Visit us at www.k-squareddesigns.com or call us at 270-761-K2DS, we can help you with any of your design needs!
Monday, November 28, 2011
A Little Monday Morning Humor
K-Squared Designs bringing you a little laughter to your Monday morning...
Visit us at www.k-squareddesigns.com or call us at 270-761-K2DS, we can help you with any of your design needs!
Visit us at www.k-squareddesigns.com or call us at 270-761-K2DS, we can help you with any of your design needs!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Ten Steps to Becoming the Designer You Want to Be
K-Squared Designs bringing you a little designer help article from www.good.is
An open letter to the next generation of designers, part 1.
Everyone has moments in their career when they look back and think, "If I had only known then what I know now...." After 15-plus years as a designer and design researcher at places like IBM, Trilogy, M3 Design, and now frog design, I know I certainly have. Which is why, now that I'm a veteran, I'd like to give share some advice with young designers just starting out. If I could be your mentor, this is what I would tell you:
1. Get the book
We all have a book that grabbed us by the throat and never let go, forever changing how we look at our profession. For me, that book was Sparks of Genius, The Thirteen Thinking Tools of the World's Most Creative People. The design process is, ultimately, the ability to creatively solve problems-and in our profession, we need to be better at it than most.
2. Get the obscure book you've never heard of
While it's an older book, The All New Universal Traveler – A soft-systems guide to creativity, problem solving and the process of reaching goals is still juicy today. It was written by architecture professors from California Polytech and the School of Architecture and Environmental Design, and presents a ton of research condensed into a tightly packed form.
3. Choose a topic that fascinates you and learn it inside out
This is how you become an expert. Your topic might be as broad as sustainability, or as narrow as a specific method like body storming. Over the last 10 years, I took on three provocative topics-emotional design, design research, and participatory design-and I just recently look on another: synesthesia.
4. Write, blog, and speak on that topic
You're an expert once you feel comfortable calling yourself an expert. Take Jakob Nielsen, who began blogging about usability back in the late 1990s. He became recognized as the source on usability because he was consistently churning out information on the topic. Were there other experts on usability? Sure. But Nielsen developed the early point of view, and wrote provocatively about the subject.
5. Learn Something New Every Day
Every designer should be on a quest to see the world with fresh eyes every day. This might be learning something-a bit of trivia, perhaps-that helps you see the world a little differently. For example, today I learned that cats can't taste sugar. This may sound trivial, but it could lead to a whole host of ideas. And so could the fact that they have hooks on their tongue to lap up water.
6. Create a New Idea Every Day
At one point I was twittering a new idea every day. (Example: "Product Idea #1: Skin Pens > did you ever write notes on your hand? i still do. i want a pen for skin writing on the go.") Now I file them manually. People will say that ideas are a dime a dozen, but I think they're wrong: I think the first 10 might be worth a dime, but the last two could be worth their weight in gold. I would suggest that the designer without an idea isn't a designer. Record them, capture them, and go back to them.
7. Experiment
Good designers experiment. One of my favorite examples is from fellow frog Michael McDaniel, who conceived of portable housing after Hurricane Katrina. When he didn't get immediate interest from government agencies, he built a full prototype in his backyard. I've experimented with measuring emotion through sound, and a scent alphabet, to name a few. When you do experiment, push the edges.
8. Learn as many frameworks as you can
In 2008, a design team at M3 (where I was working at the time) went through 400 design research methods, reduced the redundancy, and then sorted the remaining 250. This exercise, while daunting, was incredible: For the first time, a designer could see the research methods, or "frameworks," that existed in the design space. The point is, you should get comfortable moving beyond just brainstorming and start structuring data in such a way that it drives insight and innovation. When you get comfortable with many frameworks, you'll start creating your own. The only caveat is not to rely on them, because not everything can be modeled in a framework that already exists.
9. Choose variety over anything else
I turned down an offer that paid more to come work at frog. I've never regretted that decision. If anything, frog has made me crave variety in such a way that I doubt I'll ever be able to commit to just one industry. I've done everything from cell phone interaction design to social networking strategy, and from the future of electric vehicles to emotional medical identification. I would recommend to anyone that when you stop learning, it's time to move on.
10. Model or draw (all the time!)
To be good at anything, you need to do it a lot. And to be really, really good, you need to do it all the time. I don't care how great an idea is, if you can't model it, prototype it, or draw it, then you're screwed. If you learn nothing else from this blog post, please find a way to learn how to make your ideas tangible. This can be through graphic design, sketching and rendering in Alias, a flash prototype, photography, video, whatever. Just learn the tools of the tangible.
This is just the first part of Laura Richardson's article the second part will be coming in a day or two so check back! As always if you need any design ideas or work done please give us a call at K-Squared Designs 270-761-5237 or visit us at www.k-squareddesigns.com.
An open letter to the next generation of designers, part 1.Everyone has moments in their career when they look back and think, "If I had only known then what I know now...." After 15-plus years as a designer and design researcher at places like IBM, Trilogy, M3 Design, and now frog design, I know I certainly have. Which is why, now that I'm a veteran, I'd like to give share some advice with young designers just starting out. If I could be your mentor, this is what I would tell you:
1. Get the book
We all have a book that grabbed us by the throat and never let go, forever changing how we look at our profession. For me, that book was Sparks of Genius, The Thirteen Thinking Tools of the World's Most Creative People. The design process is, ultimately, the ability to creatively solve problems-and in our profession, we need to be better at it than most.
2. Get the obscure book you've never heard of
While it's an older book, The All New Universal Traveler – A soft-systems guide to creativity, problem solving and the process of reaching goals is still juicy today. It was written by architecture professors from California Polytech and the School of Architecture and Environmental Design, and presents a ton of research condensed into a tightly packed form.
3. Choose a topic that fascinates you and learn it inside out
This is how you become an expert. Your topic might be as broad as sustainability, or as narrow as a specific method like body storming. Over the last 10 years, I took on three provocative topics-emotional design, design research, and participatory design-and I just recently look on another: synesthesia.
4. Write, blog, and speak on that topic
You're an expert once you feel comfortable calling yourself an expert. Take Jakob Nielsen, who began blogging about usability back in the late 1990s. He became recognized as the source on usability because he was consistently churning out information on the topic. Were there other experts on usability? Sure. But Nielsen developed the early point of view, and wrote provocatively about the subject.
5. Learn Something New Every Day
Every designer should be on a quest to see the world with fresh eyes every day. This might be learning something-a bit of trivia, perhaps-that helps you see the world a little differently. For example, today I learned that cats can't taste sugar. This may sound trivial, but it could lead to a whole host of ideas. And so could the fact that they have hooks on their tongue to lap up water.
6. Create a New Idea Every Day
At one point I was twittering a new idea every day. (Example: "Product Idea #1: Skin Pens > did you ever write notes on your hand? i still do. i want a pen for skin writing on the go.") Now I file them manually. People will say that ideas are a dime a dozen, but I think they're wrong: I think the first 10 might be worth a dime, but the last two could be worth their weight in gold. I would suggest that the designer without an idea isn't a designer. Record them, capture them, and go back to them.
7. Experiment
Good designers experiment. One of my favorite examples is from fellow frog Michael McDaniel, who conceived of portable housing after Hurricane Katrina. When he didn't get immediate interest from government agencies, he built a full prototype in his backyard. I've experimented with measuring emotion through sound, and a scent alphabet, to name a few. When you do experiment, push the edges.
8. Learn as many frameworks as you can
In 2008, a design team at M3 (where I was working at the time) went through 400 design research methods, reduced the redundancy, and then sorted the remaining 250. This exercise, while daunting, was incredible: For the first time, a designer could see the research methods, or "frameworks," that existed in the design space. The point is, you should get comfortable moving beyond just brainstorming and start structuring data in such a way that it drives insight and innovation. When you get comfortable with many frameworks, you'll start creating your own. The only caveat is not to rely on them, because not everything can be modeled in a framework that already exists.
9. Choose variety over anything else
I turned down an offer that paid more to come work at frog. I've never regretted that decision. If anything, frog has made me crave variety in such a way that I doubt I'll ever be able to commit to just one industry. I've done everything from cell phone interaction design to social networking strategy, and from the future of electric vehicles to emotional medical identification. I would recommend to anyone that when you stop learning, it's time to move on.
10. Model or draw (all the time!)
To be good at anything, you need to do it a lot. And to be really, really good, you need to do it all the time. I don't care how great an idea is, if you can't model it, prototype it, or draw it, then you're screwed. If you learn nothing else from this blog post, please find a way to learn how to make your ideas tangible. This can be through graphic design, sketching and rendering in Alias, a flash prototype, photography, video, whatever. Just learn the tools of the tangible.
This is just the first part of Laura Richardson's article the second part will be coming in a day or two so check back! As always if you need any design ideas or work done please give us a call at K-Squared Designs 270-761-5237 or visit us at www.k-squareddesigns.com.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Daily Inspiration
K-Squared Designs is bringing you a little daily inspiration from Fromupnorth.com:
Quote by George Bernard
Like any of these? Call us at 270-761-K2DS or visit us at www.k-squareddesigns.com and we can help you create a professionally designed poster or sign.
Quote by George Bernard
Like any of these? Call us at 270-761-K2DS or visit us at www.k-squareddesigns.com and we can help you create a professionally designed poster or sign.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Breaking The Design Cycle: Get Creative To Be Creative
K-Squared Designs is bringing you a fantastic article from WebDesignerDepot.com by Michael Shelton. Sometimes creativity and imagination can be elusive. This article really opens up some great ways to find it again.
Designers, we have a problem. It seems we have forgotten how to be creative. It is true, the very nature of what we do is based on creativity, however more often than not we tend to be swept away by the latest trends or “what’s hot” rather than seeking out fresh inspiration.
“A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion.” – Chinese Proverb
There are several reasons for this creativity block in which we are suffering from and in this article I’ll list some of these as well as alternatives for where to find appropriate sources of inspiration.
Direct vs. Indirect Sources of Inspiration
As designers, we are creative– we have to be. Even creative people need inspiration. So the question is, where do we look for inspiration? Herein lies the problem. If you’re like the majority of web designers, you probably depend upon direct sources of inspiration. However, more thought should be given to indirect inspiration; it is the key to developing new and original ideas.
Direct Source: Any source of inspiration that is directly associated with the graphic design field, often showcasing published design work. Examples include CSS Galleries, HOW Magazine, Graphic Design Annuals, any published design work, magazines, books, etc.
Indirect Source: Any source of inspiration that is not directly related to the graphic design field. Typically these sources can be considered “outside the box” ideas. Examples include objects in nature, art, photography, history, etc.
Using direct sources of inspiration often leads to duplication. Aside from copyright violation, attention should be given to the overuse of the so-called “web 2.0” effects (reflections, gradients, glossy interfaces, beveled edges, etc.). These effects are great indeed, but haven’t you noticed that everyone uses them. They’re not original anymore. If you frequent CSS and other design galleries, you’ll notice that many of the websites featured are very similar in concept. This is not good! However, I am not condemning such galleries, because they are useful. They are great inspiration. Wait, what? – didn’t I just say not to use them as inspiration? Well, not exactly.
The key is to let design galleries and other websites inspire you to design, not inspire your design.
Please read the above statement again. Good, now do it again.
When viewing enormous compilations of great websites, it is easy to get excited and inspired to design. You will experience designer euphoria, where your creative juices begin to flow and you feel as if you can design the world. When you reach that point, stop! Do not make the mistake of spending too much time and effort browsing through what has already been done. If so, your inspiration changes to duplication, which should never be desired.
The Nature of Business
Clients can be our best friends or our worst enemies. We have all experienced it; your client wanting to defy all of your knowledge and control the entire creative process. They see their competitors’ websites and want exactly the same thing “but better”. The problem is that they have a uninformed, preconceived notion of their website and neglect to consider the many other factors in building a website. You must educate your client so that they may understand your design decisions. Then, and only perhaps then, they will understand the value of your design.
No time for creativity on tight deadlinesIf you are working in the industry for a large company or even a small business, you will always be pushed by the clock and the pocketbook. Herein lies another problem; creativity takes time and you can’t rush a good idea.
This will never change. Businesses are driven by money and we all know that time is money. However there are a few things we can do to expedite our creativity to meet these tight deadlines without hindering it. At the end of this article I have listed several creative exercises to help inspire some fresh creativity. Many of these are quick, fast-paced exercises that will likely take less time than it does to browse through a design gallery, so try them out and give them a chance. Hopefully, you will now understand that we do in fact have a problem. So, how do we fix it?
Start by getting off your computer
Finish reading this article first, then get off your computer. Your computer is not a creative machine; it does not have a brain and it cannot design for you. It is simply a tool; do not depend on it for creativity.
Please leave your computer, take a short break, tell a small white lie to the boss if you must and get out! Take your sketchbook with you. Oh yes, if you have a camera, take that too. Whether it is something specific or simply just a refreshing look on life that you discover while you’re off your computer, you can use it to inspire your creativity.
Browse Walmart or The Local Hardware Store
Stores are full of unique and interesting objects and machines. There are endless possibilities for inspiration if you know where to look. Innovation in many products can be discovered if you simply take the time to discover them. For example, take a look through the kitchen appliances section of Walmart or any other store. Really take a close and hard look at the design of these appliances, their unique shapes, their easy to use interfaces, even how they are displayed on the shelf.
There are several obvious comparisons that can be made between a website and an appliance. A blender, for example, has a unique design, some with bright colors, others with black and white. They sport elegant curves and shapes. They all have a “dashboard” of controls, cleverly designed for ease of use.
Next, venture into the paint section. It is color inspiration heaven. Paint cards are organized by color and often contain a range of shades of each color (particularly helpful for a monochromatic color scheme). Mix and match different cards, find some interesting color combinations, then stick them in your pocket and use them when you get back to the office.
Now head to the grocery aisle. Pay particular attention at how the products are arranged on the shelf. There really is an art and science to it.
Anyone can find inspiration in a store and you can do your household shopping all at the same time. How’s that for multitasking?
Explore Natural BeautyGo to a park, take a walk, wander into the woods or just simply take a blanket outside and lay on it. Whatever the method, get away from your routine. Find something that sparks your interest, catches your eye or strikes you in a particular way. Take a picture or sketch of what you see.
Of course I am not telling you to simply find a flower or tree that you like and use it directly in your design. Instead, try to figure out what it is that you find so striking, maybe it is its color or shape, or even texture. Then transfer those elements into your design. Don’t be afraid to take a sample back to the office and scan it into Photoshop.
Art HistoryFormally trained in graphic design, I had my share of art history classes. I couldn’t begin to count the times that I have used a painting or sculpture as inspiration in my design work.
Modern art movements such as Cubism, Abstract Expressionism, and Impressionism serve as excellent sources of inspiration. Even earlier forms of art such as Roman and Greek will suffice. Painting and sculpture can be applied to web design as well. It really is all the same, it is design, whether on a canvas or on a computer screen. Artist’s make color and layout choices and decide how they want the user to view their masterpiece by controlling the eye path with contrasting elements just the same as a web designer does.
Don’t Forget To Use Your Imagination
I’ve mentioned several ways in which you as a designer can seek out new and fresh inspiration, but the most important thing you should take away from this article is to not forget to be creative and use your own imagination. Be extraordinary, not ordinary.
I challenge you to break the design cycle, explore uncharted territory and be original. Go beyond what has been mentioned in this article, seek out your own unique inspirations. Anything can inspire you if you will just let it.
Creative Exercises: Try these for your next project
Below I have listed and briefly explained some quick exercises to inspire “outside the box” thinking for your next project. Keep in mind that some of these will work for you and others may not. Don’t limit yourself to these. Think of ways to spark an idea that work for you, then share them with us in the comments section of this article.
Quick Capture Photo Session
Pick any place or area inside or out. Your desk will be a great place to start. Grab your camera and a stop watch. Give yourself 30 seconds to snap as many shots as you can of anything in the area that you have chosen. Do not concern yourself with taking a well-composed photograph- just think “rapid-fire.”
Once your 30 seconds are up, upload the photos to your computer and see what you have. This exercise forces you to look at a space or area in ways in which you never have before. Browse through these photos and select a few that are particularly interesting to you; Store the others in a folder for use on another day.
Print the photos that you have selected and paste them in your sketch book. Use them on your current project or save them for another one.
Get OBJECT-ive
This is a simple one. Find an object, large or small, something you can see from all sides. Place this object in sight of your desk, or on it if possible, as you are designing and limit yourself to designing around this object.
Placing limits on a task forces creativity because it doesn’t allow you to choose the expected. It it forces you to think outside the box to arrive at a solution. Freedom restricts creativity.
Webster-Mania
If you’re a strictly visual person, this one may not work for you because it involves a dictionary and words. Open up a dictionary, randomly select a word and then try to formulate ideas incorporating this word. You’d be surprised how well this works. The concept is again is based on the principle of restricting yourself from the obvious. There is nothing like restrictions to get you thinking.
We love creative thinking at K-Squared Designs. Visit us at www.k-squareddesigns.com or call us at 270-761-K2DS to start your personal creative project today.
Designers, we have a problem. It seems we have forgotten how to be creative. It is true, the very nature of what we do is based on creativity, however more often than not we tend to be swept away by the latest trends or “what’s hot” rather than seeking out fresh inspiration.
“A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion.” – Chinese Proverb
There are several reasons for this creativity block in which we are suffering from and in this article I’ll list some of these as well as alternatives for where to find appropriate sources of inspiration.
Direct vs. Indirect Sources of Inspiration
As designers, we are creative– we have to be. Even creative people need inspiration. So the question is, where do we look for inspiration? Herein lies the problem. If you’re like the majority of web designers, you probably depend upon direct sources of inspiration. However, more thought should be given to indirect inspiration; it is the key to developing new and original ideas.
Direct Source: Any source of inspiration that is directly associated with the graphic design field, often showcasing published design work. Examples include CSS Galleries, HOW Magazine, Graphic Design Annuals, any published design work, magazines, books, etc.
Indirect Source: Any source of inspiration that is not directly related to the graphic design field. Typically these sources can be considered “outside the box” ideas. Examples include objects in nature, art, photography, history, etc.
Using direct sources of inspiration often leads to duplication. Aside from copyright violation, attention should be given to the overuse of the so-called “web 2.0” effects (reflections, gradients, glossy interfaces, beveled edges, etc.). These effects are great indeed, but haven’t you noticed that everyone uses them. They’re not original anymore. If you frequent CSS and other design galleries, you’ll notice that many of the websites featured are very similar in concept. This is not good! However, I am not condemning such galleries, because they are useful. They are great inspiration. Wait, what? – didn’t I just say not to use them as inspiration? Well, not exactly.
The key is to let design galleries and other websites inspire you to design, not inspire your design.
Please read the above statement again. Good, now do it again.
When viewing enormous compilations of great websites, it is easy to get excited and inspired to design. You will experience designer euphoria, where your creative juices begin to flow and you feel as if you can design the world. When you reach that point, stop! Do not make the mistake of spending too much time and effort browsing through what has already been done. If so, your inspiration changes to duplication, which should never be desired.
The Nature of Business
Clients can be our best friends or our worst enemies. We have all experienced it; your client wanting to defy all of your knowledge and control the entire creative process. They see their competitors’ websites and want exactly the same thing “but better”. The problem is that they have a uninformed, preconceived notion of their website and neglect to consider the many other factors in building a website. You must educate your client so that they may understand your design decisions. Then, and only perhaps then, they will understand the value of your design.
No time for creativity on tight deadlinesIf you are working in the industry for a large company or even a small business, you will always be pushed by the clock and the pocketbook. Herein lies another problem; creativity takes time and you can’t rush a good idea.
This will never change. Businesses are driven by money and we all know that time is money. However there are a few things we can do to expedite our creativity to meet these tight deadlines without hindering it. At the end of this article I have listed several creative exercises to help inspire some fresh creativity. Many of these are quick, fast-paced exercises that will likely take less time than it does to browse through a design gallery, so try them out and give them a chance. Hopefully, you will now understand that we do in fact have a problem. So, how do we fix it?
Start by getting off your computer
Finish reading this article first, then get off your computer. Your computer is not a creative machine; it does not have a brain and it cannot design for you. It is simply a tool; do not depend on it for creativity.
Please leave your computer, take a short break, tell a small white lie to the boss if you must and get out! Take your sketchbook with you. Oh yes, if you have a camera, take that too. Whether it is something specific or simply just a refreshing look on life that you discover while you’re off your computer, you can use it to inspire your creativity.
Browse Walmart or The Local Hardware Store
Stores are full of unique and interesting objects and machines. There are endless possibilities for inspiration if you know where to look. Innovation in many products can be discovered if you simply take the time to discover them. For example, take a look through the kitchen appliances section of Walmart or any other store. Really take a close and hard look at the design of these appliances, their unique shapes, their easy to use interfaces, even how they are displayed on the shelf.
There are several obvious comparisons that can be made between a website and an appliance. A blender, for example, has a unique design, some with bright colors, others with black and white. They sport elegant curves and shapes. They all have a “dashboard” of controls, cleverly designed for ease of use.
Next, venture into the paint section. It is color inspiration heaven. Paint cards are organized by color and often contain a range of shades of each color (particularly helpful for a monochromatic color scheme). Mix and match different cards, find some interesting color combinations, then stick them in your pocket and use them when you get back to the office.
Now head to the grocery aisle. Pay particular attention at how the products are arranged on the shelf. There really is an art and science to it.
Anyone can find inspiration in a store and you can do your household shopping all at the same time. How’s that for multitasking?
Explore Natural BeautyGo to a park, take a walk, wander into the woods or just simply take a blanket outside and lay on it. Whatever the method, get away from your routine. Find something that sparks your interest, catches your eye or strikes you in a particular way. Take a picture or sketch of what you see.
Of course I am not telling you to simply find a flower or tree that you like and use it directly in your design. Instead, try to figure out what it is that you find so striking, maybe it is its color or shape, or even texture. Then transfer those elements into your design. Don’t be afraid to take a sample back to the office and scan it into Photoshop.
Art HistoryFormally trained in graphic design, I had my share of art history classes. I couldn’t begin to count the times that I have used a painting or sculpture as inspiration in my design work.
Modern art movements such as Cubism, Abstract Expressionism, and Impressionism serve as excellent sources of inspiration. Even earlier forms of art such as Roman and Greek will suffice. Painting and sculpture can be applied to web design as well. It really is all the same, it is design, whether on a canvas or on a computer screen. Artist’s make color and layout choices and decide how they want the user to view their masterpiece by controlling the eye path with contrasting elements just the same as a web designer does.
Don’t Forget To Use Your Imagination
I’ve mentioned several ways in which you as a designer can seek out new and fresh inspiration, but the most important thing you should take away from this article is to not forget to be creative and use your own imagination. Be extraordinary, not ordinary.
I challenge you to break the design cycle, explore uncharted territory and be original. Go beyond what has been mentioned in this article, seek out your own unique inspirations. Anything can inspire you if you will just let it.
Creative Exercises: Try these for your next project
Below I have listed and briefly explained some quick exercises to inspire “outside the box” thinking for your next project. Keep in mind that some of these will work for you and others may not. Don’t limit yourself to these. Think of ways to spark an idea that work for you, then share them with us in the comments section of this article.
Quick Capture Photo Session
Pick any place or area inside or out. Your desk will be a great place to start. Grab your camera and a stop watch. Give yourself 30 seconds to snap as many shots as you can of anything in the area that you have chosen. Do not concern yourself with taking a well-composed photograph- just think “rapid-fire.”
Once your 30 seconds are up, upload the photos to your computer and see what you have. This exercise forces you to look at a space or area in ways in which you never have before. Browse through these photos and select a few that are particularly interesting to you; Store the others in a folder for use on another day.
Print the photos that you have selected and paste them in your sketch book. Use them on your current project or save them for another one.
Get OBJECT-ive
This is a simple one. Find an object, large or small, something you can see from all sides. Place this object in sight of your desk, or on it if possible, as you are designing and limit yourself to designing around this object.
Placing limits on a task forces creativity because it doesn’t allow you to choose the expected. It it forces you to think outside the box to arrive at a solution. Freedom restricts creativity.
Webster-Mania
If you’re a strictly visual person, this one may not work for you because it involves a dictionary and words. Open up a dictionary, randomly select a word and then try to formulate ideas incorporating this word. You’d be surprised how well this works. The concept is again is based on the principle of restricting yourself from the obvious. There is nothing like restrictions to get you thinking.
We love creative thinking at K-Squared Designs. Visit us at www.k-squareddesigns.com or call us at 270-761-K2DS to start your personal creative project today.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Even the Barcodes Are Well Designed in Japan
Just a fun little Friday article for you guys from K-Squared Designs. What an interesting idea! Article from fastcompany.com.
D-barcode specializes in turning barcodes into something fun and memorable.
Barcodes grace almost every product for sale. Given how much package real estate they command, why shouldn't they look cool?
Since 2005, D-Barcode has been creating custom barcodes for a mostly Japanese clientele. They've even begun selling their wares to anyone who wants to license them, starting at $1,500 for the design, and $200 a year for licensing. A custom or exclusive use code will run upwards of $4,000--but given that companies spend millions on designing a single package, why don't we see more detailed thinking like this? Middle managers spend weeks arguing about kerning--it'd be better if they spent more time rethinking every inch of such highly prized real estate.
D-barcode specializes in turning barcodes into something fun and memorable.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Start November Off On The Right Foot!
November signals many things, the beginning
of the holiday season, the true beginning of winter and the wrapping up
of another year. All of these things can be blessings but they can also bring on a little stress. (Christmas shopping anyone?) So to start everyone's November on the right foot K-Squared Designs is bringing you a little inspiration, a little motivation and a couple of things to ponder. These quotations come from Fromupnorth.com.
"In From up North's inspiration galleries we present the latest of our findings from the wonderful world of design. Amazing high quality artworks in various categories from great designers all over the globe."
"In From up North's inspiration galleries we present the latest of our findings from the wonderful world of design. Amazing high quality artworks in various categories from great designers all over the globe."
Like any of these? Call us at 270-761-K2DS or visit www.k-squareddesigns.com and we can make them into a poster for your home or office.
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