caption-overlay"><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/" name="SumChez"><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/08/fontlab-stone-porchez.jpg" title="fontlab-stone-porchez" /></a> <div class="caption-overlay">Left: Ron’s proofs & comments.<br />Right: Sumner Stone & Jean François Porchez. (best caption wins a copy of <a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/08/05/inside-paragraphs-book-review-cyrus-highsmith/" title="Inside paragraphs by cyrus highsmith">Inside Paragraphs</a> — seriously.)</div> </div> <p class="no-indent"><strong>Critiques & Lectures</strong><br /><br /> Our daily studio sessions were supplemented with guest critiques and lectures. The first night featured a type design panel moderated by <a href="http://elupton.com">Ellen Lupton</a>; <a href="http://coopertype.org/faculty/allanhaley">Allan Haley</a> and <a href="http://www.letterror.com">Erik van Blokland</a> lectured in later weeks, along with Valerie Lester, who spoke in depth about Bodoni (the person, not the typeface) and really brought him to life. There were also intimate group critique sessions with Erik in week four, as he evaluated the progress of our typefaces and gave us tips on spacing. <a href="http://occupant.org">Cyrus Highsmith</a> critiqued our work in the final week as our typefaces were coming together for the final presentation.</p> <div class="img-caption-overlay"><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/"><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/08/19_Hannes-plus-wall.jpg" title="19_Hannes-plus-wall" /></a> <div class="caption-overlay">Left: Class with Hannes Famira.<br />Right: Zeynep’s Wall.</div> </div> <p class="no-indent"><strong>Library Visits & Type History Talks</strong><br /><br /> Every Friday gave us a little break from studio time with field trips to rare books libraries. Sumner Stone shared his invaluable knowledge of typographic history from the Gutenberg Bible through to the present in our visits to the New York Public Library, Columbia University’s Butler Library, as well as the Grolier Club. During the week, 45 minutes were dedicated to learning about the evolution of letters all the way back from cuneiform, further bolstering our type education.</p> <p class="no-indent"><strong>Conclusion</strong><br /><br /> All in all the program was fantastic. We won’t lie and say it was easy, as it required a huge amount of focus and dedication. Sleep and socializing took second place as we devoted our attention to perfecting curves and tweaking serifs. Most of us would come home from 12-hour days of class only to spend a few more hours working on our typefaces. We did the same on weekends. It was a fun experience though, and at the final presentation, the fruits of our hard labor were clear and most certainly worth it.</p> <p>The energy and dynamic of the people involved (students as well as instructors) was really inspiring, and we were all incredibly sad to see the course come to a close. While five weeks is not enough time to learn everything about type design, this course makes the most of that time and does a great job of jumpstarting things. Anyone looking to enhance their graphic design knowledge or get into the world of typeface design would definitely benefit from this course. The program is now in its second year and is still evolving, so we guess it will only get even better.</p> <p class="intro no-indent" style="margin-top: 3em;">Special Thanks<br /><br /> We’d like to thank Cara Di Edwardo, the coordinator of the program; our teachers Just van Rossum, Hannes Famira, Jean François Porchez, Stéphane Elbaz and Sumner Stone; and all the great students that we got to meet and work with during the program.<br />Text & images by <a href="http://kishkoosh.com/">Ron Gilad</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/chavellitsui">Chavelli Tsui</a>.</p> <p><br /><br /> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250"><img src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/idlewild-light-fonts.png" /></a> <br /> Sponsored by <a href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250">H&FJ</a>. <br /><br /><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/08/24/condensed-typeface-design-program/">Condensed Typeface Design Program</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=B63tLx0T19Y:O_eUNgaXMJg:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=B63tLx0T19Y:O_eUNgaXMJg:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=B63tLx0T19Y:O_eUNgaXMJg:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=B63tLx0T19Y:O_eUNgaXMJg:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=B63tLx0T19Y:O_eUNgaXMJg:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=B63tLx0T19Y:O_eUNgaXMJg:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=B63tLx0T19Y:O_eUNgaXMJg:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=B63tLx0T19Y:O_eUNgaXMJg:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=B63tLx0T19Y:O_eUNgaXMJg:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=B63tLx0T19Y:O_eUNgaXMJg:TzevzKxY174"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=TzevzKxY174" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ILoveTypography/~4/B63tLx0T19Y" width="1" />

UPDATED: 9 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS

Space: The Initial Frontier

<p class="byline">Book review — Inside Paragraphs</p> <p>I have long admired <a href="http://www.fontbureau.com/people/CyrusHighsmith/" title="cyrus highsmith biography font bureau">Cyrus Highsmith</a>, both for his type design (Benton Sans, Prensa, Zócalo, & many besides) and his wonderfully unique style of illustration and lettering. In his debut book, <em><a href="http://insideparagraphs.com">Inside Paragraphs: typographic fundamentals</a></em>, he brings both of these talents to bear on a single topic, the paragraph. The book might alternatively have been titled ‘Space: the initial frontier’ for its principal focus is what goes on inside — not a book, not a page, but — a single paragraph of text — and as what goes on inside is mostly space, white space, or negative space, it is the ideal starting point for an introduction to the craft of setting type, to typography.<br /> <span id="more-13189"></span><br /> <a class="noborder" href="http://insideparagraphs.com"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13195" height="375" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/08/12_13-500x375.jpg" title="Inside paragraphs cyrus highsmith" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Usually I dislike books that are wider than they are tall. I find them uncomfortable to hold for extended periods of reading. However, <em>Inside Paragraphs</em> works despite its backwards proportions: it is light and perfect bound, happily folding back on itself for single-handed reading.</p> <p>The typography is simple and precise: Ibis Text plus Scout (both by Highsmith), generous margins, white space aplenty, beautiful and practical illustrations. The writing is informal, incisive, and fluid; the tone never condescending. <em>Inside Paragraphs</em> is a TARDIS of a book, its 100 pages peppered with gems like,</p> <blockquote><p>‘Setting type can be thought of as a collaboration between the typographer and the typeface.’</p></blockquote> <p>phrases like ‘hierarchy of white space’, plus practical advice about everything from optimal and optimum parameters for H&J, and why all-caps settings require more space.</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://insideparagraphs.com"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13196" height="375" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/08/18_19-500x375.jpg" title="inside paragraphs by cyrus highsmith" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Too often introductory texts fail the reader by trying to cover too many topics superficially — like a whistle-stop tour of some great city, where you’ll be sure to see all the sites, but learn little of any substance about them. Highsmith might easily have expanded each section by tens of pages, but the book is all the better for its brevity and his abstemiousness.</p> <p>To write more about this book would demand spoiler alerts, so I will wrap it up here in, appropriately enough, a single paragraph:</p> <p><em>Inside Paragraphs</em> should be required reading for everyone who studies typography and graphic design. It will also be of interest to anyone else wondering why typography matters. It costs about three Venti Iced Peppermint White Chocolate Mochas ($15). Buy it.</p> <p><br /><br /> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250"><img src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/idlewild-light-fonts.png" /></a> <br /> Sponsored by <a href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250">H&FJ</a>. <br /><br /><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/08/05/inside-paragraphs-book-review-cyrus-highsmith/">Space: The Initial Frontier</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=i1OqLSMC1X4:_NjhYGt7XxM:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=i1OqLSMC1X4:_NjhYGt7XxM:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=i1OqLSMC1X4:_NjhYGt7XxM:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=i1OqLSMC1X4:_NjhYGt7XxM:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=i1OqLSMC1X4:_NjhYGt7XxM:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=i1OqLSMC1X4:_NjhYGt7XxM:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=i1OqLSMC1X4:_NjhYGt7XxM:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=i1OqLSMC1X4:_NjhYGt7XxM:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=i1OqLSMC1X4:_NjhYGt7XxM:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=i1OqLSMC1X4:_NjhYGt7XxM:TzevzKxY174"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=TzevzKxY174" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ILoveTypography/~4/i1OqLSMC1X4" width="1" />

UPDATED: 10 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

The Week in Type

<p class="byline">Closing your eyes to see, covering your ears to hear</p> <p>It has been a while since my last roundup, so buckle up. For those interested, I recently moved 4322.8 km (2686.06 miles) from my home in Japan to my new home in Vietnam. After nine wonderful years in Japan, it was time to move on. The other day I read an interview with my friend and too-infrequent chess partner, <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2012/7/24/3177332/ia-oliver-reichenstein-writer-interview-good-design-is-invisible">Oliver Reichenstein</a>, who pretty much describes my own feelings on reaching Japan.<br /> <span id="more-12952"></span></p> <blockquote><p>Arriving in Japan without any knowledge of the language, I lived in a world without words, where, almost like a baby, I had to learn everything from scratch. I think the experience of being illiterate and then slowly growing back into society has made me a better designer. When you can’t read or write and you need to interpret everything you encounter by deciphering visual clues, you begin to understand how things and people function behind the words…it was a magnificent training in basic interface phenomenology.</p></blockquote> <p>I felt the very same way coming to Japan, and feel the same kind of naive wonder as an ‘illiterate’ newcomer to Vietnam. That’s quite enough about me; let’s move on to more important matters:</p> <p>Rather than wear your heart on your sleeve, why not wear some of <a href="http://tattly.com/">these</a> — wherever:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://tattly.com/collections/all/typographic"><img alt="" class="noborder" height="257" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/tattly-typographic-lettering.png" title="tattly-typographic-lettering" width="500" /></a></p> <p>See all of the <a href="http://tattly.com/collections/all/typographic">‘typographic’ Tattly.</a></p> <p>An enormous and beautiful collection of <a href="http://www.markerstage.at/fensterzeichen/index.html">Viennese Façades</a>:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.markerstage.at/fensterzeichen/index.html"><img alt="" class="padb" height="345" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/vienese-storefronts.jpg" title="vienese-storefronts" width="481" /></a></p> <p>Via @<a href="http://twitter.com/swissmiss">swissmiss</a></p> <h3>New fonts</h3> <p><a href="http://www.typonine.com/fonts/font-library/thema/" title="Thema fonts">Thema</a> from Typonine, the beautiful un-stenciled version of <a href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/typonine/ty-stencil/" title="Typonine Stencil fonts">Typonine Stencil</a>. I can see these two teaming up particularly well for editorial design.</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.typonine.com/fonts/font-library/thema/"><img alt="" class="noborder" height="500" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/thema-specimen.png" title="thema fonts specimen" width="500" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.typography.com/fonts/font_overview.php?productLineID=100043" title="idlewild fonts">Idlewild</a>, a new all-caps sans from H&FJ:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/fonts/font_overview.php?productLineID=100043"><img alt="" class="noborder" height="500" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/idlewild1.png" title="idlewild fonts from h and fj" width="500" /></a></p> <p>TypeManufactur’s wonderful revival of Georg Salden’s <a href="http://www.typemanufactur.com/eng/index.html" title="daphne fonts">Daphne</a> typeface of the same name:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.typemanufactur.com/eng/index.html"><img alt="" class="noborder" height="253" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/daphne-fonts.jpg" title="daphne-fonts" width="500" /></a></p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.typemanufactur.com/eng/index.html"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13155" height="200" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Daphne.gif" title="Daphne" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Replete with numerous alternate glyphs and calligraphic swashes. Related: An interview with Georg Salden over at <a href="http://www.typeradio.org/loudblog/index.php?cat=Salden,Georg">Typeradio</a>.</p> <p>Following up on the huge success of <a href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/hvdfonts/pluto/" title="pluto font family">Pluto</a>, <a href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/hvdfonts/pluto-sans/" title="pluto sans fonts">Pluto Sans</a>:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/hvdfonts/pluto-sans/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13136" height="209" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/pluto-sans1.png" title="pluto-sans fonts" width="500" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://commercialtype.com/typefaces/atlas/grotesk" title="atlas grotesk fonts from commercial type">Atlas Grotesk</a> by Kai Bernau, Susana Carvalho, and Christian Schwartz of Commercial Type:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://commercialtype.com/typefaces/atlas/grotesk"><img alt="" class="noborder" height="554" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/atlas-grotesk-fonts1.png" title="atlas-grotesk-fonts" width="500" /></a></p> <p>The delicious <a href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/filmotype/zephyr/" title="filmotype zephyr fonts from ale paul">Filmotype Zephyr</a> from Ale Paul:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/filmotype/zephyr/"><img alt="" class="noborder" height="234" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-28-at-5.56.23-PM-500x234.png" title="Screen Shot 2012-07-28 at 5.56.23 PM" width="500" /></a></p> <h3>Inspired</h3> <p>Really enjoyed Stephen Coles’s <a href="https://vimeo.com/42992621">Chromeography talk</a> for Creative Mornings:</p> <p> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/42992621">Creative Morning Berlin #10: Stephen Coles</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/berlincm">CreativeMornings/Berlin</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p> <p>And be sure to visit <a href="http://chromeography.com">chromeography.com</a></p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://chromeography.com"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13133" height="370" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-28-at-5.27.26-PM-500x370.png" title="chromeography.com" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Celebrating <a href="http://new.pentagram.com/2012/05/the-forty-story/" title="40 years of Pentagram">40 years of Pentagram</a>. Beautifully done:</p> <p> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/42562659">The Forty Story</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3163512">Pentagram</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p> <p>Support <a href="http://www.uppercasemagazine.com/typewriter/">Uppercase</a> Magazine’s crowd-funded homage to the typewriter, <a href="http://www.uppercasemagazine.com/typewriter/">The Typewriter: a Graphic History of the Beloved Machine.</a></p> <p></p> <p><a href="https://vimeo.com/43023483">Spirograph</a>, the animated typeface:</p> <p> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/43023483">Spirograph Promo</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/animography">Animography</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p> <p>More about the project at <a href="http://www.animography.net/">animography.net</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.erikmarinovich.com">Erik Marinovich</a>’s work is brilliant:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.erikmarinovich.com"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13128" height="370" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-28-at-5.11.55-PM-500x370.png" title="erik marinovich letterer and designer" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Nice use of Kris Sowersby’s <a href="http://klim.co.nz/blog/leaf-on-bold-street/">Karbon Slab Stencil</a> for bar and tea shop, Leaf on Bold St.</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://klim.co.nz/blog/leaf-on-bold-street/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13124" height="309" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Karbon-Slab-Stencil-Leaf-03.jpg" title="Karbon-Slab-Stencil-Leaf" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Still some of Seb Lester’s <a href="http://www.keepcalmgallery.com/new/slbedblue.htm">So Much To Do</a> prints available:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.keepcalmgallery.com/new/slbedblue.htm"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13148" height="336" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/so-much-to-do.jpg" title="so-much-to-do" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Thoroughly enjoying Nina Stössinger’s <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ninastoessinger/sets/72157629933739982/with/7286487070/">type sketches</a> — a number of them based on <a href="http://typecooker.com/">TypeCooker</a> recipes:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ninastoessinger/sets/72157629933739982/with/7286487070/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13141" height="358" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/nina-type-sketches.jpg" title="nina-type-sketches" width="500" /></a></p> <h3>Type sites</h3> <p>The brilliant resource that is <a href="http://fontsinuse.com/">Fonts in Use</a> is now open to the public. Now anyone can now add to the archives. What are you waiting for you?</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://fontsinuse.com/"><img alt="" height="295" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-26-at-3.33.09-PM-500x295.png" title="new fonts in use" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Lovely redesigned portfolio site of <a href="http://www.jblt.co/v2/">Jean-Baptiste Levée</a>:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.jblt.co/v2/"><img alt="" class="noborder" height="326" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-25-at-3.51.41-PM-500x326.png" title="JBL" width="500" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.gridsetapp.com">Gridset</a> app is looking very good. Be sure to sign up for the beta.</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.gridsetapp.com"><img alt="" height="370" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-28-at-4.16.37-PM-500x370.png" title="gridset app" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Some good work from the <a href="http://typemedia2012.com">Type & Media</a> Masters students, class of 2012:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://typemedia2012.com"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13126" height="370" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-28-at-5.09.11-PM-500x370.png" title="type and media 2012" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Experiment with and combine over 23,000 web fonts with the <a href="http://beta.typecastapp.com">Typecast</a> app.</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://beta.typecastapp.com"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13168" height="381" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-29-at-12.42.30-PM-500x381.png" title="typecast app" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Frank Blokland’s <a href="http://www.lettermodel.org">blog</a> accompanying his PhD research at Leiden University. <em>Harmonics, Patterns, and Dynamics in Formal Typographic Representations of the Latin Script</em>:</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.lettermodel.org"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-13180" height="381" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-29-at-2.04.59-PM-500x381.png" title="Screen Shot 2012-07-29 at 2.04.59 PM" width="500" /></a></p> <h3>Type books</h3> <p>I have high hopes for this book, and have ordered two: <a href="http://insideparagraphs.com/">Inside Paragraphs: Typographic Fundamentals</a>, a new title from Cyrus Highsmith.</p> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://insideparagraphs.com/"><img alt="" height="375" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/22_23-500x375.jpg" title="Inside Paragraphs by Cyrus Highsmith" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Perhaps it could become <em>the</em> typography primer. Read <a href="http://imprint.printmag.com/paul-shaw/inside-cyrus-highsmiths-new-book-a-typographic-classic-in-the-making/" title="paul shaw’s review of inside paragraphs book by cyrus highsmith">Paul Shaw’s review</a> over at Print Mag.</p> <blockquote><p>In roughly 100 spreads, Highsmith explains the fundamentals of typography by focusing exclusively on one thing: white space. — Paul Shaw</p></blockquote> <p>A new book from a brand new publisher: Lazy Dog offers Luca Barcellona’s <em><a href="http://lazydog.eu">Take Your Pleasure Seriously</a></em> for pre-order. Books ships in October.</p> <p><a href="http://lazydog.eu"><img alt="" height="365" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/luca-barcellona-book.jpg" title="luca-barcellona-book" width="500" /></a></p> <p>And it looks as though <a href="http://codexmag.com">Codex magazine</a> had a small part to play:</p> <blockquote><p>I had been following Luca Barcellona for a couple of years, ever since I’d discovered him, almost by chance, online; I was struck by his hand and its expressive, determined naturalness.<br /> Each new work fascinated me more and more. And then, late in the spring of 2011, I bought the first issue of Codex, a new American [sic] typography magazine that featured an interview with him as well as a piece of his on the cover. When his interviewer asked if he’d ever thought about publishing a book of his work he replied that, to date, he hadn’t received any good offers…<br /> That’s when lightening struck, and I realized that was the road I had to take.</p></blockquote> <p><a class="noborder" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592537669/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=japanagocom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1592537669">Stop, Think, Go, Do: How Typography and Graphic Design Influence Behavior</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=japanagocom-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1592537669" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Steven Heller and Mirko Ili?:</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592537669/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=japanagocom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1592537669"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13113" height="503" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/typography-and-graphic-design.jpg" title="typography-and-graphic-design" width="500" /></a></p> <h3>Bookmarks</h3> <ul style="margin-bottom: 1.5em;"> <li>New and <a href="http://blog.typekit.com/2012/07/19/new-improved-embed-code/">improved embedding code</a> for Typekit.</li> <li>An <a href="https://www.fontfont.com/news/interview-with-nick-shinn" title="interview with nick shinn">interview</a> with Nick Shinn.</li> <li>A new design podcast from Matt McInerney (Pentagram) and friends: <a href="http://onthegrid.co">On the Grid</a>. Also available on <a href="">iTunes</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/nadine-chahine/cern-comic-sans-a-time-and-a-place-for-ty_b_1650339.html" title="Nadine Chahine typography">A Time and a Place for Typography?</a></li> <li><a href="http://opentype.info/blog/2012/06/27/logo-font-indesign/">Generating a logo font</a> in InDesign.</li> <li><a href="http://www.vanseodesign.com/web-design/responsive-typography/">How To Maintain Readable Type</a> In Responsive Design.</li> <li>Monotype Imaging: <a href="http://monotypeimaging.com/ProductsServices/TypeEnhancementsAndroid.aspx">Type Enhancements for Android.</a></li> <li>Ministry of Type: <a href="http://ministryoftype.co.uk/words/article/typographic_rhythm/">Typographic Rhythm.</a></li> <li>A new <a href="http://blog.fontdeck.com/post/23601339698/body-text-tester">body text tester</a> from Fontdeck.</li> <li>Event: two-day <a href="http://www.typographichub.org/diary/entry/industry-and-genius-in-the-printing-trade/">printing history conference</a>, 4-5 September 2012.</li> <li>Benefits of <a href="http://blog.webink.com/benefits-of-using-import-and-tags-for-web-fonts/">using @import and tags for web fonts.</a></li> <li>An interview with type designer, <a href="http://www.camcreative.net/2012/05/31/qa-with-jeremy-tankard-talking-typefaces-follow-up/">Jeremy Tankard</a>.</li> <li>How to Explain <a href="http://www.commarts.com/Columns.aspx?pub=5566&pageid=1595">Why Typography Matters.</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.roughtype.com/?p=1615">Reading with Oprah.</a></li> <li>H&FJ: <a href="http://www.typography.com/ask/showBlog.php?kwID=142&blogID=25">Books as furniture.</a></li> <li>Kindle: <a href="http://dailyexhaust.com/2012/06/improved-reading-experience-no.html">Improved reading experience?</a> No.</li> <li>Trent Walton: <a href="http://trentwalton.com/2012/06/19/fluid-type/">Fluid Type.</a></li> <li>Typedia: <a href="http://typedia.com/blog/post/type-news-tall-bold-slugger-set-vivid/" title="typedia type news">Tall Bold Slugger Set Vivid.</a></li> </ul> <p>Issue #2 of <a href="http://codexmag.com">Codex magazine</a> is coming next month (August). We have settled on a twice a year publishing schedule. Issue #3 will be available in March 2013.</p> <p><a href="http://codexmag.com"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13119" height="647" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/codex-magazine-issue-2.png" title="codex-magazine-issue-2" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Sign up to the infrequent <a href="http://codexmag.com">newsletter</a> to learn more.</p> <p>ILT will be five years old come August 8. How shall we celebrate? Any favorite or memorable moments?</p> <p>Hope you enjoyed this edition of <em><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/category/the-week-in-type/" title="typography and font news from i love typography">the week in type</a></em>. Have a stupendously great weekend.</p> <p><br /><br /> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250"><img src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/idlewild-light-fonts.png" /></a> <br /> Sponsored by <a href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250">H&FJ</a>. <br /><br /><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/07/29/the-week-in-type/">The Week in Type</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=c8yoV5JcGx0:GX-socir2Mo:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=c8yoV5JcGx0:GX-socir2Mo:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=c8yoV5JcGx0:GX-socir2Mo:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=c8yoV5JcGx0:GX-socir2Mo:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=c8yoV5JcGx0:GX-socir2Mo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=c8yoV5JcGx0:GX-socir2Mo:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=c8yoV5JcGx0:GX-socir2Mo:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=c8yoV5JcGx0:GX-socir2Mo:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=c8yoV5JcGx0:GX-socir2Mo:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=c8yoV5JcGx0:GX-socir2Mo:TzevzKxY174"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=TzevzKxY174" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ILoveTypography/~4/c8yoV5JcGx0" width="1" />

UPDATED: 10 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS

An Interview with Stéphane Elbaz

<p class="intro">Stéphane Elbaz is graphic and type designer working in New York and Paris. In 2009 he was awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Type Design from the Type Directors Club of New York for his type family <a href="http://typofonderie.com/fonts/geneo-family/">Geneo</a>, recently published by Typofonderie. He is the first typeface designer from outside the foundry to be published by Typofonderie.</p> <div id="theDeck-1"></div> <p><span id="more-13013"></span></p> <h3>How do you define yourself?</h3> <p>I am a designer. I intend to solve problems with aesthetic solutions, but at the same time develop a personal expression. It’s this gap that I find interesting.</p> <p>My taste for letters appeared really early in my life, during my teenage years. At that time it wasn’t properly an interest in type, but certainly a taste for letters as plastic shapes. Going to the Arts Décoratifs school in Paris led me to discover classic typography. How could one not to be nostalgic when contemplating those school years? It’s very important for me because of how much I learned during these years. Classes with <a href="http://www.rudi-meyer.com/">Rudi Meyer</a> and Jean François Porchez gave me the context and the latitude to look at the subject with a more experimental way of thinking.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/StephaneElbazInterview_Stephane_and_JeanFrancois_BW1.jpg" title="Stephane Elbaz and Jean Francois" /></p> <p>It was during the type design courses lead by Jean François Porchez that I was involved in the creation of the <a href="http://porchez.com/ateliertypo/155">Caffeine</a> and <a href="http://porchez.com/ateliertypo/119/CookerBlacksemaine8finale">Cooker Black</a> typefaces. This was clearly an important starting point for me; I don’t know if I would have been brave enough to involve myself in rigorous typographic projects without this first step. Thus letters for me became the dominant element of my graphic design. Type design is a discipline that requires a taste for abstraction plus a systematic mind — two things that fit well with my professional mindset.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/StephaneElbazInterview_caffeine_cookerblack.jpg" title="StephaneElbazInterview_caffeine_cookerblack" /></p> <h3>You do both web design and type design, which is pretty rare. How does this affect how you work?</h3> <p>Concerning my web design skills, it’s a question I should ask of my colleagues. I don’t know if working with headlines devoid of kerning, or the inability to set a nicely ragged left paragraph is more difficult for me to live with than it is for others. I do, however, have good reasons to be optimistic. Things are evolving more quickly and always improving. The future will bring with it more and more screens and resolutions, and it is important that the typographic quality on these devices improves accordingly.</p> <p>I think what has occurred on the Internet for some years is a perfect illustration of the importance of typography in graphic design. The capacity to use a large font palette, in comparison to the three or four standards that were used for dynamic texts, changes everything, and permits designers to express different identities.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/4fb2767e47d321.14862674.png" title="Geneo fonts" /></p> <p>Beyond the technical constraints of various screens, I don’t think there is any fundamental difference between the content presented on a screen or on paper — in much the same way as I don’t think that twitter or text messages radically changes our language. After all, it’s the graphic designer that has to choose the typefaces appropriate to the subject, and deal with technical constraints with a broader focus than just the screen or the piece of paper.</p> <h3>Why did you leave France to live and work in New York? From there, what can you say about type design in the United States and in France?</h3> <p>I like the charm of tiny cities. Seriously though, the United States is a big country and therefore has a great diversity of expression. There is certainly a tone in American graphic design that is quite different; the references are not exactly the same as in France. It seems, for instance, that the idea of tradition and the images associated with it are not the same in Paris and New York. The shapes and the imaginative world of tradition are an important foundation upon which type designers work, thus there are going to be differences in the type aesthetic.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-14-at-3.37.59-PM.png" title="Geneo Bold New York" /></p> <h3>What is the genesis of your typeface, Geneo?</h3> <p>Geneo was a personal project that I began without thinking of a context or a specific use. I was attracted to slab serifs and began drawing a really thin weight, a little like a typewriter character, but with some kind of Renaissance spirit. I think that I was trying to find an anachronistic mix that actually worked. I was also fond of the brush-made flourish shapes of the Art Nouveau period, and I was particularly inspired by them. All of these elements combined could feel a bit heavy, but my idea was to make a contemporary character where the shapes had to be synthetic while at the same time retaining some flesh, some of the organic.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/StephaneElbazInterview_ensad2004_01.jpg" title="StephaneElbazInterview_ensad2004_01" /></p> <p>Geneo won the <a href="http://tdc.org/">TDC</a> prize back in 2009, and today it is distributed by Typofonderie, although it’s not exactly the same typeface. Its original identity remains intact, but it had to evolve to conform with the foundry’s standards. This meant a lot of work, but I benefitted from the guidance and exceptional eye of Jean François Porchez. We worked together on both the design of each particular glyph’s details as well as the weight scale of the entire family. Time was also spent designing dingbats and alternative glyphs.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-14-at-3.49.36-PM.png" title="Geneo Thin" /></p> <p>I believe that this new typeface family permits a great diversity of uses. The lighter weights used in headlines can convey both a delicatessen or a piece of literature. The intermediate weights can be used to set body text in an academic journal or in the logo of a new social network. We imagine the heavier weights being used on posters or in editorial design. The family as a whole can also be used in works needing a complex typographic hierarchy. Also, I think that in the context of a rational and minimal text layout, Geneo can add a connotative dimension, a level of contrast. For me, an even more exciting prospect is to see my typeface appear in ways that I couldn’t have envisaged. It’s from other graphic designers’ creations that I am waiting to see new and interesting interpretations.</p> <h3>Can you share something about the new typefaces you are working on?</h3> <p style="margin-bottom: 1.5em;">I have a few things in progress, which I think is often the case with type designers; having several typeface ideas in the back of their minds. What determines if a typeface will one day be completed and released or not is the relevancy of its shapes and its identity. Some others will never be finished because they are shaky in their concept or just not original. I currently have a sans-serif project that I would like to finish. Unfortunately, it’s a category that already appears saturated and therefore is particularly challenging, but nonetheless stimulating.</p> <p class="intro no-indent">Interview by <a href="https://twitter.com/jjjlllnnn">Jérémy Landes-Nones.</a><br /><br /> Graphic and type designer Stephane Elbaz holds degrees in Visual Communication (2003) and Interactive Research (2004) from the <a href="http://www.ensad.fr/">École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs.</a> In 2009 he was awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Type Design from the Type Directors Club of New York for his type family Geneo (published by Typofonderie). He works in New York and Paris.</p> <p><br /><br /> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250"><img src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/idlewild-light-fonts.png" /></a> <br /> Sponsored by <a href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250">H&FJ</a>. <br /><br /><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/07/17/interview-with-font-designer-stephane-elbaz/">An Interview with Stéphane Elbaz</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=QNAIhoEdG8o:l84A2uutjnM:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=QNAIhoEdG8o:l84A2uutjnM:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=QNAIhoEdG8o:l84A2uutjnM:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=QNAIhoEdG8o:l84A2uutjnM:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=QNAIhoEdG8o:l84A2uutjnM:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=QNAIhoEdG8o:l84A2uutjnM:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=QNAIhoEdG8o:l84A2uutjnM:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=QNAIhoEdG8o:l84A2uutjnM:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=QNAIhoEdG8o:l84A2uutjnM:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=QNAIhoEdG8o:l84A2uutjnM:TzevzKxY174"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=TzevzKxY174" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ILoveTypography/~4/QNAIhoEdG8o" width="1" />

UPDATED: 11 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Krul & the untold history of the ‘Amsterdamse Krulletter’

<div id="theDeck-1"></div> <p>In a way, my research into the ‘Amsterdamse Krulletter’ (Amsterdam’s Curly Letter) began eight years ago as I was walking down the streets of what is possibly the city’s most beautiful district, the Jordaan. As every local knows, this area hosts quite a few of the old, traditional pubs that the locals call ‘bruin cafés’ (brown cafés). In urban environments, type designers are always looking at letters, and especially at hand-painted ones. It didn’t take me very long to notice that many of the pubs in the area had their windows painted in a very interesting and beautifully executed script. Later I discovered they had been painted throughout other parts of Amsterdam too, notably also in the De Pijp area.</p> <p><span id="more-12957"></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/05/image-01.jpg" title="image-01" /></p> <p>Upon closer inspection of the letters painted on the windows and wooden panels, it was obvious that the style was very consistent. Leaving aside the natural variations you would expect from work done by hand, each letter had a defined design that had been strictly followed every time. Interestingly, this mysterious script was unknown to me. I could tell it had influences from seventeenth-century Dutch penmanship, but it also differed in many ways from the handwriting that Jan van den Velde, Felix van Sambix, and Cornelis Boissens — among others — had published in their writing manuals.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/05/image-02.jpg" title="image-02" /></p> <p>I started asking Dutch colleagues about this pub lettering tradition, but no one had much information about its authors or origins. It is true that almost without exception every ‘connoisseur’ of good lettering who took a look at them immediately expressed admiration, but the specialized press and Dutch design authors had never seriously taken this tradition into consideration. <a href="http://www.pietschreuders.com/">Piet Schreuders</a>’s groundbreaking essay ‘Lay in - Lay out’, first published in 1977, had dedicated two separate chapters to two of the most representative and original of Amsterdams’s vernacular letters: the ‘Bruggenletter’ and the almost extinct ‘Spiegelglas’ letter. However, there is not a single mention in the book of pub lettering, which at that time would have been omnipresent.</p> <p>In a more recent example, the 2008 photography book ‘<a href="http://www.mimoa.eu/blog/?p=416">Amsterdam in letters</a>’ by Marteen Helle, features numerous examples of fine Amsterdam lettering, but, again, the ‘Krulletter’ is absent.</p> <p>It was only in 1983 that the trade magazine, ‘Grafisch Nederland’ published an issue including an article entitled ‘Kijk! Letters!’ (Look! Letters!), with pictures of several pub facades bearing the style along with an interview with Leo Beukeboom, one of the two people responsible for painting it. Nevertheless, the article focused more on the most general and everyday aspects of Mr. Beukeboom’s work, and it failed to delve any deeper into the origins of his most celebrated letters and what may have influenced them.</p> <p>The fact that such gorgeous and original letters have largely been ignored in a country with such a rich type- and letter-making tradition reminds me of the plot of Edgar Allan Poe’s famous story “The Purloined Letter”. In the story, an important document cannot be found because it is lying in plain sight. Sometimes things can become invisible to us because of their very familiarity.</p> <p>I have mentioned the name of Leo Beukeboom. This talented and prolific sign painter, responsible for many of the best ‘Krulletter’ that still can be found in Amsterdam and neighbouring cities, began painting them in 1967 when he was hired by the Heineken Brewery to be its in-house letter painter and to provide services to the pubs sponsored by the firm. But the history of the style goes back further than that. It was created by the sign painter Jan Willem Visser (Amsterdam, 1911-1987) who from the early 50s to 1968 worked for the Amstel Brewery (the company was sold to Heineken that same year, almost at the same time as Leo Beukeboom began painting the style for Heineken).</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/06/image-04.jpg" title="image-04" /></a></p> <p>Jan Willem Visser was the son of Johannes Visser, another letter painter, and he was very gifted and highly respected by his colleagues, but his story has never been properly told. He learned the trade from his father, and in 1941 he opened his own workshop in Da Costakade street. At its peak it was one of the biggest in Amsterdam, with 24 employees.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/06/image-05.jpg" title="image-05" /></p> <p>Numerous images kept in the Amsterdam Photographic Archives show that by the early 50s Mr. Visser had already painted the ‘Krulletter’ in many bars in a manner almost identical to the one that still can be found today.</p> <p>For a long time I wondered what exactly had influenced him. His capital letters were undoubtedly inspired by one particular plate published in the second volume of “Spieghel der Schrijfkonste” (1605), Jan van den Velde’s most important work, but some of the details of the lowercase letters were too original to have come from that source, and were unlike anything published in the works of the famous calligrapher.<br /> Thanks to a visit to his daughter, Annick Visser, who kindly allowed me to inspect her father’s belongings and documents, I was able to solve this little palaeographic mystery. Jan Willem Visser owned a book published in 1885 entitled ‘Letters en hare grondvormen naar de beste bronnen bewerkt voor schilders, steenhouwers, graveurs en voor het onderwijs aan Ambachts en Kunstnijverheidsteekenscholen’ by the engraver P. van Looy Jr. The book was a catalogue of different alphabets ‘from the best sources’, designed to serve as a guide for craftsmen in the rendering of letters. This volume featured three plates that had undoubtedly served as models for Visser’s pub lettering. In hand-written captions, the book’s author P. van Looy Jr. gives credit for the images, indicating that these models were taken from J. Heuvelman’s work.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/05/image-06.jpg" title="image-06" /></p> <p>Johannes Heuvelman was a Dutch writing master from Haarlem, and his only known published book is: ‘Stichtich ABC tot Nut der Jeucht geschreven’ from 1659. A comparison of the script models of J. Heuvelman, P. van Looy Jr., and J. W. Visser is particularly interesting. Although each of them could have made an exact copy of his predecessor’s lettering, none of them chose to do so. Each of them introduced variations and diverse influences that made their versions richer and more remarkable. Realizing this fact had important consequences for the development of my revival. I had worked for a long time on a model that was an attempt to reproduce the Kruletter design as accurately as possible. I was very concerned that Amsterdam might be about to lose one of the most distinctive and beautiful elements of its graphic identity. Many of the window displays with the painted letters had been lost forever due to renovations of bars or changes in ownership, and there are no letter painters left in the area with the skills to paint the style properly.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/06/image-07.png" title="image-07" /></p> <p>But at the end of 2011 I suddenly came to the conclusion that I was on the wrong track. These letters had been painted to meet needs different from those that my letters would serve. The letters’ finishing required the use of a fine-pointed brush, and their contrast had been planned to work in really big sizes. I was seeking something with a wider range of possible uses, and the letters as they were written were of limited use in the contemporary graphic industry.</p> <p>Even more, I felt just as Visser had, that instead of simply creating an accurate copy, as a designer my role should be to offer my own interpretation, changing things I considered undesirable or incorrect while enshrining the attributes in new letters of my own. In this way I would be preserving the tradition and making my discreet contribution.</p> <p>Therefore I redrew my version and made ‘<a href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/jazzfonts/krul/">Krul</a>’ more ‘typographic’: a disconnected script, a bit more ‘rationalistic’ and less sloped. Some problematic characters were altered or downgraded to the category of ‘alternates’, while new letter shapes which were not present in Visser’s model but were part of the Dutch formal penmanship tradition were included. The style owes both its name and much of the appreciation it has earned from Amsterdam’s people to the abundance and exuberance of its plentiful swashes. Naturally, ‘Krul’ includes many of these typographic decorative elements like different swashy ascenders, ending forms, numerous fleurons and ornaments.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/06/image-08.png" title="image-08" /><br /> <img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/06/image-09.png" title="image-09" /><br /> <img alt="" src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/06/image-10.png" title="image-10" /></p> <p>For the moment it is too early to tell what the fate of this attempt to revive a endangered fine lettering tradition will be, but there is something I know for sure: I have done all I possibly could to recover a forgotten chapter of Amsterdam’s popular culture and to give its protagonist the credit he deserves.</p> <p class="no-indent"><a href="http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/jazzfonts/krul/" title="Krul fonts">Krul</a> fonts on MyFonts.</p> <div style="width: 100%; margin-top: 3em; background-color: #25120d;"> <p class="intro" style="background-color: #25120d;">Author: <a href="http://www.re-type.com/">Ramiro Espinoza</a>.<br />Acknowledgements:<br /> I would like to thank the following people and institutions for helping me in different parts of my research: Tom Croiset van Uchelen, James Mosley, Mathieu Lommen, Annick Visser, Leo Beukeboom, Library of the University of Amsterdam, & Noord-Holland Archives.</p> </div> <p><br /><br /> <a class="noborder" href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250"><img src="http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2012/10/idlewild-light-fonts.png" /></a> <br /> Sponsored by <a href="http://www.typography.com/index.php?affiliateID=250">H&FJ</a>. <br /><br /><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2012/06/18/krul-the-untold-historyof-the-amsterdamse-krulletter/">Krul & the untold history <br />of the ‘Amsterdamse Krulletter’</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=nW5oXhmbqGs:TbG7HAjxXUQ:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=nW5oXhmbqGs:TbG7HAjxXUQ:gIN9vFwOqvQ" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=nW5oXhmbqGs:TbG7HAjxXUQ:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=nW5oXhmbqGs:TbG7HAjxXUQ:F7zBnMyn0Lo" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=nW5oXhmbqGs:TbG7HAjxXUQ:qj6IDK7rITs"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=qj6IDK7rITs" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=nW5oXhmbqGs:TbG7HAjxXUQ:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=nW5oXhmbqGs:TbG7HAjxXUQ:V_sGLiPBpWU" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=nW5oXhmbqGs:TbG7HAjxXUQ:D7DqB2pKExk"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?i=nW5oXhmbqGs:TbG7HAjxXUQ:D7DqB2pKExk" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?a=nW5oXhmbqGs:TbG7HAjxXUQ:TzevzKxY174"><img border="0" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ILoveTypography?d=TzevzKxY174" /></a> </div><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ILoveTypography/~4/nW5oXhmbqGs" width="1" />

UPDATED: 1 YEAR

GRAPHICS.COM

SHOW NEXT 5 >

PageZephyr Enhanced for Adobe InDesign Document Search and Content Extraction

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

DxO ViewPoint Adobe Photoshop Plugin Enhanced for Restoring Photo Proportions

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Adobe Photoshop CS6 Receives a Significant Upgrade

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Snapheal Updated for Mac Image Editing, Now Claims to Equal Photoshop

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Resize Sense Mac Batch Image Resizer Updated

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Retina Support Added to Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator CS6

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Coloriage Adobe Photoshop Plugin Updated for Photo Colorization

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Mac Version of ColorStyler Adobe Photoshop Plugin Released

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

Alien Skin Software Updates Eye Candy Filters Collection

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK

MAGIX Page and Layout Designer Launched for Business Document Creation

UPDATED: 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS

City: Johannesburg	Personal Site: eloudi-coetzer.artistwebsites.com
Location: ZAF	Work URL: www.dellcodesign.co.za
Experience: 2 years, 11 months	Facebook: http://www.facebook.com
Employer:	Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/DellcoDesign
Title:	LinkedIN:
Status: Available	Other:

SHARE PAGE: