Category: Design

  • Volaticus: Don’t design a logo before you’ve booked a gig

    In high school a few friends and I started a band. We called ourselves “Volaticus” and knew we were on the brink of rock band fame and glory. Shortly after our first gig we had designed up a logo and were dreaming about making t-shirts and stickers. Unfortunately Volaticus never survived past its second performance.…

  • Dick Bruna: The Art of Simplicity

    My wife’s been ordering Dutch children’s books for Olivia (they’re supposed to help her learn Dutch, but I can guarantee you she won’t be the only one in the house learning from these). In the process I’ve been learning about the classic books that Anna and many other Dutch kids have grown up with. There are…

  • Helvetica: A Type of Story

    Yesterday I watched Helvetica the documentary. A movie about a font?!? Well, depending on how you’re wired, it might be a lot more interesting than you think. I know it sucked me in (but I guess I’m a bit of a nerd, so don’t my word for it). Here’s the trailer. I’m obviously a typomaniac……

  • Simplicity Sticks

    When I was in the sign-making business, I enjoyed analyzing company signs and billboards. I noticed that the simpler the sign was, the more it would get noticed. If a sign was filled with small text, multiple logos, and lots of slogans or contact info, the message would get lost in the shuffle. Less was…

  • Time, Effort, and Stamina

    I’ve usually thought, probably like most people, that creative people are born creative. Amazing musicians and artists can’t help but be amazing. And if you don’t got it, you just don’t got it. (And man, that August Rush kid had it! ….I got so irritated by that movie…). So I would poke around, hoping to…

  • Read “Newslettering” on Scribd

    Newslettering: Creating Effective Newsletters With Love Scribd picked up my eBook! Ok, getting published by Scribd is like getting picked up by youTube, but here it is anyway, for your viewing pleasure. (BTW, Scribd is great for any PDF file sharing, try it out!). Thanks for all the positive feedback about “Newslettering”, I’m glad some…

  • Newslettering: Creating Effective Newsletters With Love

    Friends, I’d like you to meet my first eBook! Download “Newslettering” here. (in some browsers, right-click to save) When I joined Youth With A Mission in 2002, I realized that one of my most important tasks, though not in the “missionary” job description, was communicating with friends, family and supporters about what I was up…

  • My first eBook ships tomorrow!

    Maybe a year ago or so I discovered the ebook. I’ve loved how Seth Godin has been giving his ideas away via the ebook for a while and David DuChemin’s ebooks about photography are inspiring and helpful. Ebooks are a low-cost, fast, efficient way to share ideas. They can also look really amazing. And now…

  • Logo Design: Kansas City Carpet Care

    I enjoy the process of designing a logo – understanding what the client wants their logo to represent and putting the pieces together in a simple and memorable icon. I spent my mid- to late-teenage years cutting vinyls and installing them on vehicles and signs, so I can appreciate the use of simple images and…

  • The Creative Process: Just Do It

    Over the past few months I’ve been reading a lot about developing creativity. I’ve been inspired by those who make great books, photos, videos, and talks, and have wanted to stretch and grow my creativity, particularly in the area of graphic design. One of the big obstacles to my growth has been my perfectionism, I…