Around the Web

‘IDo’ It Yourself found these free printable labels from Eat.Drink.Chic. The images above are just a taste of what you’ll find!

Brock Ray shared his photos from the National Museum of American History.

Boots Original was featured on The Dieline a while back.

Finally, Beast Pieces did this lovely promo piece for Shine Advertising and shared it last month.

C.O. Bigelow

C.O. Bigelow claims the title of “the oldest apothecary in America” and it’s probably true! They’ve been in business since 1838 in New York. Check out I Love Bigelow, too, for more apothecary style inspiration.

Flickr

Flickr is without a doubt a fantastic place to find inspiration. Each image below is linked to its respective Flickr page.

And then there’s that beauty of a book, The Handy Book of Artistic Printing. Ellie from Mint (the design blog) recently shared pictures of her copy. Amazon has this book for $26, well worth it in my opinion, if you’re into this style at all. I saw it in person and it really is gorgeous! The outside does have a gold foil on it, but none of the inside images have any foil or metallic ink from what I remember seeing (even though in some of the pictures it does look that way).

As you flip through the book, notice how the printers were always trying to break the bounds of their medium through curved text and images that made it look like pins or nails were holding a note on the page. It really reminded me of what web designers are trying to do now. How funny, huh? Talk about history repeating itself!

Incorporating the Style into Your Designs

So what are some design elements we can pick up from these packages?

Color Palette

I took a look at all of the sample images I’d collected and decided these were the most common colors I saw. I’ve left the label colors muted, even though some of that might have been caused by age. But that’s the point, right? These are supposed to look old!

The liquids were fun—and here’s where the bright colors come in! Green, red and brown were the most common colors.

Finally, there are the bottles. Most of them were clear, lightly tinted green or brown, but then there’s also that signature bright blue (like in the Bigelow Premium collection above).

Type Treatments

Many of the original labels used some form of Copperplate, and for the modern packages, Algerian seems to be a popular choice. There was also extensive use of slab serifs, mainly typewriter style fonts, in both the old and new labels.

Tuscan serifs (the really fancy serifs, check out the link) were also popular in the vintage packaging, but I didn’t see much use of them in modern stuff. It was also interesting that some modern examples use engraved text, though their ancestors (from what I saw) do not. I think the engraved fonts work though. Hand-tooled fonts would also fit the period I think.

Text on a curve was very popular, too, and I think it was a pride thing for the printers of the time (they didn’t have the Type on a Path Tool!).

Hard shadows behind the text was a popular style back then and now, as is using a red accent color for some of the important information on the label. All caps or small caps were and are also quite common.

• Copperplate
• Algerian
• Slab Serifs (like the typewriter fonts)
• Tuscan serifs (really fancy serifs)
• Engraved and hand-tooled fonts
• Text on a curve
• Hard shadows
• Red accent color
• Caps or Small Caps

Shapes

Because these old packages were printed on letterpresses, they often used engraved images with lines for shading. Ribbons or banners were (are) quite popular, as was (and is) placing text inside the ribbon. Artists and printers tried to dress up the labels as much as possible with lines, decorative borders and filigree on the letters. Dividers between text was also common; sometimes it was a simple as a line, other times it was a fancier ornament.

• Ribbons/sashes
• Simple lines for decoration
• Decorative borders
• Filigree
• Dividers – sometimes just a line, sometimes decorative

What else do you notice as you look at the images above? Have you ever studied this time period and picked up a useful or interesting tidbit about design at that time? Share it in the comments!

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One of my creative outlets is scrapbooking. Right now I’m working on my wedding scrapbook (yeah, from three years ago…)

I also enjoy letterpress printing. Below are a few of things I’ve done.

Other Friends

Lots of other designers I know from the Web have creative outlets, too!

Kelly of Purple Lemon recognized her need to create for the sake of creating and decided to sell her products on Etsy. She enjoys making cards and stamps.

Rashell, the author of doodlage, lets her creativity flow through her gel pens onto all sorts of things from rocks to paper. She also experiments with paper “doodles” and has done some beautiful collages. Doodlage is also on Etsy.

Alex from retinart sheds the weight of designing for others by experimenting with grunge type and creating the awesome headers for his articles on retinart. He is also a letterpress addict like me! And his creative writing on his blog is so full of experiences for all the senses (I tried to sound creative like he is… I don’t think it works as well!)

I’m addicted to paper that has been kissed by metal type. And, sometimes.. sometimes it doesn’t even need to be metal type—it can be photopolymer plates, which is sort of like metal type but… different…Even wood type will flame my passions. Oh, blissful wood type. However it’s pressed, I love paper that’s been squashed; that’s been impressed upon by inked letters and… ohhh… but… yes, yes, even on the dark, quiet nights, when I just need my fix, I’ll even go as far as to enjoy the sweet, naked bliss of a blind emboss. That’s right! I’m a print designer who loves the look of paper that’s been printed without ink! It just feels so good and I am not afraid to admit it so.

Alex, from Letterpress Addict

What do you do to simply let your creativity out? Is there a special art or craft that is your place to create and enjoy expressing your inner artist, free from criticism or demands to change? Share links to your work if you want to!

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Thanks for subscribing to the Creative Curio feed! You can pick up your free subscriber gift, a handy cheat sheet of common Photoshop shortcuts,  by going to the PDF Download Page. You are most welcome to read the articles and comments that helped create this PDF and contribute more if you have some!

Thank you for being a loyal Creative Curio reader. Since you like the content I publish so much, why not tell a friend?

For Print Only is a new blog from Under Consideration, and it showcases beautiful print work (and not all of it is expensive). There are sooo many cool things on here that it’s hard to pick just a few to show you!

John Vanderslice Poster is so cool! He used cheap little paper doilies to create a custom plate for the poster! How creative is that?!

I simply love the complex simplicity of these Ohne Titel Spring 2009 Invitations. Simple because they aren’t cluttered at all, but complex because of all the layers. And the price tag isn’t too bad either; about $2 per piece.

I recently discovered Grain Edit via my friend and awesome designer Alex, from retinart (follow him on Twitter!). Grain Edit profiles some really inspirational retro designs. The first one above is by Frank Chimero and the Rebel Green is from Wink.

Speaking of retinart, about a month ago, Alex published a great article called Good Designers Ask “Why?” Go check it out if you haven’t read it yet! If you put this into practice, it will make a huge difference in dealing with frustrating client requests—and better yet, it will benefit your clients.

I can’t say enough good things about For Graphic Designers Only or the author, Michael Huggins. His information about business and marketing specifically for graphic designers is so helpful! And being a former creative director himself, he knows what we go through. He also has some podcasts and offers personal business coaching. I highly recommend you sign up for the newsletter. The last newsletter that was sent out was all about using Twitter to find work, and it was truly insightful and contained practical, easy to implement tips. You should follow Michael on Twitter, too!

Liked this post? Go ahead and grab the free RSS feed (or email!) so you’ll be automatically notified when a new article is published.

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Thanks for subscribing to the Creative Curio feed! You can pick up your free subscriber gift, a handy cheat sheet of common Photoshop shortcuts,  by going to the PDF Download Page. You are most welcome to read the articles and comments that helped create this PDF and contribute more if you have some!

Thank you for being a loyal Creative Curio reader. Since you like the content I publish so much, why not tell a friend?

Bad Idea by Kapungo

The Work

This is going to get a little personal, but bear with me. Have you ever considered that your designer’s block is actually a psychological defense? It’s probably stemming from fear about something (yes, I was a Psychology major before discovering graphic design).

I just discovered this awesome process that I think might help combat the block. It’s called The Work by Byron Katie.

Designers can use it like this:

The instructions on the site say to answer the questions (copied here for convenience).

Don’t censor yourself; don’t be wise or “spiritual.” Take this opportunity to express your negative feelings on paper.

from ellikelli

1. Who angers, irritates, saddens, or frustrates you, and why?

I am frustrated with Bob because he doesn’t like the way I design. He always criticizes me.

2. How do you want them to change? What do you want them to do?

I want Bob to declare my design the best in the world… or at least affirm my creative solutions.

3. What is it that they should or shouldn’t do, be, think, or feel? What advice could you offer?

Bob should give me constructive criticism so I can improve.

Bob shouldn’t berate me and my work.

4. What do they need to do in order for you to be happy?

I need Bob to affirm my design choices and encourage me.

5. What do you think of them? Make a list.

Bob is inconsiderate, rude, egotistical and close-minded.

6. What is it that you don’t want to experience with that person again?

I don’t ever want to be criticized by Bob again.

Turn Negative Thoughts Around

Take one of the negative thoughts from the above 6 questions. For the example, I’ll take “Bob thinks I’m a bad designer; that’s why he’s always criticizing me.”

Then ask the following questions. Meditate on the answers.

1. Is it true?

Yes it’s true. The evidence is he is always criticizing my work!

2. Can you absolutely know that it’s true?

Well, I’ve never asked Bob if he thinks I’m a bad designer, so I suppose I can’t know for sure, no.

3. How do you react—what happens—when you believe that thought?

When I believe Bob thinks I’m a bad designer, I start feeling like I really am a bad designer! I question my ideas and I doubt that I can ever produce another good design in my life, no matter how hard I try, how many books I read or how many “inspirational” design collections I look at. It just makes me feel bad about being me.

4. Who would you be without the thought?

I would be someone free from the fear of negative criticism. I would feel free to explore my own creative ideas and take my own path to an effective design. Hmm… I kinda like that idea!

Then turn it around (the concept you are questioning), and don’t forget to find three genuine examples of each turnaround.

The original statement: “Bob shouldn’t berate me and my work.”

Turnaround 1: Bob should berate me and my work. (Bob can do whatever he likes, the affect his actions have on me is MY choice… and maybe there is some truth in his criticisms)

Turnaround 2: I should berate Bob’s work. (Well, I don’t really want to repay like for like. It doesn’t feel good afterwards)

Turnaround 3: I shouldn’t berate myself and my work. (Hmm… so are these negative thoughts really coming from me? Do I discourage my own creativity because I judge my new thoughts before they come to fruition?)

Do this section for each though for questions 1 – 5 above. The sixth question is where the magic happens…

Original: “I don’t ever want to be criticized by Bob again.”

Turnaround 1: I am willing to be criticized by Bob again. (More than likely it’s going to happen whether I like it or not. Can I be brave in the face that reality?)

Turnaround 2: I look forward to being criticized by Bob again. (Maybe this will give me a chance to confront Bob and ask him what he really thinks of my designs!)

Getting Back to the Design Part—Jumpstart Your Brain

So now that you’ve done The Work, do you feel freer to explore your creative ideas? Perhaps you need a little help getting started. Here are some ideas:

I’ve written before about copying designs you think are successful. Well, the underlying layout at least. It really can help get your brain in gear. Thumbnails are important and you need to get all your ideas on paper. Then you need to dig deep to get the really good stuff—the less obvious solutions.

Pick apart just one or two designs that you think are successful—the point of this is to work through being overwhelmed by thousands of designs. Ask questions: Why are these designs successful? How can you use the elements and principles of design to discover their “secret” and implement it into your own designs?

Brainstorm with a friend—designer or not. Non-designers can offer you a perspective you couldn’t have thought of on your own and maybe they will be less inhibited by the details of making an idea work. There are benefits to bouncing ideas off of a designer, too—already knows the industry, maybe has done something similar, keeps up on latest news and trends.

Doodle! The creative benefits to doodling are championed by the likes of Von Glitschka, Milton Glaser
and me

So what do you think? Is this all a load of hooey? Does a designer’s psychology really play a role in how creative he or she is? Do you think this process will help you at all? I’d love to talk in the comments!

This post is my entry for Just Creative Design’s $11,000 Group Writing Project. There’s still time to join in! Deadline for entries is November 22nd.

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Thanks for subscribing to the Creative Curio feed! You can pick up your free subscriber gift, a handy cheat sheet of common Photoshop shortcuts,  by going to the PDF Download Page. You are most welcome to read the articles and comments that helped create this PDF and contribute more if you have some!

Thank you for being a loyal Creative Curio reader. Since you like the content I publish so much, why not tell a friend?