It's Time to Party!...

Now here is a tricky question that I'm sure they don't address in college. For those company parties, how much is too much? We'll I'm here to offer a little advice. I may not be the best role model when it comes to living the true professionals life but I think I can shed some light on the world of social drinking/partying. That is not to say I partake in that life excessively but lets just say I had a good time in college.

So as for the upcoming party with your co-workers, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, take it easy on the booze. You don't want to be referred to as the company drunk. I've know a couple people who have had the unfortunate luck of being the company boozer and I can promise you it is not a good thing. Make sure that you stay in control and stay within your limit.

Second, remember that you are responsible for your actions. A drunken conversation with you boss is probably not going to reflect well on your overall professionalism. You are constantly being interviewed by those in power and the more you represent yourself as someone who is reliable and professional, the better your chances of taking those steps up the corporate ladder.

Third, this is not a contest. Some people you work with might have a higher tolerance that you do. This is not a bad thing. Don't feel like you have to prove to everyone that you are unaffected by alcohol. You're only human after all and everyone is influenced to some degree.

Fourth, make wise decisions. By this I mean, if you do happen to get intoxicated, don't be a fool and drive home. Be responsible and get a cab or a ride home from someone who is still able to drive. You don't want to have to call your boss the next morning and tell them you will not be coming in to work today because you are in jail. A DUI looks bad on the resume no matter how you slice it.

Fifth, parties are not a bad thing. Use your lowered inhibitions to talk to those you wouldn't normally talk with. Parties are meant to be a place where people can socialize with co-workers in an atmosphere outside of the working environment. Try to make some friends.

Ok, well these are just a few pieces of advice from yours truly. Be safe this holiday season. I hope everyone has a relaxing and fun break from the fast paced world we work in. I'll see you on the flip side!

Who Are We? (part:2) ...

Well it is time for our second installment of Who Are We. Just in case this is your first visit, this is a once a week post about a designer you should know. Last week I blogged about Peter Jaworowski. Probably a lesser-known designer from Warsaw, Poland who has a great eye for design and work that blew me away. If you haven't had the chance to see his work yet, you should really check it out.

This week I want to speak about a better-known designer that comes from the United States. Her name is Margo Chase and she currently works in L.A. She is the founder of the Chase Design Group. Her story is not a typical one that you hear about when you think of graphic designers and actually is a great inspiration to most aspiring designers out there. Her biography is on Wikipedia if you would like to know more and I would highly recommend reading it.

Margo Chase and the design group that she founded have not had huge corporations like Peter but her list of clients still is outstanding. With her location obviously working in her favor, most of the clients stem from the entertainment industry. Clients like Madonna and Cher have had her do identities for them and Networks like USA and the WB have also used her talents in creating memorable logos for the network as a whole or individual show also.

Her design approach as I see it is a simple elegance that is not only impactful but also clean crisp and well thought out. I have been using her work as inspiration from the onset of my own career and I still am deeply impressed with the quality and clarity she displays in all of her work. Not only does she focus on the basic graphical elements in all of her designs but she takes it one step further by reinventing typography to fulfill the overall design needs.

She is truly a worthy role model in the design community and I think she is a great person to highlight in this weeks edition of Who Are We. I would like to know your thoughts and comments so please do write.

Who Are We? (part:1) ...

Lately I have been scouring the internet searching for new and innovative ideas in the graphic design community. The best way to do this is to search out graphic designers themselves and see what it is they are up to. In the midst of my quest I happened upon a group of blogs who feature graphic designers, artist, photographers, etc. and I thought that my blog could also benefit from this idea. In case you hadn't noticed, I try to share my experiences, my reflections, and my knowledge with you the reader for you benefit.

So from this week on I plan to acknowledge one graphic designer that I think you should know. Sometimes you will have already hear of them, other times maybe not but the more you know about your career and the people involved in it, the better off you will be.

To start off this experiement, I would like to highlight Peter Jaworowski. Peter is currently residing in Warsaw, Poland where he holds a position at Ars Thanea. His designs will amaze you with their beauty, their creativity, and impact. When I stumbled upon his website I was taken back by the powerful elements in use in almost everyone of his designs. His list of awards and recognitions is impressive just as is his list of clients. It is not hard to understand why he has been so fortunate in dealing with big name clients like Sony, Oakley, and Nike. I think Peter is a great person to start this segment with. His work is a great place to look for inspiration when you are trying to create digital beauty. Let me know your thoughts on Peter Jaworowski.

Ho, Ho, Hoe?...

This may be a little late and I'm sure most of you have heard of this but for some unknown reason this story just popped into my head. It could be because the holiday season is closing in and that I have yet to do my Christmas shopping. Or it could be for another reason I will not mention. Anyway, I was watching the news a few days ago and the newscaster was talking about a state that has decided to make the phrase "Ho, Ho, Ho" indecent for Santa to say. It is now politically incorrect for Santa to recite his timeless phrase because someone thinks that the little kids sitting on his lap will pick this up and demoralize the nation. What??? I mean really! All of us have grown up with that phrase as an iconographic statement and I'm not so sure the nation is going to hell because of it.

Where this comes into play with graphic design, marketing, advertising, and communication in general is that if this trend continues to progress; we could be living in a society that censors all. We, the people, who not only communicate with those in our immediate presence but everyone who sees or hears our work must be extremely mindful and weary of what we are doing. Being P.C. is important but when is enough enough? We as people need to start asking ourselves this question. As people of the communication business, we need to pay particular attention to those making and answering these questions. The whole idea of being politically correct has taken control of our waking lives.

I guess this is just something to think about while you ride the elevator to your job in the morning. Happy Holidays!