Qualitative Research

A poster by the womens clothes retailer Wallis that appeared as part of its advertising campaign ‘Dress to Kill’ from the late 1990s.

A poster by the womens clothes retailer Wallis that appeared as part of its advertising campaign ‘Dress to Kill’ from the late 1990s. There are many signifier (the form) and signified (the concept) elements in this image.

It is easy to think that design is simply about conceptual thinking and the creation of objects or layouts. However, it is worthwhile in many projects to take a wider and more informed approach. Think about qualitative research. More…

Signs and Icons

A sign outside a park in Prague.

A sign outside a park in Prague, snapped some years ago. I was reassured to know that no handguns were allowed. I was a bit confused by the one, top-left. Don’t step on grates, perhaps?

Signs and icons are everywhere. They pervade our lives. They existed even before writing began as a means of expression. Figurative and non-figurative images have always been used in pictorial systems of communication. More…

Choosing a Designer

Decision time.

Decision time.

Originally published by the well-known American designer, John Mcwade, at his DesignTalk website, this list best sums up any that I have come across. Some designers may not want to do this, but I think it very worthwhile outlining what you should look for when commissioning a designer. More…