As a graphic designer for the past 25 years I have an appreciation for all aspects of design and how it integrates into my life. There are two things that I have identified that I am very passionate about – typography and mod furniture.

The two came together around five years ago. My artist wife Laura Zeck and I remodeled two houses and a condo during that time. We gradually got better at being handy and gained lots of confidence with power tools. Our last endeavor was a former gang/crack house that was a massive 4500-square foot, four story mansion built in 1904.

The house needed major renovation at every level. For instance, when we moved in there was no kitchen and a barely-working toilet. There was so much space to redesign and fill that we decided to take a shot at making some of our own furniture. » Read the rest of this entry «

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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As we face a new quarter and a recovering economy, we at Gravity Design decided it was the opportune time to rebrand. We wanted to reflect our colorful style, bold approach, and modern thinking. Our new look embraces our creativity, fresh approach, and energy. And as all creative people know, Comic Sans is always the right answer.

For some reason, there are a lot of rebrands floating around the web today so we’ve collected a few for your consideration. Enjoy!

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A recent Harvard Business Review article by Alexandra Samuel titled “The Science of Swag” started me thinking about promotional items and what our clients should really consider before producing tradeshow giveaways.

Equating swag to science is understandable, but the whole idea of how to influence people with varied incarnations of promotional merchandise when troops of other exhibitors are doing the same all around you, has become more than science. This is war. » Read the rest of this entry «

Turquoise, specifically Pantone® 15-5519, has been crowned Color of the Year for 2010. If it makes you feel like slipping on your sarong and sipping a Coconut Willie by the pool…well, then you are a very strange young man. But on trend, apparently.

Pantone, the global authority on color and color standards for the design industry, says that Turquoise (which they inexplicably capitalize every time they mention it) “evokes thoughts of soothing tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of well-being.” It’s also the color of a ’55 Ford Station Wagon I once had that was actually the cause of many of my everyday  troubles but we’ll let that pass. » Read the rest of this entry «

As designers, we love getting down and dirty. While the computer is a great tool for designing, our hearts lie in being able to touch our work.

So last Saturday, the designers of Gravity took the opportunity to attend the Silkscreen 101 workshop at the Vera Project in Seattle Center. » Read the rest of this entry «

Letterpress is such a passionate and heartfelt craft shared by many in the design and printing world. It has a long legacy and history starting from its inventor Johannes Gutenberg in the mid 1500s to our current day heroes such as Jim Sherraden at Hatch Show Print in Nashville. In recent years, letterpress has become more mainstream due to its popularity in the stationery industry—now the general public has been exposed to this great artistry. It is one of those things that you never get tired of looking at and touching. The impression, its depth, the ink saturation, and tactile quality all stir a warm fuzzy feeling for those who love this timeless craft. I do not know of any designer wouldn’t want to do a letterpress piece.

Recently we were looking for a letterpress vendor in town (Seattle) for our design firm’s promo book and I came across some very talented craftspeople. Our job had a very short run of 250 so I was looking for a small letterpress printer that didn’t have the overhead of the full service shops. We were looking for a one- or two-person shop that had the passion for the deep impression. » Read the rest of this entry «

Went to The School of Visual Concept’s Wayzgoose on Saturday. It was pretty cool seeing the tiny steamroller flatten paper against super-big, hand-carved designs. The prints that came off were all one-of-a kind and, definitely, some came out better than others. It was fun to watch for a bit, with the smell of hot dogs and sauerkraut wafting across the parking lot, and hearing the background tunes of two live fiddlers against the beep, beep, beep of the steamroller backing.

Wayzgoose was at one time the name for an entertainment given by a master printer to his workmen each year on or about St Bartholomew’s Day (24 August). This marked the traditional end of summer and the point at which the season of working by candlelight began. Yeah, working by computer lamp is much better. I just hope summer lasts for at least one more month.

–Susan Andrade

When I attended the third annual “101 Things Designers Can Do to Save the Earth” workshop, I thought I’d hear about choosing sustainable materials, reducing packaging, and maybe witness a soapbox tirade about eliminating printing altogether. But as Larry Asher of the School of Visual Concepts kicked things off, we were clearly leaving that discussion back in 2008. This year, the presentation focused on being practical while still trying to do the right thing.

Only 5% of people are truly altruistic

It’s expensive (and even sometimes wasteful) to create new designs. 95% of people and businesses are not altruistic, and will not “go green” simply for the sake of saving the environment. But when businesses can cut costs and keep their products high-quality and desirable, they will make better packaging and design decisions with regard to the environment. » Read the rest of this entry «

“For most printer companies, ink is the bread and butter of their business. The price of ink for HP ink-jet printers can be as much as $8,000 per gallon*, a figure that makes gas-pump prices look tame.“

Here is a way to help cut down on your ink consumption. Try the new Ecofont. It has tiny holes throughout the letters which cause them to use up to 20% less ink. When printed in a fairly small size (10 pt.), the holes are not noticeable. For large type sizes, the holes are obvious but look cool. » Read the rest of this entry «