PUBLISHER’S NOTE: GUILT BY DESIGN
I used to think that my ethnic group had the monopoly on guilt, worry, self-doubt and
self-deprecation. (Thank you, Woody Allen!) Then I grew up and became familiar with the
psychology of creatives and came to realize that, compared with graphic designers,
my people are a carefree romp in the park. I bring this up because of a provocative article
by Martyn Perks — The Rise and Rise of Anti-Design — which contends that
too many designers are:
(1) wracked with guilt and self-blame about the environmental impact of their work
(“blighting the world with too much stuff”);
(2) as a result of that guilt, are obsessed with adhering to sustainable design principals
and practices, such as those laid out in the Designers Accord;
(3) and, therefore, are chilling the freedom of ideas, innovation, ingenuity and imagination
that lead to meaningful and compelling design solutions which, he argues, is the point of
design in the first place.
Clearly, the world is not quite that simple. Sometimes, hopefully many times, great solutions
are also green solutions and vice versa. But Perks, a design consultant and writer, raises a tough
and prickly question with power and style. His argument deserves airing and debate, even if it
goes against the flow. Not that I don’t feel just a little guilty about bringing it up.
— Gordon Kaye
PS.
http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/5604/
GRAPHIC DESIGN NEWS
Thinking Earth Tones
A new identity for the Council on Foreign Relations seeks to enhance the institution’s
87-year-old mission as a non-partisan foreign policy think tank and publisher. The identity
spans all platforms, including reports, stationery, enewsletters, website and the annual report.
Designed by Landor Associates and implemented by the design firm ObjectiveSubject, it
features a modern brown signature and monogram complemented by an earth-toned color
palette. The implementation is “green”: stationery is made from 100%
postconsumer-waste fiber paper produced with renewable wind energy. Publications
will be printed on FSC-certified paper. Hayes Roth served as the main Landor adviser to
the project.
Star Turn For Siegler and Oberman
The eighth annual Adobe Design Achievement Awards, honoring student graphic designers,
has come and gone. Chosen by an all-star judging panel — Emily Chang, Joshua
Davis, David Gensler, Nokia’s Eric John, Adrian Johnson of Adrian Johnson Ltd.,
Maya Kopytman, Michael Lebowitz, Rebeca Mendez, Tina Roth Eisenberg, Stan Szymanski,
Armin Vit, and Joan Raspo — students won recognition in thirteen categories ranging
from print and packaging to animation and motion graphics. Awards were presented at the
Skirball Performing Arts Center at NYU (with GDUSA in attendance), and hosted stylishly in
Oscar-like fashion by Bonnie Siegler and Emily Oberman of Number Seventeen. Winners at...
http://www.adaaentry.com/adaalive.html
New Logo For New Era
Newspapers and magazines continue to search for their niche in a digital world, often
turning to design to help clarify and communicate a new strategy. The latest example: U.S.
News & World Report, a month after announcing it will shift from weekly to every other
week, unveils an extensive redesign. “The new logo on the cover is not just a cosmetic
makeover,” says editor Brian Kelly. “It signals that we’re changing the
way we think of the magazine.” The title is moving from a news-oriented magazine to
more of a consumer guide, focused entirely on personal and public service journalism. The
redesign includes logo, typeface, retooled front-of-book and feature well showcasing longer
pieces. The change, says Kelly, means more resources for usnews.com, with a goal of
doubling traffic.
http://www.usnews.com
You’ve Got Ads
Offering advertisers more prime online real estate, AOL has launched a new skyscraper unit
on its home page nearly double the size of the largest placement the web portal previously
sold on its main page. The half-page format can be equipped with rich media features including
video, animation and the ability to expand. The portal introduced the new placement the same
week that parent Time Warner disclosed a 14% drop in AOL's display ad revenue during the
second quarter. While a new unit itself cannot solve AOL’s ad woes, it should help extract
more revenue from the highly trafficked home page. AOL also views its supersized placement
as a competitive advantage over chief rivals Yahoo and MSN, which typically run smaller display
ads on their home pages.
http://www.aol.com
The Circle of Life
Michael Bierut has designed the identity of The Museum of Arts and Design, which opens its
new home at New York’s Columbus Circle late in September. In moving to Columbus
Circle into a quirky building which has gone unused for years, MAD helps complete the
revitalization of one of the city’s key public spaces. Bierut’s logo calls attention
to the fact that Columbus Circle is the only circle in the grid that is Manhattan, creating
letterforms from arcs inscribed in square blocks. The letterforms can be filled with bespoke
treatments that correspond directly with the art on view in the museum. The museum’s
mission: break down the boundaries that separate art, craft and design.
http://www.madmuseum.org/
TAKE FIVE! CAREER TIPS
FROM THE CREATIVE GROUP:
IN THE KNOW
“Do your homework” is advice that many job seekers are
taking to heart, a new survey from The Creative Group suggests. More than two-thirds (68
percent) of advertising and marketing executives polled said job candidates are more informed
about their organization compared to five years ago. If you’re looking for a job, it pays
to learn as much as possible about your potential employer. Following are five tips to help you
do so:
1. Let your fingers do the walking. Search online for information about the
company. When reviewing the firm’s web site, check out its pressroom, which may contain
news of recent account wins and other business happenings.
2. Look beyond the basics. A firm’s website is a smart place to
gather information, but also check trade publications, competitor websites and local business
journals for news about the challenges and opportunities facing the company and the industry.
3. Ask and you may receive. If you’re applying for a print design
position, try to get copies of collateral the firm has produced. Often, the company’s receptionist
will be happy to send the materials to you.
4. Research the people and the place. Learn about the firm’s executives
online. Business profiles can give you as sense of the qualities senior management most values in
employees.
5. Check in with your network. Ask your colleagues, friends and others within
your network for information bout the prospective employer. They may be able to provide insights into
the firm’s culture and values.
The Creative Group is a specialized staffing service placing creative, advertising, marketing
and web professionals on a project basis. Find more information at
www.creativegroup.com.
MORE GRAPHIC DESIGN NEWS
Reason To Buy
Sometimes a client’s brand just doesn’t reflect what the company is really about. When
USFI Marketing Communications undertook a total rebranding of BuyEfficient, a web-based purchasing
consortium, they discovered that the brand failed to present a compelling reason to work with
BuyEfficient. All better now. The Dallas TX agency re-presented the company with a brand true to its
mission — making purchasing efficient for hotel owners and operators. “A new logo
and identity package, a new website that leverages the presenting skills of BuyEfficient’s CEO,
and a new way of talking about what BuyEfficient does have all come together to express the vitality,
continuing innovation and service commitment of the company,” says Steve Ealy, Creative
Director of USFI. In addition to Ealy, creative credits go to art directors Eric Redmond and Derek
Crabtree, designer Josh Boulden, and copywriter Joe Morrison.
http://www.usfi.com
Cool Partnership
When Dairy Queen wanted to be sure that products licensing their brand were as cool as their famous
treats, they partnered with Minneapolis-based design agency HartungKemp. “A shoddy t-shirt
design can extend or extinguish the magic of a brand,” says Jill Anderson, senior marketing
manager of national advertising and promotions for Dairy Queen. She notes that the “The Story
Guide,” a standards manual for licensing partners, will help ensure that DQ-licensed products
“will add to the value of this historic brand that so many people cherish.” “Everyone
has his or her favorite DQ treat,” adds Mary Kemp. “We created licensing guidelines that
pay tribute to generations of tasty personal memories, as well as to where DQ is taking its brand
tomorrow.”
http://www.hartungkemp.com
Dog’s Best Friend
After creating Doki, Discovery Kids’ popular and friendly dog character, Steinbranding
Design Studios was asked to develop an additional character for the channel to interact with child
viewers and Doki during programming breaks. The Steinbranding’s Laboratoon team
conceived Mundi as a referent for children, encouraging them to learn, have fun and make her
their own. Mundi’s focus is on learning how things work, what they are made of, and what
they are used for.
http://www.steinbranding.com
Graph Expo Coming
Creative service professionals can gain new insights on how to add value to client projects through
the Graph Expo Seminar Program, to be held late October during Graph Expo 2008. More than 70
educational sessions, as well as hands-on computer labs featuring the latest software solutions, are
planned to provide creative professionals with real lessons of immediate use back in the office.
“Graph Expo’s value to attendees lies in the opportunity it provides to not only evaluate
the latest graphic communications technology first-hand on the show floor, but also to learn in our
many educational sessions how to apply them for greatest marketing response for their
clients,” says Ralph Nappi, president of the Graphic Arts Show Company. The
place: McCormick Center in Chicago.
http://www.graphexpo.com.
First Lady Festivities
First Lady Laura Bush recently hosted a reception at the White House for the winners and finalists
of the 2008 National Design Awards. Launched in 2000 as an official project of the White House
Millennium Council, the Awards celebrate American design across a variety of disciplines.
“Your creativity and vision has revolutionized the way Americans live. And it’s
improving the lives of men, women and children worldwide,” Mrs. Bush told the recipients.
The winners will be honored formally at a gala dinner at Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum,
on October 23. Graphic designers Scott Stowell and Michael Bierut are among the honorees.
http://nationaldesignawards.org
PICTUREHOUSE PREREGISTRATION
Stock imagery buyers are invited to meet image suppliers from around the globe in New York
on October 29th. The 8th Annual Picturehouse New York event joins together creative professionals
with more than a hundred image suppliers in an intimate setting. This year’s event moves to
the prestigious Altman Building in New York’s Chelsea District. Entry is free to professional
stock imagery buyers and researchers, and there are lots of refreshments and giveaways, but
preregistration is required.
http://www.picturehouse-us.com/newyork.
GRAPHIC EVENTS
September 10-12. Boston MA. The 3rd Annual Print Buyers Conference at the Sheraton
Boston Hotel is a two full conference with more than 20 educational sessions, as well as 55
exhibit boots and a new full day Print Buyer Boot Camp. Industry expert Margie Dana is the
organizer.
http://www.bostonprintbuyers.com
September 11-October 24: New York NY. AIGA Design for Democracy presents a selection
of posters at the AIGA National Gallery. Supported by Yupo and Declare Yourself, the goal is
voter awareness and expanded participation.
http://www.aiga.org/design-for-democracy
September 11-November 26: New York NY. Highlights from the AIGA 50 Books/50 Covers
competition are on display at the AIGA National Design Center.
http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/5050-recent
September 13: Santa Barbara CA. Learn how to achieve consistent color printing and end the
specter of unpredictability in your color workflow; Santa Barbara City College hosts this half-day
workshop.
http://www.sbc.edu
September 16: New York NY. The ins and outs of Adobe Camera Raw at Get Cookin’
with Camera Raw!, a free seminar at Noble Desktop.
http://www.nobledesktop.com/seminar-camera-raw-adc.html
September 17: New York NY. Learn to integrate green design and sustainable products into
your workflow at the NY Designs Green Forum. Seminar highlights practical steps and features
successful design professionals and business leaders.
http://www.NYDesigns.org/greenforum.html
September 17-18: Seattle WA. Dave Norton of Stone Mantel leads a two-day seminar,
Creating Meaningful Brand Experiences and Producing Customer Happiness. Building brands
with emphasis on cultural and individual experience is at the fore.
http://www.DMI.org
September 18: New York NY. The Fifth Annual AIGA Design Legends Gala honors the
legends at Chelsea Piers. Gail Anderson, Clement Mok, and LeRoy Winbush are this
year’s AIGA Medalists.
http://www.aiga.org/events-gala
September 23-25: Minneapolis MN. The Sustainable Forest Initiative holds its 13th Annual
Conference, “From Forest to Store Shelf.” Print and packaging professionals are
joined by a diverse panel from SFI’s Grassroots network to discuss certification and
creating market demand.
http://www.aboutsfi.org/sfiAnnConf08.cfm
September 24: East Lansing MI. Influential designer Jan Wilker, co-founder of karlssonwilker
design studio, brings his often satirical twist on typography, publication design, and information
graphics to a lecture at Michigan State University.
http://www.detroit.aiga.org/events/2008/09/21479957
September 24-November 29: Various Cities. The popular Color Control Freak Seminar,
sponsored by Pantone, HP, EIZO and X-Rite, makes its annual trip through the country.
http://www.xrite.com/colorcontrol08
September 26: New York NY. The Center for Book Arts in New York presents Illustrated Fine
Printing: Whittington and Matrix in America, an exhibition of work from American and European
artists published in the highly regarded publication Matrix.
http://www.centerforbookarts.org
September 26: Denver CO. The Art Directors Club Awards Show annual banquet promises to be
bigger and better than ever, and is held once again at the historic Brown Palace.
http://www.adcd.com
October 1: Phoenix AZ. Designers who face institutional obligations to investors will discuss
political, economic, social and environmental quandaries at Polar Opposites, the 2008 Industrial
Designers Society of America National Conference.
http://www.idsa.org/polaropposites
October 3-5. San Francisco. The In-HOWse Designer Conference, business event for inhouse
design managers sponsored by HOW Magazine.
http://www.inhowseconference.com/GeneralMenu/
October 4-7: Savannah GA. The 38th Annual University & College Designers Association
Conference offers this year 30 sessions, a show of award winning work, and lots of UCDA networking
events.
http://ucda.com/conference.lasso
October 5-8: Ogunquit, ME. The 33rd Annual Design Management Conference focuses on the
synergy of traditional design and branding approaches with new tools, techniques, and influences.
http://www.dmi.org
October 16-17. Denver CO. A new DMI seminar addressing fundamental issues in sustainable
design. Led by Adam Richardson and Sara Todd of frog design, who are making their own company, as
well as their clients, greener.
http://www.dmi.org
October 16: New York NY. Opposites Attract, featuring Margo Chase and Carin Goldberg. Part
of a series about accomplished designers whose career paths are completely opposite. Organized
by Armin Vit and Bryony Gomez-Palacio of UnderConsideration.
http://www.adcglobal.org
October 16-22: Philadelphia PA. DesignPhiladelphia showcases a multidisciplinary exhibit.
Running in conjunction with National Design Week, thepublic display aims to focus on the depth
of the visionary work.
http://www.designphiladelphia.org/
October 23-24: New York NY. GAIN is an AIGA conference that brings together business
and design leaders from a variety of industries. Held at the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan, the
focus is on ideas about brand value and building stronger business practices.
http://gainconference2008.aiga.org
October 26-29: Chicago IL. Graph Expo is the most comprehensive graphic communications
exhibition and conference in the Americas. See the largest array of equipment and services for
digital prepublishing, prepress, printing, digital output, wide format imaging, bindery, package
printing and converting, mailing, fulfillment, creative services.
http://www.gasc.org
October 26. Chicago IL. The Premier Print Awards, symbolized by the Benjamin Franklin
“Benny” trophy and presented by PIA/GATF, will be handed out at the Chicago
Marriott on the Magnificent Mile. All winners and their entries are listed at...
http://www.gain.net
October 29: New York NY. Keep current on the stock imagery industry at the 8th Annual
Picturehouse New York event. Held in the appealing Altman Building, the event brings together
over a hundred image suppliers, including 20 first-time exhibitors.
http://www.picturehouse-us.com/newyork
TECHNOLOGY UPDATE: PANTONE GOEBRIDGE COATED
Last Fall, Pantone introduced the Pantone Goe System, the first completely new color
inspiration and specification system for the graphic arts industry since the Pantone Matching
System was launched back in 1962. The Goe System brought 2,058 new Pantone colors to market.
Now, to extend that system, the company has added a related product: Pantone GoeBridge. This
lets creatives accurately visualize and evaluate how the more than 2,000 solid colors in the Goe
System will reproduce in CMYK on coated paper. By providing conversion formulas for CMYK, sRGB
and HTML in a single guide, GoeBridge empowers designers to easily and quickly repurpose projects
for multiple color spaces. The coated guide is produced in a sustainable manner to meet Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC) standards, and it is also printed using ISO-certified inks.
http://www.pantone.com/goe
QUOTES OF THE MONTH: MAINTAIN FOCUS
Finding the next paying project is always on the minds of freelance creative professionals and this
is particularly true during slow economic periods. But a recession need not mean lean times for
creatives — in fact, it can be a great time to spruce up your portfolio or website and aggressively
market your services. It may seem counterintuitive but ramping up your own marketing efforts during
slow economic periods can pay big dividends. According to a recent report by the American Marketing
Association, one of the keys to weathering an economic slump is to maintain focused marketing and
brand-building efforts, not reduce them. It’s a great opportunity to let clients, and potential clients,
know how you can help them when they need it most.
Adam Brotman, SVP of Corbis.com and SnapVillage.com
http://www.snapvillage.com
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