Design Thought Bubbles

Have you ever been to a bar with your buddies hanging out, dancing, having fun with others of your age group when you notice something … ok, someone … who is out of place? You can usually spot this person in a corner or right in the middle of the floor wearing clothes that were in style five years ago, wearing too much makeup, they are too loud, too drunk and suffocating in their cologne or perfume of choice, not to mention they are trying very hard to fit in by dancing the cabbage patch or running man. This random person has many names: old timer, swinger, pervert, Mrs. Robinson, Dad – but basically they are just a bit too old to be hanging with the in group. This is what is happening to the Swoosh. Let’s just say the swoosh has become last year’s prom queen. She still looks good but is just not as in-style as before. Not to mention she has kind of become the village bicycle as in everyone has had a ride. More

Thrill seeking has always been a pastime of humans. Some like to ride roller coasters, letting the G-forces throw their stomachs into their throats and let the wind blast their faces and lungs all while safely strapped and barred into a coaster car. Others would rather rock climb, letting their lives dangle by a ropes and harnesses as their fingers grasp at an inch of rock, all for fresh air and being one with nature. Then there are those who would rather hurl themselves out of planes and drop thousands of feet with a hint of uncertainty whether their parachute will truly open or not. But these common life-threatening thrills are nothing compared to those who like to wait ‘til The Last Minute. More

What do Photoshop and onions have in common? They can make you cry and they have layers. Recently a trend has appeared featuring layouts with tons of overlapping swirls, shapes and colors that create amazing textures. After creating a few of these I realize I love layers. Well, I love them when I remember to keep adding new ones, or else it’s time to cry with tons of “Undos.” More

Doodles – I love them, can’t find a single notebook or binder from my scholastic career that doesn’t contain at least one page of notes with an interesting story of doodles to frame it. Now that I am in the Mommy-and-Daddy-Working-World-of-Design I have found that my doodling skills of youth are most helpful. Sometimes they are used to convey an idea. Other times they are used to get the bad ideas out of my head so that the good ones can emerge. Sometimes I have used them along with research to scribble an idea that I want to reference later. I use them the most when it comes to page layouts and preliminary logo designs. More

When I was younger and I heard the word research I would cringe, usually because it was followed by the word “paper.” Spending hours slaving over some subject that I really wasn’t interested in to crank out a grade was … well … boring.  More