Ron Bercume

Miggs Burroughs and Paul Rand

Ron — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:19:11 +0000

I recently came across this rare 3 part interview with Graphic Designer Pioneer Paul Rand. I have written on the "Godfather of Graphic Design" here on this site and like any designer consider him one of my many heroes. What I was not expecting to learn was that the gentleman interviewing Rand, Miggs Burroughs, was by definition a graphic design icon himself.

Saul Bass Graphic Design Pioneer

Ron — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:10:41 +0000

Saul Bass was a graphic designer best known for his work on motion picture title animations. He worked with the greats like Alfred Hitchcock (Psycho), Otto Preminger (The Man with the Golden Arm) and Stanley Kubrick (2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange) among others. You have probably seen much of his design and film work and never thought about where it might have come from.

The Coits – D.C. Punk

Ron — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:53:11 +0000

This is a music video, well, maybe a simple experiment I put together for some close friends heavily involved in the D.C. underground punk scene. Try not to read to much meaning into the work and enjoy the ambiguity. The Coits & tha bears, straight hanging with ace videographer Mike Bazzone in Fairfax. Recording of "Slow," by the Coits, courtesy of Seth Feinberg, Inc..

SOPA Protest – Net Blackout Tomorrow

Ron — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:37:07 +0000

Sites are striking in all different ways, but they are united by this: do the biggest thing you possibly can, and drive contacts to Congress. Don't be silent that day. Tweet all day from your official company account (#SOPASTRIKE) and share news on sites like reddit. Tweet all day from your official company account (#SOPASTRIKE) and share news on sites like reddit.

Square Mobile Credit Card Processing

Ron — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:00:29 +0000

My Android reader just arrived from Square, I have yet to dig into it but this new technology looks very promising. Square has been around for a while, but I just recently was told about it by a client. Square has to have some of the bigger online payment gateways scrambling to catch up. The concept is far from new, but for some reason it has not been disseminated on a large scale...

Social Media Evaluation

Ron — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:16:07 +0000

Many well businesses become frustrated when their social media marketing efforts fall short or do not benefit their bottom line. The biggest issue is that most companies assume social media marketing is the holy grail. I Hate to break it to you, but that's not how it works. It takes time, effort, and resources before this new media will have an impact on your brand and ROI.

Stop American Censorship

Ron — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 14:37:21 +0000

We're running out of time for stopping internet censorship. Congress is about to pass internet censorship, even though the vast majority of Americans are opposed. We need to kill the bill - PIPA in the Senate and SOPA in the House - to protect our rights to free speech, privacy, and prosperity. Go To a Town Hall - The Senate is scheduled to vote on the internet censorship bill on Tuesday, January 24th...

How to switch to Facebook Timeline

Ron — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:50:04 +0000

I recently switched my personal Facebook profile over to the new Timeline interface and am not entirely sure I have a opinion as of yet. As a designer, the interactive bells and whistles are appealing, but I am not entirely confident how accessible the new approach is to the masses. I am particularly concerned with older demographics who struggle with how to use the social media site to begin with.

WordPress 101 Video Tutorials for Beginners

Ron — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:15:15 +0000

I spent a considerable amount of time training my clients on how to operate the Wordpress system for their newly created websites and blogs. I often, post-training, provide resources and videos as a point of reference for them to maintain their content and to maintain the quality of our work product. Although the WordPress software is updated often and these videos demo a older version...

ICA Congress Poster Design

Rachel Bruen — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:28:50 +0000

The poster for the ICA biannual Congress advertises the ICA’s meeting location of Panyu, China for the year 2009. The ICA’s main objective of the Congress was to promote colored gemstones in the Chinese market, which will help promote international trade. Both China and the gemstones take the main stage within this poster design.

The “Homeless” sign – simple, bold, Helvetica

Ron — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:00:16 +0000

Some say "Homeless." and others say "Please help." All are printed on white paper in Helvetica, a blocky font so distinct that a feature-length documentary was made in its honor. If you spend much time downtown, you've probably noticed the signs. They're difficult to miss — arresting in their simplicity, crisp enough to be counterintuitive in the hands of panhandlers. Which, of course, is the point."

The Starwars Logo and Helvetica

Ron — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 23:51:08 +0000

A couple months ago, naturally being a graphic designer, a child of the 80's and of course a semi-passive Star Wars fan, I started looking into the the Star Wars logo and the designer behind the work. To my surprise, I soon learned of some of the controversy not only behind this logo, but behind it's use of Helvetica (which comes with the territory if you choose to use it to this day).

Natural Villa Logo Design

Rachel Bruen — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:57:25 +0000

A nature inspired logo with specific references to European architecture was called for, and so an illustrative study of plants and Tudor-style housing was performed to achieve the desired result. The house shown in the logo was hand-drawn, then simplified to create a one-color illustration that could be used large or small. An organic style typeface was chosen for the business name...

Pricetag Helps Designers Quote Jobs

Ron — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 16:12:34 +0000

I have been reading about the new Pricetag web application for Designers and Agencies now for a couple weeks and plan to give it a dry run come the new year. The company and its product are generating a ton of buzz within the Design communities, it seems like something I may make centric to our workflow and office work very soon. I will post a follow-up review in the coming weeks with my personal experience.

Commander Cody Poster Design

Rachel Bruen — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 13:47:08 +0000

Black and yellow are the main colors in the poster, although a full color photo of the band performing is included in the design. Most of the focus goes to the large title in a black western themed font, with the rest of the poster text set in a bold sans serif. Palm trees screened into the background create texture for the poster and follow the Hawaiian theme of the tour.

Corporate Identity Webinar #design

Ron — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 02:09:36 +0000

What does Corporate Identity Mean to your Business? Both creatives and business owners are invited to join Ron as he offers his personal insight on the phenomenon of Corporate Identity and Branding. Today we see logos everywhere. We recognize them. We implicitly understand their messages and we know that they are a powerful marketing tool.

Natural Vantage Corporate Identity

Rachel Bruen — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 22:23:19 +0000

The Natural Vantage logo is part of an entire corporate identity project taken on by Ron. The logo design clearly communicates the "natural" concept through color, imagery, and typography (not to mention the title of the business). The single color used is a deep green of the type that could be easily found in nature.

WAVE Logo Design

Rachel Bruen — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:02:04 +0000

WAVE is a business providing solutions for indoor environmental conditions. A “wave” can be a great many things, and to clarify the meaning of this particular wave, the logo design skillfully spells it out in a clean sans serif: Water, Air, Ventilation, and Energy. Being a company with a focus on saving energy and money, the WAVE logo predominately uses green through the design.

Triggerlust Poster Design

Rachel Bruen — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 00:07:47 +0000

The main typeface and imagery have a grungy, weathered, and textured style to them. The main imagery depicts a bridge with many diagonal lines and interesting arches, while the background contains a silhouette of the city combined with other cityscape elements. Medium blue and light tan are combined for a contrasting color effect that attracts attention.

Its Elegance and Symmetry

Ron — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 13:49:00 +0000

The Freedom Tower will soar to 1,776 feet in the sky and serve as an inspirational and enduring beacon in the New York City skyline. The Tower's design evokes classic New York skyscrapers in its elegance and symmetry while also referencing the torch of the Statue of Liberty.

A Comment on Poster Graphic Design

Ron — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:45:04 +0000

Today, posters are used less often than they have been for well over a century. Posters have a special place in the history of graphic design. They were one of the first commercial opportunities to explore design and its impact. They’ve also been with us for over 300 years, serving as a canvas for generations of graphic designers. While the poster may not be the primary method of message ...

Milton Glaser Graphic Design Pioneer

Ron — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 20:40:36 +0000

Mr. Glaser's work with Push Pin, NYM and Milton Glaser, Inc has earned him a spot as the most notable American graphic designers to date. In recognition of his contributions to the industry, he has received the Lifetime Achievement award from the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in 2004. In 2009, President Obama presented him the National Medal of Arts.

Susan Mckeown Poster Design

Rachel Bruen — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:11:31 +0000

The poster’s color palette is comprised of varying shades of green except for the one color photo of Susan herself. Illustrations of four-leaf-clovers frame the design and add an interesting visual as well as some texture. Typographical treatments include a strong serif font with some text in uppercase, and the poster title nestles the singers first and last name together.

ICANN’s 25 Years of Dot Com Policy

Ron — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 19:20:09 +0000

After 25 years of .coms and .nets, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is loosening the rules. Now it will be possible to have a web domain that identifies your business, hobby, brand or cause. This is a historic maneuver and opens up great opportunities for many areas of creative web design niches.

What is the AIGA?

Ron — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:03:42 +0000

AIGA was originally founded in 1914 under the name of the American Institute of Graphic Arts and it has grown to become one of the largest professional organizations for those that work in design. The organization has gone from its humble origins to one with 66 chapters and over 22,000 members. The development of this organization has a strong mission statement.

Helvetica – The Impact of a Single Typeface

Ron — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:09:25 +0000

After it's debut at the South by Southwest Film Festival in 2007, "Helvetica" has grown in popularity. It has presently been shown and presented in more than 300 cities in some forty countries. "Helvetica" opens the big picture and details the power that simple typefaces like Helvetica have on our world in general. The typeface is used almost exclusively in advertising mediums, especially in urban spaces.

High Peaks Embroidery Corporate ID

Rachel Bruen — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 20:43:01 +0000

High Peaks Embroidery is a screen-printing and embroidery business located in the Adirondacks of New York. Ron composed the detailed logo to include an illustration of the beautiful Adirondack Mountains with a palette of various greens and a strong serif type treatment. The logo was used in a variety of printed pieces, including the business's stationery.

Max Miedinger Graphic Design Pioneer

Ron — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:31:13 +0000

This documentary, the regular use of Helvetica, and the impact that these images have on our world show that Max Miedinger's legacy is going to be with us far into the future. He has changed our society, and the way we view graphic design and communication forever.

Google and Mobile Internet in China

Ron — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 15:07:18 +0000

China has had a long time censorship battle with Google but recent developments may lead to Google working with China to develop a mobile Internet. China is an untapped goldmine when it comes to search. It holds the largest number of Internet users and the number of users is growing by leaps and bounds every year.

Exit Through The Gift Shop

Ron — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 16:16:03 +0000

Exit Through the Gift Shop starts off detailing the explosive world of "Street art", that wonderfully creative medium we so often see on garage walls and bridge abutments. An eccentric shop keeper decides to capture some of the world's most notorious vandals in the act of their art form; graffiti. What entails is that one of the artists turns the camera on the shop keeper, revealing his inner madness and emotions.

Interview with David Airey

Ron — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:31:10 +0000

David states on his website, "My business is successful because I make it less about me, and more about my clients; about the direction their companies are heading and about the success they will achieve. Not only do the brand identities I design ensure my clients stand-out, they also provide visual expressions that stand the test of time, enabling clients to engage and connect with their own customers...

Crowdsourcing – A New Spin on a Classic Model

Ron — Tue, 31 May 2011 16:14:40 +0000

The main difference is that crowdsourcing entails using an open call to outsource tasks to a a group of people or to a local community. The term was first coined in a 2006 issue of WIRED magazine entitled "The Rise of Crowdsourcing." In the article, it was accurately mentioned that advancements in technology have blurred the lines between professionals and amateurs in certain fields...

Poster Design | Soulive

Ron — Fri, 27 May 2011 18:08:00 +0000

Organ trio Soulive has spent the last decade balancing a reverence for the past with a conviction to push music into its own funky future. When brothers Neal and Alan Evans first invited guitarist Eric Krasno to get down at their Woodstock, NY studio (a session that led to the trio’s break-out record Get Down! in 1999), it was out of mutual love for the great soul-jazz organ trios of the ’60s and ’70s.

Not everyone is an “early adopter”

Ron — Wed, 25 May 2011 17:27:36 +0000

For every person who’s been online since the “bulletin boards” of the 1980s, many others waited until today to take their first look at the Internet. Maybe you aren’t an early adopter when it comes to online business. You may keep hearing that it’s important to develop an online presence for your business, but you aren’t quite convinced that it makes sense for you.

An SEO Technique for Everyone

Ron — Mon, 23 May 2011 15:36:36 +0000

If your site isn’t attractive to Google, et. al., the mountain to online success can be difficult to climb. That’s the reason why most people who are serious about being online eventually encounter the concept of search engine optimization< (SEO). SEO involves tailoring your site to produce the best possible placement for it in search results. When someone uses Google...

Selling Online is Only Part of the Story

Ron — Thu, 12 May 2011 22:50:24 +0000

Many business owners resist the idea of creating a significant Internet presence because their business models do not lend themselves to online commerce. This is particularly true of businesses based on a service model. It is also true for those who deal in large goods unlikely to be purchased online or in customized products that require a substantial degree of interaction with customers.

Ron and Jim… and Sven

Tim Follos — Tue, 03 May 2011 01:45:30 +0000

In Ron's biography I describe the band Jim as "a versatile, dexterous and drunken Adirondack band that developed a strong local following over a fitful decade of existence." Being called upon for his professional expertise by his old role model was meaningful personal event for Ron – and it helped get him back on the road to feeling cool, smart, artistic and responsible.

It’s fitting that I reconnected with Tim Follos

Ron — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:37:14 +0000

I hadn’t seen Tim in nearly a decade when I bumped into him at that Jim gig in 2008, but we’d been part of the same clique back in high school and I’d always respected both his intelligence and his down-to-earth manner. All our friends knew that Tim was bright and came from a great family, but I never saw him brag or be a snob.

Huh, Facebook Gets “Creative”?

Ron — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:58:46 +0000

Is Facebook Studio a truly novel concept that could prove revolutionary in the world of advertising, or is it a stunt designed to increase ad revenues by getting in bed with the creative and marketing communities? The innovative Concept of Facebook Studio is intended to reach out to advertising agencies and others in the marketing and creative communities. Specifically, the goal of Facebook Studio..

Yusaku Kamekura Graphic Design Pioneer

Ron — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:43:15 +0000

Yusaku Kamekura inspired the growth of an entire industry and helped post World War II Japan to flourish. Kamekura can be considered a leader within first generation of modern graphic designers and is representative of how a individual massively shaped the future of a creative industry. He studied at Tokyo's Institute of New Architecture and Industrial Arts.

One Day For Design #1D4D

Ron — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:10:37 +0000

You’re joining a conversation in progress—an open, global dialogue on the meaning and future of design, and on the meaning and future of professional design associations. Ready to add your voice? Follow the conversations on Twitter - @OneDayForDesign #1D4D. AIGA, the largest design advocacy organization in the world, created this event to bring designers and design followers...

Paul Rand Graphic Design Pioneer

Ron — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 21:07:05 +0000

Paul Rand is responsible for creating world-renowned logos for some of the largest corporations. You only need to look at the simplicity of the ABC television logo for American Broadcasting Company or the UPS logo for United Parcel Service. IBM and Westinghouse are classical and semi-timeless logos created by Paul Rand, as well. Born in August of 1914, Peretz Rosenbaum died as Paul Rand in 1996.

A Staple of the Psychedelic Rock Scene

Ron — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:33:19 +0000

New Riders of the Purple Sage is an American country rock band that emerged from the psychedelic rock scene in San Francisco, California in 1969. The original lineup included several members of the Grateful Dead – a stigma they are most associated with even today. “Panama Red”, the song they are most know for topped the FM charts and was their first gold record.

Poster Design | Johnny Winter

Ron — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:57:47 +0000

Johnny Winter has been a guitar hero without equal. Signing to Columbia records in 1969 called largest solo artist deal of it’s time, Johnny immediately laid out the blueprint for his fresh take on classic blues a prime combination for the legions of fans just discovering the blues via the likes of Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton. Johnny Winter is known for his delta blues and rock and roll style...

Saul Bass by Jennifer Bass and Pat Kirkham

Ron — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 18:01:26 +0000

This is the first book to be published on one of the greatest American designers of the 20th Century, who was as famous for his work in film as for his corporate identity and graphic work. With more than 1,400 illustrations, many of them never published before and written by the leading design historian Pat Kirkham, this is the definitive study that design...

Poster Design | Kings of Texas Swing

Ron — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:38:55 +0000

Asleep At The Wheel will be performing on a four Island tour in the Hawaii. Fronted by Head Honcho and Band Leader Ray Benson is joined by band mates Jason Roberts, David Sanger, David Miller, John Michael Whitby, Eddie Rivers and Elizabeth McQueen. Asleep at the Wheel is a country/Western swing band formed in Paw Paw, West Virginia, but based in Austin, Texas.

Do as I Do: Bill Cosby

Tim Follos — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 02:21:24 +0000

In Tim's interview Cosby gets into it with little prodding, cycling back often to his most important messages. "Get the education," he solemnly advises. "Stop throwing it away. Fathers: Come claim your children so that they don't feel abandoned, so that there can be some happiness. The home is where we're pointing and saying, 'We're got to tighten this up.'" Rather than revisit Cosby's beef with "the rap music,"

5x Blues Music Award Winner Rory Block

Ron — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 16:41:02 +0000

Heralded as “a living landmark” (Berkeley Express), “a national treasure” (Guitar Extra), and “one of the greatest living acoustic blues artists” (Blues Revue), Rory Block has committed her life and her career to preserving the Delta blues tradition and bringing it to life for 21st century audiences around the world. A traditionalist and an innovator at the same time, she wields a fiery...

Obey Your Designer #OBYD

Tim Follos — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 06:50:09 +0000

Ron wanted to create a biography to achieve a broad range of goals, including: to publicly acknowledge and thank the teachers who were instrumental to his success; to inspire young people from similarly challenging backgrounds; to further his philanthropic aims by using the proceeds from this book to establish a scholarship at his Alma mater; to develop a book-publishing network...

Are you being Social?

Ron — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:40:31 +0000

The rise of social media is probably the biggest Internet development of the last few years. Sites and applications are popping up left and right in order to allow individuals to find one another and to share information and perspectives. MySpace. Twitter. FaceBook. LinkedIn. Those are four examples of social media. Even occasional Internet users almost universally know all and their popularity...