Crap Detector!

Command Save!

okay kiddos, the time has come. This site is going to be put out to pasture.

PLEASE update your links with my new graphic design blog that I am running over at Portland State University.

Ladies and Gents...Command Save!

oh crap detector. we will miss thee!!

Some Days Are Like This

thanks to Andrew Le who, like many good students and good people, is a master procrastinator. I mean this in the nicest way possible.

Workroom Remodel! We are just like an HGTV show!

So, a few AWESOME students and a few faculty (we are awesome too, but that sounds kind of braggy on my part to use that adjective) have been working on making two former trash rooms (from what I understand) into what hopes to be a tremendously inspiring workspace and lounge for students this new school year.

Check out the photos below for some progress shots. We are all pretty please with the mixture of greens that are rocking the walls. We can't wait to do more and we can't wait for everyone to see the new space once school starts. Lots of plans which I will share with you as we continue to make progress! YES!

These are the people in your neighborhood (if you live in Portland, OR - that is)

Hey everyone! This week I have been guest posting over at the design and style blog poppytalk. I thought I would share the posts with you since they have all been design AND portland related. So far I have profiled OFFICE PDX, Tender Loving Empire, Pinball Publishing and tonight I am working on a post about The Grass Hut. Sweet!

Check out more pictures and words about these fabulous business establishments here, here and here. The Grass Hut profile will be up tomorrow, but until then, feast your eyes on a flickr set of grass hutty goodness.

Illustrated John Lennon Interview

via: dear ada.

Graphic Design History! The rest of your Study Questions!

You are responsible for all posted questions since the last test. (chapters 17, 18, 19, 20, 21). When I phrase a question, such as "who was william golden?" know that he wasn't just a dude who was a graphic designer, but be able to recall his work and his role in graphic design history.

Chapter 20 questions
Who was Andriano Olivetti?
Tell me about the Olivetti Graphic Identity.
Who was William Golden?
Tell me about the CBS Graphic Identity.
Who was Georg Olden?
Tell me three things about him.
Who was Lou Dorfsman?
What is a Logotype?

Intermediate Computing: Rest of the Semester

Monday, April 21st: Product Shots / Sketch logos and packaging
Wednesday, April 23rd: upload two best logos to flickr / continue packaging
Monday, April 28th: First Final Meeting time at NINE AM / FINAL LOGO and PACKAGING
Tuesday, April 29th: Second Final Meeting time at NINE AM / Present final products, logo and packaging

Print Production: Rest of the Semester

Monday, April 21st: Progress check over work so far. Work day in class. Johnny Cash Posters DUE!
Monday, April 21st at 5:30 / Johnny Cash Poster Judging (just so you know)
Wednesday, April 23rd: Pre-Crit. Bring in print outs and materials.
Monday, April 28th: First Final Meeting Time from NOON to 3 pm. FINAL CRIT!
Tuesday, April 29th: Second Final Meeting Time from NOON to 3 pm. Final Project with revisions DUE!

Graphic Design History: Rest of the Semester

Here is the rundown:

Monday, April 21st: Final Project Presentations
Wednesday, April 23rd: Study Guide for Final (chapters 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
FINAL EXAM: Thursday, May 1st (12-3 in the jury room)

We will only be having a final. No take home essay questions, but expect a few short essay questions on your final test.

Product Shot Phobia

You have spent sleepless nights working on your project...it deserves to be documented and documented well! Yikes! How do I do that? I don't know how to take good product shots!

Click on the following links for some helpful product shot hints.
Photojojo is a fabulous online photo DIY resource newsletter. Check out their post about Shooting to Sell: Taking Better Photos for eBay, Etsy & Instructables.

Here is another post by Photojojo, but it is about photographing food! : Photojojo: The Ten Tastiest Food Photography Tips.

Here are some cool camera modifications that you can do yourself that might help you with those pesky product shots (esp. if you don't have access to a pro studio).

Photojojo: Reduce, Reuse, Diffuse: Make Your Own Flash Diffuser from an Old Film Container.

Strobist: How To: DIY $10 Macro Photo Studio.

Etsy :: The Storque :: Photographing your items.

Lighting for Product Shots.

Packaging Sites

Here are the two sites I was talking about in class:
TheDieline.com: The Leading Package Design Blog

and AIGA Design Archives (search for packaging).

A Grayspace Poster Gallery

I beg you to please check out a Grayspace Poster Gallery. Chock full of Polish Poster goodies from the 1940s-1970s. Please remember to pick your eyeballs off the floor after you are finished looking at them.

A typographic GEM in our midst

Hey Hey! I bet you didn't know this, but only 40 short, sweet minutes away resides Kennedy Prints! A Letterpress Printery. We traveled to Gordo, Alabama last night to see our friend Amos Kennedy's new printing shop! New friend Laura Zinger was also there finishing up some filming for the documentary that she is making on him for Brown Finch Films. Peep the trailer: Proceed and Be Bold!!! You know, if you are really interested in meeting him and seeing his shop, give him a virtual ring via email or show up during Gordo's Mule Day on June 7th where he will have his shop open and printing up a storm. Check out more photos HERE! and HERE!

Graphic Design History: Project Extension

I know this will make all of you sad, but I am pushing the due date back for your creative project to Monday, APRIL 21st.

I will be at the University of Georgia starting on the 16th through that weekend giving critiques, lectures and workshops. This will give you an extra weekend to crank out some awesome.

Be PREPARED to show your WORK on Monday the 21st! YAY!

Intermediate Design: DIY Links

Hey Hey Guys!
Here are some helpful links to get your minds going when trying to decide what product you are going to develop:

http://www.papress.com/designityourself/
http://www.makezine.com/
http://www.craftzine.com
http://readymademag.com/
http://www.instructables.com/
http://www.etsy.com/