Don't Mistake Legibility for Communication

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – Design is everywhere and typography is everywhere as well; whether it is a street sign, the newspaper you pick up in the morning, the website you visit everyday. while the TED Talk below isn’t about design being everywhere, David Carson shows a few slides here that speak to this same idea (even if its not entirely noticeable).

Anyway, the real point here is: don’t mistake legibility for communication. Just because you can read it, doesn’t mean it is communicating the intended message. David Carson is famous for his crazy typography and his ability to connect emotion, design and key messages in an effective, impactfull way.  Some of it is legible, some of it is not, but all of it delivers a message. Take a look at his TED Talk, where you can see some of his work, learn about his process and find out how he feels about the design and communication choices some people make.

This post is also posted on Stokefire

33 Ways to Stay Creative

I Love love love this. My recent blog post "Creative Fuel" is about finding inspiration and staying creative, much like this list. While I believe in all of these, the ones I'm most interested in (at least for today) are, #3, #5, #11, #18, #23, #24, #25, #29, & #33. I hope you find these as useful as I do, and I hope you're getting out there and finding creative inspiration!

1. Make Lists
2. Carry a notebook Everywhere
3. Try free writing
4. Get away from the computer
5. Be otherworldly
6. Quit beating yourself up
7. Take breaks
8. Sing in the shower
9. Drink coffee/tea
10. Know your roots
11. Listen to new music
12. Be open
13. Surround yourself with creative people
14. Get feedback
15. Collaborate
16. Don't give up
17. Practice, practice, practice
18. Allow yourself to make mistakes
19. Go somewhere new
20. Watch foreign films
21. Count your blessings
22. Get lots of rest
23. Take risks
24. Break the rules
25. Do more of what makes you happy
26. Don't force it
27. Read a page of the dictionary
28. Create a framework
29. Stop trying to be someone else's perfect
30. Got an idea? Write it down
31. Clean your workspace
32. Have fun
33. Finish something

Posted by Stokefire. Original Post by iainclaridge.net

Stokefire Gets Flamed

In case any of you didn't know already, I work at Stokefire, a branding and advertising agency in Alexandria, VA. The team put out the company's very first video mark-up (as we call it) dedicated to the creation of the logo. I wanted to share this with you all, because it show cases something very important that we believe in at Stokefire. If it doesn't add value, then it doesn't belong and everything has its own story. Check out the video and go to the blog to read more about it!

Enjoy!

Great Control. Great Practice.

How is it people learn to have such great control over such things like a simple ballpoint pen? Apparently I need to work on my skills. Anyone have any advice? In the mean time, check out these illustrations by Paul Alexander Thornton. (Watch the video on the landing page - awesomeness) Check out his blog for more cool stuff!

Blog via Illusion - Scene 360 original Link via Escape into Life.

Graphic Design is Everywhere

I've said it before, and here's some physical proof: Graphic Design is Everywhere. In one of my previous posts "What is Graphic Design?" I talked about how design can be found everywhere. Now you can see - I'm definitely not lying. Check out these images via Email Inspiration. You can find shapes of all kinds interacting directly with society. It's absolutely beautiful.

Photos are by Navid Baratu.

Great Photographer or Great Jumper?

Both apparently. I found this blog (My Modern Met) while searching around for inspiration today. There I found a post with the title "The Girl Who Loves to Levitate." In this post, a Japanese woman named Natsumi Hayashi, took self-portraits of herself levitating all around Tokyo, Japan. She literally sets up the self timer on her SLR, and then jumps into place. It looks so graceful, and perfectly planned. 

I love finding posts like these, it makes me want to go out and try it. If this isn't inspiration to go be creative, I don't know what its. Maybe, just maybe I'll dig up my old camera and film (which hopefully still works) out of the closet and take a walk around town. 

Do you have any creative photo series? Share it!

This Post is also on Stokefire