The Office: Design 101

Anybody watch The Office? If you don't, you should really start. There's no other show that puts as much attention to detail, subtle character development, and overall hilarity into every frame of every episode.

Anyway, last week the episode ended with a great clip that those of us who are new to design and to working in design software can really relate to.

Go here and scroll to 19:22, which is the last little white dot on the timeline (it might make you watch a commercial first, sorry) to get to the final clip of the episode.

Poor Pam, I really felt for her, but maybe this means she'll head off to design school, and eventually get a much better job--just like we're all going to do one day! Wishful thinking...

Collect a Scent

Apparently, I collect perfume bottles. I didn't realize it until this show-and-tell assignment. Sometimes I buy perfume just because of how the bottles look and never use the perfume. And the ones I do use, I hold on to and line them up on my dresser. So, guess that makes me a collector.

I am having troubling finding Sicily perfume, so having that bottle is kind of sentimental to me. There's nothing left of the fragrance, so all I have left is the scent of the bottle. Maybe that makes me creepy, I don't know.

Getting the Gig

I've bitched a few times about clients on this blog. But how do you close the deal to get a client contract in the first place? For me, it's mostly about knowing people and "takin names." Sometimes, though, a prospective client is deciding between you and some other fine freelancers. How do you make yourself stand out from all the rest and get the gig?

I like this blogger's take on the subject, particularly the part about your "leave behind." This is again from The Copywriter Underground.

The pitch is finished. The prospect’s eyes are bright and shiny. They’re licking their lips over the program. They want it. Bad.

Yet they can’t make the final decision. But their boss can. Can you really rely on them to repeat your pitch from memory?

My preference is to leave behind a single sheet of paper summarizing your pitch.

Read the rest of this blog entry.

Scathing Blog

I haven't seen that many movies lately, but I'm sure I will catch a few this summer. Before I head to the theater I always check out Pajiba. They feature "scathing reviews for bitchy people." Love it. I also enjoy reading their reviews after I've seen a movie to find out how my opinion matches up with theirs or find out about something I might have missed while watching.

The reviewers are hilarious. They bash the crappy films quite nicely, but they also have a lot of knowledge about film making and give very insightful critiques and well-written reviews of good movies, like Brokeback Mountain, The Bourne Ultimatum, and Juno.

Plus now they have book reviews and daily news updates. I also like their Guide to What's Good for You, which describes their favorite group of films in a particular genre or completely made up category, like the movies that feel most like real life, the best third date flicks, or the 10 worst blockbusters of all time.

Day Bloggin

When I'm bored at work, I check out a few blogs. To feed my girly side, I read Outblush.

It features reviews and info on fashion and makeup, but it also has some of the most randomly awesome products, particularly related to food. Check it out:

Cakesicle pan
Lip balm
Doughnut maker

I'll post some other blogs during the week. By the way, it was once my dream to become a full-time blogger. Maybe it's time to revisit that dream. I also want to write a screenplay. My dreams really are varied, aren't they?

What Caught My Eye

I'm really interested in poster design and typography. Probably because I am still very clueless about both. When I see cool looking posters and type, it makes me want to be a designer. Maybe one day. For now, I'll just write some taglines and check the spelling.

Putting "You" in Your Writing

Sean often brings up that we should put some of ourselves in our writing--in the description piece, to put some of our take on the product, and in other pieces, to add little things like funny phrases and personal touches that help give our work a certain flair. Copyblogger.com addresses this subject. This is more for blog writing, but I think some of it can pertain to other types of work as well.

Your unique point of view. Your writing style. Your own individual, personal stories and the way they shape your message.

There’s just one problem with all of that. It’s terrifying.

It sounds great and idealistic to just be completely yourself online, to strip naked on your blog and hope people will love you. In practice, it’s not just scary, it’s a good way to give yourself a ferocious case of writer’s block. Not to mention making life easier for the occasional wacko or stalker.

Read the rest of this blog entry.

No Directions Necessary

I found these directions on a glue stick:

- Unscrew cap and sponge top
- Remove inner plug
- Replace sponge top
- Squeeze container and apply glue slowly.

Finally, the mysteries of operating my glue stick have been solved!

Also saw this little gem online:

If you are seated in an exit aisle and are unable to read this, please ask a stewardess to reseat you.
- Cayman Airlines safety booklet

The Story of Whiskers

Around 1900, the tranquility of Hardys Tintara vineyards were frequently interrupted by the crack of a shotgun and flocks of startled Starlings heading heavenwards. Behind the large gun lurked a roguish little bloke known as Whiskers Blake. Whiskers' job was scaring birds away from the grapes. One look at Whiskers with his battered hat and wild beard was probably enough, but the gun ensured his beloved grapes were safe. The cunning Whiskers found certain aspects of his job particularly rewarding. To be certain his hard work was ensuring a quality product, he regularly 'borrowed' a bottle or two of Hardys ports for testing purposes. If you choose to "test" this fine 8 year old tawny, you will experience smooth mellow classic rancio characters and a hint of the fruit old whiskers so valiantly protected.

Write; Don't Be a Writer

I found this blog entry interesting. This is from Active Voice, a blog/Web site by a writer--ahem, I mean someone who writes. In this entry, he discusses separating who you are from what you do to keep what you do fresh and in demand--both for yourself and for your clients. He says that you can't and shouldn't write your identity. It's a job, albeit one that you should do well. Take a look:


Regular readers know that I don't call myself a wordsmith; but it might surprise you to know that I prefer not to call myself a writer either.

No, I don’t eschew the term in favor of buzzwords like “communicator” or “content provider,” either. When people ask me what I do for a living, I don’t tell them that I’m a writer.

I tell them that I write.

A pedantic distinction? Maybe — but it’s a distinction that can clear up the crippling paralysis of writer’s block once and for all.

Read the rest of this blog entry.

Movie Change

So now I'm doing my movie about a doll who wants to be a real girl. Total 180 from what I was originally going to do. I hope everyone enjoys it next week. It's a bit scary that I won't be there to defend myself!

It's also too bad I won't see everyone's phase 3s, but I'll just appreciate the phase 4s that much more. I'll be laughing by myself at everything, I'm sure.

Getting Griddy Wit It

What a dumb title for this post. Sorry. I'm tired.

I've been asking around, trying to find new ways of approaching layout and grids. Amy has said it's clear I don't "get" grids. True story. I look at the books and I see the grids but I can't seem to apply them to my designs all that well. Is there something I'm missing? Perhaps I've never made a spiritual connection with grids? Do I need to take a grid out on a date or buy it dinner to get in its pants?

Sorry, got sleepy again for a sec. Anyway if anyone has any totally awesome online resources or just general advice on how to use grids and work with layouts, something other than "This just isn't working," hit me up on here or e-mail me: mandyjulie@gmail.com.

Thanks in advance.

Newman's Own Story

Sometimes you get what you want but it ain't what you expected.

Newman's Own was supposed to be a tiny boutique operation-parchment labels on elegant wine bottles of antique glass. We expected train wrecks along the way and got, instead, one astonishment followed by another astonishment followed by another. We flourished like weeds in the garden of Wishbone, like silver in the vaults of finance. A lot of the time we thought we were in first gear we were really in reverse, but it didn't seem to make any difference. We anticipated sales of $1,200 a year and a loss, despite our gambling winnings, of $6,000. But in these twenty years we have earned over $175 million, which we've given to countless charities.How to account for this massive success? Pure luck? Transcendental meditation? Machiavellian manipulation? Aerodynamics? High colonics? We haven't the slightest idea.

Newmovakya's Own

After hearing the crazy marinara sauce and cereal stories on Newman's Own products Saturday, I couldn't help but go to the Web site to find some more.


Here's the legend for Newman's Own Vodka Sauce. This isn't so insane and is kind of funny.

LEGEND:
Jack Newmovskya was standing on the tip of a Russian steppe imbibing from a bottle of vodka when he slipped on the ice and tumbled all the way down the steppes, landing on top of Velma Kafka who was passing by with a bag of noodles and tomatoes for her dinner, thereby creating a mish-mash of Jack, Velma, vodka and tomatoes.

When they got untangled, Jack and Velma went to her place and cooked the mish-mash into a delicious pasta with vodka sauce, which is now the rage in St. Petersburg, where it is known as Newmovokya's Own (c).

When Exposure Isn't Enough

Clients can sometimes shady and stingy. They sell you the idea of working for free as, "you'll be getting your work seen by lots of people on my Web site!" This blog entry from Copywriter Underground really shows why this theory is useless to freelancers.

Exposure is fine. Exposure is good. Still — despite recent scientific advances — you can’t actually eat exposure.

In the copywriting world, the promise of "exposure" is fast replacing "there’s more work in the future" as the empty negotiating promise of choice.

When a prospect promised me more work in the future, I learned to ask two simple questions: how much work, and what kind of contract were they willing to sign right now?

Read the rest of this blog entry.

iMovie Second Thoughts

I had my storyboard all planned out, but when I started working through it I realized how hard it would be. I think I want to turn back now before I get too far into it. Taking photos of myself is not so easy (I'm a control freak I guess?). Now I know why good directors sometimes make bad movies. At some point, there's just no turning back.

Another Movie Song

No less depressing than the others.


Mr. Brightside by the Killers

Sample lyrics:

I'm coming out of my cage
And I've been doing just fine
Gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this?
It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss
Now I'm falling asleep
And she's taking a cab
While he's having a smoke
And she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
But she's touching his chest, now
He takes off her dress, now
Letting me go...

And I just can't look, it's killing me
And taking control
Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your allibis
But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up your eager eyes
Cause I'm Mr. Brightside

iMovie iDeas

One approach to coming up with a story for the iMovie is finding a song (or a few songs) first to base it off of. So what are some songs that tell good stories? Below are just a few that I may consider.

All of these are kinda depressing; maybe I'll think of some happy ones later. The dreary weather is obviously putting a dark cloud over my thoughts, pun intended.

Who Knew? by Pink

Sample lyrics:
You took my hand
You showed me how
You promised me you'd be around
Uh huh, that's right
I took your words
And I believed
In everything
You said to me
Uh huh, that's right

If someone said three years from now
You'd be long gone
I'd stand up and punch them out
Cause they're all wrong
I know better
Cause you said forever
And ever
Who knew?

Just Can't Get It Right Today by Joe Purdy

Sample lyrics:
It's nearly been a year since he's been gone
And we still sing his goodbye songs
Goodness knows she should move on
But she just can't let him go
No, she just can't let him go

I'm sorry if I made you want to cry
I'm sorry if I made you want to cry
You should know, I never meant to hide
I just hate bringing you down
Oh, I just hate bringing you down

I just can't seem to get it right today
I just can't seem to get it right today
I just can't seem to get it right today
I guess I'm gonna give up
Oh, I guess I'm gonna give up

How to Save a Life by the Fray

Sample lyrics:

Step one you say we need to talk
He walks you say sit down it's just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
You begin to wonder why you came
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life


May add some happy selections later, when the sun comes out.

Isn't it funny how I'm happily engaged and yet my recent projects have included a campaign against Bridezillas and a classification of bad breakups? And now, a list of songs that are depressing with two about breaking up?

I guess this is why singers say they make songs about breaking up even if they are happy. They are just more interesting than happy songs.

I Wanna Work at Google

Introducing Google's newest feature for gmail:

How do I use it?
Just click "Set custom time" from the Compose view. Any email you send to the past appears in the proper chronological order in your recipient's inbox. You can opt for it to show up read or unread by selecting the appropriate option.
Is there a limit to how far back I can send email?
Yes. You'll only be able to send email back until April 1, 2004, the day we launched Gmail. If we were to let you send an email from Gmail before Gmail existed, well, that would be like hanging out with your parents before you were born -- crazy talk.
How does it work?
Gmail utilizes an e-flux capacitor to resolve issues of causality (see Grandfather Paradox).

Find out more:
http://mail.google.com/mail/help/customtime/index.html

Interesting Typography

This Semi-Pro article in Complex uses a classic 70s typeface.

I like the ads and flyers I've found for Imperial Junkie jeans. The logo shows contrast between a more classical, scripted font for "Imperial" and a torn up looking typeface for "Junkie." On this flyer, it uses fun colors and illustrations to create a very distinctive brand style.