pantone fall 2014 report

Color is often determined by common fashion trends. The 2014 report is now out and available for all your design needs. I’m gunna go throw some confetti, drink a ton of coffee, and study it like a motherboarding text book.

dry ink designs

Well, it’s officially out – the Pantone Fall 2014 report!

 

Click here for the full report!

 

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A Must Have Resource: Louder Than Words

Screenshot from http://ogilvyaction.com/louderthanwords

Recently I was looking up interesting design and business marketing books on my iBooks app. I came across this little gem…and it became a cave of wonders (yes, that was a blatant Aladdin reference…don’t judge me I’m a 90’s kid). It was a campaign project produced by OgilvyAction that showcased some of the best of the best in “new approaches to the art of creating purchase behavior.” For a free iBook I was beyond impressed and  enjoyed every case study they threw at me. This book gives excellent out of the box insight for everything from using social media to dust (literally…like sand, dust, and dirt) to help change the purchasing behavior of a localized area…and in some cases some very difficult to reach cultural groups. Hats off to OgilvyAction for their collection of the best of the best, and I really hope you enjoy this free resource as much as I have. To read Louder Than Words please click here.

Best iPad Apps for Designers: A Link List

A bunch of great resources I found while perusing the internet! Follow the links below for some great Apps for Designers (I didn’t label them …I got a little lazy…I regret nothing).

 

http://www.creativebloq.com/web-design-tips/mobile-apps/best-ipad-apps-1233629

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/mobile-computing/tablets/the-best-creative-apps-and-accessories-for-ipad-and-iphone-1154099

http://spyrestudios.com/30-ipad-apps-for-designers-developers-and-creative-types/

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2362577,00.asp

 

 

Priorities…I’m not so sure we have them…

Found this image going viral on Facebook. Makes one wonder what our priorities really are…and where I may or may not want to invest for my retirement. Then again there isn’t much information to say what all this really means other than to say we use more ink than we do human blood…which may be a good thing. Maybe it’s a good thing that blood doesn’t cost so much? What do you think? Are we as human beings be being taken for granted by the cost of ink? Again I don’t know the context or the research behind this infographic…but it certainly gets you thinking.

Found on http://pics.kuvaton.com/kuvei/most_expensive_liquid.jpg#

Design Resources: 11 Things I Learned About Portfolios

Having been through a few interview processes and read quite a bit of information (aka case study upon case study) about Portfolios. Because I’m a designer, and a starving artists (much like yourselves), I’ve decided to be nice and tell you my findings from my reasearch.  There are 11 things I learned about job/ internship seeking:

 

1.  The process of applying: e-mail first, call second, and wait for final contact last. Case studies show that potential employers expect and are more comfortable with this process. Also, never send an empty e-mail…links to online work or a PDF of a teaser portfolio should be included.
2.  Most people don’t use print versions of portfolios unless getting face time with the potential employer. However, it is important you have a printed version that varies slightly from any digital or online portfolio.
3. Make portfolios, short, sweet, simple and flexible (adaptable). Nothing worse than a long winded, crazy unorganized, hard to change/update portfolio.
4. Let the work speak, not the cover or your mouth (too much). Show THEN tell.
5. Articulate concisely and well. Also known as: Learn when to shut up. Say only what you need to.
6. Keep the work current. Don’t have ancient projects in you portfolio. Remember, a portfolio is never perfect or complete.
7.  3 portfolio types: PDF, Online, and Printed. Have each with the same style, but slightly different content.
8. Don’t send files over 10MB to potential employers. Annoying.
9. Portfolio’s should be personal, but not too personal. Don’t tell your life story, and don’t over decorate. It’s not a scrap book of your life. It’s the content of your career.
10. Keep things organized. Loose leaf portfolio papers or bound books doesn’t matter, as long as it’s neat.
11. 8-10 is a solid number of projects to show. Usually keep 8 in online and digital, and 10 (certainly no more than 12 projects) in printed versions.

For more information and resources check out underconsideration.com for more case studies and insights.

Design Resource: The Noun Project

Design Resource: The Noun Project

The noun project was designed to make simple symbols as representation for everyday objects. Free high quality symbols for the use of designers any where any time. You can contribute your own designs, just use their symbols, or buy their merchandise. For more information about this, ever useful site click here. 

Design Inspiration: Products I Love

So here are a series of products I love for either their design aesthetics, or how clever they are. (If anyone can tell me how to make slideshows again I’d really appreciate it because this whole gallery thing is just ridiculous!)

Yes it’s a real product

Black and White

Classy.

Too true.

Indeed.

The italic poster. Yes.

Wants them all!

Pretty neat.

Peel Wall Light

Coolest Coffee Mug Ever!

For all my needs whilst camping.

Choose your color Jellyfish Light.

Yes I will.

Keeps your hands warm.