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Sharing the HOW Conference vibe
Following this year's HOW Design Conference, a first-timer and very active forum member who goes by the user name Amberlyth produced a document designed to share her conference experience with her colleagues who couldn't attend. She's generously made it available here, as a great example of the post-conference recap that many attendees need or want to provide to their peers. You can download the PDF here.

Posted by: Bryn at 7:30:50 AM

Photo fun
If you wandered into the Mohawk Paper booth at the conference (and judging by the crowd, most of you did), you may have posed in the photobooth for a silly snapshot.

Mohawk's posted all those images in a Flickr stream.
Posted by: Bryn at 10:49:34 AM

MP3s and handouts, oh my
If you missed out on the HOW Design Conference (or if you missed a couple of key sessions), you can still catch it -- vicariously -- now that we've made session MP3s and handouts available. MP3s of regular sessions are $15; workshops are $19, and the whole shebang (that's 56 sessions) is $199. Handouts, on the other hand, are free. In-house designers especially were loving Andy Epstein's session, Visuals & Verbals; that presentation is among those now available.
Posted by: Bryn at 1:26:45 PM

Austin dreaming
Yes, it's more than 365 days away, but already I'm totally jonesin' to get to Austin. I love LOVE the city: the light, the outdoor living, the active lifestyle, the architecture, the design community.

Today I stumbled across Adrienne Breaux's All Things Austin Design blog. I don't know Adrienne, but I'm sure I'll be asking her to do a few guest posts here to let HOW Conference-goers in on all the great design secrets in Austin.

Can't wait. Good thing I'll get my Austin fix in September at the MYOB Conference.
Posted by: Bryn at 6:14:31 AM

Here's something kind of cool that I'd like to take credit for (but I can't): Our new online HOWbookstore.com offers HOW Books plus a bunch of other graphic design-related titles at a sweet 20% off, all the time. Sign up for the e-mail newsletter, and you'll get scoop on additional discounts on new releases and other bargain-basement deals.
Posted by: Bryn at 10:29:44 AM

Boost your design career
Back by popular demand, frequent HOW speaker Jeni Herberger is joining us to present a series of webinars this summer. If your design career could use a tune-up (especially if you're looking to make yourself indispensable in this uncertain economy), sign up for HOW's Professional Growth Webinar Series.

Jeni will help you outline your career goals, successfully balance your work and professional life, and develop the strategic-thinking skills you need to get ahead in the design field—all in three one-hour webinar sessions.

All sessions are archived, so you can register and view them any time. (If you registered for the live event, you'll also have online access to the webinar for 12 months afterward, so you can watch it again and again as a refresher course.)

Register now for the first session on Thursday, June 19.

About the presenter
Jeni draws on her 20 years in the creative field, including her experience running a creative staffing firm, Big Fish. Her engaging and informative presentation style has earned her big props at various HOW events.
Posted by: Bryn at 6:42:53 AM

Networking tips
HOW Conference attendee Richard Mueller shared some networking tips he posted on his blog just before leaving for Boston.

Though I'm passing along the advice too late for the HOW event, it's still great info for you to use whenever you're in a group of professional peers.

My favorite tip is Richard's suggestion, "Don't dance with the one you brung." Quite simply, if you attend any industry function, whether it's a big national event or a local AIGA gathering, with a group from work, don't all stick together. You see plenty of each other in the office; this is the time for meeting new contacts.

See more of Richard's advice.
Posted by: Bryn at 6:21:26 AM

More HOW Conference goodness
There's still so much creative energy sparking around last week's HOW Design Conference, and you'll definitely want to check out all these links.

HOW editor Megan Patrick and I did a bit of blogging live from the conference

Doug Bartow did an even better job of blogging for Speak Up

HOW Gets Invaded also has a great recap

Justin Ahrens created a website just for his conference session, DesignerSobriety.com

Get more of Von Glitschka's tutorials on Illustrative Design at IllustrationClass.com

Looking for conference photos (or eager to share your own)? Here are a few galleries:

The HOW Conference Forum gallery is just waiting for you to post your best shots

And there's a HOW Conference Flickr group
Posted by: Bryn at 5:57:05 AM

Wow
I can't believe it's over. Really. This time last week, we were all in Boston, juiced up on caffeine and creative energy, and here we are now back at our desks.

A huge thanks to all of you in the design community -- nearly 4,000 of you! -- who attended, making this the biggest HOW Conference ever. It was such a blast being with ALL of you in Boston last week.

As I was digging through the mountain of email that came in last week, one message from a conference attendee stood out: She sent in a request for tips or advice for keeping that HOW vibe going strong now that we're all back at work. So in lieu of a session-by-session recap, I'll share some ideas for extending that creative energy in the coming months.

• First, unpack. Remember all the paper samples, photo catalogs and print brochures you picked up in the Resource Center -- the stuff you spent an hour in line waiting to ship home? Yeah, that. Unbox everything, and place your conference binder on your desk beside your Mac for more inspiration this week.

• Schedule a show-and-tell. Set a half-hour meeting this week to share all the goodies you collected in the Resource Center with your team. If you chatted with a vendor and got scoop on a new product, be sure to pass that info along to your colleagues.

• Relive the experience. If you purchased the registration package that included all the MP3s (from sessions whose presenters gave us permission to audio-record), you're all set. If you didn't, then check the conference website this week and purchase select sessions you want. Schedule brown-bag lunch meetings with your team once a week for the next several weeks, cue up the audio and get an hour's worth of instant inspiration. A few of my fave sessions that would make great post-conference listening:
Bill Strickland's inspiring keynote
Justin Ahrens' Designer Sobriety
Maggie Macnab's Decoding Design
Von Glitschka's awesome Illustrative Design
Erin Sarpa and Steven Morris' session, Lovin' Your Job
Joe Duffy's A Designed Life

• Make your own presentation. Last year, a design firm here in Cincinnati scheduled a meeting where two designers who attended HOW in Atlanta gave a casual presentation about all they'd seen and learned. They put together a simple slideshow of photos and shared the key ideas they brought home to the office.

• Do your homework. In their session, Lovin' Your Job, Erin Sarpa and Steven Morris asked the audience to complete several worksheets, and then gave everyone a homework assignment to work on when they got back to the office. If you were in that session -- or even if you weren't -- do these career-affirming exercises.

• Review your notes. While the information is still fresh, go back through the notes you took in your conference binder. Jot down new thoughts that come to mind, use a highlighter pen to mark key ideas that you want to remember, fill out any worksheets or checklists provided by the speakers. Make notes on handouts for sessions you missed, too. Keep the binder as a resource you can refer back to six months from now.

• Stay connected. If you were in Steve Gordon's Networking Lunch, you heard his advice on this topic: Don't let that stack of business cards you collected in Boston lie in a pile on your desk. This week, send emails to people you met and want to stay in touch with. Encourage a longer-term connection and build your network.

Stay tuned this week for more post-conference goodness, including links to photo sets, other blogs and more.
Posted by: Bryn at 6:37:28 AM

Live Blogging
Catch the HOW Blog for live posts from this week's HOW Design Conference in Boston!
Posted by: Bryn at 8:48:15 AM

Want one
I've gotta buy one of these limited-edition posters created by Clif Stoltze & Co. in the conference bookstore!

Posted by: Bryn at 10:17:51 AM

Really ready
So I've come to realize that this is my lucky-thirteenth HOW Conference. (Gulp!) Even though I've been to many of these things, I'm finding myself just giddy today. Scattered, wound up, like I've had way too much caffeine. READY TO GO.

My conference colleague Sara tells me that this is officially the BIGGEST HOW CONFERENCE EVER.

Woot!

See you in Boston!

Posted by: Bryn at 6:42:37 AM

Get your Apple fix
Friend of HOW, conference speaker and all-around good guy David Baker sent me a note this morning about a new Apple store opening today(!) just steps from the HOW Conference.

With three floors, the Apple Retail Store on Boylston Street is the largest Apple Store in the U.S. Hmmm ... I have been eyeing a MacBook Air ...
Posted by: Bryn at 5:34:49 AM

Ask Michael
Really. Ask Michael Bierut whatever you want. Whatever. Boxers or briefs, how he takes his coffee, what his favorite typefaces is ...

The terrific Debbie Millman, who's interviewing Michael live on stage during one of Tuesday morning's general sessions, says she and Michael are looking for audience questions in advance, and "the more inventive, the better."

So if you're dying to pose a burning question to one of design's favorite minds, e-mail it to designmatters at sterlingbrands dot com.

Typography by Tina Roth Eisenberg of swissmiss
Posted by: Bryn at 12:40:02 PM

Getting ready
This week, I'm wavering between being 100% ready to step on a plane to Boston ... NOW ... and being totally freaked out about all the stuff I have to do yet before I go. Like, um, the massive stack of page proofs for the August issue that's sitting on my desk.

Yikes.

Apparently, I'm not alone. I cracked up at this Are You Ready? Poll on the Conference forum.

Lots of designers are busy making Boston plans this week. Linkage:

HOWies on Twitter

Advice for people participating in the Portfolio Review

People introducing themselves before they meet in Boston

Boston designer shares scoop about her city

Guys hoping to get Celtics tix for the Eastern Conference finals (Yeah, good luck with that.)
Posted by: Bryn at 5:59:26 AM

So much to do
There's just so much to do ... not just before we leave for Boston, but during the conference. I've borrowed this list of conference extras and special events from this morning's e-newsletter, just in case some of you missed it. There's just too much good stuff!

Pre-Conference Workshops: Many of these in-depth, interactive workshops still have a few spots available. Check out the complete workshop program here, then stop by the HOW Conference registration desk onsite to add one to your schedule.

Sponsor Education Sessions: Several sponsors, including Savannah College of Art and Design, Infowit and Veer, are holding special information sessions throughout the Conference. Look for a complete schedule in your HOW Conference binder.

Type Directors Club: Check out the TDC's exhibition of award-winning typography. The showcase will be on display throughout the Conference; check your directory for hours and location.

Stock Photography Resource Collection: All the top stock agencies, all in one place. Browse for new imagery all day Sunday, right outside Registration.

Networking Kickoff: Join your fellow attendees at the Networking Kickoff, designed to help you meet new people and make new contacts. The Creative Group will once again be hosting an ice-breaking game; you'll get your game piece when you show up.

Resource Center Opening Reception: The Resource Center opens with a bang—live music, snacks and drinks—immediately following Jeremy Gutschke's opening keynote. Start exploring the Resource Center right away, and don't forget to use that free drink ticket you'll find in your badge.

Resource Center Happy Hour: Another chance to check out the Resource Center (and get your Door Prize Passport completed). Stop by Academy of Art University and Shutterstock's booths—they'll be handing out free drink tickets.

Special Sessions: There are three special sessions going on Monday and Tuesday:
Design Evangelist: Lessons Found in Church Marketing Monday, May 19, 6:00pm, presented by Center for Church Communications

From the Bottom Up: One Man's Crusade to Clean America's Rivers Monday, May 19, 6:00pm, presented by Sappi

The Greatest Photoshop Show on Earth Tuesday, May 20, 7:30am, presented by Adobe Systems

Portfolio Review: Check out the portfolios of up-and-coming designers and offer a few words of advice at Tuesday night's Portfolio Review.

B+W Party: Head over to the Westin's America Ballroom for the B+W Party. Live music, dancing, drinks, and more than 3,000 graphic designers in every iteration of black and white.
Posted by: Bryn at 5:36:14 AM

T minus 6 days ...
Well, we're officially less than a week away from the big event, and we're all ready to go. Um, not really. But close.

Here at HOW HQ, this is shaping up to be an INSANE week. We're sending the July/August issue to the printer today (you know, that other thing we do: the magazine). Then page proofs come in for review later in the week. There's all the pre-conference prep yet to be done: mapping out our schedules, writing the session introductions we'll do in Boston and, most important, figuring out wardrobe choices. The to-do list is long ... and growing.
Posted by: Bryn at 6:24:42 AM

Come on by and say hello
You'll spot the HOW magazine staff pretty easily in Boston: We usually travel in a pack; we're all cute (at least our moms think so) brunettes, and one of us will be in a wheelchair this year (you'll have to ask her about that). And then there's the "staff" badges we'll be wearing.

Good thing is, we don't bite. In fact, we'll be hosting a fun little craft project in the Resource Center on opening night. So stop by and say hello.
Posted by: Bryn at 11:31:32 AM

Cha-ching
So, everyone's watching as gas and groceries eat more and more into our paychecks. Heck, the HOW Conference even has a session called "Financial Planning for Solo Designers." Clearly, we've got money on the mind.

You may wonder how your own pay stub stacks up against other designers' in your area. You may be in the market for a gig with better benefits. You may be asking for a raise. So you'll be interested in HOW's upcoming Salary Survey.

Every two years, we conduct our survey and create a report on trends in salaries, bonuses and benefits for the graphic design field. And we need your help!

Our salary report relies on having the broadest data, so please take the HOW Salary Survey now. It'll take just a few minutes, and you'll be contributing to an important project. Plus, by participating, you'll be entered to win a free one-year subscription to HOW.

Please take our salary survey now!
Posted by: Bryn at 11:30:58 AM

More monsters
I've just had word from one of my HOW Books colleagues that the incredible Stefan Bucher, the creative mind behind "100 Days of Monsters," is creating three limited-edition monster posters that will be given away in the conference bookstore. Hooray for monsters!

Linkage:
Read an interview with Stefan

Go to DailyMonster.com, the site that inspired the book

Check out 100 Days of Monsters

Posted by: Bryn at 8:04:50 AM

Marketing advice
I've known Peleg Top and Ilise Benun, like, forever; they're both frequent contributors to the magazine and presenters at HOW events. At the HOW Conference in Vegas two years ago, they presented a Pricing and Marketing workshop. As it happens, one of my HOW Books colleagues was in the audience and thought the session would make a great book for designers.

And so it happened: another one of those cross-pollinated projects. The duo are again presenting a workshop in Boston, and their book, The Designer's Guide to Marketing & Pricing, is just now available.

Here's what's cool: They've created a series of podcasts that correspond to the book. Listen to Chapter 1: Who Is My Market? here and find lots more information on the website for the book.
Posted by: Bryn at 5:41:54 AM

Taking it home with you
OK, so we'll get away from the food-related posts (I must have been updating the blog around lunchtime these past few days) and on to something more directly conference-related.

Among all the magazines our parent company publishes, HOW is a bit unusual, in that we truly view HOW as a brand. Thanks to the magazine, the events (we're up to four this year!), books, digital products, webinars, etc., etc., we've got a nifty machine that generates tons of ideas and connects people in interesting ways. Conference speakers write for the magazine or are sources for articles. Feature stories become conference sessions. Conference speakers author HOW Books and vice versa.

For evidence of this brand thing, you need look no further than the conference bookstore, where you'll see titles written by conference speakers. Like these:

Stefan Bucher: 100 Days of Monsters
Sam Harrison: Idea Spotting
Jim Krause: Idea Index, Color Index 2, Layout Index, Design Basics Index, Photo Idea Index (the inspiration for Jim's conference workshop) and Type Idea Index
Maggie Macnab: Decoding Design
Chris Sickels: The Look Book
Von Glitschka: Crumble Crackle Burn
John Foster: Maximum Page Design
Ilise Benun and Peleg Top: Designers Guide to Marketing & Pricing
Posted by: Bryn at 5:57:02 AM

Dining out
In case you care (and likely, you don't), the HOW staff is planning a dinner at this fine Boston restaurant, which we chose notwithstanding its use of some waaayy-too-cute typeface on its website.

We overlooked design considerations in favor of culinary ones, like wild mushroom ravioli in a pancetta cream sauce (we HOWgirls do love our cream sauces) and homemade tomato fettuccine.

Wave hello if you spot us in the bar Saturday night.
Posted by: Bryn at 10:35:05 AM

Food heaven
When Rob and I (and Wrigley) spent a long weekend in Boston a couple of years ago, we fell in love with the city. It was bloody hot when we were there, but still we managed to hike all over town (literally): through Boston Common, around Faneuil Hall, along the Freedom Trail, to Old North Church, even taking the subway across to Cambridge. (Dogs are allowed on the T during off-peak hours.)

I’m a seafood junkie, so I’m gearing up to overdose on all kinds of goodies fresh from the water in Boston. On my list of restaurants to try:

• The Barking Crab—Fried scallops? Hello!
• Great Bay Restaurant at the Hotel Commonwealth—home of what Boston Magazine calls the city’s best chowder
• The Beacon Hill Bistro—years ago, on a business trip, I had a chilled tomato soup that I’d kill for today; the seasonal menu changes often, so I’m sure to find something new this time
• The foodie website Chowhound says Figs (Beacon Hill) is the best of celebri-chef Todd English’s restaurants in town, so that’s on my list, too.
Posted by: Bryn at 5:54:29 AM

Thatsalottapeople
We've passed a registration milestone with nearly 4 weeks still to go before the conference: More than 3,000 designers will descend on Boston next month. Be sure to bring a ton of business cards!

Peep the guest list here; creatives will be attending from these major companies ...

Anthropologie
Google
lululemon (my fave source for athletic apparel)
Trader Joe's
Vera Bradley
Whole Foods

... and these interestingly named design shops:

Biscuitville Inc.
Chartreuse
Creative Voodoo
Juice Creative
MagnetStreet (looks like they're bringing the whole firm!)
Savvy Cats Design

Yikes!
(commence minor freakout ...)

Being out of the office most of last week for HOW's Promotion Design Awards judging (and if you want scoop on that, check out the other HOW Blog) means that conference-related stuff was far from my mind.

And then I checked the conference website today and realized -- holy cripes! -- that the event is less than a month away. We've got SO much last-minute stuff to do, it's not even funny. Like: Finalizing details on our team's little activity in the Resource Center on opening night, writing all the introductions we give for so many of the sessions and, not least, planning what to wear.

(end freakout ...)
Posted by: Bryn at 5:49:38 AM

A quiet week
The blog will be quiet this week, as the entire HOW magazine team is off beginning tomorrow to judge our Promotion Design Competition. It's a week full of schlepping boxes, perusing entries (scarfing M&Ms) and thoughtfully selecting 150 or so winners. They'll be published in the September/October issue of the magazine, so stay tuned.

I'll be back next week with a report on the hottest (and lamest) design trends we've spotted, and other pithy observations. Meantime, we've just posted a few goodies in conjunction with HOW's soon-to-be-released special Creativity Issue. Enjoy these tidbits:

Make Your Creativity More Productive -- Conference speaker and Behance founder Scott Belsky weighs with 8 tips for moving from creative thought to real-world action, plus 5 obstacles to your creative energy. In this online exclusive, Belsky offers a peek into the Behance offices to show how they're living their own advice.

My Best Work -- HOW debuts a new back-page column, where we invite designers of note to share their favorite, most successful, most memorable or otherwise best-of-the-portfolio project ... ever. Ann Willougby is the first to take the stage; see Ann's best project here.
Posted by: Bryn at 1:18:18 PM

Eames experience
Conference speaker Jenn Visocky-O'Grady e-mailed about a must-see exhibit created by Charles and Ray Eames at the Boston Museum of Science--she says she's "just design-nerd-ly enough to make a pilgrimage."

According to Wikipedia, the Eamses created the "Mathematica" exhibit in 1961 under the patronage of IBM; it was originally exhibited at the California Museum of Science and Industry. They made a duplicate for Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry that same year; that version is currently on view in Boston. "Mathematica: A World of Numbers and beyond ..." set the stage for interactive museum exhibitions; Charles noted that its goal was "to enlighten the amateur without embarrassing the specialist."

You can see a Quicktime tour of the "Mathematica" exhibit on the Eames Office website here. And you can see more about the Boston Museum of Science here.
Posted by: Bryn at 6:52:14 AM

Time's a-wastin'
If you still haven't registered and are looking to save a few dollars, better do it this week! HOW's semi-early registration deadline is April 11 (that's Friday), so you can still score $50 off.

Perhaps the more urgent need is booking your hotel. Rooms at the four hotels where we secured abundant space for the conference have sold out. We JUST opened up a new room block at the Omni Parker House, which is on the green line and an easy ride to and from the Hynes Convention Center. Those rooms will surely go quickly.

Stay tuned here for all hotel information: As we're able to procure additional room blocks at different hotels, or as we find reasonable rates at other hotels on the Green Line (which runs right into Boston's Back Bay area, where the convention center is), we'll be sure to post info.
Posted by: Bryn at 8:26:12 AM

Say it with me: "Shipoopi"
Just because it's fun to type the word 'shipoopi' -- and because Mike and Robynne are FOH, here's a bit of Modern Dog info for the week: First, they're chatting with Debbie Millman on Design Matters this Friday. Then, they're doing a book release party/birthday celebration (Modern Dog is officially of drinking age now) in Seattle on April 23. Here's the good news: If you miss either of these gigs (and even if you don't), Mike and Robynne will be presenting a general session in Boston.

Posted by: Bryn at 7:41:11 AM

Pattern recognition
I hate math. I really do. But in school I loved geometry; I liked the shapes and the ways that mathematical forms fit together.

So I really sparked to Maggie Macnab's new book, Decoding Design. In 10 chapters, each based on mathematical principles involving numbers 1 through 10, Macnab dives into ancient, universal symbols and reveals how these can underpin modern design, especially logos. I'm eager to see Maggie's conference session, and I asked her a couple of questions to preview what she'll be presenting in Boston:

I think most designers would agree that logos are the most challenging projects—it’s visual communication boiled down to its essence, and you can’t rely on a clever headline or nice paper to carry the load. You encourage designers to look to age-old, universal, ubiquitous symbols as foundations for essential communication. Is that easier—or harder—than it sounds?

Simplicity is never easy—refining to an elegant solution takes work, which is why it's difficult to be a good logo designer. That said, symbols are still our first language and have been with us much longer than written language. Anyone who puts a little time and effort into paying attention to them can become fluent in how they relate to all of us in such an intimate way. Symbols speak to us intuitively and immediately, which is why embedding them appropriately into visual communication is such a common-sense way to anchor a creative project, particularly in a global world.

Because of time constraints, I can't preview the entire book (the simplicity of symbols take more than a few words to describe!), but I will talk about the energetic principles of basic patterns that comprise our world, and how recognizing and using them in visual communication creates meaning and connection. I'll also describe the qualities (rather than quantities) of the first five numbers, showing examples of logos that use them, along with a few deconstructions of corporate logos we see in every day life. It's really interesting to uncover what some of this symbolism implies.

The very best place to start is with yourself. What shapes appeal in particular to you? For instance, some people will gravitate to a spiral or a square. These two shapes are on opposite sides of the spectrum, in symbol terms, and their visual appearance clearly describes their purpose. The square, for example, is steadfast and a little boring. But to some people, this shape might be really attractive because stability is the most important concern in their lives at the moment.

The Golden Mean you mention is the shape of expanding growth and evolution—we see this shape in a nautilus shell that spirals outward in a geometric, but self-similar way, from its core. This shape is the basis of what we consider beautiful proportion. When I talk more about spirals, the attendees will see how this particular shape is directly related to the regeneration of our species, which is what makes it and everything connected to our own regeneration—from love to sex—so attractive to us. Survival has always been, and still is, the most important thing to us. Another reason to brush up on your symbol skills!

Being a boss
I've never been (at least, I HOPE I've never been) the kind of boss who makes her team jump through hoops in order to take the smallest bit of initiative or achieve the most basic level of career success. But I've worked for those people.

My colleague, Sarah, recently fielded a phone call from a would-be HOW conference-goer begging for our help: She needed some kind of official "credentials" document to help bolster her case for going to Boston.

If you're in a work environment that requires documents, supporting documents and supporting-supporting documents to attend a professional conference, then download a PDF of the conference brochure and hone your strategy with these 10 tips for convincing your boss to send you to the HOW Conference.

Do it this week: You can still score $50 off if you register by Friday.
Posted by: Bryn at 10:41:17 AM

Networking: after the conference
OK, so a bit more scoop from Steve Gordon, host of the Networking Lunch in Boston, about, um, networking.

Steve led a session at last year's conference in Atlanta called "We Are Smarter than Me" -- and the gist was that collecting a bunch of business cards and amassing a fat digital address book isn't enough. That's not even the point. Steve says, "That's not a network. It's a dead end that offers little more than a polite e-mail after the initial face-to-face."

So, Steve, what should people do AFTER they meet some other cool creatives in Boston. Here's more of his advice:

• Avoid e-small talk—the "it was really nice to meet you" e-mails with no real information being shared. In other words, if you're going to take the time to follow up, make it meaningful.

• Check in from time to time and offer at least a quasi-sincere communication without asking for something in return.

• Remember, these are relationships. As creatives, we make emotional links and connections. Networking is about establishing connections for future business reasons. An established networking partner you trust, and that trusts you, is most likely going to have your interests in mind when something comes up.
Posted by: Bryn at 12:55:52 PM

Get networked
Over on the Conference Forum, there's a thread where people are talking about attending the Networking Lunch in Boston.

The Networking Lunch varies a bit from year to year, but the gist is simply to connect with other designers attending the conference. It's especially good for HOW first-timers and people who are attending solo and want to meet folks to hang out with.

FOH (that's Friend of HOW) Steve Gordon is hosting the lunch this year, and he gave me a sneak preview of some of his top networking tips (I'll share a few today and the rest later this week):

• Establish and test the social vibe. You don't have to be old glee choir buddies, but you know when you are getting along with someone or the conversation is coming very easily. The simple truth is that people deal with people they like. To quote A Tribe Called Quest: "If the vibe ain't right... you're leavin'!" So true.

• Jump right in. People can sense when you're milling about wanting to ask something but you don't. The vibe then turns very strange, and you come off more as an uneasy passer-by. Jump right in or move on.

• Offer as much as you take. Many times a benevolent offer of information or services will net you as much, if not more, in return. Pay it forward and give as much as you take. Don't come off too cocky or know-it-all, but if you have something good to offer up, do it! You'll be a hit. People are more prone to help someone who offered help to them.
Posted by: Bryn at 6:07:29 AM

News you can use
Just when I think we've got the conference program all set ... we keep adding new stuff. Like:

• Design Evangelist session (Monday, 6 p.m.). This bonus session came about in part thanks to an article in HOW’s Business Annual about smart and savvy design for the Christian audience. Brad Abare from the Center for Church Marketing is presenting this session.

• From the Bottom Up: One Man’s Crusade to Clean America’s Rivers (Monday, 6 p.m.). This Sappi-sponsored session features Chad Pegracke, founder of the river-cleanup organization Living Lands and Waters, talking about how one person can, indeed, make a difference for the environment.

If you didn't take advantage of last Friday's early-bird registration deadline (poor you: you were one of the few who missed it, as registrations came pouring in), don't despaire: Register by April 11, and you'll still save $50.
Posted by: Bryn at 12:12:14 PM

Register now & save
Here's the deal: Register for the HOW Conference today or tomorrow (March 28), and you'll save a cool $80. Here's what you can do with that $80 in Boston:

• 20 bowls (give or take) of New England clam chowder at The Barking Crab
• 3.5 copies of Jim Krause's Type Idea Index in the Conference bookstore
• Beers for 12 of your closest HOWie friends at the brewpub of your choice
• A hot outfit for the Black & White party
Posted by: Bryn at 5:30:22 AM

More fun in Boston
Here's a cool, designer-y guide to Boston, courtesy of Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge, one of our favorite blogs. The D*S guide is packed with interesting-sounding retail shops selling home decor, paper goods, jewelry and the like.
Posted by: Bryn at 11:41:02 AM

Conference brochure
We've had a number of requests for it, so I figured I'd again post a link to a PDF of the 2008 Conference brochure. The file is fairly hefty. Download the HOW Conference brochure here.

Posted by: Bryn at 6:09:17 AM

More to see and do
Funny how this works: Just when I figure the conference program (the lineup of speakers and sessions) is settled, we keep adding stuff to see and do.

Here are some extra activities you'll want to make time for:

Design Evangelist: Lessons Found in Church Marketing (Monday, 6 p.m.)—a column in HOW's Business Annual about savvy and strategic design for the Christian audience helped prompt this session presented by the Center for Church Communication

The Greatest Photoshop Show on Earth (Tuesday, 7:30 a.m.)—get up early and hit this always-popular bonus session featuring Adobe gurus Russell Brown and Julianne Kost

And don't miss all the sessions in the HOW Learning Center, which are going on all throughout the conference. Get technology tips, learn about specialty printing and pick up all kinds of info that'll make your boss love you even more.
Posted by: Bryn at 7:06:45 AM

Mapping Boston
I'll be away for the rest of the week, so in the meantime, you can start plotting your course in Boston with this helpful map of conference sites created by Conference Forum member Aaron Zimlich. Check out the conversation here.

And take note: The Early Bird registration deadline is next week, so if you want to score a cheaper registration, sign up soon.
Posted by: Bryn at 6:42:55 AM

Avoiding the post-conference crash
Every year, the HOW Conference just wrings me out ... I crumple like a wet dishrag after the whole thing is over. Run into the HOW gang at the airport on our trip home, and you'll see me slumped in a chair with a vacant expression on my face.

I'm not sure if it's the uber-long days, the strain of being "on" all the time, the adrenaline rush or what. But HOW staff lore includes more than one story of our collective emotional or physical crash at the end of the conference. Like, the time when two other colleagues and I cried like over-tired toddlers while watching "My Dog Skip" on the plane ride home. Yeah, it's a sad movie, but we were so wiped out we got hyper-emotional.

So I was particularly interested to see a thread on the Conference Forum with tips on staying healthy and rested during any event like this. There's lots of great info there, so you don't wind up tired or sick afterward.

I've developed a few habits that I think help me stay strong during HOW: drinking a TON of water, taking it easy on the alcohol, having a cobb salad or something similar for lunch to stock up on veggies and lean protein, skipping the afternoon cookies and going for a granola bar instead.
Posted by: Bryn at 6:27:26 AM

The job you love
Steven Morris and Erin Sarpa (both of whom I count among my favorite people) are presenting a session titled "Lovin' Your Job: How to Make it Happen."

Which prompted me to ask them, Do you ever NOT love your job?

Here’s what Erin had to say:

Occasionally I have to deal with clients who are demons straight from hell. I believe in behaving like a pro under any circumstances so I suffer through those projects, but I never work with the same demon twice. I also have had times when I am feeling super-extra-ambitious and my company is just coasting along, I find it really frustrating to be stagnant.

Life is too short to work with assholes, seriously. It takes time to be in a position where you can choose your environment but I would pick a happy company culture over a phat salary anytime.

When I'm frustrated with a lack of challenges at the office, I create my own. I wrote and illustrated my first children's book this year just to see if I could do it. And people are buying it up, woohoo!

So, what about you, Steve?

I've had several jobs that had less LOVE than I would have liked. (I can hear some of you laughing at that idea of "love in the workplace" -- and I don't mean inter-office relationships). And I learned a great deal from each of those situations. In fact, it seems to me that we learn more from our pain than we do our pleasure—if nothing else, simply because we're more motivated not to repeat the pain or mistakes.

The displeasure that I've experienced, as well as some of the pleasure, from the several jobs I held earlier in my career taught me a bunch about what NOT to do. Especially when it came to how we treat others and communicate in the work environment. When you're young and just out of school there are some people, believe it or not, that will do their best to take advantage of your talents and eagerness. This taking advantage can and did take the form of overwork and underpay or exploiting ideas (giving credit to higher-ups for ideas that were born by entry-level staff). In my past this created situations that lacked integrity on the part of my employers—the ones primarily in control and responsible for setting the relationship tone. I've seen it happen even later in my career to others when I was farther up the success ladder. Again, this taught me much about what not to do when I was in control. Thus, having a human-centric work culture where employees are heard and respected is an imperative to me.

HOW are we doing?
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Posted by: Bryn at 10:58:47 AM

Color theory
Not necessarily conference-related, though certainly in the design ballpark: a new exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art called "Color Chart: Reinventing Color from 1950 to Today." The Flash-based website for the exhibit is truly mesmerizing.

According to the exhibit intro, back in the '50s a number of artists threw out the window all the previous notions of color relationships and meaning. The show features works in various media that explore color as their main focus. You can sort works by timeline, artist or medium, view them full-screen and even watch videos.

A bright distraction for a very gray Friday.

Posted by: Bryn at 6:15:46 AM

More monsters!
That awesome Stefan Bucher, he's just all over the place sketching monsters and talking about his terrific new book, 100 Days of Monsters.

This week, he's on The Reflex Blue Show, hosted by Nate Voss and Donovan Beery. They've posted a short documentary about Stefan's monster creations, plus a podcast of their interview with him. Plus, Stefan created a new monster just for the occasion, with is being auctioned this week (all proceeds go to the American Red Cross).

Posted by: Bryn at 7:20:04 AM

Poster love
I’m a huge fan of posters, both the modern screen-printed genre and the vintage ones that took Paris (and then the U.S.) by storm in the early 1900s. In fact, we’ve decorated our very modest home with these big, graphic images—from HOW competition entries that caught my eye, to our favorite “Le Thermogene” by Leonetto Cappiello from 1950, to a great 1926 poster featuring a frog sipping a beer.

I’ve just discovered that the International Poster Gallery is just a block or two from the conference hotel in Boston. Damn.
Posted by:  at 6:50:05 AM

Making plans
Don't know about your town, but we saw a whopper of a snowstorm here in Cincinnati on Friday and Saturday—the biggest one in 30 years. No kidding.

Which is apropos of nothing, except that it makes May in Boston seem like a world away.

Which is also apropos of nothing, except that you should get on it and book your hotel reservations NOW.

Yeah, the daffodils are buried under a foot of snow, but conference registrations are coming in fast and furious these days, which means that rooms in the four conference hotels are getting snapped up. There's still plenty of space, but still, don't dally. The conference seems like forever from now, but it's really just around the corner.

Like spring.
Posted by: Bryn at 10:39:09 AM

Peeking in windows
For ever and ever, one of the most popular components of the magazine has been our Workspace column, which offers a sneak peek inside some incredibly cool and inspiring design studios.

That Workspace column sort of comes to life every year at the conference, thanks to the Studio Tours, where a bunch of local design firms generously open their doors for HOW attendees to browse, gather ideas and ask questions. Six Boston shops are putting out the welcome mat this year. If you're considering signing up for a Studio Tour (it's a pre-conference thing), check out the conversation about it going on over in the HOW Conference Forum. And sign up quickly, as the tours always sell out well in advance.
Posted by: Bryn at 6:53:03 AM

Planning ahead
Here at HOW HQ, conference planning is a year-round process, with ebbs and flows of activity. It's like a friendly game of volleyball between the editorial team and the conference-management group, with the ball passing back and forth over the months as we trade responsibilities for putting this event together.

Today, our little magazine staff has the ball, as we determine who's going to introduce which sessions in Boston. It's one of those little milestones leading up to the conference, and it gets us all psyched up about the program. Aside from the jitters of speaking in front of (gulp!) 4,000 people, give or take, we really enjoy the role as host(esses) of the conference.
Posted by: Bryn at 6:20:57 AM

Party time
So if you're not receiving the HOW Conference Email Update (and you should be!), you may have missed the big news on Friday: We've announced the theme for the closing party in Boston.

Drumroll please ...

It's a Black & White Ball.

On the Conference Forum a few people are already pondering their costumes.
Posted by: Bryn at 10:59:13 AM

Monsters! (not the green one)
This is totally cool: The pop culture curators at Very Short List have tagged Stefan Bucher's new book, "100 Days of Monsters" and his incredible website Daily Monster as their pick for today's newsletter.

VSL might love Stefan, but we loved him first. He's a two-fer on the program for Boston, and word is he'll be signing his book (published, not so coincidentally, by HOW Books) at the conference.
Posted by: Bryn at 8:26:44 AM

Group therapy
We got word that Nate Voss and Donovan Beery, who managed to snag some high-profile design luminaries for their semi-regular BeADesignCast, have chucked BAD and launched a new online gig, 36point.

Meantime, you can listen to the last-ever BADCast, with Voss, Beery and HOW Conference Networking Lunch leader Steve Gordon, who, quite frankly, is something of a crush object for the women of HOW.
Posted by: Bryn at 6:59:11 AM

The green monstah
From the How’d We Miss This? Department … we neglect to mention in the Quick Guide to Boston that the Red Sox are at Fenway (that’s home, people) May 16 through 22. Not sure what ticket availability is likely to be, but you can start here.
Posted by: Bryn. at 12:10:00 PM

More conference wisdom
Last week, I posted a few choice tidbits of advice from veteran HOW Conference-goers, so here's more good stuff.

Judging from the comments posted in the thread I started over on the conference forum,the thing people are most nervous about is connecting with other people. I can totally relate: like, I'm not exactly comfortable just walking up to a group of people I don't know and diving into the conversation. The good thing is, you have an instant point of common interest with every single person you'll encounter: everyone's a designer.

Saudade from Tallahassee had an excellent piece of advice on how to introduce yourself to other creatives in Boston:
— Sit at a different table with complete strangers at breakfast, start a conversation! ("Good morning! Is this seat taken? How is everybody doing today?") When you get up to leave or they leave, hand your card if you think they'll be a nice contact to have.

— She also offered up a list of items to have on you at all times: Notepad, pen or pencil, camera, cell phone, business cards (around 50 should be good per day, unless you are playing fishbowl bingo at the exhibits, then maybe more), conference schedule, cash for drinks, some tylenol or advil, your friendliest of smiles and dispositions.

Posted by: Bryn at 8:49:38 AM

A big pile of shiny bullsh*t
A not-so-germane follow-up to my post last week about Eric Karjaluoto of smashLAB and DesignCanChange fame. (Yup, he's also speaking in Boston.) I read Eric's ideasonideas blog fairly regularly, and so I hopped right over this morning after Eric emailed me a heads-up about a new post.

My editor's note in the brand-spankin-new International Design Annual got me thinking about design competitions in general—and, more broadly, about design style vs. substance. And Eric's post —and its provocative title—really struck a chord:

This season we have "glowy" vector/bitmap collages and rather cute hand-drawn patterns. The following season will inevitably bring something equally novel on first sight, which we will quickly tire of as we are inundated by it. In the pre-web world, things rolled-out more slowly, and as such didn’t hit with the same force; however, better distribution systems allow this eye-candy to be dispersed rapidly. As soon as a particular style is hot, legions of designers reverse-engineer the treatment, and imitate it until it's everywhere.

The challenge here is that as we are bombarded by these styles, designers, by their own accord and that of their clients and peers, gravitate towards reiterating whatever the style-du-jour happens to be. (Think of the swoosh logos of the late 1990s.) It's easy to do, the pay-off is immediate, and for a short while, one's portfolio seems deceptively strong. Most times though, this work is void of the research, strategy, and logic that are necessary to do something effective. As a result, it's in fact a big pile of shiny bullshit.

Read more of Eric's post.
Posted by: Bryn at 6:26:48 AM

What to do (or not) @ the HOW conference
Over on the conference forum, there seem to be a bunch of new members who are asking a bunch of questions about what to expect in Boston.

So I polled the group to see what advice they'd share with a newbie—or if they fall into that latter camp, what they're most interested in/excited by.

A few top tidbits:
— Join the forum; even if you're attending alone you'll have friends waiting to meet you at the conference.
[Bec from NC]

— Attend the sessions. I mean really attend, both physically and mentally. Go into each session open minded and ready to learn. Take notes, even on the stuff you don't think may apply to you. You never know where tomorrow takes you.
[Ali from Maine]

— Socializing with other attendees is a must. Bring a sketch book and doodle, an attendee will notice and there is your conversation starter.
[Karma from Atlanta]

— Use business cards with a purpose: Don't just pass them out without a plan. If you give them to a vendor, make sure you can use their product. If you give them to a fellow designer, have a project in mind. If you give them out just for contact information, make sure you remember the person that's calling.
[Smitcat from CA]

— If it's your first, the network luncheon is a good thing. You might not meet anybody but if you're there alone you'll at least have reasons to strike up conversations with people you'll see again later.
[Lance from The OC]

— SHIP YOUR STUFF HOME! I bought like 7 books last year, not to mention all the swag I also brought home.
[Darcylea]
Oh, and Bec suggested bringing your own FedEx shipping document to make it easy.

Stay tuned for some comments from first-timers about what they're looking forward to ...
Posted by: Bryn at 10:40:36 AM

Solving many problems at one time
I've been emailing several conference speakers lately, looking to dig up a little scoop on what they're planning to share with you in Boston. And one of the sessions that most intrigues me is Eric Karjaluoto's on "Designing Change."

Here at HOW HQ, we get a lot of news updates from paper companies touting the "greenness" of their products. But I asked Eric, How can designer go beyond paper choices to really make a difference for the globe? Here's what he had to say:

Designers have enormous opportunity to make positive change for sustainability—in large part because they specify and influence so many decisions. Certainly, they can select more responsible papers; however, it goes far beyond this.

In my mind, a designer's role should be highly pragmatic, focused on solving problems rather than the application of style or aesthetics. We all like to repeat this "solve problems" phrase; sustainability really puts this to the test.

We have to break away from "prescriptive" design methods that result in generating loads of ineffective and wasteful junk. Creating a big, glossy brochure for a client, just because they ask for it (and because we're used to making such products) is no longer good enough. Instead, we have to start with carefully assessing the challenge at hand, and use it to direct our efforts.

The question is really about which solution best meets the client's needs. By answering this question, we can provide better solutions. A positive spin-off is that we'll prove ourselves of much greater value to our clients than they may currently believe.

As designers, our default setting has been to "make stuff" and this is a horribly simplistic and outdated mindset. It's time for us to evolve into designers who work on a higher level, in which we facilitate solutions. Although this may sound a little like corporate double-talk, there is a pivotal difference between the two.

We have to "head-off" the amount of waste that is created way before it sees a consumer or has to be sorted into a recycle-bin. By starting with the question of "What do we really to need to accomplish?" we've taken the first step to doing just that.

I (heart) letterpress
I've been giddy this week as boxes and envelopes come into the office for a feature article I'm working on: In the August issue, which will focus on handmade design, I'm compiling an array of gorgeous paper products created by graphic designers. Mmmmm ... letterpress.

Speaking of which, my HOW colleague Megan Patrick has posted a couple of notices in the HOW blog this week about letterpress. First, a YouTube video that shows the grit and the glory of a working letterpress studio.

And second, a note about an upcoming webinar on letterpress printing that's sponsored by PaperSpecs and Neenah Paper and presented by HOW Conference speaker (and letterpress guru) Judith Berliner.

Posted by: Bryn at 9:10:00 AM

Yah, wicked
Wicked = good
Frappe = milkshake
Book = to leave (quickly)

Wikipedia lists more than 35 distinct dialects of American English, and Boston English is one of the most recognizable.

Get to know the local lingo with the Wicked Good Guide to Boston English. Not only is there a glossary, but a pronunciation guide, too. So you don’t sound like a bucka.
Posted by: Bryn at 9:13:58 AM

That project I was telling you about
So, that drop-everything project I was telling you about last week? Yeah, here it is: The brand-new HOWdesign.com. See what we've been up to:

Posted by: Bryn at 1:15:58 PM

Acting on creativity
How many times have you sat in a brainstorm session that ended with the group collectively scratching their heads and asking, "now what?"

Many, I'd guess.

Designers consider themselves innately creative beings—even when they get stuck and the ideas aren't flowing. Generating concepts really isn't our problem. It's bringing those concepts to life. That's when all kinds of obstacles get in the way: clients, schedules, distractions, more urgent things, ourselves.

I recently asked Scott Belsky of Behance to shed a little light on his firm's emphasis on "Productive Creativity:"

ME: Most brainstorm techniques tell us to spew out as many ideas as we can when we’re in full concept-generation mode. You folks at Behance seem to take a more disciplined, moderate view, suggesting that creativity is a finite resource. What’s behind your thinking?

SCOTT: The process of idea generation in intoxicating. Our team has interviewed and observed hundreds of creative teams at work and we've never seen a shortage of ideas. However, we almost always see some frustration and a struggle to ACT on ideas. For this reason, we focus exclusively on organizing and boosting productivity in the creative community. We're NOT interested in helping foster creativity. Instead, we help teams push ideas forward.

Some serious discipline is required to make ideas happen. There needs to be a process to CAPTURE the action steps behind the ideas that are generated. There needs to be a sense of ACCOUNTABILITY in every creative team. We also see the need for VISUAL ORGANIZATION of projects, deadlines, and the overall business objectives. As creatives, we are passionate people easily swayed by our emotional connection to our work. When it comes to making ideas happen, our emotion can be a liability.

We've discovered some surprising things. One early realization was the power of design in boosting productivity. The use of design in project management, how you organize your notes, how you prioritize, and how you keep track of ideas is very important.

I'll have more insight from Scott coming soon ...
Posted by: Bryn at 12:07:50 PM

A lesson well-learned
Back in, I think it was 1994, I was a young(ish) editor at HOW and the fourth annual conference was in Boston. The first night that we were in town, the day before the conference opened, I learned a very important lesson that's with me to this day: Red wine and Guinness simply do not mix. I'm just sayin'.
Posted by: Bryn at 1:05:22 PM

Building better creative habits
Here's a bit of insight from speaker Von Glitschka that's sure to get your week off to a creative start. I asked Von to share a preview of what he'll be covering in his session, Illustrative Design. Here goes:

How do you maintain a consistent level of creativity and quality in your work? One sure way is to develop and facilitate good creative habits and there is no better way to do that, than through a methodical creative process.

The following steps will demonstrate some fundamental methods you can adapt when you approach an assignment that requires an illustrative flair.

Thumbnails The world is moving into the digital age at light speed, but regardless of how our tools may change, the foundation is the same now as it was 20 years ago. Good old fashioned analog thumbnail sketches. Lots of them. In this project my theme was pretty common, a rabbit wearing a pickle hauber and smoking a stogie. :-) But something just didn't look quite right.

Reference Everyone knows what a rabbit looks like and you could probably sketch one out roughly like I did in the previous image. Our art will greatly improve if we reference real pictures of a rabbit and take visual cues from them. If the likes of Pixar do this when they develop their artwork then we lowly creatives should take note and learn from their proven methodology.

Gleaned Cues Studying the reference I noticed my proportions were all wrong. The top half of the head should be smaller and the bottom larger. Exaggeration in this respect is good. In reality you cannot see a rabbit's front teeth. But as you can see capitalizing on this visual stereotype combined with other cues we gleaned from the reference establish a solid foundation to now flesh out the design.

Refinement It's important at this stage to draw your art exactly how you want it to look when it's built digitally. Work out all the detail now prior to moving to the computer so you leave little guesswork at the next stage. At times digital tools allow us the flexibility to accelerate our creative process and in this case I knew my art was symmetric so I only needed to draw half of it. Since the ears are not mirrored nor the cigar I'll fuse those in when I build my art digitally.

No Guess Building Since you worked out your art in the refinement stage it's just a matter of building the art in your drawing program. Your scanned in sketch is a precision road map and you won't have to guess as you go because you know what needs to be done. Removing guesswork from your creative process will improve your art and train your eye to notice trouble areas before they become a problem.

Final Art I've flipped my symmetrical art to create the entire final image and worked in my cigar along with other details like highlights, shading and secondary graphic elements to arrive at my final illustrative design.

This process is obviously truncated but you can download and view for free more in depth documented tutorials showcasing a wide variety of illustrative design projects at IllustrationClass.com
Posted by: Bryn at 6:19:54 AM

When your time isn't your own
Sheesh! We're on one of those drop-everything-and-work-on-this-and-this-alone projects this week (one that doesn't involve either the conference OR the magazine, for that matter). I suppose it's kind of like client work, when you're at someone else's beck and call, the insane deadlines are not yours to set and you've just got to crank out the work. Yeah, probably exactly like that. So I know you you feel. In the meantime, there's chatter going on in the conference forum about swapping CDs and finding roommates for Boston. Which sounds like a hell of a lot more fun to me.
Posted by: Bryn at 12:43:53 PM

Convince your boss
Had an email request from a participant on the conference forum who's looking for a PDF of the conference brochure, so she can give it to her boss and convince him to send her to Boston. The file is fairly hefty, so I'll try posting it for download here.
Posted by: Bryn at 11:17:54 AM

Love it, love it!
Yesterday, I scored a hot-off-the-presses copy of the oh-so-cool poster that Clifford Stoltze and his team at Boston's Stoltze Design created for this year's conference. You may remember that last year, Atlanta-area poster gurus Methane Studios created a sweet poster design, an offset-printed version of which appeared in the magazine and a limited-edition screen-printed version of which the Methane guys sold at the conference. I've got one of the hand-printed ones framed above my desk. Stoltze's poster is chock-full of Boston references (seriously, try to list all the little visual elements in there). Word is, they're going to screen-print some to sell on site. Yep, I'm definitely gonna grab one.
Posted by: Bryn at 6:19:25 AM

Are we there yet?
On a day when it’s snowing here at HOW HQ and also, more heavily, in Boston, it’s hard to imagine that just over five months from now we’ll all be packing our bags for the HOW Conference. But there you have it. And there’s plenty to be done in the meantime … like keeping you posted via this blog about all the goings-on that are planned (and have yet to be planned) for the event. In the next several months, I’ll be letting you know about conference-related news (like when the studio tours are sold out), extra goodies (like when you can get your favorite design book signed by its author at the conference bookstore) and Boston tidbits (like where you can find the best chowder). Be sure to sign up for the conference newsletter and the RSS feed for this blog so you stay in the know, all the way up to May 18.
Posted by: Bryn at 7:19:59 AM

More blog goodness coming soon
Stay tuned to this space for upcoming blog posts with news about the conference, scoop on cool stuff to do in Boston, bonus info from speakers and more goodies. The whole HOW team is looking forward to seeing you all in Beantown!
Posted by: Bryn at 9:23:38 AM

Design addicts
When I stuck my head into the room where Dave Gouveia and Chris Elkerton of 3 Dogz Creative were holding forth in their conference session last week, it was too late: The room was SRO and I couldn't see over the crowd. So I missed one of the most talked-about sessions in Atlanta.

Fortunately, the Dogz have posted a bunch of stuff from their session—handouts, video, outtakes and more—on their Designers Anonymous site. Cool!
Posted by: Bryn at 2:17:08 PM

The mistakes we've made
Armin Vit posted a visual exploration on SpeakUp that showcases 100 rejected/not-quite-full-baked/downright-dreadful logos he's designed over the course of his career. It's a recap of sorts from his presentation in Atlanta—a presentation that we heard RAVE reviews about, by the way.
Posted by: Bryn at 12:43:37 PM

That was FUN
Hell's bells! I couldn't post in this blog all during the conference, 'cause the admin is only accessible from inside HOW HQ.

So, Megan posted prolifically over on the HOWBlog; you can see tons of photos and notes about speakers' words of wisdom.

Speaking of photos, conference advisory board member Bruce Schneider started a Flickr group called HOW Design Conference 2007; folks are posting pix there. (You're also welcome to post images in the Conference Forum photo gallery, although I'm told it's a bit slow.)

I searched Technorati this morning to see what the design community is blogging about the conference. Too cool!

A HUGE thanks to all the speakers, sponsors and staff who made this year's conference rock. Seriously, I don't think I've ever had so much fun at a HOW event.

In the coming days, stay tuned for more info about cool multimedia stuff coming to HOWconference.com, including on-demand video, MP3s of select sessions and other downloadable goodies.
Posted by: Bryn at 9:47:05 AM

'Cause we are!
Thanks to a lunchtime trek to the mall directly across the street from HOW HQ, we're now all stocked up on cosmetics, shoes and various unmentionable clothing items.

So, yeah, we're ready to go. Like, now.
Posted by: Bryn at 12:21:13 PM

Are you ready?
We're all set to depart for Atlanta, and we're excited to see you all there! Before you leave, here are a few last-minute details you should know about:

-- Watch for the Daily Juice digital newsletter, which will be delivered via e-mail daily during the conference. It'll have info about special events, book signings, sessions in the HOW Learning Center, "live from the show floor" videos and more.
-- Speaking of e-mail, you can check yours in the Mac Studio, sponsored by Apple (in the Regency Ballroom), or using the Hyatt's wireless network, which is available in the hotel lobby.
-- Be sure to hit the networking kickoff on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at the Georgia World Conference Center (site of the opening keynote) to meet some new friends and have a drink. Buses will be available from the Hyatt to the Center; they'll run from 5:15 to 9:00.
-- Methane Studios, which designed the conference poster, will have a limited-edition screen-printed version available for sale beginning Sunday night.
-- Meet the HOW staff (and make a little craft project ) Sunday night in the Resource Center.
-- Be sure to bring a fun costume for the Descenders' Ball.
-- Online registration will be closing at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, June 7. After that, you can register onsite at the Hyatt.
-- After the conference, be sure to visit HOWconference.com – you'll find a gallery of attendees' conference photos in the Forum, you'll be able to purchase videos and/or MP3s of specific sessions, and you'll find session handouts available for download.
Posted by: Bryn at 8:03:38 AM

Hunting and farming
Sheree Clark has more than 20 years of business-development experience under her belt with Sayles Graphic Design. And she's sharing that expertise in her session, "Can You Hunt While You Farm?" Not long ago, I asked her about the challenges of growing your client base and producing great design work … all at the same time.

Most designers seem to leave the business-development tasks for the times when client work is sluggish. Which, of course, makes for this insane busy/slow/busy/slow cycle. Why do they do that?
Human nature, I suppose. Like waiting until the needle inches toward E to stop and get gas. But the very title of my session "Can You Hunt While You Farm?" speaks to what is the probably the biggest reason new business development is not a daily concern for many designers. The fact is that when things are chugging along, we're so busy nurturing our existing clients and working on the projects we have in-house (farming), that prospecting for new business (hunting) isn't even on the radar.

So ... can you hunt while you farm?
Yes, of course. Part of the reason is that hunting isn't just about cold calls and "dialing for dollars." It's everything you do that impacts the perceptions that your potential clients have of you. Hunting includes winning awards, getting media attention, networking or hosting an event. Hunting means being deliberate: It's asking an existing client for a referral or an introduction, sending a sincere note to someone you met socially, calling to be added to an RFP list. These actions are like seeds, and with a little nurturing of the seedlings; you'll soon be "farming" -- and "growing" your business!

If you had one piece of advice for the creative who hates prospecting for new clients, what would that be?
Reframe your thinking. Not many of us love the idea of prospecting. But if you view it as building your image, it may take on a different feel. If you're just starting out, and no one has heard of you, for example, you have a sort of an advantage. You can build your business niche in exactly the way you want it to be built. Of course, you may already be getting the kind of work you want to do. But beware: No client relationship lasts forever; if you're not expanding your base of business contacts, you're losing ground every day to your competition.

What if I'm not a principal of a design firm; is business development all that important to me? If so, what can I do to help bring new clients into my agency?
Employees have a vested interest in new client acquisition, and not just in terms helping the firm maintain financial stability. The most compelling reason I can think of for staff to help with new-business development is so that they can influence the type of work that is coming in the door. In my session I'll spend I'll spend a bit of time on this, and give firm principals some suggestions about how to work staff into the business-development process. I'll also talk about working with independent reps and how to maximize their effectiveness.
Posted by: Bryn at 1:03:58 PM

What a difference
What a difference a year makes. One year ago, just days before the conference, I wrote a blog post about being afraid to go to Vegas because I was afraid that our beloved dog, Wrigley, would not be there when I got home. He had been incredibly sick with an undefined illness that necessitated major surgery, countless meds and an unbelievable amount of worry on our part.

Scrolling back through my 2007 posts makes me realize how lucky we are: Today, he's a healthy, happy (hairy!) dog. I'll have pictures of him with me in Atlanta so you can see what I mean. :-)
Posted by: Bryn at 7:46:29 AM

We're a crafty bunch
We HOW staffers are a crafty bunch, and we love unique, handmade things. In fact, we have a little group craft project planned for y'all on opening night in the Resource Center, so come on by and have fun with markers and scissors.

We’re also super-excited to check out the collaborative Beehive Co-Op in Midtown Atlanta. Think of a more carefully edited version of Etsy.com, with a brick-and-mortar store. You can get a jump-start on your shopping via their online shop.
Posted by: Bryn at 8:15:01 AM

Learned the hard way
Armin Vit, a designer at Pentagram’s New York office and co-founder and writer for SpeakUp, seems to lead a charmed career. (I mean, c’mon. Pentagram.) Like all of us, though, he’s learned some lessons along the way, which he’ll be sharing in his session in Atlanta (click here for an MP3 sound bite). We recently had an e-mail conversation about those experiences:

Do you ever look back at an episode in your career and think, “Wow. I was a real bonehead.” Like, when I was a newbie editor on HOW, I sent a bitchy letter to an advertiser taking issue with one of their press releases. On HOW letterhead. Probably not the smartest career move. I’d send the letter again (I still think I was right), just not on HOW stationery. What experience looks really silly from this distance? What did you learn from it?
One that does stick out, but I’m not sure I would chalk up to boneheadedness, would be being on a press check for a small magazine, back in Chicago, and this place was far deep in the south side and it was summer, I had been picked up by the rep, a person I did not quite like being with and had to sit with in the car for a long time. This printer was also forced on us to meet the budget so I really wasn’t happy with how the job was ending. As soon as I got to the plant, I already wanted to leave. I usually go on the floor to approve sheets, but this time they had me wait for it in a small, poorly-lit room. It came in quickly, 5 minutes at the most, but I grew more impatient by the minute. I remember looking at it, and knowing that it was poor printing with uneven blocks of color and a haunting shade of green that covered everything... I did not make a single request, I gave up; I didn’t want to deal with it and I let the job run green. The magazine turned out poorly; specially in comparison to the two previous issues that had a good budget and was printed by one of my favorite printers at the time. When the client called asking about why this didn’t look as good, I did blame it on the printer not being as good. While partially (and subjectively) true, it was lame, to put it in a simple way. The feeling of knowing that I did nothing to make lemonade out of lemons sucked. Ever since, I have never left a printing plant with a sheet that I didn’t love. And no matter how uncomfortable or unfavorable the situation is in my mind, the end result is what matters and that should never be jeopardized.

Sounds like the biggest lesson here is that you recognized the value of satisfying your own standards in a given project. Does that thinking help you when a client isn’t pleased with a creative direction or doesn’t give you positive feedback on a job?
Satisfying my own standards was indeed a lesson... But also facing that we have to justify every single decision, and be accountable for them, throughout the design process to the nice people paying the bills was a nice reminder.

In an issue of the Creative Business newsletter, Cameron Foote writes, “[a designer] can only expect to achieve about 90% of perfection and still be commercially successful. Beyond this point, trying to achieve it becomes increasingly costly and elusive. Dedicate your business to excellence, not to perfection—that is, unless you have clients willing to pay for it.” How does that notion sit with you?
There will always be something that doesn’t go according to plan and compromises need to be made left and right—and I actually doubt hundreds of thousands of dollars can buy you perfection. I compare it to basketball: Only a few designers can do the equivalent of a 360-degree, two-handed slam dunk, most of us can only hit jumpers... Both are worth 2 points. As long as your shot is consistent, you will always be in the game.
Posted by: Bryn at 10:24:15 AM

Karen rocks
Opening keynote speaker Karen Salmansohn is one of those admirable people whose career and business are entirely self-made. She quit the ad biz before she blew out 30 candles on her birthday cake. And now she's got 29 books (including two new ones from HOW Books), a radio show, a blog, daily newsletter—the whole shebang—her own little empire built on the strength of her whirlwind personality.

Karen's got a daily radio show called "Be Happy, Dammit" on Sirius satellite channel 114, and next Wednesday, June 6, she'll be interviewing a whole bunch of HOW Conference speakers. Recently, she also interviewed conference speaker Daniel Schutzsmith (you can listen to a podcast of that show here).
Posted by: Bryn at 10:00:31 AM

Full speed ahead
This is it: Less than two weeks before we all leave for Atlanta. It's a hectic time of last-minute work. The conference team has the mindless chore of stuffing name badges into those plastic holders (times, like, 3,500+). We on the magazine staff are busy coming up with clever things to say when we introduce all the conference sessions. We're also preparing for all our other hosting duties: emcee-ing the Networking Lunch, leading our fun craft project in the Resource Center on opening night (be sure to stop our make-your-own-button table and participate with all the other cool kids), planning our costumes for the Typographer's Ball. Somehow, we'll also manage to produce a magazine. Oh yeah ... that.
Posted by: Bryn at 8:58:33 AM

Super cool stuff in Atlanta
This morning, the lovely AIGA/Atlanta chapter prez, Sherra Bell, popped by HOW HQ here in Cincinnati (business had brought her to town). She was filling us in on all the cool stuff the chapter is doing as part of Atlanta Design Week, which kicks off on Friday, June 8 with "The Design of Hip-Hop," which promises to shine a spotlight on Atlanta's emergence as a creative force in the hip-hop world.

But what really got us intrigued was Sherra's description of the picnic on Saturday, June 9: It's going to be held in historic Oakland Cemetery. Sherra told us that, back in the day, cemeteries also functioned as public parks, and families would gather to picnic in the company of their departed loved ones. (Sounds intriguing, in that Southern gothic sort of way.) AIGA/Atlanta volunteers have been helping to restore the cemetery (which has a rich typographical history), and the fee for the event includes lunch, a guided tour of Oakland Cemetery and bus transportation from the HOW Conference headquarters, the Hyatt.

We HOW staffers are bummed to miss it (thanks to travel and set-up obligations on Saturday). It sounds cool; you should totally go. Sign up here.
Posted by: Bryn at 9:36:02 AM

It’s all low-cal, right?
We’ve scouted some of Atlanta’s best restaurants (with recommendations from locals on the conference Advisory Council), and already I’m salivating:

At Agnes & Muriels, a Fried Green Tomato Burger (a grilled burger topped with fried green tomatoes, red bell pepper sauce and goat cheese)

Munchy macaroni & cheese fritters

Shrimp & grits at Mary Mac's

The Food Studio: Georgia Mountain Trout with butternut squash, fregula, swiss chard, toasted almond compound butter and caramelized onion sauce

South City Kitchen's version of the veggie plate: grilled sweet onions, mustard greens, mashed potatoes, pinto beans, fried okra, roasted parsnips and truffled mac-n-cheese served with a side of chile vinegar

Dear Lord! Makes the Lean Cuisine I brought for lunch today seem positively horrid. Read more about your Atlanta dining options here.
Posted by: Bryn at 3:04:40 PM

TMI
OK, so this is probably too much information, but ... Several weeks before the HOW Conference, I usually start having dreams about it. Weird ones. And I'm not the only one: Several of my magazine colleagues have 'fessed up to them, too.

I've recently discovered that they tend to be somehow connected to traveling to or from the conference. Like, we're all in the airport and have to find our way to the conference hotel, through some weird kind of space that's confusing.

Last night, I dreamed that Rob and I were the sole bartenders for the big party, and that we had to make mixed cocktails for everyone. Then my brother showed up to help out. And a guy who used to work for HOW.

Yup, too much info.
Posted by: Bryn at 9:27:55 AM

Design at play
I’ve previously posted about Atlanta’s Museum of Design, which is super-conveniently located right across the street from the conference headquarters hotel. Currently, they’re hosting an exhibit of sketches, video and animation work from Cartoon Network (which, as it happens, is part of the conference Interactive Studio Tour). Coming in June, the exhibition “The Design Prescription,” which explores how design can help solve our most pressing public-health issues.
Posted by: Bryn at 9:03:09 AM

The S-word
'Synergy' is one of those words I hate: an overused business buzzword that's so ubiquitous as to be meaningless.

Trouble is, the word pretty much describes what we try to do with HOW as a brand. Conference speakers write for the magazine or are sources for articles. Feature stories become conference sessions. Conference speakers go on to author HOW Books, and vice versa.

For us, it keeps work more interesting—we get a creative kick out of making connections between people and ideas across all of HOW's activities. For you, it means that if you like hearing what Jim Krause has to say in Atlanta, you can take some of that experience home with you in the form of Jim's book, Photo Idea Index.

In fact, several of this year's speakers have authored books for HOW (watch the on-site schedule for book signings by many of these talented people):

Sam Harrison: Idea Spotting
Joshua Chen: Fingerprint
Karen Salmansohn: Gut and Ballsy
Jim Krause: Idea Index, Color Index, Layout Index, Design Basics Index, Photo Idea Index (the inspiration for Jim's conference workshop) and the soon-to-be-released Type Index
Armin Vit: The Word It Book

Many other speakers have authored books, and many of those titles will be available in the conference bookstore. I've highlighted our HOW authors here, and you can head over to the HOW bookstore for a link to these and other HOW titles. 'Cause, you know, synergy.
Posted by: Bryn at 10:05:02 AM

Closer than you think
Crikey! I just realized that the Conference is less than a month away. There's SO much to be done before then, and we're all countin' the days.
Posted by: Bryn at 11:51:08 AM

Being creatively curious
"The reason why artists are artists I've noticed is due mainly to the way we choose to view things. Being creatively curious is key." So says designer/illustrator Von Glitchka, who's prolific not only with his creativity but with his willingness to share his inspiration with other designers.

Von recently published Crumble. Crackle. Burn. with HOW Books. It shows you ways you can use texture in your design work, and includes a CD of free textures you can use to spice up digital images.

He's created a website for the book. And in the HOW magazine forum, he's planning to lead a visual tour of Atlanta where designers can tote their cameras around and record their own interesting patterns and textures.
Posted by: Bryn at 8:57:35 AM

Recommended reading
A not-especially-conference-related post today (unless you're looking for a book to read during your flight to Atlanta). After seeing great reviews in a bunch of places (including Very Short List, which I recommend), I picked up a copy of Then We Came To The End, Joshua Ferris's debut novel that's been described as "The Office" set in an ad agency. That doesn't really give the story as much credit as it deserves—it's written in an incredibly engaging voice (first-person plural, for all you English majors out there, or "we") that's quite original. It shifts from laugh-out-loud funny to poignant and back again. I tore through it on vacation 3 weeks ago and can't stop thinking about the more noteworthy characters (like fired copywriter Tom Mota, whose episode with his office chair is hi-freakin-larious). Chances are, you've spent 40+ hours a week with a bunch of these people: the clueless young guy, the office gossip, the prankster, the dude you're just sure is going to go postal on the whole office. In this book, they're well worth spending even more time with.
Posted by: Bryn at 12:35:25 PM

On the air
If you're a listener of Inside Mac Radio (and since you use a Mac, you probably should be), keep an ear out for a preview of the HOW Conference in Saturday's broadcast. I had a chat with show host Scott Sheppard earlier this week, which will be a part of Saturday's show. You can listen online or subscribe to the program via iTunes.
Posted by: Bryn at 7:45:51 AM

Make some friends
I'm sitting here at my desk, inadvertently overhearing my HOW colleagues Megan Patrick and Carmen Pease plotting their presentation for the Networking Lunch on Sunday in Atlanta.

Megan and Carmen are planning some activities designed to get you up out of your seats and connect you with others in the room. Think of it as a little matchmaking help that will hook you up with new conference buddies that you can hang out with. If you're a HOW Conference first-timer or you're traveling solo, be sure to take advantage of the Networking Lunch. From where I sit, sounds like it'll be fun!
Posted by: Bryn at 1:36:39 PM

Peep the guest list
Wonder if that cool designer you met at last year's HOW Conference is going to be in Atlanta? Curious if the gang that does such cool work at Publix Supermarkets will be there? Looking to hook up with other creatives in your industry?

Scope out the attendee list, which we've just now posted on the conference website. We added everyone who registered as of the Early Bird deadline a couple of weeks ago, and we'll continue to update the list weekly as the conference nears (if you've registered recently and don't see your name on the list, don't freak out).

You'll see large contingents from companies like Cushman & Wakefield, Target, the Federal Reserve (and, yes, Publix), and also lots of designers who'll be attending solo (and who might be looking to meet other participants just like you).
Posted by: Bryn at 10:20:46 AM

More studio tours
Lots of conference news this week, so stay tuned ... First off, we've managed to open up a few extra slots in the already sold-out Studio Tours (both the print and interactive versions). A big thanks to the participating design agencies for opening their doors to a larger group. The tours are always a popular option, so we're psyched that more people can join the fun.

If you've already registered for the Conference and want to add a Studio Tour, you'll need to let us know via email to howconference at fwpubs dot com.
Posted by: Bryn at 8:17:35 AM