Free Association


This is Steve Kulp’s blog, where he curates his collection of things and ideas that he finds interesting and deposits the occasional rambling about the state of the world. His professional interests include design, advertising, consumer behavior and account planning. His personal interests include everything else.
Photograph

Bought this book a few weeks back, and just had a chance to sit with it for a while and give it a good read. Matthew Frederick’s 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School is an interesting read for designers, architects and laypeople.I was an architecture and design undergrad, so it had a certain nostalgic resonance for me, personally.  The titular 101 things range from the archi-wonky…# 79: Always place fire stairs at opposite ends of buildings you design.…To the sublime…#81: Properly gaining control of the design process tends to feel like on is losing control of the design process.   …And everything inbetween…#14: Architecture begins with an idea. Read liberally, there are words of advice regarding good communication, good account planning and briefing, and good presentation. Like good architecture, it is a lesson in abstract storytelling - conveying ideas in an abstract yet expressive manner. All in all, it is a great little book. Well worth the $10.  

Bought this book a few weeks back, and just had a chance to sit with it for a while and give it a good read. Matthew Frederick’s 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School is an interesting read for designers, architects and laypeople.I was an architecture and design undergrad, so it had a certain nostalgic resonance for me, personally.

 The titular 101 things range from the archi-wonky…

# 79: Always place fire stairs at opposite ends of buildings you design.

…To the sublime…

#81: Properly gaining control of the design process tends to feel like on is losing control of the design process.  

 …And everything inbetween…

#14: Architecture begins with an idea. 

Read liberally, there are words of advice regarding good communication, good account planning and briefing, and good presentation. Like good architecture, it is a lesson in abstract storytelling - conveying ideas in an abstract yet expressive manner. All in all, it is a great little book. Well worth the $10.  



Tags: designarchitectureplanningpresentation

May 28, 2008, 1:51pm

Video

Great little video from the surprisingly interesting Barnes & Noble Studio website, featuring John Gall, Art Director at Vintage Books, in which he shares his ”The 5 Rules of Book Cover Design”. In short, they are:

  1. Read the book
  2. Inspiration is everywhere
  3. Be thrifty with fonts
  4. Practice sound time management
  5. Rules are meant to be broken
Honestly, these sound like five great rules for everyone whose job involves thinking for a living. Even the most specific rule,  #3 “Be thrifty with fonts,” teaches a broad and practical lesson. The tools you use are the tools you use. The ideas are the ideas. Don’t confuse the two. 

Tags: planningdesigncreativityideasjohn gall

May 23, 2008, 9:32am

Photograph

Russell Davies: BlackBoardPro

Russell Davies: BlackBoardPro



Tags: planningrussell daviesapple

May 20, 2008, 4:17pm

Link

Can a Dead Brand Live Again?

image via NYT

Great article from the always compelling Rob Walker in the Sunday Times Magazine regarding the viability of bringing latent brands back to life. there are some great examples in the article, as well as some discussion about the sometimes unpredictable manner in which brands reside in our consciousness. 

I’ve always been one to root for the underdog and I love the archetypal “come-from-behind” story line. I’m rooting for The Hathaway Man.

BTW - Can’t wait for Mr. Walker’s book, Buying In, to arrive on my doorstep in a few weeks. 



Tags: brandingrob walkeradvertisingplanning

May 19, 2008, 11:44am