Archive for the ‘Inspiration’ Category

Design has evolved and changed in various ways over the years. In today’s design world, I have noticed that many designers are embracing minimalism, which includes the use of white space, grid layouts, better typography, and a simpler color palette. I find it amazing how a person can take a simple mark and/or image and create a simply powerful message. Textbooks say that “minimalism” is the simplicity of style in artwork, design, interior design, or literature, achieved by using the fewest and barest essentials or elements to maximum effect. I feel the following poster series beautifully illustrate minimalism by incorporating simple shapes and colors to convey the message.

http://nummynims.wordpress.com/2011/08/31/minimalism-shapes-philosophy/

-Kelsey

I find it so interesting how much design has changed over the years. You can easily tell from the imagery, the font selection, and the colors used which decade something was designed in. It is also exciting to find something that is “timeless” and that no matter when it was designed, it still “works” today. Newsweek Magazine recently featured the show Mad Men on the cover of the issue. The ads featured inside all resembled the 1960′s to correspond to the issue’s theme. Some of the advertisements were originals, and others were designed to look retro. Can you tell which are originals? View all of the ads here.

At this time of year, I love carving pumpkins. Here is a pumpkin that I carved to look like my pug, Hank.

I stumbled upon this link of REALLY great carved pumpkins. Click here to view the pumpkins.  There are some great pumpkins to get your inspired and ready for Halloween!

I have to admit, I can be easily inspired. It’s just my nature. I remember once hearing that I should let any little thing that makes me feel good bring about happiness, after all: why not? If the sun making patterns through the window right now makes me smile or the sweet taste of the sugar in my coffee is extra enjoyable today, why not become energized by those things?

Last week I was walking my newborn son through the park and there were orange leaves falling from the trees and floating like sparkling snowflakes. The way I suddenly noticed them almost felt like they started falling just for he and I as we walked down the path. And I thought to myself, how can so many leaves fall constantly, or do the trees just wait until someone walks by to appreciate the brightly colored treasures to let them dance through the air?

A little crazy, maybe, but I’m okay with that because it made me smile to myself and to really live in that moment.

And I think that as designers and marketing consultants we have to allow our minds to run a little freer than others’. We have to plan practically, but then sometimes put down the completely practical side of things and think outside of the box that is “outside the box.”

It’s not just about designing a brand, developing a website or even making a client happy. Our creative team wants more than that.

We want the audience to notice something that they’ve never seen before or to discover the hidden meaning behind a company’s message. We want them to enjoy the “Ah-ha” moment and the feeling that comes over them when they do.

It’s like seeing the arrow in the FedEx logo or realizing that the Nike swoosh was sketched over a casual lunch on a cocktail napkin…. Since that meeting, Nike has found ways to inspire millions of individuals across the world. If that many people are influenced, can it really be coincidental.

So, when someone at an event asks me, “What do you do?” is it too much to say, “I inspire people to communicate and to see things they never knew were there?” Why not? I know I’m not a doctor and my work will never save someone’s life, but it’s cool to put others into a new way of thinking and to offer them the energy to find inspiration in something that never inspired them before. I call it, “Seeing things.” Really seeing things when we’re not too busy to actually look.

And when you do, the feeling is amazing.

~ Erika