This (Flash) I Like

via popurls

I'm not a big fan of Flash, especially for user-interface. But, sometimes it really, really works to get a point across. My favorite current example:

What Excessive Pay Package?

DESIGNERSLASHMODEL

via Roland via e-mail

Design Alliance:

This is interesting and ghastly at the same time:

“Do I create beautiful work because I am beautiful, or am I beautiful because I create beautiful work?”

designerslashmodel.com

Official Berkeley colors

via Webnet

A few minutes ago, I received the following email from a member of Webnet:

Can anyone point me to where the official Berkeley colors -- in CMYK and RBG -- are posted, or direct me to someone who would know what they are?

I've visited the Identity Resources page (identity.berkeley.edu) but only see guidelines for the seal, signature, typeface, and format.

Here was a reply from another member:

I don't have the CMYK or RGB values handy, but someone inquired about "official" PMS colors recently. Here are some combinations that are typically used:

These are typically used for the seal:
540 (blue)
139 (gold)

540 (blue)
874 (metallic)

These are used when brighter colors are required, e.g., for athletics:
287 (blue)
1235 (gold)

288 (blue)
1245 (gold)

Looks like we should update the identity site to reflect PMS, CMYK, and RGB recommendations, for both print and web.

Friday Movie Matinee

Here’s a little Friday movie-viewing pleasure for you, Copy Goes Here. (Yes, this is design-related.)

Fonts that I hate but have been forced to use

1. Optima -- awful in most contexts, and it was being used all over the place at my office at Berkeley when I started. I think it looks good when used well -- most often in 1970's science textbooks. My phase-out is 60% complete, and I look at it's elimination as a meaningful legacy to my time spent here.

2. Frutiger -- A signage font that shouldn't be used elsewhere unless you know what you're doing. Also in use at my current job

3. Ariel -- I frequently have to design MS Word forms or powerpoint things for people who are presenting on unpredictable machines. Ariel sucks but is reliable. Simonson really hates it.

4. Palatino -- I guess Zaph re-cut this recently (now called Palatino Nova). I've had to use the regular one as a text/body type frequently and hate working with it. Not the most readable, and not especially flexible with spacing. For the record, though, the old hot metal version that Zaph made looks nice.

... but on a positive note, I love the Glyph window in illustrator/indesign. Even fonts I hate have some lovable characters hidden inside (Nice smiley faces, Times New Roman.)

In or Out of Focus?

Photography that represents the University as a whole (the sum of its many diverse parts) has also been on our work radar since spring.

Any of you who alter photos in Photoshop (who doesn’t?) might have liked the Peter Henry Emerson (1880-1895) exhibit I saw at the J. Paul Getty museum in May featuring his early photography from Eastern England.

As suspected, the alteration of negatives has been going on from the get-go. I saw the variations of prints from altered negatives. The big debate then was about “truthfulness” vs. “character of nature” in photography. Whether photos should be sharply in focus capturing detail with startling clarity, or more fuzzy, closer to what the human eye sees. These were quite heated salon discussions.

Quotes from the time:

“Negatives must be printed without alteration.”

“Nothing in nature is a hard outline, but everything is seen against something else, often so subtly you cannot quite tell where it ends and the other begins. In this mingled decision and indecision lies all of the charm and mystery of nature.”

“Remember that your photograph is a rough index of your mind, it is sort of a rough confession on paper.”

Due to my procrastination in posting the show is gone but here is a link to the highlights: www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/emerson.

Favorite fonts of… 2006?

via typographica.org via popurls

When I first stumbled on this typographica.org post I thought, “Wow, it’s kinda late in 2007 for a 2006 list.” But, with the sheer number of cool (and useful) fonts highlighted I can hardly blame them.

While University Old Style is our house typeface and one of UC Berkeley’s identifying components, there’s got to be room in your font toolbox for some of Typographica’s Favorite Fonts of 2006.

Interact 10 Ways

Okay, I've been finding all kinds of excuses not to post. I thought I’d be the first one in July but Calixto beat me to it. Since what I’m currently working on consumes my waking moments and prevents me from blogging, I’ll just share it.

While searching for inspiration on the web front for possible ways to engage our audiences. I came across this fun, visually experimental media site. Several design groups collaborated with Gettyone to create it. You’ll need some time. Each of the 10 pieces takes a minimum of a few minutes to experience. Let me know which one(s), if any, you like. And which one(s) kept your attention the longest! www.interact10ways.com

Google Office

via Macworld

No, I don't mean Google (verb) Office (direct object). I mean Google Office—like Google’s answer to Microsoft Office. Actually it’s called Google Docs & Spreadsheets BETA (catchy, right?) and you can read more about it at Macworld. I’ve played with this Google Documents & Spreadsheets BETA a little bit and it has some interesting features. If anyone wants to try editing a shared document remotely in real-time, give me a jingle at calixton@youknowwhere.edu.

Yes, it’s not really design-related but everyone’s just coming back from vacation so it might be a while before the “design” posts come back in full force.

(First July post!)