Did that title get your attention? This is not your average blog entry and this was not your average fashion show.
Just recently, I was involved in a Project Runway Condom Fashion Show Fundraiser for the Nebraska Aids Project along with another member of my design team, Carrie Ratcliff and fellow designer/friend Adrian Hardisty-Horsley. It was hands down THE most challenging design project we have ever been involved in. And we were so glad to be a part of it. Read More

I definitely don’t put myself in the category of a designer or design professional. Quite honestly, I can barely draw a straight line with a ruler. Like most people however I have an opinion. I can tell that I like something or turn my nose up in disgust if it doesn’t fit my tastes. My tastes usually land in the guy zone. I like nature, tech and sports, but I will never turn an entire room of my house into a shrine for an athletic team. Read More

Send your cover letter and resume with clear direction as to which department you are interested in joining. When letters come in saying the writer wants a job “anywhere” in an ad agency it is clear that they don’t know the business well enough to know where they fit in. Read More

Make sure your card says something about you. There are a lot of  boring business cards out there. Why? Probably because someone started a business, and “Get business cards” was one of the items on  their “to-do” list. But don’t just slap it together – put some thought into it. Make it unique, creative, and indicative of the special qualities you bring to your business. When your thinking of printing business cards, remember that these small little cards represent you and if they are not memorable than neither are you. Read More

The Womb Chair. Designed in 1948 by Eero Saarinen. The most perfect chair in the world. Comfort, sculptural lines, modern but yet timeless. I have been tracking and loving this chair for many many years…as long as I can remember (Because that is the kind of design nerd I am).
I just recently read an article in TIME magazine about the resurgence of recent interest in Saarinen.
Currently, Yale is restoring quite a number of the buildings he designed for their campuses in the 1950’s: the hockey rink and residential complexes. Read More

Sensible and smart use of color will help strengthen your brand. Humans naturally associate universal meanings to specific colors. For example, red is often associated with strength and power, while blue is associated with serenity and peace. Choosing the wrong colors for your logo could cause potential clients to have misconceptions about your brand. Sometimes companies feel the need to use too many colors in their logo and their brand ends up visually confusing and ultimately, Read More

Stay Focused on Your Values: Oftentimes companies and business owners try to create an image that communicates their ENTIRE business concept. This is asking an awful lot! Instead of focusing on the big picture, zero in on the values and ideas that your company stands for. As customers come to know your business and what it means while interacting with your brand, they’ll quickly learn to associate your logo with these principles.
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Something I just learned from a four day photoshoot…Everything has a story. Behind every door, every face, every object, every project. As a creative, if you aren’t coming up with anything for that ad campaign, poster, website, branding, or brochure – keep digging and pushing yourself. You have not gone far enough – that story is there, even though it may be shrouded by noise or a case of the blands.
And secondly, if you are sitting at the computer feeling stumped, Read More

I really really loved this latest post by Seth Godin. If we could dedicate more time to “wondering,” then more creative ideas would come forth. We spend a lot of time wandering and grasping at ideas and thoughts on the top of mind – especially when we are so slamming busy, we do not have time to stop to breathe. these moments of breath, air, white space – those are the times that brilliant ideas or at least seeds of brilliance come forth. Read More

Know your target market: Even though you may be tempted to go for a logo design that is pleasing to you, it’s important to remember that your logo is for your customer and not you. Focus on your market segment, design for that demographic, and your brand will be successful. Read More