Why Kyra Designs

Local Flair

Kyra — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:31:18 +0000

I’m excited to announced that I’ve won an instagram photography contest with Local Flair magazine of the Poconos. They’ve chosen the photo below to be on the cover of their August/September issue (the food issue) which is going to print today! I’m so excited and can’t wait to see it in print.

They also asked me to submit a few sentences about myself to go in the publication. I was happy to have the fire lit and here’s what I came up with, thanks to Kerilyn and Dave (for helping!):

Kyra Dosch-Klemer is a web designer and artist striving to expose the natural beauty and simplicity found in ordinary moments. I seek to illuminate the sublime elegance often concealed within the mundane in order to heighten awareness of the moment through the beautiful stillness and magic that is present in most moments. This is realized through emphasis on the natural state of things. I aim to honor the purity in my art as well as in life, whether it is in the music I listen to, the items in my home, or the food I feed my family. Purity, as a concept, permeates my life. You can view some of her design work at www.whykyra.com.

A fix to web fonts not displaying correctly

Kyra — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:26:29 +0000

Just a little tip in case anyone is having a similar problem. For the past few weeks I’ve had issues with several websites (er, many) not displaying fonts correctly. Usually, only the titles, but at times all of the text on a site.

Here’s an example of how one site was displaying fonts for me (google chrome on the left, firefox on the right):

I came across this extremely useful and quick tip for fixing (at least for now) the issue at N7 Studios.

In a nutshell,

Open Terminal
Type in atsutil databases -removeUser
Type in atsutil server -shutdown
Type in atsutil server -ping

This worked for me. I just had to restart chrome before the fix worked. I hope google will come up with a solution to this though because it’s happening with many of their own fonts! Hope this helped.

Old clients, new designs

Kyra — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:05:29 +0000

I’m so happy to present the latest site for Earthsongs: Works in Clay! You can visit the site at claysongs.com.

Linda and I have worked together for years. We first “met” about six or seven years ago and we have been working on the various iterations of her site since then. It’s been excellent working with a client for this long and I sincerely value the relationship we have. It’s been a process that has allowed us both to witness each other’s businesses growing and changing which I can definitely appreciate.

Thanks to Linda! I hope you’re enjoying the new site!

Is a resumé outdated? For designers?

Kyra — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:33:46 +0000

Usually I get my jobs through people (think “word of mouth”) but lately I’ve been searching online and connecting with people who are looking for designers in an attempt to boost my business. I came across a few opportunities that requested resumés and the requests gave me pause? Isn’t my portfolio enough? Can’t people see my experience and connections on linkedin? In 2012 is it really necessary to provide possible jobs/contracts/partners with a résumé? I was going to ignore these opportunities but one of them seemed very interesting so I sucked it up and got to work on a resumé.

What happened? Well, it happened to be one of the most fun projects that I’ve worked on in several months! It’s still a work in progress. I’m still rewriting and tweaking the design but I will prematurely present you with…. my rewritten, redesigned résumé:

Have an awesome day!

Kyra — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:21:12 +0000

It’s Tuesday. The sun is shining. I’m feeling inspired.

Design for Social Change

Kyra — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:06:51 +0000

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about doing work that matters. I love doing design for small businesses and artists! Love, love, love it! But it would be nice to also be able to incorporate some socially responsible design projects that makes a positive impact on people’s lives; design that raises awareness, that makes individuals THINK. Especially now, when design is so embedded in our culture and everyday lives, designers have a responsibility to be ethical and mindful in what they design, who they design for, the message(s) they are portraying. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to incorporate all of this AND pay the bills? I started researching a bit, joined a few groups online, and came across Impact! Design for Social Change intensive workshop at SVA. Wow! This seems like such a great program, and so important. I have no idea who is accepted into the program, and at this time it doesn’t even seem feasible but I’m so happy to see that this program exists! It’s on my radar and I plan to follow the progress of the program and the designers who are involved. I’ll keep you posted!

Side note: The day after I told my husband about this program he found out that one of the instructors is going to be organizing a workshop in his department (he’s an art professor at East Stroudsburg University)! I’m definitely hoping I can get in on it!

The ideas and practice of ethical and responsible design were sparked while I was listening to a Design Matters (with Debbie Millman) interview with Alissa Walker, an inspirational design writer and blogger. She does a lot of work for GOOD Magazine (if you live under a rock and don’t know what GOOD is, please go immerse yourself in it out NOW!) as well as many other interesting and creative endeavors. During the interview, one of the things that she focuses on is how designers can make a difference and how much of an impact they can have on society and the way we all view the world around us. I really recommend listening to the interview! I also came across a page on the AIGA site which is fabulous and I can’t wait to really explore the links they offer. It’s a page called Design for Good: Ways to Get Involved – check it out! There are tons of design resources for non-profits and the like. I’m off to go dig in right now!

Book club

Kyra — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:29:28 +0000

A few books to add to my “to-read” list. The list is ever growing, but these are some good ones.

Design for the Other 90% by Cynthia Smith

Design for the Real World: Human Ecology and Social Change, by Victor Papanek

Periodic Table of Typefaces

Kyra — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 23:08:48 +0000

This is one of my favorite desktop wallpapers. And, yes, I do think I need one of these posters hanging above my desk. Or maybe the vinyl version. Oh wait, my “work table” is my desk. But usually I just end up working at the kitchen table, so I’ll need to find the perfect spot for it.

The Periodic Table of Typefaces was designed by Camdon Wilde and you can purchase it at Scribble on Everything.

Inspiration Friday: Anna Hepler

Kyra — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 19:36:07 +0000

I’m not sure how I arrived there but I came across these images on flickr and wanted to share. I love them! They look so sparse and otherworldly and somehow friendly in an odd almost messy-robotic way. I looked her up and she has some cool installation art too…

plexigravure001

plexigravure006

plexigravure002

Definitely digging this installation..but is it even really an installation?

Images above from Intricate Universe – 2009

All images copyright Anna Hepler
Check out her website and flickr.

Inspiration Friday: Hollie Chastain & collages that will make you smile

Kyra — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:38:20 +0000

Hollie Chastain:
Excellent collage and paper artist out of Chattanooga, TN

I just stumbled upon her artwork. Unfortunately, I don’t even remember how, but I am so happy that I did! Her drawings and collages make me smile. I love the colors, the texture, the fun! Makes me want to take out my journal and start collaging and drawing again. It’s been way too long. The journal is coming out. I know exactly where it is. Thanks for the inspiration!

Conjure

home life in faraway lands

I came to get down

afterthought

All above images copyright Hollie Chastain. Check out her site!