Pinterest-ing.

Sunday, August 15th, 2010

I was just introduced to a new site that essentially allows you to make an online inspiration board.  And not only can you create your own inspiration boards, you can peek at other people’s as well!

On Pinterest, you can set up several inspiration boards, one for fashion, art, interior design, whatever it is that fluffs your peanutbutter.  After you’ve created these boards, browse the web as usual.  When you see something that strikes your fancy, you can “pin it” by simply clicking on the Pinterest button on your browser, and it adds an image of your item to the appropriate list.

This is brilliant not only for inspiration, but also for cataloging.  Planning a special project, designing a room, and need a place to keep all your sources and images in one place?  Pinterest is perfect for just that.

I like to go poking through other people’s boards.  By doing this, I find new shops I’ve never been to, blogs I’ve never read, photographers I had not yet discovered.  Take a poke through my board here.

You need an invitation to join Pinterest.  If you are seriously interested, I have four remaining invitations.  Pop me an email.  The first four people to request an invitation will get one!

So. Not. Funny.

Saturday, January 16th, 2010

A friend passed this on to me over Facebook, anticipating my outrage over this sacrilege.  A tee with the word Helvetica, written in Comic Sans.  As the website describes it: “A slap in the typeface.”  That’s for sure.  Think of this tee for a special gift, for a graphic designer that you really, really hate.

This tee is available at Busted Tees.

Click here to support a good cause,  www.bancomicsans.com.

Hitting the Books.

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

While I was at the HOW Conference, I had the chance to pick up some great reads at the bookstore. I always love books with pretty pictures, that stimulate ideas, but I also am fascinated with the psychology behind design, so you’ll see I struck a good balance with the books I purchased on this trip.

The first two are by Karen Salmansohn. I was actually a fan of hers after picking up The Bounce Back Book, and these two books did not disappoint. They took a look at the psychology of design and being in business, and offer tips and strategies, mostly on how to be confident. Which in all honesty is something I could use every once in a while.

I also picked up Identity Crisis by Jeff Fisher, which shows successful redesigns of standing brands. As our keynote speaker said, “Is there anything you designers don’t want to redesign?” I often get clients who have already established their brand, but need a redesign, and this book offers up some great examples on how to do this while retaining some consistency.

The final book I picked up was The Basic Design Index by Jim Krause. This outlines some of the basic principals of design, and while this is all stuff that I’ve already learned, it can never hurt to be reminded. No one wants to make a rookie mistake.

Countdown to HOW.

Saturday, June 20th, 2009

This Wednesday I will be hopping on a plane to go to a place I’ve been dreaming of for years.  No, not Disneyland.  The HOW Design Conference.  This year the event will be held in Austin, Texas.  This conference happens once a year, and has been held in such places as Boston, Vegas, and New Orleans.  As a designer, this event holds claim to many drool-worthy (and possibly boring sounding to other people) things.  I’m starry eyed with the thoughts of workshops, the Designer’s Marketplace, great swag from all the vendors, meeting other designers, and finally the great city of Austin itself.

It’s reputation is preceding itself with promises of great shopping (tons of independent shops and vintage too!), great food (cause it’s sure hard to find authentic Mexican and Barbecue in Massachusetts), and a fantastic art museum.

Now if only this Yankee can handle the heat.  As long as it’s a dry heat, right?  I think my hair can handle that.

Pictures promised upon my return!