DESIGN CHATTER
Icons: A History
Jun 28, 2023
Icons are a ubiquitous part of our lives now, they’re on pretty much everything we interact with on a daily basis. And there’s a reason for that! Images can convey concepts in a much more concise way than the supporting text to spell it out would. They’re convenient to save time and space, and improve interactions, whether you’re an illiterate medieval peasant or a cutting edge digital user. In this article, Kyle Blacklock takes a deep dive into the history of our pictorial design helpers,
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Proudly Fly the Pride Flag, Everywhere
Jun 23, 2023
Unfortunately, even today, there are 40 cities inthe US that explicitly ban the display of the Pride flag. Ad agency Innocean USA and tech company Tool have created an AR filter you can add to Instagram to virtually fly the flag wherever you see fit, whether it’s banned or not. Along with the hashtag #SavetheRainbowFlag, this tool can help users raise and spread awareness of these policies that harm the LGBTQ+ community. And if that’s not enough for you,
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The Cleveland Browns New Logo: More than Meets the Eye
Jun 21, 2023
The Cleveland Browns football team have unveiled their new logo! And while at first glance, it just looks like an imposing bull mastiff, the designer selected for the redesign, Houston Mark, hid eight easter eggs in the design that evoke the history of the team and the region. Houston submitted the logo to a redesign competition sponsored by the team in April, and obviously his hidden messages resonated with the people of Cleveland! From a guitar pick that evokes the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to a hidden football shape,
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How Do You Brand a City?
Jun 16, 2023
Branding a product is fairly straightforward: with a well-defined user demographic, there are a lot of examples and well-known best practice next steps to be able to appeal to that demographic. But how do you brand a city? Think of your own city: you’ve got your favorite neighborhood you love to hang out in, and can’t imagine why other people like other areas. And the people in the other areas think the exact opposite of you,
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The Best Packaging Designs of 2023…So Far
Jun 14, 2023
The winners of the 2023 Dieline Awards for best packaging are announced! The winners run the product gamut from speakers to eyeshadow to 7UP. Packaging has a quantifiable impact for consumer brands, and it’s the first impression your product gives to a potential customer. It’s certainly not a space you want to skimp on! One common theme you’ll see pop up among many of these winners: sustainability and plastic-free packaging. Check out all of the winners,
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When the World Ran Out of Pink
Jun 08, 2023
You can’t make this stuff up: due to constructing the most authentic Barbie Dreamhouse for a fake set, the world faced a very real shortage: pink paint. Despite the setting supposedly being Southern California, the Dreamhouse set was actually created outside London, and lots and LOTS of pink paint had to be shipped in to create the most “authentic artificiality” possible, according to director Greta Gerwig. Hopefully no one waited too long to paint any nurseries!
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