Life After Cancer: Playing the DW Card
I traded in my wife’s “cancer card” for a DW card, or “dead wife” card. Let me explain. Read Complete Story.
fiftysomething: Looking back at a Guilty Pleasure
Okay, so I have a few guilty pleasures. Well, more than a few. A big one was that I was a fan of the show, thirtysomething, the late 1980s hour-long drama that depicted the lives of a bunch of baby boomer yuppies. Don’t make a face. I feel guilty enough. Read Complete Story.
A Wedding, a Death and a Year of Living Alone
As I slowly faded away on the couch with the T.V. blurring to white noise and Aurora’s, our 13-year-old Maltese, furry back arched against my leg, Sue whispered softly into my ear, “Why don’t you go up, babe.” Read Complete Story.
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
With companies merging, converging and submerging, no one is safe during these uncertain and unstable economic times. Many of you will experience change at some point in your careers. Read Complete Story
Inside the CIA
When I received an email last March from Mark Hernandez, who said he was with the CIA (yes, that CIA, as he indicated in his note), I became concerned. Read Complete Story
The Endless Summer
It’s a hot summer day in 1968 in Lincoln Park, New Jersey. Tommy James and the Shondells’ “Mony Mony” is croaking out of the tiny speaker on a portable AM radio followed by the Lemon Piper’s, “Green Tambourine.” Everybody is at “The Club”—that would be the Lincoln Park Swim Club, where for over 35 years residents of this quiet northern New Jersey community have found respite beside (what seemed like) the Olympic size swimming pool, in their cabanas, on the grass, playing golf, handball or hanging out in the snack bar. Read Complete Story
In-House Design In Practice
Glenn penned the introduction and contributed to In-House Design in Practice, a unique practical and inspirational compendium that places in-house design at the center of professional excellence, written by Cathy Fishel. In-House Design In Practice
Life in the Slow Lane
I broke my foot. Don’t ask. It’s my right foot too. And it’s the beginning of the summer. Oh, yeah, and absolutely no driving. I’m stuck here in the house feeling kind of like Jimmy Stewart in Rear Window except I’ve traded in the wheelchair and binoculars for a set of crutches and a laptop. Read Complete Story
My Best Work
My interest in drawing and visual expression began in the 1960s with my first John Gnagy art kit and a subscription to MAD Magazine. I’m also a musician and have been performing ever since seeing The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. As a composer I have a rich catalog of songs, commercials, chamber and orchestral music. I’ve always loved the way black notes danced over the white space on a music score. It’s so graphic. Hieroglyphic. Read Complete Story
Did Anyone Ever Tell You…
In 2005 I met actor Ricky Aiello, son of actor Danny Aiello, at my friend’s annual Christmas Eve party. Ricky and I immediately hit it off. The fact that he grew up with an Italian father and a Jewish mother, whereas I grew up with a Jewish father and an Italian mother, gave us plenty to talk about. Early on in our conversation he asked, “Did anyone ever tell you that you look like John Lennon?” Well yes, actually. But it’s been a while. Read Complete Story
Back on the Bus
The days are getting shorter the nights cooler—which can only mean one thing. It’s back to school time. Even though it’s been over 30 years since I set foot in “my old school,” the seasonal change awakens an almost primal instinct in me. Time to wash off all the chlorine and brush off the beach sand and put away the lawn chairs. The party’s over, and it’s time to get serious. Read Complete Story
Collaboration in the Workplace
Public relations. Information technology. Business operations. Creative professionals might not be experts in what these departments do, but there’s a good chance they’ll get better insight on the inner workings as they partner more frequently with them in the future. Each year, The Creative Group (TCG), a leading creative staffing agency, teams up with AIGA, the professional association for design, to nd out what trends will impact creative teams in the coming years. Read Complete Article
Sound and Vision
In the mid-1970s when I began listening to the jazz artists Keith Jarrett, Jan Garbarek, Ralph Towner and Pat Metheny, as well as the contemporary composers Arvo Part and Steve Reich, I began to take notice… It was the visual style of those album covers that had a very distinctive look—minimalist, exquisitely stark and mysterious images featuring abstract and striking photography with beautiful, austere Jan Tschichold-influenced typography, set in type or etched, scratched or brushed. Read Complete Story
I Couldn’t Hear the Crickets
“I can’t hear the crickets” I whispered to my wife as I lay in bed trying to fall asleep. It was a sweltering and sticky July evening, and she was already half asleep. “Hmmm?” she mumbled back. “The crickets,” I said again. “I can’t hear the crickets.” Read Complete Story
Going it Alone
When I was growing up in the 1960s in Lincoln Park, New Jersey, I noticed early on that there was a little bit more room at our house compared with my friends’ houses, and it wasn’t because our house was any bigger. You see, I am an only child. And back then I was pretty happy about it too. Read Complete Story
My Dinner with Andre (and Andy… and Marty…and Andy)
In the classic film, My Dinner with Andre, actor Wallace Shawn listens intently as playwright Andre Gregory muses philosophically about the meaning of life and spins fantastical tales knee-deep in tribal rituals. The two met at a Manhattan restaurant in 1983 and spent hours dining and talking (well, Andre Gregory did most of that) well into the night, just a bit past closing time, and the resulting film is mesmerizing. Read Complete Story
Backstage at the Design Awards
Design Awards. Yeah, I know, I know. Mention that you received a design award to another designer and their eyes roll—followed by a sarcastic grin. It’s worse than name-dropping. But if you’re part of an in-house design department and you share the good news with your boss or colleague from another department in your company, most likely you’ll get a much different reaction. You’ll feel the love. You might even feel the respect. Read Complete Story
Passion
Passionate people are inspiring people. Whether they spend their weekends taking flying les- sons, serving the homeless or training for marathons, their energy and dedication are contagious. Here’s another remarkable designer whose talents—beyond the ones you already know about— will inspire you. Read Complete Story
People to Watch
Graphic Design USA has just published its 2017 People To Watch special feature. Looking back over more than five decades, here are as many of our Past People To Watch as we can find in our sometimes uneven records. As you peruse the list, you will find several undisputed historical giants including Saul Bass, Ivan Chermayeff, Lou Dorfsman, Milton Glaser, George Lois, Massimo Vignelli. You will also find many more legends, near legends, and legends-to-be. For a designer, it’s “people watching” at its best. Read Complete Article
Selling Your Services
The legend goes that blues master Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads in exchange for prowess in playing the guitar. Relax, you won’t have to sell your soul. But if you want to manage a successful in-house creative team, you’ll have to learn how to sell your services to stay competitive and let people know you’re there. Read Complete Story
Close Encounters of the In-House Kind
Life is all about relationships. With your parents, kids, spouse, significant other, boss, co-workers. And if you manage them well, hopefully you’ll keep “therapist” off the list. As an in-house creative, one of the most important relationships you’ll have is with your internal clients—your stakeholders. You know, those people down the hall, up a floor or in the next cubicle. You’re in a unique but challenging position because unlike a design agency, you can’t choose your clients, or fire them. Let’s face it. You’re stuck with them. So make the connection and make it a lasting one. Read Complete Article
Would You Like Fries With That?
Many creative directors of in-house design departments often admit that they feel as if they are managing a fast food restaurant and not a design team for a Fortune 500 company. And with the majority of their clients taking the drive-thru, the demand for faster turnaround becomes even greater. Read Complete Story
The Outsiders
If you manage an in-house creative department, chances are at some point you’ve had the need to bring in outside consultants for either creative and/or technical support. But as you know, it’s an ongoing challenge trying to find the right people who have the talent and skill sets to satisfy your unique and individual needs. It also takes a certain type of person to survive and thrive in the corporate culture without losing their mind. Read Complete Story
Bringing Graphic Design In-House
Bringing Graphic Design In-House is geared toward untrained and marginally trained “designers” working within a company that has decided do their design in-house rather than hire and outside firm, and small business owners that have to design their own collateral. Bringing Graphic Design In-House
In-House Intersections
They seem to be everywhere—down the hall, upstairs, around the corner, in the elevator, in the cafeteria, at the coffee stations and in the bathrooms. Who are they? They are your coworkers. And although you might not understand what they do and they might not understand exactly what you and your team do, you may be surprised to find that productive synergies can result from either deliberate or accidental intersections with kindred spirits. Read Complete Story
Mass Ringing in my Ears
Okay, we all know how annoying cell phones are in public spaces. Always ringing in the wrong place at the wrong time. In restaurants, on trains, buses, in the middle of a movie. And the worst are the users who insist on speaking 10 decibels louder than the rest of us, sharing the intimate details of their lives with anyone in their path. Yes, we are desperately in need of an etiquette guide. Read Complete Story
Inside Job
I was never much of a team player. Sports wasn’t my thing and I avoided most group activities in and out of school. The rock club just didn’t do it for me. But rocking out in a club did. After seeing The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, I spent a good part of my life playing in bands and bars, at clubs, outdoor festivals and recording studios, and on radio and television. Read Complete Story
Running on Empty
Whether you have designers on your team with high mileage or others who just rolled out of the showroom, like your car, you need to change the spark plugs and rotate the tires on a regular basis to ensure your team is running at top performance and with a full tank. Let’s face it. Everybody needs a tune-up now and then. Physically, mentally, spiritually, at work, at home and in relationships. Read Complete Story
It’s a Dog!
“What the heck is that?” I asked my wife. “I don’t know,” she answered. “Looks like a rabbit,” I said as we got a little closer. “No, that’s not a rabbit,” she said. “Oh my God! It’s…it’s a dog!” she screamed. “Pull over!” I barked. Read Complete Story
Odd Jobs
Not only are in-house designers’ roles misunderstood, they’re often misused, too. Following are stories of odd project requests—some unethical, others just plain weird—and tips for dealing with your own sticky situations. Read Complete Story
Unspoken
I’m concerned about my rheumatologist. We met 15 years ago when I was a mess. At that time I dragged my stress, anxiety, insomnia and a big, fat, swollen left knee that plagued my days and nights into his office and pleaded for help. He was no Gregory House, but a small, gentle doctor with the best bedside manner I’d ever seen. Extremely personable and sensitive, he looked beyond the knee and not only found the right therapy to manage the pain and inflammation but through his concern and advice helped me find better balance in my life. Read Complete Story
Your Bucket List
Let’s face it. If you’re a part of an in-house design department, you may sometimes feel like there’s a target on your back and you’re next on the block to be outsourced. Sometimes it’s inevitable and has little to do with your talent, expertise, cost-effectiveness, performance or credibility but is just a sign of the times. A trend. The pendulum swings to the right every few years, then to the left, and then back again. Read Complete Article
Book ’em Dano!
Chances are, if you manage the in-house graphics department for an organization, you’ve been involved at some level with managing their corporate logo and/or identity. This is no easy task because it requires the cooperation of each employee and a huge investment of your time on a daily basis to ensure that your company’s logo is being used correctly. Read Complete Article