Creative Inspiration

It's getting to the point in the semester where I feel really exhausted creatively. So I've been looking for new sources of inspiration. Where do others go for inspiration?

I ended up finding a nice series of videos from lynda.com. In their words, "lynda.com Creative Inspirations documentaries follow creative individuals and companies that are leaders, entrepreneurs, inventors, experts, or pioneers in their fields."  Most of them I haven't heard of, but hey, you don't really get in this business to be famous.

Today I watched this one about Ed Emberly. He's the artist that taught you to draw as a young child using basic shapes and thumbprints. Unfortunately the video is only available to view if you have a Lynda account, but they do have a free trial!

Things I Wish I Had Known About InDesign

So I came across this article, Things I Wish I Had Known About InDesign When I Was First Starting Out.

I know our class is pretty advanced and probably already knows most of these things, but in case you don't, take a gander. Has anyone else discovered any tips/tricks they had known sooner?

One thing I want to add is true in all Adobe programs. With so many fonts out there, it can be really daunting to pick one when you are just starting out. I wish I had known that I could highlight the word, and then click in the text box, and use the down arrow key to scroll through the fonts.

Photo inspiration

So I know some people are really into monograms, and I never really have been. Probably because I see the same design everywhere, and it looks so sorority. A friend of mine found this in a restaurant and sent it to me. Holy monogram, Batman! I am considering this a challenge to design my own monogram, and am using this as inspiration.

Photo... inspiration?

So I had a pretty scary moment on saturday evening. A group of friends and I went to this country store restaurant out in Ashland (south of Columbia, halfway to Jeff City on 63). It was a fantastic restaurant and a great time until the drive back to CoMo. On the drive home we hit a deer on the highway. Everyone was ok, but my friend Katherine's car was totaled. It was a really scary thing for me, I've never been in any kind of car accident before! Just got me thinking about life.

her totaled car.

sorry for the depressing post. : /

Check out my awesome designer friend!

Hey, if you're looking for a good example of a cargo collective portfolio site, check out my roomie and pal Emily's porfolio. She's a senior in the graphic design program here at Mizzou.

My favorite project of hers? These fashion playing cards.

Makes me wish I had been an art major instead of journalism!

Drunkorexia covers

This past week I had covers due, and the story was Drunkorexia. Basically it was about girls who don't eat/eat less calories during they day so they can consume more calories in liquor form later.

I can't decide if designing all of these alcohol related stories is driving me to drink, or if I never want to look at another bottle of liquor ever again.

I really loved this look so there are several versions of it.

this idea just didn't quite pan out like i thought it would.

slight improvement.

i really liked this one best, i wish i would have used the hed of "you are what you drink" instead.

this was created because i am out of other ideas.

i was a little surprised that this was chosen as the one for me to keep working on. 

but also, this feature was moved to a later week so i have a bit more time to work on it. which is good, i'll need the extra time.

Attn: typography lovers!

A video you might enjoy.