by Annie | Jan 12, 2010 | Logoland, Typographically Speaking
I recently watched the book-turned-movie Julie and Julia, a very fun movie based on an inspirational story that brings together modern day young professional Julie Powell with famous TV chef Julia Child. The title screen of the movie incorporates a scripty ampersand, representing the unity of time periods, locations, and styles. So I got to thinking, where did the ampersand come from? According to Wikipedia, the word ampersand comes from the phrase “and per se and,” meaning “and [the symbol which] by itself [is] and.” I recall hearing in high school Latin class that the ampersand comes from the Latin word “et,” meaning “and.” In fact, you can trace the evolution of the symbol back to Old Roman cursive, in which the letters E and T were sometimes written together. These days, you can find the symbol practically anywhere: 1. In logos 2. In clothing and accessories 3. Around the house What was once a quick shorthand symbol has now become an icon of class, unity, & enterprise. Bravo, ampersand....
by Annie | Jan 6, 2010 | Adchievements, Illustration Station, Typographically Speaking
Frustrated because a dead or misspelled link landed you on a 404 page? Everyone’s been there, and no one likes it. Web designers should account for this mishap, creating fun, memorable, and creative 404 messages to appease grumpy users. If you happen to find a dead link on my site, this is what you’ll see: While working on the design for my 404 page, I came across some inspiring and creative 404 messages. Here are a few of my...
by Annie | Jan 5, 2010 | Illustration Station
It’s not hard to see that the world is changing. Every time we blink, a new technological device pops up. Transportation is making it easier for people to travel farther and faster, to places inaccessible to our ancestors. This melting pot of cultures and languages brings with it fresh ideas but also fresh challenges. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m no good at languages. I think my brain just didn’t develop that piece needed to retain new vocabulary and verb conjugations for long periods of time. So when I travel to a foreign land, sure I take some time to learn the basics: hello, thank you, bathroom. But more often than not, when I’m standing face-to-face with a native speaker, most of what comes out of my mouth sounds more like, “Uhh…mm…” Apparently my language deficiencies are not too out of the ordinary. Countries are recognizing the need for standardized and pictorial signs, especially for foreign drivers. Here are some of my...
by Annie | Dec 31, 2009 | Other
The end of the year can be a hectic time, especially with family get-togethers, travel plans, and holiday gift bills. Thus, it’s easy to overlook New Year’s resolutions or to hastily make a tentative list in your head. Most people have a neverending list of things they’d like to change about themselves and their lives, so making a definitive list of resolutions can be daunting. However, I suggest that you make just one. One resolution that you’re resolved to achieve. If you make just one change in your life, it can have lasting ripples in other areas. Can’t think of any? Here are some ideas to get you started: 1. Start each day purposefully doing what’s most important to you. Perhaps you love to draw but never find the time. Make a commitment to wake up 20 minutes earlier and sketch something every day. 2. Work on something outside of your comfort zone. Take on a project you might normally pass up, or try a different style you don’t normally use. Test your limits. Surprise yourself. 3. Take one purposeful break per day. Schedule one short outing per day that gets you out of your work chair. Try a new coffee shop, sit outside and people-watch, or just walk around the block looking for things you hadn’t noticed before. 4. Clean. An organized workspace can save you tons of time and can be a source of inspiration. 5. Just do it. So many people wait for the ideal time to do or buy something, and often they wait too long. If you’ve been saving a bottle of wine, waiting...
by Annie | Dec 29, 2009 | Logoland, Typographically Speaking
When you think of the ABCs, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Pre-K, the ABC song, Sesame Street? Most likely, art and design don’t immediately pop into your head. And who can blame you? Most people first encounter the ABCs in early childhood, strange symbols printed on paper or posters next to illustrations – the “real” art. The letters are rarely studied for their own artistic value; rather, they are strung together in words and sentences to describe other pieces of art. A recent report published by the University of California, San Diego, suggests that the average American consumes 100,000 words of information in a single day. That’s not hard to imagine considering we can so easily access television shows, video games, emails, and text messages – often simultaneously! Most adults can read a word in less than a second. In fact, many words, such as “the” and “dog” are memorized in early elementary school as sight words, so readers don’t actually read them so much as recognize them. In a world that moves so fast, it’s often difficult to stop and appreciate the simple beauty behind the letters we read and write every day. That’s where letterforms come in. In typography, letterforms refer to the study and design of individual letters. Letterforms help to highlight the aesthetic value of the lines, angles, curves, and shapes that make up letters and are often linked to emotions and hidden meanings, hence their importance in advertising. So the next time you scan an article, pass by a store sign, or read a book with your kids, stop and take...
