Sep

30

Choosing colors for print and web

Filed Under Books, Color, RESOURCES | Leave a Comment

One of my most frequently asked questions is: “How do I choose the right colors for my next project?”
I often recommend Jim Krause’s Color Index, which offers over 1,100 color combinations–organized by image–plus the CYMK and RGB formulas needed to recreate them using your favorite desktop publishing program.
Color Index is an excellent implementation of […]

Sep

29

Postcard marketing just got easier

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AmazingMail has increased the creative options available at their website.
Not only can you create color postcards in color on your computer, for printing and mailing the next business day, you can now add and format text on top of any of the thousands of stock images available for free from the site.
You can […]

Sep

28

Laura Ries: “Do you use color for postioning?”

Filed Under Color, Events | Leave a Comment

Last week, as producer of the weekly Guerrilla Marketing Association Wednesday night coaching calls, I interviewed Laura Ries, co-author–with her father, Al Ries–of numerous best-selling marketing books, including the Origin of Brands. (Origin of Brands is also the title of Laura’s great blog.)
Laura’s interview revolved around the importance of positioning, particularly in today’s crowded Internet […]

Sep

27

Using Adobe InDesign to set great type

Filed Under Books, Page Layout, Typography | Leave a Comment

Nigel French’s InDesign Type: Professional Typography with InDesign CS2 is an excellent example of relating the why’s of design concepts to the how’s of a specific software program.
Effective design is based on details, and InDesign Type shows how to take full advantage of the program’s extensive capabilities.
Whether you’re a newcomer to InDesign, or an […]

Sep

27

Design and A Writer’s Paris

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One of my most satisfying recent book acquisitions is Eric Maisel’s A Writer’s Paris: A Guided Journey for the Creative Soul.
A Writer’s Paris is perfect example of effective design. It’s small size, textured cover, and bright wrap all attract attention as a counterpoint to the “shouting” that takes place on the crowded shelves of most […]

Sep

27

Ascender Creativity Font Pack

Filed Under Typography | Leave a Comment

Inexpensive Source of Type for Branding Your Messages
One of the best bargains in design is the Ascender Creativity Font Pack
Ascender’s founders have been designing type for general, as well as custom fonts for corporate branding, for many years.
The Ascender Creativity Font Pack costs about the same as a fast food lunch for two, but contains […]

Sep

27

Fast Company’s Third Annual Masters of Design

Filed Under Branding, In the news | 1 Comment

Fast Company Magazine arrived in the mail today, containing the third annual Masters of Design survey.
Great reading, but–once again–the issue focuses on those who create design “at the top” for large corporations, rather than addressing the importance of design literacy throughout corporations–especially small and medium-sized firms interested in becoming large corporations.
As a result, billions in […]