“Words have meaning and type has spirit,” says Paula Scher. “And the combination is just spectacular.”

Typography is used in advertising and marketing to give “meaning and spirit” to a company’s brand identity.

Part of the PBS web series, “Off Book,” is the short film “Type,” exploring the diversity of typographic expression through conversations with iconic graphic designer Paula Scher, font designers Tobias Frere-Jones and Jonathan Hoefler, the experimental young designer Eddie Opara, and cutting-edge info-graphic creators Deroy Peraza and Julia Vakser.

Watch the full episode. See more Off Book.

Type is the visual representation of our language. It adds shape, texture, mood and feeling to our messages, creating subtle layers of nuance and meaning. As it shapes your brand identity, it also enhances its emotional intangibles. Next time you look at an advertisement, a sign or a logo maybe you’ll see it a little bit differently.

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Who doesn’t love free stuff? CreativePro.com writer Pariah Burke recently posted an article in their “Free for All” series offering 10 InDesign table styles, 12 sans serif fonts, 13 letterpress Photoshop layer styles and three color reference infographics. All for free. Well… almost.

If you want the tables, you’ll have to pony-up with a tweet. StockInDesign service is looking to build their Twitter following with the promise of 10 free table design templates.

This is a great way for any business to help build their brand online. Offering items of real value to a target audience is great way to show what you know and establish credibility and buzz. In this case, tweet cred.  This strategy works well with Facebook and other social media outlets. It also works as a way to drive visitors to your website. That’s a lot a mileage out of a very small investment. It’s a win-win situation. InStockDesign gets increased exposure for their brand on Twitter and you get the free stuff. (more…)

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Crisis management is one of the main concerns of any business involved in social media. Jeremiah Owyang, an industry analyst with Altimeter Group, has published a great report about the preemptive crises management strategy “advanced” companies are using to minimize or avert a public crisis.

Owyang also links to A Chronology of Brands that Got Punked by Social Media, highlighting the social media crises that spurred the research project, as well as the Forrester Groundswell Awards, highlighting excellent and effective use of social technologies to advance an organizational or corporate goal.

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Examples of proposed barcode designs, from left, depict a hand mixer, jelly beans, skyline, school bus and trousers.

I recently read an interesting article by Sarah Nassauer at WSJ.com about vanity barcodes on product packaging. Marketers and package designers have finally made the utilitarian bar code part of the package design and brand message.

One product featured in the article has taken the concept a step beyond by creating a vanity mobile code that consumers can scan using smart phones, providing a direct link between marketers and consumers.

Watch the video below highlighting some of the brands now using vanity barcodes on their product packaging.

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When I was young, I used to try to get my cat to wear clothes, but she was never a runway spectacle. Now I don’t think I could get my cats to wear anything for a New York minute.

These cats are dressed for success, raising money for cat rescue and adoption. Animal Planet’s “Must Love Cats” recently featured the event on their show.

What a great way for cats to show their charm. I can hardly wait until the next show in August. 

 Here are some additional images from the event – also featured in the Gothamist.

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Here’s the beginning of a multipart tutorial that will culminate in a functional WordPress blog.

Chris Spooner’s post, Creating a Stylish Blog Design Layout in Photoshop, shows how to concept a blog design using Photoshop.

Check back at Line25 for further installments of the tutorial.

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I subscribe to a weekly newsletter published by Lost at E Minor. This week’s edition featured images from the BP oil spill posted on the Boston Globe website.  Alongside the images, a poignant comment on how the disaster reflected in these images works as a literary device in our America’s story –– the struggle of nature vs. man. (more…)

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Melissa Harvey of Arlington, Va., won the 2009 Washington Post’s Peeps Diorama contest for NightPeeps—her rendition of Edward Hopper’s famous painting Nighthawks. “I wanted to recreate the bleak urban landscape and the fluorescent light, and add a little pink and yellow,” Harvey told the Washington Post. A graphic designer by trade, Harvey spent 45 hours over two weekends to build the winning diorama.

For the last few years, I’ve eagerly awaited the results of the Washington Post’s Peeps Diorama contest. Of course, this year is no exception. You might be wondering “what’s wrong with her?” and I might be wondering that myself. However, I can’t think of a better use for Peeps than as a vehicle for self-expression and creative outlet.

Now in its fourth year, the contest features Peeps in full immersive environments depicting historical events, moments in art/film/TV as well as original ideas. Check out finalists from prior contests and see this year’s winners here.

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When it comes to good design, you need a combination of advanced technical skills and precious “intangibles” to be successful. And Julie’s got that—in abundance.

As a graphic designer/production coordinator at the LePoidevin Marketing, Julie’s charged with managing print and Web design projects for varied agency clients.

Prior to joining the team, Julie worked as a graphic designer at the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) where she served as art director of US Youth Bowler, USBC’s
600,000-circulation flagship publication for youth members. In addition to her magazine work, Julie designed a variety of membership and collateral pieces for trade shows and other association events.

Julie is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in English.
In addition, she has completed additional training at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and
Design (MIAD).

In addition to being a fine designer, Julie is an avid tennis player. She lives in Milwaukee with her two cats, Isabella and Mani.

To create one’s world in any of the arts takes courage.
—Georgia O’Keefe

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