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 Thursday, August 21, 2008
Lovin' Your Job
I was just thumbing through the copy of In-House Design in Practice that just landed on my desk yesterday. It's Cathy Fishel's new HOW book that's part design annual and part business coach for in-house creatives. In it, there's a great quote: "You can love your job, but it will never love you back." The quote reminded me of a conversation I was having with Steven Morris and Erin Sarpa not long ago as we discussed plans for their session at the upcoming In-HOWse Designer Conference. Steve, in particular, has tons of experience working with in-house teams at companies like Mattel, and he and Erin have interviewed a bunch if corporate design managers to find out what makes for a successful in-house career. They'll be talking about that in their session, Lovin' Your In-House Job. Steve and Erin both advocate having a rich and rewardinglife outside the office, so you don't rely exclusively on your 9-to-5 gig for creative fulfillment. 'Cause there's only so much love you can expect from your day job. Posted by Bryn
Designers
8/21/2008 4:48:32 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) 
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Type Love
Geronto Bis is a lovely font inspired by a letters engraved in the stone of a French Church. It was designed by Jack Usine and is available as a free download from Smeltery.  Posted by Megan
Typography
8/21/2008 10:56:44 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Threadless Loves Drawing
Community T-shirt site Threadless recently announced a call for entries for hand-drawn shirt designs. Some of the best designs begin as a simple hand-drawn sketch. It's incredible how random drawings in sketchbooks, on coffee table napkins, or doodled across sticky notes become sweet pieces of art once fleshed out onscreen. Your challenge is to create an amazing tee based on your original drawing.
The prize list is extensive: * Wacom Cintiq 12WX tablet! * $750 Gift Certificate for the House Industries store! * $500 gift certificate for Utrecht! * A full set of Front Forty Books and CD's! Includes titles such ask Graffitecture, Matt Volla's Unruly Drawings, and Short Stories Illustrated By Artists. * Winning design (and designer!) to be featured in Print Magazine's February 2009 issue * An oversize poster from the Print Magazine 2008 New Visual Artists issue! * The 11-year retrospective Regional Design Annual DVD! * One year subscription to Print Magazine * $500 Threadless Gift Certificate (can be redeemed for $200 cash) * $2,000 in cash  Posted by Megan
Call for Entries
8/21/2008 9:47:31 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Job Of The Day
Senior Interactive Graphic Designer
National Public RadioThe Senior Interactive Designer is responsible for daily art and design needs for NPR.org, the online
presence of National Public Radio. Will be responsible for the design
and production of news and other editorial graphics and interactive
storytelling applications, including information graphics, charts,
illustrations and maps. Will also occasionally create graphics for
other NPR Digital Media initiatives, such as the NPR Shop and external
digital marketing efforts. Posted by Megan
Industry News
8/21/2008 7:52:20 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Are You Going To San Francisco?
I just booked my flight to San Francisco for the In-HOWse Designer Conference in October. I'm looking forward to spending three days with talented designers and experts figuring out to make in-house life and work even better. Will I see you there?  Posted by Megan
Events
8/20/2008 1:57:03 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Time to Fly
Among the many things that have captivated me during the Olympics has been the series of ads for United: spots that feature otherworldly, heartbreakingly gorgeous animation. The artistic styles are quite different (I've seen three of the five), from a swirling, organic style that looks like sand painting, to a cut-paper look that reminds me of illustrator Dave Wheeler's work in HOW's December 2007 issue. The campaign was created by BD'M and has won a Gold Effie Award for marketing
effectiveness and was nominated for an Emmy Award. What's interesting is that the United brand mark makes an appearance only at the end of the minute-long ads, but the "Rhapsody in Blue" soundtrack (each spot has a different arrangement) is unmistakably on-brand; you know it's United before you see the logo, because the company "owns" that tune. Naturally, you'll find the spots on YouTube, and you must drop what you're doing and watch all of them now.    Posted by Bryn
Illustration
8/20/2008 1:49:13 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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In The Jungle
Hornet directing team Mixtape Club recently created a beautiful and haunting video for the track "Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Pt. 2", My Morning Jacket's first video from their new album, "Evil Urges". The video, set deep in a verdant jungle on a dark night, stars a character named Jasper, a furry, timid creature with gigantic eyes. Jasper carries around a lantern inhabited by his only friend, a firefly whose light helps him navigate the treetops. When he gets caught off guard by a roaming pack of jungle beasts, Jasper accidentally drops his lantern, letting his firefly loose. He travels through the jungle in pursuit of his friend. The journey takes him down a river, through a cave, and up a ravine, into a beautiful, otherworldly meadow illuminated by a constellation of fireflies. The video offers a haunting, lonely quality with a touch of fairy tale sweetness.
See the video here. Check out visual inspiration for the animation here.   Posted by Megan
Designers
8/20/2008 10:12:23 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Job Of The Day
Illustrator/Apparel Graphic Designer
Abercrombie & Fitch
As an Abercrombie & Fitch Graphic Designer, your focus will be on creating strong,
brand-right artwork for a range of apparel pieces (including tees,
fleece tops, active bottoms, accessories, etc). Candidates will have
a passion for the brand and the customer, a strong eye for trend, high
taste level, the ability to work within - and be a solid contributor to
- a team, strong communication and organizational skills, and can
translate concepts and trends into graphics in our handwriting. Posted by Megan
Industry News
8/20/2008 8:22:18 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Parking Tickets
I could have really used these parking tickets from Shinebox Print yesterday. And could you even get mad if someone left such a nicely designed reminder on your windshield? Well, maybe you could. But you're probably a jerk. Who taught you to park that way in the first place?     Posted by Megan
Just for Fun
8/19/2008 10:13:41 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Job Of The Day
Interaction/Print Designer
Dwell MagazineDesigner will split their time between designing web-based projects of
all types for Dwell.com, and creation of print-based sales and
marketing materials for all other Dwell brand platforms. Must
possess strong typographic skills, a thoughtful approach to design,
must be detail-oriented, self-motivated and organized. Must have the
ability to take initiative and ownership of projects, be able to take
the ball and run with it. Must be collaborative, and have strong
communication skills. Work closely with Marketing Creative
Director at various stages of the design process, from research and
strategy to design and production, in developing and maintaining the
brand visual language. Posted by Megan
Industry News
8/19/2008 9:06:18 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, August 18, 2008
Original Thoughts
Who doesn't need a great blank journal for sketching and idea logging? Designer and illustrator Andy Pratt offers several unique choices in lined or unlined versions. I'm a huge fan of Original Thoughts and Great Ideas.   Posted by Megan
Designers | Gifts and Goodies
8/18/2008 11:53:07 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Another Movie About Graphic Design
Died Young Stayed Pretty: A Movie About Rock Posters opens next weekend at the Montreal World Film Festival. The film peels back the paper curtain and looks behind the scenes of the underground poster movement. These graphic banditos roam the streets, plastering their work to every available surface. Under the guise of advertising rock shows, these unheralded masters of the silkscreen and xerox machine carry on public discourses on the merits and pitfalls of fried cheese and gritty porn.
The film includes posters by Art Chantry, Methane Studios, Seripop, the Ames Bros. and more.  Posted by Megan
Industry News
8/18/2008 11:46:17 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Job Of The Day
Senior Graphic Designer
General Nutrition (GNC)Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, corporate careers with General
Nutrition span the scope of administrative, professional, and technical
job opportunities. Here you will enjoy a high-energy environment,
recognition, and respect as well as an ongoing opportunity for
professional growth. If you are seeking a challenging and rewarding
career, GNC is the place to be. We are currently looking to fill a
Senior Graphic Designer position. This position is responsible for
designing and developing creative solutions for retail promotions and
store identity programs. Posted by Megan
Industry News
8/18/2008 10:28:55 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Thursday, August 14, 2008
Across The Univers
Classic typeface meets classic tank in the latest offering from Typographyshop.com. A stylistic companion to their first product, Helvetica Neue Descending a t-shirt, Adrian Frutiger's 1954 masterpiece is illustrated in descending weights in two colors.
 Posted by Megan
Gifts and Goodies | Typography
8/14/2008 11:22:49 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Job Of The Day
Manager, Art & Design
Brooklyn Public LibraryThe Manager, Art & Design supervises and develops the design
strategy and visual direction for the library system to promote
Brooklyn Public Library, its programs and services. The Manager
oversees a staff of designers, freelancers and part time assistants in
the development and production of marketing materials. The Manager has
primary responsibility for branding guidelines, design templates and
design staff. Posted by Megan
Industry News
8/14/2008 8:09:29 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Yearbook Yourself
This cracks me up (in a good way): To drive more teens and their parents into its malls for back-to-school shopping, Taubman Centers is taking them back in time. The national mall owner and operator partnered with Colle+McVoy to create an innovative online and in-center experience that allows teens to see what they might have looked like when their parents were in school, all while catching up on current back-to-school fashions.
The campaign features a new website, www.YearbookYourself.com, which launched this week and allows visitors to upload their photos and morph their faces onto yearbook photos spanning five decades. They can easily move from the 1950s through the 1990s and see themselves with the hair and fashion styles of the times while listening to music inspired by that era.
 Here's "me" in 1968:  (Edit: And here's me, circa 1990 -- Bryn)  Posted by Megan
Designers
8/13/2008 11:27:56 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Job Of The Day
Senior Graphic Designer
Vosges Haut-ChocolatWe are a specialized multi-channel, experiential chocolate company
based in Chicago. We are looking for a full-time, experienced, fast and
talented senior graphic designer to be an integral part of our creative
department. We deal heavily in designing visually compelling catalogs,
chocolate packaging, retail store graphics, print collateral, books,
web design, millwork etc. We need someone with expertise in these areas
and the flexibility to branch out when needed. You must work quickly
and be a hands on, timeline loving, entrepreneurial spirited designer. Posted by Megan
Industry News
8/13/2008 8:10:06 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Newsweek Features HOW Book, Written On The City
Newsweek just posted a small gallery of images from Written on the City, a new HOW book exploring message graffiti around the world. The colorful images capture street type at its most raw and inspiring. It makes city governments cringe. But graffiti can be provocative,
inspiring and poetic—sometimes even a tool for public discourse. That's
what San Francisco designers Axel Albin
and Josh Kamler say in their new book, "Written on the City." They've
compiled their favorite "message graffiti" from cities around the
globe—the musings, rants, political statements and cultural
observations of artists who risk jail to have their voices heard.
See more graffiti here.  Posted by Megan
HOW Books | Typography
8/12/2008 9:55:52 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Post-Vacation Blues
It’s hard to imagine, but with Labor Day right around the corner,
summer is nearing its end. If you’re planning a getaway to enjoy the
final days of warm weather, chances are it’s not leaving the office
that you find most difficult, it’s returning. In a survey by The
Creative Group, one in three (33%) advertising and marketing executives
polled said they dread the work awaiting their return. Another 10% said
they prevent this scenario by rarely going on vacations. Here are steps
you can take to ensure you’re productive instead of panic-stricken when
you get back. Read more.Posted by Megan
HOW Magazine
8/12/2008 9:42:08 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Job Of The Day
Design Director, Retail Strategy
RGI Inc.RGI, Inc. is a retail marketing and branding agency looking to
expand our team of smart, energetic and passionate individuals. We
are seeking a creative leader with a strong background in print and
promotional in-store marketing. A Design Director must consistently
demonstrate creative excellence as well as innovative and strategic
thinking. You would help direct the creative process for retail
strategy and have a pro-active, collaborative relationship with all
team members. Posted by Megan
Industry News
8/12/2008 9:38:37 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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