I’m now in my PCB phase (post computer breakdown. For anyone who’s wondering, it was a total loss. Insert heartbroken sigh here.) This means that I’m getting all new software (silver lining), including Adobe Creative Suite 3. In the process of installing my new toys, I saw a folder in my Illustrator folder called “Cool Extras”. Could you resist? Inside were “Sample Files” and “Templates” and inside Templates were “Basic” and “Inspiration”. I’m always open for a little inspiration. I double clicked on Poster.ait in the “Band” folder, waiting for design inspiration to strike.

You’re joking, Adobe. Right?

Design-wise, I’m not blown away, but why did they stretch the type??? “Andre Molobore Sectet” is Myriad at 53% of actual width. Are they freaking kidding? I did a whole blog entry about this (The 5 Deadly Design Sins: Sin #1). Hey, Adobe, DON’T STRETCH YOUR TYPE. It looks terrible.

Perhaps someone at Adobe needs to read my blog…

My favorite speed limit sign. 19 miles per hour exactly.

To make this post nominally about design, I’ll point out the serif typeface on the sign, unusual in Massachusetts, where most street signs are set in a sans serif type (often the well-named Interstate), and I’ll also point out the poor kerning — way too much space between the 1 and the 9, and the P and H could be a little closer together, too.

OK, fine, I just wanted to post this.

Your computer’s hard drive is a piece of hardware that can stop working at any time. Have you backed up your hard drive lately? Are you confident that you have back up copies of your most important files? If you lost your hard drive today, would you be devastated?

Please go back up your computer. Right now. Copy your important files somewhere — removable drive, CDs, your web site. If you can, leave a copy of the backup somewhere where your main drive is not.

I’m sure you can imagine why I’m writing this post so urgently. Back up RIGHT NOW. I wish I had…

Here’s an ad for Birthways Lamaze Classes. The text reads: Lamaze classes begin Jan 20th. Call 416 386 1817 before it’s too late. Birthways.

Get it? A baby’s first view of the world, on the way into it.

I’m not sure what I think of this ad. On the one hand, it got me to stop, look, and think — presumably the goal of all advertising. And I’ll definitely remember it. On the other hand, it’s a little shocking. But why is that? Is it the implied vagina in the photo? (We’ll see what search engine spiders make of this post with the body references lying thick on the ground!) I mean, we were all born — it should be one of the most natural images in the world. And yet, one of the comments on Ads of the World is “Hate to say this … I’m eating my lunch!!! ahhhh make it stop … !” Giving birth is painful, amazing, life-changing, and sometimes gross, but the idea of it shouldn’t be nauseating.

What do you think? Does this ad work for you?

Via AdFreak (with the hilarious link: Ever wanted to see the world through a vagina? Well check that off your list. ), via Ads of the World

Saw this on my walk through downtown the other day:

(Sorry about the crappy cell photo picture)

Why do I think this poster is awesome? First of all, it’s not typical:

Hmmm. Picture of the band. Check. Tilt it a few degrees, give them that wacky, fun look.
Band name. Check. What kind of neat-o new fonts do I have? Anything handwritten looking? Maybe a grafitti font! That’ll be really cool.
Some grungy background art. Check. This band is authentic.
Now the date and time. Check. I can stick that in somewhere.
Do we have any quotes about how rad this band is? No? Well, I’ll write one and stick it in there. No one will ever know.
OK, let’s print it out. We don’t have much money, so let’s print it in back and white, but, hey, I know. Let’s use colored paper. Like orange or something.
Dude, this graphic design stuff is CAKE.

This is just a one color poster, but it’s metallic silver on black, which looks really cool. And it’s a typographic treatment, no campy band picture or stock photo.

I hope this concert sold out. I have no idea what they sound like, but, man, their design rocks.