One Percent Inspiration
Andy Rutledge, in his recent (imagine this) hardline post On Inspiration, says (among other things) that:
Our designer culture habitually applies the terms inspiration (or inspired) as a shibboleth for anything deemed worthwhile ... our online culture is choked to the gills with "sources of inspiration."
While I tend to soften hard lines and I'm not down with everything Andy is saying elsewhere in the article, the prior quotes are ones I appreciate. Here are a few more thoughts that Andy puts forward that I can agree with:
Inspiration Is
- Inspiration is easily cheapened and sold via designer hyperbole.
- Inspiration is exuded in action, not just talk, not just observation.
- Inspiration is different than motivation and less easy to come by.
Inspiration Is Not
- Inspiration is not the feeling you get when you like someone's design.
- Inspiration is not a requirement, it's a bonus.
- Inspiration is not simply paying attention to things other people ignore or can't grasp.
Chevy’s Voltage Site Design Falls Flat
Yesterday Jen posted a great article on our Marketing Lab's blog, Viget Engage, regarding a new social site recently launched by Chevy. The site, http://www.chevroletvoltage.com, aims to bring people together to discuss and create buzz around their new vehicle, the Volt. After reading through Jen's post it really got me thinking about the design and how, especially in this case, it played a vital role in shaping my expectation of this vehicle before I ever even saw it.
Adding Music to Your Design Toolbox
I think it's safe to say that a decent number of designers out there listen to music while they are working. I know that I'm not alone in my habits of putting the good ol' headphones on, blocking out the world and zoning in on a design comp. Music helps me focus on the task at hand, keeps me from getting distracted, and generally get me revved up. You could basically say that music is my taskmaster as well as my design co-pilot.
I've always used music in this way, whether it be for design work or getting my yearly taxes in order (White Stripes can ease the number crunching pain). However a few years ago I saw a video of an artist that permanently changed the way I approach my music listening while designing.
Taming the Elephant: Design Critiques With Non-designers (plus a printable cheat sheet)
There she is. That's Bertha, the elephant-in-the-room that you call your design. You've been staring at this design for enough time now that you're either satisfied where you are or unsure what to do next.
Without feedback from others, you're counting on yourself to be responsible for questions like: Are you meeting client expectations? Will users know what to do or where to go when they hit your page? Will your web design be easy to build? Will search engines help people find you?
These are questions that we don't always think about when we're designing until it's too late. That's a lot of pressure to rely on yourself for. Maybe it's time to get some feedback from the designer sitting next to you. Better yet, why not get some design feedback from a non-designer?
Infographics Galore, 11 STUNNING Examples of Design-Enhanced Data
(*Dedicated to graphicsgirl's recent tweet)
Like many others, I have recently gotten more and more immersed into the wonderful world that is infographics or information graphics. Not only do infographics provide valuable information, they are also absolutely stunning pieces of design.
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A Designer’s Guide To Accessibility and 508 Compliance
The words "accessibility" and "508 compliance" are are thrown around frequently these days, but as a designer it can be unclear how the practice directly pertains to your role in visual design. Sorting through all the hubbub, I would like to take the opportunity to clarify why accessibility should matter to you as a designer, and how you can champion the practice without compromising your design.
Continue reading "A Designer’s Guide To Accessibility and 508 Compliance"
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