ABC URL Game

I saw this great post on Brian Hoff‘s site and I thought I’d play along. Here’s my ABC URL game. It’s a fun game and as Brian says,

The rules are simple: Launch your favorite, most frequently used browser for surfing the web. Start by typing, one letter at a time, the entire alphabet into the search bar to see what pops up first. Record the results.

a: Amazon

b: Bluehost – A great hosting service, they host my site.

c: Compfight – For inspiration and finding fun images.

d: Deke.com – I thought I’d skip my own site and pick #2, Digital Imaging guru and martini aficionado, Deke Mcclelland’s site, Anyone interested in PhotoShop should watch this excellent primer on the essential approach to masking. Not only is it informative, it’s hilarious.

e: Espn – Just to read the always entertaining Bill Simmons.

f: Facebook – No I don’t play Mob Wars, and no I won’t join your mob.

g: Google Reader – An unhealthy obsession, and my feed reader of choice.

h: How Magazine

i: Internet Movie Data Base – Mostly to settle arguments about who played Donatello in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Leif Tilden by the way)

j: Just Creative Design

k: Kuler- You can see some of the palettes I created here

l: LibriVox - A great site of free public domain audio books read by dedicated volunteers. Currently I’m listening to Mark Twain’s The Mysterious Stranger, I totally recommend the book.

m: morgueFile

n: Print Services Northwest – An excellent Seattle based printer that I use a lot. Sue Lewis, the owner is great.

o: Good God: Faith for the Rest of US – A client’s blog I helped set up.

p: PhotoXpress.com – Great free stock images, an affiliate site of  fotolia.com

q: Star Wars vs Saul Bass - I must not go to many “q” sites! A pretty funny Star Wars opening done in the style of Saul Bass.

r: Retro Cocktail Hour on Kansas Public Radio – Swinging Lounge & Tiki Tunes.

s: Stock Exchange

t: This American Life – Recommended listening.

u: Uprinting.com – A great online printer.

v: Vertical Response – An excellent e-newsletter managing & mailing system.

w: Cracked.com- Some very funny stuff here.

x: Paul Malon’s Flickr Photostream – Wonderful collection of mid-century American advertising ephemera.

y: Youtube.com

z: Zazzle.com

Interesting timelapse video of choosing a typeface

I saw this interesting timelapse video of the very talented Designer Brian Hoff as he works up different looks for a logo he is working on.  Anyone who has ever done this can relate to this fun and frustrating (at times) chore of picking just the right typeface.

Often times  I have the perfect typeface in mind or at the very least a general style based on appropriateness, historical convention and client requirements. However sometimes the joy is just scrolling through and finding a happy accident of a typeface that looks good when you least expect it. One of the little joys I get in the wild world of Graphic Design.

Related Links:

• Brian Hoff’s Website
• Brian’s post about creating the video
• Brian’s portfolio
• The official site of Suitcasefusion 2 by Extensis. One of these days I keep to pick up a copy.