Sustainable Packaging Ideas

For articles addressing sustainable packaging, check out Dynamic Graphics

Eco Awareness

Back in the mid 1980's, I was living in Minneapolis and soy-based inks were just coming into mainstreamed use, I wanted to begin producing ALL my designs on recycled papers using soy-based inks. This was in era of embellishments, foil stamping, great new papers....the age of excess, the 1980's. I did a bit of graphic work which involved these fancy 'new' sustainable printing techiniques....however, they were somewhat more expensive [@ that time] than regular printing/production techniques.

Well, I kept my eye on this recycling/sustainable phenomenon and moved to Beijing, China. Here all people wanted was to prosper....little regard for the environment. Sadly, this is why I moved out of Beijing. It is a huge issue facing China and the world. And when you watch the next-mentioned video, you will understand why.

Fast forward to 2007, I came across The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard. Please look at her video and blog at The Story of Stuff

We as designers have the ability and duty to 'design' packaging, advertising and all the supporting collateral to 'guide' the public in understanding the sustainable issue. It is critical we designers use our clout to make the necessary changes.

Karen's Work

Karen's Work

Charlene's Work

Charlene's Work

Simone's Work

Simone

Call Pod

When you just have too many things to plug in....Call Pod

True to Type

Have a peek @ True to Type from Design Within Reach [another worthy newsletter on design]. Follow the links embedded within the newsletter, there are lots of great leads here.

Business Card Ideas

Your own business cards [and full identity/branding/stationary are something you will be designing [during this module or in the near future]. Have a peek at these examples from the Dec. 2007 issue of How magazine.

Hey Good Lookin: How magazine’s picks of delightful business card designs.

Across the Universe

Here's a film which needs your attention Across the Universe!

In my humble opinion, this film is as significant as The Wizard of Oz. The entire movie moves! It's a simple story done in such artistry with a whole lot of fun mixed in. I feel it needs to be seen time and time again as it is so rich in images, movement, music, content and theme!

Also, did you know director Julie Taymor was a MacArthur Genuis Award recipient in 1991? Go see the movie and find out why.

TED: Technology, Education & Design

TED is a beautifully designed site housing short [usually 20 minute-long videos] of speeches given at the TED conference. I have created a column, on the right, to index some of my favorites. Here are a few, I'm watching these days.

Of course I think all these are great. If you only have 15 minutes, watch them in the order I list here.

Stefan Sagmeister: Yes, design can make you happy

David Pogue: Simplicity Sells

Paul Bennett: Design is in the details

Experience Design

For sometime I have studied experience design. When I find others who understand I like to share. Imaginary Force is one company that gets it.

Experience design is storytelling incorporating anything that contributes to that overall experience. Think Cirque du Soleil. That's experience design.

When applied to electronic media, it can mean: audio, visual, graphics, animation or any combination there of. Have a peek at Imaginary Force's experience design project for Airbus. Look closely at all the layers of technology being presented not only within the project itself....but also how the project is presented and the technology applied.

Idea Workout

Innovation Network
Scroll your mouse over the images to energize your ideas.

Design Life Now: at Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston

On Thursday, September 27 @ 6:30pm

AIGA Boston and the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston invite you to the opening event of Design Life Now, the inaugural touring exhibition of the Smithsonian Institution/Cooper-Hewitt's National Design Triennial. Be among the first to see the most important design show of the season, before it officially opens to the public.

Explore what "Design Life Now" means today with Julie Lasky, editor-in-chief of I.D. Magazine, and two of the Triennial's designers J. Meejin Yoon and Joshua Davis. Yoon and Davis are young, innovative, and engaged in working across and between design disciplines. From architecture and concept clothing to web design and rock posters, find out why their work is significant in this exhibition and why this exhibition is significant to them.

Admission:
$15 general admission
$8 AIGA Members
Gallery admission is included.

Sign up now. Seating is limited.

Register at ICA Boston or call 617-478-3103
(call for AIGA member discount)

Wise Women Design

Wise-Women: an online community and network dedicated to supporting women web designers, developers, and programmers

Environmental Graphic Design

Investigate The Society of Environmental Design
Environmental Graphic Design embraces many design disciplines including graphic, architectural, interior, landscape, and industrial design, all concerned with the visual aspects of wayfinding, communicating identity and information, and shaping the idea of place.

Some common examples of work by EGD practitioners include wayfinding systems, architectural graphics, signage, exhibit design, identity graphics, civic design, pictogram design, retail and store design, mapping and themed environments.

Have a look at the:
2007 Design Awards
and more examples, by poking around the site. You can also look @ the Communication Arts magazines, check the table of contents under Exhibition. These have loads of ideas and applications.

Design Challenge:
Create an environmental design to be applied to the windows of CDIA’s ‘new building [across the street]. Your designs might include: a typographical approach, involve photography or perhaps involve illustration. For example let’s say we wanted you to promote ‘design @ CDIA’. What images would you use? How will you approach the design of this? Which elements of art will you apply to your design?

Be open to ideas.
At the onset, there are no boundaries.
Think of what overall idea [about the college or design], you desire to convey.

More Interesting Sites

Every page of Stephanie Levy's gallery is a study in one color scheme. She uses ordinary household scenes to make striking visuals. Great place for some inspiration.

See how one artist used her art to solve some other health issues. Our Lady of Weight Loss: using art to bring change.

One of my favorite mixed media artists Sarah Fishburn: look here for ideas and to see someone whose followed their heart's desire.

When you need a quote, visit the oldest quotation site on the Web, established 1994. We have over 26,000 quotations online from over 3,100 authors, and more are added daily. It is not the prettiest site...in fact I don't think they have changed their look since they began. However, functional when you're dying to find that one quote.

Before & After and InDesign Secrets

Before and After Magazine assists you in finding out how to design cool stuff.

InDesign Secrets is an independent resource for all things InDesign

Moo Printing

Moo Designs they print nice things [with your pics or theirs!]

Marian Bantjes

I came across Marian Bantjes, again, and I feel it's worth sharing her work. I have her listed, on the right column, under typography. She's just a fabulous designer! Have a peek at what she's up to.

More sites of interest

My Good Deed Org Changing the World. One Good Deed at a Time. Their mission is simple: to encourage people everywhere to set aside time every September 11th to perform good deeds of their choice to help others in need. In this way, they hope to keep alive forever, in our memories and actions, the spirit of giving and selfless service that unified our nation following the terrorist attacks.

Rhodopsin is the protein in the rod cells of the retina that converts light into electrochemical signals for the brain to interpret.

Rhodopsin Productions Ltd. is a small Canadian production company specializing in documentaries and dance films by director Daniel Conrad. This is a mix of dance, film and design.

If you plan to be in San Francisco in October and might be able to get your boss to cover this Voices that Matter Conference this looks like a good one.

What I found interesting is they claim every technology discussion at this event will target designers first, developers second. That means no arcane technical acronyms but lots and lots of inspirational visuals. The focus will be on the design options presented by technology and the impact of those choices on design decisions.

Do listen to the interviews, on the opening page. These folks have some great concepts and thoughts. However, I did find the volume of some of these were challenging.

America Public Media

Word for Word
These downloadable programs are fabulous, I highly recommend a listen and look thru the archives for more programs.
China's growing environmental challenges

The Brain on the Stand

How to do business in the 'flat world'

Interesting Links

Charles and Ray Eames' The Power of Ten
David Hochbaum, has some interesting collage ideas
Jeffery Robert does amazing things with crayons

Portfolio Presentation: Step Two

Portfolio Presentation: Step Two
As I told you, portfolios are ALWAYS in process! You should be continuously adding, tweaking, improving upon your portfolio-EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE A JOB!

It has been said, by the professionals, you should tailor your portfolio contents to fit the needs of each prospective employer and each job interview. This means that you must carefully research each firm in advance to determine what kind of editing might be necessary AND what types of jobs you desire. Those who desire to design logos, should have logos in their portfolio. Those designers who want to create publications, booklets, catalogs should have examples of these in their portfolio. You get where I am going with this, no?

This whole Portfolio Presentation Session is about:
1. seeing what you want to have in your portfolio
2. filling in the missing gaps between what you have and what you want.
3. deciding how you want to present your portfolio

So, we will be exploring ideas and designing NEW work.

To land a hands-on creative job, you must have an outstanding portfolio that demonstrates the quality of your thinking as well as your form-giving abilities. Most designers need two versions—a physical one that can be carried around and a website.

Please read thru this article from March/April 2006 issue of Step In Design on Portfolio Tips

Be thinking about your designs and we will continue to discuss possibilities and designing new work.

Portfolio Presentation: Step One

Portfolio Presentation Step One:
One of the first exercises I suggest, to those building their portfolios, is to see what is out there.

From Communication Arts Magazine’s online creative hotlist comes links to portfolios galore.

You can search by: location, category and experience.

Location
See what MA has in the way of talent. Then skip around and observe the differences [or similarities] in portfolios from designers on the West Coast, Midwest, South, Mountain Area, Canada and the International Listings.

Category
If you hunt via category you can select by category and industry. For example: Design in Education OR art/Creative Direction in Marketing/Communication. You get the picture of all the combinations. If you poke around and observe the portfolios out there, you can get an idea of what you might want to include in your portfolio and see how to present your work.

Experience
When you search by experience view the junior and senior levels to compare and contrast the differences in the types of pieces in these portfolios.

Take time to think about:
What is in each of these portfolios?
How the pieces are arranged?
How is the work presented?
What information about the artist AND about the work itself is included?

Consistency
Consistency in your presentation is important. Whatever method you choose to use in your portfolio is a personal choice, just BE CONSISTENT in how you are presenting.

RIA=Rich Internet Applications

For those interested in learning more about Rich Internet Applications RIAs, Sun Technologies is bringing a FREE seminar to Boston Sept. 11 and 12th. Follow the link, learn more! For those students moving onto the Web Design portion of this program, it seems to me, this would be a great launching point.

Photo Stamps: Real Postage, Really You

Photo Stamps: Real Postage, Really You. Offically authorized byt he US Postal Service. You can create your very own photo stamps. Just think of the designs you could put onto your stamps! In fact, you can even preview your own images on the stamp design. 20 customed designed stamps for just under $17.

Your Job: How Satisfied Are You?

Your Job: How Satisfied Are You? What do employees say are their top five 'very important' aspects of job satisfaction? How does this list differ from what employers predict and how might this difference contribute to employee dissatisfaction?

If you are ready to identify a more satisfying place to work, check out to latest Beantown Web article and follow the four-step JADE plan to increase job satisfaction:

1. Join a professional network
2. Attend networking functions
3. Develop your professional contacts
4. Enlist your network to help you find a more satisfying job

TED: Technology, Entertainment, Design

TED: Technology, Entertainment, Design These REALLY are ideas worth spreading. Join the membership, it is guarenteed to spark your imagination!

100 Years of Illustration

100 Years of Illustration! Just look at what this blog contains. I have also listed it in the column to the right. Excellent source.

New Typography Site

I Love Typography has just been linked to the right column. Have a peek at what ALL is happening at this site.

Propoganda 3: Political Posters

Propoganda 3: Political Posters, Traveling around the World, Opens in San Francisco 2007 then travels to Visual Collaborative, Center for Independent Artist, Minneapolis 2007 check them out Run the slide show and get some inspiration for your next poster designs.

Rhythm & Creative People

When you can, listen to this podcast #71 on Rhythms and creative people.
He talks about being:
1. Beware of just-in-time-creating-keeping your ideas ALL IDEAS in some record keeping system. He suggests: Devon Think for the Mac OR OR your trusty sketch/workbook.
2. Watch your energy level: do what you know is BEST not what is convenient
3. Beware of compulsions: everything from checking emails, over indulging etc. focus is the key

Illustration Links

I have added a link to illustrators. Tony Fitzpatrick has some amazing drawings/collages. Have a peek for inspiration.

T-Shirt Designs worth $2500

Submit an idea for a chance at fame, friends and twenty-five hundred dollars. That's $2,000 cash and a $500 gift certificate [or $200 in cash] & membership to the Alumni Club at Threadless. Plus, get paid $500 for each time your design gets printed!

Looking for Website design inspiration? Check out more than 30 recent
Interactive Media Awards winners at the latest issue of Beantown Web

Some Beautiful Photography

Check out the beautiful photography here @ Autoxiro I have also listed this under the Blogs, at the right column.

Phil's First Toscana Menu Design-in process

Those, in class, please tell Phil your thoughts. Others, please leave your critiques.

Gravure Printing

National Geographic magazine's features and much of it's contents are printed using the Gravure printing process. Gravure, sometimes referred to as Rotogravure, is an intaglio printing process. The image carrier has the image cut of etched below the surface of the non-image area. On the gravure image carrier [usually a copper cylinder-because copper can be reused and recycled], all the images are screened, creating thousands of tiny cells.

During printing, the image carrier is immersed in fluid ink. As the image carrier rotates, ink fills the tiny cells and covers the surface of the cylinder. Paper is brought into contact with the image carriers [with the help of an impression roller]. When the paper hits the image carrier, ink is drawn out of the cells onto the paper.

Dryers are usually used to dry each color as the paper goes through the printing process. You can read more about this process at the Gravure Association of America, Inc.

Collage Artists Take Note

Claudine Hellmuth creates hip art for playful hearts She will transform your photographs into personalized collages. And she's got an interesting blog

Don't Forget: Networking Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Just a quick reminder about Networking Night next Tuesday evening, the 14th, starting at 4:30 - we are expecting a big crowd. We have lots of great speakers lined up (check out the posters!) from all programs, a role play on how to network properly ---- involving the one, the only Jeremy Osborn!!! ----, a question/answer session on how to get your portfolio/demo reel noticed, and just good ol' networking among students and alums of all programs. Plus, we'll be getting pizza from Upper Crust - what's not to love?!?! It will be well worth the extra time.

Please pass the word on to your classmates/colleagues

National Geographic Design Editor Speaks

Ms. Beth Rakouskas

National Geographic Magazine was first published in 1888

Working with great images

Our students working hands-on with those fabulous photographs to design a Departments Spread


On Friday, August 10th we were extremely fortunate to have Ms. Beth Rakouskas come speak to us about design. Beth is a Design Editor for National Geographic Magazine. She works designing the Departments Sections you see in this iconic American publication. Beth also worked on the redesign of National Geographic and shared her stories of how the redesign worked and had students do a hands-on project working with those fabulous National Geographic images!

Beth spoke about the history of the magazine, how the redesign process occurred, how the magazine comes together: from concept to printing.

A few ideas Beth left us with: [not in any particular order]
Use design vocabulary: especially when defending your work
Be prepared to collaborate
Ask questions
Remember design is problem solving
Show you know what you are talking about
Show initiative
Remember details are important

I hope this little series of images spurs your mind to remember all of Beth’s wonderful stories and advice. Again, thank you to CDIA for bringing Beth to speak to us. To read more about National Geographic Magazine, have a peek at the online magazine.

Modern Alphabet Flashcards

Looking for a cool gift for the kids in your life?
Check out these Modern Alphabet Flashcards.

FT Summer 07- Some More Designs

Alyson: magazine advertisement


Shong: design




Jess: invitations






Julianna: poster designs


Christina: book jackets and possible poster designs


Khari: poster design

Native Files & Grippers

As our Ruth our Printer discussed with us today: most printers do NOT want just a pdf's. They prefer-along with the pdf- to get the native file the graphics, photos, images, and fonts files you have used in your design job.

Also, remember your gripper! Each printing press NEEDS a bit of space, at the edge of the paper, so the press can 'grip' the paper and pull it through the press. This area is unprintable and the margins maybe slightly different on different presses. 1/2" is common. Be sure to discuss these details with your printer BEFORE you begin your designs. It will save you time in the long run.

Information Map

Here's an information map

Field Trip to Allegra Printers of Waltham

Allegra Print & Imaging
is a franchise print shop here in Waltham. Peek at our tour of this full service shop. The mayor of Waltham, herself, came into the shop, while we were there, to drop off a print job!


Owner Ruth Cretella was a wonderful tour guide!


Laser Printer


The book guts


They printed the guts of this book on the laser printer


Discussion about laser printing vs ink printing


Inks


Adjusting the press


Back of the shop- 2 color press


Bindery


Guillotine Cutter


Local Watch Repair Sign: Christina you should be able to copy this for your files

Helvetica: one Hel of a Movie

Helvetica: A documentary film by Gary Hustwit. A feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. Check the site for film showings and trailer clips

Gas Pump Graphics

Here’s a new twist on a Point of Purchase graphic.
Sponsored by Snickers candy bars, this graphic is there in front of the consumer as they pump gas. I interpret this as being a reminder to exercise as this diagram is indicating the muscles used in securing a child’s car seat.

What type of message would you like to see @ the gas pump?
What if this medium were digital?
What if you could interact with this type of point-of-purchase graphic?
How would that change your design?

What if your phone, pda, ipod or other hand-held device was able to interact with this medium? How would that change your experience @ the pump? And then, as a designer, what would you do to create the message for this medium?

FT Summer 07-Final Salsa Designs

Provocative logo designs for a new line of salsa!

Alyson


Shong



Phil


Michael




Julianna


Khari



Jess


Christina