WHAT THE FONT

With the iPhone version of WhatTheFont you can use the phone’s built-in camera to photograph the text in question (or choose an existing image from your photo albums). The app allows you to crop the image, focusing on only the important parts before uploading. After confirming which characters are used in the image, the app provides a list of possible matching fonts. You can then either e-mail a link to a MyFonts page with more info on that font, or open it up in the iPhone’s built-in Safari web browser.

Download it for free from the App Store.

VIA SWISSMISS

RHYMES WITH ORANGE

new packaging

old packaging

I am amazed how many people in the design community have spent so much time analyzing the Tropicana packaging redesign (myself included). The execution was less than good at best. Still, large companies launch sub par redesigns all the time, so why such an uproar?

Over at Subtraction.com, they hit the issue right on the head: the function of color in packaging is a key element of differentiation among similar product.

This lesson learned did bring up much conversation about an agency's role and the ethics of design. Namely, did Tropicana need a redesign?

Weather any brand needs a redesign can always be disputed. The question is does a perception need to change? Design is a tool to change perception.

Some have questioned the design agency involved, and asked if the unnecessary (in their eyes) redesign raises the topic of design ethics. Only in retrospect do we question the ethics of a botched attempt.

In my opinion, a redesign was clearly needed. I am sure that Tropicana saw their customers moving organic, and it is a basic business need to recapture your customer through design. If it was a fantastic redesign, we'd be congratulating the team on a job well done and ethics would not be in question.

Rather than revert to the old packaging, it would have been nice to see the client, Tropicana, believe in the power of good design. Hand the project to another agency, one who has proven they understand how to design packaging. Change can be good and drive business results when well-executed.

P.S. Here's a great redesign round up from PSFK

ON AND OFF...

...the radar?

Recently, we had a house fire that was very scary and very real. I am posting this because I would love it if you would make sure you have a working smoke alarm (with extra batteries on hand), and a non-expired fire extinguisher.

Soapbox finished, on to design.

I found this lovely piece of safety design over at Playmedesign. Although currently a concept by Sigrun Vik, a masters candidate at Oslo School of Architecture and Design, this design is simply genius. A good looking fire extinguisher that can be kept in (plain enough) sight may be the piece of design that saves your home. (Our fire extinguisher saved our home + stuff!)


"But though it could be about life and death, the extinguisher is not a pretty object and we tend to stuff it away, instead of placing it in visible parts of our homes."

lights up in case of fire

I've been interested in the utilitarian element of safety design for some time, I have a book filled with vintage and new airline safety cards. There's something so base and lovely about public arena design, such as the London Underground maps. Still, there's so much room for improvement, especially civic design pieces for public transport. (Bay Area residents, see BART in-train ads, how Photoshop 2.0!)

The MOMA exhibit SAFE: Design Takes On Risk (check out their 2005 Flash-y website here) was an interesting collection of pieces designed for safety. Though slightly outdated, the thought behind these everyday improvements are so big, and so needed.

LUCKY NUMBER FOURTY FOUR

Talking about "Design," can always be a little bit ethereal and, well dorky. Sometimes people don't get Design (with a capital D).

But design as a practice, can be more than a typeface. Or a Pantone color. Or a runway. Design is the architecture of a movement. Design should be seen for what it can be: a way to communicate a message.

I'm elated America understood that message. Congrats to our 44th president. May you help design America's future.




Amazing shots pulled together by The Boston Globe, thanks to my informant Ann in DC!

THE BANGLE(S)

The iBangle is a thin piece of aluminum with a multi-touch track pad, and all the functionality of a clunky-now-size iPod. So you don't break it the day you buy it, a cushion inside the ring inflates to keep itself taut against your wrist . Too bad it’s only a concept at this stage!

VIA Yanko Industrial Design

I ADMIT...

Mr. Norris kicks butt and takes names in his action jeans

I've been off the blog radar. A sense of dread has spread over me as I realize it has been almost 4 months since I blogged! I apologize to anyone who actually reads this. Here is my excuse: I was promoted in June, and became so busy with work the last thing I wanted to do was spend more time on my computer. I'm finally coming up for air, so expect to hear from me regularly again.

And this leads me to today's topic: what if we had a magical product that made us more efficient? Well, for Chuck Norris, this means having a pair of trusty action jeans. For me, I am perpetually working on my time management. Each industry will have it's miracle product: for heroes in street clothes, action jeans are the answer. For creatives like me, Behance has been a fantastic source of knowledge and inspiration.

I'm inspired by getting things done (and done well). My favorite quote is "making lists just to check things off them." So when Behance came into my life about a year ago, I was addicted. It is a time management and information resource I depend on. In my previous life as a freelancer, the key to making money was/is time management. Check them out at behance.com.

"Making lists just to check things off them." The Action Book.