Archive for August, 2009

What’s Bloggin’ Got to do with it? (got to do with it…)

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

Well we’re on to about our 30th post and we figured we might as well take a step back and ask ourselves why exactly we decided to take part in this whole blogging phenomenon. Does blogging really do designers any good? You might be asking yourself this same question… so let’s investigate. We realize that the design world has changed quite a bit over the years. We all get our inspiration for design somewhere: books, artists, friends, pictures, magazines, teachers, etc., but now more than ever inspiration can be found right at our fingertips via the web. Design blogs have become much more popular with new bloggers popping up each day lending out extra tips, tutorials, inspiration, and experience. 


Design blogs have many different benefits. Here are just a few we have found:
• They allow us to gain exposure where maybe we wouldn’t have had the chance to before. 
• They keep our brains and creative minds churning at all times coming up with new posts and ideas to blog about.
• Blogging can be a challenge. Just like any other project that comes our way, we must be proud of what we put forth.
• Design is all about communication; visually communicating with your viewers. With blogging, we are able to embellish on those communication skills and learn new techniques.
• Creativeness. Of course as designers, we love to be creative and push things to the extreme and blogging allows us to do just that. We are our own clients! What we say goes!

Each of us decided to highlight one of our favorite blogs that we enjoy visiting from time to time to keep up with our fellow bloggers in the design industry. Enjoy!

First up is Jim’s:

Sometimes designers need to look back in order to move forward. One of my favorite blogs is Grain Edit. They are focused on classic design work from the 1950s-1970s and contemporary designers that draw inspiration from that time period. Site content includes interviews, articles, designers’ libraries as well as examples of rare design annuals, type specimens, Ephemera, posters and vintage kids books.


Visit the blog: www.grainedit.com.


Next is Christina’s:

Web Designer Wall, a wall of design ideas, web trends, and tutorials, is designed and maintained by Nick La, who also runs N.Design Studio and Best Web Gallery. He’s been designing for several years and his work has been published on numbers of magazines. He loves to share ideas and design techniques. Web Designer Wall serves as his public blog where he posts design ideas, tutorials, and talk about modern web design trends. I like that his site is kind of a one-stop-shop; I can search through how-to tutorials, new inspiring trends and read up on some design news. Not to mention his blog is well designed. Thumbs up to Web Designer Wall!


Visit the blog: www.webdesignerwall.com.

Last is Megan’s:
One of my favorite blogs to visit for inspiration is Bad Ass Ideas. The author, Samantha Warren, communicates well with her audience, while also giving it that extra edge that I love. She adds a personal touch to her blog, while also providing great resources for the beginner designer and the advanced designer. While her focus is on web design, she offers great inspiration for all designers. She calls herself a “people person,” and in my book is one of my “people.” Great job Samantha!

Visit the blog: www.badassideas.com.

Posted in Inspiration, bloggin, creative, design blogs, graphic design | 4 Comments »