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Documenting Design

The CSA Flat File is an ongoing log of current projects from the unbelievably extensive CSA Images archive. When the universe of design inspiration feels like it's expanding at an exhausting rate, sometimes it's nice to rest your eyes on an oasis of flat color and ink on paper. [Images via CSA Flat File]

Documenting Design2020-07-01T17:36:21-07:00

Get Typey with It

Looking for typographic inspiration? We Love Typography is a new one-stop-shop for lettery goodness. Featuring a seemingly never-ending library of all things type – from hand painted script, to super clean sans, to a particularly awesome Willie Nelson bandana – all searchable via keyword or color (oooh). Feast your eyes.

Get Typey with It2020-07-01T17:37:20-07:00

Abandoned Homesteads Photo Project

A few years ago I started photographing old houses. I especially like the ones that are falling down. I'm not a purist and I'm not opposed to using Photoshop. I like to add drama with high contrast and saturation to make them a little more powerful. You just have to wonder... Farmers? Was it good times or bad? Lot's of kids? Why did they leave? Did the well dry up? Did the Dingos take the baby? Cool, creepy, sad and history all rolled up into one photo.

Abandoned Homesteads Photo Project2020-07-01T17:38:18-07:00

Music to Design By

Need fresh music to design or code by? Try one of my favorites, Ghostly International. It’s a great mixture of experimental avant-pop, electronic and ambient, with a selection of nifty abstract and geometric art prints as well. With the music, you can try before you buy with their handy app Ghostly Discovery, available on iOS or via a streaming web app. Adjust the sliders to match your mood and you’re off. If you have money to burn, jump right in with the 30-track ‘We'll Never Stop Living This Way: A Ghostly Primer’, a composite of the label itself. To get the full record experience from a single artist, give one of these a try—in order here from upbeat to nearly ambient—Gold Panda, Tycho or Seattle’s own The Sight Below. [...]

Music to Design By2020-07-01T17:40:54-07:00

My Thrift Shopping Obsessions (3 of 3)

Smoked Glass Somewhere along the line, I picked up a collection of smoked glass. I didn't even know I was doing it. Some pieces I have multiples, some pieces I only have one. I mentioned in an earlier post that I still have room for one more bowl or tablecloth, but unfortunately, that does not stand true for glasses. I once took a count of all drinking vessels—mind you, this includes coffee cups, pint glasses, champagne flutes, and everything in-between—and while I won't tell you the number, it is a 3 digit number. So as you can imagine, my cabinets allocated to drinking glasses are very, very full, but in my defense, the majority of them were purchased at thrift stores, for a dollar or less per glass, and some [...]

My Thrift Shopping Obsessions (3 of 3)2020-07-01T17:41:51-07:00

Mid-Century Design Favorites

I'm a little bit obsessive about design; besides graphic design, I have a special affinity for what are, in my opinion, well designed furniture and housewares. Any object I bring into my life has to be both beautiful and functional; stylish but unfussy. I can obsess over the smallest details, like the shape and depth of the bowl of a spoon, or the legs of a table, or just the right shaped water pitcher. Many modern designers of the 50s and 60s felt this way as well, which is why I am so drawn to designs from that era. Much that falls under the umbrella of mid century modern is both bold and minimal, softened by the use organic shapes, and is often made of a brilliant mix of man-made and [...]

Mid-Century Design Favorites2020-07-01T17:44:57-07:00

My Top 5 Favorite InDesign Features

I work with InDesign every day. It is, without a doubt, my favorite program. Having worked with it since InDesign 2.0, I've learned quite a few ins and outs with the program. While there is always more to learn, here are my top 5 favorite InDesign features. The double click. If you double-click on an anchor point of a text or image box, it will automatically resize the frame to fit the content, whether that be text or an image. If you click on a side anchor point, it will resize the content from that direction; if you click on a corner, it will re-flow the text and resize the frame in what it thinks is the best manner. I especially find this useful for heavily styled text boxes with background [...]

My Top 5 Favorite InDesign Features2020-07-01T17:47:04-07:00

Case Study: Diamo Powersports

Case As a boutique importer in the motorsports industry, Diamo felt distanced from their consumers and overshadowed by huge industry names such as Honda and Yamaha. Establishing a need for custom photography and smart ad placement to drive their marketing efforts, V2Works approached the situation with the experience needed to create a true branded library of image assets that could be leveraged across a wide range of advertising platforms. Strategy In the hugely competitive motorsports market, V2Works recognized the need to move away from simple product shots and towards a fully-realized lifestyle photo shoot. Providing casting services as well as location scouting, we brought in three models to showcase the product in a contextualized setting. Results We provided Diamo [...]

Case Study: Diamo Powersports2020-07-01T16:40:22-07:00

Case Study: Ironmaster

Case After enjoying decades as a leader in the specialized exercise equipment industry, Ironmaster began feeling an increased distance from their customer base, which was further impacted by the economic downturn of the early 2000′s. Facing a need to revitalize and refresh their brand and collateral, they turned to V2Works for a complete brand reassessment. Strategy Ironmaster’s new look needed to be modern and clean while delivering the same emphasis on values and high-quality products that had been their hallmark for over thirty years. Establishing a core library of logo marks, branded colors and graphic elements, we laid the groundwork for a comprehensive suite of engaging marketing materials. Photography was a key element to the job – using our on-site studio, [...]

Case Study: Ironmaster2020-07-01T16:38:27-07:00

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