Run and Design For Boston
Posted: May 8, 2013 Filed under: Design, Philadelphia, Running | Tags: design, running, Boston Marathon, Boston Marathon Bombing, Run for Boston, Broad Street Run, red socks Leave a comment »I’ve always been proud to be a runner. And a designer. Especially recently.
Runners and designers have really stepped up in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15, 2013. For example, running clubs all across the country gathered for a jog on April 17th to show their support, calling it the Run For Boston. And this past weekend, Philadelphia held its 34th annual Broad Street 10-mile Run where participants showed their love for Boston by running in red socks. Both events were a beautiful thing to be a part of and a nice reminder that if you look around, there really is a lot of love and support in this world.
As for designers, many have created awesome logos and apparel so that we can all (quite literally) show Boston our support. I wore my “B Strong” t-shirt (below) for the first time yesterday and got dozens of nice comments. These heartwarming and reassuring designs are a nice way to remind us all to keep Boston’s victims in our thoughts.
To donate to the recovery of fellow runner/designer, Christian, who was injured in the Boston explosions, and to learn about his progress, visit his funding page. Let’s support one of our very own.
“Always Askew” Featured on People.com
Posted: April 25, 2013 Filed under: Design, Home, Minted, Quote, Typography | Tags: art print, imperfection, Leo Tolstoy, Maggie Hong, minted, PEOPLE, People.com, perfection, perfectionist, World's Most Beautiful Issue 6 Comments »PEOPLE’s “World’s Most Beautiful” issue, honoring women for their inner beauty and accomplishments, comes out tomorrow! And as I mentioned in an earlier post, Minted asked designers to create art prints in celebration of this issue.
As inspiration, Minted provided designers with ten quotations about beauty. The perfectionist in me chose the quote, “If you look for perfection, you will never be satisfied.” by Leo Tolstoy. With it, I created a simple print that will never hang perfectly straight on your wall.
I’m excited to say that the Art Director at PEOPLE.com, Maggie Hong, chose it as one of her favorites. And it is now featured on PEOPLE.com. Check it out!
Maggie is quoted saying, “It’s so smart to have the design tilted to echo the message of the quote. I love designs that make you think.” And that is always my goal. To create designs with a concept behind them. To me, designs that make you think are much more intriguing than designs that are pretty, and only pretty.
And now, you can also find Always Askew for sale at minted. If you feel inclined to buy it, don’t forget to use the promo code SHOPYR7HP4 to receive 10% off. In my opinion, the print is a great daily reminder to let go and embrace imperfection. I might just have to get one myself!
Embrace Different
Posted: April 5, 2013 Filed under: Design, Marketing, Signage | Tags: Laurel Hardware, Los Angeles, Santa Monica Boulevard, vintage, West Hollywood Leave a comment »While in Los Angeles for work last week, I checked out Laurel Hardware, a very cool restaurant on Santa Monica Boulevard.
As you may have guessed, it was once a hardware store. For 62 years, in fact. And I think it’s pretty awesome that the new owners kept the hardware store name. And even more awesome that they kept the original, vintage signage. Check it out:
I appreciate how the restaurant embraced the history of their space. They built upon what they were in the past to become who they are now. And this makes them really stand out as a unique restaurant (not to mention a designer’s dream).
Moral of the story? We should embrace who we are and where we’ve been. Especially if it’s different. How else will we stand out in this world?
Minted and PEOPLE’s Most Beautiful Quotes Challenge
Posted: March 22, 2013 Filed under: Design, Quote, Typography | Tags: Always Askew, art print, challenge, Leo Tolstoy, minted, PEOPLE, perfection, perfectionist, poster, quote 2 Comments »In their latest challenge, Minted partnered with PEOPLE and asked designers to create prints featuring quotations about beauty. When I read the list of quotes, one in particular really stood out to me. It read, “If you look for perfection, you will never be satisfied.”
As a self-proclaimed perfectionist, I just had to create a print using this quote from Leo Tolstoy. So I designed something that will never hang perfectly straight on a wall, and totally embraced imperfection. If you’d like to see the design sold on Minted, click here to vote!
Shop by Inspiration
Posted: March 15, 2013 Filed under: Design, Wedding Invitations, Weddings | Tags: inspiration board, Journey Together, minted, wedding, wedding invitation, wedding invitation design Leave a comment »Peak wedding season is here! Exciting, right? And potentially overwhelming for some of you brides out there.
Well, to help you out, Minted has done something pretty awesome. They’ve created a new way to shop for invitations. By inspiration.
So, if you have a wedding coming up and you have no idea where to start, I suggest snuggling up on your couch this weekend and taking a look through all the gorgeous inspiration boards on Minted. Not only will you likely find an invitation you love, but you’re certain to find plenty of overall style ideas.
For example, I created the inspiration board below for a wedding invitation I designed called Journey Together. It conveys the playful, vintage-inspired wedding these invitations were meant for, as well as the fun, unique, tandem-bike-riding couple I had in mind while designing them. Enjoy!
Art School Memory Lane
Posted: March 7, 2013 Filed under: Advertising, Creativity, Design | Tags: art, art school, design, University of Delaware, Visual Communications 3 Comments »When I think back on my childhood toys, all I picture are art supplies. Coloring books, crayons, easels, water colors and even oil pastels. So it’s rather ironic that I didn’t take any formal art classes in high school. This was because my mom thought it would be more practical for me to focus on things like math, English, Latin, and more SAT prep courses than I can count. I’ll probably never let her live it down. (Right, mom?)
Even still, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the arts. So when I went to college, I majored in design. In four quick years, the Visual Communications program at the University of Delaware taught me everything I needed to know to make a career out of my passion. So naturally, a few weeks ago, when my professor asked me to guest lecture for his senior ad class, I agreed without hesitation. It was the least I could do for all that they taught me.
Going back to the classroom was seriously nostalgic. And seeing the second-semeseter seniors preparing to graduate was exciting. I remember being in their shoes all too well.
After I gave the students the low-down on my role in advertising and answered any questions they had, my writing partner and I assigned a project that we’ll critique in a few weeks. It calls for some serious creativity and I can’t wait to see what they come up with! I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes. But in the meantime, let’s take a walk down Art School Memory Lane with a few photos from my day on campus.
Designing Really Risa
Posted: February 19, 2013 Filed under: Blogging, Design | Tags: lifestyle blogger, really risa 4 Comments »As a designer, it’s hard to know when to take on projects for friends. Before you know it, your spare time is spent designing for them instead of hanging out with them.
But there are certain jobs that you just can’t pass up. Like this one. Designing the lifestyle blog of my good friend, Risa. This blog is Risa’s online presence. Her online identity. So it was pretty important that someone who knew her fairly well did the job.
Risa was looking for something simple, clean and sophisticated. Something that could grow with her. So here’s what we came up with:
Turns out, missing a night or two out with the girls is worth it if it means a happy friend. And sweet emails like this:
Hi. I just thought I’d start your day with a little happy email because you should know I’m so excited and absolutely love my new blog design. thank you so much. xo
Not to mention, I probably dodged a couple of killer hangovers.
So stop by Really Risa today to check out her new look, or to learn how to make homemade sushi. Yum!
Design is a Language
Posted: February 5, 2013 Filed under: Design, Travel | Tags: communication, design, Design is a language, Languages, Peru, Spanish 1 Comment »As I mentioned last week, I recently returned from an amazing trip to Peru.
My favorite part of the trip was dusting off my Spanish. It has always been a love of mine, so practicing it in real-life situations was such a treat. And in only nine days, my Spanish improved significantly.
And that got me thinking. Design is very much a language too, isn’t it? It is a way of communicating information, and just like any spoken language, the best way to improve upon it is to practice it.
We could study design in a classroom for years. We could know every designer, color and typeface out there. But it’s the physical act of designing that is going to make us good. So take on real-life projects. Solve real-life problems. Practice design like a language. Speak it often.
Do you think design is a language?
Finding “The One” (blog name, that is.)
Posted: December 31, 2012 Filed under: Blogging, Design | Tags: blog name, finding "the one", naming a business, rebrand, Sex and the city 2 Comments »Let’s face it, Susan Schneider Design isn’t the catchiest name for a design business. Or blog. Therefore, I had hoped to rename and rebrand myself by the end of 2012. But as it turns out, choosing the right name is hard!
In fact, I’ve found it’s a lot like finding the perfect guy. At the risk of sounding like a Sex and the City column, let me explain.
I’ve been searching for the perfect name for about three months now. And every time I think I’ve found “the one,” the same thing happens.
First, I get really excited. I start picturing all of the things we will do together… how my new name sounds when I say it out loud… what our logo together might look like (will it have my eyes?!)
Next, I check the domain availability. Often, the domain is already taken. Nooo! Surely it could have been “the one” if it weren’t already taken!
On the contrary, if the domain is available, I can’t help but wonder, “hmmm, what’s wrong with it? Why is he, I mean it, still available?”
And after sleeping on it, if I don’t feel like Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the clip below, I decide to keep looking.
But I know the right name is out there. So be on the lookout for exciting changes to Susan Schneider Design in 2013! And happy new year to you all!
Tell me, how did you decide on your blog or business name?
Minted XOXO Valentine’s Day Challenge: Two P’s
Posted: December 18, 2012 Filed under: Design, Minted, Stationery | Tags: card, challenge, entry, happy, minted, Two Peas in a pod, Valentine's Day Leave a comment »
This Valentine’s Day card is for couples who are like two P’s in…. happy. And I designed it for Minted’s XOXO Valentine’s Day Challenge. Voting is open, so click here and rate the design if you’d like to see Two P’s sold on Minted!
Tell me, have you visited Minted before? It’s a great place to shop for holiday cards, wedding invitations, party decor, art prints and more, all created by indie designers all over the world.
