Though the devastating earthquake struck over two months ago, Haiti is barely beginning to rebuild and will need aid for years to come. There have been many calls for donations, especially through organizations such as the Red Cross, but you can also support the recovery effort just by shopping.

The Haiti Poster Project has launched what they describe as a “collaborative effort by the design community to help effect change through our work. Signed and numbered, limited edition posters have been donated by designers and artists from around the world. All money raised will be donated to Doctors Without Borders.” Browse the stunning collection here.

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Sailors do it. Musicians do it. And now even geeks and grandmas do it. These days tattoos are almost ho hum, almost de riguer. But still of intense interest to designers and other fans of visual art.

The reasons behind particular tattoo choices may be personal but a lot of people seem to be using their bodies like they use the bumpers of their car. If you can’t get that vanity plate you wanted, why not just pay to have someone permanently embed the message into your skin—with needles?

Maybe the weirdest decisions to do this are on the behalf of those that want to show their love of new technology. Tattooing your brand loyalty may have seemed hip in 1984 and could be cool in 2010… » Read the rest of this entry «

For a shy person, ending a conversation can be as hard as starting one. I realized this first-hand when I attended an event of a professional organization (AIGA) where I’d been a board member and president for 10 years. I had left the industry for a few years and come back, so I went to a few meetings to rekindle relationships.

Well I couldn’t believe what happened, I got into conversations that I couldn’t get out of. I must confess that I panicked a bit and actually had a feeling of my feet being cemented down. I looked to others in the room for help but no one came to my rescue, I had lost my touch. It was a weird sensation for a guy who used to really work a room because that was my role as President. Was it because I out of practice? Sure! But I think it was more than that. » Read the rest of this entry «

Anybody who is great at anything will tell you that it took a lot of practice to get to that point. In networking it is pretty much the same—especially if you are shy. You have to practice and work on your skills to chip away at any fear that you may have. Just remember that your shyness will never disappear 100%, but practice will bring that percentage way down. Now here are three more tips that will help you build confidence: » Read the rest of this entry «

I hope you had a chance to practice my three simple networking tips from last time. That wasn’t so hard was it? Here are three more that are certain to make your next experience more rewarding. » Read the rest of this entry «

First, I’d like to say that I myself hate networking. The prospect of walking into a room and meeting a bunch of strangers to talk about yourself can be a very frightening and paralyzing experience for the shy person. One way to battle any fear is to acknowledge it, so let me say it again, I HATE NETWORKING! That felt good. Okay the next step is to decide whether you want to do something about it or just avoid the situation all together and be stuck in a stagnant job or zero growth for your business. For me, I did something about it. As a young graphic designer I knew I had to network to advance my career in graphic design—in this industry most firms are small so if you want to meet other creative types, attending the local design or ad club events was the way to do it. » Read the rest of this entry «

Taking a dog to work can be controversial. If the dogs are really active, stink, aren’t quite potty trained, super slobbery, or a bit territorial, it can present problems. But if you’ve got a well trained dog, it can be a dream come true for employees and dogs. Dogs give a great energy and give you a healthy excuse to take little breaks away from the computer. But tell us what you think. Go ahead, bark up our tree. Click to comment.

–Susan Andrade