Southwest Virginia Blogs

The concept of design neutrality, is simply to make no statement with your design. In practice, it can very difficult. Design Neutral isn’t the lack of design, but design making little or no statement. The more content your design has, be it print or web design, the more difficult it is to not make a statement. In some cases, pulling off a design neutral project takes much more work than creating a distinct style. WordPress’ default themes make as good an effort at design neutrality as I’ve seen lately. Simple, unobtrusive, but not boring. the only thing they really say is “I can’t decide on a theme”. There’s nothing wrong with that. While I’d personally choose a clear and distinct design every time, some subjects, and some writers benefit from using a default theme. It gives them a “safe” platform from which to speak. It minimizes the ability of readers to read anything into the writing that doesn’t belong. It helps the reader take the words at face value, if it is at all possible.

The confusion comes when someone removes all traces of design, and calls it neutral. It isn’t neutral. Simplistic… minimalistic maybe. Devoid of style possibly, but not neutral. Google.com is simplistic. It makes a distinct stylistic statement though, just a very minimalistic one. For a search engine which phenomenal traffic, and little original content, it works. For a blog, or personal website, it wouldn’t work.

What does work, is a simple color palette with a few well placed graphics. Midrange colors that are neither too bright, or too dark. A simple layout that is organized and efficient. Clear and legible content in common fonts. These things will give you neutrality. When looking at a design, the word subtle should come to mind.If you’re working on a design, keep this in mind: Removal of all references to style isn’t Design Neutral, it’s undesigned.

The concept of design neutrality, is simply to make no statement with your design. In practice, it can very difficult. Design Neutral isn’t the lack of design, but design making little or no statement. The more content your design has, be it print or web design, the more difficult it is to not make a statement. In some cases, pulling off a design neutral project takes much more work than creating a distinct style. WordPress’ default themes make as good an effort at design neutrality as I’ve seen lately. Simple, unobtrusive, but not boring. the only thing they really say is “I can’t decide on a theme”. There’s nothing wrong with that. While I’d personally choose a clear and distinct design every time, some subjects, and some writers benefit from using a default theme. It gives them a “safe” platform from which to speak. It minimizes the ability of readers to read anything into the writing that doesn’t belong. It helps the reader take the words at face value, if it is at all possible.

The confusion comes when someone removes all traces of design, and calls it neutral. It isn’t neutral. Simplistic… minimalistic maybe. Devoid of style possibly, but not neutral. Google.com is simplistic. It makes a distinct stylistic statement though, just a very minimalistic one. For a search engine which phenomenal traffic, and little original content, it works. For a blog, or personal website, it wouldn’t work.

What does work, is a simple color palette with a few well placed graphics. Midrange colors that are neither too bright, or too dark. A simple layout that is organized and efficient. Clear and legible content in common fonts. These things will give you neutrality. When looking at a design, the word subtle should come to mind.If you’re working on a design, keep this in mind: Removal of all references to style isn’t Design Neutral, it’s undesigned.

After 630 odd posts, it might seem an odd time to do an “about me” post, but it’s been on my to-do list since I lost my Blogger profile in the transition to WordPress.

I’m a professional graphic and web designer currently working in SW Virginia. I’ve been doing graphic design for print almost fourteen years. Web design became a major part of my work two and a half years ago.

I grew up in a very small town, one of fifteen in my high school class. My family has a strong belief in the value of an education, with a large percentage of them being teachers, doctors, or artists. I was undecided on which path to take and ended up with a BS degree in Animal Science and a BA in Sculpture.

Graphic design, as you can tell from the subtitle on this blog (it currently reads “Random mutterings of a wandering cowboy turned graphic designer”) wasn’t my first career choice. My first job, when I was 14, was working with cattle from horseback. I loved it. I had every intention of spending my life working with horses… Time passes, things change.

I found I had to reevaluate my choices when, in my mid-twenties, I was preparing to get married. Breaking horses, as I’d been doing since my late teens, just wasn’t a viable profession any more. I’d had three concussions, a back injury, various torn ligaments, and some bones in my foot fused already and retirement wasn’t exactly looming near. I started looking for another career. Something that would allow me to fuse my education with my passion for art. I lucked upon a graphic design job with someone who liked to train his own designers. He recognized in me something I didn’t see myself, the designer. It was a fantastic stroke of luck, and I’ll be forever grateful for his training.

I’m not by nature a talkative type, my wife would tell you that I act like I have a lifetime quota on words and I’m trying not to run out too early. I do however, like to say what I think. I took up blogging because I have almost exclusively worked where I was one of few if not the only, designer. Blogging not only allows me a place to speak my mind, but also allows me to be a part of a community of people who have similar interests. While I’m often the lone designer at work, I’m one among many online. This is something that I’ve found that I appreciate.

While I make an effort to focus on design and design related subjects, I’m afraid that I often wander off topic. You’ll notice for instance, that I veer into discussing politics on regular basis. Bare with me, and I come back to discussing graphic and web design before too long.

I’m a problem solver by nature, I’m fascinated by almost any sort of puzzle. Trouble shooting design problems is a particular pleasure for me. I often find myself giving people unsolicited advice on how to fix problems on their sites that they aren’t even aware of. I’ve recently started a series on Design Review to take advantage of that. This series is intended to give people a look into how a designer sees design.

My restless nature, and my wife’s career choices, have moved us around the country in the last decade. From my native Washington, I’ve worked in Idaho, Maryland and now Virginia. I’ve designed things varying from newspaper ads to cookbooks and furniture. I even designed custom carpet for a while. I find print design the most interesting, though the technical challenge of web design has a strong appeal as well. I think I’ll pass on custom carpet in the future. I’ve enjoyed the the journey, I’ve enjoyed each place I’ve lived. While I’d like to find a place to settle down, another move is being considered as I write this. Where next? I don’t know yet, maybe the Midwest. We’ll see where this road leads.

Consider this post to be guest book of sorts. If you’re reading this, drop me a comment. Let me know who you are, and where you’re from. I’m always interested in seeing who stops by.

After 630 odd posts, it might seem an odd time to do an “about me” post, but it’s been on my to-do list since I lost my Blogger profile in the transition to WordPress.

I’m a professional graphic and web designer currently working in SW Virginia. I’ve been doing graphic design for print almost fourteen years. Web design became a major part of my work two and a half years ago.

I grew up in a very small town, one of fifteen in my high school class. My family has a strong belief in the value of an education, with a large percentage of them being teachers, doctors, or artists. I was undecided on which path to take and ended up with a BS degree in Animal Science and a BA in Sculpture.

Graphic design, as you can tell from the subtitle on this blog (it currently reads “Random mutterings of a wandering cowboy turned graphic designer”) wasn’t my first career choice. My first job, when I was 14, was working with cattle from horseback. I loved it. I had every intention of spending my life working with horses… Time passes, things change.

I found I had to reevaluate my choices when, in my mid-twenties, I was preparing to get married. Breaking horses, as I’d been doing since my late teens, just wasn’t a viable profession any more. I’d had three concussions, a back injury, various torn ligaments, and some bones in my foot fused already and retirement wasn’t exactly looming near. I started looking for another career. Something that would allow me to fuse my education with my passion for art. I lucked upon a graphic design job with someone who liked to train his own designers. He recognized in me something I didn’t see myself, the designer. It was a fantastic stroke of luck, and I’ll be forever grateful for his training.

I’m not by nature a talkative type, my wife would tell you that I act like I have a lifetime quota on words and I’m trying not to run out too early. I do however, like to say what I think. I took up blogging because I have almost exclusively worked where I was one of few if not the only, designer. Blogging not only allows me a place to speak my mind, but also allows me to be a part of a community of people who have similar interests. While I’m often the lone designer at work, I’m one among many online. This is something that I’ve found that I appreciate.

While I make an effort to focus on design and design related subjects, I’m afraid that I often wander off topic. You’ll notice for instance, that I veer into discussing politics on regular basis. Bare with me, and I come back to discussing graphic and web design before too long.

I’m a problem solver by nature, I’m fascinated by almost any sort of puzzle. Trouble shooting design problems is a particular pleasure for me. I often find myself giving people unsolicited advice on how to fix problems on their sites that they aren’t even aware of. I’ve recently started a series on Design Review to take advantage of that. This series is intended to give people a look into how a designer sees design.

My restless nature, and my wife’s career choices, have moved us around the country in the last decade. From my native Washington, I’ve worked in Idaho, Maryland and now Virginia. I’ve designed things varying from newspaper ads to cookbooks and furniture. I even designed custom carpet for a while. I find print design the most interesting, though the technical challenge of web design has a strong appeal as well. I think I’ll pass on custom carpet in the future. I’ve enjoyed the the journey, I’ve enjoyed each place I’ve lived. While I’d like to find a place to settle down, another move is being considered as I write this. Where next? I don’t know yet, maybe the Midwest. We’ll see where this road leads.

Consider this post to be guest book of sorts. If you’re reading this, drop me a comment. Let me know who you are, and where you’re from. I’m always interested in seeing who stops by.

I have too many irons in the fire right now to post much, so I’ll leave you with links to a couple of good design posts on other sites, and open trackbacks so that you can tell me what you’re writing about.

Thoughts on Design » Setting graphic design free

If I had the opportunity to give one, and only one suggestion to a young graphic designer… it would be “simplify”. It might sound too easy, and maybe it is, but that one word is a major key to design.

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free. - Michelangelo “

The most difficult aspect of the design work I do is setting my design free.

Saurian Sagacity: The Official Blog for Inquisitive Florida Gator Fans: 32 Bowls, 32 Logos - Part 2

This is the 2nd part of a 4-part series where we evaluate the bowls based on their logos. “We” is myself, an 11-year veteran of the advertising business and Alex (the expert), a professional colleague who is a creative director that came out of the graphic design and art direction end of the ad business. Alex is a contributor at the popular South Florida blog called Stuck on the Palmetto.

I have too many irons in the fire right now to post much, so I’ll leave you with links to a couple of good design posts on other sites, and open trackbacks so that you can tell me what you’re writing about.

Thoughts on Design » Setting graphic design free

If I had the opportunity to give one, and only one suggestion to a young graphic designer… it would be “simplify”. It might sound too easy, and maybe it is, but that one word is a major key to design.

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free. - Michelangelo “

The most difficult aspect of the design work I do is setting my design free.

Saurian Sagacity: The Official Blog for Inquisitive Florida Gator Fans: 32 Bowls, 32 Logos - Part 2

This is the 2nd part of a 4-part series where we evaluate the bowls based on their logos. “We” is myself, an 11-year veteran of the advertising business and Alex (the expert), a professional colleague who is a creative director that came out of the graphic design and art direction end of the ad business. Alex is a contributor at the popular South Florida blog called Stuck on the Palmetto.

I have too many irons in the fire right now to post much, so I’ll leave you with links to a couple of good design posts on other sites, and open trackbacks so that you can tell me what you’re writing about.

Thoughts on Design » Setting graphic design free

If I had the opportunity to give one, and only one suggestion to a young graphic designer… it would be “simplify”. It might sound too easy, and maybe it is, but that one word is a major key to design.

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free. - Michelangelo “

The most difficult aspect of the design work I do is setting my design free.

Saurian Sagacity: The Official Blog for Inquisitive Florida Gator Fans: 32 Bowls, 32 Logos - Part 2

This is the 2nd part of a 4-part series where we evaluate the bowls based on their logos. “We” is myself, an 11-year veteran of the advertising business and Alex (the expert), a professional colleague who is a creative director that came out of the graphic design and art direction end of the ad business. Alex is a contributor at the popular South Florida blog called Stuck on the Palmetto.

I have too many irons in the fire right now to post much, so I’ll leave you with links to a couple of good design posts on other sites, and open trackbacks so that you can tell me what you’re writing about.

Thoughts on Design » Setting graphic design free

If I had the opportunity to give one, and only one suggestion to a young graphic designer… it would be “simplify”. It might sound too easy, and maybe it is, but that one word is a major key to design.

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free. - Michelangelo “

The most difficult aspect of the design work I do is setting my design free.

Saurian Sagacity: The Official Blog for Inquisitive Florida Gator Fans: 32 Bowls, 32 Logos - Part 2

This is the 2nd part of a 4-part series where we evaluate the bowls based on their logos. “We” is myself, an 11-year veteran of the advertising business and Alex (the expert), a professional colleague who is a creative director that came out of the graphic design and art direction end of the ad business. Alex is a contributor at the popular South Florida blog called Stuck on the Palmetto.

I have too many irons in the fire right now to post much, so I’ll leave you with links to a couple of good design posts on other sites, and open trackbacks so that you can tell me what you’re writing about.

Thoughts on Design » Setting graphic design free

If I had the opportunity to give one, and only one suggestion to a young graphic designer… it would be “simplify”. It might sound too easy, and maybe it is, but that one word is a major key to design.

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free. - Michelangelo “

The most difficult aspect of the design work I do is setting my design free.

Saurian Sagacity: The Official Blog for Inquisitive Florida Gator Fans: 32 Bowls, 32 Logos - Part 2

This is the 2nd part of a 4-part series where we evaluate the bowls based on their logos. “We” is myself, an 11-year veteran of the advertising business and Alex (the expert), a professional colleague who is a creative director that came out of the graphic design and art direction end of the ad business. Alex is a contributor at the popular South Florida blog called Stuck on the Palmetto.

I have too many irons in the fire right now to post much, so I’ll leave you with links to a couple of good design posts on other sites, and open trackbacks so that you can tell me what you’re writing about.

Thoughts on Design » Setting graphic design free

If I had the opportunity to give one, and only one suggestion to a young graphic designer… it would be “simplify”. It might sound too easy, and maybe it is, but that one word is a major key to design.

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free. - Michelangelo “

The most difficult aspect of the design work I do is setting my design free.

Saurian Sagacity: The Official Blog for Inquisitive Florida Gator Fans: 32 Bowls, 32 Logos - Part 2

This is the 2nd part of a 4-part series where we evaluate the bowls based on their logos. “We” is myself, an 11-year veteran of the advertising business and Alex (the expert), a professional colleague who is a creative director that came out of the graphic design and art direction end of the ad business. Alex is a contributor at the popular South Florida blog called Stuck on the Palmetto.

I have too many irons in the fire right now to post much, so I’ll leave you with links to a couple of good design posts on other sites, and open trackbacks so that you can tell me what you’re writing about.

Thoughts on Design » Setting graphic design free

If I had the opportunity to give one, and only one suggestion to a young graphic designer… it would be “simplify”. It might sound too easy, and maybe it is, but that one word is a major key to design.

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free. - Michelangelo “

The most difficult aspect of the design work I do is setting my design free.

Saurian Sagacity: The Official Blog for Inquisitive Florida Gator Fans: 32 Bowls, 32 Logos - Part 2

This is the 2nd part of a 4-part series where we evaluate the bowls based on their logos. “We” is myself, an 11-year veteran of the advertising business and Alex (the expert), a professional colleague who is a creative director that came out of the graphic design and art direction end of the ad business. Alex is a contributor at the popular South Florida blog called Stuck on the Palmetto.

I have too many irons in the fire right now to post much, so I’ll leave you with links to a couple of good design posts on other sites, and open trackbacks so that you can tell me what you’re writing about.

Thoughts on Design » Setting graphic design free

If I had the opportunity to give one, and only one suggestion to a young graphic designer… it would be “simplify”. It might sound too easy, and maybe it is, but that one word is a major key to design.

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free. - Michelangelo “

The most difficult aspect of the design work I do is setting my design free.

Saurian Sagacity: The Official Blog for Inquisitive Florida Gator Fans: 32 Bowls, 32 Logos - Part 2

This is the 2nd part of a 4-part series where we evaluate the bowls based on their logos. “We” is myself, an 11-year veteran of the advertising business and Alex (the expert), a professional colleague who is a creative director that came out of the graphic design and art direction end of the ad business. Alex is a contributor at the popular South Florida blog called Stuck on the Palmetto.

I have too many irons in the fire right now to post much, so I’ll leave you with links to a couple of good design posts on other sites, and open trackbacks so that you can tell me what you’re writing about.

Thoughts on Design » Setting graphic design free

If I had the opportunity to give one, and only one suggestion to a young graphic designer… it would be “simplify”. It might sound too easy, and maybe it is, but that one word is a major key to design.

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free. - Michelangelo “

The most difficult aspect of the design work I do is setting my design free.

Saurian Sagacity: The Official Blog for Inquisitive Florida Gator Fans: 32 Bowls, 32 Logos - Part 2

This is the 2nd part of a 4-part series where we evaluate the bowls based on their logos. “We” is myself, an 11-year veteran of the advertising business and Alex (the expert), a professional colleague who is a creative director that came out of the graphic design and art direction end of the ad business. Alex is a contributor at the popular South Florida blog called Stuck on the Palmetto.

I have too many irons in the fire right now to post much, so I’ll leave you with links to a couple of good design posts on other sites, and open trackbacks so that you can tell me what you’re writing about.

Thoughts on Design » Setting graphic design free

If I had the opportunity to give one, and only one suggestion to a young graphic designer… it would be “simplify”. It might sound too easy, and maybe it is, but that one word is a major key to design.

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free. - Michelangelo “

The most difficult aspect of the design work I do is setting my design free.

Saurian Sagacity: The Official Blog for Inquisitive Florida Gator Fans: 32 Bowls, 32 Logos - Part 2

This is the 2nd part of a 4-part series where we evaluate the bowls based on their logos. “We” is myself, an 11-year veteran of the advertising business and Alex (the expert), a professional colleague who is a creative director that came out of the graphic design and art direction end of the ad business. Alex is a contributor at the popular South Florida blog called Stuck on the Palmetto.

I have too many irons in the fire right now to post much, so I’ll leave you with links to a couple of good design posts on other sites, and open trackbacks so that you can tell me what you’re writing about.

Thoughts on Design » Setting graphic design free

If I had the opportunity to give one, and only one suggestion to a young graphic designer… it would be “simplify”. It might sound too easy, and maybe it is, but that one word is a major key to design.

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free. - Michelangelo “

The most difficult aspect of the design work I do is setting my design free.

Saurian Sagacity: The Official Blog for Inquisitive Florida Gator Fans: 32 Bowls, 32 Logos - Part 2

This is the 2nd part of a 4-part series where we evaluate the bowls based on their logos. “We” is myself, an 11-year veteran of the advertising business and Alex (the expert), a professional colleague who is a creative director that came out of the graphic design and art direction end of the ad business. Alex is a contributor at the popular South Florida blog called Stuck on the Palmetto.

National flags of the World… with clients corrections.

I’ve found out what’s wrong with me! I have the the Design Disease!

It seems to me that if you’re a designer, a proper designer not someone who learnt Photoshop in between phone calls, then design runs through your veins like Pantone 7418. But more than that, it’s there in every aspect of life. You can’t stop looking at things through your designer eyes. Everything you do is clouded by this thing that lives inside you.

Now, this is no bad thing. But I’m becoming fascinated by how this thing takes hold of us all and I’d like to share it with you lovely people.

So what’s it like, living with this disease? What does it make you do that other people don’t do? How does it affect you?

OK, honest now. How does the design disease affect you? Here’s a partial list of my symptoms. Please note that it isn’t entirely restricted to graphic design.

• See signs along the road and find design faults in them?
• Identify fonts at 65 mph on passing delivery vans
• Drive erratically for a second look at good sign
• Identify the software used by the clip art
• Point out design flaws on building signs to building managers
• Pick wine by the quality of the label design (Thanks for the reminder Noisy Decent Graphics)
• Choose products by the quality of their advertising
• and the inverse, boycott products with badly designed advertising
• Built the rock walls in my landscaping, because I’m the only one I trusted to match my design idea. Dug up the rocks myself.
• Completely gutted and rebuilt the interior of my last house, because the contractor inappropriately mixed design styles
• Have stopped reading a magazine because the design was so poor, even though I liked the contents
• Often look at the source code of other people’s websites, just to see if I agree with how they structured it
• Have given photography suggestions to perfect strangers because they were missing an obviously great shot - (Got thanked!)

Those were just off the top of my head. I’m sure more will come to me as the day progresses.

I’ve found out what’s wrong with me! I have the the Design Disease!

It seems to me that if you’re a designer, a proper designer not someone who learnt Photoshop in between phone calls, then design runs through your veins like Pantone 7418. But more than that, it’s there in every aspect of life. You can’t stop looking at things through your designer eyes. Everything you do is clouded by this thing that lives inside you.

Now, this is no bad thing. But I’m becoming fascinated by how this thing takes hold of us all and I’d like to share it with you lovely people.

So what’s it like, living with this disease? What does it make you do that other people don’t do? How does it affect you?

OK, honest now. How does the design disease affect you? Here’s a partial list of my symptoms. Please note that it isn’t entirely restricted to graphic design.

• See signs along the road and find design faults in them?
• Identify fonts at 65 mph on passing delivery vans
• Drive erratically for a second look at good sign
• Identify the software used by the clip art
• Point out design flaws on building signs to building managers
• Pick wine by the quality of the label design (Thanks for the reminder Noisy Decent Graphics)
• Choose products by the quality of their advertising
• and the inverse, boycott products with badly designed advertising
• Built the rock walls in my landscaping, because I’m the only one I trusted to match my design idea. Dug up the rocks myself.
• Completely gutted and rebuilt the interior of my last house, because the contractor inappropriately mixed design styles
• Have stopped reading a magazine because the design was so poor, even though I liked the contents
• Often look at the source code of other people’s websites, just to see if I agree with how they structured it
• Have given photography suggestions to perfect strangers because they were missing an obviously great shot - (Got thanked!)

Those were just off the top of my head. I’m sure more will come to me as the day progresses.

I should have started this sooner, but better late than never. Design Reviews. I’ll focus on website design primarily, but we’ll see where it goes. Since I’m rarely called humble, I thought I’d start right at the top. Starting in the next day or two I’ll be doing design reviews of some of the more popular blogs. Don’t have a popular site? Don’t think you’re safe, because I’ll be going there too. Reviews will cover these areas:

• Style - A straight judgment on appearance. Good, bad, or dear God what happened here.
• Structure - Regardless of style, does the site have good bones.
• Content - Quality of content, regardless of subject.
• What would I change - Criticism, (hopefully constructive) on what’s wrong, what’s right, and how I’d improve it.
• Review topics are of course, subject to change.

If you have a site that you want reviewed, feel free to make suggestions. If you don’t want your site reviewed… I’ll accept cash, check, and most major credit cards.

This was one of the original concepts behind this blog, but it’s something I’ve never felt ready to start. I’d like to thank Mr. Guzman for kicking me into gear with a post on this subject a few months ago. I’m not linking because his site (samguzman.com?) doesn’t currently seem to be online. If this changes, please let me know and I’ll link to you properly.

Should design be simple? Not necessarily. Sometimes the correct design solution is very complex. What is complex in design though, can be simple in execution. Careful planning can keep a complex layout from turning into a design nightmare.

How do you make a difficult design into an elegantly executed piece of art?

• Know your tools.
• Plan thoughtfully.
• Execute carefully.

I often have a good idea what my final product is going to be in advance of the final content. This allows me to work out the finer details of a design without having to worry about any time consuming fixes of original content. With placement or greek text I can work out the details of layout, carefully craft my styles so that everything is ready to place when the final content arrives. Using global styles, whether it’s in CSS on the web or character and paragraph styles in InDesign, my design is often finalized before the content arrives.

There are always minor adjustments, but while preparation can’t always account for everything, it is the key. Without planning a design’s execution can be haphazard and incomplete. Mistakes get made. The most complex design can be made simple, by simply planning ahead.