Driven by Design

I recently watched an inspiring online Smithsonian conference session (http://www.smithsonianconference.org/expert/why-design/)  regarding design. While this program examined what I call design with a capital ‘D’ (industrial design, products, environments, etc.), I’m continually questioning how print/graphic design solves everyday problems. And I strongly believe that as a society we take the answer for granted.

For the next few [...]

Perusing the university library where I teach I found a dusty old typography book published in 1961. The once black cover is now faded in bands from 40+ years of being taller than those around it. What struck me as I flipped through is how timeless these effective type solutions are. While I’m constantly searching [...]

Inspired by a great interactive site [http://www.typeisart.com/], a recent project I gave my students, and the ongoing search for typographic distractions from the work I should be doing, I recently embarked on the following explorations.

We see them everywhere – simple pictographic signs that inform us of everything, from where the baggage claim or restroom is to whether a rest area has a picnic or dog-walk area. We take these instructional images for granted; it’s no simple task to create a symbol that transcends language and cultural barriers, that cuts [...]

I’m anticipating the opening of two art shows this month in which I have work exhibited. Both the Siren Nation ‘The Journey’ show in Portland and the Western Oregon University Art Faculty show feature work that was directly inspired by my travels. I was reminded of this article I published some years back… hope you [...]

We’ve all seen them… license plates different from our own standard, ‘default’ design. Don’t get me wrong, moving here after a long detour in Southern California I craved to be among those tall evergreen trees like the one pictured on the standard Oregon plate. But I had no idea what other design options we have [...]

From using cars as a medium of expression to using them as the tools of expression, we just can’t help but connect these two pastimes.

After escaping Southern California, I don’t miss the prevailing attitude that newer and more expensive is better when it comes to our cars. I have to admit, I was thrilled when [...]

The style of car we choose says a lot about us. But I’ve often wondered how related (or unrelated) the style and status afforded by our choice of vehicle is to the design of the mark. I’ve put them into three categories.

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – [...]

I see a lot of freight trucks on the 45-mile stretch of I-5 that constitutes roughly three quarters of my commute. It seems there are far more poorly designed freight identities than well-designed ones. Or perhaps it’s just that I have a hazy recollection (from my many years of researching/teaching graphic design history) of transit [...]