Saturday, March 31, 2012
Yahoo bypasses my Article
Yahoo! front page must have passed on my story, Common Mistakes That Can Get You in Trouble with Your Boss for Nine things never to say to your boss.
Chances of Winning Lottery
Labels:
Informational Design,
Lottery,
Mega Millions,
USA Today
Friday, March 30, 2012
Mega Millions Billions
The Mega-Millions lottery is up to $540 million and counting... Soon enough they may have to change the name and logo...
wdsiemer ii |
Labels:
Billion,
Logo,
Lottery,
Mega Millions,
Spoof,
the sketchpad,
wdsiemer,
William Siemer
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Larry The Quaker
Labels:
Brand Identity,
Branding,
Larry,
Pepsico,
Quaker Oats
Interesting Vehicle
Labels:
Car,
Interesting Product,
New Beetle,
Turtle,
Vehicle,
Vehicle Wrap
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Pepsi Next
Pepsi Next is launching this week with 60% less sugar and fewer calories than a standard Pepsi. Sucralose and aspartame will act as sweeteners.
Based on its packaging, Pepsi Next appears as if it could be more successful than Pepsi's previous spin-offs, Pepsi One and Pepsi Max. They distinguished themselves as low-calorie alternatives to regular Pepsi by using black packaging to indicate this difference. By keeping Pepsi Next's packaging simple, clean, and using a lighter/cooler variant of the Pepsi blue it maintains the overall Pepsi brand while appearing crisp, refreshing, and light.
I guess it really comes down to if the stuff tastes good and similar enough to Pepsi...
Labels:
Branding,
Design,
Logo,
Package Design,
Packaging,
Pepsi,
Pepsi Next
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The Sketchpad - WordPress
The Sketchpad is now available at Wordpress.
Update 04.02.12
I do not want the confusion of an exact duplicate of the same blog, so I am removing The Sketchpad at WordPress.
Update 04.02.12
I do not want the confusion of an exact duplicate of the same blog, so I am removing The Sketchpad at WordPress.
Labels:
Blog,
Design,
Link,
the sketchpad,
wdsiemer,
William Siemer,
Wordpress
Monday, March 26, 2012
Make Free Phone Calls From Google+
I was talking about this last week, and the same day I saw this article explaining how to place free phone calls through Google+. I tested it out using my speakers and a microphone.
Here's the article with instructions...
Make Free Phone Calls From Google+
Here's the article with instructions...
Make Free Phone Calls From Google+
Labels:
Google+,
Phone,
Technology
One Size Smaller
I love being able to help small business enhance their brand image, but there are plenty of frustrations along the way. Instead of trusting my design experience, clients tell me what fonts to use (papyrus/times new roman are among their favorites), revert my design back to their orginal Word document design (some tiny image they found on the web), want me to copy someone else's logo, and downplay my design consulting (make it bigger!).
I often do oversized graphics, and very frequently get "make it just one font smaller/bigger" All this means to me is make it smaller/bigger. What do they think it means? Here is Myriad Bold 250pt next to Myriad Bold 249pt. Is this what they were looking for? :)
I often do oversized graphics, and very frequently get "make it just one font smaller/bigger" All this means to me is make it smaller/bigger. What do they think it means? Here is Myriad Bold 250pt next to Myriad Bold 249pt. Is this what they were looking for? :)
An image that pops up in a lot of Word documents (Make this my logo) |
Labels:
Design,
Font,
Graphic Design,
Typography
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Outdoor Soccer
Journal
I have played organized soccer since I was about three, but it's been a while since I have played outdoor soccer. What a breathe of fresh air.
I have played organized soccer since I was about three, but it's been a while since I have played outdoor soccer. What a breathe of fresh air.
My cell phone camera has somehow become even worse |
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Nike Pro Combat NFL Uniforms
What the League's Uniforms Could Look Like in 2012
From the Bleacher Report
From the Bleacher Report
View Gallery of 32 NFL Teams |
Labels:
Bleacher Report,
NFL,
Nike,
Uniforms
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
I enjoyed the movie and the DVD it came on. At first I thought the design was going to be only for design sake, but it actually did relate to themes in the movie (which made it much better.) It's been done before. Reminds me of a music CD by System of a Down called "Steal This Album."
Photo |
Wikipedia |
Labels:
Design,
DVD,
Movies,
Piracy,
System of a Down,
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,
Thriller
Friday, March 23, 2012
Where I Live
This illustration was so ugly I had to take it down...
Labels:
Cincinnati,
Delhi,
For Sale,
Logos,
the sketchpad,
Township,
Where I Live
Interesting Ad
This ad appeared on the side of my blog. This contraption appeared without an explanation...
The Alaskan Gel Master (gel ice pack filling machine) is a compact, portable, easy to use machine that dispenses just the right amount of gel crystals and water into each bag then a sealing machine seals the bag tight.
Here's what I found when I clicked on it...
The Alaskan Gel Master System
The Alaskan Gel Master (gel ice pack filling machine) is a compact, portable, easy to use machine that dispenses just the right amount of gel crystals and water into each bag then a sealing machine seals the bag tight.
Labels:
Advertisements,
Blog,
Contraption
Blogger/WordPress
If you are starting a site/blog--Use WordPress! So much better than Blogger.
Juan Gris Doodle
The 125th Birthday of the "third musketeer of cubism."
Portrait of Picasso, 1912, oil on canvas, Wikimedia Commons |
Labels:
Art,
Cubism,
Google Doodle,
Juan Gris
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Common Mistakes That Can Get You in Trouble with Your Boss
These Mistakes Can Get You in Trouble with Your Boss
Be careful not to commit these business faux-pas
William D. SIEMER II
Kalvin Gloppe of Gloppe Industries, Inc. said his IT worker did exactly that. "Oh, I can't tell you how much that pissed me off. As soon as he walked through my office with that damned sweater vest, I told him to take it off and pack his things." Gloppe continues, "We can't handle that lack of professionalism here."
Other irks include puffy vests, penny loafers, and fun ties.
Phil discovered this when he stole money from the supermarket's cash drawer he worked for to buy drugs. Phil said he thought no one would notice the cash was missing, but when his boss Larry found an empty register he suspected Phil because he had been using crack to treat back pain.
"I understood Phil had a drug problem, but there were plenty of other people he could have robbed besides my company," said Larry.
Like many Americans, Fred is talking about the time he punched his supervisor's mother, Betty Johnson, in the throat. In this circumstance, Fred was given a warning because his boss didn't care much for his mother visiting the workplace.
Most of the time a situation like this will land you in deep water with the boss.
However, a moustache alone can kill your relationship with your boss. The growth of a moustache is among the top silent reasons a boss fires an employee--male or female.
So, either don't shave at all, or shave it all to avoid the mistake of moustache growth.Wearing glasses and having a moustache are grounds for an immediate termination.
Be careful not to commit these business faux-pas
William D. SIEMER II
Wearing a Sweater Vest
[Also, called the Santorum look.]
There is nothing more frustrating to a boss than an employee who comes to work wearing a sweater vest.Kalvin Gloppe of Gloppe Industries, Inc. said his IT worker did exactly that. "Oh, I can't tell you how much that pissed me off. As soon as he walked through my office with that damned sweater vest, I told him to take it off and pack his things." Gloppe continues, "We can't handle that lack of professionalism here."
Other irks include puffy vests, penny loafers, and fun ties.
Embezzling Funds
While it may not sound like a big deal compared to wearing a sweater vest, stealing money from the company isn't favorably looked upon.Phil discovered this when he stole money from the supermarket's cash drawer he worked for to buy drugs. Phil said he thought no one would notice the cash was missing, but when his boss Larry found an empty register he suspected Phil because he had been using crack to treat back pain.
"I understood Phil had a drug problem, but there were plenty of other people he could have robbed besides my company," said Larry.
Punching Their Mother in the Throat
Fred recalls, "This b***h got all up in my s**t, so I decked her in the gullet."Like many Americans, Fred is talking about the time he punched his supervisor's mother, Betty Johnson, in the throat. In this circumstance, Fred was given a warning because his boss didn't care much for his mother visiting the workplace.
Most of the time a situation like this will land you in deep water with the boss.
Growing a Moustache
A full goatee, five o'clock shadow, or sideburns can give you a distinctive, but still business-like appearance.However, a moustache alone can kill your relationship with your boss. The growth of a moustache is among the top silent reasons a boss fires an employee--male or female.
So, either don't shave at all, or shave it all to avoid the mistake of moustache growth.Wearing glasses and having a moustache are grounds for an immediate termination.
Labels:
Boss,
Business,
Embezzling,
Humor,
Moustache,
Punch,
Sweater Vest,
the sketchpad,
These Mistakes Can Get You in Trouble with Your Boss,
wdsiemer,
William Siemer
Data Charts
From NPR
Another interesting article/concept. I like his use of charts for mundane daily activities such as these. It's a very scientific, but visually artistic view. It reminds me of the use of people's DNA sequencing as enlarged framed prints. This gives me ideas...
Another interesting article/concept. I like his use of charts for mundane daily activities such as these. It's a very scientific, but visually artistic view. It reminds me of the use of people's DNA sequencing as enlarged framed prints. This gives me ideas...
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Junkyard of Floors
When I originally caught a glimpse of this commercial I thought it was a joke. Junkyard of Floors? Leopard prints? Half-nude man spread on the floor? Check, check, and very check.
WATCH FOR YOURSELF...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3xvpcnzvtI
Chuck |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3xvpcnzvtI
Labels:
Commercials,
Humor,
Junkyard of Floors,
YouTube
Spring Flowers
Labels:
Flowers,
Photographs,
Spring,
the sketchpad,
wdsiemer,
William Siemer
DRAW SOMETHING
The Ten Best Draw Something Pictures We've Seen
It's not all sad stickmen.
View IGN's Gallery
I guess they haven't seen my "garden"...
Monet's Garden |
Labels:
Art,
Claude Monet,
Design,
Draw Something,
Games,
Garden,
Humor,
IGN,
the sketchpad,
wdsiemer,
William Siemer
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
'How Creativity Works': It's All In Your Imagination
from NPR books
An interesting talk on All Things Considered yesterday.
Lehrer defines creativity broadly, considering everything from the invention of masking tape to breakthroughs in mathematics; from memorable ad campaigns to Shakespearean tragedies.
An interesting talk on All Things Considered yesterday.
NPR/iStock Photo |
Labels:
Books,
Creativity,
Imagination,
NPR
Mouse in the Snow
Labels:
Art,
Design,
Mouse in the Snow,
the sketchpad,
wdsiemer,
William Siemer
Spring Doodle
Monday, March 19, 2012
Adobe CS6
From WinBeta
CS6 is expected to be a major release compared to CS5, with the inclusion of several new enhancements such as a new interface, improved content-aware pixel manipulation, integration with Adobe's cloud services, improved 3D editing, layer filtering, file searching, and more.
CS6 is expected to be a major release compared to CS5, with the inclusion of several new enhancements such as a new interface, improved content-aware pixel manipulation, integration with Adobe's cloud services, improved 3D editing, layer filtering, file searching, and more.
Labels:
Adobe,
Design,
Illustrator,
Photoshop,
Programs
Saturday, March 17, 2012
St. Patrick's Day
Labels:
Google,
Google Doodle,
St. Patricks Day
Friday, March 16, 2012
Minimalist Movie Posters
View Galleries
http://inspiredology.com/minimalist-movie-posters/
http://www.fubiz.net/2010/06/25/movies-poster-by-pedro-vidotto/mockupforrestgumppng/
http://inspiredology.com/minimalist-movie-posters/
http://www.fubiz.net/2010/06/25/movies-poster-by-pedro-vidotto/mockupforrestgumppng/
Labels:
Art,
Design,
Forrest Gump,
Gallery,
Link,
Minimalist,
Movie Posters,
Poster
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Willie's Sports Bar
I hooked up Willie's with logo ceiling prints from all the local sports teams and stations. In addition, did their 700 WLWstation's frosted glass (whether I agree with the politics or not :) ). Check it out...
Labels:
700wlw,
Cincinnati,
Design,
Logos,
Sports,
UC,
Willie's Sports Bar,
Xavier
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Origami Google
This seems appropriate since I posted my origami portfolio headers the other day. See Headers
Akira Yoshizawa 101st Birthday by Robert Lang |
Labels:
Akira Yoshizawa,
Design,
Google,
Google Doodle,
Origami,
the sketchpad,
wdsiemer,
William Siemer
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
15 Photoshopped Transformations of Celebs and Models
An article making the rounds... However, some of them just look overly smoothed.
View Gallery:
15 Photoshopped Transformations of Celebs and Models
If you’ve ever wondered what people really look like before being Photoshopped, a new software tool developed by researchers at Dartmouth College reveals the answer.
Labels:
15 Photoshopped Transformations of Celebs and Models,
Dartmouth College,
Design,
Digital,
Enhancements,
Gallery,
Photoshop
Are video games art? Draw your own conclusions
From USA Today
The Smithsonian American Art Museum, which houses such masters as Georgia O'Keeffe and John Singer Sargent, steps right into the middle of the argument with a new exhibit, The Art of Video Games. It begins a six-month stay at the Washington museum Friday before going on a national tour.
Read Article
Video Games in the Smithsonian
We were having this discussion a couple of weeks ago at work. I definitely think video games are art. One of my "top-secret," under development gallery exhibitions focuses more in-depth on this concept. However, our topic was regarding a game a co-worker has been playing called "Skyrim." Every screen capture he took from the actual gameplay was worthy of being a framed piece of art. So, he took his high-res screen captures, blew them up, and did exactly that.
Read Article
Video Games in the Smithsonian
We were having this discussion a couple of weeks ago at work. I definitely think video games are art. One of my "top-secret," under development gallery exhibitions focuses more in-depth on this concept. However, our topic was regarding a game a co-worker has been playing called "Skyrim." Every screen capture he took from the actual gameplay was worthy of being a framed piece of art. So, he took his high-res screen captures, blew them up, and did exactly that.
Happy Little Trees? |
Only Missing Two Figures :) |
Labels:
Art,
Design,
Digital,
Skyrim,
Smithsonian American Art Museum,
The Art of Video Games,
the sketchpad,
Video Games,
wdsiemer,
William Siemer
Erased de Kooning Drawing
From NPR
Another interesting concept... I like de Kooning's take on this project just as much as Rauschenberg's original idea.
Read the Article:
Two Ways To Think About Nothing
Another interesting concept... I like de Kooning's take on this project just as much as Rauschenberg's original idea.
Read the Article:
Two Ways To Think About Nothing
Labels:
Art,
Canvas,
Concept,
Erased de Kooning Drawing,
Inspiration,
NPR,
Robert Rauschenberg,
Willem de Kooning
Monday, March 12, 2012
MADMEN logo
Put this together real quick (not streamlined precisely) for a viewing party March 25th. It is high-res at 4 feet, but I scaled it down to a usable size.
Labels:
AMC,
Logo,
MADMEN,
the sketchpad,
wdsiemer,
William Siemer
Underwater Bodies
Love this concept... I've experimented with the idea of nature taking over art, so the art becomes the infusion of both; as I did with the final product in http://wdsiemer.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-cube.html.
These sculptures work with nature (coral reefs.)
These sculptures work with nature (coral reefs.)
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/01/pictures/110105-underwater-sculpture-park-garden-cancun-mexico-caribbean-pictures-photos-science/ |
Labels:
Art,
Coral Reefs,
Design,
Idea,
Inspiration,
Nature,
Photo,
Sculpture,
the sketchpad,
Underwater Bodies,
What Cube
William Siemer's The Sketchpad
These were the headers for a reworked version of my portfolio site. They will not be used in this form because they are a little to grungy. I decided I wanted something that appears cleaner, streamlined and more corporate for displaying my commercial work.
Last week I was slammed with design work, so much I couldn't make as many updates. Hopefully I can post some soon, but there's always that period of confidentiality with them being concepts in development. On top of that, my design update ideas (I send to my phone from my phone) were deleted by the service technicians at Sprint without notifying me.
In other news, I have reached over 20,000 visitors.
Labels:
Design,
headers,
Portfolio,
the sketchpad,
wdsiemer,
William Siemer
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