Beer for women, PS brushes, design checklists
Monday, February 23, 2009
Beer for Women Ad Design ContestThere are an array of ads out there that are aimed at men as beer drinkers, and a disparaging lack of ads for women. At the Beer Babe, I challenge you to find creative ways to approach the growing ranks of female beer drinkers in the world through media!
Deadline is March 31, 2009
*~*~*
850+ Super Cool Tech Brushes for Photoshop
Using circuits,linings,wiring or even blueprints could help achieve a better futuristic results but will take time doing all the details needed.
*~*~*
Here's a link to a Common Sense SEO Checklist >>
*~*~*
Signage and color contrast
Contrast between the foreground and background is one of the most important factors for the ease of reading. If coloured text is used on a bright background the contrast will be weak, for optimal contrast results is white text against dark colored backgrounds. In signage & wayfinding design color is the combining factor to harmonize the sign with the environment. Color programs will distinguish signs from each other and can offer an indication of the message without having to be able to understand the language of the sign.
*~*~*
PSD Fan has a tutorial on designing a "Retro Futurism Space Scene," using a variety of lighting effects and photo manipulation.
It looks a bit rushed to me in terms of the final image, but the concept and potential is definitely there. It could create a cool backdrop.
*~*~*
Here's a list of 99 Graphic Design Resources everyone should know about, you probably do know a lot of them, but it's always great to have one single page you can bookmark and return to later down the road.
And here is a link to 20 Typefaces To Start A Designer's Career.
*~*~*
Spunk United Magazine, you might not be able to read it all, but you'll most likely be inspired but what you see from start to end. Definitely make sure to take time and look through the archives.
*~*~*
For the most amazingly, beautiful landscape photography you will ever see, please go to DesignMags Landscape Photography Showcase. The images are just breath-taking. I'd pretty much like to step into all of them for just a minute.
Labels: brushes, contest, design, photography, photoshop, signs, typography, web design
Concept design tops, crazy furntiture and freshness
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The PLUS bookcase on DesignSpotter is definitely not for me! PLUS is a furniture element, characterized by a strong ornamental effect and it was designed aiming at developing shapes based on bi-dimensional elements.
It is a system, expandable both in length and height, available in a big range of colors and composed by metal plates that can be bended and overlapped one on the other.
You know what I see? A huge, complicated dust-collector which wold probably contort paperbacks and not hold enough hardbacks to be worth my time.
*~*~*
Concept Wizards has an article with some tips to guide you when you are on your way to designing your own design.
They include:
1.) Font Selection
2.) Effective Use of White Space
3.) Use Photos and Graphics which are Effective
4.) Make it Neat and Short
5.) Watch the Flow of the Design
*~*~*
Screen Excellence is known for making acoustically transparent, woven fabric screens for the home and commercial use, introduces its new range of curved screens called VistaCurve. Exploiting the manufacturer's new Enlightor 4K (EN4K) screen material formation technology, the latest screens offer 1.78:1 or 2.37:1 aspect ratios.
The EN4K is the one-of-a-kind acoustically transparent screen material designed especially for high-end wide screen theaters. With the help of their cutting-edge technology and quality woven screen fabrics, the screens provide acoustic transparency and high picture quality. The screens are available in widths from 80" to 160".
I will tell you, I am drooling.
Labels: bookcase, design, furniture, TV, vistacurve
When it comes to design, size does matter
Monday, January 26, 2009Heading Hierarchy, it's something I've always talked about and known about since I started designing web sites. Heading hierarchy is very important. You'll never see a magazine or newspaper where all the type is written in the same size. It's just not how the mind works. Items bigger or bolder always means something, they have emphasis and that's what tells you more about the rest of what is typed.
456 Berea Street has an article about this, "Headings, heading hierarchy, and document outlines."
*~*~*
CSS Tricks has yet another fascinating trick up their design sleeves. Set Font Size Based On Word Count shows how you can do this using MooTools or JQuery. I'm imagining this will end up spurring a discussion on easier ways to script a changing font-size based on word count using CMS platforms. We'll see what comes from it all.
*~*~*
Purple Lemon Designs has some new things to check out if you like paper goods and stationery like I do. There are new rubber stamp designs as well, which are address label stamps with flair.
*~*~*
Apartment Therapy has a post today called "BlondeinBrooklyn on a Budget." The photographs accompanying the post are all so great and make you wish you could spruce up a room or two in your own home. But I always wonder what they do with all their stuff. The rooms look so spacious and organized, so where's all their "life clutter," you know what I mean?
Labels: apartment therapy, css, design, purplelemondesigns, typography
Fender Guitar? No. Fender table.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Manufactured by Fender itself this is a wicked awesome coffee table perfect for the guitarist in your life or even just a rock lover. Of course since it will require international shipping from the UK...this is a gift which would cost you $293+ shipping.The table is stained and varnished to resemble the tone and colour of a vintage Fender guitar. It is all lacquered over for protection. Just look at it, it is such a sweet piece. This wouldn't need one of those coffee table books for conversation, it would create talk all on its own. I love it!
Buy it at Home Temptations.
Labels: coffee table, design, music
Palomba Serafini
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Designing with functionality and simplicity in mind. Palomba Serafini creates furniture and housewares that somehow appear modernly beautiful with their bland colors and smooth lines. One of their newest models is in Tubes' Element collection. It is a heating surface that contains an aluminium module for uniform heat distribution. It's available in square and rectangular shapes, allowing you to create the compositions you wish. And of all their designs, this piece is the boldest in color. You choose how you wish for it to look, but their samples are in a deep red color. This definitely beats the normal, monstrous look of a radiator.
The founders of Palomba Serafini are Roberto and Ludovica Palomba, Italian architects and designers. After graduating from the University of Rome, they founded the Palomba e Serafini Associated Studio, based in Verona.
In an interview they were once asked, "What is the most inspirational thing, place or time for you?"
Their response:
To quote the title of Paul Smith's recent book, you can find inspiration in everything, is also our claim. Everything inspires us: our continual travels, reading, talking to the guys in the studio,... you have to be open, become the intermediary between what exists in our fantasy and what will become a life companion for others, in other words our products, our architecture.Excellent answer guys. Excellent answer.
Labels: design, functionality, furniture, simple
Use your noodle
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Oh heavens! I love these lamp shades! I never thought I could get excited about something as silly as a lamp shade, but these are gorgeous and would add so much color to a room. You pretty much customize the size of the shade and each one is handmade. The shades are suitable for pendant light fittings as well as lamp bases. You can get one that looks like clouds, so it is blue and white. And Brian and I will be having "lagoon" colored furniture in our middle floor room, so it would be perfect in there.
The design swatches page has every thing you can imagine. If you want something nature-esque or something retro or modern, every design is available, I assure you!
Noodle does the shades of course, but they also do mugs, candles, cushions and pillows. So you can create an entire theme and get multiple pieces to match.
The only down side to Noodle for me is the shipping since it comes from the UK, but it's well worth it if you can have such a great design selection.
Labels: design, lampshades, pillows
Taking economical to an odd level
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
It's a chair-table design made by Designnobis. A group of people from Turkey who met while in school and developed a team. They say, "Creativity if Our Business."
It must be their business, because their portfolio is HUGE. Some of their ideas are just brilliant, and others are a little far-fetched. There are some pieces of furniture that are meant to serve multiple purposes. While I love the idea of something being a multi-tasker, these items are kind of bulky.
In the case of the chair table, it can only serve one purpose at a time and I wish it would fold flat at some point for storage. Instead it looks like the legs remain out at all times. Even so it is a cool idea and I love the color. These Designnobis folks are quite economical-minded.
Labels: design, economical, furniture
Modern Economy
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Modern Economy sample sales began in January 2006 with a simple goal: to support independent designers. Items include bedding, crib sets, throws, ceramics, table top wares, lighting, pet accessories, clothing, and more... Sharon Spain is going to be one of the featured designers at their upcoming fall sample sale. She creates very cute pillows and other fabric items using natural materials and organic designs. Patterns are simple: a flattened sprig of berries, a delicate dandelion puff, earthy colors. Each pillow has a hidden zipper, and a removable feather and down insert for easy washing. =o)
Labels: design, indie, pillows
Lab glass lamps
Friday, August 10, 2007
Victoria Vintage Home has such a plethora of tempting hone accents and furniture. It's almost dangerous for me to look through their website. The will power it requires not to want to make a purchase!They have repurposed a variety of old lab glass in turned them into lamps.
The price ranges from $65-$105.
They also have very cool mobiles that are in bright colors to make a room look fun and artsy. Love it, love it!
Labels: artsy, design, furniture, vintage
Moon System Sofa
I want to crawl right into this picture and lay down! This sofa looks so comfortable. You could curl yourself right in there with a blanket and go to sleep. "A continuous shape, a blend of aesthetics and ergonomics: Moon System expresses the perfect combination of B&B Italia's tendency towards experimentation and the ongoing research into the complexity of curved geometry of world-famous architect Zaha Hadid."
This is one of B&B Italia's latest designs. It was thought up by architect Zaha Hadid who is always pushing the limits of design. Her mind is just a fount of creative genius! She is brilliant!
Kindspin Design
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Meander through the designs by color, theme or purpose and you're bound to stumble upon some sweet, funky finds. Kindspin Design prides themselves on "Funky One-Of-A-Kind Art" and I am in agreement. The designs can be found on furniture, jewelry, light switch covers and other artsy portals.
There are so many different bright, vibrant works of art here that you'll definitely find something that seems personalized just for you. It's really incredible!
You can buy the pieces at Yikes! Gallery in New Hampshire if you're up that way, or at Stone Fish or e-mail the designer directly.
Promote your design
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
You can't just carry a business card around attached to a pin or on a necklace. Promoting your business is one thing, but waving it in someones face is quite another.And now that it's illegal to put signs on along the road for an extended period of time, at least here in Delaware you can get fined, it's hard to find affordable means of advertising or marketing yourself.
I have an online portfolio of my work, but I'm sure it doesn't show up in the top of the Google search results. (And quite frankly I'm afraid to look).
So, it might be interesting to see how magnetic signs for your car would work. Lord knows there is quite enough traffic around here for enough people to see it. I've seen Real Estate Signs stuck magnetically to people's cars with their broker information and their contact information.
Places like BuildASign allow you to choose a magnetic sign size, customize the look of it, and order it very quickly and easily. I wonder what the stats of this type of promotional material are and if they allow you to get really artsy with the customization. I'm going to have to give it a look. =o)
This post has been sponsored.
Labels: design, marketing, signs
Parskid electricbaby
Parskid electribaby laptop sleeves are very unique. And compared to other protective sleeves for your laptops they aren't very expensive. There is one design I really like, but I'm not sure how I feel about the others. I think you'd have to be pretty darn spunky to carry your laptop around in a sleeve with an illustration of a naked woman on the front. Not just any naked woman, but a "kinky girl." Bleck. Sorry, not loving it.I do however like the design with the little yellow people sketches reaching for the tall star-shaped flowers. Very unique and cool. This would be a great gift for any artsy laptop carrying person.
Electricbaby has items from a variety of different artists. Parskid is just one of them and you can check out all of his art work here.
Labels: art work, design, illustration, Parskid
Mini collages ala Greeting cards
Friday, July 13, 2007
Lisa Congdon is synonymous with fabulous design.She is self taught and works in several mediums, including paper collage, screen-printing, ink, textiles, and paint.
I am anti-collage, always have been, until now. I very much appreciate the collages Lisa Congdon puts together. Every texture, color and shape is pieced together into this exquisite artwork that would give people something to talk about for hours.
The photo shows mini collages, and look how each one is similar yet very different. Can you imagine starting with a blank slate and then putting random things together and creating something so artsy? It's just awesome.
She also recently created pretty sweet inked greeting cards. The only problem being I wouldn't want to mail them! I'd frame them!
You can see all of her artwork on Flickr. And you can buy her artwork at her store online or at the candy store, reform school and doe san francisco.
Labels: art gallery, collage, design
Curl up into my chair
Tuesday, July 10, 2007As the time grows more near to actually being a home owner, it is imperative that I become even more obsessed with interior design and home furnishing. Haha.
And so welcome to Jadora. They say their "goal is to provide something new to the furniture market without forgoing the essence of tradition."
There is a delightful Curio dresser, but could also be used as a buffet table. The website gives this description..."The versatility of the Curio Dresser allows for use as a buffet or bedroom dresser. Top keepsake boxes lift to reveal hidden storage for either serving pieces or jewelry. Top drawers pull out; bottom compartments open from top."
But my favorite piece on the site is their giant armchair. I love it and wish I could crawl into my monitor right now and curl into the seat. =o) There is a matching sofa and ottoman, but my heart belongs to the armchair and if ever I own it...well...it will be MY seat. You know what I mean? Haha.Gracious, I need to start making some extra money. Haha.
Labels: design, furniture, home
Imagination Cubed
Tuesday, February 27, 2007I'm not sure why GE decided to do this, but it is VERY cool.
I know it is not the first website that allows you to freely draw all over the page, but it has a little flash presentation which I thought was cute.
So...check it out!
Son of a suckerfish
Friday, February 2, 2007Oh, I didn't make it up. There is a vertical css menu extension that words with the CMS Joomla and it is called "Son of a suckerfish - vertical menu." Seriously, Toby and Keane and I got a little chuckle out of it today. Because you know me, as soon as I saw it I immediately had to say it out loud a couple hundred times.
Hahaha!
Sometimes I'm amazed
Wednesday, January 24, 2007Okay. You must go to this site:
http://www.jonathanyuen.com/main.html
It uses Flash, so if you don't have Flash than download it, it is free.
But this site is so inspiring to me. I am a web designer and I love working with Flash. But something this creative and thoughtful is quite amazing.
The music is so relaxing. Each narrative that opens is beautiful. The captions that come up to describe different words are all very motivating.
It's not long, so just go look at it. If you enjoy intelligent and creative original art than you will love this.
The Strange
Name: Christy Mannering
Appreciating and dancing around to all types of music. Movie mania! Reading fiend! Design queen!
See my complete profile
Bring it on and BRING ME UP!
archive
Be artsy
- Strangeling
- neil duerden illustration ://: farm1.18
- Oh My So Cute
- Tummie-Design
- Klukeart
- Drawn!
- Design Addict
- swissmiss
The Shops
- My Deviants
- Kelly Malouf
- Shana Logic
- Hazel Honey
- '57 Design Studio
- Design Boom Souvenirs
- Better Living Through Design
-
