GlyphNote of the Day

Borrowing from a popular infomercial—the key is absorbency—soaking up what’s happening in the world. By observing print, packaging and interactive content and understanding how it relates to present trends in design—we learn more about how information translates to an audience.

Exercise your design mind by creating a library of images. Gather outstanding examples of campaigns in print and packaging, then add them to your hall-of-fame file. Or, in reverse, keep a “redesign” file on what clearly doesn’t work. It might be the fuel for your next design fire.

Great, good, average, and poor are a matter of execution, market, sales, and quality. Venture out often to “plug-in” to new stimulus. Experience products and services in the environments they were created for.

Change your routine. Try a field trip to the supermarket after work, just to browse the shelves. Hit your local Borders or Barnes & Noble and spend a few hours scouring the design and art publications. Check out a local art gallery or museum during lunch, or over the weekend. Take an hour to find 15-20 websites that work or fail based on user interface and design.

During this adventure, bring a journal to sketch or take notes. Seeing differently keenly influences design.