GDS 222: Practice productive procrastination.

I have so many half-finished projects, it's not even funny.  I have overdue presents that I have yet to finish and present to people, a script for a web series that's been hanging over my head for a few years waiting to be written, and a boatload of other things.  I get bored easy.  So, in order to practice productive procrastination, I let my attention span dictate most of my work pattern this week.  I would bounce from one thing to another as I felt like it.  And, honestly, I'm not sure if this one works for me.  It's possible my attention span is just too erratic.  I really got more done when I made myself buckle down.  So...yeah.  Found the first chapter that did not apply.

GDS 222: Don't Throw Any of Yourself Away

I have been a comic book and superhero nut from way back when.  If you offer me a choice between classic literature, like Tom Sawyer, and a graphic novel, chances are I will take both when you aren't looking, but I will read the graphic novel first.  An offshoot of this minor obsession is that I love Saturday morning cartoons!  Specifically, superhero Saturday morning cartoons.  However, since I am now in college and super busy all the time, I often have to use my Saturdays to sleep in, so I miss the cartoons.  It's silly and somewhat stupid, yes, but I miss my cartoons.  So, since the section I chose to emulate this week was about reconnecting with old hobbies and passions, I decided I was going to make it a point to cut some time out of my schedule to watch some cartoons.  I found a channel that still played the old Batman and Superman cartoons from the 90's, and they are even airing old Animaniacs reruns!  It not only made me feel like a kid again, but I swear it charged me creatively in a way that I have not felt in years!  I would highly recommend it for anyone who feels that they need a boost.  Watch some cartoons.  Better than coffee any day.

GDS 172: Funky fresh!

I don't know if this typography poster necessarily has a voice, but it most certainly has a sound and an attitude.  I can't look at this poster without hearing this weird mashup of the 70s, 80s, and 90s sort of funky music in my head.  And that is the exact attitude as well.  Funky.  This is a funky fresh poster.  You want to dance to it because it's almost playing the music for you.

GDS 222: Save Your Thefts for Later

The subsection of "Steal Like an Artist" that spoke to me this week was "Save Your Thefts for Later."  I've been carrying my sketchpad everywhere, and writing, doodling, and recording everything I want to remember.  Recently, my biggest source of inspiration has been coming from a podcast I discovered not too long ago called "Talkin' Toons with Rob Paulsen."  Mr. Paulsen is a very prolific voice actor who has been in the business since the 80's.  Two years ago, he had an idea to start a podcast where he would talk to other voice actors, and they would tell stories and just have fun.  Every time I listen to an episode, I learn something new, and so much of the advice they give is applicable in multiple aspects of life.  Every time I have learned something, I write it down in my sketchbook.  The best part is, the podcast is FREE!  I could keep gushing about this podcast, but you really should just check it out for yourself. 

I think I'll sign off the way Mr. Paulsen does, by saying that laughter is the very best medicine, and the cool thing is you can't O.D. and the refills are free!

GDS 172: Aural Sophistication

I absolutely love how effective the typography is in this ad!  The tagline for this Panasonic DVD Theater system is: "The sound of movies has never been so sophisticated."  This is expressed through the illuminated styling of the letter-forms.  There is a sub-message carried by the typography as well.  Not only is the sound sophisticated, but it is also highly detailed.  While I don't know if the system lived up to this lofty ideal of detail and sophistication, I do see this as a highly effective use of typography.  It enhances the message by making us wonder what sophisticated sound...well, sounds like, and makes us curious as to how this system could be different from others, which is exactly what the advertisers wanted.

Typography: The Neglected Child of the Design Family

I really love this poster for two reasons.  First, it looks awesome.  Second, it is so very true.  Typography is the nearly forgotten element in mainstream design appreciation.  Everyone notices graphics and colors, but not typography.  I mean let's face it.  If everyone appreciated good typography, Comic Sans would not be in use anymore.  However, the fact that type is unnoticed is not necessarily a bad thing.  I've said it before, and I will continue to say it, because I think it is true.  Good typography is unnoticeable.  It's blends in perfectly with a design.  Type that calls undue attention to itself is type that is working against the design.  It's our job, as designers, to make the type invisible...but let's appreciate it anyway.  Type has feelings, too, you know.

"United States, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Haiti, Jamaica, Peru..."

First of all, those who can identify the reference made in the blog title win 1000 internet points.  Just wanted to lay that out there.  As for this piece, I absolutely love it.  Again, it is a wonderful example of how our brain fill in missing bits of type and how clever typography can convey a message with very minimal effort.  I would personally love this on a wall.  Not as framed art, mind, but the full wall.  To me, it's just that good.