- 00 March is "Designing Women" Month
- 01 Designing Woman: "A Moment of White Space"
- 02 Designing Woman: Leane K. Wells
- 03 Congratulations SAVVY Winners!
- 04 How to break the creative mental block
- 05 "American Idol" comes to web site critiques!
- 06 Mr. Pixelsmith on Optimization
- 07 60-Seconds: Butterfly, Fly Away
- 08 Tell these web designers what you think
- 09 Spring is "Bustin' Out Allover" with Fonts
- 10 Mail Bag: February tips and woes...
- 11 Call for Entries: DIGITAL ART CONTEST
- 12 Much more news for March
- 13 Mr. Showker Goes To Washington
- 14 Happy March.... "Working Women's Month"
- March is "Designing Women" Month
- Each year, in celebration of "National Working Women" month, we showcase women in the design, illustration, photography and other visual arts fields. We invite those women working in those fields to show their wares in the Design Center.
We kick off this year's Designing Women with two very unique women in the industry: Clare Warmke, HOW Design editor, and Leane K. Wells, freelance designer.
If you are among the world's "Designing Women", let us know if you'd like show off your skills and favorite portfolio pieces! Just visit the contact page and send a link, or tell us what you've got!
http://www.graphic-design.com/contact.html [top]
See Designing Women from past years
- Designing Woman: "A Moment of White Space"
- Clare Warmke is acquisitions editor for HOW Design Books, and although she's not currently a practicing designer, she's certainly influencing the world of design through her many works.
She's the creative consultant for the women-centered web site "SheLikesDVDs.com" and co-author of "Powerful Page Designs." Her latest book "Idea Revolution" (this month's Editor's Choice Book) features the creative tricks and techniques of leading graphic designers.
She has graciously contributed a wonderful article for DTG, "A Moment of White Space" talking about just one of her personal experiences in sparking ideas and the creative process.
http://www.graphic-design.com/DTG/Design/ideas.html [top]
- Designing Woman: Leane K. Wells
- Leane K. Wells is a graphic designer, illustrator and photographer from Indianapolis, Indiana. She joins us in the Design Center Gallery to show off her well honed skills in graphic design, digital imaging, technical illustration, and copy editing. I'd like to point out her superb illustration skills in the technical drawing for ATT. With the age of computers it's getting harder and harder to find good rendering skills of this caliber.
http://www.graphic-design.com/Gallery/leane/index.html [top]
- Congratulations SAVVY Winners!
- Our February "Savvy" Giveaway was a big success, and we'd like to pass along a big THANKS to all who participated. Sorry we couldn't give you all a copy, but we are happy to send out congratulations to:
- D. Hitchcock - from Pittsfield, MA, USA, using both Mac, and PC (entire SAVVY Collection)
- P. Chuprina - from Schomberg, Ontario, Canada, using 400mhz Macintosh G4 (entire SAVVY Collection)
- E. Roberts... from Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.A., using IBM Pentium III and Mac G4 350 Wins: Dreamweaver MX/Fireworks MX Savvy SAVVY
- R. Stewart... from from Spring, Texas, USA, using a Mac, set up specifically for publishing Wins: Flash MX Savvy SAVVY
- J. Burke... from Glendale, CA, USA, using Both Mac, and PC for publishing Wins: Flash MX Savvy SAVVY
- B. Rogers... from Luverne, AL, USA, using PC, general, consumer Wins: Photoshop 7 SAVVY
Congratulations to you all! Keep your eyes on the Design Bookshelf for NEW giveaways soon to be announced!
http://www.design-bookshelf.com/ [top]
- How to break the creative mental block
- One of the most frequent questions we get in creative seminars and conferences is "How do I break the creative idea block?"
This month's Editor's Choice in the Design Bookshelf is Clare Warmke's incredible new book "Idea Revolution." This is a superbly designed and compiled collection of motivational exercises and solutions to virtually every graphic design challenge. It's an inspirational fountain of youth for the creative mind in a rut. More than 100 activities and anecdotes become the spark plugs to fire you into creative overdrive. You say you want a revolution? Read this book!
http://www.design-bookshelf.com/Creative/ideas/index.html [top]
- "American Idol" comes to web site critiques!
- What if "American Idol" style critiques came to web sites -- where Simon, Randy and Paula would critique web pages rather than rock star hopefuls? D. Burns does just that this month with a really fun critique of "Faulty Tower Computing" -- bet you can guess what Simon will say! check it out!
Then two reviewers tackle the "Images That Rock" site and have similar views. Reviewer Karen Cardinal brings along actual screens of suggested makeovers! Don't miss Karen's Review, then link into Robert Lattery's review for further investigation!
Superb reports -- well worth your time!
Also this month, Bennie C. Taylor is back with an insightful look at the Chihuahua Dogs web site observing that it needs identity clarity and optimization. (We agreed and turned it over to Mr. Pixelsmith to do his thing with the graphics. I think you'll enjoy this one!
Others include:
1. Airshows America (1)... tips and pointers to "professionalize"
2. Airshows America (2)... clean and tidy, needs organization
3. Nethermind Gallery... may be trying too hard
4. Cedar Rapids site... hard work pays off
5. Planetpals Earthzone... hidden stalkers may offend visitors.
Enjoy this month's web site critiques -- and please, review a site and share your opinions and constructive comments with the site owners and DTG readers!
Web Design and Dev http://www.graphic-design.com/Web/Critique/index.html [top]
- Mr. Pixelsmith on Optimization
- This month Mr. Pixelsmith got involved with one of our web site critiques, and decided to analyze the Chihuahua Dogs web site and see just how much download time could be saved with some gentle optimization. It's amazing to see sometimes how many graphics on a web page can add up to a considerable slow-down in loading. Take a look at Mr. Pixelsmith's analysis, and watch as he performs his magic on these graphics.
http://www.graphic-design.com/Web/PixelSmith/optimizing.html [top]
- 60-Seconds: Butterfly, Fly Away
- 60-Second Window this month asks where does that blue butterfly send all those spammers? You've seen the ads - the MSN butterfly sending spammers through a trap door? But, what happens next? Here's an email a reader sent in for us to ponder.
http://www.60-seconds.com/articles/151.html [top]
- Tell these web designers what you think
- We have an interesting mix of sites to review this month -- 87 in all -- from bicycle sites to churches. Some have requested very specific help.
The author of "The Shrubbery" humor/satire/entertainment site writes in to say: "I'm thinking about redesigning the web site, and I'd like to know how much of the design should be saved and how much scrapped." That should be an easy one for you to help out with!
One you all need to visit is the "Coloring Therapy" web site dedicated to the therapeutic benefits of coloring (with felt tipped markers in a coloring book). WOW - I love that concept! But has their concept brought across the point to the visitor?
The Courier-Tribune community newspaper in Asheboro, NC. says "We have tweaked the print paper and are looking to tweak the online version."
The authors of the "Bardic Theatre" web site -- a community theater in Northern Ireland -- asks if they were successful with "an overall design meant to be restrained and simple, using color." Take a look, see what you think.
Lehman's Accent Lighting Designs submitted their web site noting "It's my personal website, not for profit" -- would you agree?
As a side note, we had six web owners with nerve enough to submit their blatantly "adult" (aka: porno) web sites for review. Amazing! We took great relish in hitting the delete button!
There are many to chose from, in all of a dozen different topics. Please stop in and give them the eye. Your comments, suggestions and critique will be greatly appreciated!
http://www.graphic-design.com/Web/Reviews/index.html [top]
- Spring is "Bustin' Out Allover" with Fonts
- Good friend and colleague Chuck Davis has been busy in the Letterheads site and has sent us a whole list of new font creations -- both commercial and freeware! What I liked best is the new gallery showing knock-out samples of their fonts in use for dazzling signage of all kinds. We'll give you the full details in this month's &Type! column
http://www.graphic-design.com/Type/index.html [top]
- Mail Bag: February tips and woes...
- RB from New York, NY, writes in to say:
"Hello Hope you can help. I work in Career Services at Parsons School of Design, we are working on a project and would very much like to include recent positive quotes from well known publications, newspapers and/or high profile designers about the future of graphic design."
Send in your answers to this request and we'll pass them along to RB.
A reader in Anniston, Alabama writes in to say:
"Mr. Pixelsmith says "I use the browser's 'Info' command to get the statistics of the page" in his critique of the dog site. It is embarrassing for me to admit this, but I have no idea where to find the "Info" command. Can you enlighten me?
I asked Mr. Pixelsmith if he would share his 'secret' and he replied:
"When working up an article, I always check the site with several browsers. Cross-checking in this fashion tells me if I've overlooked anything, or if any statistic is mistaken. Generally the browsers agree. Unfortunately Internet Explorer does not have an accurate way to gather page statistics. For that I use an older version of Netscape. Under the "View" menu, you pull down and select "Page Info".
JK from Cincinnati, Ohio writes:
"i am trying to get hold of Tech-M's ClipNicks disk set of (Egyptian Hieroglyphs). I have been trying for a week 5 and 6 times a day to telephone them using the phone number you have on your web page. Can you help me"
Yes, we've had a number of requests for that information as well as the "ClickArt" and T-Maker clip art. Unfortunately folks, all three businesses are no longer in operation and cannot be reached. Interestingly enough, Mr. K already had the disks but could not retrieve the EPS files component of the set. I assisted him, and hopefully now he's on his way. Did it come out okay, Mr. K?
IS from Port Elizabeth, South Africa writes:
"I'm doing Digital publishing at the moment and need information about the legal process and documents needed to protect my work. Please could you tell me basically how you do so. Any help is appreciated! Thanks!
Mr. S, I hesitate to lend legal advice not knowing the laws of South Africa, however you can certainly read up on intellectual property rights, which I think are fairly universal in theory -- if not in practice.
http://www.graphic-design.com/DTG/Business/Gallagher.html
http://www.graphic-design.com/DTG/Business/yourrights.html
Folks, wish we could share more (out of 1,700+ emails last month) but we've run out of time. Remember, we do reply to many of your email requests each day. Thanks for writing!
http://www.graphic-design.com/contact.html [top]
- Call for Entries: DIGITAL ART CONTEST
- The 6th Annual Macworld Conference & Expo Digital Art Contest is now accepting entries. This international juried competition is open to all Macintosh digital artists working in 2D and 3D. 30 images will be chosen and premiered at Macworld Conference & Expo in New York City at The Javitz Center, July 16-18 2003. The gallery will also travel as an exhibition to art galleries nationwide and to Macworld Conference & Expo/San Francisco 2004.
The deadline to enter is May 16, 2003. For information, rules and regulations and to access the PDF entry form, please see the Macworld Conference & Expo Digital Art Contest and Gallery web site.
http://www.macworldexpo.com/gallery [top]
- Much more news for March
- Of course we can't include everything in this newsletter -- that's why we invented the "&Else" column, one of the most popular monthly columns since 1990! This month:
* Aunt Abigail comes to the aid of new digicam owners * Very cool labeling for CDs, cases, discs and more * Special Deal on Mac Addict Magazine * A Breahthrough In Image colorization * Overstressed? Try a little Atmosphere * Blackjack Gold for Mac users * Instantly hide and restore application windows * Free Course on Network IP Cameras * askSam 5.1 Improves Email Import and Adds Features . . . and more!
http://www.graphic-design.com/news/2003/ [top]
- Mr. Showker Goes To Washington
- As you may already know, I've been an avid and visible UCE fighter since the old days of email when UCE was called "spam". Those of you who have been with us since coming to the web in 1994, that we were one of the first web sites to launch an anti-spam campaign, offering downloadable web graphics against spam. Today, public awareness of the problem of UCE is greater than it has ever been. I encourage you to help spread the anti-spam message. Download the icons and display them proudly:
http://www.graphic-design.com/PubWarehouse/No-Spam.html
This coming April 30 - May 2, I'll be participating in the Federal Trade Commission's Public Forum on Spam Email. You can get all the details about this historic event at the FTC web site:
http://www.FTC.gov/
It's an open, public event, and if you're in the D.C. area, I encourage you to come and add your voice to the movement against UCE. Believe it or not, the pro-spammers will be there in force to defend their practice of UCE. It should be an interesting time, and you can bet I'll report back with information and photos from the event.
If you are a Macintosh computer user, I encourage you to add your vote, and support through your national advocacy organization The Association of Apple Computer Users & Groups. Become a member, and help support the association's efforts in Washington, and well as efforts to educate the public through user groups across the country.
http://www.user-groups.net/safenet/UCE/define_uce.html [top]
- Happy March.... "Working Women's Month"
- March, the month for money, success, fresh growth and women. Forget for a moment about St. Patrick's Day. In 1910, Clara Zetkin, speaking at an international women's conference in Helsinki, declared March 8th as "International Working Women's Day" in commemoration of the day in 1857 when female garment workers in New York City marched in protest of low wages and bad working conditions.
For those of you in the arts, it's "Music in Our Schools Month" and "National Crafts Month."
For those of you into doing good, it's "American Red Cross Month" and "Mental Retardation Awareness Month," -- the first week is "Help Someone See Week."
For pet owners it's "National Professional Pet Sitters Month" and March 1st is "Pig Day." For Parents, it's "National Talk To Your Teens About Sex Month." For all computer software and support companies out there, it's "National On-Hold Month" to recognize everyone who has been placed on hold. Speaking of on hold... where would we be if it weren't for March 10. Think about this for a minute: on March 10, 1867, in the town of Cambridge, Ma, Alexander Graham Bell called his assistant in the next room "Mr. Watson, come here, I want you..." making it the very first telephone call in history!
In a vote of support for the AACUG and their spam-fighting initiative, we're featuring their home town, Dallas Texas, this month -- so, here's to you, Dallas, in the Lone Star state!
Stay in touch folks, and have a wonderful March.
-
Fred
your loyal editor
http://www.graphic-design.com/news/index.html
- Oh, and don't forget my BEST BOOKS FOR 2002
-
GO TO: http://www.Design-Bookshelf.com/BEST/
- ...also don't miss these. . .
-
- Limited-edition Indie Fonts book
-
Information Graphics - by Ronnie Lipton
-
Graphically Speaking
-
The Art of Design
-
The Encyclopedia of the Future
- Folks, we can't help you if you don't cooperate...
Each month accesses (looking for that new EPS clip art disk) and prize registrations are denied in the Publishers'Warehouse.
Why? Because the email address keyed into the Loading Dock request was incorrect, or no longer in use. I find it hard to believe that people would register for something and then drop the address.
Remember: no spaces, correct spelling. Dozens of AOL users didn't put in "@aol.com" -- remember: name@aol.com, no spaces. (We assume they were AOL since they had no "@" indicator.)
Remember too, that the loading dock changes locations each month. You'll find the clue you need to the new location in each issue of this column.
Don't forget to write.
... http://www.graphic-design.com/contact.html [top]
- Join us for discussions:
- Here's an invitation to you all to join us in discussions about graphic arts, design, illustration, or just about whatever might be on your mind. You can take your pick of the Design Cafe, or the WebDesign Review list, or both. We'll be looking forward to meeting you there real soon...
* Go To: http://www.graphic-design.com/subscribe.html [top]
- Help the community do something about spam...
- Do you get spam? Do you wish you didn't?
The Design Center is helping sponsor a SPAM SURVEY conducted by the Association of Apple Computer Users & Groups. The organization is chartered for community service, education and legislation advocacy for technology. SPAM is one of the big issues they hope to take to Washington D.C. this year, and they need YOUR help. Go there and fill out the simple, secure and safe SPAM SURVEY. It will help them gather data for their UCE Presentation.
* Go To: http://www.user-groups.net/submit.html
- Speaking of spam... read this:
- Top Ten Signs You're About to be RIPPED OFF
Fred tracks the illusive spammer! With the influx of thousands of new UCEs ('Unsolicited Commercial Email" -- aka: SPAM) hitting the Graphic Design Network servers, our spam-hunting team decided to track a few of these low-lifes down, and find out where it's all coming from.
* Go To: http://www.60-Seconds.com/articles/130a.html [top]
- Keeping in touch
-
Thank you for visiting the Design & Publishing Center's online newsletter for DT&G. You are currently reading the Editor's column, where each month Editor and Chief Fred Showker writes, from the heart, about what's happening in the Design Center. Contents Copyright (c) 2003, Reproduction or reuse of parts or all of this manuscript without prior written permission is expressly forbidden. The Design & Publishing Center is the product and trade name for Showker, Inc., in Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA, trading as Showker Graphic Arts & Design -- a Virginia State Corporation since 1972. DT&G: The Online Journal of Design, Typography & Graphics has been distributed continuously each month since May of 1990, originally on the GEnie and CompuServe networks, then on America Online, and in 1993 on Apple Computer's "EWorld", migrating to the internet world wide web in 1994.
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