resizeMyBrowser is a handy little tool for interactive media designers and developers. It allows you to resize your browser to standard sizes. Fantastic. Check it out.
LSU: The Importance of Alignment
3 Jun
Well hello world! I’ve been busy, but I’m back!
One of the easiest concepts in design is what I call LSU. This stands for ‘Line Shit Up’. This is one basic concept that anyone can use to improve a layout. In more formal terms, this would be called ‘designing to a grid’ or simply ‘alignment’. Designing to a grid is an important staple in all areas of design. Whether you are designing a webpage, packaging, or basic business cards.
Alignment can be a powerful tool. Not only does aligning your elements add stability to your design, but it also allows you to structure a layout in a way that will lead the viewers eye so they see the design the way you want it to be seen. Additionally, misalignment can be an excellent way to bring special attention to a specific element by creating tension.
Things Organized Neatly is a blog dedicated to beautiful alignment. They feature photos everyday objects with beautiful alignment! Ta DA! Design!
I hope you enjoyed today’s post! Thanks for reading!
Amy
Bill
24 AprFor the past several years I have had the privilege of being employed by Bill Berry at Bill’s Art Store in Uptown Oxford, Ohio. It is with deepest regrets that I tell the art world that he passed away last quite unexpectedly two weeks ago. We really have lost an amazing man, and an amazing artist.
I can remember visiting Miami and visiting Bill’s Art Store for the first time. As my parents and I left, I remember telling them that someday I was going to work there. Sure enough, after a semester of stopping in to the store frequently to chat or ask questions, Bill called my up and offered me a job. I graciously accepted.
The store was small, and the rules for working there were simple.
1. Use common sense. Don’t leave anything dangerous out.
2. Don’t be an asshole. (really)
3. Solve the problem the customer came in with. Bill figured that upselling only annoyed people. We of course wanted to make a profit, but we valued our customers much more than the dollar amount at the end of the day.
4. Don’t be late. But if you are, no more than 10 minutes.
I will carry these principles with me always. I will always remember the type of friend, boss, and mentor Bill was to me. I can only carry on his lessons and honor his memory. I will miss my mentor. I loved him a great deal and will never forget him.
See you in a few weeks.
21 AprMy apologies all. I have had a very rough few weeks. My mentor died recently and I have been having a bit of a hard time with it.
School will be over in a few weeks and I’ve got lots of back-blogging to do. See you then.
The Philadelphia History Museum | Logo Design Love
7 AprAt the moment, I am doing research on flexible identities. I was planning on posting on this later today, but I simply cannot wait!
I came across this logo design for the Philadelphia History Museum.
It is simple, clean, and conceptual. This article from Logo Design Love explains his process and the concept behind the logo.
Sorry All!
27 MarI’m afraid I’ve been quite sick this weekend and have been unable to update. This also means I am going to have to work very hard in the next few days to get some work done. I didn’t get as much work done as I’d have liked this weekend. So, until probably Wednesday, I bid you farewell.
Updated Tuesday evening:
Turns out it is strep throat. I’ve got lots bookmarked that I am eager to share, but I simply do not have the energy in my current state. Lots of posts when I am well!
Updated Friday morning:
I posted up a link to my portfolio, and made a new page for the gallery that will eventually go there. It is completely unorganized at the moment (no portfolio on the contact page, separate pdfs for my resume/portfolio, etc). I intend to clean it up soon! That may be all for today. I’m still under the weather unfortunately.
Updated Sunday morning:
Hello all! I’m feeling much better, and I’ve been incredibly productive this weekend so far. I will have tons of posts concerning my current projects soon. I’ve been on a roll and don’t want to drop the ball, so sorry blog, a few more days until actual posts!
Typographic World Map
23 MarI did a google search to find a basic world map for a presentation I’m giving tomorrow. I found this little gem!
Please check out the artist vladstudio on deviantART.
How can designers support relief efforts in Japan? — AIGA | the professional association for design
22 MarI don’t have a lot of extra time today, so no time to go out and find fun goodies. On a more somber note, I came across this article a few days ago.
This article was posted on March 18th on the AIGA website.
How can designers support relief efforts in Japan? — AIGA | the professional association for design
On behalf of all our members, AIGA reached out with support, sympathy and an offer to help our Japanese colleagues in the aftermath of last week’s disastrous tsunami. Through Leimei Julia Chiu, executive director of the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization (JIDPO) and president elect of Icograda—as well as Mitsuo Katsui, president of the Japan Graphic Designers Association (JAGDA), our Japanese equivalent—we communicated our concern for the well-being of all Japanese citizens and specifically our fellow designers.
These organizations are currently very much focused on supporting their members and local communities, as well as finding ways to solicit information on products and services from their own designers and manufacturers that could be applied to improving life in transitional shelters, which may eventually become a worldwide resource.
In the meantime, Chiu has suggested that AIGA and its members might be able to help by sharing advice from similar experiences. As such, AIGA is sharing our experience following Hurricane Katrina with our “Leave No Designer Behind” initiative and have offered any help we can. Clearly, at the moment they are simply trying to determine the scope of the disaster and how design can help solve human, cultural, economic and environmental challenges.
In the months leading up to the 2011 International Design Alliance (IDA) Congress in Taipei this October, Chiu is seeking case studies from a range of design disciplines—industrial and product design; communication and information design; environmental/landscape, interior design and architecture—on how design solutions can be applied to natural calamities and how communities can rebuild their lives afterward. Japan alone can provide useful examples from past experiences with natural disasters (Kobe, Niigata) as well as the ways in which improvised solutions are being developed to deal with both the current impact of the Sendai earthquake and tsunami and the long-term reconstruction.
Although we know designers want to help, it may take some time and investigation to realize where our help is most needed. As we become aware of specific requests for American designers to help out, we will provide an alert here on aiga.org and post it to all of our communication channels. Until that time, we stand in solidarity with the Japanese community—and everyone affected by the disaster in Japan—and we encourage designers to volunteer or contribute directly with humanitarian organizations such as the Red Cross. (Google Crisis Response provides additional resources.)
If you know of a design case study addressing similar disaster relief efforts that you think would be helpful, please share your links and stories
here—they will be collected and shared with our colleagues in Japan and around the world.
DIY Wooden Wax Seal
20 MarThis looks like a really fun idea! Hmmmmm this has got me thinking about future fun projects!
Click on the photo to see the tutorial.
bakerae.wordpress.com 
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