There are many production methods I love to see used in print pieces, such as letterpress, foil stamping, and of course, die-cuts. This business card is done well, and makes a really nice presentation all around.

Via ffffound.

I love Information Graphics. In some ways there is nothing quite as beautiful. Graphic designer Nicholas Felton has released his fourth installment in his own Annual Report project, which visually represents his time and activities for that past year. Each year his Annual Reports have attracted more and more attention, and perhaps as a result, Nicholas has taken each past report to new heights. This year is no different. From the books he has read to the places he has been and the music he listen to along the way, each piece of information has been laid out beautifully in the form of charts, graphs, and even his own version of an atlas map. Available in both folded and unfolded versions, it is available here.

When you’re a kid, sticks are swords, rocks are grenades, and the neighbor’s yard is a land far, far away. Or the old west. Or Gotham City. Pretty much whatever you need it to be that day. You could imagine into existence anything you wanted. You’d pull out those rain boots, don the Halloween mask from last year and admire yourself in front of the mirror. And what you looked like to everyone else didn’t even cross your mind, because for a few hours that afternoon—you were Batman.

We just recently finished the 2009 Product Catalog for Lily Stratton of the incredibly popular Lily Pottery. The amazing photography was done by Aaron Greene of Greene Photographs; they were great to work with and, in my opinion, really captured the essence of Lily Pottery. This catalog turned out to be a very beautiful showcase for Lily Pottery’s Jewelry, for both her regular customers and wholesalers.

Lily Pottery specializes in hand-made necklaces and earrings that combine an urban feel with high-end elegance; there are many that try and copy, but none can match the quality and originality that Lily Pottery produces. Lily Pottery’s studio is on Pendleton Street near downtown Greenville, and while you can buy all of her pieces at the studio, they also have an online store here; In addition to the jewelry, Lily Pottery has many other pottery offerings plus a few scarves and other hand-made items from around the world. As the holiday season draws near, be sure to stop by and pick up some gifts for your friends and family!

Best Buy recently updated their logo in hopes of transitioning to a new mark. One element they are focusing on with this update is transitioning the tag to a more separate icon, instead of the main focus. Before they make such a move, however, they are looking to get feedback from a live environment: Minnesota’s Mall of America Best Buy Location. New sign out front, new signage inside, and new employee uniforms are all part of this intermediate step. Barry Judge, the CMO of Best Buy, insists on his blog that this mark is not a new identity system for Best Buy, only a transitional move.

I have never been a fan of the current logo, so an updated identity is welcome. What bothers me about this new look though, is how bland this would make their brand seem. While the old logo may not have been typographically or aesthetically awesome, it was immediately recognizable; the new look misses that entirely. This is a rebrand with a lot of potential, but if Best Buy moves forward with a mark similar to what is shown at the Mall of America—they will be leaving a lot to be desired.

After much deliberation, I recently purchased a Nikon D60 D-SLR. It was a tough decision between Nikon and Canon, but for me the Nikon was the better choice. I’ve been able to take some photos in our downtown, but have been looking for a really great place to spend some time getting more accustomed to the D60.

My wife and I were recently able to visit the place where my Grandmother grew up, and I thought it was a great place to try it out. Although a dairy farm now, when she grew up it was primarily a tobacco farm. It was amazing to hear her explain all that went into a day’s work, and what part she played in each step. She vividly recalled each part of the process, and pointed out each change that time had brought to the farm. It was amazing to be standing in that place, knowing that so many of her memories were held there. Being there and sharing those memories with us brought her so much excitement and happiness; it’s a memory I am very thankful for.