Latest Posts from GDF Bloggers
Chris Dickman | October 7, 2008, 3:25 AMHave a Happy Animated Birthday
The French have a mania for injecting culture into some of their oldest and most notable architectural environments, with a greater or lesser degree of success. Here in Lyon, for example, one of the largest and best preserved Roman amphitheaters plays host every year to an ambitious season of music, dance and theater. You can sit on the ancient stone seats, with the city and the hills beyond stretching out into the distance, as I did one evening this summer during Leonard Cohen's farewell concert tour. A magical moment.
Mike Lenhart | October 6, 2008, 2:23 PMI Sincerely Apologize...
...to all of you Commenters on my blog posts. After all this time of feeling isolated and less-than because I supposedly wasn't receiving any comments, I found out that it was all my fault. What an idiot. After poking around and asking some questions, I found out how to get the 164 comments posted.
Thank you so much for your comments, and keep 'em coming!
Ever so humbly,
Mike
Mike Lenhart | October 5, 2008, 9:44 AMWWYD - Situation 2
So now we're into the second of our series, What Would You Do? Since the first one had such an overwhelming response (?) I felt it was time to place another situation in the mix for you all to think and comment about. This one has to do with that ever-maddening situation, The Rejection... Susan Kirkland | September 27, 2008, 4:47 PM
Health Insurance for FREELANCERS
Down & Out
My worst nightmare became reality when I hurt my back. I had been freelancing for about 3 years, but still hadn't accumulated enough regular work to buy health insurance. Besides, I had jobs with design studios and small companies at various times during my career that didn't provide employee benefits, so it wasn't something I missed. It's a common occurence in the commercial art industry; margins are so tight, many employers simply cannot meet the rent, pay the salaries and offer a competitive benefit package. Freelance teaches you a deep appreciation for employee benefits, but perhaps not enough to give up freedom (yes, put on your best Mel Gibson blue face, thank you).
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Ben Kessler | September 25, 2008, 10:15 AMThe TONY 40 Whitewash
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Chris Dickman | September 19, 2008, 12:35 PMI'm a... Whatever
So, did you think the first two Microsoft ads sucked? Personally, the first one left me spinning in circles, while the second one seemed like a remake of Un Chien Andalou set in suburbia. But with the latest phase of this campaign, we seem to be on firmer ground.
Mike Lenhart | September 15, 2008, 9:53 AMHello? Anybody Out There? - Let's Get Those Fingers Moving
I know you're out there - I can hear you breathing - or clicking. I've been writing entries for GDF for a LONG time now and I think I talk about some interesting, and relatively benign, topics in the graphic design and literary worlds. I also know that many of you read my posts - or at least skim through them or maybe look at the pictures. But, there's one thing that really bugs me that would make me feel like I'm getting something back - COMMENTS!
Chris Dickman | September 9, 2008, 3:36 AM
Chaos Revisited
I last featured the extraordinary Demeure du Chaos—literally Abode of Chaos—over two years ago. Rather than rehash that long post, I encourage you to give it a quick read before proceding, since it provides the background on an artistic call to arms recently launched by Demeure creator and lead artist Thierry Erhmann.
Mike Lenhart | September 5, 2008, 8:48 AMAll The Signs Are There
Chronicle Books sent me a book by Laurence King Publishing on the art of signs. Not just any signs, but street signs, road signs, and building signs. This book covers the art of typography associated with the signs we all see everyday - but maybe not really appreciate.
Longing For The Old Emigre
Chris Dickman | August 29, 2008, 9:50 AM
Lies, Damn Lies and the Art of Chris Jordan
Chris Jordan is a Seattle-based photographer who is receiving growing acclaim for his series of dramatic images devoted to what one usually thinks of as the driest of all topics: statistics. But not just any statistics. Jordan has chosen to visually demonstrate the wildly out of control nature of our consumer culture through photographic constructs that bring home the numbing statistics that express the scope of our ravaging consumerism.
Mike Lenhart | August 24, 2008, 8:59 PMThe Rings Are Moving On
As you all know, the summer Olympics in Beijing are pretty much a memory. Granted, with all the controversy and foul air swirling around the Games, and some blatant examples of poor sportsmanship, they still came off pretty well.
From a visual guy's perspective - mine - I was really impressed with the branding of this year's Olympics and how the Beijing logo and associated imagery were tastefully placed all over the venue scenery. The Chinese got that right. What can happen at the next Olympics, say in Vancouver or London?
Chris Dickman | August 21, 2008, 10:40 AM
Design Contests on Graphics.com
For the uninitiated, it may come as a surprise to hear that Graphics.com plays host to four ongoing design contests and challenges. While they all have in common a connection with a Jupiterimages stock content site, each provides a different way for you to participate and express your creativity, whether graphically or from a design perspective, ranging from an open-ended approach to those that have quite rigorous requirements. They're all fun to participate in and provide a way to stretch out a bit, freed from the day-to-day rigors of paid work. They also offer the potential to take home subscriptions to Photos.com, AbleStock.com or liquidlibrary.com.
Mike Lenhart | August 16, 2008, 8:44 AMA Creative's Eye Exam
I've always been fascinated by optical illusions. I've never been able to create one myself, but I marvel at those constructed by those who can. Recently, I came across some optical illustions, some classic, some rather new, and wanted to share some of them with you. As designers who look at a computer screen all the time, I think it's good to exercise the mind and eyes during the day.
Mike Lenhart | August 9, 2008, 9:26 AM
And What A Gate It Is!
It's been awhile since I've had a chance to review a book for GDF, but I recently recieved an informative piece of literature from Chronicle Books that I just had to write about. It's all about the history (and mystery) of the Golden Gate Bridge. Being a local myself, I wanted to not only review the book, but also have a chance for a little nostalgia for the City where my heart is.
