Can you discern the differences between subtle gradations in color? Find out in this surprisingly difficult quiz from x•rite.

Posted by Megan

by this kerning T-shirt designed by Stephen Gates.

Posted by Megan

Designer, Basketball
Converse

We might want this job: Under the direction of the Basketball Design Director, responsible for creating innovative stories, concepts and designs for Converse Footwear at a high-level. Works independently and with Basketball team (design, marketing and development) to create a line from concept to reality that meets product brief requirements. Demonstrates independent judgment and devises new approaches to unique problems.

If you haven't seen it, check out Esquire magazine's 75th anniversary issue now on newsstands -- the cover features the first (that we know of) mass-market application of "e-ink." Which is another way of saying, It's got a thin digital screen sandwiched into the cover paper.

Frankly, it's not as neato as I'd hoped (though to be fair, the technology is pretty extraordinary). It's just that, graphically, the digital display just flashes a giant cover blurb -- I was wanting something more animated, something more than just flashing text. I suppose I'm spoiled by all the nifty things my computer screen can display.

Esquire has the backstory here and a video that shows the image in action. And Make magazine takes the thing apart tells whether you can hack the display.

Photo below by Nicholas Nawroth, one of the bloggers posting about the cover.



And here's the version being mailed to subscribers; the e-ink cover is just available in bookstores.

Broadcast designer
Current TV

Al Gore's Current TV is looking for a broadcast designer for its San Francisco headquarters. Requirements include:

• Bachelors or Masters degree in Graphic Design from an accredited institution
• 3-5 years broadcast design experience
• Thorough knowledge of design and typography (history, theory, practice)
• Ability to take design direction from concept through execution
• Must be able to work within tight deadlines and still have fun!
• Professional demeanor and pleasant personality
• Must be able to multi-task and possess excellent time management skills
• Must be a team player and demonstrate excellent people skills

A bunch of news bytes from around the design world today:

• AIGA Boston and the Fort Point Arts Community Gallery present POSTGIG, a compilation of music posters curated by Clifford Stoltze; the exhibit runs September 15 to 20 at the FPAC Gallery in Boston.

• Sappi Fine Paper North America announced the 20 recipients of its 2008 Ideas that Matter grants, which provide for printing, paper and implementation of pro-bono design projects that make a difference in the world. The list is too extensive to include here, but you should check out all the impressive and noteworthy projects on the Ideas that Matter site.

• The 8th annual Picturehouse event is slated for October 29 in NYC; image-buyers can attend this free event to see what's new from 100+ stock-image suppliers.

• Utopia announced the 10 Platinum and Gold winners in its regional U B the Judge design competition. Platinum winners include Polo Ralph Lauren for the 2007 Ralph Lauren holiday catalog; Lambesis for the bebe Holiday II catalog; Phillips Design Group for the Loomis Sayles & Co. brochure; Stacy Sweat Designs for the Loyola University Chicago Madonna Della Strada Chapel project; and Squires & Co. for the Magic of 10 Colors brochure. View all the winners at Utopiapaper.com.

• Pantone and X-Rite have announced fall dates for their Color Control Freak seminar series.  or call 888.439.4403 to register by phone. Cities include NYC (September 24), Boston (October 9), Atlanta (October 15), Chicago (October 22) and San Diego (October 29); November dates also on the agenda.

• On the FSC-certification front: Neenah says its flagship brands CLASSIC CREST and CLASSIC Linen are now entirely FSC-certified. And SMART Papers' premium cast-coated Kromekote has the designation.

• Parsons The New School for Design presents "Ours: Democracy in the Age of Branding," features an international roster of emerging and established contemporary artists and an extensive array of performances, workshops and new commissions. The exhibition opens October 16 at the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Gallery at the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center, NYC.

I have ... let's see ... six posters in my tiny little office (including four from past HOW Design Conferences). I collect vintage posters at home (see Wednesday, March 12 post). I [heart] posters. In fact, the winner of this year's International Design Awards was, you guessed it: a poster campaign.



So we've decided to launch a design competition that spotlights my favorite kind of design project.

(drumroll please ...)

Here's the brand-new HOW Poster Design Awards. It's pretty slick: You can enter and upload your work entirely online. Judging panel is to be announced; the entry deadline is December 1. We'll profile the top 10 winners on HOWdesign.com.

Design Managers
Procter & Gamble (Geneva, Switzerland)

Three billion times a day, Procter & Gamble brands touch the lives of people around the world. Our purpose is to provide branded products and services of superior quality and value that improve the lives of the world's consumers, now and for generations to come. Our brands include: Tide, Bounty, Pantene, Crest/Oral B, Swiffer, Olay, Gillette Blades & Razors, Duracell, Eukanuba, Vicks, Cover Girl, Tampax, SKII, Clairol and Prilosec.

Procter & Gamble has multiple openings for Design Managers to work in our Geneva office. We are seeking individuals who have proven experience in strong strategic design management, with skills in Graphic Design, Packaging (on-pack design / structural packaging design) and In-store Design. Come and join P&G - one of the top ten companies to work for globally.

I'll admit my bias, but I really love the conferences that the HOW team hosts. Specifically, I love all the connections that happen: between the speakers and attendees, among attendees themselves (and also between our team and our audience).

If you're an in-house designer, chances are good that you have few opportunities to make meaningful connections with other designers -- other right-brain types like you. Which is what next month's In-HOWse Designer Conference is all about.

If you're thinking about going to San Francisco for this event, be sure to make your arrangements right away. The hotel discount we've secured will expire at midnight tomorrow (Wednesday). Learn more about that here. And if JetBlue flies into your hometown, you can score a 5% discount (here).

Still undecided? Here's why you should go.