Soundtrack: “Frank Sinatra” by Cake
Sustainable technologies are starting to become all the rage right now in light of rising energy and traditional materials costs. These are technologies that have been around since the dawn of time but have been forgotten since the days of the Industrial Revolution in favor of mass-produced assembly-line products.
While mass-production itself is not a bad thing, it has allowed our culture to become lazy consumers. We throw things out at the drop of a hat without thinking about reusing or recycling. This means that more and more goes into the garbage can which means that manufacturers have to make more stuff. Which then goes into the garbage can. From the garbage can stuff goes into the landfill and that means that the natural cycle of things is broken. Resources are not allowed to return into the chain and future generations end up having less to work with. Not only that but the environment suffers. What sustainability does is provide the best outcomes for the human and natural environments both now and into the indefinite future. People within the sustainability community embrace balance. How can we use the resources we have now in a responsible way so that the earth doesn’t suffer and future generations will have what they need? It is definitely a much healthier outlook on conservation and the environment than the fanatical environmental groups who take on a reactionary attitude towards things. And with all of the controversy surrounding global warming and climate change, I feel that sustainability is the best answer to the polarizing questions swirling through our society.
The great thing about sustainability is that it can look good. There are quite a few companies out there that are deeply entrenched in utilizing sustainable technologies, and in fact many fall within the design community. One such player is a company called Moral Fervor. They make great clothing made from organic and recycled materials. Not only that, but their clothing has some awesome design going on. There's a video below that is a short blurb about what they are all about, it's pretty cool.
I would challenge everyone to get involved in the sustainability movement. You don’t have to make any huge life-altering changes, just changes in your attitude towards being a consumer. All it takes is paying attention to the little things. For more information about it, there are two great web sites here and here that offer some great explanations and resources.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Saturday, June 02, 2007
This Is Your Brain...
Soundtrack: Siamese Dream by the Smashing Pumpkins
Black 20 has created some hilarious Star Wars-themed public service announcement spoofs. This one is my favorite. There are a few more of them out there, I only wish they had at least tried to get the Darth Vader voice right because this dude’s voice sounds like Groucho Marx with a chest cold.
Black 20 has created some hilarious Star Wars-themed public service announcement spoofs. This one is my favorite. There are a few more of them out there, I only wish they had at least tried to get the Darth Vader voice right because this dude’s voice sounds like Groucho Marx with a chest cold.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Tactile Design
Soundtrack: “Cyclical Code” by Bexarametric
Touch screen technology has been around for quite some time now and it has had it’s ups and downs. Even these days touch screen monitors are finicky, fickle creatures. They have dubious sensitivity and they only offer single-point input, so the user ends up angrily poking the screen for fifteen minutes. Nice.
But Microsoft is developing a computer system that uses a new multi-point touch screen that is quite frankly amazing. This touch screen technology was first built by Jeff Han’s Perceptive Pixel in order to create advanced touch screen solutions for the government as well as private sector companies who could benefit by using multi-point touchscreen technologies. Interestingly enough, these types of interfaces have been around since the 1980s. However, they tend to take a lot of processing power, much more than what was available previously. With dual core and even quad core processors making it possible to do an insane amount of calculations per second, now is the perfect time to harness this technology and make it shine.
I have to admit my mouth is watering. As a graphic designer who specializes in print design, I can see many things that this technology can add to the industry. I would much rather work on a table-top surface instead of a computer screen and keyboard. Not only that, but tablet technology right now is still limited by still being a single-point input device. No stylus, no tablet functionality. But with this technology available, I can only imagine what is possible. Think of taking a stylus shaped like a calligraphy pen and creating digital art that was not previously possible. Or using your fingers to arrange the elements of a composition, or to paint. The possibilities are staggering!
Touch screen technology has been around for quite some time now and it has had it’s ups and downs. Even these days touch screen monitors are finicky, fickle creatures. They have dubious sensitivity and they only offer single-point input, so the user ends up angrily poking the screen for fifteen minutes. Nice.
But Microsoft is developing a computer system that uses a new multi-point touch screen that is quite frankly amazing. This touch screen technology was first built by Jeff Han’s Perceptive Pixel in order to create advanced touch screen solutions for the government as well as private sector companies who could benefit by using multi-point touchscreen technologies. Interestingly enough, these types of interfaces have been around since the 1980s. However, they tend to take a lot of processing power, much more than what was available previously. With dual core and even quad core processors making it possible to do an insane amount of calculations per second, now is the perfect time to harness this technology and make it shine.
I have to admit my mouth is watering. As a graphic designer who specializes in print design, I can see many things that this technology can add to the industry. I would much rather work on a table-top surface instead of a computer screen and keyboard. Not only that, but tablet technology right now is still limited by still being a single-point input device. No stylus, no tablet functionality. But with this technology available, I can only imagine what is possible. Think of taking a stylus shaped like a calligraphy pen and creating digital art that was not previously possible. Or using your fingers to arrange the elements of a composition, or to paint. The possibilities are staggering!
Monday, May 28, 2007
Love And Marriage
Recommended Reading: Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk
I used to think that marriage is something that I'd like to do some day. But there are many days where I find myself saying "Marriage? Fuck that noise." I do not want my life to be a circus. I think having a kid would be awesome, kids are great and I like playing “Uncle Toph” but parenting is just not my thing right now. Not only that, but then there is the whole committing my life to another person thing. It's a little worrisome to me when I think about waking up next to the same person for the rest of my life. Probably 'cause I haven't found someone I'd want to wake up next to every day for the rest of my life. I really want to marry my best friend and as of right now, I have not found that woman yet.
In addition to that I have other responsibilities, better things to worry about/stress out over/have fun with. Like art school. That does not mean I have given up hope, however. I am sure it is in the cards. I am sure when my life has some sort of stability I will find Mrs. Christopher Short. But until then, fuck that noise. I like being independent, I like being single, and I really think I need to get my shit together before I even think about wedding cakes and tuxedos.
Friday, May 25, 2007
The Wonderful World Of Porn
Soundtrack: “Red Sky” by Thrice
I am putting this out here in hopes that someone can help. For a few months now an associate of mine has been fighting to get one of her images removed from the cover of a porn video.
Yes, you read that right.
Lara Jade, a young and amazingly talented fashion photographer from the UK, has been fighting TVX Studios over their use of a self portrait she took in 2004 at the age of 14. This is not only a copyright violation, but a violation of United States decency laws which state that nobody under the age of 18 may be associated with anything pornographic. That includes porn DVD covers. Not to mention the ethical quagmire this puts her in... being a porn covergirl might be fine with some people, but for someone like Lara who is trying to be a legitimate fashion photographer, this could be a big smear on her reputation.
The unfortunate thing is that she has been unable to do much about it since she lives in the UK. Which is too bad, because something definitely needs to be done about this. So I am passing this along in hopes that someone can help her out. You can find contact information as well as a ton of her awesome photography here.
I am putting this out here in hopes that someone can help. For a few months now an associate of mine has been fighting to get one of her images removed from the cover of a porn video.
Yes, you read that right.
Lara Jade, a young and amazingly talented fashion photographer from the UK, has been fighting TVX Studios over their use of a self portrait she took in 2004 at the age of 14. This is not only a copyright violation, but a violation of United States decency laws which state that nobody under the age of 18 may be associated with anything pornographic. That includes porn DVD covers. Not to mention the ethical quagmire this puts her in... being a porn covergirl might be fine with some people, but for someone like Lara who is trying to be a legitimate fashion photographer, this could be a big smear on her reputation.
The unfortunate thing is that she has been unable to do much about it since she lives in the UK. Which is too bad, because something definitely needs to be done about this. So I am passing this along in hopes that someone can help her out. You can find contact information as well as a ton of her awesome photography here.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Growing Relevance
Soundtrack: ...And Justice For All by Metallica
Metallica’s progressive thrash metal masterpiece is nearly twenty years old, yet it is eerily relevant to today’s uncomfortable and bloated political climate. The album, as the name sarcastically implies, is about injustice. From the victim of war in “One” to the scathing criticism of the American justice system in the title track, the album talks about the injustices of war, politics, and the fucked up state of the world in general. I find it interesting how much of the album alludes to the current war in Iraq. “Harvester Of Sorrow” is practically a social commentary about suicide bombers.
What is most interesting are the feelings of paranoia that wash throughout the album. 1988 was a volatile year in the United States. There was plenty to be paranoid about. Not only was it an election year, but there was growing turmoil globally with the first stages of the demise of the Soviet Union. Upon becoming the Soviet Premiere in 1985, Gorbachev worked to institute a series of economic reforms that were known as “perestroika”. One of the most dynamic of these reforms was the Law On Cooperatives. This law permitted private ownership of businesses in the services, manufacturing, and foreign-trade sectors. This was a huge thing for the Soviet Union. It was the first time since Lenin’s New Economic Policy that private business had been allowed. Along with Glasnost, led to a winding down of the Cold War. Even so, people were still unsure about the Soviets. After living with fifty years of paranoia it is hard to shake that feeling off.
It was around this period of time that I was starting to become aware as a person, especially politically aware. These events were a big deal to me. I remember my mom breaking down in tears when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. I have no doubt in my mind Metallica were just as influenced by world events while writing ... And Justice For All. The album still has Metallica’s trademark apocalyptic bent, but it is more focused. The topics are less abstract and much more real. This was also the period of time that music was really starting to have a huge affect on me. In years previous what I knew of music came from my parents’ record collection and the radio. My parents have awesome taste in music so I got lucky there. But as I was starting to become my own individual, I began to move beyond what their seemingly vast collection of vinyl offered. I never really liked the hair bands of the era. Groups like Poison and Warrant were too flashy, too over the top for my taste. But then I discovered Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, and soon afterwards Metallica and Iron Maiden and Megadeath. This was angry, brutal music that reflected my current distress over how things in the world were going. And today I find myself in almost the same place as I was twenty years ago: confused, angry, distressed. There is injustice in the world and I am pissed off about it. I still listen to loud and angry music. Thankfully my choices expanded greatly when I discovered punk as a freshman in high school, and then hardcore during my senior year. Punk was a great discovery because it was so much more snide and cynical than metal. Instead of pure aggression here was something that was smart and angry. And hardcore was even better because it had the aggression of metal combined with the intelligence of punk. And there was slam dancing... now it was OK to flail around like a lunatic!
Back to Metallica, this is by far not only one of my favorite Metallica albums, but one of my favorite metal albums of all time. I think as long as there is corruption and injustice and a reason to be paranoid, this album will be relevant. It is bold and grandiose and even arrogant, just like the society people in the United States are subjected to daily. But most of all, it is angry. It wants change. And it wants change now.
Metallica’s progressive thrash metal masterpiece is nearly twenty years old, yet it is eerily relevant to today’s uncomfortable and bloated political climate. The album, as the name sarcastically implies, is about injustice. From the victim of war in “One” to the scathing criticism of the American justice system in the title track, the album talks about the injustices of war, politics, and the fucked up state of the world in general. I find it interesting how much of the album alludes to the current war in Iraq. “Harvester Of Sorrow” is practically a social commentary about suicide bombers.
What is most interesting are the feelings of paranoia that wash throughout the album. 1988 was a volatile year in the United States. There was plenty to be paranoid about. Not only was it an election year, but there was growing turmoil globally with the first stages of the demise of the Soviet Union. Upon becoming the Soviet Premiere in 1985, Gorbachev worked to institute a series of economic reforms that were known as “perestroika”. One of the most dynamic of these reforms was the Law On Cooperatives. This law permitted private ownership of businesses in the services, manufacturing, and foreign-trade sectors. This was a huge thing for the Soviet Union. It was the first time since Lenin’s New Economic Policy that private business had been allowed. Along with Glasnost, led to a winding down of the Cold War. Even so, people were still unsure about the Soviets. After living with fifty years of paranoia it is hard to shake that feeling off.
It was around this period of time that I was starting to become aware as a person, especially politically aware. These events were a big deal to me. I remember my mom breaking down in tears when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. I have no doubt in my mind Metallica were just as influenced by world events while writing ... And Justice For All. The album still has Metallica’s trademark apocalyptic bent, but it is more focused. The topics are less abstract and much more real. This was also the period of time that music was really starting to have a huge affect on me. In years previous what I knew of music came from my parents’ record collection and the radio. My parents have awesome taste in music so I got lucky there. But as I was starting to become my own individual, I began to move beyond what their seemingly vast collection of vinyl offered. I never really liked the hair bands of the era. Groups like Poison and Warrant were too flashy, too over the top for my taste. But then I discovered Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, and soon afterwards Metallica and Iron Maiden and Megadeath. This was angry, brutal music that reflected my current distress over how things in the world were going. And today I find myself in almost the same place as I was twenty years ago: confused, angry, distressed. There is injustice in the world and I am pissed off about it. I still listen to loud and angry music. Thankfully my choices expanded greatly when I discovered punk as a freshman in high school, and then hardcore during my senior year. Punk was a great discovery because it was so much more snide and cynical than metal. Instead of pure aggression here was something that was smart and angry. And hardcore was even better because it had the aggression of metal combined with the intelligence of punk. And there was slam dancing... now it was OK to flail around like a lunatic!
Back to Metallica, this is by far not only one of my favorite Metallica albums, but one of my favorite metal albums of all time. I think as long as there is corruption and injustice and a reason to be paranoid, this album will be relevant. It is bold and grandiose and even arrogant, just like the society people in the United States are subjected to daily. But most of all, it is angry. It wants change. And it wants change now.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Office Space Style
Required Reading: Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk
There is an ink jet printer currently strewn in various pieces around my back yard.
Here's the story. My brother and I inherited an Epson Stylus 777 ink jet printer from our parents. For the last three or four years we've been toting it around to the various places we've lived at. Around nine months ago it finally gave up the ghost. The thing was about six or seven years old so it was just a matter of time. It's been sitting around various places and tonight, while packing up, my brother and I decided to have some fun.
So he threw it off the roof.
We then proceeded to beat the living shit out of this printer á la Office Space. The only thing missing was a baseball bat, but we got around that pretty quick. And now the printer looks like it was hit by a semi truck.
I'm going to love picking up all the little bits in the morning.
There is an ink jet printer currently strewn in various pieces around my back yard.
Here's the story. My brother and I inherited an Epson Stylus 777 ink jet printer from our parents. For the last three or four years we've been toting it around to the various places we've lived at. Around nine months ago it finally gave up the ghost. The thing was about six or seven years old so it was just a matter of time. It's been sitting around various places and tonight, while packing up, my brother and I decided to have some fun.
So he threw it off the roof.
We then proceeded to beat the living shit out of this printer á la Office Space. The only thing missing was a baseball bat, but we got around that pretty quick. And now the printer looks like it was hit by a semi truck.
I'm going to love picking up all the little bits in the morning.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
No More War And No More Soldiers
Soundtrack: “With Every Light” by The Smashing Pumpkins.
I apologize for the long stretch of time between posts. I've had a lot stewing on my stove, so to speak. There is stuff I want to talk about, but for the last two or three weeks I just have not had any creative drive whatsoever.
I am going to get personal again for just a little bit. I am making a compromise of sorts. I am laying down my weapons because I am tired of fighting. Being right is not worth the trouble I have gone through. I am no longer going to agonize over what is “good” or “right” or “just”. I do not care about things that do not concern me. From this point on I am simply going to live like every day is my last day.
I have always been a very competitive person, but mostly with myself. And I am sick of beating myself up over everything. It is going to take some work, I know, but I cannot justify being miserable and agonizing over the little things. It is time to not just look at the big picture, but obliterate anything that gets in the way of the big picture. That means killing a lot of darlings, as they say in the literary world. It also means focusing on my needs for once. I have been putting everyone before me and sacrificing so much, and people do not give back. So fuck 'em.
But I still love. I still have a love for people who inspire and give just as much, and sometimes more, than I. I still love what I do, but I am going to find a new catalyst a new outlet. No more doing penny jobs for friends, I am going to aim high. And I am going to work hard to form lasting relationships with people who are tied to the graphic design world. I am going to make the most of these relationships. And I am going to spread the work of my friends and colleagues because they deserve it.
I will start with Pete Harrison. Based in the UK, Pete is the mastermind behind Aeiko.net and Funkrush Clothing. And I would have to say that Pete is my favorite designer right now. Maybe ever. His typography work is amazing. He is constantly finding new and exciting ways to represent those pesky 26 letters of the alphabet. So do yourself a favor and go check his work out. It blew me away and I am a cynical designer who’s seen just about everything.
Look ma, the sun is shining on me.
I apologize for the long stretch of time between posts. I've had a lot stewing on my stove, so to speak. There is stuff I want to talk about, but for the last two or three weeks I just have not had any creative drive whatsoever.
I am going to get personal again for just a little bit. I am making a compromise of sorts. I am laying down my weapons because I am tired of fighting. Being right is not worth the trouble I have gone through. I am no longer going to agonize over what is “good” or “right” or “just”. I do not care about things that do not concern me. From this point on I am simply going to live like every day is my last day.
I have always been a very competitive person, but mostly with myself. And I am sick of beating myself up over everything. It is going to take some work, I know, but I cannot justify being miserable and agonizing over the little things. It is time to not just look at the big picture, but obliterate anything that gets in the way of the big picture. That means killing a lot of darlings, as they say in the literary world. It also means focusing on my needs for once. I have been putting everyone before me and sacrificing so much, and people do not give back. So fuck 'em.
But I still love. I still have a love for people who inspire and give just as much, and sometimes more, than I. I still love what I do, but I am going to find a new catalyst a new outlet. No more doing penny jobs for friends, I am going to aim high. And I am going to work hard to form lasting relationships with people who are tied to the graphic design world. I am going to make the most of these relationships. And I am going to spread the work of my friends and colleagues because they deserve it.
I will start with Pete Harrison. Based in the UK, Pete is the mastermind behind Aeiko.net and Funkrush Clothing. And I would have to say that Pete is my favorite designer right now. Maybe ever. His typography work is amazing. He is constantly finding new and exciting ways to represent those pesky 26 letters of the alphabet. So do yourself a favor and go check his work out. It blew me away and I am a cynical designer who’s seen just about everything.
Look ma, the sun is shining on me.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Good Night Kurt
Soundtrack: “Supermassive Black Hole” by Muse
Writer Kurt Vonnegut died earlier tonight. He will be missed.
He was a man who was a free thinker and challenged our world in many ways. My favorite short story is one that Kurt wrote titled “Harrison Bergeron”. I remember reading it, and Slaughterhouse Five in high school and being left speechless.
I don't know if words can describe the loss we have suffered. He was one of the greatest minds who ever lived.
Writer Kurt Vonnegut died earlier tonight. He will be missed.
He was a man who was a free thinker and challenged our world in many ways. My favorite short story is one that Kurt wrote titled “Harrison Bergeron”. I remember reading it, and Slaughterhouse Five in high school and being left speechless.
I don't know if words can describe the loss we have suffered. He was one of the greatest minds who ever lived.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Smart = Sexy
“Hot Soft Light” by The Hold Steady
I have been noticing a trend that frankly makes me smile really big.
Smart girls are popular.
It may be that this trend is only within certain circles, because I have noticed that there is a similar and disturbing trend in the media. This trend is ditzy party girls. Paris Hilton, “The Bad Girls Club”, and celebrity cat fights are all the rage right now. And while Geekdom has held on to it’s hot girls for years, starting with Captain Kirk’s girls on the original Star Trek, these hot girls were not always a part of that community.
But now video games are cool, not something for geeks and nerds and losers. Star Wars has firmly entrenched into pop culture, and Kari Byron on Mythbusters makes being smart, well, sexy. All I have to say is it's about time.
I am proud of being a geek. I am proud of being smart now, but when I was a kid I was ridiculed for it. I read books instead of watching TV (although I had a few shows that I loved), I listened to music that wasn't the flavor of the month (something that I am still proud to do today), and I could draw like a motherfucker. I was the “wierd” kid. It took some time to come to terms with being a little bit different, but I have grown into it and now I openly embrace my geekiness. And the great thing is, so are all of the hot girls who were afraid to before. Plus, geeks are just plain fun in the sack... If you need solid proof, just check out Wired’s Sex Drive blog.
You know what this means? Me and some lucky geek girl out there are one day going to openly embrace our geekiness together. Bust out the Voltron DVD!
I have been noticing a trend that frankly makes me smile really big.
Smart girls are popular.
It may be that this trend is only within certain circles, because I have noticed that there is a similar and disturbing trend in the media. This trend is ditzy party girls. Paris Hilton, “The Bad Girls Club”, and celebrity cat fights are all the rage right now. And while Geekdom has held on to it’s hot girls for years, starting with Captain Kirk’s girls on the original Star Trek, these hot girls were not always a part of that community.
But now video games are cool, not something for geeks and nerds and losers. Star Wars has firmly entrenched into pop culture, and Kari Byron on Mythbusters makes being smart, well, sexy. All I have to say is it's about time.
I am proud of being a geek. I am proud of being smart now, but when I was a kid I was ridiculed for it. I read books instead of watching TV (although I had a few shows that I loved), I listened to music that wasn't the flavor of the month (something that I am still proud to do today), and I could draw like a motherfucker. I was the “wierd” kid. It took some time to come to terms with being a little bit different, but I have grown into it and now I openly embrace my geekiness. And the great thing is, so are all of the hot girls who were afraid to before. Plus, geeks are just plain fun in the sack... If you need solid proof, just check out Wired’s Sex Drive blog.
You know what this means? Me and some lucky geek girl out there are one day going to openly embrace our geekiness together. Bust out the Voltron DVD!
Resist Openly
Soundtrack: “Dream Brother” by Jeff Buckley
Remember that wiley Trent Reznor and the clever marketing strategy for his new Nine Inch Nails Album, Year Zero? While the album is a great collection of some killer songs and the concept behind it is intriguing and thought-provoking, he isn’t one to take an idea only half way. That is where OpenSourceResistance.com comes in. The idea is to gather the art and ideas of people who care enough about the world and what is going on around us that we do not want a Year Zero. Not through paranoia and destruction, but through activism. After all, if we have an opportunity to prevent the downfall of our society, if we have the opportunity to change the things that are wrong, wouldn’t not doing anything be the greatest sin of all?
Open Source Resistance is only one outlet for making your voice be heard. There are some great organizations out there such as Amnesty International and Save Darfur that are working to create an understanding of some important issues and change things. The people who complain about the world being fucked up but do not do anything about it are just as guilty, perhaps even moreso, than the people who are doing these atrocities. And it is only going to get worse the more people who use, abuse, and exploit realize that nobody cares enough to stop them.
So get out there. Be a voice. Be an activist. Be a dissident. Resist openly.
Remember that wiley Trent Reznor and the clever marketing strategy for his new Nine Inch Nails Album, Year Zero? While the album is a great collection of some killer songs and the concept behind it is intriguing and thought-provoking, he isn’t one to take an idea only half way. That is where OpenSourceResistance.com comes in. The idea is to gather the art and ideas of people who care enough about the world and what is going on around us that we do not want a Year Zero. Not through paranoia and destruction, but through activism. After all, if we have an opportunity to prevent the downfall of our society, if we have the opportunity to change the things that are wrong, wouldn’t not doing anything be the greatest sin of all?
Open Source Resistance is only one outlet for making your voice be heard. There are some great organizations out there such as Amnesty International and Save Darfur that are working to create an understanding of some important issues and change things. The people who complain about the world being fucked up but do not do anything about it are just as guilty, perhaps even moreso, than the people who are doing these atrocities. And it is only going to get worse the more people who use, abuse, and exploit realize that nobody cares enough to stop them.
So get out there. Be a voice. Be an activist. Be a dissident. Resist openly.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Disappointed
Soundtrack: “The Bends” by Radiohead
I am more than just a little disappointed at the moment. I would be frustrated, but some awesome acupuncture earlier today cleared that up. I have been making a conscious effort to not get stressed out or frustrated or angsty and simply keep doing what it is I do. And that is design.
But the disappointing this is that this aspect of my life, the thing that I feel I am best at, is not paying off. It should be, but my current employers, who promised me in contract that I would be paid biweekly for the services I render. At the least I should be paid at the end of each project and that is not even happening.
If you recall, some time ago I wrote a blog about being very excited to work for NeverAsk. I still love working for NeverAsk in many aspects, but things are going downhill very fast. To the point where I do not know how I am going to pay rent this month. And I owe money all over town, although not to known pornographers.
I just do not know what to do anymore. I am looking for a job that actually pays right now, but finding a job can take time and I am out of time. I cannot help feeling that I am responsible in some part for letting my friends walk all over me, but I can only take so much responsibility and that is what is frustrating about the situation... a lot of it is out of my hands. I do not like feeling helpless, but when things are out of my hands that is how I feel.
I know what most people are going to say the solution is. “Just have faith”. It’s a nice idea, but faith doesn't pay the bills. Working at my vocation, my calling, is what puts money in my pocket so I can pay rent and eat and do all those other fun things like drink beer. I know what happens when people go overboard with “trusting” faith with their needs... they end up hurting themselves, and usually many people around them. I am not going to renounce my faith and deny that I believe in God, or the tenants of Christianity, but I need to be realistic. And reality is telling me I need to rob a bank.
Just kidding. I am not going to be robbing any banks any time soon. But I am going to start working my ass off even harder than I have been. Instead of spreading myself thin as I have been, I need to focus on the one thing that will help me survive, and that is my career in design. I do not care where I start, I’m even willing to work crappy coffee shop jobs for a while, but I need to get my foot in the door, I need to get my portfolio all nice and shiny, and I need to work to convince the design world of Denver that I am what they need. It will not be easy, but I am always up for a challenge!
I am more than just a little disappointed at the moment. I would be frustrated, but some awesome acupuncture earlier today cleared that up. I have been making a conscious effort to not get stressed out or frustrated or angsty and simply keep doing what it is I do. And that is design.
But the disappointing this is that this aspect of my life, the thing that I feel I am best at, is not paying off. It should be, but my current employers, who promised me in contract that I would be paid biweekly for the services I render. At the least I should be paid at the end of each project and that is not even happening.
If you recall, some time ago I wrote a blog about being very excited to work for NeverAsk. I still love working for NeverAsk in many aspects, but things are going downhill very fast. To the point where I do not know how I am going to pay rent this month. And I owe money all over town, although not to known pornographers.
I just do not know what to do anymore. I am looking for a job that actually pays right now, but finding a job can take time and I am out of time. I cannot help feeling that I am responsible in some part for letting my friends walk all over me, but I can only take so much responsibility and that is what is frustrating about the situation... a lot of it is out of my hands. I do not like feeling helpless, but when things are out of my hands that is how I feel.
I know what most people are going to say the solution is. “Just have faith”. It’s a nice idea, but faith doesn't pay the bills. Working at my vocation, my calling, is what puts money in my pocket so I can pay rent and eat and do all those other fun things like drink beer. I know what happens when people go overboard with “trusting” faith with their needs... they end up hurting themselves, and usually many people around them. I am not going to renounce my faith and deny that I believe in God, or the tenants of Christianity, but I need to be realistic. And reality is telling me I need to rob a bank.
Just kidding. I am not going to be robbing any banks any time soon. But I am going to start working my ass off even harder than I have been. Instead of spreading myself thin as I have been, I need to focus on the one thing that will help me survive, and that is my career in design. I do not care where I start, I’m even willing to work crappy coffee shop jobs for a while, but I need to get my foot in the door, I need to get my portfolio all nice and shiny, and I need to work to convince the design world of Denver that I am what they need. It will not be easy, but I am always up for a challenge!
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Year Zero
The story about the hype behind the new Nine Inch Nails album Year Zero is not a new story. But there is so much going on that there is still plenty that is new.
If you have been living under a rock, Nine Inch Nails has a new record set to drop April 17th. It is a concept album about what the United States fifteen years from now would look like if fundamental religion, mind-altering drugs in the water, and overzealous government combined to create the world of Year Zero. It doesn’t stop there, though. Trent Reznor has always been good at not only selling the fans on his work but getting them involved as well. This time there is an Alternative Reality Game (ARG) that has everyone from the 16-year-old baby bat fangirl to the staff at Rolling Stone Magazine jonesing to find out more.
In fine fashion Trent Reznor has offered the album in streaming form for all of us to enjoy, and it is nothing short of impressive. I was disappointed with the overly-commercial With Teeth. It was good, but not good by Trent Reznor’s standards. I won’t hold it against him, though. It was the first album he's done since becoming sober. I am sure getting back into the groove of pure creativity can be hard after being around drugs and alcohol for so long. But he has done it very quickly. With Teeth came out in late 2005 and here it is, early 2007, with a new Nine Inch Nails album ready for our consumption. Usually fans have to wait a ridiculous amount of time between albums. And here we are with a new album just a year and a half after the last one.
If you are a Nine Inch Nails you will probably like this album. If you are a fan of electronic music you will probably like this album. In fact, if you are a fan of music at all you will most likely love this album. It's one of those works of music that leaves you breathless, shaking your head and wondering “how the hell did he do that?” He has taken the best ingredients from the entire body of his previous work and very carefully crafted them into the best music he has put out since 1999’s The Fragile. The simple sythpop of Pretty Hate Machine meets the noisy angst of The Downward Spiral in songs like “The Good Soldier”, “Vessel” and “Capital G”. The lilting melodies of the Fragile are sprinkled throughout the entire album, especially on instrumental numbers “Zero Sum” and “Another Version of the Truth”. And With Teeth’s neo electro-punk attitude has been refined, with noisy and loud guitars and quirky synth noise giving this album frenetic and immediate pace. You’re probably going to want to dance to it all night long, and if you have a special someone that is also a Nine Inch Nails fan this album is perfect for other, uh, nocturnal activities. If you catch my drift.
So go out there and get caught up in Year Zero. Go to anotherversionofthetruth.com and uncover the truth about Parepin and the Presence. Go to bethehammer.com and learn how the Angry Sniper went from being a tool of the government to one of the biggest keys in the resistance. Go to artisresistance.com and assault your town with the downloadable flyers, stickers, and other methods of spreading propaganda. Go to echoingthesound.org and learn about the other sites and other people who are caught up in this crazy thing. Go listen to the songs at yearzero.nin.com. And then go buy the album on April 17th. You will be glad you did.
If you have been living under a rock, Nine Inch Nails has a new record set to drop April 17th. It is a concept album about what the United States fifteen years from now would look like if fundamental religion, mind-altering drugs in the water, and overzealous government combined to create the world of Year Zero. It doesn’t stop there, though. Trent Reznor has always been good at not only selling the fans on his work but getting them involved as well. This time there is an Alternative Reality Game (ARG) that has everyone from the 16-year-old baby bat fangirl to the staff at Rolling Stone Magazine jonesing to find out more.
In fine fashion Trent Reznor has offered the album in streaming form for all of us to enjoy, and it is nothing short of impressive. I was disappointed with the overly-commercial With Teeth. It was good, but not good by Trent Reznor’s standards. I won’t hold it against him, though. It was the first album he's done since becoming sober. I am sure getting back into the groove of pure creativity can be hard after being around drugs and alcohol for so long. But he has done it very quickly. With Teeth came out in late 2005 and here it is, early 2007, with a new Nine Inch Nails album ready for our consumption. Usually fans have to wait a ridiculous amount of time between albums. And here we are with a new album just a year and a half after the last one.
If you are a Nine Inch Nails you will probably like this album. If you are a fan of electronic music you will probably like this album. In fact, if you are a fan of music at all you will most likely love this album. It's one of those works of music that leaves you breathless, shaking your head and wondering “how the hell did he do that?” He has taken the best ingredients from the entire body of his previous work and very carefully crafted them into the best music he has put out since 1999’s The Fragile. The simple sythpop of Pretty Hate Machine meets the noisy angst of The Downward Spiral in songs like “The Good Soldier”, “Vessel” and “Capital G”. The lilting melodies of the Fragile are sprinkled throughout the entire album, especially on instrumental numbers “Zero Sum” and “Another Version of the Truth”. And With Teeth’s neo electro-punk attitude has been refined, with noisy and loud guitars and quirky synth noise giving this album frenetic and immediate pace. You’re probably going to want to dance to it all night long, and if you have a special someone that is also a Nine Inch Nails fan this album is perfect for other, uh, nocturnal activities. If you catch my drift.
So go out there and get caught up in Year Zero. Go to anotherversionofthetruth.com and uncover the truth about Parepin and the Presence. Go to bethehammer.com and learn how the Angry Sniper went from being a tool of the government to one of the biggest keys in the resistance. Go to artisresistance.com and assault your town with the downloadable flyers, stickers, and other methods of spreading propaganda. Go to echoingthesound.org and learn about the other sites and other people who are caught up in this crazy thing. Go listen to the songs at yearzero.nin.com. And then go buy the album on April 17th. You will be glad you did.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Creating Creativity
The buzz right now in the creative community is the new Adobe Creative Suite that was officially announced yesterday via a live event and webcast. Let me tell you, it is a designer’s wet dream. As I have been watching this product rollout I am completely geeking out... this is the kind of stuff that designers go nuts over, but if I showed it to someone outside the industry they would simply smile and nod.
In a nutshell, not only does each element of CS3 have gobs of cool new features that allow ideas to be better implemented, but the entire suite of programs are better integrated to allow for a smoother, quicker workflow, not to mention the ability to do do things that were once either not possible or extremely difficult.
The big question is, can a software suite (a really damn expensive software suite at that) make a person more creative? Can Creative Suite’s new features make me a better designer?
In a way, yes, but despite having all of these features a designer has to have talent. These amazing graphics applications can help breed creativity, but in the end it doesn’t matter if a person knows the software back and forth... if they do not know how to apply the software, it is a moot point.
A great artist is a great artist no matter what tools he has available. Before Photoshop and Illustrator and Quark XPress and all of the other graphic design software out there in the world, there was letterpress. Before letterpress there was copperplate. And so on and so forth. If you look at pieces of art and design made before the advent of computer graphics, there are still some amazing works that were created with the kind of imagination that transcends technology. Toulouse-Lautrec, Frank Lloyd-Wright, Andy Warhol... these guys didn't have Adobe Creative Suite 3. In fact, it could be argued that not having these amazing innovations can be a good thing.
When I started drawing and painting and creating, I did not have a computer loaded with Photoshop. Actually, Photoshop didnt exist. I used the tools that I had to exercise my mind and become a better artist. I had a foundation of learning how art works that allowed me to expand upon that in my later years. In high school, when I picked up Photoshop for the first time I was able to use that foundation in art and design. Once I learned the tools and how they all worked, I could then take that knowledge and apply it to my process.
Chances are most of the people who will be able to afford this awesome new software suite will be people who have some sort of design or art background. And most likely this awesome new software suite will not make them more creative. Rather, it will allow them to harness the full potential of their creativity and allow them to make the ideas in their brains reality. I am one of these people, and I can’t even tell you how excited I am!
In a nutshell, not only does each element of CS3 have gobs of cool new features that allow ideas to be better implemented, but the entire suite of programs are better integrated to allow for a smoother, quicker workflow, not to mention the ability to do do things that were once either not possible or extremely difficult.
The big question is, can a software suite (a really damn expensive software suite at that) make a person more creative? Can Creative Suite’s new features make me a better designer?
In a way, yes, but despite having all of these features a designer has to have talent. These amazing graphics applications can help breed creativity, but in the end it doesn’t matter if a person knows the software back and forth... if they do not know how to apply the software, it is a moot point.
A great artist is a great artist no matter what tools he has available. Before Photoshop and Illustrator and Quark XPress and all of the other graphic design software out there in the world, there was letterpress. Before letterpress there was copperplate. And so on and so forth. If you look at pieces of art and design made before the advent of computer graphics, there are still some amazing works that were created with the kind of imagination that transcends technology. Toulouse-Lautrec, Frank Lloyd-Wright, Andy Warhol... these guys didn't have Adobe Creative Suite 3. In fact, it could be argued that not having these amazing innovations can be a good thing.
When I started drawing and painting and creating, I did not have a computer loaded with Photoshop. Actually, Photoshop didnt exist. I used the tools that I had to exercise my mind and become a better artist. I had a foundation of learning how art works that allowed me to expand upon that in my later years. In high school, when I picked up Photoshop for the first time I was able to use that foundation in art and design. Once I learned the tools and how they all worked, I could then take that knowledge and apply it to my process.
Chances are most of the people who will be able to afford this awesome new software suite will be people who have some sort of design or art background. And most likely this awesome new software suite will not make them more creative. Rather, it will allow them to harness the full potential of their creativity and allow them to make the ideas in their brains reality. I am one of these people, and I can’t even tell you how excited I am!
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Be What You Are...
Soundtrack: Amélie by Yann Tiersen
Earlier this month David Carson spoke at the Colorado chapter of AIGA. I didn’t get a chance to go see him, which was a big bummer since those who know me can tell you that David is by far my favorite graphic designer. However, the AIGA Colorado podcast for this month features the Q & A he did as part of his presentation. It was very short but extremely inspiring.
At one point David fields the following question: “What is the difference between Art and Design”. That is a terrific question and he had a great answer for it. Carson said “I think the lines have blurred... I’m driven more towards the art side of it.” He went on to point out that most of his influences are fine artists (like Mark Rothko) instead of other designers (like Paul Rand). He also mentioned that AIGA stands for the American Institue of Graphic Artists. And he ended with "I think you have to make that decision. It has to be I think, what you’re passionate about. It's your choice.”
I don’t quite know why, probably because the man is a god among men, but that statement had a huge impact on me. It has made me think long and hard about where I stand in the world of design. After all, this is a huge field and the range of careers within it is enormous: from accountants to art directors to illustrators to photographers. In fact anyone who wants to get into design can, it doesn't make any difference whether you are artistic or not. Just don’t expect to be a production artist or designer or an art director if you are lacking in artistic ability.
David Carson is in a unique position. He didn’t start his career in the commercial arts the usual way, which is going to school and getting an internship and then getting a crappy job as a web monkey or production artist or whatever. Here is a man who loved to surf, he loved music, he loved skateboarding, he loved that whole culture. He graduated with a degree in sociology and the only training he had in design was a couple of graphic design workshops. Instead of learning about art an design from the outside, as many of us in this industry go through, he learned all he could from the inside by immersing himself in the beach culture of the mid 80s. Punk rock, skateboarding, surfing, bohemian attitudes and an emphasis on self-expression through art is what he found; a gig as the art director of Transworld Skateboarding is what he walked away with. In 1991 his success as a professional surfer (he was ranked 9th in the world in 1989) allowed him to become the art director for Beach Culture, and it was there that he solidified the unique style that he had been cultivating. At the time the style was revolutionary and it ushered in the grunge era of design... an era that helped give the grunge era of music it's identity.
Since then he's worked for HOW magazine, founded Ray Gun magazine, and started up his own design studio where he's worked with everyone from Nike to Nine Inch Nails. Not bad for a guy who didn't even go to design school. And it has me wondering if I need to go to school. I've been in school for way too long. I have learned a lot here, but I have learned even more on my own. It has been good for me because most of my teachers have pushed me hard, sometimes to the breaking point and sometimes even past the breaking point. But I have also pushed myself and I work for people who know that even though I am good I can be better, much better. I just finished what I think has been my greatest design achievement this weekend. It’s just a web site, nothing even that sophisticated. But every step of the way I've had plenty of solid constructive criticism of my work and I have generated something that I feel is some of the best work I have ever done.
David Carson’s words are still ringing in my ears... do what I’m passionate about. It’s my decision. If I am not passionate about learning through books and homework anymore, but rather passionate about learning through immersing myself in what I want to do, in becoming a part of the culture of design, maybe I should stop doing what I am not passionate about and just start doing. David Carson worked hard. He wasn’t lucky, he wasn’t just in the right place at the right time, he was the right person at the right place at the right time with the right mindset and a drive to do something new. Revolutionary thinking is not easy. It is not something anyone can do. I believe it is something that 80% of the people on this earth are just flat out not capable of.
And I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am part of the other 20%. There is no ego, no simple arrogance, just fact. I know I am better than most people, and I think it is time for me to prove it.
I just have to decide what is the best way to accomplish that.
But I know I am going to be what I am and most of all be passionate about what I do. You should too.
Earlier this month David Carson spoke at the Colorado chapter of AIGA. I didn’t get a chance to go see him, which was a big bummer since those who know me can tell you that David is by far my favorite graphic designer. However, the AIGA Colorado podcast for this month features the Q & A he did as part of his presentation. It was very short but extremely inspiring.
At one point David fields the following question: “What is the difference between Art and Design”. That is a terrific question and he had a great answer for it. Carson said “I think the lines have blurred... I’m driven more towards the art side of it.” He went on to point out that most of his influences are fine artists (like Mark Rothko) instead of other designers (like Paul Rand). He also mentioned that AIGA stands for the American Institue of Graphic Artists. And he ended with "I think you have to make that decision. It has to be I think, what you’re passionate about. It's your choice.”
I don’t quite know why, probably because the man is a god among men, but that statement had a huge impact on me. It has made me think long and hard about where I stand in the world of design. After all, this is a huge field and the range of careers within it is enormous: from accountants to art directors to illustrators to photographers. In fact anyone who wants to get into design can, it doesn't make any difference whether you are artistic or not. Just don’t expect to be a production artist or designer or an art director if you are lacking in artistic ability.
David Carson is in a unique position. He didn’t start his career in the commercial arts the usual way, which is going to school and getting an internship and then getting a crappy job as a web monkey or production artist or whatever. Here is a man who loved to surf, he loved music, he loved skateboarding, he loved that whole culture. He graduated with a degree in sociology and the only training he had in design was a couple of graphic design workshops. Instead of learning about art an design from the outside, as many of us in this industry go through, he learned all he could from the inside by immersing himself in the beach culture of the mid 80s. Punk rock, skateboarding, surfing, bohemian attitudes and an emphasis on self-expression through art is what he found; a gig as the art director of Transworld Skateboarding is what he walked away with. In 1991 his success as a professional surfer (he was ranked 9th in the world in 1989) allowed him to become the art director for Beach Culture, and it was there that he solidified the unique style that he had been cultivating. At the time the style was revolutionary and it ushered in the grunge era of design... an era that helped give the grunge era of music it's identity.
Since then he's worked for HOW magazine, founded Ray Gun magazine, and started up his own design studio where he's worked with everyone from Nike to Nine Inch Nails. Not bad for a guy who didn't even go to design school. And it has me wondering if I need to go to school. I've been in school for way too long. I have learned a lot here, but I have learned even more on my own. It has been good for me because most of my teachers have pushed me hard, sometimes to the breaking point and sometimes even past the breaking point. But I have also pushed myself and I work for people who know that even though I am good I can be better, much better. I just finished what I think has been my greatest design achievement this weekend. It’s just a web site, nothing even that sophisticated. But every step of the way I've had plenty of solid constructive criticism of my work and I have generated something that I feel is some of the best work I have ever done.
David Carson’s words are still ringing in my ears... do what I’m passionate about. It’s my decision. If I am not passionate about learning through books and homework anymore, but rather passionate about learning through immersing myself in what I want to do, in becoming a part of the culture of design, maybe I should stop doing what I am not passionate about and just start doing. David Carson worked hard. He wasn’t lucky, he wasn’t just in the right place at the right time, he was the right person at the right place at the right time with the right mindset and a drive to do something new. Revolutionary thinking is not easy. It is not something anyone can do. I believe it is something that 80% of the people on this earth are just flat out not capable of.
And I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am part of the other 20%. There is no ego, no simple arrogance, just fact. I know I am better than most people, and I think it is time for me to prove it.
I just have to decide what is the best way to accomplish that.
But I know I am going to be what I am and most of all be passionate about what I do. You should too.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Everybody Loves Wired
Soundtrack: It’s Crazy by Drag The River
Wired Magazine is a unique entity. Not only is it a successful print magazine, it is a wildly successful web site. Recently they underwent a design overhaul. A new identity combined with a new front page layout has given the stalwort media dispenser a fresh look, but not everyone who trolls the world wide web is a fan. Among the many negative comments are posts such as “To which middle school art class did you farm this out?” and “No. No. No. Bad Wired. Surely this is some cruel joke because you withheld pizza and caffeine from the html coders, yes?”.
It is not a cruel joke, and I am not quite sure what people are complaining about. Apparently it is hard to read, but when I view the site in both Firefox and Safari, I see a well designed site with great visual hierarchy. The designers do not need to tell you what parts are the most important with subheadlines. Everything speaks for itself. In fact, it almost reminds me of the way an actual print magazine table of contents might be laid out.
Here’s what I think has happened. People on the whole do not respond well to change in the area of things that they are familiar with. Wired had the same layout on their front page for years and years, and people were used to it. They could scan through it easily and find what it was they were looking for. And then the folks at wired had the audacity to overhaul their own front page... how dare they! Well the world changes, folks. All of you out there in hinternet land are going to need to get used to that. Sometimes it is hard.
On the other side of the coin, it is not necesarily a good thing for a buiness to alienate their customers, and especially not good for a magazine to alienate it’s readers. There are going to be the folks like me who continue to read Wired regardless of the change. There are going to be the readers like me who like the change better. There are going to be new readers, and there are going to be people who leave because they do not like the way the new front page looks. What remains to be seen is whether the people who leave outweigh the number of faithful as well as new readers. Here's looking at you, Wired. Good luck, you’re gonna need it.
Wired Magazine is a unique entity. Not only is it a successful print magazine, it is a wildly successful web site. Recently they underwent a design overhaul. A new identity combined with a new front page layout has given the stalwort media dispenser a fresh look, but not everyone who trolls the world wide web is a fan. Among the many negative comments are posts such as “To which middle school art class did you farm this out?” and “No. No. No. Bad Wired. Surely this is some cruel joke because you withheld pizza and caffeine from the html coders, yes?”.
It is not a cruel joke, and I am not quite sure what people are complaining about. Apparently it is hard to read, but when I view the site in both Firefox and Safari, I see a well designed site with great visual hierarchy. The designers do not need to tell you what parts are the most important with subheadlines. Everything speaks for itself. In fact, it almost reminds me of the way an actual print magazine table of contents might be laid out.
Here’s what I think has happened. People on the whole do not respond well to change in the area of things that they are familiar with. Wired had the same layout on their front page for years and years, and people were used to it. They could scan through it easily and find what it was they were looking for. And then the folks at wired had the audacity to overhaul their own front page... how dare they! Well the world changes, folks. All of you out there in hinternet land are going to need to get used to that. Sometimes it is hard.
On the other side of the coin, it is not necesarily a good thing for a buiness to alienate their customers, and especially not good for a magazine to alienate it’s readers. There are going to be the folks like me who continue to read Wired regardless of the change. There are going to be the readers like me who like the change better. There are going to be new readers, and there are going to be people who leave because they do not like the way the new front page looks. What remains to be seen is whether the people who leave outweigh the number of faithful as well as new readers. Here's looking at you, Wired. Good luck, you’re gonna need it.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Making A Future Out Of Things Of The Past
Soundtrack: “Outkast” by P.O.D.
Things are looking rather promising for multimedia design right now. In fact, for technologies such as web and multimedia design, the future is so bright they have to wear shades. But what about good old reliable print design? What about the technology that lets us have books, lithograph posters, compact disc inserts and most importantly, those cute little coffee cup sleeves that have trite advertisements all over them?
One would think that things in that realm are bleak. People have found other ways to advertise so there is less money being poured into print advertisement budgets. Five years ago Medialife magazine reported a “Dire future for print design.”Five years is a long time in the world of instant gratification, MTV, and fast moving interactive technologies. Unfortunately that is not the only grim forecast. There's everything from talk about major newspapers losing a ridiculous amount of earnings to the interesting observation that internet media may be replacing traditional PR methods.
Despite the doomsaying, print media is here to stay. I don’t think traditional methods will ever be replaced. When radio became the popular medium people said it would be the end of the newspaper. The newspaper stayed around. When television made it’s debut people said it was the end of of both radio and the poor, unloved newspaper. Yet what do we see today? They both still exist today. It should be noted, however, that the newspaper’s role has been constantly evolving. It will always be around in some form, but that form is continuously changing.
Here’s the deal folks. The newspaper is not that important in the world of modern print design. People in the graphic design community who are mourning it can stop because they do not need to. See, it is not about how interactive technologies are killing off traditional methods. It is about how these new technologies are causing traditional media to evolve. But most of all, it is about how designers and pre-press gurus push these time-tested and familiar technologies to change with the new world that is rapidly forming. Some companies such as Colour Innovations in Toronto Canada are doing just that. In addition to leading the way in FM printing and high-density inks, they are the primary licensee of a new technology called MetalFX. It is a new way of printing metallic colors that is starting to revolutionize the industry. Then there is stuff like “smart” paper, anaglyphic printing, synthetic paper, and various other fun technologies that make print a little more interactive. But the best innovation is something that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to no end.
Just a couple of days ago Adobe, the fine folks who have faithfully brought us their flagship software Photoshop for nearly twenty years, announced the impending release of Photoshop CS3, of which a public beta is now available to users of the current Photoshop CS2. CS3 will be the tenth version of Photoshop. And Adobe is going to do something groundbreaking. For the first time in the history of technology, 3D support and motion graphics editing are being added to a 2D image editing computer program. Not just one, not just the other, both. For the layperson that means the Photoshop doesn’t just make your photos better, it doesn’t just give you the ability to create amazing print and web graphics. It means that from now on the game has changed and creative potential is limitless.
It is interesting to consider the options. Does this mean it is now possible to create a website alongside a short film? Is it possible to produce a feature-length Hollywood movie on a laptop that has Photoshop? I don’t know. What I do know is that I am excited about the creative possibilties. But most of all, I am excited for the future of design because this kind of integration means that designers are going to once again push the boundaries of convention and they are going to break out of the box. And thinking outside of the box is what makes the creative world go around.
Things are looking rather promising for multimedia design right now. In fact, for technologies such as web and multimedia design, the future is so bright they have to wear shades. But what about good old reliable print design? What about the technology that lets us have books, lithograph posters, compact disc inserts and most importantly, those cute little coffee cup sleeves that have trite advertisements all over them?
One would think that things in that realm are bleak. People have found other ways to advertise so there is less money being poured into print advertisement budgets. Five years ago Medialife magazine reported a “Dire future for print design.”Five years is a long time in the world of instant gratification, MTV, and fast moving interactive technologies. Unfortunately that is not the only grim forecast. There's everything from talk about major newspapers losing a ridiculous amount of earnings to the interesting observation that internet media may be replacing traditional PR methods.
Despite the doomsaying, print media is here to stay. I don’t think traditional methods will ever be replaced. When radio became the popular medium people said it would be the end of the newspaper. The newspaper stayed around. When television made it’s debut people said it was the end of of both radio and the poor, unloved newspaper. Yet what do we see today? They both still exist today. It should be noted, however, that the newspaper’s role has been constantly evolving. It will always be around in some form, but that form is continuously changing.
Here’s the deal folks. The newspaper is not that important in the world of modern print design. People in the graphic design community who are mourning it can stop because they do not need to. See, it is not about how interactive technologies are killing off traditional methods. It is about how these new technologies are causing traditional media to evolve. But most of all, it is about how designers and pre-press gurus push these time-tested and familiar technologies to change with the new world that is rapidly forming. Some companies such as Colour Innovations in Toronto Canada are doing just that. In addition to leading the way in FM printing and high-density inks, they are the primary licensee of a new technology called MetalFX. It is a new way of printing metallic colors that is starting to revolutionize the industry. Then there is stuff like “smart” paper, anaglyphic printing, synthetic paper, and various other fun technologies that make print a little more interactive. But the best innovation is something that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to no end.
Just a couple of days ago Adobe, the fine folks who have faithfully brought us their flagship software Photoshop for nearly twenty years, announced the impending release of Photoshop CS3, of which a public beta is now available to users of the current Photoshop CS2. CS3 will be the tenth version of Photoshop. And Adobe is going to do something groundbreaking. For the first time in the history of technology, 3D support and motion graphics editing are being added to a 2D image editing computer program. Not just one, not just the other, both. For the layperson that means the Photoshop doesn’t just make your photos better, it doesn’t just give you the ability to create amazing print and web graphics. It means that from now on the game has changed and creative potential is limitless.
It is interesting to consider the options. Does this mean it is now possible to create a website alongside a short film? Is it possible to produce a feature-length Hollywood movie on a laptop that has Photoshop? I don’t know. What I do know is that I am excited about the creative possibilties. But most of all, I am excited for the future of design because this kind of integration means that designers are going to once again push the boundaries of convention and they are going to break out of the box. And thinking outside of the box is what makes the creative world go around.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Get Wet
Soundtrack: Redeemer by Norma Jean
Sex appeal goes a long way in advertising. It can be as alluring as the anti-aids campaign that features men and women getting fresh with various deadly and venomous creatures. Or it can be as cheap and obvious as those annoying Budweiser ads with beautiful models hanging out drinking cheap beer.
My favorite “sexy” ad campaign so far has to be the Radiator waterwear “Improve Your Flexibility” series of ads created by the Furnace agency. They are nothing new, but they are so cheeky and bare in their less-than-innocent stab at decency that you just have to smile. I posted what I think is my favorite example (just look at that dude's cheesy grin!), you can find the rest of them here.
Sex appeal goes a long way in advertising. It can be as alluring as the anti-aids campaign that features men and women getting fresh with various deadly and venomous creatures. Or it can be as cheap and obvious as those annoying Budweiser ads with beautiful models hanging out drinking cheap beer.
My favorite “sexy” ad campaign so far has to be the Radiator waterwear “Improve Your Flexibility” series of ads created by the Furnace agency. They are nothing new, but they are so cheeky and bare in their less-than-innocent stab at decency that you just have to smile. I posted what I think is my favorite example (just look at that dude's cheesy grin!), you can find the rest of them here.Wednesday, February 28, 2007
A Microsoft Type Thing
Soundtrack: “Identity Theft” by Vaux
I know I complain about Microsoft a lot, but I don't want people to get the impression that I indiscriminately hate them. On the contrary, in fact. I do enjoy many of their products and innovations. OpenType has to be my favorite of these innovations, but as someone who deals with web design daily, ClearType is a close second.
To be honest I am surprised that Microsoft came up with it and not someone else. I don't know, maybe I shouldn't be surprised, but ClearType is a literally a new way of looking typography in the way that it allows digital type to be more readable on the screen. Microsoft in the past has done some things for web design that have been innovative as well as some things that have been annoying. Microsoft FrontPage is one of the annoying things they've come up with, but on the Typography front they have been somewhat helpful. Since Windows 95 was first released Microsoft has been releasing a steady stream of web and screen friendly typefaces like Georgia and Verdana. I am not a huge fan of Verdana's clunky stature, but Georgia is perfect as a screen font. In fact, as you read this blog you are enjoying Georgia’s pleasant proportions and large x-height.
This brings me back to ClearType. Microsoft’s screen fonts were a great step forward in pushing design for the computer screen forward. But Microsoft’s typography division was not satisfied. So for several years now they have been working on a new of way of rendering screen fonts called ClearType.
The story goes like this: the main reason that Microsoft has been pushing forward in the area of digital typography is pretty simple. The majority of typefaces are designed for print. Helvetica and Arial, Times New Roman, Garamond, Futura, Optima, even Lucida... they are all designed for print. That means they look great on paper. Books, flyers and posters, packaging, and everything else you can print. And many of them translate well to the screen at larger weights. But once you get below about 10 point, the elegant figures of a typeface like Garmond become hard to read because of resolution. See, print has a high resolution. Your average laser printer prints at 300 dpi, or dots per inch. Your average screen resolution is 96 ppi, or pixels per inch. This means that a laser printer has over three times the resolution of your computer monitor. No, junior, not even your “high resolution” LCD screen can compare. And so Microsoft has invented ClearType, which uses what is called sub-pixel rendering to make typefaces look good. Now spindly script typefaces won’t look like pure crap. Elegant faces like Garamond will show up halfway decent on screen. But Microsoft didn’t stop there. They didn't just want a new way of rendering type, they wanted to show it off.
What do people who care about typography do so that the default typeface looks good in both print and web? Commission a whole slew of new fonts that do just that. And that is what Microsoft has done. And they developed these new typefaces in conjunction with ClearType, so they are guaranteed to look good. I have to say, as a typography nut they look really good. I was impressed. No clunky Verdana. No old and tired Courier. Just six really solid typefaces. Wanna see them? Sure you do.
The crazy thing about this is that ClearType has been around as long as Windows XP has. A few years back Mister Usability himself, Jakob Neilsen wrote about how ClearType has the potential to save a company an average of $2000 dollars per employee per year. But you have to turn in on.
I know I complain about Microsoft a lot, but I don't want people to get the impression that I indiscriminately hate them. On the contrary, in fact. I do enjoy many of their products and innovations. OpenType has to be my favorite of these innovations, but as someone who deals with web design daily, ClearType is a close second.
To be honest I am surprised that Microsoft came up with it and not someone else. I don't know, maybe I shouldn't be surprised, but ClearType is a literally a new way of looking typography in the way that it allows digital type to be more readable on the screen. Microsoft in the past has done some things for web design that have been innovative as well as some things that have been annoying. Microsoft FrontPage is one of the annoying things they've come up with, but on the Typography front they have been somewhat helpful. Since Windows 95 was first released Microsoft has been releasing a steady stream of web and screen friendly typefaces like Georgia and Verdana. I am not a huge fan of Verdana's clunky stature, but Georgia is perfect as a screen font. In fact, as you read this blog you are enjoying Georgia’s pleasant proportions and large x-height.
This brings me back to ClearType. Microsoft’s screen fonts were a great step forward in pushing design for the computer screen forward. But Microsoft’s typography division was not satisfied. So for several years now they have been working on a new of way of rendering screen fonts called ClearType.
The story goes like this: the main reason that Microsoft has been pushing forward in the area of digital typography is pretty simple. The majority of typefaces are designed for print. Helvetica and Arial, Times New Roman, Garamond, Futura, Optima, even Lucida... they are all designed for print. That means they look great on paper. Books, flyers and posters, packaging, and everything else you can print. And many of them translate well to the screen at larger weights. But once you get below about 10 point, the elegant figures of a typeface like Garmond become hard to read because of resolution. See, print has a high resolution. Your average laser printer prints at 300 dpi, or dots per inch. Your average screen resolution is 96 ppi, or pixels per inch. This means that a laser printer has over three times the resolution of your computer monitor. No, junior, not even your “high resolution” LCD screen can compare. And so Microsoft has invented ClearType, which uses what is called sub-pixel rendering to make typefaces look good. Now spindly script typefaces won’t look like pure crap. Elegant faces like Garamond will show up halfway decent on screen. But Microsoft didn’t stop there. They didn't just want a new way of rendering type, they wanted to show it off.
What do people who care about typography do so that the default typeface looks good in both print and web? Commission a whole slew of new fonts that do just that. And that is what Microsoft has done. And they developed these new typefaces in conjunction with ClearType, so they are guaranteed to look good. I have to say, as a typography nut they look really good. I was impressed. No clunky Verdana. No old and tired Courier. Just six really solid typefaces. Wanna see them? Sure you do.
The crazy thing about this is that ClearType has been around as long as Windows XP has. A few years back Mister Usability himself, Jakob Neilsen wrote about how ClearType has the potential to save a company an average of $2000 dollars per employee per year. But you have to turn in on.
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