Plastics: An Apoplexy

I haven't written for the internet in years, but here's one I did recently for Design Observer in December, 2010. More to come in that venue? Perhaps.

Unclear, although

One of my last really good pieces written for Speak Up (March 2007), on the mysteries of shred. With help from Fiona Drenttel.

War Effort

I’m really proud of this piece I wrote for Speak Up (September 2006) because it really got me thinking. It was sparked by some of the war posters that were presented in my Canadian Design History class earlier that year.

The aesthetics of cute

Another post that didn’t go down as well as I’d hoped. Written for Speak Up in December 2005. But I think it’s a damned fine read.

Bare Bones

I really pulled out all the literary stops when I wrote this article (thesaurus in hand) on the graphics of Hallowe'en for Speak Up in October 2006.

Ten Haiku

An amusingly interactive little piece I wrote as an assignment for Sam Carter’s Canadian Design History class, and then posted on Speak Up (February 2006).

A Different Logoscape

Written for Speak Up in July 2004.
Documenting a trip through rural Saskatchewan

Fluid prose

Written for Speak Up in August 2004.
One of my favourite posts: on graphic voice in text.

Our Futurist Past

This is a fairly straight-up piece for Speak Up (June 2006). It is a review of an excellent exhibit of Modernism at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

True (design) Confessions

On the darker side of graphic design. Written for Speak Up in January 2005.

The Black Spot

A semi-facetious call for an old pirate custom remade for designers. Written for Speak Up in September 2004.

It's All About the Money

The first of two articles about the design of Canada's money. Written for Speak Up in October 2004.

Cha-cha-change

The second of two articles written about the design of Canada’s money. Written for Speak Up in March 2005.

Design clichés

An infamous post written for Speak Up in June 2005.

Our own worst clients

Written for Speak Up in May 2004.
On designers’ own identities.

Massive Post

A critique, in 4 parts, of Bruce Mau’s Massive Change exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

The Wind Tunnel

A review of the Schools of Thoughts 2 conference in Pasadena, CA, written for Speak Up in March 2005.

Another pretty face: VISA Rebrands

I don’t usually cover branding, but this time I did. Written for Speak Up in April 2005.