ocondesign

I ran into this EDM (created by Pmweb) to promote the leading water-park in Brazil. This eBlast shows that “best practices” are not the be all and end all when it comes to designing engaging digital creative. The next time a digital producer or AE tells you to put important content “above the fold” or that the logo needs to be in every frame of your banner ad send them to this post. The eBlast below brakes every rule in the book. But it works. If we want our work to stand out we have to stop letting data drive creative and start thinking outside the box. Sometimes taking layout direction from a digital producer or AE is like taking fitness advice from a couch potato. Not all of them are in good shape.

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In 1980 technology purged many designers from the industry with the introduction of the personal computer. Those that failed to adapt simply didn’t have the skill set to stay relevant or employed in the digital age. Do you know of any “paste-up artist” currently employed? I don’t either. The grim reality is that many designers are at the crossroads again. If print design is the only skill set you bring to the table, I think it’s a matter of 5 years before you are not marketable. Below are 2 videos featuring the future of print design. It’s fascinating, exciting, full of opportunity, and it’s got interactive written all over it.

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Designing a logo can be a painful, drawn out process. For the AWIARE logo (The Alliance for Weedon Island Archaeological Research and Education) inspiration came quickly. Weedon Island and its Archaeological Research Center are truly unique. After visiting the center, I felt privileged to design a logo for such an amazing place. I’d like to share the thought process behind the design of the AWIARE logo.

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Have you heard of a fun little Java Script app called Mouse Path? (The real name is IOGraph) It’s worthless but cool. Mouse Path maps your mouse movements. You simply launch the app and go about your work day. After a few hours go back and save out a image. The lines represent movement and dots represent periods of inactivity (Meetings, lunch, and brainstorm sessions.) Ironically enough the final images are an accurate representation of how my brain feels after a day at the office. I’m sure most of you artsy fartsy types will appreciate it. Below are pictures. and a link if you want to try it yourself.

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Self-proclaimed “Internetainers” Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal put together this amazing stop-motion animation called T-shirt War. Rhett and Link printed graphics on 222 t-shirts and animated the t-shirts interacting with one another using stop-motion. You can visit their site and purchase a one-of-a-kind shirt used in the video for $20-$30 dollars. Each shirt has a single frame printed on it, so no two are exactly alike. The video is worth the click. Enjoy.

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