Thank You Steve

There is not a whole lot I can add to today’s blogosphere that hasn’t already been said. We will miss you Steve, and the world is richer from your contributions.

Thank you for being different. Thanks you for being easier to use. More elegant. More intuitive. Thank you for not allowing a poor product to see the light of day (ok, Newton was an idea ahead of the technology at the time), and for redoing it over and over again until it was right.

My own livelihood as a graphic designer is completely reliant on the hardware that you pioneered, and you revolutionized the design and publishing industry. You revolutionized home computing. You revolutionized the music industry. You revolutionized the cell phone industry. You revolutionized computer animation.

Since a very young age I’ve always had access or ownership of ever-more-capable Apple computers, from the early Apple II and on. It’s been a fun ride watching the technology develop and progress– to think that 20 years ago my Apple Centris 610 bosted a (seemingly huge) hard drive of 210 MB–miniscule by today’s standards–to this week’s debut of the SIRI Personal Assistant on the latest iteration of the iPhone, and iCloud launching in weeks. I will miss your keynote deliveries, and that last line that we always waited for, there’s just “one more thing…”

There is little in our world today that hasn’t been influenced in some small degree by the contributions of Apple–whether it be the products themselves or the people-centric industrial design an user-interfaces they inspired. You made the complex simple, and beautiful.

So again, Steve, thank you for going that extra mile for the rest of us. The world will miss you, but never forget you.

Letterpress In Action

Here’s a gorgeous video of an antique Letterpress wood block press in action by motion designer Naomie Ross- the way printing used to be done before computer-generated type or even Linotype. I can just smell the ink now.

Thirst4Architecture: Happy Hour Launches for Design Businesses, Enthusiasts

Following the popularity of its Appetite4Architecture dinners that connect the public with local Modernist architects, Triangle Modernist Houses (TMH) will launch the first Thirst4Architecture (T4A) happy hour in partnership with GoodnightRaleigh.com. The happy hour will take place on April 27 at Natty Greene’s Pub & Brewing Company in Raleigh from 6-8 p.m.  The informal, cash-bar event is free and open to the public. No pre-registration is required.

TMH is dedicated to preserving and promoting modernist residential design. Co-host Goodnight, Raleigh! is a popular online magazine run by 11 photographers, updated with images of the city at night and stories on the subjects of the photographs. Publisher John Morris is best known recently by his campaign to save the Milton Small-designed bookstore at N.C. State University.

“Our film series and dinner events in the winter have connected hundreds of people within the architecture-loving public,” said TMH founder and director George Smart. “Our T4A events will bring together the larger design community around some of the area’s great restaurants and brewpubs.

“We welcome architects, artists, designers, interior designers, realtors, engineers, contractors, property investors, building managers, Modernist homeowners, materials and furnishings dealers, and anyone with a huge crush on great architecture,” Smart said.

Smart hopes the bi-monthly happy hours, held around the Triangle, will continue building relationships, generating passion about good design, creating strategic alliances, and connecting people around Modernist architecture.

Crabtree Creek Timelapse

I recently discovered this beautiful time lapse video compiled by Raleigh photographer Forrest MacCormack. An entire video compiled of stills shot at 1 second intervals– Forrest captures some gorgeous scenes that offer a fresh take around Raleigh’s Crabtree Creek, Lassiter Mills falls, and the Neuse River. Check it out.

UPDATE: Here are Forrest’s notes on shooting and editing the video— check out Forrest’s blog here.

Old Life for New Appliances

I admit it, I like rusty old signs and tins. Especially nostalgic ones with old logos or advertising from bygone days– one of my favorite possessions is an old wooden ‘Burma Shave’ sign, one of the remnants of the original low-speed rhyming highway ad campaign.

There’s just a beauty, charm and innocence in them that you don’t see anymore that’s hard to put your finger on. Maybe today’s ads are too ubiquitous, too in your face, too impersonal… insert numerous reasons here.

So when I saw this faded, paint-chipped, rusting old tag off of a long-gone refrigerator on a table of mish-mashed parts at the Raleigh flea market– I couldn’t put it down. $2 later it had a new home- stuck over the big shiny corporate ‘SAMSUNG’ logo on our home refrigerator with a dab of silicone.

The ‘Freeze-O-Matic Junior’ lives on.

Linotype:The Film coming soon

In 1886, an inventor named Ottmar Mergenthaler was the first to realize the vision of an automated typesetting machine, speeding up exponentially what had been until then a slow, tedious hand process of setting lead type one single character at a time. This machine would nothing less than revolutionize the printing and publishing industry, uncorking a new wave of communication much as the internet revolutionized our generation.

The cutting edge machine that Mergenthaler invented became known as the Linotype (Line o’ type), referring to it’s ability to set metal type an entire line at a time. It was incredibly complex, with many moving parts and took a skilled operator to work it. It immediately became ubiquitous in publishing and print houses, serving tirelessly for more than half a century, and even Thomas Edison would call it the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”

Eventually in the 60s and 70s, photo typesetting overtook the Linotype machine and they were phased out and scrapped by the thousands. Along with the loss of most of the original machines, the operators are dying off, and with them, a skill that cannot be replaced.

Filmmakers Doug Wilson, Brandon Goodwin, and Jess Heugel seek to capture the story of the Linotype, its history and the people who operated them, before they are forever lost to history. In production is a documentary film, Linotype: The Film, currently scheduled to be completed late 2011. Art directors and publishers of a certain age will no doubt appreciate the nostalgic look at the way the industry used to be, and hopefully, a few more of our generation will learn the craft and keep some of these beautiful machines humming along well into the next century.

Branding an Executive Office Suite

How do you brand an office space? Raleigh’s Killer Creative Group was recently tasked with designing a Brand Identity for Access Office Business Center, a Raleigh, NC Executive Office Suite located near Brier Creek.

Access Office offers fully furnished offices, conference room, telephone answering service, lounge, concierge and more– but what is appealing about the space (besides it’s close proximity to I-540 and the RDU airport), is its style. Local architectural firm Vernacular Studio designed the building’s upfit and the space is contemporary, yet comfortable. Modern furnishings and finishes are a departure from the typical ho-hum ubiquitous office space.

Also of consideration was the air of cooperation and collaboration that the Identity needed to convey. A lawyer might be sharing space next to an accountant. Or a consultant. Or one of dozens of different executives that working in a shared space would bring them all in cross-contact with.

The resulting Identity was designed to reflect this contemporary space, and overlapping of different services and professionals, thus the four chevron symbols that overlap and are separate, yet one. They influence and support each other.

Also launched in tandem with the new brand ID is a small website. Check it out: http://accessofficeraleigh.com.

Validating The Minivan

Moms and Dads, take heart. The new Sienna Minivan campaign that has been airing recently is trying to let you know, it’s ok— possibly even cool…to surrender to the minivan. But it’s not an ordinary minivan, no, that’s not cool. It’s the Swagger Wagon. AKA: marketing genius.

If you’re in the mom and dad demo, then you’ll get it. Your life and individuality becomes background to the demands of the family. You no longer rule the roost…your short little progeny does. You do it all for them. Binkies, bottles, diaper bags, strollers, monitors–these are the surroundings of your new life. The Mini Cooper and pickup truck, reminders of the former life you once knew. You need family transportation now.

So how exactly do you tell families that it’s ok to shun the blight of the oversized SUV and re-embrace the…gasp…minivan? Enter the Sienna campaign– a humorous series of short commercials shot in mockumentary / Modern Family style. Mom is a former sorority chick turned supermom, dad has the obligatory receding hairline and is desperately trying to hold on to the waning strands of cultural relevance and chutzpa he thinks he still has, and of course two adorable kids. Perfect casting.

“…singing Farmer In the Dell in Perfect Harmony

when I’m rolling with my posse in the HOV

We rock the SE not an SUV

and its true if I were you

I’d be jealous of me…”

The entire series of spots is hilarious. Check it out at youtube.com/sienna.

Forbes Ranks Raleigh Third ‘Most Innovative’ City

Another day, and another top ten ranking for the City of Raleigh. A couple days ago portfolio.com declared Raleigh North Carolina as the #1 quality of life among top metro areas. The next day Forbes top 10 list of the America’s Most Innovative Cities, and Raleigh places a respectable third.

The ranking is based on the top 100 US metro areas, taking into account factors including ratios of high tech, scientific and creative jobs, patents per capita, and venture capital. San Jose was given the top honor in this list.

And once again Forbes sourced of one of KCG Art Director David Kilian’s Raleigh skyline photos for their article. Thanks, Forbes!

Thanks for 14 Amazing Years, Jake

Dave & Jake, 2003

Last night we lost a good friend of 14 years, and an office mascot to Killer Creative. Anyone who’s stopped by our office in the past few years has no doubt had to step over a happy white furry pile of friendly, among the other pups that roam the office.

Jake had a good 14 years, that’s for certain. He loved to ride in the kayak, hang his head out the truck window, and looking out for those he loved. Our one year old was just getting to know him, and was enamored with chasing Jake around the house—but we are thankful that he had that chance.

It will be sad coming into work without him, and he will be sorely missed. But to look back on all our years of camping trips, adventures (and misadventures), rides, companionship and comic moments— I know I wouldn’t trade that for anything. Peace Jake.