Here at helveticka world headquarters, there are two types of people. First, there are the younguns, to whom any new technology/paradigm/idea is inherently good and noble, holding the promise of untold benefits and opportunities and yielding a near endless supply of rainbows and unicorns. Then there are the rest of us, to whom life has been cruel and merciless.

Though I’m in the latter group (and thus an object of scorn, derision, and mockery to Courtney and Morgan), I have to say that this story gives me—dare I say—hope for the future. It’s good to live in the 21st Century.

posted by: Aaron Bragg  |  category: random thoughts  |  make a comment

From Clear and Simple as the Truth, by Francis-Noël Thomas and Mark Turner:

The teaching of writing in America is almost entirely controlled by the view that teaching writing is teaching verbal skills—from the placing of commas to the ordering of paragraphs. This has generated a tremendous industry, but the effect of this teaching is dubious. Why is American prose as bad as it is, even though we have more writing programs than ever?

Our answer is that writing is an intellectual activity, not a bundle of skills. Writing proceeds from thinking. To achieve good prose styles, writers must work through intellectual issues, not merely acquire mechanical techniques.…

It’s a great reminder. Good grammar is about learning and mastering rules; good writing, on the other hand, is a whole nother thing altogether.

posted by: Aaron Bragg  |  category: the writing life  |  make a comment

There’s something exciting about working inside a big, industrial manufacturing facility like Metals Fab. Huge I-beams moving about, lots of welding masks with sparks flying nearby, the sounds of steel being punched and bent, cranes moving overhead, and radios blaring everywhere—each tuned to a different station—while the smell of spent welding rods hangs in the air. You’ve gotta love the rich patina, textures, and sheer scale of this place. A visual delight everywhere you turn.

Teaming up with the production house ILF Media, we recently completed shooting for Metals Fab’s upcoming 50th anniversary video. Founded in 1966, the company has grown from one man working in his garage to 145 talented employees operating inside 122,000 square feet of production space on 23 acres. That’s some serious growth, man.

posted by: CK Anderson  |  category: on location the design life  |  make a comment

What do you do for a living? It’s a pretty simple question—unless you work in the creative field. Trust me, even our closest friends and family members furrow their brows when we try to explain it. For his final contribution to our week-long celebration (we hit 1,000 blog posts on Monday, in case you’re late to the party), cartoonist David Rowles takes that idea a step further. Too far? Nah.

posted by: Aaron Bragg  |  category: the design life  |  make a comment

Cartoonist David Rowles has provided us with five original works to help celebrate our 1,000th blog post this week. Today’s cartoon touches on the sometimes-delicate relationship between designer and client.

posted by: Aaron Bragg  |  category: the design life  |  comments(1)

I’d like to thank my parents, who believed in me before I had the courage to believe in myself. And, of course, to our readers, whose support has never waned—even when Shirlee “contributed.” Finally, I’d like to thank our guest blogger, professional cartoonist David Rowles, who has kindly agreed to mark this momentous occasion by making fun of our profession for the rest of the week.

posted by: Aaron Bragg  |  category: the design life  |  make a comment

Each week we begin our grind with a staff meeting. I know, you’re probably thinking, “Boooooringggg.” But in all reality, it’s a great time. Starting the week off strong with some bonding time and laughter seems to get everyone in the right mindset to transition from weekend to weekday without an abrupt jolt (aside from that damn alarm clock). On Monday of this week, Morgan and I doodled all over our project lists and effectively killed two birds with one stone: Monday Meeting and #inktober. Attached are this week’s meeting drawings as well as one of our favorites from the past few weeks – enjoy!

posted by: Courtney Sowards  |  category: random thoughts  |  make a comment

THE BEAUTIFUL CHANGES
Richard Wilbur

One wading a Fall meadow finds on all sides
The Queen Anne’s Lace lying like lilies
On water; it glides
So from the walker, it turns
Dry grass to a lake, as the slightest shade of you
Valleys my mind in fabulous blue Lucernes.

The beautiful changes as a forest is changed
By a chameleon’s tuning his skin to it;
As a mantis, arranged
On a green leaf, grows
Into it, makes the leaf leafier, and proves
Any greenness is deeper than anyone knows.

Your hands hold roses always in a way that says
They are not only yours; the beautiful changes
In such kind ways,
Wishing ever to sunder
Things and things’ selves for a second finding, to lose
For a moment all that it touches back to wonder.

(1947)

NOTE: This, folks, is our 996th blog post. Which means that number 1,000 is right around the corner. I’d pay attention if I were you.

posted by: Aaron Bragg  |  category: random thoughts  |  make a comment