mechanics of design

A collection of 30 posts

mechanics of design

The Ghost Brand Standards

Group standards vs Individual preferences

visual helpers

Sticker Charts, Vantage Cigs & What Is Going On With Ceiling Fans?

Plus a tip for resizing.

time management

Save As Saves Time

You don't have to be a designer to take advantage of this concept.

case study

The Goldilocks Zone

The right amount of information at the right size for the right scale.

exploration and research

Squaring the Squircle

🫥 A brief history.

mechanics of design

Muller's Ratchet

Understanding and misunderstanding image cropping.

mechanics of design

New Year's Card Design Breakdown

A technical dive into what went into it.

mechanics of design

Unseen Structures

How joke writing illustrates that everything has a structure.

mechanics of design

FPO

Using elements for placement only.

exploration and research

Pointing The Finger

Not blaming you, just want to show you this salad.

spot the difference

Designing A Scam

Breaking down why someone might buy it.

mechanics of design

Pantone Workarounds

Reverse engineering and some cost-efficient tips.

mechanics of design

Making Things Fit

Ten Pounds of Sugar in a Five Pound Sack

photography

How to Edit Images

Especially when there are way too many.

design process

There Is No Magic Button

Some of you are nodding your head; some of you are shocked.

mechanics of design

Managing Your Creative Time

Creative time is weird to say the least. Here are some tips.

design process

Every Decision is a Cascade

Designers are playing chess.

mechanics of design

It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over

Approved isn't the end – it's a new beginning called Production.

design process

All The Feels

Why is using emotion in design so damn important?

photography

Will The Real Image Please Stand Up

Photographic manipulation, and the Photoshop icons that seemingly make no sense.

mechanics of design

Alphabet Soup

The moving target where AI, ML and IP converge.

mechanics of design

Should It Stay or Should It Go?

Do we store too much or not enough? And is it on the right medium?

mechanics of design

Spot the Difference

Why even chair legs matter.

design process

How to Write the Rules

Don't just create a reference – create a system.

mechanics of design

Time And Effort

Why some things are easy and some things are hard. And why easy is not always quick and hard is not always slow.