Best Graphic Design 2007

Browsing around the world of the web I was looking for the best graphics and art of 2007. Alot of websites with crap. Yup even the christmas poo would think some of this stuff stank! But just so and behold came someone else's blog, and damn he nailed it. These are some of the most inspiring, colorful, creative pieces of work I've seen in a while! Definatly go check this out!

http://abduzeedo.com/2007-graphic-design-inspiration

Excellent Photography!

Stumbling through some websites I accidentally found this website. It's got photography from Brazil, Bangkok, and Costa Rica. It's sweet to see photos from these corners of the world.

http://www.letstakepictures.info/index.php

Worth 1000!

Everybody out there I'm sure has seen a photo from the website Worth1000.com I've seen a bunch come through my email countless amounts of times. If you've never heard of this website, definatly check it out! Weather your an artist or not you will be sure to enjoy this site.

For those of you who don't know what this site is I'll give it a quick rundown. It posts a certain title to go off of and a picture example. Such as one they just had: How Do You Hide an Elephant? Photoshop and graphic enthusiasts then take various photos and manipulate and create till somewhere there is a hidden elephant and a genious of a photo. You will be suprised at how creative some people can get. And the talent and time that goes into these is incredible. I've been using Photoshop for years and can't touch some of the stuff that people can do on this site.

Worth 1000 has more than that. Some may not know they have design contests for companies where you can get paid for a logo or photograph and I think even writings. I've entered a few myself but never got chosen, but I still enjoyed the fact that it gets a rating between different users so you can get a little feedback.

Also the tutorials must be mentioned! This is where dedicated users post info on how they pull of some of the miraculous stuff seen. Where else can you learn how to turn Tom Cruise into an alien? Where I ask, where?

So those wishing to merely entertain themselves through browsing, seriously get inspired, or to learn a little Photoshop trickery.. this is a MUST see!

AMERICAN GRAPHIC DESIGN AWARDS

For all graphic design enthusiasts I really suggest a magazine. Not just a magazine, but a free magazine. Yeah, that's right I said it. What!? GD USA. Graphic Design USA is free to those who work in the industry.
Besides having the savory benefit of being FREE, it showcases designers and artists in the industry everybody can learn from and somewhat idolize because their job is better than some of ours. Doht!
The current issue covers the AMERICAN GRAPHIC DESIGN AWARDS sponsored by none other Adobe. From annual report covers to logos to internet website styles, it show's what is said to be the best of the best. In someone's eyes. What's great about it is that it shows where the industry is headed and what's Paris Hilton hot (you know she tried to copyright that term, I heard that anyway). What I don't like is that it doesn't tell what these people saw in some of these designs.
I see dozens upon dozens of logos daily. Ans some that they have chosen. Well... I've seen 100's of other places using the same style. Granted these usually are the simplistic one's and simplistic can be good; but why choose these if they've already been everywhere. The awards should go to the fresh creative graphically noticeable logo makers out there.
Eh figured I'd rant and rave on that for a minute. Do check the mag out though if your interested in design. It's worth the price then some!

The Font Business is On!

Another graphic artist and I had the idea of starting our own typography foundry. Basically making our own fonts. It's now in the making. There are five fonts that will be up shortly on myfonts.com For those who don't know about myfonts.com it has been a wicked time saver for me. I work in a prepress department re-drawing logos and maching fonts all day (not a designer's dream job, but it's a start), so using myfonts to locate specific type-faces is handy as a hammer when you need to nail something!

Well we've gotten a little nuts about typography since seeing all these fonts day in and day out and realize how a certain type face can add so much to a logo, design, or anything else where we see type everyday.

Now we'll be adding our own typography to the massive world of design. I mean how cool would it be to see one of your fonts in big letters being used for a movie or something. Ok, maybe not so cool to some... but for us who believe that Arial is Microsoft's cheesy ass bull-shit knock off of Helvetica, it is.

This is it. My first post. Well ladies and gentlemen let me tell ya why I'm here. As ya guessed it's to rant and rave all about Graphics, Photography, Typogr... eh you get the hint. As well as meet the creative meat that thrives out there in this graphically enriched world. Being the first post... eh pretty much ever, I haven't much clue as to what I'm doing. Kinda like using the pen tool in Adobe for the first time! So this blog is going to be pretty bare till I can figure all the fun out.

Any tidbits of info that can help me or the plenty other starving children of the world out, throw it on my tag board (which I had no clue was till 10 minutes ago)!