the mehallo blog. beta.

My syllabus, photographed by student Samantha Costanilla

So I’ve been teaching my version of ‘a history of graphic design’ for several years now. Just finished up my 9th session.

As a text, Philip B. Meggs’ landmark research book – History of Graphic Design, first released in 1984 – is the bible on the subject. Even the ‘making of’ has its own edition.

It’s the most thorough analysis, and one of the best graphic design reference books I own. But as Meggs points out in his introduction, it’s only the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more to discover, find, research and incorporate into one’s own view.

Finally, there is another book that just hit the market – The Story of Graphic Design by Patrick Cramsie. It tackles similar ground, but from another angle. A refreshing find. And from what I could tell so far, it syncs with my own classroom take on ‘The Story’ . . .   [Read more →]

Tags: cool finds, design history, education, photography, thoughts, typography by steve
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‘ADAC (the Art Directors and Artists Club) presents What’s Next?, a panel featuring four Sac State graduates speaking about the different paths they’ve taken in the design world since graduating five years ago.’

ADAC’s first event in – oh, Lord knows how long – happens this coming Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at the AIA Central Valley Building in Sacramento. Details and pricing here.

Pictured: Four cool event posters by the four designers. Top poster by Christopher Lee; bottom event posters by Hans Bennewitz, Rob Martin and Jeffrey Tanhueco.

Click on images to view large/jump.

Found via Hedie Joulaee

Tags: cool finds, design, education, events by steve
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‘ohhhh THATS how i become a graphic designer.’

If you can touch your toes, you’re in.

Found via jescellophane

Tags: cool finds, education, thoughts by steve
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‘if graphic design did not exist, information would suffer, you’d die, and things would be ugly.’

This weekend, my alma mater – San Jose State University – is putting on their 2010 senior graphic design show – with two receptions scheduled.

Tough school. Even Businessweek thinks so – SJSU is one of their top 60 D-Schools worldwide. Always incredible work.

receptions
Friday May 21 and Saturday May 22, 2010 at art ark gallery in San Jose, CA. Details here (click on the people to see their work). Blog here.

Exhibition runs just under a week. Ends Thursday May 27, 2010.

Tags: cool finds, design, education, exhibitions by steve
1 comment  . . .   

Here’s an odd little video about this 19th century invention that put metal type in the hands of the general public.

And
Here’s an excellent resource: Professor Richard Polt’s original Classic Typewriter Page – live since 1995. Even answers that age old question, ‘Why doesn’t my typewriter have a numeral 1?’

Polt’s World-Famous Flying Oliver

Tags: design history, education by steve
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‘The Island satirises the London-centric view of the English capital and its commuter towns as independent from the rest of the country.’

Steven Walter’s personality-driven symbol and typographic map of London.

Available to view in full screen mode. Click on images to zoom/jump.

Found via Zara Evens

Tags: cool finds, education, illustration by steve
1 comment  . . .   

Part one of two

‘Charles & Ray Eames show their then-new masterpiece on the Arlene Francis ‘Home’ show broadcast on the NBC television network in 1956.’

Part two of two

Tags: design, design history, education by steve
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‘Bass on Titles presents a comprehensive, well-rounded retrospective of Academy Award-winner, Saul Bass’ film title sequence design.’

With really bizarre dialog screwy sound looping fx. Watch it above. From 1977.

Tags: cool finds, design history, education, typography by steve
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Found visual materials – such as ‘hardware catalogs, magazines, EU flags, product labels, forms or instructions for use,’ reorganized and reinterpreted into a poster series by students at Fachhochschule Mainz.

New order, new design. Details here (in German). Also here (in poorly translated English).

Posters (and other cool stuff) can be snagged here.

Tags: education by steve
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Typesetting: Linotype, 1 of 2

Typesetting using the Linotype caster. Film produced sometime around 1960 by Salesian Vocational and Technical Schools, Italy.

I love how he refers to ‘matrices’ as ‘mattresses.’

Typesetting: Linotype, 2 of 2

Found via Linotype

Tags: cool finds, design history, education, fonts, typography by steve
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‘Hand compositors usually set the large type called ‘display line,’ used in advertisements and other printed matter. Hand composition offers opportunities for artistic expression. Compositors who have the ability to create original ideas are highly-paid craftsmen. The work requires manual dexterity, good eyesight and thoroughness.’

Vocational documentary on printing and typesetting. From 1947.

I like how he pronounces ‘ad-verr-tiz-mints.’

Tags: design history, education by steve
1 comment  . . .