Nice Bookends
Feb 8, ’12
6:00 AM
An Analysis of National Geographic’s Design
Feb 7, ’12
7:00 AM
Who isn’t familiar with that wonderful yellow frame?
It holds breathtaking images of exotic destination and mountains of nostalgia! It’s the flag of the editorial institution that National Geographic has established over the span of 120 years.
The eponymous yellow rectangle has seen virtually no change, much like the interior pages, since it first bordered the front covers of the 1888 launch issue.
I thought it could teach us a few things about timelessness in graphic design, so I randomly picked four issues to look at; March 1964, November 1988, April 2000 and a recent December 2009.
National Park Service Library Symbol
Feb 6, ’12
6:00 AM
Speaking of library symbols, I didn’t realize that the National Park Service had its own. Similar in theme to the standard: a person reading. But hey, at least it depicts a person.
They also have a bookstore symbol. No people involved.
More info at Map Symbols & Patterns for NPS Maps.
Academic Library Circ Extrapolated
Feb 6, ’12
5:21 AM
This chart shows the upper/lower quartiles and median for circulation per FTE student. As you can see this data shows a much more dramatic drop in the circulation of library materials. Rising student populations hide this fact.
More from Will Kurt in his post The End of Academic Library Circulation?
Remind me again why we insist on grasping at straws with eBook outrage, holding on to an old model of librarianship?
Beautiful Site: The Dangers of Fracking
Feb 3, ’12
9:24 AM
Have a modern web browser? Check out this beautiful site: The Dangers of Fracking.
Great design, typography, and simple writing!
My Updated National Library Symbol in Action
Feb 3, ’12
6:00 AM
The San Jose Public Library employed my Updated National Library Symbol for a web graphic. Super!
Saul Bass for the Bell System
Feb 2, ’12
6:00 AM
Here’s the pitch that Saul Bass gave to the Bell System when he was updating their identity. It isn’t a must watch but I’m posting it for a couple of reasons.
#1). The beginning is really weird. I can’t imagine how this played to a bunch of corporate execs. The 60s!
#2) The second part contains a nice introduction to logo design and typography. It also is a mostly non-annoying explanation of what logos and identities do. It also highlights how this identity was more than a logo. It was a system of elements that included a wide range of things – from jewelry to printed material to trucks.
Each impression contributes to the whole. Each signal, one piece of a mosaic.
Libraries would benefit from this attention to detail and holistic thinking.
More Color: CML Strategic Plan
Feb 1, ’12
10:06 AM
After seeing a nice infographic by the Columbus Metropolitan Library posted by Alison Circle I poked around the CML site to find it.
I wasn’t successful, but I did find their strategic plan [pdf], which is worth looking at, for its substance and appearance.
Operation Book Drop
Feb 1, ’12
6:00 AM
A bookstore in Salt Lake CIty had some promotional book covers designed, wrapped them around books donated by publishers, and dropped them around town.
If you’ve been fortunate enough to discover one of the 878 books we’ve left lying around Salt Lake City, you’re undoubtedly elated, but probably also a bit curious about our objectives. It’s simple, we love books and our greatest passion is in sharing this love and promoting literacy in our community, which is why we’ve emptied truckloads of free books specially wrapped in seven custom Weller Book Works covers all around town. So keep your eyes peeled because there are literally hundreds of great books out there just begging to be read and spread. If you do find a book, read it and leave it somewhere for someone else to find and enjoy. If you can’t wait to find one of our free books, come visit our new location at Trolley Square and we’ll set you up with something just right.
Oak Park Public Library’s New Website
Jan 31, ’12
7:00 AM
Speaking of the Oak Park Public Library, have a few clicks around their new website. It has a nice visual design, good organization and great writing. Nice work.
