You Can't Miss: Me on Twitter!

I'm on Twitter. My sister peer pressured me.

Except, I kinda love it!

Okay, I was really protesting this whole Twitter phenomenon, but then my family got on. For any of you who know how insanely close my family is, you understand how FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) can get the best of us. We've been through a lot in the last few years and now we just can't seem to get enough of each other (and we are scattered throughout the country so we have to rely on technology to keep in touch).

So my name is Kristin_Noe and I am currently looking for interesting designers to follow. Anybody follow anyone cool?

Response: Color Hunt

I thought the video Jan showed in class today was absolutely fascinating! I love watching people with so much passion for what they do and those people were obviously going to great lengths for their craft, which is inspiring.

It also made me think about a conversation I had with Jan after class today where I told her that I didn't think my work this semester was up to my creative standards. I just don't think I have the time that I want to execute all the projects that we had. She assured me that that is just the way creative people think, and I know that, I know my standards will probably always be higher than I am able to achieve, but if I had the time that those people do to research and really let an idea develop then my designing would be really awesome. But those guys probably think they don't have enough time either...

Critique: Week 10

Last week was tough. And I barely made it out alive.

This week, I designed covers for Vox. After being given the choice to design a cover for Earth Day or the school safety feature, I chose the feature. I think the story is significant and deserves the prominence of being featured on the cover. So, I designed three serious covers that asked the question: How safe are Columbia's kids? I think that school safety really is a community-wide issue, which is why I chose to pose a question on the cover.



The critique was that they were too Sept. 11th. I didn't really know what that meant, so I googled "Sept. 11 Covers". I guess the middle one could look like the New Yorker cover with the Twin Towers on the black cover? Embarrassingly, I didn't know that cover existed. I just thought to myself, well this is different than anything Vox has done this semester, and it gets across the severity and gravity of the issue. Oh well, I am working on white one. I know we have already had typographic covers, so I'll have to come up with a little more for this one.

I have also been working on our Meredith project like crazy. I am doing a lot of redesigning and tweaking now that we have all the content. I am convinced that the end product is going to be just beautiful and am excited about where everything is going! Check out this other new element:

DesignVerb: Curiosity

This week, DesignVerb! reminded me that if you don't try, you'll never know.


Curiosity from Si on Vimeo.

I think that at this point in the semester (and really at any point in life) we can all benefit from enabling our curiosity to get the better of us. Whether it is experimenting with web design, portfolios or Vox covers, it is important to remember one of the most important characteristics that got us this far: our curiosity and willingness to experiment and put our wildest dreams out there.

So go ahead. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but he (or she to avoid minus 10) had nine lives.

Critique: Week 9

Last week was Spring Break. However, for me, it would be appropriately titled "Spring Work on Design at my Parents' House Week."

After a minor life crisis, I am the proud owner of a MacBook Pro (yes, you should be jealous). It is so fast and allows me to have all of CS4 open at once, so I can jump back and forth between programs. It has revolutionized my life.

I wish I had more to show for my week of hard work, but unfortunately it was a lot of trial and error. I am not ready to show the web site I have made to showcase my work, nor the Meredith Corporation prototype that I have been slaving over. But I will show some tidbits from it to whet your appetites:




After today's meetings, I have a lot of new ideas for the site. Despite much frustration, I have realized that I am very invested in this project and am excited about making it look really good.

Response: Web site critique

It was very interesting for me to read my web site critiques from my fellow designers. I got mixed reviews on my design, which, ironically, reflects the way I actually feel about it. I'm not sure if I am totally sold on what I have done or if I completely hate it.

In a strange way, I feel like my web site needs to perfectly reflect my aesthetic. It is what I am using to encourage people to hire me after all. And I think I am putting too much pressure on myself in that regard. I am afraid to do too much because it won't be perfect.

I know I need to get over this quickly, but that is the current obstacle that I am battling. I think that I will be able to take the suggestions to build up the content while I am developing the overall look of the site. So, thanks for participating fellow designers!

You Can't Miss: Society of Illustrators

I came across this interesting post on The Cut today. It highlighted the Society of Illustrators new exhibition "In the Line of Fashion."

"The exhibit features fashion illustrations when they were at their peak in the forties and fifties — as well as notable sketches from as recently as this year — all focusing on illustration as a means to communicate fashion."

I think it is interesting to see the evolution of illustration in these sketches, as well as the different trends and styles that have floated in and out of the fashion world. Illustration is not my strongest design skill, but definitely my most improved this year. I have found that it can often be the best way to illustrate EXACTLY what you want, especially when there often isn't a photo to capture our wildest imaginations. Enjoy!

DesignVerb: Soap Leaves

DesignVerb is always bringing my attention to the coolest examples of design innovation in everyday life and today is no exception. Today I found the most beautiful and dainty leaves made from soap, which you would never have guessed by looking at them.


I'm just shocked by how real they look. I wonder what they look like after you use them, or if they dry your hands out. Maybe something this beautiful was only meant to be looked at? But then, why make leaves out of soap?

Response: Bringhurst

So, this week we were asked to read The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst, and I gotta say, it's overwhelming. I already consider my use of typography to be my greatest weakness in designing and reading about the minute details that go into the formation of every letter didn't calm my fears that I know nothing about type.

I do think that taking the time to get all the way through the book would be a good investment in my future, so I will power on, but I'll admit that Confessions of a Shopaholic, which is currently on my nightstand, is a lot more inviting.

You Can't Miss: What has Vogue done to Adele's figure?

Women's magazines, why do you do this to us?

The Cut brought to my attention this photo of singer-songwriter Adele from Vogue.



Adele is a great singer who happens to be beautifully curvaceous, which you wouldn't know from this photo. Her positioning, clothing, the lighting and the undeniable use of photo shop have transformed Adele's body. What I'm still unsure about is where to place the blame? The stylists, art directors, photographers?

What makes matters worse is the dek featured under the photo: "At 20, the voluptuous, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Adele translates her passion for soulful sixties divas into a captivating style. Hamish Bowles delights in her unvarnished truth."

Really, Vogue? Read their article here.

And for those of you who have never heard Adele, check out the song that made me fall in love with her: