ranting tantrum

Here’s a little something for all you typography freaks (and you know who you are).

Test your kerning skills. Do battle against the trickiest typefaces. Take on the toughest letter space challenges in the typesetting biz.

It’s hours – or perhaps minutes – of mindless fun and intrigue.

Some interesting thoughts on the brave new world of web design.

This is particularly interesting:

It’s easy to forget that great design is bigger than well-chosen typefaces, sharp icons, harmonious color palettes, and pixel-perfect grid systems. Those are merely some of the ingredients that support a great design. This past year, I’ve led more working sessions, had more discussions, simplified more wireframes, edited more collaborative Google docs, responded to more Basecamp posts, written more stories, and spent less time in Photoshop and Illustrator than I ever have before. I’m a better designer for it.

I’m repeatedly reminded that the best design connects people.

Dan Mall, Design Director, Big Spaceship

“We all go. Why not enjoy the go.”

Sounds like they’re full of go.

This is kinda funny, (thanks to Ad Girl) though maybe a long walk for a short drink. It makes a great point however, about the levels of b.s. in the digital age, and how we in marketing tend to make such a big deal about absolutely nothing.

An interesting talk on advertising and design by George Lois, who puts Don Draper to shame.

A typical GL gem: “Great graphic design is the transformation of a big idea into an unforgettable image. You got that? It isn’t f_ing around with lines and blocks and s__t..”

Here’s a picture from The New York Times of Jerry Sandusky, the infamous football coach from Penn State indicted for doing horrible things to children.

You probably wouldn’t know it, but he’s being arrested here and helped into a police car (notice the hand on his head).

But as it’s cropped, this picture communicates something different. That hand atop the silver-haired head, touching the hair, stroking it gently, as if to say “It’s okay. I love you. Everything is going to be alright.”

The advertising loop is being closed more thoroughly than ever – like a noose around our necks.

On a recent venture to a national chain of breakfast restaurants, we looked up from our scrambled eggs and hash browns to notice a television above the counter. It was running a continual loop of ads for…the restaurant we were sitting in, and the food we were eating.

Being subjected to ads for something you’re currently experiencing. Brilliant!

Here’s an important lesson that some brands never seem to get: never try to disguise promotional communications as personal communications. It can really rub people the wrong way, like sandpaper on the knuckles.

Case in point: on a recent trip, we found ourselves checking in to a West Coast location of a national hotel brand that’s become hot with the wannabe jet set crowd. The front desk clerk was very enthusiastic and accommodating. At the end of checking us in, he said, “Oh and there’s a message for you!” He handed us a thick, sealed envelope of off-white recycled paper with our name typed elegantly on the front.

Our mind was racing. A message! For lil ‘ol us! Maybe it was an important communiqué from a client or colleague. Or a loving note from home: “hope you got in safe – we eagerly await your return!” We left the envelope sealed for the elevator ride up to the room, savoring the mystery and potential held within.

In the room we dropped our luggage and tore into the envelope. Inside was a piece of paper with typesetting on it that began: “A message from the manager.” It went on to tell us about all the wonderful new facilities of the hotel, along with a complete run-down of all the benefits of their Rewards program. We gently tore the envelope and its contents into pieces and let it fall into the elegant trash can under the desk, while contemplating the hard, gray truth that maybe, in fact, no one loves us.

For no other reason than it’s cool and beautiful, here’s a time-lapse glimpse of the recent Washington D.C. snowstorm.

In honor of this week’s contentious climate talks in Copenhagen, we’re sharing some one of our favorite climate change awareness spots. (Editors’ late update: many of our favorite spots in this category have been removed from YouTube for copyright reasons, so we’re left with just one to share).

WFF (World Wildlife Fund) from 2008, produced by FCB Toronto: