Daring to tell a story
We’ve just wrapped up design development on the third national survey of nonprofit leaders, Daring to Lead 2011. The challenges and opportunities presented in this project were expanded over earlier...
View ArticleWhat makes a logo ‘great’?
So what are the attributes of a great logo or mark? We think it boils down to five simple things: 1. Distinctive. The design idea need not be unique in the world, just distinctive enough so you can...
View Article10 Rules to Reverse the Email Spiral
We think these rules are so good, we’ve reprinted them directly from The Email Charter. 1. Respect Recipients’ Time This is the fundamental rule. As the message sender, the onus is on YOU to minimize...
View ArticleIcons for the RP Group
Just completed a set of icons that will be used by the RP Group for various subprograms. As with all logo and icon projects, the connection to the parent identity is paramount. Websites, particularly,...
View ArticleA Document is a Place
This statement by Bob Stein of The Institute on the Future of the Book in a recent Imprint story caught my eye: “I view the book as a place where readers congregate and the social aspect of reading is...
View ArticleSimplicity on purpose.
We’ve all seen them: 8.5 x 11″ reports, running 24 pages with a lot of color photos of smiling children. And we’ve all tossed them aside with barely a glance. We eschew that approach to the annual...
View ArticleBlue Shield Foundation monographs
Four short booklets covering executive transitions for the healthcare sector. The challenge: unify four very different topics into a cohesive framework, yet give each its own angle. And rightly get the...
View ArticleConference impressions
The 24th annual Nonprofit Day 2011 conference hosted by CompassPoint at the Oakland Marriott was a wonderful gathering. Part edification and part celebration, Nonprofit Day is a chance to gather with...
View ArticleConsistency vs. Coherence
“But, similar to how molds are created to ensure that every component of a product is manufactured in exactly the same way, this consistency can become repetitive and doesn’t go far enough to create...
View Article5 Rules for Great Design Feedback
You’ve been here before: artwork has been set in front of you and you’ve been asked to respond. You struggle with the wide-open question, “What do you think?” But you don’t have to struggle to give...
View ArticleHow a Web Design Goes Straight to Hell
Thought this comic was pretty funny, especially the verbatim quotes from the clients. From “The Oatmeal.”
View ArticleNonprofit fundraising is a group sport
Recently completed cover, highlight pages, and chart design for Haas Jr. foundation’s “UnderDeveloped” report. We wanted something bold, but also getting some humanity into the equation without...
View ArticleAdding a email account in Apple Mail
1. Open Apple Mail and choose menu MAIL > ACCOUNTS… 2. Click the + symbol at bottom left of pane. 3. Click “Add Other Account” at bottom of list. 4. Enter the BlueAvocado email account info...
View ArticleIcons for the RP Group
Just completed a set of icons that will be used by the RP Group for various subprograms. As with all logo and icon projects, the connection to the parent identity is paramount. Websites, particularly,...
View ArticleA Document is a Place
This statement by Bob Stein of The Institute on the Future of the Book in a recent Imprint story caught my eye: “I view the book as a place where readers congregate and the social aspect of reading is...
View ArticleSimplicity on purpose.
We’ve all seen them: 8.5 x 11″ reports, running 24 pages with a lot of color photos of smiling children. And we’ve all tossed them aside with barely a glance. We eschew that approach to the annual...
View ArticleBlue Shield Foundation monographs
Four short booklets covering executive transitions for the healthcare sector. The challenge: unify four very different topics into a cohesive framework, yet give each its own angle. And rightly get the...
View ArticleConsistency vs. Coherence
“But, similar to how molds are created to ensure that every component of a product is manufactured in exactly the same way, this consistency can become repetitive and doesn’t go far enough to create...
View Article5 Rules for Great Design Feedback
You’ve been here before: artwork has been set in front of you and you’ve been asked to respond. You struggle with the wide-open question, “What do you think?” But you don’t have to struggle to give...
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