This is (still) a Man's World (and none of my electronics are working)

Due to both faulty scanner and camera issues, I haven't been able to upload the beginnings of my hand-lettering project.  Boo.  I'm working hard to solve the problem, and hoping that I will be able to begin posting soon.  On an unrelated note, my Bamboo tablet also isn't working (what the heck is going on?!).

But fear not!  I haven't been doing nothing- is that a double negative?  Whatever, you get the idea.

For my infographics class, our first assignment of the quarter was to create an entry that fit the criteria of the Poster for Tomorrow competition, yet illustrated the issue using infographics.

This year's Poster for Tomorrow contest is all about demanding gender equality.  Visit their website for more information about the contest/topic: .http://www.posterfortomorrow.org/.   I chose to run with one specific statistic that I found startling.  Of the 500 largest corporations in the world, only 13 have female CEOs.  That's 2.6%.  Dang.

New Project!

I have wanted to get back to doodling and drawing, and with only seven hours of class a week this quarter (woohoo!),  I also have an inordinate amount of time on my hands right now.  So here is introducing my newest project...100 Days of Hand-Lettering.

My goal is to post a few each week until I have reached 100 posts.  Mostly, I wanted to do a project that required me to get away from my computer.  I love Helvetica as much as the next design nerd, but it is fun to explore the abilities of my own hands to create beautiful typography.

So here goes...

Thirsty?

Once again I had the privilege to work with a great commercial photographer, my friend Sarah Miller (holla!), for a collaboration project.  We worked with fruits and veggies to make flavored water for a story designed in the style of Woman's Day magazine.  I love the way the colors of the fruit look together, and Sarah's lighting looks beautiful and refreshing.  Without any further ado, here they are!

I'm going to quit my job and carve vegetables for a living

I created these fronts for two annual events that the Columbus Dispatch's weekend tabloid covers for a publication design class, and yes I did spend an hour and a half carving a ribbon into a zucchini.  It was awesome.

New Sketchbook = Clearer Mind

Along with my lack of designing for me, I have also stopped drawing recently.  I decided this was not okay, and bought a new sketchbook.  I can't wait to fill the pages with all the nonsense that is currently trapped in my head.

Doodle inspiration

These drawings are random, clever, and amazing.

http://www.marcjohns.com/

Water in the desert

Lately I've been feeling incredibly burnt out- especially creatively.  I go to class- I design.  I go to work- I design.  I go home and do homework- more design.  So when I get free time, I don't want to design anymore.  I have let design become something I have to do rather than something I love to do (How sad is that?!).

Thinking that the solution to being burnt out on designing is to do anything absolutely anything except design something, I have wasted many hours playing speed solitaire and watching NCIS marathons,  but I definitely don't feel any more inspired after doing these things; I just feel lazy.

About a week ago, I was sitting on the couch with my laptop and a few minutes of freedom.  I had just gone on a font shopping spree, and wanted to play with my new purchases.  I didn't have a deadline or a client, just a blank inDesign page and some spare time.  Taking several meaningful quotes, I started to play with the typography and something began to take shape.  It was so simple, but so inspiring.  I discovered that in that time I get to do whatever I want, I should create what I want.  This is where the inspiration comes from.  For every one project I do for someone else, I should be doing at least one for myself.

My problem, however, is that I always come up with ideas for projects, but let them fall by the wayside because I get tired and discouraged.  But, this week in my publication design class we watched a Creative Mornings video featuring Kate Bingaman Burt.  Her structured workflow really inspired me because it requires the discipline that I lack, and I have several projects in the works that I am very excited about.

Here's the Creative Mornings video:
http://vimeo.com/31610153