Latest Posts from GDF Bloggers
Mike Lenhart | November 14, 2008, 9:50 AMMake A Decision Already!
We've all come up against a client or two who hasn't been able, or willing, take make a decision and sign that blasted contract. We've done all our homework and created a brief and contract that covers everything they are needing for the project and we've even included all the concessions they wanted in order to make it "work for them". OK, how do we get them to confirm? Mike Lenhart | November 4, 2008, 5:28 PM
The Most Eco-Friendly Place in the US
There's been a lot of hype in recent years about all things "green". We're all supposed to recycle, reuse, and compost more than ever. That's good. There's also a push to get our new edifices to comply with newly imposed eco-friendly standards, so we don't hurt the environment so much. That's been occuring a lot. A recent institution has recently reopened as one of, if not the most, environmentally-friendly kids on the block - the California Academy of Sciences. Ben Kessler | October 27, 2008, 2:12 PM
"Like, Oh My God" = "I Am God": Heidi Dangelmaier and 3iying at AIGA's GAIN Conference
This past weekend, The Roosevelt Hotel, a short walk from Manhattan's Grand Central Station, hosted GAIN, AIGA's conference on business and design. Sold out for more than a month, the conference boasted more than 20 extremely accomplished presenters, including big design names such as Brian Collins and Stephen Doyle as well as a few notables from outside the design world, e.g. New Yorker writer and bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell.
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Mike Lenhart | October 23, 2008, 8:02 AMWWYD - "You Stole My Work!"
As designers, we all work very hard every day at coming up with the best and most creative solutions for our clients. Sometimes, it takes a conscerted effort to get the juices flowing and develop original ideas. We do the research, work on the solutions for the project, and refine them down to the best of our ability to be presented to the client. What happens when a colleague, competitor, or someone else out there accuses you of copying or stealing their work? Mike Lenhart | October 21, 2008, 8:03 AM
WWYD - Situation Tabulation
Wow, folks! Thanks a lot for all of the great ideas and opinions on the What Would You Do design situations posted thus far. There's been many mindful and thought-provoking comments and I thought I'd take a few moments to highlight some of them. Overall, you guys are awesome! Please read on... Mike Lenhart | October 13, 2008, 2:02 PM
WWYD - When Your Ethics Come Into Play
All of us have values - and opinions - about various issues in life. This is all OK - it's what makes us who we are and is also one of convenants the Founding Fathers wished for us. Although personal beliefs are very important to us, what do we do when there is a conflict? Even more, what do we do when a client's project has a message that goes against our very core?
Aliyah Marr | October 13, 2008, 2:52 AMCall For Entries -- Submit Your Favorite Site Now
Do you have a favorite 3D and Flash-based site? Aliyah Marr (see her tutorials at Graphics.com/learning) is writing a feature article on the best in 3D and Flash webdesign for the Feb/Mar web issue of Dynamic Graphics magazine. Email Aliyah Marr your selections: Include the URL (link) to the site or part of the site that you like, and why you think the site is great from a design, marketing, or communication aspect. You can nominate any site, including your own.
Website Submissions:
Email Aliyah Marr at: herfullname [at] gmail.com (no spaces).
Deadline: October 25th. Mike Lenhart | October 10, 2008, 8:32 AM
Make Yourself Heard - More Than Ever
Unless you've been living under a rock lately you're aware of the huge fall election this year. There are so many important issues this time around - I hope that you're all registered and will make the time to go to the polls - no matter what your affiliation or views. That being said, I came across some Get Out The Vote posters from an AIGA campaign for the 2004 Elections. They're all really great and can be used for voting motivation in 2008 as well. Chris Dickman | October 7, 2008, 3:25 AM
Have 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!
