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Road ID – Branding Done Right
I recently purchased an item at Road ID (https://www.roadid.com/) and I was completely blown away by how on point and how consistent their branding is. They are an ID company that makes IDs and medical IDs for active people, kids, pets. Not only does their branding speak to the whole active lifestyle/outdoor aesthetic, but it’s also has a really friendly vibe. Bravo to their designers. Here are some examples: WEBSITE: It’s not that hard in this day and age to have a brand consistent landing page. What you don’t see as often is brand continuity through all the other fine points. Their Contact Page is a case in point. I…
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Some Favorite Design Books
In addition to the vast world out there on the internet, I also have several print books in my design arsenal. I’m a tactile person, what can I say? Here are some of the books I find most useful… Meggs’ History of Graphic Design – Philip B. Meggs – useful for all sorts of inspiration. Also handy as an historical reference The Designer’s Dictionary of Color – Sean Adams – useful for things like a color’s creative history, cultural associations, etc. The Elements of Typographical Style – Robert Bringhurst – both practical and historical uses of type The Designer’s Desktop Manual – a useful primer for someone starting out in…
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Staying Creative
How do you stay creative? First, don’t get burned out – and know that there will be times when your creativity ebbs. It happens. Don’t beat yourself up. It will come back. Take a break if you need to. Secondly, try to figure out if you are, what is termed in psychological parlance, as “early starter” or “pressure-prompted” which mean exactly how they sound. I’m an early starter. I’m more creative when I do things ahead of time with less pressure. I have several family members who are extraordinarily creative only if doing things at the last possible moment, so everyone is different. Work to your strengths when you can.…
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Why Do I Design?
I’ve often been asked why I chose to be a designer. The truth is it really wasn’t a choice. It just happened. I grew up with creative parents who are artists, and who ran an ad agency/design studio from our house. As I got older, I tried to find my way in the world – some time in the corporate milieu, some time in the field of education, but always the world of design tugged at me. I started taking on some clients and working for small companies. After I had the kids, the need to have a parent who was available in case of the myriad of issues that arise with small…
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Inspiring Stuff
Here is a list of some of the top 10 things that inspire me and keep the creativity going… Reading – everything and anything Music – from all over the world Being outside – preferably either in the woods or near water Gardens – especially with quirky sculptures, hidden treasures Rain – in all its forms Children – who see the world in a unique way Art – I love galleries – not to see the famous works but to spend time with undiscovered pieces that are new to me. Sunshine – I’m a warm weather person – If I can be barefoot, I’m happy Food – particularly from different…
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Menus
If you ask my family, they’ll tell you that traveling with a designer is hard. It’s one of those life paths that infiltrate everything and you catch yourself looking at EVERYTHING with a designer’s eye. It’s a completely subconscious thing and you often don’t even realized you’re doing it until you catch something that doesn’t look quite right. Signage can be interesting, street art is a heavy favorite because it is usually wonderful, billboard advertising can have its moments…but, hands down, the absolute worst thing for me are menus. The first thing I always catch myself doing as I look at the meal choices is proof reading. If there is…
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Time to Unplug
As a freelancer I am my company. It’s just me and I have to wear all hats – designer, admin, marketing person, customer contact, file clerk, etc. As such, I shut the studio down completely a couple of times a year for a week – or two – depending on workload, what else is happening around me, etc. to recharge. I have been asked why I would do this. Don’t I feel I’m jeopardizing the business? Shouldn’t I be available all the time? The answer to all this is no. It’s not sustainable. In addition to the company, I’m a wife and mom and while I have teens at home,…
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Making a Difference in Ridgefield
I’m planning on occasionally highlighting some of the wonderful organizations in this town and I’d like to start with Ridgefield A Better Chance which is near and dear to my heart as we are a host family. A Better Chance is a national organization that provides students of color with opportunities that they may not otherwise have to study in a rich academic environment – either a public school district, in which case there is an ABC house with an RA – or in a boarding school setting. The students have to be smart, motivated and recommended to the program. Criteria for acceptance to RABC includes: “academic achievement (tests scores…
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Some Favorite Quotes
Here are some of my favorite quotes about graphic design, design in general and design in business. Enjoy! “Design is thinking made visual.” Saul Bass “There are three responses to a piece of design – yes, no, and WOW! Wow is the one to aim for.” Milton Glaser “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Leonardo da Vinci “Good design is good business.” Thomas Watson, Jr. “You can have an art experience in front of a Rembrandt… or in front of a piece of graphic design.” Stefan Sagmeister “Design is a formal response to a strategic question.” Mariona Lopez “Design is the intermediary between information and understanding.” Hans Hoffmann “If you can…
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Grand Reopening
Yesterday was the Grand Reopening of Stacey Petzold Graphic Design in Ridgefield, CT. Although the company has been around for a number of years it relocated from Norwalk in late 2019 and a reopening was planned, when, like so many things, it was derailed as the world shut down due to Covid. Fresh off a move that involved getting kids settled into a new school system, and then dealing with all the changes that went along with hybrid learning, put a pause on things, but now, it is time. Although I never stopped designing, it was a lot quieter and my focus also shifted to more presentation and web related…
The Art of Design
