Demystifying Design: An Argument for Simplicity

This is an awesome and insightful read from Joe Duffy for anyone that's ever been lulled to sleep sitting through another creative brief that begins by explaining process as a way of presenting design or branding services.

Process is vital but first things first!

For once can we please just forget the mountain of stats, graphs, focus groups, polls and PowerPoint nonsense and begin by substituting all that pretentious, fancy-ass account executive flim-flam jargon and simply cut to the chase? Can we just use some plain, straightforward and honest language while we focus on creating and delivering a simple, compelling, differentiating idea, one that's ultimately and consistently executed?

"As a designer I see this as both an opportunity and a responsibility. The opportunity is to continue to use our craft wisely, to solve real business problems, to deliver a means to help people find products and services that are uniquely well suited to make their lives a little better every day. Getting there requires that designers and our clients keep things simple."

What is design? It's art and commerce, fashion and environment. It's industrial and digital, graphic and experiential. It begins with ideas--ideas based in purpose. It requires a plan or a process. It yields innovation, invention or creation. It is successful if it elicits response--attention, desire, interaction or purchase.

Design is as much a process as it is an end product. The process should be simple.

The best strategy behind design is all about collection and collaboration - of people, talents, ideas, perspectives. It's about truly seeing vs. just looking. It's about being curious about what you're seeing, what it means or what it could mean if used in a new way or combined with other ideas or images. It takes a certain appetite and ability to digest.

Honestly it's simple. The best talent understands that. Rarely does the most extensive or unique "process" produce the simple insights necessary to do more than document a situation. The proof is in the pudding. Talented designers create it.

Or as one of the masters of simplicity Tibor Kalman put it: The difference between good design and great design is intelligence.

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HMK

Joe Duffy is principal and chairman of Duffy & Partners - check out his Duffy Point of View blog over at Fast Company.

Pet Peak

Dig the Pet Peak. This is a nice and thoughtful idea for any curious pet!

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HMK

Radio Canada

Made from maple and aluminum, the RADIO CANADA concept is a homage to the cultural significance of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. This radio console design was inspired by the dedication of the many CBC listeners who keep their radio dials permanently set to the national broadcaster.

This will work beyond Canada as well - after setting the radio to your favorite frequencies, mine will toggle between NPR and KSYM, you can toggle between the two without hearing the static in between. Genius.

You know you want one: Science & Sons.

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HMK

Terminus!

Absolutely Brilliant!

What happens when a concrete man approaches an unsuspecting metro rider? Terminus! This 8-minute gem of a film was made by 33-year-old Canadian director Trevor Cawood, with a crew no larger than seven people.

“I like psychological films,” says Cawood. “Films that comment on who we are, and how we got there."

Bigtime thanks to Spy Films and Wired for sharing Effects-Heavy Shorts Show Off Directors’ Chops.

Totally genius!

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HMK

Stop Yelling, Say Thank You & Put Down That iPhone

I sprained my ankle yesterday while out for a run with my dogs Ringo and Dazy and so I'm spending the day with my foot propped up, catching up on some email, reading and writing a few belated Thank You postcards.

I thought I'd share this insightful, quick read from Peter Madden at Advertising Age: Twenty Things I've Learned After 40 Years Living and 10 Years Running an Agency.

Here's a few that ring true for me:

1. Realize what you're great at and do it all the time. Realize what you suck at and stop doing it completely (and put the right person in place to do it).

5. Trust your instincts. You can interview a prospective employee or client 10 times, they can say and do all the right things, but if your Spidey sense is tingling, something is amiss.

8. Do pro bono work for non-profit organizations that are trying hard to make the world a better place. You'll get more out of it.

14. Did someone working for you just disagree with a decision you want to make? Good. Keep her around as long as possible.

16. Throw parties at your office, no matter how humble or grand the space, for no reason at all. It's all about the people in the room, good music, and not running out of booze or ice.

17. Put your f***ing BlackBerry/iPhone down when you're meeting with me.

And of course -

20. Write personal notes thanking people you meet with and who are in your life. Besides death and taxes, the only other sure thing in life is that no matter who you are, it's exciting to get a handwritten note.

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HMK

Thanks again to Peter Madden at Ad Age.

Reclaimed Wood In Kitchens

While working on a kitchen renovation Apartment Therapy's Annie Werble uncovered a structural column smack dab in the middle of their design. To incorporate the discovery into the scheme, they set vintage railroad ties on all sides of the concrete structure, and the gorgeous patina of the wood makes the eyesore melt away.

I'm particularly digging the type treatment on those nice big storage drawers.

Check out the rest from those smart and resourceful folks over at: Apartment Therapy.

And if you happen to be looking for reclaimed wood in your area the Building Materials Reuse Association is a great place to start.


Oh, and speaking of disegno astuto e sostenibile, dig this: Controprogetto.

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HMK

Greenaid Seed Bombs Rock!

This is absolutely brilliant! Thanks to Daniel Phillip and Kim Karlsrud, founders of The Common Studio, nice job.

Made from a mixture of clay, compost, and seeds, "seedbombs" are becoming an increasingly popular means combating the many forgotten grey spaces we encounter everyday-from sidewalk cracks to vacant lots and parking medians. They can be thrown anonymously into these derelict urban sites to temporarily reclaim and transform them into places worth looking at and caring for.

And speaking of reuse - the Greenaid dispensary simply makes these guerilla gardening efforts more accessible to all by appropriating the existing distribution system of the quarter operated candy machine.

Whether you're a business owner, educator, or just a concerned citizen we'd like to work with you to get Greenaid in your community. You can purchase a machine (or two, or ten...) directly from The Common Studio.

And dig this - they'll even develop a seed mix as well as a strategic neighborhood intervention plan in response to the unique ecologies of your area! All you have to do is simply place the machine at your local bar, business, school, park, or anywhere that you think it can have the most impact and they'll supply you with all the seedbombs you need to support the continued success of the initiative.

Right on!

If you are interested in getting a quote, please contact them directly at: info@thecommonstudio.com

Check out more from the smart folks over at the California based The Common Studio.

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HMK

Archive II: Circular Library

Dig the Archive II! A circular library for the nomad book collector, allowing the user to step inside, and walk away with half a ton of books. Kindle Schmindle - this is brilliant!

From the site:

The Archive Series are investigations on space and books. Its departure point is density and micro spaces, and a series of traditional relationships that humans have to books. Private collections have existed for centuries, but when this is added to nomadic behaviour, curious contradictions arise; this is the area studied by Archive II.

How can an individual travel with it’s own library, given that books are so heavy? This is something we can all relate to when moving house. Archive II is a nomadic library, a transport system and an intimate space. Inspired by ancient travelling libraries from the Far East, which visited courts and cities, Archive II transforms this into a personal space, where walking and reading coexist as refuge and transport.

And yes, this is real and you can have your very own Archive II from the David Garcia Studio.

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HMK

Thanks to the smart green thinking folks at Inhabitat.

The Gizmodo iPhone Saga

Genius.

Thanks to the smart and funny folks at FastCompany.

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HMK

iRetrofone

Yeah, you know you want one. The iRetrofone iPhone Base is compatible with all Apple iPhones.

More info over at FreeLandStudios on Esty.

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HMK

Thanks to the smart folks at Apartment Therapy

So You Need A Typeface

This might help expedite your next quick drive-thru design project! Smart stuff from Julian Hansen, a 22-year-old graphic design student from Copenhagen, Denmark.

Great job Julain, thanks for sharing!

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HMK

I forget how where I originally stumbled upon this!

60s & 70s Scandinavian Design Logos

Check out this groovy little set of Scandinavian Logos from the 1960's & 1970's courtesey of Canadian Oliver Tomas.

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HMK

Last Stop: Genius!

Nice! I love reading about stuff like this.

A group of resourceful London artists recently scored 4 old subway cars for mere 200 pounds (about $310) each, gutted and then mounted them on the rooftop of a restored warehouse. They now serve as working spaces for the artists, while a lower-level of the warehouse is used to host events and exhibit the artists’ works.

Genius!

Thanks to the smart folks at Inhabitat.

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HMK

Rescue Dogs Rule!

Your best friend is waiting for you!: San Antonio Humane Society.

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HMK

The Vanishing Letterhead

Text, email, tweet, yeah, yeah, yeah....

From The Phenomenology of Writing by Hand:

"Planners tend to think of writing primarily as a means of recording or communicating ideas which they already have clear in their minds;

Discoverers tend to experience writing primarily as a way of 'discovering' what they want to say."

Sure, we all dig, most of the time anyway, the immediacy and always-on communication tools on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. I tend to fall in to the Discoverers camp when it comes to, what I call, thinking on paper. As far as I'm concerned a text, email, or tweet can never replace the emotional fullfillment and tactile experience of writing/composing or receiving an actual handwritten Thank You, Congratulations or Birthday message - especially when it entails the use of an official letterhead and arrives in the mail.



To me, there is still something so very cool, mysterious and exciting about recieving a hand addressed package or letter complete with stamps and postmarks along with the dings, smudges, creases and cryptic scribbles - the real and pure evidence of it's journey.

Yeah I know, dream on Michael, but it's nice to know that in our new world of virtuallity and simulacra, I'm not the only one that pines for the real thing: Letterheady.

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HMK

Movin' On Up!

You know you want to sleep here!

Mucho mas: The Treehouse Goes Upscale!

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HMK

Photo: Michal Czerwonka for The Wall Street Journal

McNally Jackson Cafe

Wow, really digging the thinking, simplicity and use of materials New York based Front Studio combined for the design and renovation of the McNally Jackson Cafe, part of the McNally Jackson Bookstore in Manhattan’s Nolita neighborhood.


I'm especially loving the folding single tables running along the wall ingeniously designed and crafted to resemble a folded book when closed.

Outstanding execution! Enjoy: McNally Jackson Cafe.

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HMK

Thanks to the smart folks over at The Contemporist.

iPad Arcade Cabinet

This is genius!

From the ThinkGeek site:

To use the iCade, gently slide the iPad into the docking cradle. The docking cradle uses a standard 30 pin connector to link the iPad to the professional-grade arcade controls. Once the iPad is in place, launch the iCade App (available free in the App Store April 3rd) and it's game on! We didn't want to take any chances you'd run out of juice during your favorite game, so we included a 10w USB power adapter so you can charge the iPad through any electrical outlet.

You know you want one - iPad Arcade Cabinet!

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HMK

The Heritage

Check out The Heritage! A super sexy, multi-format table radio complete with docking for your iPod. Made with aluminium and real walnut veneer, this contemporary reinterpretation of classic European table radio is packed with the latest multi-platform digital radio technology providing coverage of DAB, DAB+, FM and Wi-Fi internet radio – as well as wireless audio streaming from your Mac and, of course, an iPod dock.

The Heritage is the latestproduct I've been drooling over from the fine folks at UK's Revo, an approved Apple ‘Made for iPod’ member.

Very nice!

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HMK

Long Live Books!

There's been a lot of discussion lately about the demise of the printed word on paper. But deep down, I don't believe for a minute that books, magazines and newspapers will ever really completely disappear. Reissues, collections and box-sets of everything from vintage newspaper comic strips, back issues of old magazines and newspapers will always be in demand in both digital and tangible form. In the same way that TV never eradicated radio, books and coveted first edition hardbacks will remain as the definitive "proof of purchase" for collectors and purists alike.

I mean really, can you imagine meeting one of your favorite author's after a reading and asking them to sign your Kindle?

With that said, long live books! Long Live Books is a small Minnesota studio that produces hand-crafted BOOKS that serve as both protection for your laptop or iPad as well as a tried and true old-school, anti theft disguise.

According to the site: Every exterior detail of BOOK has been considered, from the linen book cloth to the decorative book headbands for an effect that provides bibliophiles with tangible protection for their electronic information. On the inside, a tailored 100% wool felt sleeve provides a snug fit for your device when BOOK is closed with the integrated velcro edge. The natural German felt is a sustainable and renewable material that has an innate durability and timelessness.

BOOK is a secure sleeve combined simply and elegantly with a hard case to provide double protection for your laptop or iPad.

Keep reading and Long Live Books!

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HMK

Thanks to the smart folks at iLounge.

Can I Get A Napkin, Please?

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HMK

Dog Milk!

Sweet! What's not to dig about these Dog House Wall Decals from GECKO!


I know you love your dog as much as I love Ringo & Dazy, that's why I know you're really gonna love Dog Milk!


And I found this this cool Dog Type poster over at: The Daily What.

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HMK

Manual Espresso

Bringing the press back to espresso - check out this environmentally friendly, manually operated Espresso Maker.

Using almost zero electricity and enabling you to make great café-style coffee at home, the only enegry it requires is the amount of energy it takes to boil some water and then a little human-powered force to press down the arms of the machine.

Nice!

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HMK

Thanks to: Mantteriashop and Design Milk.

Leo Burnett Rules!

One of Leo Burnett's famous speeches, “When to Take My Name Off the Door”, circa 1967.

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HMK

Preserve

Preserve is on going project by Mark Spurgeonto of Australia. The goal of the project is to produce a permanent visual record of hand painted building signage in his native land. Sweet!

As Mark explains on the site, many of these signs are being erased from our cityscapes either being worn away by weather over time, covered as buildings have been repainted, disappearing as buildings are demolished or replaced with modern signage equivalents.

The Preserve site is updated regularly with Mark's latest images from New Zealand and Australia and you are invited to contribute to this work also.

Very cool, especially if you're a typography freak like I am!

Enjoy: Preserve!

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HMK