It's nice to see that newspapers are starting to brake out of the columns with there ads. Now that we have finally stop using tables to layout our design on websites (we'll, most of us) it only makes sense to get rid of the table based layout for newspapers. Doing it this way only makes sense. It makes the ad pop more, which would appeal more to an advertiser. Also, as a viewer, it makes the newspaper a little more entertaining to look through. I don't read the paper on a regular basis and I know I am a little different from others, put I like looking at advertising more than the stories in the paper. If our local papers started doing this, it would almost make me want to subscribe.

To view more, download the pdf.

Labels: design, layout, newspaper

Every day when I come into work there is a company close by that when I look at the logo I just shake my head in disgusts. Why? Because the of the kerning. (The term kerning refers to adjusting the space between two letters.)

This logo would be nice but I can't look past the bad kerning. This is a classic example of someone not knowing the rules of design. I don't even think you need to be a designer to see the awkward spaces in the logo. With a little more time and investment the logo could be a big hit. If there is one thing you should know as a designer, it is good kerning.

For anyone needing a recap on kerning or any element related to typography visit Thinking with Type. Here is also a nice little summary.

Labels: design, kerning, typography

"Of course you want it for yesterday! If you want it for today, you should order it TOMORROW!!!"

Thanks to the guys at NorthTemple.com for posting on this site, and thanks to those at AdVerbatims for collecting all of these intelligent quotes. It is a great site to get a good laugh.

Labels: humor, quotes

Unfortunately, I can relate to all of these as a in-house designer.

Labels: cartoon, designer, life

“New York Changing, the current body of work by New York City photographer Douglas Levere, is a photographic record of the ever-changing landscape of New York City. Guided by Berenice Abbott’s 1930’s project Changing New York, Levere revisited neighborhoods and former storefronts, documenting the evolution of the metropolis known for constantly reinventing itself.”

It is amazing to see the changes time can make. Is it better or worse? I guess that is up to the viewer.

Labels: images, new york, time

“YourMinis is a Flash-based customizable homepage product that will compete for users with a number of similar products that use Ajax - Netvibes, Pageflakes, Google, Live.com and more. This was launched by a startup called Goowy, which created a flash-based productivity suite (email, calendar, IM, etc.) last year.”

This is part of the right up that was on Techcrunch. I don't have a problem with the application, although there are a lot of them. The problem is they are using Comic Sans.
When you click on the link the first thing you see is a big yellow box with the worst type-face ever invented describing the product. The folks at Goowy should know better than this. It was such a turn off that all I could do was get a screen-grab and leave.

This has nothing to do with design, but it's funny. Listen now

Do your duty and GO VOTE!

This might seem a little odd, but I had to buy a new vacuum over the weekend. I decided to go with the Dyson DC15. I was very impressed by the vacuum, although it was a little pricey. The thing that amazed me more was the design of the instruction manual. The vacuum is impressive as well and I do like it but lets talk about the design. Yes, I know it seems strange, and my wife just started laughing, but the manual is very well designed. You open it up and you aren't bombarded by endless paragraphs of text. There is easy to understand illustrations with enough copy to help you. There is plenty of white space which gives you some breathing room.
It's nice to see some companies realize the importance of good design and how it can be helpful. Even their other printed pieces were very well designed. There was no in-your-face sunburst or big type. The world is full of crap design so good job to the people at Dyson and whoever designed there material.

Download the manual and see for yourself