Kit·blog

Kit·Blog Notes — His Royal Jobsness

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:09:27 +0100

Youthful founder gets booted from his company in the 1980s, returns in the 1990s, and in the following decade survives two brushes with death, one securities-law scandal, an also-ran product lineup, and his own often unpleasant demeanor to become the dominant personality in four distinct industries, a billionaire many times over, and CEO of the most valuable company in Silicon Valley.

Applause deserved.

Also: Don't miss Rarely seen Steve Jobs, Top 10 moments in Steve Jobs' career and 8 stars speak out on Steve Jobs features.

Kit·Blog Notes — Posted in Apple.
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Kit·Blog Notes — Unwanted, unhealthy, unbreakable addiction

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:46:52 +0100

From the answers on Brandchannel's forum at "Will Windows 7 revive Microsoft’s brand?" question:

"Microsoft has taken a page from Big Tobacco's play book: how to brand an unwanted, unhealthy, unbreakable addiction? Give them several apparent "choices": regular, light and ultra-light. Still gonna kill ya in the end, though."

Steve Russell, CEO, The Really Cool Network.

Kit·Blog Notes — Posted in Software.
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Kit·blog — Euphoria looked insentient that day

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:33:03 +0100

Monte Carlo. Click here or on the image to enlarge.

Just like high pressure and high temperature turns carbon rubble into an eternal diamond, that day the colossal weight of the concrete and the scorching hot air forced euphoria transmute into a crystal-clear unbreakably-hard gem of perfect alienation.

Kit·blog — Posted in Photography.
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Kit·Blog Notes — Chanel №5, Jeunet, Tautou (and Leica)

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:50:52 +0100

A match made in heaven, obviously.

Actresses named Audrey are really in a league of their own, don't you think?

Kit·Blog Notes — Posted in Advertising.
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Kit·Blog Notes — Flash this, Flash that

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:34:37 +0100

Note to Adobe: don't hold your breath. It ain't coming. Thank God.

Also, nice one there. Open, yes?

In the meanwhile, ClickToFlash might help you kill some of those twitchy web banners.

Kit·Blog Notes — Posted in Software.
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Kit·Blog Notes — Jesus Skywalker Christ!

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:10:05 +0100

Aw man, I should have guessed that! Artoo-Detoo is just too impossibly awesome for a plain-vanilla astromech droid!

Kit·Blog Notes — Posted in Humor.
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Kit·blog — Short fable called "No light without shadow"

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:45:29 +0100

Camargue, France. Click here or on the image to enlarge.

Kit·blog — Posted in Photography.
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Kit·Blog Notes — Flash this, Flash that

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:34:37 +0100

Note to Adobe: don't hold your breath. It ain't coming. Thank God.

Also, nice one here.

In the meanwhile, ClickToFlash might help you kill some of those twitchy web banners.

Kit·Blog Notes — Posted in Software.
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Kit·Blog Notes — Easy rider

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:00:05 +0100

Dennis Hopper: Photographs 1961–1967. 1,500 copies, all signed and numbered—you better be rich.

Via @IuliaStoian.

Kit·Blog Notes — Posted in Photography.
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Kit·blog — I stand at the window and look at the sea

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:22:01 +0100

Camargue, France. Click here or on the image to enlarge.

I stand at the window and look at the sea
Then I make me a pot of opium tea

Mr. Nick Cave said it. Reverence.

Kit·blog — Posted in Photography.
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Kit·Blog Notes — Reporting live

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:05:59 +0100

News, cameras and television: Schroedinger's Cameraman.

And that plane silently flying into the clear blue sky.

Via TOP.

Kit·Blog Notes — Posted in Life.
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Kit·Blog Notes — Wise Dvorak

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:19:41 +0100

John C. Dvorak about the Mac, 1984:

The Macintosh uses an experimental pointing device called a “mouse”. There is no evidence that people want to use these things. I don’t want one of these new fangled devices.

Visionary.

Via DF.

Kit·Blog Notes — Posted in Apple.
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Kit·blog — Spec work, free pitch, design contest

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:19:55 +0100

I noticed these days a significant effort in the promotion of a Romanian-based international design contest for a package design project in which the client asks for spec work.

As a rent-paying, salary-paying and tax-paying designer I'm strongly against this practice—it should go without saying after I wrote The 'free pitch' practice and On design contests.

"Spec Hurts Everyone" poster by Von Glitschka of Glitschka Studios for NO!SPEC. Click here or on the image to enlarge.

Against? Why?

Because not participating in (and denouncing) projects involving spec work, free pitches and design contests is the best practice, in compliance with the ethics of this profession as they are set forth by design bodies such as AIGA, BDI and The Design Council, as well as the majority of independent design consultancies.

Says who?

"Like visiting several restaurants, trying the food in each one and then refusing to pay the bill." Erik Spiekermann

Here's a short list of various resources and articles on the topic, from dedicated sources as NO!SPEC and SpecWatch to professional associations as AIGA, from a design legend like Erik Spiekermann to authors like Debbie Millman and Jeff Fisher to business press like Boston Business Journal:

AIGA position on spec work and AIGA sample letter for speculative work;
NO!SPEC and Design contests are dangerous for your business on NO!SPEC;
Pitched out by Erik Spiekermann on Icograda;
Spec This by Debbie Millman;
When a “contest” is not a contest by Jeff Fisher;
Working on spec is a disturbing—and growing—trend by Sean Lorenz for Boston Business Journal.

Conclusion?

Right answer: "I do not endorse the practice of free pitch, sorry."

When confronted with spec work requests, free pitches or design contests, the right answer is "I do not endorse the practice of free pitch, sorry."

Either that or a strong NO.

More: The reading list on the issue is vast, here are a few more pieces:

The “Pros” and Cons of Spec Work by Jacob Cass at Just Creative Design;
Spec Sucks For Everyone on Adland;
Don’t Design On Spec by Jeffrey Zeldman;
Speculative Work by Paolo Pace on Designer Today;
This Week's 4-Letter Word: SPEC by Drew Davies at Be A Design Group;
Logo Design Contests Are Bad For Business by David Airey;
Why We Don't Make Speculative Presentations by Creative Business on Creative Latitude;
The Naked Truth About Design Contests on Web Designer Depot;
The Reality Of Logo Design Contests and Spec Watch On Design Contests Logo Design Love;
When The World Zigs, Zig on Johnson Banks' Thought for the week.

You can also follow @nospec and @specwatch on Twitter.

Kit·blog — Posted in Design.
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Kit·Blog Notes — On CBS Eye Logo and neckties

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:07:15 +0100

Watching The History of the CBS Eye Logo 2001 at 3:26 I giggled: CBS necktie? We did like three or four models for CEC Bank. Ha!

Kit·Blog Notes — Posted in Branding.
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Kit·Blog Notes — B&W film and a beautiful soul

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:00:40 +0100

In her own words:

My name is Cheryl Jacobs Nicolai. I’m a dinosaur. I work entirely with B&W film and older (sometimes vintage) cameras. [...] I like grit in my music and grain in my photographs.

Black and white film and a beautiful soul, that is. See her portfolio and her blog.

Kit·Blog Notes — Posted in Photography.
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Kit·blog — Heading south, relentless like the spread of a disease

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:18:23 +0100

Auberge, Camargue. Click here or on the image to enlarge.

Decorating an entrance with the remains of a large dead animal as a sign of bucolic hospitality, reassuringly expressing a sense of "welcome to the healthy meat-eating life in the country," is—you must admit—the logic of a fucked up species. And I kinda liked it.

Kit·blog — Posted in Photography.
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