ie6fixer - onderhond.com

ie6fixer - onderhond.com:

Do you hate developing for IE6 as much as I do? Here's a great tool that'll take your CSS sheet and include IE6 hacks. Check it out.

Carmen OT | FontShop

Carmen OT | Font Download | FontShop:

I just got an email from our friends over at Fontshop.com about the new and notables, and this beauty caught my eye.

Carmen is a gorgeous, romantic typeface. As you can see, there is a ch ligature. I was really charmed by this, so I looked at what else there was. This gem has some great ones up its sleeve. There is of course the standard ff, fi, ffi, and ffl. But there's also ft and st. Oh, and ch, ck, cl, and ct. Oh yeah, and there's ffj, fft, fh, fj, ft, fh, and alternates for fi, fl, and ff. Also, sh, sk, sl, and sp. Lastly, there's a tt alternate.



The text figures are gorgeous (take a look at the 5), there are some good and useful ornamentals, and great language support.

Lastly, it's a package of three fonts (text, italic, and display) in OpenType format for only $85. Unfortunately, they're not available separately, but this is a gorgeous typeface for a great price.

Lessons in Graphic Design Theory

Lessons in Graphic Design Theory:

50 Totally Free Lessons in Graphic Design Theory, by Danny Outlaw.

Check out these tutorials. There are a few good ones on typography, especially web typography.

(Via swissmiss.)

---- Sagmeister, Inc. ----

I came across Stefan Sagmeister's site today and decided to check out some old work.

I'm completely overcome by some of his work, particularly this one. Here is the description:

"A poster advertising design exhibitions in Osaka and Tokyo with a classic before/after situation. The top picture shows Stefan Sagmeister at 178 pounds, the bottom picture shows him one week later, having consumed all the shown food items and gained 25 pounds. Not an enjoyable binge."

You see, I tended to think that the most important designers today were people like Experimental Jetset, who - get this - make posters using Helvetica differently.

But I digress. This is not to downplay the importance of EJ, who does do amazing, eye-catching, and industry-changing work. However, for someone like Sagmeister to do a photo shoot using his own body as a prop and gaining weight (which, by the way, if you haven't been reading the newspapers, is something looked down upon in today's society) to express the meaning, is simply revolutionary.

I think many more people would be doing work like this if they weren't scared of what the client would think.

Google's April Fools

Gmail Autopilot

I love Google and their sense of humor. Last year, they did Gmail Custom Time, which was awesome.

This year, they're rolling out Gmail Autopilot, a one-day-only prank from our friends at Google Labs. According to them, the idea is to calibrate your writing style, and Gmail will read and respond to emails for you.

The more Gmail messages Autopilot can sample, the better. With fewer than 100 messages, there may not be enough data to calibrate Autopilot effectively. You can adjust tone, typo propensity, and preferred punctuation from the Autopilot tab under Settings.

Awesome job, guys.

(Via Google Labs.)

How Do You Feel About the Economy?

NY Times Interactive Feature: How Do You Feel About the Economy?:

Monday's Interactive Feature over at nytimes.com was spectacular. Take a look at the screenshot. The idea is to display the state of the nation in single word increments. The words you see slide to the right to let in new responses. You respond by clicking on a word and pressing submit or typing a new word and choosing whether you are currently employed or unemployed.

Give it a shot - I'm not sure how long it'll be up, but it's a great marriage of concept, aesthetic, and execution.

The Onion: "Résumé Font Offends Employer"

I just thought I'd share this awesome Onion article with you. I could really relate.

CHARLOTTE, NC—The decision to set his résumé in default-font Times–New Roman "deeply, personally, and irrevocably" offended a prospective employer of Seth Hershey Monday. "I look for quality, pedigree, and competency in the résumés that cross my desk, but I don't care if you founded the Harvard School of Business—if you're going to use a crap typeface like this, you might as well send me a finger painting in your own shit," said HealthBest South Associate Vice-President Dick Scottsfield shortly after hurling the document across his office in disgust. "Did he think we'd accept something like this here? Does he take me for a damn fool? If he had chosen the correct font, why, I could've even overlooked this cheap, 14-lb. cotton stock paper." Scottsfield said he intends to offer the job to the first person who uses a decent 12-point Cheltenham Book with an elegant leading.

The Onion: "Résumé Font Offends Employer"

House Industries - Neutraface

House Industries - Neutraface:

If there's one thing I have a penchant for, it's boutique type foundries. House Industries has some interesting type designs going on. Honestly, most of them are kind of 50s lounge-inspired designs, but they have a few pure and simple ones. Neutraface, pictured above, is particularly pleasing, and Paperback is also a very useful book typeface. Also check out Grain Edit's review of Neutraface:

House Industries is not your typical type foundry. Unlike most foundries that strictly focus on type design, House take things one step further. Their fonts become springboards to new ideas and products that are often integrated into themed experiences complete with lush packaging and slick catalogs. A great example of this is their work on the 2004 release of Neutraface. They created a reproduction of Richard Neutra’s Boomerang chair and pillows to coincide with the release of the font collection. In addition, they created limited edition packaging (with die cuts and metallic inks) to accompany the hard copy of the fonts. In an age when people more and more seek cheap and immediate goods, I cherish these premium experiences.

Check out House Industries.

(Via Swiss Miss.)

Questa typeface by Exljbris

[in progress] Questa:

Check out this wonderful typeface from Exljbris, the free font foundry. Amazing ligatures, and a particularly classy look. The letterforms are just so pleasing.

It's in progress, so look for it when it comes out.

(Via exljbris Font Foundry blog.)

Layer Tennis

Coudal Partners' Layer Tennis Presented by Adobe CS4 | Tennis HQ: Site Layer Tennis pits creative professionals against each other in a Photoshop/Illustrator skills battle to the death. The basic premise is that each player has 15 minutes to digitally manipulate a file based on the last person's design. This occurs in real time and is tracked by a third artist, a writer, on the site. It's pretty fantastic to see. Check it out.

(Via Swiss Miss.)

Objectified Screening in Denver!

Objectified: A Documentary Film by Gary Hustwit:

If you're not already hip to it, Objectified is the new film by director Gary Hustwit of Helvetica fame.

We're very excited to get a screening of Objectified in Denver. It's at the Mayan Theatre, and excellent independent film theatre. So far, we're one of only 16 cities in North America to receive the film. Not too bad. Denver's really getting on the map with things like this.

Planning on going? Going to skip? Sound off in the comments and let us know how you really feel about the film.

exljbris :: Free Quality Font Foundry

exljbris :: Free Quality Font Foundry:

Sick of Googling "free fonts" only to find places with ridiculous ads, pop-ups and other annoyances, not to mention the gimmicky and ultimately useless fonts? Check out Exljbris.



Exljbris is a great free font foundry. One of my favorite typefaces is Museo, pictured above. It is probably the most useable free typeface I've ever seen.

And the best part? These aren't just fonts. In most cases, they are an entire font family. And for free. That's insane.

I'd recommend downloading them and trying them out. And consider sending him a donation if you use them; let's face it: even a budget font family would cost you well over $100.

Academic Earth

Education: Academic Earth Aggregates Lectures from MIT, Harvard, Yale, and Others:


EDUCATION

Web site Academic Earth is like Hulu for academic lectures, pulling free lectures from Berkeley, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale into one attractive, easy to navigate site. It's incredible.

The site clearly takes its cues from Hulu and iTunes on its design, but it's ten times better than either, because it's open. The videos can be embedded anywhere or downloaded and enjoyed wherever you want.

(Via Lifehacker.)

CB2: The new Ikea?

Check out this office chair from Chicago-based CB2. I may be a bit behind the times, but I just discovered this today when a catalog randomly came to my girlfriend's house addressed to her sister. But I loved the simplicity of the majority of their stuff. It seemed like a cross between Ikea and Target, and, though slightly more expensive than both, CB2 still has reasonable prices.

Be sure to give them a look if you're hoping to spruce up that office or dining room and are sick of the Ikea look (though I don't know how you could be).

ffffound.com

Bam.

Found on ffffound.com.

Water Footprint

Water Footprint:

As we become more and more aware that we may be using water at an unsustainable pace, the idea of water footprints—the amount of water an individual uses—is becoming more common. Water footprints can be hard to calculate, depending on how far up the chain of production you go, since everything you eat and buy used some water to produce (to feed cows for beef, for example, or to use in the factory that made your cell phone). With GOOD Magazine’s latest Transparency, they give you some examples of how much water is used in some of your daily activities, so that you can begin calculate your footprint and try to reduce your gallons. See the graphic in big.

Read the full article: Transparency: How Much Water Do You Use?

(via fab chrisglass)

This is almost terrifying. Take a look especially at the fact that it takes 1,500 gallons of water to produce 1 lb. of beef.

(Via swissmiss.)

Spin

Spin:

New promotional literature for Haunch of Venison Berlin designed by Spin.

This is really interesting work and definitely reminiscent of the great Josef Müller-Brockmann.

(Via SeptemberIndustry.)

Josef Müller-Brockmann

I wouldn't say that I have anything to say that hasn't already been said about this Swiss genius and pioneer of the grid. If you haven't already, look into his manifesto Grid Systems in Graphic Design. Definitely one of the authorities on the matter. Mostly, I am just so in love with this poster and how it echoes the sensibilities of the composers listed on it, particularly Berg. This is just a great example of the visionary talent of Müller-Brockmann.

R.I.P., Joe.

Candy | 50

Candy | 50:

For the 50th anniversary of Helvetica, Candy Collective is issuing 50 prints of typographic posters featuring the iconic typeface by 50 image makers over the past 50 years for £50 each. Some of the prints are gorgeous. Check them out.

(Via Image Now Gallery.)

Jeremy Mickel on Type Design

The first one’s the hardest

by Jeremy Mickel

I just read the most amazing article on ILoveTypography about the birth of a typeface. It's called Router and there are several links to purchase the typeface in the article.

(Via i love typography, the typography and fonts blog.)

What was so amazing was seeing scans of the sketches and hearing Mickel talk about the arduous process of capturing the essence of the font while designing character sets with 1,000 glyphs.

I've always been into type design, but this article goes so far in depth and makes me realize how big the world of the craft really is. I don't know if I could ever do it.

The other benefit is that it helps you to understand how much work goes into the process, which should make you think twice before paying a meagre $30-$50 for a single application font.

All things considered, when you think about the fact that this typeface, Router, sells for $199 for a 12 font family which includes

OpenType fonts containing Small Caps, extra Latin accents, multiple numeral sets, and useful geometric shapes and arrows

it's a total steal. And it makes you want to fire up PayPal and donate some extra money to this guy.

I mean, it's beautiful, but the OpenType collection of the FF Meta family is $458 for 8 fonts. Puts it into perspective, huh?

Ever designed a font, shelled out a huge amount for a font family, gotten a whole family at a great price from a cool designer like Jeremy Mickel, or grumbled about breaking the bank on a typeface? Sound off in the comments.

Phil Yamada

Phil Yamada: Precision-guided Munition Systems of the World

This is some interesting work from Vancouver based designer Phil Yamada.

I don't know that I'm too into the subject matter, but it is really well laid out. Follow the link to the designer's website for other photos of the layout (it gets even better) and some awesome typographic experiments.

(Via Graphic Design and typography - Swiss Legacy.)

Design Observer

Design Observer: Kenneth Fitzgerald:
"I Believe in Design"



The Chesapeake Van, March 2009, photo by Kenneth FitzGerald 

This is a link to a great article about the evangelical vans that every city has. Here in Denver, we have a few of these, as well as a couple of houses that espouse their beliefs via crowded, hand-lettered signs.

I find this particularly as a Christian, and the dialogue about faith and design is spoken about eloquently in this article by Kenneth Fitzgerald.

Says Fitzgerald:

It’s because of my devotion to graphic design that I’ve always enjoyed encountering these vehicles. They’ve also been a constant of sorts as I’ve bounced around the country. Each is a refreshing, individualized visual delight roaming the streets. Just a bit of typographic whimsy amongst a flat-hued and airbrush-detailed monotony of cars. They’re folk art on wheels!

(Via Design Observer.)

In my experience, graphic design is a largely secular enterprise. My problem is that there is a lot of bad art (that is, music, design, literature, visual arts, etc.) coming out of Christendom right now. And I think this is too bad. Unless you're into crappy new age music or trite, poorly written pop, there's not a whole lot for you in the world of Christian art.

I've viewed this as a problem since becoming a Christian, and feel no particular need to revere a painting just because it portrays the cross if I don't find it visually appealing. (Now, I often agree with the theology behind something of this ilk, but that's another matter entirely.)

This is often why Christians are viewed as an artistically challenged bunch, which I think is too bad, and which is why I have such great respect for the likes of Sufjan Stevens and Pedro The Lion, who show us that their art is not just some Christianese put to a couple of open chords on a guitar. It's well thought out, well written music.

We need more of this in design.

I've been thinking about this and have been flirting with doing some experimental typesetting of different books of the Bible; Pocket Canons, selected books of the Bible whose sound design is featured in Making and Breaking the Grid.

Seen any good Christian design lately? Sound off in the comments. (Feel free to hold off if you've seen some particularly bad Christian design--let's not inundate the comments.)

Objectified Film Debut

Objectified, a new film by Gary Hustwit (the director of the acclaimed documentary Helvetica about the typeface of the same name) recently debuted at the SWSX film festival. Here's a synopsis from the film's website:

Objectified is a feature-length documentary about our complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them. It’s a look at the creativity at work behind everything from toothbrushes to tech gadgets. It’s about the designers who re-examine, re-evaluate and re-invent our manufactured environment on a daily basis. It’s about personal expression, identity, consumerism, and sustainability.

This is an exciting film, and it comes with the availability of the gorgeous poster, available for $20 from the film's website.

Objectified Poster

Objectified poster available now:

Hot off the presses, it’s the official Objectified ‘one-sheet’ poster, designed by Build and featuring dozens of objects by designers from the film and others. It even won an award already, for excellence in poster design at SxSW! Metallic silver and black, 27″ x 39″, lithograph, $20. Get one.

(Via Graphic Design and typography - Swiss Legacy.)

Netiquette: Undo Send Gives You Five Seconds to Stop a Bum Email

Netiquette: Undo Send Gives You Five Seconds to Stop a Bum Email:

Wondering what the folks at Google Labs were going to roll out with next? Undo Send lets you do just that within five seconds after pressing send. Did you ever wonder when you were going to be able to do this? Although it is reminiscent of last year's April Fools when they rolled out Google Custom Time for a day, I think it's safe to say that this feature is here to stay. And pretty useful, too, for the times that you regret sending a scathing email just after you pressed send.

What's your favorite Google Labs feature? Alternately, what feature would really save you from awkward situations, like this one promises to? Sound off in the comments.

(Via Lifehacker.)

The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

I'm just getting started drawing again. It has been a while. I guess since middle school. But as a designer, I wanted to brush up on my understanding of line, form, and shape. I asked the an art teacher friend what she would recommend, and I came across this book.

I'm really loving it, particularly with the kind of confidence it gives you: there are before and after drawings of some of her students, and it's amazing the kind of progress they make, going from elementary line drawings to vibrant graphite creations.

Now, obviously, just like any diet, these results aren't typical. However, it is nice to see people that obviously could not draw before discovering their newfound ability at the end of a three-month semester with Betty Edwards.

Ostensibly, there is a lot of cognitive theory that goes into this book, which is what makes it the best selling drawing resource ever. Right now, I'm just enjoying that I've made the commitment to drawing at least five days a week for the next six weeks. I'll post some results.

Hopefully, my before and after shots will be dramatic.

Amazon.com: The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: A Course in Enhancing Creativity and Artistic Confidence: Betty Edwards: Books.

(Via .)

TDC2 2009 | The Text Faces

TDC2 2009 | The Text Faces | The FontFeed:

TDC2 2009 | The Text Faces


Well, the judges at Type Directors Club have spoken for this year's award winners. I have to say that my personal favorite was Stephane Elbaz's Geneo. Look at the lowercase g. It's one of the more beautiful, yet functional glyphs I've seen in a long time.

(Via FontFeed.)

Are business cards obsolete?

Business cards are so 2007:

Contxts lets you send your contact info via text message.

This is of particular interest to me, because right now, we're redesigning our business cards. Mind you, I'm entirely cognizant of what that means for the environment, but there's also the facts of life of being a designer, which is that you're given a chance to show off your design skills with your card. It's an impression maker. You have a chance to work your way into the memory of whomever you're giving your card to if you work it right, having a highly eye catching design.

So what do you think? Is this going to work? Can we do away with business cards? If so, how will we immediately give someone an idea of our style and aesthetic? Sound off in the comments.

(Via swissmiss.)

Read Between the Leading

Read Between the Leading:

Aaron Heth and Matt McInerney, both students at the Savannah College of Art & Design, have created a podcast called Read Between the Leading that focuses on design and typography. They are both great guys. I emailed both of them to comment on one of their first shows and had emails back from both of them within 15 minutes. Aaron Heth in particular has a beautiful portfolio up on his site right now. Give these guys a holler and definitely check out the show.

(Via AisleOne.)

Buro Reng

Buro Reng:

I am absolutely loving this minimal, grid based design by Netherlands based Buro'Reng.

(Via AisleOne.)

iPhone 3.0 software

We've all been looking forward to the new iPhone software and crossing our fingers that it comes with support for cut & paste and landscape orientation.

I, for one, am not at all concerned with either of these functions, as I've learned to live without them. Yes, at times, the lack of cut & paste is quite annoying, but overall, I've been able to function without it.

What I can't stand, however, is the fact that the most multimedia enabled phone in the world lacks MMS capability. Nowadays, the bottom-of-the-line phones from most carriers offer a camera and the capability to send MMS. It's still beyond me that this can't be done on the iPhone.

Now that the cat's out of the bag about the 3.0 software, it turns out that there is indeed MMS support, but only for the iPhone 3G. I find this ridiculous and don't necessarily trust Apple enough to believe that it's something in the hardware, although I suppose we'll find out why later.

Either way, stay tuned here for the video of Apple's presentation this morning.