What I’ve been trying to say about university websites for years has been much more artfully explained by Randall Munroe, the genius behind xkcd.com. (WARNING: Occasional profanity.)
As to why university websites are uniformly bad, well…it’s anyone’s guess. After all, with tuition increases nearly on a par with Zimbabwe’s inflation rate, it’s not like they can’t afford good design.
posted by Aaron Bragg
July 30, 2010
In an article in the 01/2010 issue of Audi Magazine, Richard Koshalek, director of the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, had this to say about creative folks:
“Across the United States, to a large extent, there’s been a fear of the creative individual, of artists, that they’re going to do something unpredictable. We have to get over that fear. We have to see them as colleagues. I believe the future may be unknowable, but it’s not unthinkable. If this country would listen to creative people, things would be much better.”
posted by CK Anderson
July 29, 2010
Chicago and Northwest Railway Company’s Proviso Yard, Chicago, Illinois, April 1943. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano.
Because it’s not always about words, here’s an amazing collection of color images taken by photographers of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information.
posted by Aaron Bragg
July 28, 2010
While I’m not so much of a cotton-headed ninny-muggins as to suggest that all we need is to give peace a chance, I do believe that a good poem goes a long way toward healing the ills of our existence. With that in mind, readers of the last word will occasionally be treated to a hunk of verse hand-selected by AMD’s very own Poet Laureate. (That would be me.)
Today’s selection comes from William Plomer:
In the vegetarian guesthouse
All was frolic, feast, and fun;
Eager voices were enquiring,
“Are the nettle cutlets done?”
Peals of vegetarian laughter,
Husky, wholesome, wholemeal bread;
Will the evening finish with a
Rush of cocoa to the head?
posted by Aaron Bragg
July 27, 2010
The Boston Globe‘s Erin McKean seems to think that the practice of “verbing”—perhaps the worst thing to happen to the English language since Allen Ginsberg—is a conscientious effort to streamline communication. And a good thing, at that.
Regular readers of the last word won’t be surprised to learn that, when it comes to the use of “status,” “reference,” “transition,” et al. as verbs, I’m firmly in this camp. As should be all those who care about good writing.
posted by Aaron Bragg
July 26, 2010
Designers would never get away with this sort of thing these days.
Client: “But there’s more to America than just a cave.”
Designer: “Yes, but…”
Client: “We wouldn’t want people to think that’s all there is.”
Designer: “Okay. Let’s…”
Client: “We’re also not a fan of all that blue. Is that what caves really look like inside?”
Designer: “Probably not. How about…”
Client: “And let’s see if we can’t cut the copy in half.”
Designer: “Cut the…what?!?”
Client: “Nobody reads anymore. Oh—and don’t forget to show some diversity. It’s a glorious mosaic out there.”
Designer: “But I thought it was about the parks…”
Client: “We’ll do the thinking. You do the designing.”
The full ten-poster gallery, courtesy of National Geographic, is here.
posted by Aaron Bragg
July 21, 2010
Now I know the fine folks at Latah Creek Winery really do care what we all think of their new Monarch Red bottle labels, but do they really need to ask the general public? It would seem so, since they’re asking for your help in selecting from among five different label designs, each featuring the same local artist’s work. And while the label painting is fine, the thought of turning over the final design decision to the public makes me want to not swallow my Pinot Gris.
“If I’d asked my customers what they wanted,” Henry Ford famously observed, “they’d have said a faster horse.” This has been quoted—often—by none other than Apple Computer’s focus-group-averse CEO Steve Jobs, who, by the way, isn’t a fan of letting the public decide anything. And strangely enough, this strategy seems to be working pretty well for him. While none of this is to say that public perceptions should be ignored, it’s a shame when packaging design is reduced to a popularity contest.
But maybe I’m missing the point. Latah Creek will gain PR value from having someone select the actual label design. (I know I prefer to drink from the labels that we’ve designed.) Or it could be they really can’t decide among the five labels which is going to “attract your attention the most on a store shelf.” Worse yet, they might actually believe the general public does have a clue as to what makes for good consumer packaging.
We all like hearing what people think because, well…it makes us feel better. “Honey, does this color look good on me?” Or, “Does this wine label make my bottle look too big?” So go here if you want to say you helped decide the future of Latah’s new premium red wine. I would, but I doubt you’re allowed to vote to take the label design in a slightly different direction.
posted by CK Anderson
July 20, 2010
My wife and I attended the Harold Balazs art exhibit opening this past Saturday at the MAC. It was a real treat, and I highly recommend seeing this exhibit.
When we arrived, Harold was just introduced and began to make a few remarks. Apparently, the microphone wasn’t working, and we did our best to hear his words of wisdom. A fixture in Spokane’s art community, Harold is one of the most renowned artists of the Pacific Northwest. He always seems to be humbled by the fact that so many people enjoy the “stuff” he makes (he prefers not to call his work “art”). Harold is always honest, funny, and smart. He’s the guy you want to have around your campfire.
In the early 1960s he came up with his signature phrase “transcend the bullshit.” It may well describe his philosophy about life. Every time I see a piece created by Harold, a single word always comes to mind: whimsy. Thanks, Harold, for making serious art so approachable and fun.
posted by CK Anderson
July 19, 2010
So the missus and I were enjoying a picnic in Cannon Hill Park last night when, as I was about to throw a hunk of sourdough bread to a pitiful-looking duck, she pointed to the sign:
I hate to be a grammar snob (really I do), but c’mon. “Human feeding”? The unnecessary—and rather Germanic—capitalization of “pond”? Worst of all is the comma splice, an indicator that the writer in question quit paying attention in English class around the seventh grade or so.
What’s a comma splice? Glad you asked. It’s when two independent clauses are joined by a comma. It’s also called a run-on sentence. (No, a long sentence is not, in and of itself, a run-on sentence.)
Anyway, in this case, “Ducks on this Pond are wild” is the first clause; “please help us keep them that way” is the second. There are three ways to address this. The first is to add a conjunction, like “so” (an inelegant solution at best).
Ducks on this Pond are wild, so please help us keep them that way.
The second is to use a semicolon instead of the comma.
Ducks on this Pond are wild; please help us keep them that way.
Finally, we could just write two sentences.
Ducks on this Pond are wild. Please help us keep them that way.
Here’s a quick test: if the parts of your sentence can stand on their own, don’t make the mistake of using only a comma to separate them.
And hey, Spokane Parks and Recreation? I’m available to proofread on a per-sign basis. Just call AMD corporate headquarters and we’ll have a contract drawn up.
posted by Aaron Bragg
July 16, 2010
Following up on yesterday’s post (scroll down), here’s an application that uses a super-secret algorithm to determine, from a writing sample, whether you’re male or female.
I tried to stump it, but to no avail. The Gender Genie correctly guessed “male” with every sample I entered. Clearly, then, I’m all man. It’s scientific.
posted by Aaron Bragg
July 15, 2010
