Speak Up Archive: Quipsologies<br>~ Vol. 29 ~

A Speak Up exclusive and many other things in this edition of Quipsologies.

~ ARMIN ~

A Speak Up Exclusive [Not yet linked anywhere else on the interwebs]:
When Brandtastic & Co. asked Swallow Jackets Films to produce a video to highlight their services, an unfortunate technical error led to the creation of a mistargeted video: BRAN, Your Headstart in the Global Marketplace a film by Andy Bates, Jeremy Huchinson and Jimm Lasser.

CRIT, a blog by the graduate students of The School of Visual Arts’ MFA Design program.

Salary surveys are always helpful, The Coroflot Designer Salary Survey is now taking information for publication after October 1, 2005.

PROJECT MENTOR is a joint venture initiated by AIGA and produced by Project M and The Bielenberg Institute at the Edge of the Earth as part of a national initiative to promote mentoring.” During the AIGA National Conference in Boston, Project Mentor showed off their kick-ass wheels, (pictured here, signed by many attendees) which will travel around the country promoting mentorship.

A few months ago, I received an e-mail from the lead singer of independent Irish band Guggenheim Grotto, he was inquiring about using some of the comments from an old Speak Up discussion, CD Packaging, I Knew Ye Well by Jason Tselentis, for the booklet of a limited edition run of their debut album, Waltzing Alone. I said yes, we proceeded to get permission from over 20 people and last Friday, in the mail, I received a copy of their beautifully packaged CD — their stance against the demise of CD packaging — and I took some pictures to share: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

The boys from Aesthetic Apparatus were in Edmonton — the Alberta North chapter of the Graphic Designers of Canada has proof in Quicktime- and mp4-form. [Via Michael Surtees]

Business plan, shmusiness plan. Set up a grid of pixels and sell them as the hottest real estate on the web, make a million a bucks. The Million Dollar Homepage is a self-described viral marketing and design project. “The goal,” writes the Pixel Master, “is to sell 1,000,000-pixels for 50 cents(US) each and donate 25% of the proceeds to the American Red Cross.” And that home page looks pretty cool.

~ BRYONY ~

A giant pink bunny has been erected a top a mountain in Italy, and it will stay there for the next 20 years.

~ M. KINGSLEY ~

First there was the Heavy Metal Umlaut; now joined by the Modish Macron.

I remember the the Thread on CD Packaging but didn't respond. Well hindsight is 20/20 how unfortunate.

MP3's have changed the name of the Game.

The ipodnanono bigger than a money clip is unbelievable awesome. Put the first generation and second generation ipods to shame.

Looking at Technology the Album cover looks like and OLD RELIC. The 12 x 12 Format was my Favorite. Especially, when it came to Illustration.

I was looking at acquiring the Nelson Riddle and Oscar Peterson Duo from the 1960s. Immediately, I searched for the CD Cover doesn't exist. The Album Cover exist most are damaged. Even if I bought the album I couldn't play it. Albeit having stereo equipment. Last time I checked I need a Diamond Head Needle. I don't even thing eBay has them. Maybe I'll check.

If I get the CD I can see the Album Cover Design

in my Windows Media Player.

As Michael Bierut said to me last year when I sent him an ad on eBay of someone selling Identity Taglines for $9.00 dollars on eBay; and Samuel F B Morse wrote in 1844 when he sent the first Telegraphy Message;

"What Hath GOD WROUGHT"

On Sep.27.2005 at 02:42 PM

Edison's Ghost:

I am absolutely Dying Laughing.

Many, many thinks. I didn't actually think they exit anymore.

I assume DJ's of the hip hop era are keeping them in business.

Good looking out.

On Sep.27.2005 at 03:30 PM

Thanks, Armin, for the film by Andy Bates, Jeremy Huchinson and Jimm Lasser.

These guys are hilarious. So many well-made sequences. The bran muffin scene early on and its graphic with the skull reminded me of all references here on Speak-Up to cupcakes —though we know them to be quite different in size, taste and bran content : )

You’re lucky you understood (as in �stereo’) the language in that 2nd scene with the woman declaring “Death to the Husk”.

�Why no credits on this film except for the 3�

Friar gets a mention on camera (�scripted’ name?) but the others involved, nada : (

On Sep.27.2005 at 04:53 PM

Salary survey's never seem to make sense when they try to match the infinite variables in the profession to a handful of multiple choice options.

On Sep.27.2005 at 05:30 PM

Quoted for truth. They're especially useful when you look at the number of respondents and see single digit figures.

On Sep.27.2005 at 10:37 PM

I've actually been very surprised at how many people refer to them to make sure they are not paying someone too much or too little.

> hey're especially useful when you look at the number of respondents and see single digit figures.

AIGA|Aquent's salary survey had 3,685 responses. Not much compared to AIGA's 15,000 members, but much better than single digits.

On Sep.28.2005 at 10:34 AM

US salary info isn't of much use to me. The Canadian studies that come out from the RGD often have low response.

On Sep.28.2005 at 03:36 PM

In my experience, the Aquent salary survey numbers have been fairly accurate over the years. Armin is correct — hiring managers do use them to gauge general levels of salaries, but of course, each market is higher or lower depending on supply and demand.

The salaries that have the smallest responses, and thus are less accurate, tend to be the upper levels of owners and principals. But since owners don't really use salary surveys as much as their employees — the small number of respondents for those categories are irrelevant.

On Sep.29.2005 at 10:12 AM

I'm calling bullshit on the bunny.

(It has to be some sort of Photoshop tutorial online or something. "How to Place a Stuffed Animal on the Side of a Mountain 101")

On Sep.29.2005 at 11:48 AM

"I'm calling bullshit on the bunny."

I'm not so sure about that. I think maybe it's an exeriment in entropy.

The bunny starts out nice and soft and lovable. As time passes it gets nastier and decomposes, until no one will go near the huge brown mess. It's like a coming-of-age story, or something.

On Sep.29.2005 at 12:17 PM

Not to get too far off track, but I wanted to notify all of the lovers of Speak Up and printed things to get the latest copy of GD USA (September 2005). In it are two things that are SpeakUp related:

- Debbie's Generation i post (as an article)

- a bona fide Speak Up print ad

Looks good Armin, keep it up.

On Oct.01.2005 at 10:20 AM

I was at a horribly boring packaging trade show in Birmingham this week, & I was given a copy of New Design magazine. I was pleased and surpirised to see that very article there as well. It seems to be turning into a nice little earner.

On Oct.01.2005 at 11:42 AM