random inspiration

ouuus and ahhhs

2012-01-24T21:04:00.004-08:00

out of this world beautiful. the solar flare that's causing them sounds a bit dodgy though...

sandwich artist

2012-01-18T09:01:00.007-08:00

thinking outside the lunchbox. by low-commitment projects, "making stuff happen with little time and energy" - yes please. via swiss miss Can you guess the artists?

(ANS: Top to bottom: Mondrian, Rothko, O'Keefe, Pollock)

crumpet

2012-01-16T22:43:00.003-08:00

found on flickr

milton glaserisms

2012-01-16T22:36:00.004-08:00

some of my favorites.

smart cards

2012-01-14T09:47:00.004-08:00

these aren't new but i love the designer humor, one part useful/one part witty motherfucker. paul sahre's office sits above a dunkin donuts. obvious, right?

update

2012-01-13T16:09:00.005-08:00

bigger blog images! unless i'm missing something, blogger makes it incredibly difficult to post photos larger than 400 px. If anyone knows a fancy trick or a better blog host, let me know because I refuse to go back and manually edit every post.

love and cocktails

2012-01-13T10:37:00.014-08:00

i'm pretty excited to marry jamie. and having so much fun planning our cocktail reception. i did an illustrated pattern last night, but i'm trying to leave it at that for now because i want the invites to be a collaborative design from both of us. i started a pinterest board for inspiration too. it's possible i'm over excited.

PS, that is not my dress, but those colors are amazing.

time-lapse photo

2012-01-05T22:15:00.002-08:00

"The image shows the passing of one year starting from January on the left and ending with December on the right, and comprises 3888 photographs captured during the days that were then combined using a special script that uses one vertical segment from each image." By Erik Solheim.

cinderella

2012-01-05T22:03:00.005-08:00

i'm sure this is much more complicated than it looks, but what a cool idea. tutorial here.

cheese

2012-01-05T20:39:00.008-08:00

i have a new obsession: cheese trays. while stuffing my face over christmas, i admired a teak cheese tray my mom picked up at an estate sale. while out "junkin" the past week, jamie and i found two - a glass dome wooden base at goodwill ($5!) and a vintage tear drop teak shape with porcelain plate by fred press (on sale for $10!), first photo above. and then it dawned on me...we need to start collecting these. who loves cheese more than us? i can picture it now, a whole wall of trays on display and some domes on the mantle. we're going to own cheese. one tray at a time.

Notes from my head

2012-01-01T12:05:00.003-08:00

A year or so ago I decided that I wanted to get back into writing. It was my favorite part of school and I did well with it. I worked with my friend and old Creative Director Alison Fairbanks, who is one heck of a writer and writing coach. When I wrote this essay, I was new to Portland which meant I was constantly introducing myself. It was exhausting. And that exhaustion was compounded when people assumed I was struggling to find a job because I presented myself as a freelance designer. I needed to figure out how to start those conversations with an accurate perception instead of retracing my initial explanation. So I wrote about it, sent it off to to some design publications on a whim, and got a "snippet" of it published within an article by Ilise Benun on the same topic in the January issue of HOW. It's my first published piece, I'm pretty excited about it!

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At the time, leaving the familiar world of life on a payroll seemed like the hard part. And it certainly was half the battle. But living the ebb and flow of design life on my own is now my daily challenge. The triumph I feel when I land my own clients or freelance with a studio of caliber is equally matched with the doubt that a few slow weeks can bring. Contributing to this confidence is a shift in the definition of freelance design. A career choice once reserved for those talented (or blissfully naïve) enough to go it alone, being a freelancer today is perceived as a role taken when there is no better option.

When introducing myself as freelance designer, I’m often met with a response that errs on the side of condolence. This is usually paired with suggestions of companies I should apply to for full-time employment. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the helpful disposition of others and acknowledge that the best opportunities often arise from word of mouth. But these well-intentioned summonses imply career strife and leave me feeling misunderstood with an uneasy outlook on my future.

I struggle with how to correct people’s negative perception of my job, trying to find a balance of confidence that describes my success without sounding arrogant. The best opportunities I’ve had, I’ve had as a freelancer and I get paid more to do them, with the bonus of a flexible schedule. I also deal with my own health insurance and quarterly taxes, which are about as enjoyable as reading a restaurant menu set in Papyrus, but it’s worth it to me. I work hard to be able to call myself a freelancer, and I’ve turned down job offers to remain independently employed. It’s the best job I’ve ever had. But saying this to someone inquiring about my career is awkward.

I started thinking about why the word freelance leaves people thinking I’m unemployed, why that matters to me, and what I need to do about it.

1. Why is freelance mistaken as unemployment?

It’s more appealing to describe yourself as a freelancer than to say you are out of work, an insight easily recognized by laid-off designers. While I believe in the power of positive thinking, it’s unfortunate this nomenclature has altered the connotation so decidedly. It’s presumed that if you freelance, you do so temporarily as a result of a termination rather than a conscious choice to seek career satisfaction on your own terms. This assumed loss of control means that you freelance because you have to, not because you want to, positioning freelancers as a struggling designers.

2. Why does the negative association matter to me?

I wish it didn’t. But it does. In a career where I spend my days communicating the essence of the brands I work with, it’s impossible to ignore how positive and accurate perception leads to success. Is it possible this is an esteem issue within my own head? Yes. But I’m willing to bet I’m not the only young professional who cares what the world thinks of them.

3. What I need to do about it.

The term "freelance" needs an upgrade and it’s my responsibility to articulate this correctly. Positioning myself as a business partner rather than a temporary vendor gives legitimacy. Expecting people to understand my job when described as "freelance designer" leaves them with too little information and too many quick conclusions. In short, "I work for myself as a designer" or “I’m a small-business owner” is a better way to start the conversation. It's a simple rephrase, but the difference, when measured in others’ reactions, is noticeable. The conversation moves from pity for my lack of a proper job, to an interest in hearing about my client list and current project.

I arrived at a career of self-employment when I made the choice to do so, but it doesn’t matter how you get there–just that you love it. It’s a desirable way to make a living, but explaining that to those who think otherwise is a constant reality. Reflection and well-chosen words have helped to clarify my job, because yes, I actually have one. And it’s pretty awesome.

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a fantastic time

2012-01-01T11:37:00.004-08:00

jeff tweedy does the 7 day forecast

2011-12-19T09:23:00.003-08:00

"i don't know what to say. it could be worse." you need to watch this.

danny saathoff

2011-12-19T09:11:00.002-08:00

we came across this art last weekend and it blew me away.

charm school vintage

2011-12-15T10:23:00.003-08:00

love this id by bryan keplesky via DWL

merry chrismas

2011-12-14T10:53:00.008-08:00

eleven was epic. portland started to feel like our second home. we took a beautiful road trip down the coast. i worked at some amazing places with some amazing people. i started working for myself. i made new friends. i missed my MN friends so much and cherished our emails and visits. i got into PRINT. we went to hawaii. we went to seattle, san francisco and sacramento. we drove up mt. st. helens. i went camping. let me repeat, i went camping. we saw the deepest, bluest lake in america. jamie made me a garden. we hosted thanksgiving. we laughed and cooked a lot at home. we came home for christmas. twelve, your work is cut out for you.

scarf magic

2011-12-08T19:20:00.002-08:00

this video will solve all your girly problems. via my sister kate.

old milwaukee

2011-12-08T19:15:00.005-08:00

will ferrell is so great. i totally want to be his friend.

"Will approached Old Milwaukee because he's a big fan of the beer and thought it would be fun to make the commercials, and we couldn't be more excited that he did," -Pabst CEO Bryan Crowley

apples and olivier

2011-12-04T16:05:00.003-08:00

this is the coolest thing i've seen in quite some time. olivier lefebvre's steve jobs tribute.

it's time

2011-12-04T11:51:00.002-08:00

great spot for marriage equality.

print

2011-11-20T12:21:00.008-08:00

I'm very honored to be a part of Print's Regional Design Annual this year, thanks judges! My logo for motivational speaker, Becca Goeckeritz, was in collaboration with Creative Director Dan Richards and Project Managers Alexis Chamberlain and Pam Lauwerens of Opolis Design.

a walk

2011-11-12T13:40:00.005-08:00

inspiration under my feet.

feathers

2011-11-12T12:06:00.003-08:00

stunning. via behance.

stamps

2011-11-12T12:02:00.002-08:00

that one one the left is my absolute favorite. via print and pattern

margaret kilgallen

2011-11-02T19:43:00.004-07:00

she's still my favorite.

gourmet origins

2011-11-02T12:20:00.002-07:00

lovely branding by joan pons moll.

100 copies

2011-11-02T12:10:00.002-07:00

posters and t-shirts by thomas yang, available at 100 copies dot net

ronan + erwan bouroullec

2011-11-02T12:00:00.004-07:00

really enjoying these illustrations.

on a related note: sometimes, i wish i could draw like i could 20 years ago. maybe i still can.

painting with makeup

2011-11-02T11:29:00.004-07:00

by richard gary and marc dennis. brilliant. someone finally shot makeup without a pristine white or black background. the paintings are beautiful too.

poster set

2011-11-02T11:10:00.002-07:00

by thomas sullivan

piano

2011-11-02T09:57:00.002-07:00

amazing illustration by arjan janssen

creative morning

2011-10-28T11:09:00.002-07:00

today was my first Creative Mornings talk. it was awesome. kate bingaman burt inspired me to start some projects i've been putting off. thanks Portland CM!

textiles

2011-10-26T19:03:00.001-07:00

lovely! by penelope jordan on behance.

include the food

2011-10-26T18:34:00.004-07:00

i'm very proud to live in a city that, starting october 31, has weekly city-wide compost pickup and bi-weekly trash pickup. we're already putting our newly delivered bin to use. now, to get punch pizza to open up shop on the west coast. and all my mpls friends to relocate here...

so true

2011-10-26T17:35:00.003-07:00

by the love shop. via swiss miss.

dig it

2011-10-26T17:33:00.003-07:00

this illustration by nolan pelletier is making my day. via dwl

to remember

2011-10-26T17:31:00.002-07:00

use this to track a body of text while preserving the kerning

vectoraster

2011-10-26T10:07:00.003-07:00

chad showed me an awesome program for building custom halftones, perfect for large scale environment application. it's $25 and totally worth it.

spirit animals

2011-10-26T10:00:00.002-07:00

see the whole thinghere

yes

2011-10-20T10:36:00.002-07:00

via swiss miss

community

2011-10-20T10:27:00.003-07:00

it took me a while to get into this show, but now i think it's one of the funniest on tv. the latest episode, remedial chaos theory, is pure comedy genius. yahtzee!

eli, no!

2011-10-18T09:01:00.005-07:00

I am so thrilled that this is finally published, congrats Katie!.

Eli no!
A story about a dog, amusing antics and unconditional love.
by Katie Kirk

"The book was inspired by my nephew, Parker. Whenever we were together, I would say "Eli no!" — and every time I said it, he would say it too! He liked how fun it was to say and so did I. I had always wanted to write and illustrate a children's book, and I thought this idea was too fun not to do."

last of the tomatoes

2011-10-08T11:50:00.001-07:00

belluschi house

2011-10-08T11:22:00.003-07:00

last weekend a few friends (Mette, Mel and Darin) and i nerded it up and went on an AIA home tour of six portland homes. lots of beauties, but the standout was the Pietro Belluschi house in the NW hills. the kitchen was my favorite part, with a built-in brick wood oven and spice shelves, followed very closely by the library nook, tea house studio/guest house and upstairs attic office. so now, of course, i'm convinced that we need to buy a mid-century modern house. all in good time.

photos via hammer and hand

new vintage beauty lounge

2011-10-08T09:25:00.003-07:00

i've walked past new vintage a handful of times, always admiring the great branding and attention to detail. finally, i tried it out this week and am now an even bigger fan. the graphic design was done by chandlearrow and the interior by joe turner, who i couldn't find a site for, but is co-owner with Margaret Turner.

colbert pays tribute to steve jobs

2011-10-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

water, malt, hops and yeast

2011-10-01T18:41:00.002-07:00

by coffee made me do it.

call me al

2011-09-22T19:05:00.001-07:00

Paul simon - you can call me al with Chevy Chase by Augenblicke
heard this song today and remembered how amazing the video is.

goats

2011-09-22T19:01:00.003-07:00

i love driving past the goats on my way to work. two thumbs up, portland.

recess

2011-09-22T16:34:00.004-07:00

Recently I collaborated with the good people at North to do some illustrations for Keen's Recess site. It's now live, and yours truly illustrated the Made-Up Olympiad and Ten-Minute Walk segments. I love the variety of the site!

10000 lakes

2011-09-19T16:50:00.001-07:00

love this project by nicole meyer to brand one MN lake a day.

woMN

2011-09-07T10:15:00.002-07:00

wish i was in MN for this. via allan.

"Honoring Women Who've Helped Put Minnesota On The Map With Graphic Design That's Conceptual, Meaningful, Inspiring, Hard Working, And Pretty Powerful."

hot night, cool treats

2011-09-07T09:46:00.006-07:00

we first noticed Salt & Straw when they set up a cart dangerously close to our house a few months ago. last night, we took advantage of the hot summer evening (yes, i'm holding on to summer for at least another month) and walked down to the new storefront on Alberta. the space is so well designed with a vintage malt shoppe/apothecary vibe. i spent five minutes mulling over what flavor to order, they all sound delicious. in the end, i went with a half almond brittle with salted ganache-half chocolate with gooey brownies combo. amazing.

love the logo and type too. anyone know the designer(s)?

HOW: exciting

2011-08-29T16:17:00.002-07:00

A big thanks to HOW's Promotional Design Annual for including our Minnesota AIDS Walk logo! Collaboration with eleven56

sir richards

2011-08-29T16:11:00.003-07:00

via good. someone finally designed a nice looking condom brand. not sure how you make a condom vegan, but I see a Portlandia episode writing itself...

"The condoms are vegan, the branding irreverent. And they've adopted the Toms buy-one-give-one model to address the condom shortage in the developing world: every time you buy a Sir Richard's condom, the company sends one to community organizations like Partners in Health in Haiti."

human hand

2011-08-19T09:31:00.002-07:00

jamie and i met up with justin cravalho yesterday while he's visiting portland. his honolulu-based design studio does some great work, check it out!

the green album

2011-08-18T09:37:00.002-07:00

you really can't beat a muppet album. listen on npr. and a new movie out this fall written by jason segel? yes.

2011-08-17T16:38:00.001-07:00

i love this spot by wieden+kennedy

definitely a bale of hay

2011-08-17T14:56:00.002-07:00

part of the 50 and 50 project, Bryan Minnich's contribution made me smile.

stripe art

2011-08-17T14:13:00.002-07:00

i you don't know about my love for stripes, you will now. striped shirt artwork by Mary Matson for Chance via Oh Joy

leslie wood

2011-08-16T11:47:00.002-07:00

this menu is quite beautiful.

tessellation formation 5

2011-08-14T14:44:00.001-07:00

by matthew shlian.

maxwell loren holyoke hirsch

2011-08-12T09:33:00.003-07:00

nice illustrations, via qbn.

a great american vacation

2011-08-09T21:00:00.005-07:00

we're back to Portland after a road trip down the coast. epic!

bark at art

2011-07-28T10:12:00.003-07:00

my lovely friends april and emily have put together a poster show benefitting The Pet Project, and here is my contribution. I don't have a dog of my own, but we dogsit for our friends quite a bit and love how each dog has it's own personality and quirks, hence the fill-in-the-blank inspiration. The show opens in Minneapolis on August 19th, check it out!

PS, thanks to kate and scott's dog willie for being my poster child.

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Gallery 122 and The Barkery are teaming up to host a benefit for The Pet Project. “Bark at Art” will feature limited edition, signed and numbered prints by local and national artists that are inspired by our furry, four-legged companions. “BARK at ART” will run from August 19 through September 10, 2011, with a pet friendly** opening reception held on August 19, from 7-10 PM. The exhibition and opening reception are free and open to the public. Guests are asked to help The Pet Project by bringing unopened bags of pet food, new/gently used supplies, or a suggested donation of $5.

100% of door donations, and 80% of poster sales will benefit The Pet Project.

bill

2011-07-22T11:11:00.002-07:00

i often ask myself, who would i most like to have a beer and good conversation with? the answer changes a lot, but one of the regular contenders is bill clinton. (so is hillary, btw). the man is smart. and he talks about issues that normally make my head spin, in a way that i can understand and relate to. his newsweek article on the job crisis is worth a read. via good.

the white roof project

2011-07-22T10:57:00.002-07:00

a simple idea with a big impact.

As we've reported on GOOD before, painting white the black roofs that top many of American cities can deflect 70 percent more sun, keeping interiors cooler, reducing the urban heat island effect, and curbing global warming.

what does that say?

2011-07-21T19:32:00.004-07:00

a cool project by craig goldham. via qbn.

The HAND.WRITTEN.LETTER.PROJECT was after a conversation about how personal a letter can be: a fact that is currently drowning in a tide of depersonalisation, with junk mail and automated correspondence.

2 hats i want

2011-07-16T09:31:00.002-07:00

from anthropologie

gallery 360

2011-07-10T12:37:00.004-07:00

...and speaking of katherine (see last post), if you're in mpls, visit gallery 360 to see two of her pieces in the current exhibit now through august 14th. congrats, KLamm!

paxton gate

2011-07-10T12:13:00.003-07:00

we checked out a cool new store on mississippi yesterday called paxton gate. it reminded me of my friend katherine's amazingly decorated house, so naturally, i loved it.

snake print by jennifer ament

Paxton Gate, once described by Time Out London as resembling Martha Stewart Meets David Lynch—is a store known for its almost magical mix of neo-Victorian delights, eclectic animal and plant ephemera, taxidermy, exotic plants—including the carnivorous variety—framed and mounted insects, jewelry, affordable art, furniture, unique gardening tools and more.

3 cool posters

2011-07-10T12:01:00.003-07:00

hip hip hip hourra by supermarket sarah

galaxy wallpaper on amazon

lettuce turnip the beet quaillane press

all via svpply

to rent from the library:

2011-07-10T11:54:00.002-07:00

all via svpply.

national parks: america's best idea

2011-07-07T22:10:00.009-07:00

if you haven't seen ken burn's national parks series, you should really do something about it. i'm not kidding you, episode 5 made me cry it was so good. episode 1 made me plan a road trip down the west coast on hwy 101. who knows what the rest will bring, i might even give camping another shot (i really love NOT camping). so much history of america that i didn't know about and the people who worked so hard to make it possible for us all to enjoy.

"you can learn from the teachings within this quietness. some people teach by talking... but i think it is important that you are taught by silence." -Chiura Obata

"these are the places where americans encounter who they are, and are home." -Carl Pope

tie

2011-07-06T11:29:00.002-07:00

This is T.I.E - directors cut from Blink on Vimeo.

fun film that hits close to home. via mpls egotist

trust me

2011-07-06T11:15:00.003-07:00

my friend adam garcia is one talented man. if you're in mpls this saturday, july 9th, check out his show at CO Exhibitions.

TRUST ME! is a collaborative project based on the ideas of relationships, ownership, process and appropriation. Artist and designer Adam R. Garcia asked a number of his creative colleagues to submit a one-color image to be artistically manipulated by Garcia--sight unseen until the opening reception. Due to the disparate imagery, a color scheme and loose theme based on trust and deception ended up forming within the creative process. The final execution is a collection of 12" x 16" prints in three colors, each a "collaboration" between Garcia and the original creator. A didactic piece containing the original art and the final idea will accompany the pieces as an insight into the process.

love her work

2011-07-06T11:03:00.003-07:00

really amazing stuff going on here, by anchalee chambundabongse.

trekkie

2011-07-06T10:44:00.003-07:00

i have a cruiser bike, which is great, except that we live on top of a giant hill. just out of curiosity, i perused the Trek site last night and found a bike named Earl that has a built in bottle opener. now that, is functionality.

happy 4th of july

2011-07-04T22:40:00.002-07:00

we had a quiet 4th (as result of a loud 3rd) and watched no less than 15 different firework shows from the top of our neighborhood hill. the moon was spectacular.

here's looking at hue

2011-07-04T14:12:00.003-07:00

organizing by color gets me every time. fun site via swiss miss.

cool hunter's picks

2011-07-04T11:25:00.004-07:00

i revisited a Cool Hunter article i stowed away a while ago. look at these lovely destinations! they make my heart thump.

six month celebration

2011-06-29T20:43:00.003-07:00

a toast to meeting my half-year business goal! i've never been happier, so excited for what's yet to come.

impromptu weekend

2011-06-27T13:39:00.005-07:00

one of my favorite things about working as an independent designer is the impromptu time off. it's so refreshing finding four open days waiting for you. i had the best time this weekend with friends, the sun and an open schedule.

gene davis

2011-06-26T20:12:00.002-07:00

i love stripes. these road paintings by Gene Davis make me smile. via imprint mag.

summer reads

2011-06-26T19:56:00.003-07:00

Nancy Pearl's 10 Terrific Summer Reads on NPR, just look at those beautiful book covers! I'm going to need a hammock.

a huge thanks!

2011-06-24T08:38:00.003-07:00

wow! so honored to be included on Eight Hour Day's blog post of inspirational female designers. i had the pleasure of interning with Katie and Nate (and their dog Eli) back in the glory days of college and couldn't have asked for a better introduction to the design community. Thanks for the love, EHD!

JR

2011-06-23T14:47:00.003-07:00

we watched a TED Talk this morning at work. Inspiring to say the least. French street artist, JR, makes a wish to use art to turn the world inside out. I love the simplicity: paper, glue, b&w photos of people being themselves. It pairs really nicely with the extravagant and detailed application to landscapes all over the world. The trains are my favorite, the movement makes it more human.

nike, the advantage within

2011-06-23T14:16:00.003-07:00

a very cool nike promo book design designed by my B.F. Jamie and the talented folks at ID Branding.

mahwedge

2011-06-22T19:11:00.003-07:00

beautiful story-telling wedding invites by Ross Bruggink and Jessica Keinz. congrats and well wishes! via the newly updated and lookin' good blog of allan peters.

ladies rule

2011-06-20T18:00:00.005-07:00

i've actually been told before that i am "a pretty good designer, for a girl." um...thanks, i think? so GREAT to see GOOD feature their top 25 female designers/illustrators, and with lots of representation from Minneapolis and Portland. keep it comin' ladies, well done! another GOOD related article here.

a day in the hood

2011-06-18T11:05:00.007-07:00

I spent a day in Hood River last weekend, catching up on some reading and writing at a nice little coffee shop. Best logo spotted = Columbia Gorge Title. (which I have to admit, I read as Columbia Gorge TILE until I took a closer look, but I still like it without the tile reference) Best yarn shop name spotted = Knot Another Hat.

death metal rooster

2011-06-13T21:45:00.001-07:00

jamie shared this with me tonight. and i almost peed my pants. not kidding.

hammerpress

2011-06-12T23:32:00.002-07:00

My mom asked me for some poster ideas for their new kitchen. I sent her to Hammerpress. They really do this stuff well.

patterned floor

2011-06-12T17:38:00.002-07:00

if i ever have a studio with cement floors, i am so doing this to it.

liquor lights

2011-06-12T17:36:00.000-07:00

a cool idea.

Intel museum of me

2011-06-10T15:32:00.004-07:00

borderline narcissistic, sure. but that's kind of our culture these days. the museum of me is really well done, and, put a smile on my face.

Hand Painted Type

2011-06-09T23:16:00.003-07:00

Painter Kureshi from hanif kureshi on Vimeo.

what an excellent idea: digitizing India's hand painted signs into alphabets. there's something about the hand done that can never be replicated, but converting to digital is both a preservation method and a tool for sharing. now i just want to draw type all weekend. via wk blog

camp by paprika

2011-06-09T17:26:00.002-07:00

lovely restaurant with lovely branding.

implementing:

2011-06-09T17:25:00.002-07:00

from kyle pearson via anna garforth's blog.

anna garforth

2011-06-09T17:22:00.003-07:00

beautiful typography from anna garforth.