{"id":1294,"date":"2024-09-29T16:48:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-29T16:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thatkeith.com\/articles\/?page_id=1294"},"modified":"2025-01-09T15:20:12","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T15:20:12","slug":"1000-word-thoughts","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thatkeith.com\/articles\/","title":{"rendered":"1000-word thoughts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This is where my\u00a0Design columns for MacUser magazine are collected for reference and comment.\u00a0These are written as creative, curiosity-driven explorations of specific ideas; they were originally published in MacUser magazine and are now made available \u2013 with minor updates where necessary \u2013 here.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Many of these have been inspired by and\/or feed back into my design, publishing and production lectures, seminars and workshops at London College of Communication (University of the Arts London), University of the Creative Arts, Nottingham Trent University (Confetti) and Fashion Retail Academy<\/strong>, as well as conferences<\/strong>. If you have any questions please\u00a0leave a comment on the relevant article and I\u2019ll get back to you. If you’d like me to deliver any training or teaching please get in touch<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Okay, these articles are all around 1200 words long, but ‘1000-word thoughts’ has a much better ring to it, doesn’t it?)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Keith<\/p>\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Design<\/a>Freelance<\/a>Type<\/a><\/div>

Write like a pro. Always.<\/a><\/h4>
Do you double space between sentences? Or do you do a single space? Odds are, whichever …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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Design<\/a>Type<\/a>Typography<\/a><\/div>

The And of God<\/a><\/h4>
It’s more than 2000 years old, but the ampersand is still the most divine character [NOTE: …<\/div>
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Design<\/a>Type<\/a>Typography<\/a><\/div>

What’s your favourite font?<\/a><\/h4>
I was asked this after I first wrote about rebuilding the Espy Sans pixel typeface family …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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Design<\/a>software<\/a>Styles<\/a><\/div>

Microsoft Word is the worst writing tool<\/a><\/h4>
Hands up who uses Microsoft Word? Hands up who *likes* Microsoft Word? I asked those two …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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Design<\/a>Photography<\/a>Print<\/a>software<\/a>Styles<\/a><\/div>

Creative cubist collages<\/a><\/h4>
Producing images by assembling many different shots can create eye-catching results, and can be done in …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Color<\/a>software<\/a><\/div>

Tasty cross-processing treatments<\/a><\/h4>
Colour photography is all about reproducing the colours that were in the original scene\u2026 except when …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Design<\/a><\/div>

Olympic logo design hits and misses<\/a><\/h4>
Olympic host city logos come in various forms, not all to everyone\u2019s taste. Note: this was …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Design<\/a>Typography<\/a><\/div>

The copyright \u00a9 symbol<\/a><\/h4>
First things first: I’m going to talk about copyright. But not copyright law \u2013 or at …<\/div>
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Design<\/a><\/div>

Paths of desire<\/a><\/h4>
When people are left to go where they like, they tend to do just that. This …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Design<\/a>software<\/a>Typography<\/a><\/div>

Graphic projections and new angles on perspective<\/a><\/h4>
WYSIWYG: What You See Isn’t What You Get! One of the great advances in the Renaissance …<\/div>
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\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Design<\/a>software<\/a>Type<\/a>Typography<\/a><\/div>

Espy Sans Revived<\/a><\/h4>
Back in pre-Mac OS X times, in 1992, Apple created a bitmap font called Espy Sans …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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Design<\/a>software<\/a>Typography<\/a><\/div>

ASCII and emoticons<\/a><\/h4>
The peculiar art of making faces with type. Lol, ;\u2013) If you’ve never used either of …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Design<\/a><\/div>

Keith Martin presents Fun with Flags: the evolution of the Catalan Estelada<\/a><\/h4>
Catalan Estelada flag “Hello. I’m Keith Martin, and welcome to Keith Martin presents: Fun with Flags\u201d …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Color<\/a>Design<\/a>software<\/a><\/div>

Dazzle and digital camouflage<\/a><\/h4>
Camouflage is the art and design of staying hidden. But there’s more to camouflage than blobs …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Design<\/a>Typography<\/a><\/div>

Helvetica: still pulling its weights<\/a><\/h4>
Helvetica is the world\u2019s most popular typeface. Not everyone likes it, often precisely because of this, …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Paper<\/a><\/div>

Paper sizes: learn your ABCs<\/a><\/h4>
Paper size is something we don’t give that much thought to, most of the time at …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Design<\/a>Print<\/a><\/div>

Focaltone colour secrets<\/a><\/h4>
Sometimes, when you need to get something done, the simplest approach is to cut to the …<\/div>
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\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Design<\/a><\/div>

Big Brother evil eye<\/a><\/h4>
The evolution of a graphic identity There’s a well-known saying from early last century that travel …<\/div>
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Print<\/a><\/div>

What a (page) imposition!<\/a><\/h4>
Pagination and page imposition is a strange thing when you first try and grok it. As …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Presentations<\/a><\/div>

Presentations, the art of knocking ’em dead<\/a><\/h4>
“Are we sitting comfortably? Is this thing on? Friends, Romans, countrymen! Oi, you in the back!” …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Type<\/a><\/div>

Zapfino, the typeface with built-in magic<\/a><\/h4>
Zapfino is one of the most spectacular typefaces you’ll ever get to use. It’s a calligraphic …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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Print<\/a><\/div>

Prints Charming: letterpress meets DTP<\/a><\/h4>
I got a new printer the other day. It was unexpectedly heavy – it took two …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
iPad<\/a>Magazines<\/a><\/div>

What is a magazine?<\/a><\/h4>
According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, the organisation that gives the official tally of who …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Color<\/a>Print<\/a><\/div>

Invisible ink \u2013 still lots of fun!<\/a><\/h4>
I bet at least some of you experimented a little with invisible ink when you were …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Design<\/a><\/div>

Microsoft logo design history<\/a><\/h4>
Back on August 23rd (note: this was written in 2012) Microsoft announced something new. It wasn’t …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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Design<\/a><\/div>

Video vs text? Fight!<\/a><\/h4>
What’s the future of text? I’m going to be talking about this at a seminar in …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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Design<\/a><\/div>

Tattoo design<\/a><\/h4>
Would I get a tattoo? I don\u2019t have a specific thing in mind, but the concept …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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Design<\/a><\/div>

Digital skeuomorphism<\/a><\/h4>
Skeuomorphism is probably not a word you’ve heard much in your life. Not until summer 2011, …<\/div>
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Design<\/a><\/div>

Signage design is a creative challenge<\/a><\/h4>
Where are you going? I don\u2019t mean in the metaphysical sense, that\u2019s too deep for right …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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Books<\/a>Design<\/a>Paper<\/a><\/div>

Book binding tips, tricks, advice and secrets<\/a><\/h4>
I love what’s possible in digital design and production, but the truth is there’s something that …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Design<\/a>Paper<\/a>Print<\/a>software<\/a><\/div>

Print effects without ink?<\/a><\/h4>
How can you print without using ink, without applying some kind of colour to a surface? …<\/div>
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Design<\/a><\/div>

White space is not a lazy designer’s excuse<\/a><\/h4>
There’s a handy saying that I learned many years ago: “when in doubt, leave it out” …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Design<\/a>Typography<\/a><\/div>

Comic book and showcard fonts<\/a><\/h4>
One of the first projects I used to give my Magazine Publishing students involved creating an …<\/div>
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\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Design<\/a>Print<\/a>software<\/a><\/div>

QR codes: enter the matrix!<\/a><\/h4>
Quick Response (QR) barcodes are more interesting than you might think, so it’s worth considering them …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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Design<\/a><\/div>

Walk, Don\u2019t Walk<\/a><\/h4>
The curious life and times of Ampelm\u00e4nnchen. I\u2019m in Berlin as I write this, and I\u2019ve …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Design<\/a>Typography<\/a><\/div>

Creative Design Briefs<\/a><\/h4>
In which Keith explores the answers to a question and finds confirmation in a particular typeface …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Design<\/a>Paper<\/a><\/div>

Paper Planes: Fly me to the moon…<\/a><\/h4>
Paper planes are a fun design exercise \u2013 and they’re even heading into space! Recently, purely …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Design<\/a>iPad<\/a>Magazines<\/a>Print<\/a><\/div>

No natural affordances in iPad magazines<\/a><\/h4>
No natural affordances: big problems with digital magazines. The world is [when this was written, in …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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Design<\/a><\/div>

Static graphics vs animated media<\/a><\/h4>
There\u2019s more to creating good animations than most designers think, but that shouldn\u2019t stop you from …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Design<\/a>Typography<\/a><\/div>

Type is the clothes our information wears<\/a><\/h4>
Typefaces dress our words and tell the reader what kind of thing to expect. Like clothes, …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Color<\/a>Print<\/a>software<\/a><\/div>

Preflighting: boring but important<\/a><\/h4>
Know more about preflighting than your software or you\u2019ll get caught out. Grammar purists, look away …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Design<\/a>Typography<\/a><\/div>

Graffiti creativity<\/a><\/h4>
Graffiti is… what? \u201cGraffiti is a creative art form.\u201d\u201cGraffiti is destructive vandalism.\u201d\u201cGraffiti is gang-related.\u201d\u201cGraffiti is about …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Color<\/a><\/div>

Hanging in the (white) balance<\/a><\/h4>
White balance can make or break a shot, so take the time to understand its foibles …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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Design<\/a>software<\/a><\/div>

Airline safety card designs<\/a><\/h4>
A form of standardised international illustrated instruction? On a recent trip to Turkey I realised something: …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Design<\/a>iPad<\/a><\/div>

Digital sketch books – can they work?<\/a><\/h4>
Can the iPad really replace the designer’s traditional paper sketch book? If you’re a designer, the …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Design<\/a>Typography<\/a><\/div>

Design a new character for a typeface<\/a><\/h4>
Designing the character behind the face. Of all the design discipline specialities, typeface design is probably …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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Design<\/a>software<\/a><\/div>

Art Therapy for design block: The CD Cover game<\/a><\/h4>
A creative challenge for you… What do you do if you find yourself staring at an …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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Freelance<\/a><\/div>

Freelancing and internships<\/a><\/h4>
Negotiating the minefield of how much to charge and judging the morals of working for nothing …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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Paper<\/a>Print<\/a><\/div>

Paper facts and recipes for discerning designers<\/a><\/h4>
Get hands-on with paper Graphic design processes are almost always about putting marks on surfaces, and …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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Design<\/a>Print<\/a>software<\/a><\/div>

With resolution, size does matter<\/a><\/h4>
When I teach I constantly have to remind myself that things that seem simple because I …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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Design<\/a><\/div>

Cover design challenges in the digital world<\/a><\/h4>
Is it possible to design sophisticated magazine covers that communicate and sell in the virtual newsstand …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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Design<\/a>Project Management<\/a><\/div>

One-trick specialist or flexible expert?<\/a><\/h4>
Don’t be afraid to play around with established production methods. If you know enough about them …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Books<\/a>Paper<\/a>Print<\/a><\/div>

Flipback books: new direction or dead end?<\/a><\/h4>
We tend to take things such as book formats for granted, never really thinking about them …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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Design<\/a>Typography<\/a><\/div>

Placeholder text and pangrams<\/a><\/h4>
When you need to see how a typeface works you use dummy copy. But there’s more …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Project Management<\/a><\/div>

Keep managing the projects<\/a><\/h4>
Designers aren’t known for their project management skills, but they’re vital if you’re to finish a …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Color<\/a>Design<\/a>Print<\/a><\/div>

Color perception: more than meets the eye<\/a><\/h4>
Color plays a crucial part in how we perceive things, so understanding its emotive effects is …<\/div>
Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> <\/div>