Organization With Style

I'm currently designing plans for the addition of a pantry and laundry room with a home office and storage space loft at our home.

I've always been attracted to the concept of "floating" storage and shelving and the way it allows more natural light into a space. This concept not only projects a sense of calm and organization, it's also a brilliant way to create the illusion of more space by keeping the floor visible in small spaces.

Muunto from Finland designs systems based on an innovative wall panelling technique that is completed with a range of shelf units and accessories. These storage systems do an awesome job of combining functionality and style and can easily be readjusted to suit your changing need or your new home décor.

And I'm totally digging the super clean look, combined with splashes of color.

Nice!

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HMK

All Online Data Lost After Internet Crash!

Breaking News: All Online Data Lost After Internet Crash!

Genius!

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HMK

The Dumbest Guys in the Room

This is another awesome read from Andy Rutledge.

As he puts it, “This is a rather a cynical article, but know that I'm not suggesting that all projects are so bleak. It is, however, a common circumstance in our line of work and it's worth examining and certainly worth preparing for.”

It is unfortunate and frustrating, but it’s a fact: getting design approval and then a project completed for a large corporate client is seldom about convincing the smartest people in the room of anything. Instead it’s usually about trying to keep the dumbest people in the room (or in the company) from shooting themselves in the foot.

And that’s if the designer even gets the chance to communicate with them at all. Sadly, this makes the business of design less about appealing to people’s better ideals and more about achieving victory over stupidity.

Read: The Dumbest Guys in the Room.

And I couldn't agree more with his take on his finding the ultimate decision maker:

"And by all means - make every effort to know exactly who the ultimate decision maker is – and learn how best to connect with them and gain their confidence. Your success, and likely their fortunes, depend on this (whether they know it or not)."

Speaking of stupidity - when was the last time you visited Clientcopia?

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HMK

Site Structure: Quiet vs Loud

A quiet zone in the middle of NYC - Strawberry Fields to be exact.

Quiet structure is achieved when you de–emphasize the structural elements; the containing boxes, structural lines, bullets, structural color elements, etc… and bring a rhythmical consistency to the layout.

Andy Rutledge takes a look at both the main page of CNN.com and then at USA Today.com.

Personally, I'm digging CNN's overall clean and clear presentation of information, it's reminds me of a simple, straight forward and easy to read blog layout.

Even though USA Today’s is not a terrible design, by comparison it is far more chaotic in presentation.

But why is this? Read on as Andy compares a few of the individual elements from these two sites in terms of Quiet Structure vs Loud Structure.

The result is that the content becomes more conspicuous and the overall clarity of presentation is greatly enhanced.

Read the whole Quiet vs Loud article.

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HMK

Thanks to David for the cool shot.

Workstation Settings Cheatsheet

Now this is smart. Here's an easy, and low-tech approach to keeping the productivity flowing in almost any business. A simple Workstation Settings Cheatsheet to help capture those crucial details for each user's computer in your office.

The Workstation Settings Cheatsheets. include the most commonly needed network and email settings for each user.

Basic stuff sure, but important when you need to do some quick troubleshooting - especially if you don't have a dedicated IT guy on staff or if you happen to be the only one working late.

Thanks to the smart folks at Creative Techs.

Have a great week!

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HMK

It's Art Baby!

Check out this awesome oversized Scrabble art from Posh Tots.

Me likey!

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HMK

Interestingness

Jeffre Jackson of the OIA talks about interestingness and why it's important for a brand to be interesting.

Known as 'the Socrates of San Francisco', Gossage was an unlikely advertising man. With a military background, he didn't start working in advertising until his mid thirties. In 1957 he started his own agency Weiner and Gossage which was an immediate success.

Gossage was known for his unique and forward thinking philosophy; that advertising should be involving for the audience. In other words that they should be rewarded for seeing and/or hearing the message. Gossage would say:

"People don't read advertising per se. They read what interests them. And sometimes it's an ad."

It's only now, in the era of the Internet and sit forward media that we are really taking Gossage's ideas to heart. Disruption is being seen as a bad thing whilst engagement is becoming more and more important.

One of Gosasge's pet hates was outdoor advertising and it's here that the internal conflicts of the man become most clear.

Something worth bearing in mind in this digital era: "Is advertising worth saving?" "From an economic point of view, I don't think that most of it is. From an aesthetic point of view, I'm damn sure it's not; it is thoughtless, boring, and there is simply too much of it."

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HMK

Big thanks to Henry Lambert over at Trends.

Meet The Walrus

Check out this sweet little short from Josh Raskin: I Met the Walrus.

I thought the walrus was Paul...

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HMK

Anatomy of a To-Do

This is an older post from the smart folks over at 43 Folders that I find myself re-reading every few months or so in my effort to getting things done in the most efficient way possible.

The primary idea of a to-do is that it’s a task that can and should be done – a point that might seem obvious until you start uncovering how many of the items on your to-do list may not belong there (or, conversely, how many uncaptured items do).

The best and most useful to-dos share common qualities:

It’s a physical action.
It can be accomplished at a sitting.
It supports valuable progress toward a recognized goal.
It’s something for which you are the most appropriate person for the job.

Glancing at your own to-do list, do you see any potential troublemakers?

Notice any items that make you squeamish?

Any mystery meat tasks that seem "un-doable" as is?

Relax. 43 Folders will have you shaped up in no time.

I dig using John Blyberg's awesome Card Generator to create my list and then make it my monthly, impossible to ignore, laptop screen saver.


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HMK

Make It Louder...

Aw yeah... if you're in need for a little audio wallpaper to get you in the mood for the weekend...CLICK HEAR!

Just in time for the weekend...

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HMK

Why Ivy Ross Rules

Ambidextrous Magazine recently ran a cool interview with Ivy Ross, she’s the head of design and packaging for the girls division at Mattel.

Here are a few excerpts.

On the importance of meaning:

Let's face it. Everyone has everything. We are not about price anymore. Everything exists at every price level. It's about the connection you find with the object.

On the power of unleashing your personal design thinking process:

I had to think about my own creative process. What I did for myself was feed myself. I took on a question and ate absolutely everything I could. I allowed myself freedom to explore, without restrictions, and at a really organic pace. I was like a kid.

On the drivers of innovative behavior:

I also believe that creativity and innovation are built around trust and freedom. Companies don't get that. They think it is a process. It is really about creating trust between the people creating and the freedom to go to new places.

Get the 2 page PDF.

More good stuff from Ivy Ross.


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HMK

Thanks to the smart folks at Meta Cool.

Do It Anyway

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.

- Mother Teresa

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HMK

Think About It

"Brilliant execution without strategy is irrelevant, but brilliant strategy without brilliant execution is invisible."
Pat Fallon and Fred Senn

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HMK

Do It Anyway

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

- Mother Teresa

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HMK

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HMK

Click & Drag Google Maps

Double true!

Genius.

Get Going: Google Maps.

Have a great weekend!

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HMK

Handel: First Musical Recording 1888

On this day, June 29, 1888, the earliest known musical recording is made. The piece, Georg Friedrich Handel's Handel's Israel In Egypt, is recorded on a paraffin cylinder.

Israel in Egypt, assigned the catalog number HWV 54, is an oratorio, a form in which Handel excelled. Like his more famous Messiah, Israel in Egypt is composed using biblical passages, mainly from Exodus and the Psalms.

Unlike the Messiah, however, it didn't enjoy much of a reception when it premiered in 1739. As a result, Handel shortened the work and inserted a few Italian arias to lighten the mood a bit.

Nevertheless, it was selected by Col. George Gourand, Thomas Edison's foreign sales agent, for the first musical recording. Gourand made his recording in London's Crystal Palace, using Edison's yellow paraffin cylinder -- candle wax, essentially.

Click Hear: Handel's Israel In Egypt.

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HMK

(Source: Stanford University, National Park Service)

Understanding the Farm Bill

Check out this series of publications dissecting the Farm Bill by Matthew Foster, a graphic designer at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.

Ah, the power of design.

Considering the potentially dry nature of these reports, the graphics are so powerful that they actually make me feel less intimidated by the complex subject matter and encourage me to read them. I think the decision to go in the direction of bold WPA inspired graphics and typography is both smart and appropriate.

Nice job Matthew.

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HMK

Thanks to the smart folks at Back Space.

More Vintage Type

As part of their weekly Found Type Friday, the type freaks over at AceJet have a nice flickr set of images focusing on the vintage type from the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum.

Check out the slide show: here.

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HMK

The #1 Song On The Day You Were Born

Find Out Here!

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HMK

Things NOT to do with PowerPoint.

More like PowerPointLess...



Nice stand-up routine on the things not to do with your next PowerPoint presentation.

Are there really people that still use PowerPoint?

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HMK

Thanks to Brand Flakes For Breakfast.

A Visual History of Summer

Ah Summer...

While surfing for some vintage summer images I found a site called Square America. They've got some truly awesome amature photos from the first sixty summers of the 20th century featuring bathing beauties and brawny beefcake, sun, surf, and sand.

I just love the documentary feel and especially the unintentional crops and blurs of these images.

This above shot is from the 40's.

Grab yourself an ice cream or a popsicle, step back in time and check out the rest over at: Square America.

Have a great Summer!

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HMK

You Wish!

Admit it - you wish you had a job where you truly liked the people you work with... And as this proves, thank God, they really do exist.

I dare you to not feel happy as you watch this.

I hope they made sure to include this on their time sheets...

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HMK

Google: Hidden Persuader or Harvey Danger for more info...

So, How's Your Site?

Find out how your website ranks over here at: Website Grader

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HMK

Culla Belly

Check out this smart baby bed design, the Culla Belly, from Busetti Garuti.

I'm thinking this would also be kinda cool for folks that have bed-hogging dogs...

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HMK

Digital Newsstand

Check out this custom rig from Scott Walker, an assistant managing editor at the Birmingham News.

Scott scored an old newspaper box on ebay, and hacked it together with a Mac Mini, and a flat screen monitor to create a digital newsstand that grabs and delivers the latest headlines to his living room each morning.

And dig this, he's even been so kind as post the how to info so we can all make our own.

Pretty genius Scott, nice work.

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HMK

Thanks to News Designer, a cool blog focusing on newspaper design.