Monthly Archives: October 2013

Inspiration From Anywhere…

Reading the anecdotes from each of the designers was very entertaining. Each provided different insight into what it takes to be a good designer. The biggest theme that thread through the few I read was that a good designer is … Continue reading

Posted in Seventy-nine Short Essays On Design | 1 Comment

Short Essays on Design

How to Become Famous Paul Rand may not be a household name outside of the design industry, but his work definitely is. To me that seems to be the deciding factor of how well-known a designer is. Even if an … Continue reading

Posted in Seventy-nine Short Essays On Design | 6 Comments

Lifestyles of the Hey I Kinda Sorta Know Who You Are

Fame is relative. When I was reading the article about fame, the first thing that popped into my mind was this scene from Parks and Recreation where Ron Swanson, a manly-man woodworker who doesn’t get excited about most things, turns … Continue reading

Posted in Seventy-nine Short Essays On Design | 1 Comment

I Love ITC Garamond! (Richardson)

Just kidding. I don’t. But I don’t see what the big fuss is about. ITC Garamond isn’t worthy of all the shade that Michael Bierut is throwing towards it. HOWEVER. I understand the mentality of being put off by poor … Continue reading

Posted in Seventy-nine Short Essays On Design | 3 Comments

79 Different Fonts?

Michael Bierut is intentional (and ironic in some cases) in his choice of fonts for each essay. While I won’t pretend to have figured out the typographic connection for each one, I’m certain of two: Helvetica in “Mr. Vignelli’s Map,” … Continue reading

Posted in Seventy-nine Short Essays On Design | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Short stories on Design

I Hate ITC Garamond   “ITC Garamond looks like a typeface with bell bottoms. All the proportions are wrong – when it bends down, you can see its butt cheeks.” ——Erik Spiekermann Since I am really into typography, I decided … Continue reading

Posted in Seventy-nine Short Essays On Design | 1 Comment

I Hate Zapfino, Papayrus, Imp..

Of course the “I Hate ITC Garamond” caught my eye as the first short essay I should read because I too hate fonts. Not like saying I casually hate things, but I really do have a strong underlying hatred towards … Continue reading

Posted in Seventy-nine Short Essays On Design | 4 Comments

I love competition

For anyone who says that not everything is a competition…they are wrong.  Once a design is public, it subject to waves of critique and judgement.  This kind of critique from peers and outsiders alike really drives an individual (at least … Continue reading

Posted in Seventy-nine Short Essays On Design | 2 Comments

Maps. Fonts. Anxiety. Plagiarism.

Mr. Vignelli’s Map I love maps. I think they are one of the most intriguing ways for information to be displayed. Maps have been used to show such a variation of facts that range from topics such as population demographics … Continue reading

Posted in Seventy-nine Short Essays On Design | 17 Comments

It’s nice to be important, but it’s important to be nice

I am not really sure what to say about this eclectic compilation of random thoughts and advice. Michael Bierut is obviously an intelligent man and successful designer, and I admire his writing skills. However, I have yet to see a … Continue reading

Posted in Seventy-nine Short Essays On Design | Comments Off on It’s nice to be important, but it’s important to be nice