SPD.ORG: What Are You Looking At?

Sarah Garcea: Graphic Images

I love love love the opening sequence for Dexter on Showtime. The new season just started up and while watching the other day, I was like, I do not tire of this opening. I really like the graphic quality of the images, how you don't entirely know what it is at first and then it all makes sense. I lean towards very graphic images in my work so this really speaks to me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgo57OBKFOA

… MORE

Software

11.05.08posted by
Robert Perino

OK. I officially feel like a dinosaur. As a print designer I am worried about the future, and I'm sure I'm not alone. I'm not worried so much of it going away because I don't think it's going to. But as to how it is going to change and evolve.

Recently I started to look into Flash. Why flash? Well it seems to be the thing that everyone has on the tip of their tongue. Everybody is looking for Flash designers. So in self preservation I started looking in to it. What it does? How to use it? I am pretty clueless when it comes to these things. I started looking into classes and books and demos. Free trial downloads, tutorials, and best use and awards. After all if I'm going to try and learn I want to know what I'm shooting for.
… MORE

illustration

10.28.08posted by
Christy Sheppard

Christy Sheppard: Finding Newbies

I assign a bit of illustration for the WIRED FOB. And finding new talent that looks, um, new... or that makes me laugh (definitely a plus)... or that is clever and smart... or is all of those things (email me!) is time consuming and difficult. First, I look at blogs. And then I click. And click and click and click. When I find someone I like, I'll click on their links page, and I'll click on those people's links. Or I'll Google someone's name that I find in an illustration book or in the Times' Book Review or in a foreign magazine I found at the one good San Francisco magazine shop and start my string of clicks from there.

And my favorite illustrator I've found this year from a random string of clicks is Mr. Bingo.
… MORE

Photography

10.15.08posted by
Robert Perino

Amy Berkley: From A Photo Editor's Perspective

Mitchell Feinberg's still-life is a dream and with this series of images he makes familiar designer goods interesting and surprising. I am a big fan of white on white and a muted palate.

… MORE

Politics

10.10.08posted by
Heather Jones

3 quick bits

Hi all, 3 quickies before I head out to New York Magazine's 40th anniversary party, congratulations all!

1 Here's a shot from Tuesday's Paper to Pixels event...(l to r) yours truly, Brandon Kavulla, Paul Schrynemakers, Ian Adelman and Jeremy LaCroix. After a great discussion we ended up into the wee hours with more spirited conversation during the presidential debates at the Triple Crown up the street. I think they like us there.

2 Today is the last day to register to vote in New York state, even if only your name or address changed (others vary but usually postmarked 25 days in advance.) You can prep it here but there's folks all over the subways signing you up if you haven't already.

3 And check out what New York Times infographic gurus did this fun one earlier this week...comparing the physical sizes of historically opposing running mates. It's in reference to the story that Obama is slender so most Americans can't relate to him. Funny according to this Obama, Kennedy and Reagan are (were) almost the same size?

Found Objects

09.19.08posted by
The Editors

Andre Jointe: Beautiful Decay

One thing that I've kept my eye on for some time now are aging and disintegrating posters. What starts out as an immaculate cinema, theater or museum poster ends up looking like a collage of different typography, colors and textures all in one from the multiple layers passer biers have torn off. Another cool aspect is that it's like an artwork collaboration of the posters' original designers, with the city locals adding their own disheveling touch. Although they're an eyesore for some people, there is an inherent beauty that draws me to them. … MORE

Inspiration

09.19.08posted by
Heather Jones

Spaceship Earth 1

Hello from the Great White North. The land of the gentle red maple leaf. The "We-Walk-Quietly-While-You-Carry-A-Big-Stick" country. Dusting off my layman's French and giving Quebecois a go, on this brisk 32 degree night I'm actually writing about something still in NYC: Starting With The Universe at the Whitney, a retrospective of the "comprehensive anticipatory design scientist" Buckminster Fuller. Go if you can, the show closes Sunday.

Though kind of campy in its mid-century magazine and film documentation, the show is well-placed right now, when green and alternative energies are at the top of our concerns, (if not completely trendy). Fuller believed, (like Charles and Ray Eames), in bringing the best design to the most amount of people; but he may have gone further by imagining, drafting and producing homes, transport, communities, etc. all in the hope of a responsible and conserving utopia...not an inaccessible, exclusive dream, but a probable, actual, doable reality.

… MORE

Infographics

09.11.08posted by
Emily Smith