Andy Rutledge : Design View

White Labeling 2.0: Black Labeling

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:25:31 -0600

Likely everything you consider to be white labeling is not. It’s an easy mistake to make, but it’s not a good mistake to make. I’m going to clear up the difference between white labeling and what I call black labeling here. But first, here’s the cliché story of how black labeling misconstrued as white labeling came to be…

Plato's Cave

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 10:30:31 -0600

A recent discussion I had with the CEO of a well known agency threw into sharp relief the difference between those who can perceive something better than they currently have and those who could never fathom anything beyond their miserable situation…

Has It Helped?

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:30:31 -0600

…today I have what must surely seem like a self-serving request. If you’ve experienced any benefit from putting into practice the sorts of ideals and practices I describe in my articles I would sincerely appreciate hearing from you with whatever details you care to share…

Stupid Is As Stupid Does

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:35:31 -0600

There’s an easy test for evaluating design professionalism. The quality of your client experiences is directly proportional to the quality of your professionalism. If you have “stupid clients” it’s because you’re behaving stupidly to begin with, for we attract what we project. If you’ll stop being stupid, your clients’ IQs will increase dramatically. Funny how that works…

Logo Design for Buffalo Bill

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 09:10:31 -0600

Suffice it to say that there are just some clients a designer shouldn't take up with…

How To Become a Designer

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:22:31 -0600

I receive so many emails asking about design education, how to become a designer, or what best path to take in order to get there that I thought it might be nice to just look into the camera and tell my story as an example. My story might not be best for every aspiring designer to follow, but at least it's a story…

The Demise of American Exceptionalism

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:25:31 -0600

The United States of America is currently in the throes of a civil war of sorts. There are facets and nuances to this war, but the fundamental conflict is between those fighting to preserve liberty and those fighting to expand the scope and reach of unmitigated tyranny…

Lies, Deception, and Subcontracting

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 10:25:31 -0600

If signing with your agency means that your clients are unknowingly making other similar choices…but without any real choice in the matter, your brand actually represents something quite different than what you may think it represents…

First Things First?

Wed, 17 Jan 2010 09:15:31 -0600

…Are those companies that sell products wrong to market them? Are we designers wrong to help communicate these messages and to accept payment for our work in doing so? To what alternative?…

Buying Shampoo

Mon, 15 Jan 2010 22:12:31 -0600

I knew what I wanted when I walked into the store and now I’m pacing up and down an aisle, staring at bottles of shampoo, SCARED I MIGHT PICK THE WRONG ONE! Is this really happening? Apparently, yes…

Again With the Risks

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:12:31 -0600

Whether you’re a designer or a plumber or a banker, this article is meant for you…

Where Wireframes Are Concerned

Wed, 09 Nov 2009 09:40:31 -0600

Wireframes can be useful, valuable artifacts for informing the designer’s process, but they often fail miserably as a first-step deliverable for clients…

Risk

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:02:31 -0600

Risk is too much maligned in western culture these days and that has begun to seriously piss me off. It wasn’t always so. The west, the US in particular, used to be a place where risktaking was understood to be a fundamental component of life; successful life especially. So in a fit of indignation I made some desktop wallpapers yesterday…

Creativity is Not Design - Design Test 2

Mon, 02 Oct 2009 07:55:31 -0600

Some years ago I published a little test to stimulate discussion in the community and so that readers could self-evaluate their understanding of design fundamentals. It was and remains quite popular among my readers. Here I’ve crafted another design test, but this time with a specific target audience and a more specific purpose…

AIGA On Committees and Design Projects

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:20:31 -0600

It is a sad but inescapable fact that one cannot be a responsible writer on issues of design professionalism without being compelled to take to task and try and repair damage done regularly to design education and professional standards by AIGA. I’ve endeavored to do so quite a few times in the past and there is once more need to correct what passes for wisdom or instruction in the insular and unfathomable the world of that organization…