When addressing those who put in project requests, a good friend of mine used to say, "We need all the ingredients before we can bake your cake!" He was the art director at the last in-house job I held. And he was right. I was thinking about this quote the other day and had a giggle because I had a revelation — while the analogy of comparing baking cakes to design is a good one, I thought I'd expand on it and compare it to cooking instead. Baking is very precise and measured while cooking is full of experimentation with multiple ingredients. A recipe for stew, soup or chili usually consists of key base ingredients that are required, but also allows room for your own special touches. For this post, think of the design as the stew, soup or chili. Something that requires many different ingredients that can be altered to
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As a designer who works, for the most part, alone, I understand the importance of taking time out here and there to refuel my creativity. For creatives, taking time out is necessary. It's so easy to fall into the routine of sitting behind your desk working for hours without a refresh. Last year, a good friend of mine (also a designer) and I decided to put at least one day a month aside during the work week to get out and reinspire ourselves. Whether we go the traditional route and visit a museum or get outside to enjoy a hike — our point is to force ourselves to make time to refuel and refresh our minds. Here's what we did for our most recent outing. This past Wednesday, we took the traditional route and visited The Philadelphia Museum of Art. It's been quite a while since I visited. In fact, the
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Ah, the search for the right health insurance plan. So much fun! Recently, my fiancé was laid off. We're in that in-between phase of coverage I'm sure a lot of Americans experience. Looking for insurance can be quite daunting. There are so many options, classifications and terms to know. It can become overwhelming. Like most people, we'd just like to be able to go to the doctor when necessary and know that our insurance will provide what we need, but there are so many limitations and options that one doesn't know what they're getting when seeking out the right plan. Why is it all so complex? I've spent hours researching what our best choices are and I have to say, I can't get over the details in each plan that directly affect the quality of insurance you receive. Do you elect to go with COBRA or do you shop around and figure
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Happy New Year! It's time for resolutions! I usually avoid making a list because the idea of self-proclaimed promises that I ought to stick to for the year can be a bit daunting... but okay, this year, I'm game! I'm in a bit of a funk over my decision to pass the baton for Dr. Sketchy's Philly (see post here), so I think a bit of reflection will do me some good right about now. So, here goes! A list of things I'd like to accomplish this year: Must dos: This first one is easy - it's probably the most popular resolution of all and yes, I'm in the majority. Lose weight! I resolve to get at least 30 minutes of exercise in 3-4 times a week and really watch what I eat (exercise will increase over time). Create a line of printed materials that I can package and sell - be it
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Ah, the joys of freelancing. I woke up this morning to a power outage. Awesome! So, here I am at Panera Bread. That's right, I've come out of my cave — ready to face the world. If you're a freelancer, you probably understand. If you have a home office, everything is readily available and after a while, going out can sometimes be more of a pain than not. So, while I sit here sipping on my coffee at Panera (yummy, by the way), I figured I'd share some thoughts with you on the freelancing life. There are plenty of stereotypical comments regarding the freelance life that can be a tad annoying. I hear them all the time. Here are a few: "You can roll out of bed whenever you like - you're so lucky!!!" "Oh, you get to wear pajamas all day. Your job is so relaxed!" "Your job is so easy! You have no
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Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you had a great time with your families and friends. I had a great visit with my soon to be in-laws. Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, asparagus, coleslaw, wine, and pumpkin pie — yum! Lots of stories and laughter. It has been a good holiday so far. I always get the same question this time of year, "Are you going out tomorrow for Black Friday?" It's something I usually avoid at all costs, but this year I was slightly interested. Not to go shopping, but to check out the alleged mayhem that goes with it. I want to see just how crazy people get when the last coveted toy of 2009 is on the shelf. What's up with all the madness? Do people really throw elbows to get others out of their way? Of course, I stayed in, slept in, and enjoyed my warm, cozy bed. I think
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It's Friday! I'm really looking forward to this weekend. I have a lot in store. Saturday promises to be a good time with the monthly Dr. Sketchy's Philly event I put on. I have Ginger Leigh and Lulu Lollipop of The Peek-A-Boo Revue taking the stage for Philly Art-Monkeys to draw! If you haven't heard about Dr. Sketchy's, have a look at our site here. We are one of over 100 branches worldwide! So much fun! Sunday will be set aside for a bit of relaxation which I'm REALLY looking forward to. Maybe I'll play some video games or something. I haven't brought out the Wii Balance Board in some time... hmm... I wanted to share a few items that piqued my interest over the past week or so to kick off the weekend. Random bits of information — some fun, some work related, but all good. So here goes! • Collaborations, for
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Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a serious roller derby enthusiast. So, I'm THRILLED that this year's WFTDA Nationals is being hosted by The Philly Roller Girls right here in Philadelphia! What does that mean? The top three teams from each of WFTDA's four divisions (East, West, North Central and South Central), are meeting here in Philadelphia. All of whom are determined to take home the Hydra trophy! Last year I had to watch online (thank goodness for DNN) because I couldn't make it out to Portland, but this year — well, this year is different, my friends. I have tickets for Saturday and Sunday to watch my favorite athletes take the win! The Philly Roller Girls could absolutely take the championship this year and I will be there to see it! GO, BELLES! Online ticket sales are over, but you can still purchase your tickets at the door. Information regarding the
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I LOVE these posters designed by Jenny Beorkrem of trimtabdesign.com. Well designed posters illustrating the neighborhoods of cities across the US. I am partial to the Philly and NYC posters due to locality, but I had a look at the other city posters and they're all top notch! What a fantastic idea. I will definitely be purchasing one for my studio. Could make fun holiday gifts as well, now that I think about it. Talk about inspiring! Kudos to Ork Incorporated! Images © Ork Incorporated.
I'm an odd creature. Then again, I suppose we all are in our own ways. When I was in elementary school, my parents were told that I was an overachiever. While it would be very good for me regarding my career, there could also be a negative side that would rear its ugly head here and there. Recently, I'm understanding the negative aspects a bit more. I'm constantly trying to make improvements in my life. When I was in high school, the goal was college and to gain that certain sort of freedom that comes with moving away from home. My family, at the time, didn't have the money to send me, but I was still determined and my goal was to get there — no matter what. I attended immediately after high school as a result of lots of research on loans, grants and scholarships. During college, while attending as a
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