Today’s post is about Letter Heads, people that collect letterhead stationery. Click here to view samples from the 1940′s — they speak to the typographic style and graphic history of their times.

To view all the TOP 25 Videos, click here.

You can read/view more like this in Debbie’s book, Look Both Ways: Illustrated Essays on the Intersection of Life and Design.

The I.D. Annual Design Award 2010 recognizes the best design work in nine categories:

Concepts
Consumer Products
Environments
Equipment
Furniture
Graphics
Interactive
Packaging
Student Work
Transportation

Enjoy!

Anonymous asked: What advice would you give to a graphic design student?

Design does not equal client work.

It’s hard to make purple work in a design. The things your teachers tell you in class are not gospel. You will get conflicting information. It means that both are wrong. Or both are true. This never stops. Most decisions are gray, and everything lives on a spectrum of correctness and suitability.

Look people in the eyes when you are talking or listening to them. The best teachers are the ones who treat their classrooms like a workplace, and the worst ones are the ones who treat their classroom like a classroom as we’ve come to expect it. Eat breakfast. Realize that you are learning a trade, so craft matters more than most say. Realize that design is also a liberal art. Quiet is always an option, even if everyone is yelling. Libraries are a good place. The books are free there, and it smells great.   Read full article >>>

http://www.designspongeonline.com/

1/Herbert Bayer

2/George Salter

3/Lester Beall

4/Paul Rand

5/Joseph Baum

Glaser talks about his role models here: http://www.printmag.com/Article/Milton-Glaser-talks-about-his-role-models

Thanks to Printmag.com

The general session I attended was Visual Storytelling, presented by Nancy Duarte. I saw Nancy last year at HOW and was just as impressed this year! She’s an amazing presenter. She teaches us to use stories and emotion to improve your message, whether it be a sales presentation, speaker presentation, or just to tell a story. She says you need to have a Big Idea, a unique point of view, plus something at stake. Plus a STAR Moment (Something You Won’t Forget) wouldn’t hurt. Be you. Be Honest. Nancy closed her session talking about Martha Graham, and how she had a unique voice. This is a quote from Martha Graham that closed the session perfectly, “I have something in my soul, and I need to say it.”

My 2nd session of the day was Sam Harrison, Selling Your Ideas to Bosses, Clients, and other Decision Makers. This session will filled with common sense information, that we don’t spend the time to think about. The first question Sam asked was “What are you passionate about, and how does it sound when you talk about it?” This is a question we need to ask ourselves every time we talk to a client, or anyone for that matter. He went on to talk about how important it is to get to know you clients, including on a personal level – know what they are doing on  Saturday night.” “Be yourself, but be the best version of yourself.” “Paint pictures for you clients. Help them visualize your ideas as a reality,”  and so much more!!! Thanks Sam!

At lunch time, my buddies, Jeni Herberger, Jeff Fisher, Steve Gorden and Bryn Mooth did a special “live from HOW” TalkStory, sponsored by Neenah paper. You can listen online here, or download it on iTunes. Excellent job guys!

The afternoon session started out with David Sherwin, of Frog Design. Topic: Better Ideas, Faster. David is a super analytical thinker and educator that has a step by step approach to problem solving and brainstorming. He believes that you should be thinking outside the box, but inside the strategy, and starting with the right questions will steer you to the right answers – by design. You can explore more about his challenges and techniques at this link.

The day ended with a repeat performance by my friend Von Glitschka. Von presented a wonderful session called Creating Five Alarm Concepts. He shared several techniques to help you achieve your best creative solution. Since Von is an amazing designer/illustrator I have to say he won, hands-down, for the best visual presentation — it was visually hilarious and informative at the same time! How often does that happen!

The last evening ended with a “White Space Party,” but unfortunately (or not) I chose to sleep instead

Day 4, the final day of the HOW Conference, started out with breakfast round table discussions. I moderated a topic called “Working in a Vacuum.” I know, what a surprise! It was so nice to talk to a table full of like minded people. Whether your independent, or an in-house person, if you’re primarily working alone, you tend to feel that great sucking sound! We talked about ways to reach out into the community to find other designers to commiserate with, including AGIA, Graphic Arts Guild, Chamber of Commerce, or just start your own support group with local design friends. It was so nice! The only thing that could have improved the experience is if we would have had it earlier in the conference. Everyone felt that it was a great way to network, and would have like to make the connections earlier. I 100% agree.

The last session I attended, prior to the closing keynote was a panel Q&A on the topic of creativity, with Justin Ahrens, Stefan Mumaw, Wendy Lee Oldfield, and David Sherwin. Tons of good in site on questions from the audience. Thanks guys!!

The closing keynote = Kevin Carroll ….. need I say more! He is one of the most amazing people on the planet (personally I think he’s a angel). He talked a little about how important it is to play (adults feel the need to have permission to play) and  have a connection to the community. But the main topic he wanted to talk about how important the opportunity that HOW gave him 8 years ago in Orlando was, and the introduction to Ann Willoughby at that conference. Since then, they have had a wonderful client/friend relationship. Willoughby Design has completely branded Kevin, including designing and producing 3 books, and has helped him grown to become one of the most saute after Katalyst/speakers in the world. HOW loves you Kevin!

THANKS SO MUCH to the HOW staff for another amazing conference!

See you in Chicago next June!!! xoxo

So here we go ….

Monday, June 7 | Day 2:

The day started out with two sessions by two incredibly strong, creative women.

The first was the general session, Inspiration: You Are What You Keep, Gail Anderson. Gail is an inspirational, not to mention obsessive, designer for the Rolling Stone magazine. She’s a collector, and everything she has acquired over the years has been an influence in her work. These items include salt and pepper shakers, bottle caps and artwork made from type shapes to name a few. She has managed to incorporate her love for these objects in her work, and has created beautifully complex graphics over the past 25 years. I totally loved the session!

Then I moved onto Women on Top, Erin Sarpa. This session discussed the unique challenges facing women in design. Erin talked about the difference between men and women, and the advantages women have, including the ability to recognize details, multitasking and relationship building. Although we have these advantages, it’s important to have specific goals, know our strengths and weaknesses, find a mentor, and don’t be afraid to fail. Again, great session. Erin gave us the tools to achieve success.

Even lunch was a treat, as I hooked up with Jaime Pescia, a navite Detroiter and the design chair of the International Academy of Design and Technology, and Jeff Fisher, owner of Logomotives. Great company and conversation.

The afternoon session I attended was Justin Ahrens (Rule29) session, Life Kerning: Where Life and Creativity Meet. As expected, Justin’s session was a wonderful mix of widsom, insite and perspectives about how to balance your work life so it’s a more meaningful experience. A really good piece of information was the criteria that Rule29 uses to decided whether its a good fit for the company. 1) Will it be profitable? 2) Will it be fun? 3) Will it attract other work? The answer has to be yes to 2 out of the 3 criteria questions for it to be considered as a viable project for Rule29.

Justin also shared videos within his presentation from guest speakers, including one from Von Glitschka that made everyone cry. Afterwards I talked to Von about it, and in his dry humor he thought it would have been a good idea to get shirts made that said, “Von made me cry at HOW.” I agree, that would have been great!

Later in the afternoon I checked out the Designers Showcase where designers brought and sold handmade items. It was smaller this year, but still some nice work!

In the evening I attended an intimate little bash that Neenah Paper hosted. I was lucky enough to meet a lot of cool new people, as well hang with some of my long time HOW buddies. But the best part was I was able to spend more time with one of my new favorite people, Jamie Saunders from Neenah. She’s the sweetest!!!

Check out my HOW 2010 flickr photo album here. ENJOY!