look, listen, design

  When I use the term “graffiti,” I bet your first reaction is negative. If I use the term “street art,” does that negative gut reaction settle a little bit? Does your mind open up to possibilities? The street art included in this newsletter came to me via an email chain letter. I enjoyed the creativity of the anonymous “artists" so I thought I’d share these photos with you unsolicited—the way these artists wanted to share their ideas with their respective neig [ ... ]

  By now you should be receiving card #5 in our new postcard series covering design and communication trivia. Cards 1-4 have covered: 1. What Design is and isn’t. There is good design and bad design. 2. You need the art as what? Do I need an eps, a jpg, a gif? The acronym alphabet of file types. 3. e.g. vs. ie. Do you know the difference? 4. Black and White. A review of the color systems employed by graphic designers. Card number 5—if you haven’t received it yet� [ ... ]

  When I recall these words taken from a quote by the renowned graphic designer Paul Rand, I tend to change the spelling and the meaning slightly to say “...make it big...make it ‘read,’ ” as inspiration for designing a promotion that needs to quickly catch the eye of an urban audience. At one time, a graphic designer’s tried and true method for promoting an event or advertising a product was the poster. From the mid-19th century through the mid-20th centu [ ... ]

  I’m sure you, and especially the Temple faithful, have heard enough Owl puns, but I couldn’t resist. Introducing Inspire, a spanking-new, never-before-seen magazine for Temple University’s Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts, which includes Boyer College of Music and Dance, the School of Theater, Film and Media Arts, and Temple Performing Arts Center. This 32-page plus cover magazine highlights all that is new and happening in the performing arts at Tem [ ... ]

  One of the things I like most about the graphic design profession is that I am continually meeting new people, learning about new subjects, and being immersed into other worlds. This past fall was no exception when art270 had the opportunity to redesign and produce Princeton International Magazine (int’l) an annual publication that highlights Princeton University’s international initiatives and projects. The publication introduces readers to the innovative and [ ... ]

Have an idea for a new video? Need someone to take that rough concept and run with it? Check out this new video work from art270 in partnership with John Welsh. We’ve put together a “teaser” of video shorts to give you a sense of our creativity and capabilities. We can develop a storyboard, write the copy, interview subjects, provide voice-over talent, add music and soundtracks, shoot and edit—using still cameras or video. We’re story tellers and we want to help you tell your story. T [ ... ]

Admit it, you know you’ve been anxiously waiting for it…introducing a new and improved art270 website. It’s live, it’s fresh, and it’s different! Like the shoemaker with worn shoes, this has been much too long in the making. We’ve been so busy building websites for everyone else that re-making our own site has been on the back burner since, um, forever. If nothing else, the fact that our last website has functioned effectively this long should tell you a little something about our  [ ... ]

This past summer, art270 was represented in the California Enduro Mountain Bike Series by Ryan Mill who rode for Team art270. The races that took place over two consecutive days in the California mountains proved to be challenging and bone rattling competitions. The first race in June tackled China Peak California, a beautiful ski mountain south of Yosemite National Park in the Sierra National Forest. Race two took place in late August at North Star Ski Resort, near Lake Tahoe, California, in  [ ... ]

Here’s one for you. This fall the art270 staff will have a freshman, a sophomore, a junior, and a senior in high school. Adding to that line up is a college freshman and a college sophomore, and a second year graduate student too. Fortunately for the parents, the kids are spread out among three families. Why am I sharing these odd stats? Who better to have on your team than seasoned professional communicators that are right in the throws of the college admission process? We have a student t [ ... ]