I was thinking about Steve Jobs this morning and wondered if we should consider him a hero in our field. My thought is that he really wasn’t a designer in terms of actually coming up with the technical designs as much as he was an art director.

I am feeling a touch of fear because I think that our world has lost a “design” leader. Jobs was someone that held great design as sacred, a way to meet his capitalistic goals. He seemed like a champion for our field and someone we could point to when talking about why design is important. My fear is that there will be no one new to take on this mantle.

Then I found this video by accident: Apple Steve Jobs On Design

great site for inspiration: http://pinterest.com/?category=design

The Kickin’ Chicken restaurant recently (and by recently, I mean a couple of months ago) a brand change, complete with new website and goodies. To see the new website, click here to see the evolution of the design, go here. Armin Vit gives his opinion on the new design.

I thought the new design was fun and energetic, much of what the name of the restaurant implies… It also comes with a great character: Professor Chicken.

Plus, I thought since we’re starting the year off with a website, this might be a fun one to look at. Also, if you get a chance, peruse other rebrandings on Brand New. It’s a great site. Now if only we had a kickin’ chicken in Houston….

Here’s an article in the Houston Chronicle about our very own Cheryl Beckett!

Click here to read…

Come see the Graphic Communications senior show, a culmination of 2 years of hard work and determination. Their show name, What is 302? is a nod to the senior studio room 302, where many sleepless nights have been spent. See their webpage here, their Facebook page here and follow them on twitter here. We hope to see you there!

Great site that shows things, well.. Organized Neatly. Some are better than others, but you can appreciate the grid.

http://thingsorganizedneatly.tumblr.com/

This is an Interesting little article about artists being collectors, and finding your own inspiration by looking at other work, surrounding yourself with things you love, having fun, etc.

http://www.austinkleon.com/2011/03/30/how-to-steal-like-an-artist-and-9-other-things-nobody-told-me/

Check out this compilation of notable film-title sequences. Then go to The Art of the Title Sequence to see a whole lot more!

Watch this short video of Erik Spiekermann passionately arguing the importance of typeface and communication design in the formation of culture and government.  Oh yeah, he also talks about how typefaces are like sound. (from Design Observer)

Students in the graduate design studio have been working tirelessly toward their upcoming show:

Working Shop: Ryan Middle School Historic Exhibition

This is a collaboration between design grads and students from the College of Architecture. Everyone should make an effort to drop by tomorrow after school.

Thursday, March 24, 2011
6 pm
Ryan Middle School
2610 Elgin Street

Don’t miss the next AIGA Lecture featuring Allan Chochinov, editor-in-chief of Core77.

Thursday, April 7, 2011
6:30–8:30 pm
Duncan Hall/McMurtry Auditorium, Rice University
Register at AIGA Houston

Prepare yourselves! PreBlock is coming! March 24th. 6pm. Rm304. Be there. We’ll give you awesome super crits about your stuff, get a better idea of what to expect from block, what you need to bring for block, and to just hang out with the Juniors. (cause we’re super cool.) We will be giving out super secret information about block that can only be obtained here.

Bring your stuff. All of it—this includes sketchbooks (they’re super important to the teachers when looking at your wall). We will not crit something that isn’t there. Bring your sketches of your current projects as well. We will give you advice on how to compose your wall. We will crit that. Unless you have super memory, bring something to write with.

Location: Junior Graphic Design Room in the Fine Arts Building - 304FA