Characteristics running through these examples of Swiss Typography are the use of the black and white colour scheme, sans-serif typefaces often in lower case, photographic montage, the use of dynamic angles and the use of geometric shapes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06nCrUiFFLw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYLh94tN9cw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI-LogSzYZw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK1XpC79x3g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gol6KS1DzHI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b97WE_sDty0
(^cm)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grQCQjCSARw(
^cm)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezyRovNSaHs&playnext=1&list=PL64B7DC68C642A05D&feature=results_main
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kPlqP0hYo8&feature=bf_next&list=PL64B7DC68C642A05D
(^cm)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-28Zk8170nI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL9LGWVpAhU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptxeXp7P1So
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7eLOevo7fs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-28Zk8170nI
http://www.aisleone.net/categories/design-legends/
http://perspectives.charlesluck.com/craft/the-graphics-legend-paul-rand/

Most Helpful of the Web.

For me that is.

I have a very large bookmark list and an even larger reading list but although the sheer mass of information seems overwhelming at times, I know that even if I only remember a few key points from each article I come across, it could be enough to inspire a design or to help me comprehend something that I've struggled with in the past.

In no particular order, these are my findings.

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It might seem strange but I find the way the Design Council website takes things back to absolute basics so reassuring and helpful it's unreal. 

They answer questions like, 'What is Graphic Design?'

As well as having a section outlining the different types of design.

In each section there are videos with designers from the individual fields, speaking about what it is they do. It real takes it back to the foundations and has been really helpful for me.

Link - Design Council About Design

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If you are interested in learning HTML, CSS and more then go and have a look at w3schools. 

This website is so simple to learn from! I was never the quickest to pick something new up on computers I'll admit so I was surprised at how quickly it all began to sink in once I got into it. The chapters are short and they have some brilliant reference sections for when you just need to double check something.

Each chapter has an online practice tool so you don't need to download anything and you get quick fire results. 

Another positive point was that there was sign up requirement before having a go myself.

Go to w3schools.com to have a try.

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Abstract Bloom

New nontrickpony e-mail signature

GiffGaff Mobile

I've recently left my contract provider for these and it works well for me it's cheaper but has the same network coverage as a major provider in my area so it's well worth a look.

If you order a sim from this link then you get a free £5 added to your first top up and I get a referal thingy of credit too!

Definitely have a look at their goody bags, I use the £10 one which is Unlimited Internet, Unlimited Texts, 250 Minutes plus free giffgaff to giffgaff calls, texts and video calls plus free 0800 numbers and it lasts for one month from activation.

http://giffgaff.com/nontrickpony

Also they send out their sim cards in really cool packaging so check it out!

How cool is that!

My dream house jigsaw

Dvorak vs Qwerty

After looking into it online a little bit I decided that I wanted to have a go at re-learning to type using the Dvorak keyboard layout.

I like my mac and it's nice and tidy and wireless but the only keyboards that I've found for sale have been big heavy black things so I've done it my self.

I can't say how well it's gonna work yet because I haven't had enough time to test it out properly.

The wiki entry for the Dvorak keyboard.

Although the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard (DSK) has failed to displace the QWERTY keyboard, it has become easier to access in the computer age, being compatible with all major operating systems (such as Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, and BSD) in addition to the standard QWERTY layout. Most major operating systems have the option of toggling to the Dvorak layout. It is also supported at the hardware level by some high-end ergonomic keyboards or, alternatively, a USB 'translator' device that sits between keyboard and computer and remaps keystrokes.

The Dvorak Simplified Keyboard is a keyboard layout patented in 1936 by Dr. August Dvorak and his brother-in-law, Dr. William Dealey. Over the years several slight variations were designed by the team led by Dvorak or by ANSI. These variations have been collectively or individually also called the Simplified Keyboard or American Simplified Keyboard but they all have come to be commonly known as the Dvorak keyboard or Dvorak layout. Dvorak proponents claim the Dvorak layout uses less finger motion, increases typing rate, and reduces errors compared to the standard QWERTY keyboard. This reduction in finger distance traveled was originally purported to permit faster rates of typing, and also in later years, it was purported to reduce repetitive strain injuries.

wikipedia.org/Dvorak_Simplified_Keyboard 

This is my new wireless apple Dvorak layout keyboard.
I'll get a better picture soon, I just took this quickly on my phone because I was excited.

Dvorak and Qwerty layout keyboards.

The good thing about using Dvorak on a mac is that you can set the keyboard to Dvorak Qwerty Commands which means that the keyboard will revert to qwerty when holding the command button so you don't have to work about learning new short cuts!

If you're not ready to take the plunge you can buy key stickers so you can switch back and forth as you like.

Let me know how it goes if you give it a try!

Tiny Baby Sloth gets the Onesie Treatment

Phillip Rivera - Graphic by Design

I thought I would use this post to show some of my favourite logo work from my good friend Phillip Rivera.

Although you might think Graphic Design, computers and consumerism go hand in hand Phillip is a self confessed technophobe and is dragging his feet when it comes to getting him self out there on the world wide web.

Hopefully, this year, he'll have his website up and running and I can get a glimpse of some more of his work.

For now, here's some of his lovely logo work.

Phillip Rivera, Graphic by Design.

I thought I would use this post to showcase some of my favourite logo work done by my good friend Phillip Rivera.

Although you might think that Graphic Design, computers and consumerism go hand in hand, Phillip is a self confessed technophobe and is dragging his heels when it comes to getting him self out there on the world wide web.

Hopefully, sometime this year, he'll have a website up and running and I can get a glimpse at some more of his work.

For now, here's some of his lovely logo work.

Custom Alphabet Logotype for the Ashform Project. 

Logotype for CarfreeTravel, Liverpool.

Logotype & icon for Strange Visual Solutions.

Sugar Punch Logo type & icon.

Variation of the Sugar Punch logo.

I absolutely love this!

Things & Bits

typo-graphical.com

www.supakitch.com

The Importance of Kerning.

Disaster Book Case by Victor Barish
www.behance.net/Joely

An apple a day calendar by VikDesign

www.etsy.com/shop/VikDesign