Getting More Out of Font Explorer

I've always been slightly frustrated with my inability to organize my fonts. With most other elements, the use of tags has replaced the cumbersome use of folders.

I'm not entirely on top of what's out there for font management, nor am I in a position to purchase a more robust program, so I decided to get better acquainted with what I do have-- Font Explorer Pro.

Today I've been getting to know Smart Sets, which are quickly becoming my new bff. They're not perfect or completely amazing by any means, however they are certainly light years faster than scouring my nearly 4,000 fonts and organizing them individually.

Smart sets allow the user to group fonts by keywords. Unfortunately, you are at the mercy of the font's creator (whether they were thorough, including every possible field of information, or lazy). You can group them by their name, vendor, manufacturer, designer, etc.

Information is entered in a fashion similar to your "Rules" in whatever mail management app you use. The more you explore your fonts and the info they contain, the more accurate you will be able to make your sets (ie. discovering that particular creator's place their type foundry name under "Copyright" instead of "Manufacturer"). You will also discover more adjectives that might yield more results (ie. my smart set containing sketchy fonts includes anything with the words "sketch, scribble, and scratch").

Smart sets are not perfect, but they are your friend and the more time you get to know them, the better friends they become.

See page 35 of the Font Explorer Pro PDF manual for more information on Smart Sets.

Please, Take A Seat.

Very clever.

Dear Designer, You Suck

Subtraction.com has a cool article about critiquing and I thought it was a good read so I had to share.

Quick highlight:
"…are we really having the kinds of meaningful, constructive, critical discourses that we really should be having? Are we too quick to take offense at the opinions of our peers? Or are we pulling our punches too much when discussing the merits of the work that our peers turn out? To put a finer point on it: are we being honest with one another?"

Read the full article HERE.

Cool Re-branding

Just saw this over at Brand New… Veggietales is being re-branded. I like, what do you think?

Objectified Official Poster

The official poster for the new film, Objectified was released today. Designed by pasty, brilliant British designer, Michael C. Place (we had the pleasure of seeing him speak at the QBN conference a couple years back). Clean and almost soft-spoken, it has an air of timelessness. Available soon.

OFFICE IDEAS Part 5

This one is a doozy, kids.

The Design Process of Mighty Apple

BStark (King o' the Webbies) sent over this rad article on Apple's design process. Highly applicable to any of our larger design jobs, especially the harvest.org overhaul we're doing. If apple is doing it, you know it's a successful guideline.

Best of February

The Uncovering of The Buttercream Gang. This single event was hailed as
"the best thing to happen in February"
by Alex Lopez, on February 5.

Upon hearing a bad 90's tune from Alena's adult top 40, Alex referred to them as "The Buttercream Gang", assuming that I knew what that was. Well, I didn't. So explanation ensued. After wikipedia entries, imdb scouring and a romp through memory lane (provided by youtube). I, like many of my colleagues, have come to a full understanding of the Buttercream Gang. Of course, Dirk and Trever were already in the-know.

So friends, see for yourself, all the glorious majesty of, The ButterCream Gang. (NOW AVAILABLE ON USED VHS!!)

PS Dirk also confessed that as a lil' nipper he remembers thinking the cover of the video was "SO COOL!"

Cubicle from the Future featuring Bearded JACK!

Is this the cubicle from the future we have been waiting for? Did the Island send us this? Could it be just what we need in the new building...with what looks like a lil bearded Jack and a nod to Angela in the background? It features all the things we know and love. The keyboard looks a bit difficult and it could be way too easy to spill my coffee on...heh! But hey its fun to look at.

OFFICE IDEAS Part 4

I have a couple in this post.

#1. This reminded me of Alena's book nook. I love the cozy playfulness of this book hut!




















#2. I know we all have wishes and concerns regarding a place to put recent works and ideas. A permanent home for non-permanent thoughts and inspiration, something that can change and evolve without the unprofessional haphazardness of a refrigerator door. We've talked about ledge shelves, but I really like these Ikea curtain rod cables with clips. I think it fully lends itself to our media— often text-weight prints and scribbles (shelves would work for heavy weight papers and board). It keeps it clean, modular and (budget cuts) ultra affordable.

Check out how cute it looks in Honey & Bloom's office

OFFICE IDEAS Part 3

Look at this lovely furniture in all its glory. Owl treasure trove for all of our design books...or ...WATCH OUT Judas'...the Boar Rack is in town. Possible CD archive holder...Marks personal fav.. Im sure or maybe John Locke's...they can fight over it with their kubatons and knives. These could be a lovely addition for a more rustic approach. Maybe a deer head and we'll call this mountain a day.

OFFICE IDEAS Part 2

What could inspire creativity more than a little nook to read or sketch in?.....Maybe a grassy knoll to have meetings...with a nod to the grassy knoll that was taken out of the school quad.... RIP. Lets post all we find to making our new office a better place to live....even if we know its gonna be cubicles with purple walls and no windows....:o)

Let the designer in you dream....of far off 2D and 3D lands. Whatever that means!