Blue Star Snipits

Salon Modern

2010-09-29T16:28:00.002-04:00

Loving the branding for Salon Modern seen on The Dieline today. Nice bright colors and a modern approach to a new, modern salon format.

Paper is Good

2010-09-27T14:29:00.005-04:00

Did you know that direct mail continues to be one of the most widely adopted and effective methods of generating new and repeat business in North America. In fact, the use of direct mail has increased 57% over the last 15 years alone. Did you also know that direct mail is a major driver of the North American economy, generating billions of dollars in sales every year. According to the U.S. Postal Service, people spend an average of 25 minutes with direct mail pieces such as sales flyers, promotions, coupons, etc.

Paper because is a campaign launched by Domtar to highlight the key role paper plays in our lives and why it's an environmentally sound choice. Getting your message out in a variety of ways, print or digital, is important. In fact, Domtar even recognizes that print and digital media are complementary forms of communication and both impact the environment. But don't underestimate the power of paper, as Domtar has so wonderfully reminded us. Here are just a few paper facts that caught my eye but visit the Knowledge Center to read more.

In 2008, advertising mail contributed more than $702 billion in increased sales to the U.S. economy.
Larger businesses rely on paper for 35% of their marketing budgets, printing direct mail pieces that 81% of consumers still read every day.
When paper comes from a responsibly managed forest, it actually has a positive impact on the nation's forestland. Paper comes from nature, and it's one of the few truly renewable resources — unlike the fossil fuels that power most electronic devices.
The forest products industry plants more than 1.7 million trees per day.
Reading on paper is actually 10-30% faster than reading online
More than 3.5 million Americans have jobs that directly or indirectly depend on advertising mail - and many more work in companies that process and manufacture paper.

2010 Fall Color

2010-09-22T11:59:00.002-04:00

Pantone just released their Spring 2011 color palette but instead of sharing that today, I wanted to revisit the fall 2010 palette. In the graphic design world, most jobs that come through are needed yesterday so we very rarely plan things as far ahead as the fashion world. Which makes the fall palette a much more useful tool. To see the current and past palettes, visit the Pantone site. The beautiful image above, making full use of the fall palette, came from Style Me Pretty and one of the lovely weddings featured.

Nice to Meet You Too

2010-06-30T09:42:00.002-04:00

Nice To Meet You Too is the second book in a series on visual greeting designs. Showing off the work of more than 100 creative minds in the biz, this book highlights the creative and fresh ideas behind identity systems and how to make your business stand out with great design. The second image above comes from Mint, a wonderful blog about design and the author just happens to be one of the talented designers featured in the book. I have to get myself a copy of this book...the inspiration held within could be endless!

Fancy Footwork

2010-06-24T14:10:00.002-04:00

Loving this packaging concept for an environmentally friendly shoe brand in the U.S. by student designer Alistair Marshall. The box (on the left) carries hemp canvas deck shoes folded almost flat to minimize packaging materials. The laces from the shoes within are used to lace up the image on the box creating carrying handles, expelling the need for a carrier bag.

via Lovely Package

Potato Chip Design

2010-06-18T11:55:00.008-04:00

Hairy Bikers via Lovely Package

Santini Hand Cut Chips via Lovely Package

Tesco Tortilla Chips via The Dieline

Darling Spuds via The Dieline

Lately, I've noticed quite a few potato chip bags making their way onto the design scene. Perhaps I'm perusing the web too close to lunch time causing me to hone in on these designs however they are a fantastic display of typography and design.

Write the Future

2010-06-14T09:47:00.005-04:00

I'm not really up to speed on the happenings of the World Cup however this amazing little gem caught my eye this morning and deserved a mention. These crayons were individually hand-carved with the likenesses of six World Cup stars to be placed in a press kit for the event and celebrating the launch of Nike’s “Write the Future” campaign. Diem Chau, the artist who created these amazing little guys, has more detailed images to check out on her blog, The Pleasure of Tiny Things. Be sure to peruse the rest of her blog, she has some really amazing work.

via design work life

Typestache

2010-06-02T15:16:00.003-04:00

It was only a matter of time before I would come across something that combined my love of type and my love of mustaches. Old Tom Foolery has some wonderfully witty stuff. Check it out.

Cassette Art

2010-04-27T09:20:00.004-04:00

Not to toot my own horn but I was pretty awesome at making mixed tapes. Making a mix CD from a playlist on iTunes just doesn't compare to the sweat and blood that went into the mixed tapes. Which is why I am so happy to see old cassette tapes being used for such cool art purposes. Check out more portraits of famous musicians by self-taught artist, Erika Iris Simmons.

via Design Fetish

Wall Decals

2010-04-12T13:16:00.003-04:00

Last fall I bought my first home and since then about 90% of my attention has been focused on what to do with each room and all the cool things to put in them. Overwhelming to say the least. But coming across unusual and fun products like these wall graphics by Blik (found via design work life) makes it worth the effort. Above are a few of my faves. I have a new found respect for wall graphics after pulling wallpaper and painting for several weeks straight.

Happy Easter

2010-04-02T15:50:00.003-04:00

My guess is no one wants to be in the house crafting on a weekend like the one we are projected to have here in Cleveland however if you need to keep yourself busy with a little Easter project why not make these adorable paper chicks from The Yolk Folk. Have a great Easter weekend!

Dreaming of design

2010-04-01T12:05:00.003-04:00

As if I don't stare at the keyboard enough during the day...I love these pillows! Check out the full post on Design Fetish to see more creative pillow designs.

Matchbox Music Video

2010-03-25T16:41:00.004-04:00

Check out the 178 vintage-inspired matchbook covers designed specifically for a music video. Head over to the designworklife post where you can see the video. Seriously cool idea.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2010-03-17T15:51:00.003-04:00

I love this picture from Lucy Snow Photography. And it's green. So there you go. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Why I want an iPhone: Exhibit B

2010-03-16T09:49:00.003-04:00

Who doesn't love facial hair? Who doesn't love putting facial hair on people and pets that don't naturally grow facial hair? This app is going down in the pro column of my "Should I get an iPhone" list. Thanks, Julia, for finding this on the Swiss Miss blog this morning.

Typographic Playing Cards

2010-03-15T09:25:00.004-04:00

Before there was Wii, there were playing cards. We were a big card playing family...Gin Rummy, Double Solitaire, Hearts, Euchre...just thinking about these games makes me want to pick up a deck. And seeing these beautiful typographic playing cards just makes my downright giddy. Brought to you by Design Fetish.

Josef Albers Album Covers

2010-03-01T09:35:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite memories as a kid was going to buy new vinyl records with my mom and my sister. Cassette tapes existed but there was something about the records that I loved. I can remember studying the covers of the new albums as well as the old ones from when my parents were teenagers and just thinking how cool they were. Thus began my love for vintage. Found on Aisle One this morning, these covers were done by Josef Albers, an American artist and teacher, in the late 50's and early 60's for Command Records.

ctrl + z

2010-02-25T12:45:00.003-05:00

I have always wished ctrl + z worked in more situations. Saw this card and immediately had to have it. Check out the PaperWheel shop on Etsy for more clever letterpress cards.

Now, where was I?

2010-02-18T09:24:00.002-05:00

Indeed, I've been a blog slacker this week but let's not dwell on this and pick up where we left off, shall we? And, appropriately, with bookmarks. These unique bookmark ideas coordinate with the book jacket and I just think they are so cool. Especially considering I ruin all my books by folding down the corner of the pages. Found on Design Fetish

Here's to Friday! :: Anniversary Wine Bottles

2010-02-12T10:22:00.003-05:00

Another wine design Friday is upon us but this one has a special nod to Valentine's Day (can I get a collective "awww"). Found on the Dieline this morning, these wine labels were created as a wedding gift. I love that the colors of each have significance to the years the couple has been together. Happy ♥ day everyone!

Why I want an iPhone: Exhibit A

2010-02-09T10:55:00.004-05:00

If you know me, you know I'm not a phone person. I think I was the last person in the world to get a cell phone and only because my mom insisted on me having one in case of an emergency (and by emergency she probably meant so she could always find me). So why would I want an iPhone? Maybe because it's only 10% phone and 90% awesome. I saw this cool Bird Box on Design Sponge this morning from luckybits and I couldn't help but think how much more peaceful it would be to wake up to this sound instead of the nagging, monotone of my alarm clock. This isn't the first iPhone item to seduce me and I've decided to start cataloging all such items in which to present a strong case defending my decision to purchase an iPhone.

Typodarium 2010

2010-02-08T14:44:00.003-05:00

It's almost the middle of February and I still have not purchased a calendar for the year. I became too overwhelmed by the choices however I think I have settled on the perfect one. Found on The Skinny (Veer) this font calendar displays a new font each day with a little background and interesting details to boot. I like that it will be a daily reminder to always consider your type...which I truly believe can make or break a design

Here's to Friday! :: Death's Door

2010-02-05T10:52:00.005-05:00

Often times, after drinking gin I do feel like I am at death's door. However in this case, I would welcome it. Great color palette and design on this new package design for Death's Door Spirits.

I love cheese

2010-02-04T10:25:00.004-05:00

I'm sorry. I could not resist posting this today. Who doesn't love cheese? And, just to point out its relevance to this blog, a great typography reference. Thanks to Where the Lovely Things Are for posting this wonderful work by Kilroy & Maw

Yes to Carrots

2010-02-03T09:59:00.004-05:00

So I stopped up at my local drugstore last night to get some moisturizer for the "winter in Ohio" skin and there before me was a shelf of coordinating product that instantly caught my eye. Yes To Carrots (also Yes to Tomatoes and Yes to Cucumber, based on your skin type) has a clean, simple look with a logo that just called out to me. This purchase was based entirely on packaging but I can honestly say I was not disappointed in the product. It did wonders to my skin and smelt great...a little like my first cabbage patch doll, Darlene. And I remember her fondly.

Not your mothers crayon

2010-02-02T13:18:00.005-05:00

I have to make another confession. When I'm coloring with my 5 year old nephew I feel compelled to do a good job. And I really don't like it when he's missing a crayon I want or he tells me what crayon to use. Next time I visit him, I'm totally taking these with me. Found on the Colourlovers blog, Rich Color Crayons have speckles of other colors to enhance each stroke with beautiful vibrant colors. These are crayons made for Aunt Kellie.

Here's to Friday! :: Hot Chocolate

2010-01-29T12:01:00.004-05:00

Current temperature in Cleveland is 15 degrees but the weather channel is telling me it feels more like 0 degrees. I'm telling you it feels more like 20 below. But thinking about a mug of hot chocolate and cool packaging makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. Check out this hot chocolate drinking set I found on Uncommon Goods.

Book Book

2010-01-28T09:43:00.003-05:00

Everyone is always looking for the perfect, personal style defining lap top case...okay, that is probably just me but I think I found the mothership of all cool laptop cases. Book Book is made of distressed leather with dual zipper pulls that look like bookmarks. Thanks to Design Sponge for this little morning surprise.

2009 Logo Trends

2010-01-25T16:34:00.003-05:00

Check out this article from Logo Lounge on the logo trends of last year.

Here's to Friday! :: Lazy Dog

2010-01-22T17:12:00.004-05:00

Todays post is an homage to Baxter, my yellow lab mix and serial pillow stealer. Created by Gingko, a branding and marketing studio, this label has all the markings of a favorite...clean design (check), dominant orange palette (check), dog (check). Thanks to The Dieline, once again, for a great find.

Get Your Hands Dirty

2010-01-20T09:36:00.004-05:00

My sincerest apologies for not having blogged in over a week, I have no good excuse and expect to be given the silent treatment for at least an hour. However, I did come back strong with this awesome poster I found. The message is only revealed by putting your grubby hands all over it. How does this work you ask? The back of the poster is coated with powdered pigment which is then rubbed on the front of the poster over spot-varnished type. See how the whole thing happens on Roland Tiangco's website. It's a messy message but somebody's gotta do it.

Alphabets

2010-01-11T15:34:00.003-05:00

Check out this collection of the most creative alphabets created. Share Some Candy gathered the charts from artists, photographers and design students around the world. Above is my favorite - an alphabet out of clothes and accessories by Stuart Whitton. At a quick glance, it looks like my bedroom floor. Maybe I should look closer at my clothes on the floor, they could be trying to tell me something.

Here's to Friday! :: Akesson

2010-01-08T11:12:00.003-05:00

Yet another great design in the cool new earth friendly wine bottles courtesy of the Lovely Package blog. I prefer my wine out of a glass bottle, mostly because it makes me feel like a character in some movie, but if these new bottles keep up these great designs I may have to consider changing.

Milk, it does design good.

2010-01-04T09:49:00.004-05:00

Schroeder has made opening the refrigerator door more eye pleasing by giving their products a new modern design. And the emphasis on the fat level of the milk is not only a nice and different approach to milk packaging but is much appreciated by me and my declining eye sight.

Celebrate big or small - or wait - BIG!

2009-12-31T10:14:00.003-05:00

Of course today calls for celebration, big or small, as we ring in the new year. When I came across this lovely rose champagne offering from Laurent-Perrier on The Die Line, I thought how cute is that - a miniature little champagne bottle. No wait - wait a minute - that's a large rocks glass - ooh now that's something to celebrate with. As it turns out, it is simply a beautiful ice bucket. (But secretly, I'm sticking with the rocks glass concept.)

Thanks Kellie - for letting me secretly step in and blog while you're out for the holiday.

Happy New Year

2009-12-30T14:45:00.003-05:00

One last post for the week, as I am off for the next 4 days for the New Year holiday. These cute mittens are from The Sitting Tree however it was the photo that really captured my attention. I love the colors and it just feels cozy. What a nice way to feel as we ring in the new year. Have a happy one!

Toast-its

2009-12-30T09:51:00.005-05:00

Have you ever seen a product and thought to yourself, "Of course! Why didn't I think of that?!" That's exactly what I said when I saw these on the Dieline this morning. Greeting cards that wrap around a bottle of wine. It's perfect. And don't worry, even though it's too late for holiday gift giving, Toast-its offers clever and beautiful designs for a range of occasions.

Food for Thought

2009-12-28T11:43:00.005-05:00

Since I just spent the last four days stuffing myself I thought it only fitting to post something food related on this snowy, post Christmas Monday morning. The food seems a little healthier than the cheese balls and cookies I've been inhaling, so at least I'm moving in the right direction. I was first attracted to the wonderful storybook illustration and was then interested to find out that Little Dish prepares all of their foods with 100% natural ingredients, with no added salt or sugar. I know it's for kids but really, I'm a kid at heart...

Happy Holidays

2009-12-23T10:33:00.003-05:00

I'm signing off for a few days for the Christmas holiday but never fear I will be back on Monday to blog away. Have a safe and happy holiday!

Christmas Wrap Up

2009-12-22T09:32:00.004-05:00

We've all felt the pinch this year but that doesn't mean we can't have beautiful gift wrap at Christmas. Skip the $6-wrap-only-two-gift rolls of wrapping paper and head over to Martha Stewart's website to print out these exclusive patterns from Blueprint. Oh, Martha, Martha, Martha...

Here's to Friday! :: Spiral Juices

2009-12-18T10:16:00.004-05:00

In honor of happy children around the country, taking their last spelling test before Christmas vacation, this weeks Here's to Friday toast goes to Spiral Juices designed by Australian designer Frank Aloi. Once again, a great example of typography and color to get the right message to the right audience. Not sure if he is responsible for the logo as well, but I'm kind of digging that too.

Sassy cup o'joe

2009-12-17T10:04:00.006-05:00

If I had my own coffee company I would spend all that extra caffeinated energy on coming up with a really great look. Think about it, what is the one thing people have to have every single day, some more than once in a day? Starbucks is probably the first one that comes to mind when it comes to coffee + design however Far Coast may not be far behind. True, it has more of a feminine appeal with that beautiful palette and flourish logo but honestly, who does the grocery shopping in your household? Lest we forget, this girl buys everything based on the packaging...

These Are Days

2009-12-15T10:16:00.010-05:00

Every year around this time I am both excited and stressed out. Not just because of the rapidly approaching Christmas day (no, I have not started shopping yet and yes, I am in a bit of a tizzy about it). But because of all the wonderful calendars to choose from for the upcoming year. And I have not been disappointed by the 2010 selection. Here are few of my favs. Perhaps I need one for each room in my house, and one for work...and one for my car... Above is a wall calendar by Saddle Stitch Studio

I don't know what it is about whales lately but I love them. I may even want to do a nautical themed room in my house just so I have somewhere to put all the whale stuff I want. Check out this calendar by Ink+Wit

I'm a sucker for vintage and this is a nice alternative to the illustrated calendars. See more of Donna Geissler's photography in her etsy shop.

And of course I have to include at least one letterpress option from Pistachio Press. I can't imagine not starting each month with a beautiful new piece of letterpress art on your desktop.

Here's to Friday! :: West Eleven Cocktails

2009-12-11T12:05:00.003-05:00

Weaving through the web today I happened upon these cocktail mixes by West Eleven. Can I just say bravo on mixing my two favorite things? Great typography and...uhh umm...fruit. I've been crunching on this use of type for awhile, I just love it. I think it is the vintage poster/ad feel.

Paper Tree

2009-12-09T16:28:00.005-05:00

In honor of the united nations climate change conference, Arjowiggins, manufacturer of creative and eco-sustainable papers, created this paper sculpture of a tree. Not only does Arjowiggins do their part by offering a wide range of recycled stocks they have also committed to protecting one hectare of Brazilian rainforest for each of the state leaders attending the summit. Hats off to you, Arjowiggins, for helping Mother Earth stick around a little longer.

All Frenchy French

2009-12-07T14:41:00.003-05:00

What is it about French designs that make me so happy? Coq en Pate is a French line of children accessories with just the sweetest illustrations and great color palettes. See more of their designs and other unique and sweet children's items at Orfeo

Here's to Friday! :: Yellow + Blue

2009-12-04T14:18:00.004-05:00

This is sort of a double whammy post. Great wine label design. Great package design. Make that a triple whammy - Great logo design as well! Read about this innovative wine bottle at the Yellow + Blue website.

Push your luck

2009-12-01T11:27:00.004-05:00

Cool postcards with great handlettering. Mr. Claus, if your reading this blog, I know someone that might like this in her stocking...Admire the postcards in more detail here.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T12:00:00.003-05:00

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and not only will I be giving thanks for my wonderful family and friends but also for the wonderful handmade items found on Etsy such as this piece by Creative Thursday. Have a safe and happy turkey day...I can almost smell the wonderful aroma of turkey and mashed potatoes...

To read or not to read

2009-11-24T10:42:00.005-05:00

With the holidays on our heels, lots of traveling is soon to be had. I like to have a good book with me when I travel and as mentioned before, I-for the most part-choose my books by the design. Luckily, Penguin redesigned these classics with beautiful covers. And whether you choose to read them or not, wouldn't they look lovely on your bookshelf?

Here's to Friday! :: The Kraken

2009-11-20T10:59:00.003-05:00

So I got to thinking, why feature only wine labels on Friday? Why not give proper respect to all forms of celebratory beverages and their delicious designs? The Kraken Black Spice Rum from Proximo Spirits is such a fun design, even the bottle is cool. I can so completely picture this in the hands of a weathered, old sailor wearing a turtleneck and prickly beard and yet it still has such a sophisticated illustration and design. I love when a design makes me imagine what scenarios it would pop up in. Bonus point: the website is pretty cool, check it out.

mmm...chocolate

2009-11-17T12:02:00.004-05:00

Initially, this collage of pattern caught my eye but after being further enticed by the word "chocolate" I dove deeper into this post on TheDieline only to find the most delicious website out there. The Chocolate Research Facility is a chocolate shop in Singapore that not only offers 100 different flavored chocolate bars but beautifully designed chocolate bars. And the website, albeit simple, has one mouth watering feature. Hmmm, chocolate research technician has a nice ring to it. I wonder if they are hiring...

Modern Family Tree

2009-11-16T09:45:00.003-05:00

I love these modern family trees by My Tree and Me. Not only do they look beautiful, they add a personal touch to your home decor. What a great gift idea for the fast approaching holidays...

Here's to Friday! :: Koala Ranch Wineries

2009-11-13T12:01:00.005-05:00

As promised, I am posting another wine label design thus beginning the Friday tradition that I will now refer to as "Here's to Friday!" This one tugs at my own design heart strings because of how simple it is. I'm a white space girl, give me lots of it. My theory is: the cleaner the design, the more impactful it can be. This lovely label for Koala Ranch Wineries was designed by Colle + McVoy and was a winner in the Communication Arts 2009 Design Annual.

One Pretty Package

2009-11-12T11:35:00.004-05:00

Great holiday packaging from Jonathan Adler, who seems to do no wrong in my eyes. Check out more at TheDieline. Love the bold colors and graphics, especially opposed to the simple white ornament that comes in the box.

Familia goes Green

2009-11-09T11:52:00.002-05:00

For 9 years, Blue Star has donated services for Familia, a fashion fundraising event benefiting the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland. This year the Familia group tasked us with creating an invitation that both appealed to the fashionista as well as helping to promote their green initiative.

So we designed this year’s invite in the shape of a fan, an accessory every diva needs, and printed in green ink, of course. This solution definitely meets true green requirements by being printed on recycled stock AND being a re-useable item.

Best of all, this year’s Familia was a true success, raising nearly $60,000.

Creativity in the Details

2009-11-09T09:09:00.002-05:00

Proof that design is everywhere…I love, love, love these! Anyone that has worked with any kind of packaging or retail design knows what a challenge it can be to design around the barcode, trying not to let it inhibit the design and still be functional. But the japanese company, d-barcode took a much more creative approach, they made it part of the design. See more of these inspiring barcodes at The Dieline.

A little design with your wine

2009-11-06T10:10:00.004-05:00

Since it is Friday, I wanted to dedicate my blog post to something celebratory. I am, by no means, a wine connoisseur so I choose my wine the way I choose everything else, by the design. And there are some really, really cool wine label designs out there. Here is just a niblet to get you started, but I promise to post more as I come across them...perhaps I shall make it a Friday tradition! This label design was done for the french winemaker Mont Tauch by Swedish design studio Lula

Candy Coma

2009-11-02T09:39:00.003-05:00

Halloween has come and gone and all you have left is a half empty bottle of face paint and oodles and oodles of candy. What to do? I just so happen to have come across a fantastic little creative project for you and your kids and all that candy. Check out the original post at Alpha Mom for all the details. It makes me so happy to see such creative solutions for the little things even if they are as simple as a dixie cup and some tissue paper.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-30T11:20:00.005-04:00

It's the classic case of "chicken or the egg". Did my love for the color orange come before my love for Halloween? One can never be sure. What I can be sure of is how much I love seeing great design in orange and black. Hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween!

Judging a book by its cover

2009-10-28T17:16:00.003-04:00

I have a confession. I buy books because they have cool covers. Some people browse book stores because they are excited to find new stories to disappear into, which I do enjoy, however I browse bookstores to look at the covers. Some of the best design is on a book cover. Check out this blog with tons of cool covers.

The Art of Recycling

2009-10-26T11:43:00.005-04:00

I love seeing the unusual use of everyday items in art. Not that a rotary phone is an everyday item in 2009, but you get the idea.
This sculpture was done by Jean Luc Cornec.

Back to the Basics

2009-10-23T09:26:00.003-04:00

Here's an informative article for non-designers on shapes as design elements and how they can be used to enhance your message. A nice refresher for the designer as well. Always good to see work by Saul Bass to regenerate your creative juices.

Living in Color

2009-10-20T15:51:00.005-04:00

Ever wonder who picks the color trends? Check out this article about the Pantone Color Institute and how they travel the world to forecast color trends. Then mosey on over to the Pantone website to find out the hot trends for Fall 2009.

Type - OH!

2009-07-22T10:32:00.004-04:00

Last week, the Designer Daily blog posted another round of 15 objects with typography. Out of all 15, this object, the Upper Case Scarf, happens to be my favorite. For this product, typography is no longer a tool for design, it is the design.

Get Real

2009-06-30T11:08:00.003-04:00

This is still one of my favorite ads of all time. A short film created for Herman Miller by Fairly Painless Advertising. They take the simple message that the company wanted to express and blend it with the look and feel of the company itself. Such a great example of really listening to what a company is all about and helping them portray that to the world.

Plum Perfect

2009-06-25T11:49:00.004-04:00

A pretty plum palette is popping up everywhere. This trend and more can be found at the 2 Modern website

Think inside the box

2009-05-13T15:40:00.004-04:00

Architect Adam Kalkin has turned industrial shipping containers into beautiful living spaces. Check out his slideshow for more images. Just another wonderful example of thinking outside of the box...or in this case, inside the box.

Creative Error Pages

2009-04-15T10:36:00.008-04:00

Not many websites have a need to create an error page however if you do, why not show a little of your company's personality with a clever error page. Check out some of these error pages for inspiration. Or just check them out because they're fun.

What design can do for business

2009-04-06T22:40:00.001-04:00

I chose to post this video because it conveys our philosophy as a design studio. As one commenter of this speech mentions, "Good design belongs anywhere and everywhere."

January's Best

2009-02-25T09:13:00.004-05:00

Until we launch our new website, I'm going to use this area to post inspiring work done by our very own designers as well.

The piece above was designed by our Senior Designer, Sue Harris, for the Cleveland Clinic Teatro de Danza Event. She did a phenomenal job designing the copy along side of the photo. And I love the warm gray background with the choice of yellow as an accent.

Our newest designer, Kellie Micka, has been working on the Kenotes Newsletters for the Ohio Lottery. I love this spread from the latest edition. It was a great way to mix professional photography with the quick digital snapshots taken at local Keno events.

2009 Color Trends

2009-01-27T10:33:00.006-05:00

I'm so excited for the new color trends of 2009. Lots of bright colors to cheer us up. Check out the Color Marketing Groups hot color trends for 2009 The above photo is straight out of the CB2 catalog (which just so happens to have a very cool website that you should also check out for great color combos). I'm a particular fan of the yellow and gray combo...it makes me happy on these dreary winter days.

Pink and Black Trend

2009-01-22T09:12:00.003-05:00

If only Cleveland skies looked like this in the winter.

I found this image titled Dollies and Daydeams by sk8ordiehard in the design*sponge mini trend section. You can find more about the new Pink and Black trend at Etsy's The Storque. This image marries my love for linework and fresh color creating a bright and unexpected image.

Loving the Linework

2009-01-14T09:14:00.004-05:00

I found this lovely little piece at Good Shape Design. I adore the whimsical linework and the minimized color palette. It’s a refreshing site – something other than over-photoshopped ads or over-simplified silhouettes. It’s great how piece that is built with so little can tell a complex story.

Fun with Words

2009-01-11T15:21:00.005-05:00

I heard about the Words at Play website at the How Conference a couple of years ago in a seminar about typography. It hasn't changed but I still watch it from time to time because it's just so cool.

Blue Year Resolutions

2009-01-05T15:23:00.006-05:00

Another year is upon us and although I can convince myself that "no carbs" is a reasonable resolution on January 1st, by the 5th I'm shoving some sort of bread in my mouth. So, this year, I am making a design based resolution. I am resolving to incorporate more typography into my designs. And I don't mean using crazy new fonts, I mean using typography in a more interesting way. Typography can be a design element of it's own, if used in a unique way.

Above is an image by Thomas Broome, a designer who has taken typography to a very fun place.