Compelling Graphics: Art of The Black Panther Periodicals
Talk about striking imagery. The bold, in-your-face graphics of The Black Panther publication from the late 1960s and early 1970s is hard not to notice. I’m a big fan of the Rubylith masked photos combined with splashes of color - especially the gradient on the first image. These periodicals have a punk DIY aesthetic to them that is unmistakably renegade in nature. This style conjures revolutionary posters of Che, early punk rock DIY, and OBEY propaganda. OBEY might be the closest thing we have to this subversive mix of art and politics at this point. At least in the mainstream - I can’t speak to the underground. There’s always an underground art and or political movement on horizon. I haven’t actually read one of these documents, so I can’t speak to that. But as a designer and artist, I am drawn to the bold cover art. The artist Emory Douglas’ signature is on the last image. His work is very graphic and hits on all cylinders. I’ll post some of his work soon.
Compelling Graphics: The Crisis Magazine
Founded by W.E.B. DuBois, The Crisis Magazine, the official magazine of the NAACP has been in circulation since 1910. Civil Rights, politics, history, and culture are the key subjects discussed by the oldest Black-oriented magazine in the world. I first heard about the magazine from a podcast on the early days of the Harlem Renaissance. and did a quick google search. What I was not expecting, were the amazing graphic covers that I will post below. Even by today’s standards, these covers would catch my attention. As an artist and history nerd, I am pleased with the distinct art styles present including Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and the distinct raw printmaking feel of some of the others. Take a look below!
5 takeaways from David Sedaris’s MasterClass “Storytelling and Humor”
Have you tried out Masterclass? I am giving it a go to learn from the best of the best. Starting with David Sedaris’s course on writing. I’m a fan of his work to begin with, so I was excited to hear what advice he has to offer. In my opinion, David’s course is helpful for anyone who wants to make a lasting impression, is a public speaker of some sort (teacher, leader) or in my case - a creative. The course is fun to listen to, easy to watch, and very insightful. Here are a few takeaways for me personally:
Be more like a sponge - absorb what is going on around you to stimulate your mind and fuel inspiration. I do this already as a graphic designer. I’m always looking at signage, critiquing advertisements, imagining how I would rebrand a product. However, Sedaris’ advice applies more closely to personal interactions with people. Take mental notes of interesting or even mundane interactions you have with people. Which leads me to my next takeaway: the importance of mining your own life stories to write about.
While you are going about your day, think of it as a story. If something awkward or awful happens to you, just say to yourself, “one day you I write about this.”
Consider how engaged you are with the world around you. Tune in and observe your life as a story. Talk to strangers. Seek out random interactions. Say yes more often. If you say no, that’s it - end of story. But if you say yes, you never know what will happen or where it will take you. The key to this takeaway is lifting your face away from your phone and actually participating in the world around you.
Be honest with your writing. Honest writing leads to an awkward conversation. Or a laugh. Or a revelation. Write the truth - not your feelings. Writing honestly will form a stronger bond with your audience.
Put in the work - write it - then write it again - then write it again - repeat until the story becomes complete. This process can be applied to any other creative process as well. Practice makes perfect right? As it turns out, David Sedaris makes notes of how his writing effects the audience during live readings. This blew my mind, but it makes sense. For example, Sedaris notes when the audience laughs or when there is awkward silence. Taking notes in the moment and revising accordingly will yield wonderful results. I plan on using this bit of advice with my art/design projects, granted a proper critique lends itself to this naturally.
Thanks for reading my notes on the David Sedaris Masterclass! I highly recommend it to anyone creative.
Data Visualization by W.E.B. DuBois circa 1900
Today in my search for data visualization inspiration (hey that rhymes!) I found out that W. E. B. Du Bois made infographics way back in 1900. The data is captured by hand - and is crude by today's standards - but incredibly neat and legible considering. Du Bois was given a grant by congress to put these graphics together with the help of his students at Atlanta University. He received the grant just 4 months before the Paris Exhibition (world's fair), where he would earn a gold medal for the work. The graphics still hold up and are eye opening to say the least. Also keep in mind, these were created just 37 years after the end of slavery. These charts are compiled in the book W. E. B. Du Bois's Data Portraits: Visualizing Black America, which I am adding to my reading list right away. More info here with more links at the bottom of the page as well: https://medium.com/nightingale/data-journalism-in-the-study-of-w-e-b-du-bois-the-negro-problem-part-2-of-4-e5ea9b976adc
How Lincoln Design Co. got started
Sometimes hearing someone else’s origin story can help you visualize your own. We all have those moments when we feel stuck in a rut. Other times, we can feel it when we are on fire, killing it on our work and feeling like a total BA. Whether you are stuck or on top of the world, here is a short 10 min origin story video from Lincoln Design Co.’s Dan Janssen and Dustin Noden. These guys have been creating some great video content lately. I always find a little gem of advice from listening to these guys - maybe you will too. Enjoy the video and think of your own story arc as you watch! - DB
One Man’s Data…
Welcome to Gothic, Colorado—one of the coldest places in the United States. This ghost town has been abandoned since the 1920s, but there is at least one person who still calls it home. For more than 40 years, current resident billy barr has lived in a small cabin, recording data about the snowpack to pass the time. In this short film, Morgan Heim of Day’s Edge Productions profiles the legendary local who inadvertently provided scientists with a treasure trove of climate change data. Winner of the Film4Climate competition organized by the Connect4Climate Program of the World Bank (film4climate.net).
I’ve been doing a lot of research on interactive infographic design since December 2020. I’d like to create some useful infographics and also learn a better way of doing so. I think the key to keeping infographics engaging, now and in the future, is to make them interactive. More on that topic to come later, but in the meantime, YouTube suggested this video about a man who has lived alone in Gothic, Co for forty years. Somewhere along the way, he began taking notes on his observances of nature and snow in particular. Now scientists are using his data for, well, science! Maybe one day one of my infographics will be the subject of a National Geographic short film. Inspiration is around every corner!
Travel to NYC
Are you missing life on the outside? This quarantine life is starting to get to me. I’ve been longing to travel again. Last June, my wife and I took a trip to the Big Apple for her birthday and had a blast. My plan was to make this an annual tradition for us, but for now we aren’t traveling very far past our front doorstep. Luckily, the mind can travel on its own with a little inspiration and visual stimulation. Walk right this way to the YouTube Travel Agency. Must be this tall to ride and no mask required! I found some really incredible footage from times past. This colorized film from NYC in 1911 is fascinating to watch. Being that I’m from Atlanta, I’ve always been fascinated with the hustle and bustle of old New York. If you are a designer like me, you will love the vintage signage lighting up the skies of 1930s New York City in the second video. The neon museum starts at about 21:00 minutes. Bon voyage!
How to choose a bank for your small business
This article is for anyone starting their business from scratch. We’re talking about a new entrepreneur or hobbyist who does not have enough money for a down payment on their first business bank account, nor do they want to.
Step 1: Google “small business bank account.” This will place you in front of all the banks eager to do business with you. Which is ALL the banks! So be sure to read the fine print before jumping on the first bank’s link. In fact, the first several results on Google will be paid for. Take a look at a few of the sites in front of you to get acquainted with the process.
Many of the options available online claim they are for small business owners, but will require a 5000 dollar deposit to begin. We’ll get into this later, but in my opinion, that is a high price for small business owners who are just starting out. Also, some banks will offer deals such as 200 dollars back etc. Just make sure you actually qualify and are satisfied with the other features or fees they offer before jumping on click bait for a few bucks.
First and foremost, scroll past the “free $300” pitches and check the minimum requirements to open a bank account. If you don’t meet the minimum requirements, there’s no sense in wasting anytime hoping for or reading about a cash offer. If you do meet the minimum requirements for a bonus, then excellent! But it’s not always that easy. As the saying goes, “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.”
Beware of monthly maintenance fees. I honestly don’t understand what this is for. Everything is digital these days, so it’s not like the bank has to hire someone to sweep your bank account vault or roll your coins. Don’t pay another bill if you can avoid it!
Make sure you will not be required to keep a specific balance that is higher than you can afford. If you’re a single member LLC, you might need almost every dollar in your business account at any given moment - at least, in the beginning.
Most banks offer “online banking” as a perk. While it does make keeping track of transactions more convenient, there is risk that the bank could lose this information. Plan on getting quick books or use an Xcel sheet to balance your checkbook. My first business used online banking with Fidelity - and it was great. However, when the bank merged with Ameris, all of the data I had painstakingly collected in preparation for tax season was lost. This cost me many hours of time to rebuild from scratch. On that note: always keep a paper receipt (or email.) Without receipts, I would have been up shits creek with no paddle come tax season.
Now here are the 6 main things to look for in a free business checking account:
1) Opening Deposit and Balance Requirements
2) Maintenance Fees
3) Monthly Transaction Limits
4) Bank Size and Branch Locations
5) Online and Mobile Banking
6) Access to Other Business Services
In these COVID19 times, I would also check to see if there are drive thru banking options in your area as well local ATMs in case the main branch is closed or you do not feel safe entering the building. Also check out the bank’s mobile app reviews. The app will save you a lot of time and headache and can help you monitor things while you aren’t at your computer, and, it is an excellent tool for social distancing.
For my design business, I chose BB&T. Which is now Truist Bank. BB&T did not require a minimum deposit or minimum daily amount, and allowed me to sign up for an account online all while watching my daughter jump in her bouncy house. Boom! That’s how we roll at Bardis Design!
Hopefully I’ve helped save you some time and effort with this process. If you liked my article, please share it with your friends/Facebook/LinkedIn/ etc.
Why now is the time to start a small business
It all begins with an idea.
As many of us grasp with the idea of unemployment, some of us will find jobs, some of us will change careers, and others - the few, the proud, the brave - will start a new business.
There may not be a better time than now to start a new business. The world is in a state of flux that we have not seen since the 60s or maybe even beyond. The entire world is dealing with the fallout of a global pandemic, economies are sputtering, cash flow has slowed, and jobs are being eliminated left and right. Civil rights movements for racial equality are once again on the frontlines. The world powers are increasingly tense with all of these issues as well and politics are highly polarized. If you have somehow maintained employment and good health throughout this year (2020) so far, then pat yourself on the back my friend… and this article may not be for you. For everyone else, the time is now! It may seem daunting and foolish, but now is the time to pull that napkin with your dream scribbled on it out of your pocket and make it happen.
What is one of the biggest reasons you have not done something new or challenging in years past? Because it would be too hard. Because it would be too inconvenient on your lifestyle or family. Because it would be too radical. Because it would lead to an uncertain fate. Let’s examine these reasons for not moving forward.
Your list of reasons to not start a new business doesn’t make sense anymore. 2020 has been hard. 2020 has inconvenienced your lifestyle and family. 2020 has challenged your thinking, your morals, your stance on everything. And let’s face it, 2020 ain’t over yet bud.
2020 has changed your plans, but 2020 can’t steal your dreams. You can take back control of at least one thing in these “uncertain times” by attacking your goals like never before. And here is why NOW is the time more than ever. Everyone is feeling some type of way right now. For better or for worse, we have all been faced with challenges this year and this has affected everyone’s thinking - whether they see it or not yet. When the world turns the corner around all of 2020’s bullshit (hopefully for the better,) brands, businesses, entertainment, doctors, lawyers, police, generation xyz, PEOPLE, will have a new outlook on how they approach everything. Seize the opportunity to be one of the new businesses that people flock to as they try new things. People are shifting their thoughts and shopping habits. Businesses are closing left and right, which is sad for many of us (my favorite bar is no more as of yesterday) but, this may provide an opportunity for you as well.
In short, prepare your dreams now for when this is all over. Pave the groundwork for your dreams now so that when the pandemic dissipates and economies make a comeback, you are there to embrace your new customers/life/clients/etc. Craft your business now, while everyone’s thoughts are malleable and in a state of flux. Do the work you were scared to do before and do it before the world wakes up to a new horizon.
Everything will be ok
Photo by Daniel Monteiro on Unsplash
Or it won’t!
Millions of people have lost their jobs. Rioting, looting, and Police violence are an everyday occurrence. It feels like the world is over.
The reason I am sharing this story is because I want everyone to know, it will be ok. Millions of us are suddenly unemployed. We are all at the mercy of an ugly pandemic to make a living. We didn't lose our dream jobs because of something we did wrong. We didn’t throw in the towel or do something stupid. We simply showed up to work one day, and there was a bigger priority- getting a pandemic to slow its course. Now we have a different job.
The future is in our hands! Well, nothing feels like it’s in our control anymore to some degree. This pandemic has thrown a wrench in our lives. But that doesn’t mean no good will come from this. I encourage you to take the time out of worrying to be in the moment. Stop stressing for just 30 seconds. Listen to the birds chirping (sorry if your toddler is yelling) and try your best to visualize what you want your life to be like if everything went back to normal tomorrow.
As for me, I came to the realization that no job comes with any sort of guarantee. In fact, nothing in life does. At the end of the day, we are only in control of our own emotions and how we treat those around us. And even that might be giving ourselves too much credit. Your job doesn’t matter, and you don’t matter to your job either. What does matter is your health, your family, and your loved ones. Jobs and paychecks will come and go. Sometimes it will be our fault, sometimes it will be out of our hands. But how we treat each now and in the times after these “challenging times” will be the true test of character.
Who is Ramsey Lewis?
Wow. Here I am, working away at designs, listening to Spotify’s “This is Blue Note Jazz” playlist when an obscure jazz version of a Beatles song catches my attention. I immediately look into it and discover this artist, Ramsey Lewis, and his album “Mother Nature’s Son, which is a jazz/synth cover album with mostly Beatles songs from the White Album. Usually a cover of a Beatles song falls flat (in my opinion) when it is not performed by one of the members of that group. In this case, the synth and jazz fusion of Ramsey Lewis put my fears to rest as he weaves Julia, Blackbird, and Back in the U.S.S.R. through my headphones repeatedly for the next day. So, I did what any God fearing man does next…I googled Ramsey in search of his breakthrough hit. And there it was: 1965’s “The In Crowd” performed live by the bohemian Caverns in D.C. by the Ramsey Lewis Trio. This is the first Jazz album I’ve been excited about in a while. First of all, the album art is PERFECT. Classic Chess Records look and feel. Red, yellow, and orange hues and a photo that reminds you of a night on the town with your friends who are down to fall into a dive bar for some good music. Give it a listen some time! I’ll have to research Ramsey Lewis more - and will certainly write about it here at Bardis Design - but for now, back to work I go.
IMG_DMP: Old ad agency ads.
I found these old ad agency ads on LinkedIn. I love the different techniques these ad men use to promote themselves. I’ll be analyzing what made these work, so I figured I’d share them with you as well!
IMG_DMP: Flash the message, something’s out there!
I found this amazing lil graphic in an old Mad magazine. 1953 I think! Gotta love that lightning bolt zip-zap.
Life is Sweet
It all begins with an idea.
For a brief chapter in my life, I was one of three graphic designers at SweetWater Brewery in Atlanta, GA. Coming up in Atlanta in the 90s, I regarded SweetWater as THE top dawg in the craft beer scene for the South East. 420 Extra Pale Ale was my go-to beer for years not just for the taste, but also out of a deep love for my hometown. My wife and I would run to the store whenever a new Dank Tank dropped and buy several bottles at a time.
When I saw there was a design position open, I excitedly threw my name in the hat…and was rejected. Another year passed by, and I went all in for another opening. This time I made it past 400 hundred other applicants and actually landed a sweet gig as a beer drinkin’ pixel pusher among the ranks of some wacky, fun, creative, hard working folks.
As a huge fan of the brand, I had a deep case of “imposter syndrome” walking around the brewery in my first year. But as 2017 came to a close, I received the final dundee trophy (for all my NBC’s The Office fans) at the annual company party - the Unsung Hero award. Suddenly it hit me - I was actually “doing the damn thing.” My imposter syndrome had caused me to put my all into the job to prove to myself that I deserved it. What I hadn’t realized was that others had noticed too. I was giving this job my best because I had sought after it, earned it, and never wanted to lose it. I told myself I’d work at the brewery for at least five years. Then, as my wife and I added kids to the picture, we started to think of my job as a much longer phase of our journey. This company had seeped into our lifestyle, culture, and routine and I never would have done something to jeopardize the wonderful balance we had crafted together. In short, we described ourselves as a “SweetWater Family.”
Then in March 2020, our world turned upside down. Covid19 happened, and as we got deeper into the Spring of 2020, the world gradually began to shut down. Soon enough, I was grasping at straws trying to keep my job. The reality sunk in pretty fast that I would get laid off. All of the negative thoughts rushed in. What would we do about our 2-year old, baby on the way, car payments, mortgage, etc.?
Flash forward to the end of May 2020. We are all still here. We are healthy. My baby boy was delivered safely, and my wife recovered fast. Like so many others, we have drastically cut back our spending, lowered our expectations, and sheltered in place happily. Our relationship with the brewery came to an abrupt halt against my own free will, but I will always have “heady” memories of good beers, chill people, cool assignments, fun parties, and the night I earned a reward that opened my eyes to my full potential. I will miss my time working at the brewery very much. I truly enjoyed smelling the beer, watching the kegs roll by, and learning the industry from the independent, Atlanta staple, brewery perspective. My experience was 100 percent positive and pushed me to grow as a person, creative, and entrepreneur. Cheers SweetWater!