Resources

Art & Design Communities and Organizations

AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts)
AIGA, the professional association for design, is the place design  professionals turn to first to exchange ideas and information,  participate in critical analysis and research and advance education and  ethical practice.
designerID
designerID is an online portal that helps member design professionals and students connect in dynamic and meaningful ways.
The American Graphic Artist's Guild
The Graphic Artists Guild is a national union of illustrators,  designers, web creators, production artists, surface designers and other  creatives who have come together to pursue common goals, share their  experience, raise industry standards, and improve the ability of visual  creators to achieve satisfying and rewarding careers.
The Society of Illustrators
The mission of the Society is to promote the  art and appreciation of  illustration, as well as its history and  evolving nature, and to  encourage high ideals through exhibitions,  lectures, education, and by  fostering a sense of community and open  discussion.
AltPick.com
Altpick.com was created to answer the need to find photographers,  designers, illustrators, animators and other graphic related businesses  in a quick, efficient and effective way.
The Art Director's Club
The ADC is the premier organization for integrated media and the  first international creative collective of its kind. Founded in New York  in 1920, the ADC is a self-funding, not-for-profit membership  organization that celebrates and inspires creative excellence,  connecting creative visual communications professionals from around the  world.

Job/Career Resources

AIGA Job Board
"AIGA Design Jobs is the first place AIGA members turn to find their next opportunity, and the premier place for employers seeking the most qualified designers."
Krop
"Krop is a Job Board and career resource website for creative professionals. Whether you’re looking for job, or hunting top-notch talent, Krop’s simple and powerful tools are geared towards connecting the worlds brightest minds with the best companies."
Coroloft
"Coroflot's job board is the largest and most active site on the internet specifically targeted at hiring designers and other creative professionals. We count Fuseproject, Frog Design, Microsoft, Nokia, Landor, RIM, Nike, Intel, Blu Dot, and Sony among our clients, and they've all returned to use Coroflot again, for one reason: it works."
Freelance Switch
"FreelanceSwitch is a community of expert freelancers from around the world."
Guru
"With more than 1 million registered members, Guru.com is the world's largest online marketplace for freelance talent and a leader in providing quality freelance services you can trust."

Art & Design Resources in Western North Carolina

AIGA Charlotte
The American Institute of Graphic Arts, Charlotte chapter
The Asheville Area Arts Council
The Asheville Area Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit institution whose mission is to strengthen the vitality and visibility of the creative community through advocacy, support and exposure.
The Laurel of Asheville
The Laurel of Asheville is a monthly publication featuring art, artists and culture from Asheville and the Western North Carolina region.
The Creative Technology and Arts Center
"The Creative Technology & Arts Center (CTAC) is a community hub for innovation. It welcomes artists, technologists and designers as they pursue projects that inspire and ignite transformative action."
Planet Art
"Planet Art is a different kind of frame shop and gallery located in the River Arts Galaxy in Asheville, NC.  We feature an Art Exchange where you can buy and sell (for cash or store credit) gently used art."
Coop
"Coop focuses on showcasing young, emergent and innovative artists across multiple forms of expression – from visual fine arts to performance and installations."
Asheville Bookworks
"BookWorks is a community resource for print and book arts located in West Asheville, North Carolina. Through classes, exhibits, lectures, and annual events like BookOpolis and Edible Book Festival, BookWorks has become a gathering place for those with an interest in bookbinding, papermaking, printmaking, and letterpress."

Productivity Tools

What are some of your favorite productivity tools? For list-making I use Remember the Milk. For calendars and mail I use Google. I also use some free apps for my Droid Incredible such as Colornote and Typenote, and some freeware Adobe community programs like Simple Timer that can be installed on a USB drive or a desktop computer. Below are some links to some fine office and general efficiency tools. Most of these programs or services are free and relatively easy to use. I have left out iPhone and iPad apps as I do not own one. Yet. If you think I have left any good ones out, feel free to post one!■

Virtual office suites


Zoho Office Tools
http://www.zoho.com/
Google Products & Apps
http://www.google.com/intl/en/about/products/index.html
Note taking & List making


Remember the Milk
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/
Colornote
http://www.appbrain.com/app/colornote-notepad-notes/com.socialnmobile.dictapps.notepad.color.note
Typenote
http://www.appbrain.com/app/typenote/com.RH.TypeNote
Evernote
http://www.evernote.com/
Time tracking apps


Simple Timer
http://www.nulldesign.de/projects/simpletimer-2/
Brainstorming & mind-mapping


Bubbl.us
https://bubbl.us/


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Hatch

Hatch 2011 Logo

I wonder if the Hatch guy is working with Lady Gaga's PR staff?

This past weekend my wonderful little town of Asheville hosted a fantastic event known as Hatch. Hatch is a four day event that brings together creative professionals from a myriad of backgrounds including (but not limited to) fashion, architecture, film, game design and host of other fields. There are daily events that include workshops and seminars but there are also numerous free events such as gallery showings and exhibitions. The event itself does not necessarily include graphic design but can nevertheless be a good place for designers to see what is going on in other creative fields and at the very least, get some wonderful inspiration. Below is the Hatch website with more information.■

http://www.hatchasheville.org/


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Land of the Sky

the cover page for a vintage Asheville publication

"Live and Invest in the Land of the Sky" the cover page for a 1920's era real estate publication

Crickets are chirping on this blog, but that’s o.k. for the moment. I am moving to Asheville, North Carolina and I couldn’t be more thrilled. :) I love western North Carolina and am so excited about the move! I am relieved to know I will soon be living in an area where I can express myself artistically and intellectually with an exponentially higher level of expression than I currently enjoy.

Asheville sits at the edge of the Appalachian mountains in North Carolina and is home to some of the most beautiful land east of the Mississippi River. Tourists flock to the Biltmore Estate year-round, but Asheville is so much more than that. There is no denying it is a tourist destination yet it doesn’t offer much in the way of airbrushed t-shirts and goofy tourist traps. If you search the area for a gaudy gift or sorry souvenir you will be hard-pressed to find one. The cuisine, arts, entertainment, and scenery all come together in beautiful fashion, a chorus blended from tastes and influences that span the globe. I will most likely be blogging very little during this transitional period but hope to share artwork, articles, and information from Asheville and beyond when I have the time. If you are still checking out my blog periodically I sincerely thank you. Just keep up the trend!■

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Japan Relief Effort

picture of the Charity Navigator Logo

Informed giving is the best kind. :)

As Japan continues to recover from a massive earthquake, many people wonder where to go to find information on charity and disaster relief organizations. I recently found a website called Charity Navigator that posts profiles, reviews, ratings, and stats on hundreds of charity and relief groups around the world. If you are looking to find the group that fits your views or ideas on how to help those affected by disaster and also provides some company background, this is a good website. It is always good to look into a company’s reputation before giving and this site gives you that information to make a more informed decision. Click on the picture or click on the link below to visit their website.■

http://www.charitynavigator.org/


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Colors taken out of the Wild

My color palette inspired from Discovery's "Out of the Wild"

I will never see this palette in the real world because I hate being cold. I can however appreciate it from the warmth of my home office.

The first step to getting help is admitting you have a problem — in my case, watching too much of The Discovery Channel’s “Out of the Wild”. Each season chronicles the journey of 10 or so individuals crazy enough to trek through some of the wildest areas on the planet, enduring countless hours of harsh conditions simply for the glory of saying they have made it through the experience intact. The second season has inspired me with its breathtaking visuals and amazing scenery, with each episode displaying the majesty of Alaska’s wilderness. I thought I would post a little palette I cooked up on Colour Lovers’ site to give you a taste of what can be seen from watching season two. Enjoy :)

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Low Light Photography

I recently decided I would take on the challenge of night photography and have done relatively well thus far. Needless to say it feels a little odd standing outside taking pictures while most people are watching “must see tv” or getting some Z’s. Sometimes I’ll be sitting or standing in an awkward position trying to find the right angle for a shot and I’m sure a bystander might think it odd, especially when the camera is obscured from view. There are many challenges to this type of photography — choosing the correct shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, as well as finding a good helping of patience. Having a tripod or stable surface to take sharp pictures is a must, in addition to use of a timer. Every time I take a picture I think of how difficult this kind of thing must have been with film cameras! I know there were light meters and other tools available but I’m sure it was still difficult to get a good setting, much less, that perfect shot. Below is the link to an article at Mansurovs Photography that details some things to consider when attempting this kind of photography.■

Low light digital photography tips

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Recommended Readings

Books

Fundamentals and Design Basics

Design Elements: A Graphic Style Manual
by Timothy Samara
“Provides a good overview of design terminology. My favorite parts of the book are Samara's arguments for and against breaking 20 basic design rules.”
Color
by Paul Zelanski & Mary Pat Fisher
“One of my favorite books on color theory and application. Explains the various color systems used historically and in the present and provides insight on how colors affect each other in various environments.”
Color Design Workbook: A Real World Guide to Using Color in Graphic Design
by AdamsMorioka
Graphic Design Solutions
by Robin Landa
“This was the main textbook for my Design 1 class. It gives a relatively detailed breakdown of the principles and elements used in graphic design and showcases examples of work from decades past until today.”
How To Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul
by Adrian Shaughnessy

Historical & Biographical

A History of Graphic Design
by Philip Meggs
“This book is the authoritative source for many designers on the matter of graphic design history. You can't know where you're going unless you know where you've been!”
Gardner’s Art Through the Ages 
(various)
“A chronicle of art from pre-history through present times. A great resource for learning how art shaped culture, and vice versa. Good for learning important people, work and movements in the art world.”
The End of Print: Graphic Design of David Carson
by Lewis Blackwell & David Carson

Creativity & Creative Process

The Creative Process Illustrated: How Advertising’s Big Ideas are Born
by Glenn Griffin & Deborah Morrison
Caffeine for the Creative Mind: 250 Exercises to Wake Up Your Brain
by Stefan Mumaw & Wendy Lee

Application & Inspiration

Area & Area 2
(Phaidon Press)
The Big Book of Illustration Ideas, 1 & 2
by Roger Walton
Print and Pattern
by Bowie Style
Graphic: Inside the Sketchbooks of the World’s Great Graphic Designers
by Steven Heller & Lita Talarico
Big Ideas: Concepts Developments Explanations Solutions
by Roger Walton
Zanders/Ikono Showbook
(M. Real)
Vitamin P: New Perspectives in Painting
by Barry Schwabsky
“Written by renowned art critic and writer Barry Schwabsky, Vitamin P examines the state of painting in the 21st century and provides dozens of examples of new paintings from every corner of the globe, representing a myriad of styles and approaches. Schwabsky provides an inside look at each artist's process and an exploratory view of selected pieces from their collections.”
Searching for the Perfect Beat: Flyer Designs of the American Rave Scene
(The Earth Program)
Graffiti World: Street Art from Five Continents
by Nicholas Ganz
Rmx: Rinzen Presents Rmx Extended Play
(Rinzen)

Typography

The Elements of Typographic Style
by Robert Bringhurst
Typography: Macro and Microaesthetics
by Willi Kunz
Thinking with Type
by Ellen Lupton
Typographic Specimens: The Great Typefaces
by Philip Meggs & Rob Carter
Typographic Design: Form and Communication
by Rob Carter, et al
Moving Type: Designing for Time and Space
by Matt Woolman
The Encyclopedia of Fonts
by Gwyn Headley

Print & Layout

Layout Workbook: A Real-World Guide to Building Pages in Graphic Design
by Kristin Cullen

Advertising & Marketing

Creative Strategy in Advertising
by Jerome Jewler & Bonnie Drewniany

Information Design, Information Architecture & User Interface

Information Design Workbook
by Kim Baer
Form+Code in Design, Art, and Architecture
by Casey Reas & Chandler McWilliams
Pictograms, Icons and Signs
by Rayan Abdullah
Wayfinding: Designing and Implementing Graphic Navigational Systems
by Craig Berger

Packaging & Non-Print Surfaces

Extraordinary Graphics for Unusual Surfaces: Getting Graphics Right for Hard-to-Design Shapes
by Poppy Evans
“I purchased this book simply because I wanted to familiarize myself with printing on non-paper substrates and surfaces. It turned out to be a good buy, in my opinion. This book gives a good overview of the types of non-print projects that are out there, with examples split up into various categories depending on the type of project. This is not a book that breaks down every part of the process, but gives considerations to take into account when approaching designs that will be applied to different surfaces.”
Box Bottle Bag: The World’s Best Package Designs from TheDieline.com
by Andrew Gibbs
“The Dieline is my favorite packaging design blog. The creator, Andrew Gibbs, has amassed a collection of some of the best packaging designs on his blog to place into his new book Box Bottle Bag. The book is divided up into several categories based on the style of each project (luxe, bold, crisp, etc).”
The Packaging Designer’s Book of Patterns
by Lászlo Roth & George Wybenga

Web Design

Beginning HTML with CSS and XHTML: Modern Guide and Reference
by Craig Cook & David Schultz
Bulletproof Web Design
by Dan Cederholm
Beginning JavaScript with DOM Scripting and Ajax
by Christian Heilmann
Beginning PHP and MySQL
by Jason Gilmore

Reference

Pocket Pal
(International Paper)
“Over the years, Pocket Pal has expanded its content to accommodate the broadening definition that is lumped into the terms “graphic design” or “graphic communication”. A must have for anyone working in the world of print!”
The Designer’s Desktop Manual
by Jason Simmons
Basics Design: Print and Finish
by Gavin Ambrose & Paul Harris
Forms, Folds, and Sizes
by Poppy Evans
The Graphic Artist’s Guild Handbook of Pricing & Ethical Guidelines
(GAG)
The Thames & Hudson Dictionary of Art Terms
(Thames & Hudson)
Nature and Its Symbols
by Lucia Impelluso
The Digital Photography Workflow Handbook
by Juergen Gulbins & Uwe Steinmueller

Humorous (good for a laugh)

Wordless Diagrams
by Nigel Holmes

Magazines & Periodicals

CMYK
HOW
“HOW Magazine is an all around good resource for providing great design news, techniques and inspiration at regular intervals. There are many semi-annual issues that focus on a specific design area such as creativity, design business, or typography.”
Communication Arts
Computer Arts
Digital Artist
“A digital art magazine featuring tutorials and how-to articles broken into various categories/methods. Digital Artist also features artwork from emerging artists around the globe.”
Print
Graphic
Grafik.
Juxtapoz
Lurzer's Archive
Lemon
High Fructose
“A contemporary art magazine featuring artists from around the globe. Published quarterly.”

Articles & e-Books

The Design Funnel
by Stephen Hay


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e-Newsletters

Logos for 4 great design newsletters

Four sites with great content delivered regularly

Newsletter subscriptions are an invaluable design resource that achieve maximum output with the least amount of input. E-newsletters from art and graphic design websites provide a great service, in that they bring interesting content and helpful articles, tutorials, and ideas to your email without you having to lift a finger (well, practically effortless except for opening the email). Below are some of the websites I am subscribed to that may help you in your art and design career.■


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