CREATIVE TOOLBOX • VISUAL DIARY

Shared reflections — inspirations • insights • ideas — gleaned from our spirited journey
through the worlds of communication and design

Motion Photography

Blur of movement in an image tells a story, and expresses a mood or feeling. In this case, the taxi and street in action capture the energy of NYC in a way a static image could not.

This “opening soon” window at the southwest corner of 72nd and Columbus caught my eye today with its bold color, minimalist aesthetic, and nod to NYC and Upper West Side culture in terms of its messaging. Malin+Goetz, a modern apothecary...

Give Back

One way to observe Earth Day (April 22) is to join an organization like 1% for the Planet. Members donate the equivalent of 1% of gross sales (through a combination of monetary, in-kind, and approved promotional support) directly to...

Gallery Ledge • 2

Design sketch for Zoom background logo panel.

Gallery Ledge • 1

First in a mini-series of posts that are like actual diary entries…recording and sharing what I’m doing right now in my own business. In terms of communication design. Two gallery ledges are installed on my wall.

Prototype

Prototypes are an important part of the creative process. These are full-size design mockups we “crafted and installed” to test the horizontal positioning and height of two gallery ledges on my studio wall. Actual ledges are coming soon!

Mission Statement

“We inspire, educate and outfit for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and stewardship” is the mission statement of REI (Recreation Equipment, Inc.), a national consumer co-op based in Seattle. Mission statements are one way...

QR Codes

I recently got sucked down a QR code rabbit hole, where I learned there is an almost-endless number of unique codes to which information can be linked, each with a different high contrast pattern. There are currently 40 versions.

Aspiration Symbol

I am not sure what to call it, but I love this winged cookie — part of Levain Bakery’s brand identity — shown here on their shopping bag. Levain, famous for its ginormous cookies, was founded locally at 167 West 74th Street...

Sidewalk Sticker • 3

Following up on my post earlier this year where I highlighted the NYC Parks Department sticker on my sidewalk announcing I would get a new tree, I am happy to share that my “baby” arrived, was planted, and is budding. Spring is on the way!

Initial

Following up on a previous post about the Lyft brand ID, I am also impressed with the New York City Taxi “T” circle icon, and combination design overall. The NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission is back in the news with a just-announced alliance...

World Water

Today is World Water Day. Observed every year since 1993, World Water Day celebrates water while raising awareness of the 2 billion people living without access to safe water — a sobering fact for sure.

Palindrome

The amazing thing about the Sonos logo is it not only a palindrome in terms of its letters “SONOS,” it is also palindromic by design. If you rotate the artwork 180 degrees, it is exactly the same. I tried it! Palindrome: the characters read...

Typography

Happy Pi (π) Day! Pi is a Greek letter, shown here in a sans serif typestyle, that stands for the relationship of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Pi itself is a so-called “irrational” number, which I just re-learned, is a decimal that goes on...

Handwriting

“Solvitur Ambulando.” Thank you to life coach Michael Balchan for creating this handwritten note (505 of his goal of 1,000 illustrated inspirations) expanding on one of my favorite expressions to live and work by: “It is solved by walking.”

Digital Billboard

Check out this amazing concept! Creator Cosimo Scotucci explains that “Spectrum” is a massive urban-land-art installation that aims to celebrate humanity and the beauty of diversity. Proposed location: Times Square, NYC.

Reinvention

A friend recently recalled flying to London on TWA, departing from the acclaimed JFK “flight center” (designed by architect Eero Saarinen). This was years ago, well before the airline declared bankruptcy in 2001. TWA ceased to exist...

Imagine a World…

This “vision” statement is exemplary in all regards: clear, concise, compelling, aspiring, relevant. And Airbnb is taking “corporate social responsibility” (CSR) to a new level of “global” as more than 210,000* refugees and asylum seekers...

Social Media Feed

According to Urban Dictionary “meta” means about the thing itself. It’s seeing the thing from a different perspective instead of from within the thing, like being self-aware. Facebook’s renaming aside, here is an Instagram* post and feed...

Brand Identity

I booked TaskRabbit today to move two shelving units down to the street. Great name, ID logo & color, and service. Founded in San Francisco in 2009, “taskers” are currently found working in 61 cities nationwide. TaskRabbit is partnered...

Accessory

Continuing on the “happiness” track, how could I not be, given this re-usable (sustainable) water bottle with an exhuberant-creature icon in CXD cyan bluetiful! As is often the case, we have multiple design tools in one. It is always a good idea...

Pictogram

A pictogram (or icon) is a graphic symbol that conveys meaning through its pictorial resemblance to a physical object. It is pretty clear — no matter what language you speak — which side is which on the Brooklyn Bridge. With that said, maybe NYC...

Brand Promise

It doesn’t get more basic (and true) than this: Plants Make People Happy. Headquartered on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, The Sill was founded in 2012 and serves “people” in brick-and-mortar stores nationally, and online.

Pattern

Pattern is an element of design as you see here on my favorite tote, created as a branded give-away by Modern Metal. Founded recently by designer Annie Kantor, Modern Metal offers “laser cut metal grilles and panels for residential...

Sidewalk Sticker • 2

Following up on my post last month where I highlighted the NYC Parks Department sticker on my sidewalk announcing I would get a new tree, New Yorkers will be amazed to learn I actually DID get a tree. Here it is being delivered.

Billboard

Our NYC-focused trend continues with this Times Square billboard inspiring us to take action today!

More Color

I am dismayed that my hometown team isn’t playing tomorrow. But I am reassured by the fact that the Seattle Seahawks understand the power of color. Just look at this team in Action Green, a uniform option originally...

Color

The Lyft icon definitely jumps out at me from my iPhone screen. So brilliantly bright, bold, and friendly. Launched in the summer of 2012, Lyft just makes it into the category of brands I am calling “new kids on the block” — brands that...

Communication By Design Creative Toolbox

Notes from Drydock Reading Room Brandology