August 27, 2019
Strategic Adjectives
When in the beginning stages of a design, I recommend using descriptive words before you settle on colors and imagery. READ MORE
Design Strategy
December 15, 2015
Creative Process
“Think about it . . . deeply. Then forget it. And and idea will jump up in your face.”
—Don Draper, Mad Men
The creative process can be used to achieve any goal, whether business or personal. Once you have a clearly defined goal or problem follow these steps:READ MORE
December 15, 2015
Design Strategy
design: to form or conceive in the mind for a definite purpose
strategy: a plan for obtaining a specific goal or result
More and more companies are using design strategy as a business tool. Design is more than making something look nice superficially. It is a creative process that has a clear goal in mind, and identifies steps to reaching it. Good design is also beautiful because it is focused, unified in purpose, and easy to understand. Excellent design can excite people and even create a passionate bond.READ MORE
September 3, 2015
Spotlight on Massimo Vignelli
A few years back I had the sublime pleasure of seeing Massimo Vignelli speak at a design conference. I snapped this photo with my phone when his definition of graphic design came up on the screen. Vignelli passed away this year, so it’s a good time to reflect on his career. You have seen his work— from his New York City subway map, to the classic American Airlines logo, to his melamine dinnerware for Heller. You can view some of his designs on Pinterest.READ MORE
April 1, 2015
Why Design on a Grid?
Think of the grid as the design’s skeleton; you can’t see it, but it gives structure to what you do see. The majority of publication and web designers arrange type and images on a grid. The viewer doesn’t see the grid lines, but can see evidence of them in the rows and columns throughout.
February 18, 2015
Growing Opportunities for Design Consulting
John Rousseau of Creative Review makes the case for expanding opportunities for design consultancy—as long as a few challenges can be overcome.
Introducing design into existing companies is complex and expensive. For the best results, design thinking cannot be treated as a fad to be discarded for the next business fad that comes along.READ MORE
June 4, 2014
Design Strategy: Case Studies
Designers don’t just make web pages and publications look nice. Good design is all about effective communication. While aesthetics is one side of that coin, strategy is the other. Design strategy is designing with a purpose: targeting an audience, understanding how they think, and creating work they find attractive and engaging. It makes communication focussed, unified in purpose, and easy to understand.READ MORE
August 9, 2013
Designing a Logo
This is a real world example of the creative process at work. READ MORE
April 21, 2012
Case Study: Selling More Chocolate
from the Wall Street Journal article by Elizabeth Holmes
When Godiva wanted to get people to eat more chocolate, it had an 85-year brand history to overcome.