Outside The Margin

Cyber Monday Discounts Extended :: Calendars by @VintageImg

Deep Discount on 2012 Calendars, Today Only at Our Vintage Image Zazzle Store

Use Code: CYBERTUESDAY

Viva la Révolution! @CreativeProse #Design

via creativepro.com

Another timely curation and commentary regarding the marriage of graphic design and social movements. #OWS

For Everyone Who Needs A Pick-Me-Up: YOU MATTER

A [Short] Social Media Story: "Thanks & Giving" @AquaTally

I’ve rediscovered swimming laps after a VERY long hiatus. When we were planning our return to Chicago, I promised myself that I’d join the DePaul University Fitness and Recreation Center, under the alumni rate, because “the Ray” has a six lane indoor pool. 

Well, like the turtle, I’m making progress to strengthen and increase stamina, I swim laps for 20-30 minutes about 3 times per week. Walking or biking back and forth is a damn good workout. (Please note that I have hypothyroid-induced asthma so just swimming one length of the pool might be considered an achievement.)

Occasionally, I’ll drop a tweet about my swimming activities, a few weeks ago, someone noticed.

The inventor of @AquaTally sent me a reply — kinda sales-y, but I checked out his website.

Aqua Tally, invented by Cody Ramthum, is a swimming lap counting which works like an abacus. “Sticks to the side of pool and swim away.” I passed along a tweet because I thought the @AquaTally was a pretty cool device and serious swimmers might find it useful.

Like-minded people, helping each other.

This week, I received a tweet from @AquaTally informing me that I would receive one as a gift. Now, I’m not anywhere near the number of laps (yet) where I think I’ll lose count of my laps.

So I dropped Cody an email expressing my gratitude and asked that it be donated to a local youth swim club/school instead. (Having a device like this when I was on high school swim team sure would have been helpful when the coach said we didn’t do enough laps.)

Here’s the GIVING part of my story:

Cody told me that he’s donated 10 Aqua Tally’s to the Sumner County YMCA (Tennessee). Cody has also been awarded Volunteer of the Year at said “Y” for recognition of his time helping children in his community learn to swim and compete in meets. He invented the Aqua Tally while training for an Iron Man competition to keep track 2+ mile distance.

Did I mention 10% of each sale is donated to the YMCA.

Cody, you are an inspiration. Thank you.

If you’re a swimmer, check out the Aqua Tally (http://www.aquatally.com) for more information.

For The Trees #49 Wall Calendar

For The Trees #49 2012 Calendar by vintageimage
sell my posters online at Zazzle.

Probably one of my favorite images from @VintageImg "Can't See the Forest Through the Trees" collection in which I produced three poster-style 2012 calendars. Available via our Zazzle storefront:

"Why creative writing is better with a pen" | Books | guardian.co.uk

via guardian.co.uk

I feel the same about sketching; pick up paper, pencil and the kneaded eraser (of course).

"Made In Detroit" Edition: Classic Hood Ornaments

When I was curating images from Dominic's VAST image library for to create next year's calendars, I realized I could develop multiple series.

This 2012 calendar features classics from Ford, Chrysler and General Motors, plus a few domestic automakers that don't had a short life-span.

"Made In Detroit" Classic Hood Ornaments :: 2012 by vintageimage

Mining Image Libraries to Visualize Complex Concepts

When a client doesn’t have an image library or it lacks sufficient images for the project, accessing image libraries (even the micro stock) can be a designer’s best go-to resource. I’ve been told that the value I bring to the table is my ability to visualize a complex idea. Utilizing key words for concepts forces me to dig deep into the millions of images available while avoiding the clichés that are so prevalent.

• How much time do you invest in image searching for a client project?
• Do you include that time into your quote?
• Does your client ‘value’ the research? Or, is it assumed?

Two current client projects required image searches about concepts versus objects, which can be very challenging.

Client A (regional rank) key words:

• Integrity
• Professional
• Value-Added
• Innovative
• High-Growth
• Disciplined
• Customized Solutions
• Unique Product Offering

Every designer or creative director would have a different set of triggers, but this was a partial list derived from the AE and initial consultation for the project.  Since this project is a senior management (CEO/CFO) presentation, I opted for texture and elegance and will use images selectively. Initial review of my comps will happen early next month. Hope I nailed it!

Here’s another sample, Client B in a completely different industry:

• Blue
• Technology
• Server Warehouse
• Server Farm
• Fiber-optic
• Software
• Global
• Trading Partners
• High-tech
• High growth
• Abstract

Esoteric and abstract for a niche market segment. And the style choice of the decision maker are major factors.  I’ve had two lightbox reviews for Client B, the first contained a small selection so I could assess initial direction and style triggers. The second lightbox contained numerous selections and we pared down to a set, which I believe will compliment and intensify the content.

So, I’m curious, does your client ‘value’ image research? Is it an integral part of your creative process?

Design, Digitize and Distribute

10.18.11 Update: I recently learned PDFs are, and have been since 2001, indexed by Google.

I'm interested in how businesses can distribute and share their documents & publications across various platforms, versus keeping a monthly newsletter trapped in its PDF filing cabinet or parked in an email. We're now able to publish on platforms that are accessible to our audience regardless of device. Additional products/services will be rolled out over the next few weeks, too.   As a designer who enjoys the convergence of text + imagery, I've been concerned about quality on your monitor, smart phone or tablet; but I think that argument is mostly extinguished as technology improves every day.

Creative Aces' Digital Publishing Services is on online publishing, viewer and analytical platform powered by Issuu. The features offered at PRO level have the potential to increase readership and feedback from your own list plus Issuu's 33 Million monthly readers. As we begin to bridge the desktop-to-tablet technology, additional features of this platform include:

• Customize the viewer with logo, icons, colors, animations
• Remove the advertising sidebar on embedded and standalone publications
• Newsstand/library to display and monetize your publications
• Organize documents and distribute your content
• Bulk upload for uploading hundreds of publications
• Auto-embedding to automatically embed latest edition
• Detailed statistics and reporting
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and high Google ranking
• Active links to websites, email links and advertisers
• Add audio/video to your documents or presentation

We can get the process started with previously published documents and begin building a library of materials outside of the corporate server or a "jump drive."

Here's a just a few ideas: Investment profile or white paper, quarterly earnings presentation, sales presentation, annual report, monthly newsletter, portfolio, "look" book, etc. in which we could build a direct marketing campaign and track the results.

Joann

Creative Inspiration: Marian @Bantjes, Graphic Designer

And, if you're seeking additional insight into her genius, watch her TED Talk: