I have trouble keeping a secret.

But I delight in finding them. An author’s inside joke, a superfluous self portrait, well-designed error pages, virtual Easter eggs, are all fun secrets to uncover in design.

One of my design heroes, Ootje Oxenaar, added bonus elements in his designs for Dutch money. He says: “On the 1000 guilder note, it became a ’sport’ for me to put things in the notes that nobody wanted there!” His beloved rabbit, fingerprints, notes from his travels, are all hidden like secrets within the bank notes.

As a student, we shared an unpublished Read the rest of this entry »

Steven Heller’s latest tome, Iron Fists: Branding the 20th-century Totalitarian State, is an intense read. As an object, the book is an impressive chunk wrapped in black striped plastic, with the vibrant colors of propaganda peeking through the stripes from the inside cover. Yet the book structure and narrative are highly accessible.

Part coffee table artifact / part required design history reading, the book is a must for anyone interested in branding. Read the rest of this entry »

Ebay has created a new sub-site where “shopping shapes the world.” World of Good offers products designed with sustainability in mind. Lately, I’ve been thinking that my choices as a consumer could be as significant as my professional ambitions to take on responsible clients and projects. And what girl doesn’t like to learn that a shopping spree can help others?
Read the rest of this entry »

Since school is back in season, the inner tubes are deflated, and football is on the tube, I thought it was worthwhile to look back at ten notable summer events in the world of design.

1. June 17: Eames stamps stick
The US Postal service honored the design legends we’ve been admiring for years. The furniture, graphics, films, and innovation of design duo Charles and Ray Eames are monumentally depicting on these miniature stamps, designed by Derry Noyes (granddaughter of the Eames’ dear friend Eli Noyes). If you haven’t yet, get your set! (I bought ten sheets!) See all USPS latest stamps here: Read the rest of this entry »

My neighborhood features dozens of examples of information design: notes to the mail service team. Residents create hand- and computer- generated notes to articulate the specifics of home architecture (“mail slot is in the alley on the left”), what to do if no one answers (“please leave mail at 2020 east pratt”), and how to make sure that someone answers (“bell is broken. Please yell.”) Read the rest of this entry »

Graphic design in the gallery can come across like a fish out of water. The gallery context facilitates engagement through looking and has historically discouraged touching or using. Design is made for the public to use and enjoy. The context of use for a designed object is a very different space than that of a gallery. Donald Judd aptly described that “design must work, art need not.” This distinguishing characteristic creates a challenge for the curator of a graphic design exhibition. Read the rest of this entry »

The best jobs I’ve ever earned were through colleagues and connections. In an interview, ask the interviewer who else might appreciate your work, or who else is hiring. Keep in touch with everyone you meet to build a large and strong net of connections. Indeed, just sending postcards, letters, or connecting on facebook, has allowed me a happier career and broader options. Dear Claudia, if you are reading, I am still indebted to you.

In the jobs that I’ve held, I’ve really enjoyed being friends with the people behind the creative scenes and I know how hard they work to make the organizations succeed in ways that you wouldn’t expect.

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Image: Watercolor by Brockett Horne

How to Avoid Damage in a Downturn, a recent podcast by David C. Baker, provides significant insights for design managers and studio leaders.
Listeners will appreciate his honest presentation, built from his own experiences of guiding creative teams through unexpected economic instability.

Four main points in the presentation seem insightful to me no matter what the economic circumstances. There were presented as temptations to avoid in a downturn: Read the rest of this entry »

Brockett’s first interview suit, worn with the sales tag tucked in the pocket.

Inspired by Chris Costello’s post.
I’m uncertain if sharing my career pitfalls with intimidating, unidentifiable readers is threatening or liberating (in the same way that launching my thesis document from the 9th floor of the design building was thrilling). But Chris, you’ve inspired me, so here goes:

Yearn to kern:
During the first day at a dream job, the creative manager introduced me to team members as Miss Home (rather than Miss Horne). The kerning on my resume was so poor that the “r” and the “n” fused together, generating for me a new last name. It was an embarrassing error to correct, for both of us.
Read the rest of this entry »

Have you ever considered teaching? Designers are natural educators, as we often inform clients about smart choices. Mentoring others can enhance your approach to design and give you broader skills. For me, teaching is the closest career choice to being a “perpetual student,” (my actual dream). I find that teaching and designing mutually inspire each other. Read the rest of this entry »