I know I’m late but I just saw this Justin Timberlake video and was floored by the sleek use of a simple visual device: The audio waveform in black space. This literally gives you an idea of what the song looks and feels like and it managed to keep my attention all the way up to that end part.
The thought (or maybe fantasy) of opening your own studio has probably crossed your mind a time or two. Maybe you’ve even bitten the bullet like my friends and I actually followed through on that fantasy. If so then you’ve probably experienced what I call “artists’ brain freeze” when you try to wrap your head around some of those business advice books. This book, however, has the benefit of being both informative and inspirational. It doesn’t scrimp on the fact based bullet points about what it takes to dominate in your field as a small business. But through honest case studies it shows that even though it’s hard work to elevate your practice above the rest, it’s very possible.
So even though it doesn’t specifically cover any design-related businesses in it’s case studies, the fact that I was actually able to read it , digest it and leave it feeling smarter than I did when I first cracked it open says volumes for Mrs. Fenn’s writing skills.
Why a Designer should read it:
1. Obviously this book has more relevance to Designers who own/run their own firms or freelancers. However, I believe that any strategy for business success is a vital addition to the arsenal of value-added services any good designer can offer their clients.
Just found this magazine’s site while perusing Inc.com’s best 30 under 30 list.
In a media landscape saturated with all that’s bad in the world, it’s refreshing to find an outlet that’s out to project the Good News.
I especially liked this piece of motion graphics on the U.N. Millenium Declaration. Subtle and informative, played over an African track with voice over by former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, this piece underscores the theme of the magazine and web site; as the site itself says, it’s “media for people who give a damn.”
I was having lunch with the wife yesterday at a local bakery and this little item caught my eye. It’s for a local home accessories store called @home.
Taking a cue from Elbow Room and their Design around Calgary series, I thought it was worth giving props for a bit of local Savannah design work. (Or at least design work done for a local Savannah company.)
@home’s tag line evidently is “Vintage General” and I think the piece captures that aesthetic nicely by combining the vintage patterns with modern sans serif fonts. What I like about it also is it’s simplicity. I think it’s a perfect branding item since it tells me the style of the items they carry as well as all the pertinent location and store hours info without shouting it at me.
I’m not sure who designed it but kudos to whoever you are for proving that good design is just as good as an attention getter as big yellow starbursts, even at the local level.
