The Activated Space

Know your trash

2011-09-02T12:01:00.001-04:00

Next time you're out cleaning up your local stream, playground, or whatever, here's a little identify-the-straw game to play. Personally, I've seen enough of B.

A. Starbucks B. McDonald's C. Dunkin Donuts. D. Baskin Robbins. E. Taco Bell. F. Dairy Queen. G. KFC. H. Jamba Juice.

nod to Graphicology

Good food on the move

2011-04-22T14:27:00.001-04:00

This is an excellent initiative. The idea that only well-off people can have healthy, fresh food is something that a country like ours can turn on its head. Or should be. I'd imagine the First Lady will give the Fresh Moves bus a shout-out sometime. And the repurposing of an old city bus is a nice touch. Urban Places has a good comment:

From the standpoint of cost and practicality, this may make more sense than trying to create farmers markets and similar initiatives, because often the cost of farmer-produced food is higher than grocery store prices, because most farmers, like any other retailers, prefer to sell their foodstuffs at higher prices (think Bethesda, Silver Spring, Dupont Circle neighborhoods) rather than at lower prices, as well as the coordination burden of trying to find willing farmers, etc.

My two cents: have available free pamphlets with easy recipes for cooking what they just bought. I mean, everybody should have to right to be a foodie.

Smart trash tech

2011-04-04T12:29:00.000-04:00

A nice little video of the new solar powered trash compactors in Philly. I heard these were in the Capitol Hill BID here in DC but didn't know exactly how beneficial they are. Cutting collections from 17 to 5 times a week? Saving millions of dollars in the process? Sign me up. This would be the definition of green technology.

The Crossing

2011-01-27T16:59:00.000-05:00

Nice PSA about the dangers of schoolbuses and street crossing. via Osocio

The Endless Surfboard

2010-12-08T11:10:00.001-05:00

Surfers around the world are pretty much an eco-conscious bunch, but it's an inconvenient truth and reluctantly acknowledged problem that the art of hand-crafted surfboards results in some pretty ocean-unfriendly waste. The recent technological strides made in longer-lasting molded and bamboo boards (and their subsequent acceptance by a resistant surf population) are encouraging, but there's a long way to go before we're all getting tubed on our single-fin tofu boards or paddling out on a tri-fin, cardboard Al Merrick.

The folks at ReSurf want to keep old boards and their waste out of the landfills by recycling them into new products. They'll actually take everything and pulverize it all down to dust for use in things like concrete and asphalt. Or anything you can come up with - they're open to suggestions. Check it out.

Don't chew on reusable bags!

2010-11-16T13:57:00.005-05:00

Photo by tyger_lyllie,
under Creative Commons license.

Last week the Tampa Tribune published the results of a study it did of reusable bags sold by the Publix and Winn-Dixie grocery chains, finding that some of the bags exceeded EPA standards for lead. Over the weekend, conservative news outlets published a similar story, citing a company called TEI Analytical for high lead levels in bags from other stores. The articles, particularly the weekend ones, asserted that maybe these reusable bags aren't so environmentally friendly after all--and even dangerous!

Let's take a deep breath first. Like the story about germs in reusable bags, this has the fingerprints of the American Chemistry Council all over it. The ACC knows that laws to reduce the use of plastic bags are on the table in five states, and in countless cities around the country. They are afraid that if people move to reusable bags, they won't be able to make and sell as many new plastic bags. (The ACC, while it sounds like a high-falutin' academic organization for Bunsen burner enthusiasts, is really a trade group representing the polymer industry.) So it's in their best interests to make cloth bags sound scary.

The fact is, lead is used in fabric dye to help it hold the color. Bags that carried a lot of lead are made of laminated polypropylene, have extensive designs, and generally come from China at super low wholesale prices. Your standard canvas tote, and many other bags manufactured both domestically and abroad, are not a problem. Once again, it's cheap materials to blame. And another example of the problem this country has with toxics regulation--the onus is on the company to declare their own product unsafe, not an objective outside interest. (And you can hardly call the ACC objective.)

Also, let's consider lead paint, frequently used in houses prior to the late 1970s. The problem with lead paint is not that it's in the house, idle on the walls. The problems arise when renovations pump the dust into the air where it's inhaled, or old paint peels off and small children, curious as they are, eat it. It has to be actually ingested. Lead exposure can stunt physical and mental development, particularly in children.

I don't know about you, but I don't make a habit of chewing on my reusable bags. The Tribune even says that

The lead found in the grocery bags the Tribune tested would not easily rub off on food, and merely touching one of the bags is unlikely to prove harmful, according to Hugh Rodrigues, president of Thornton Laboratories in Tampa, which tested the bags. Over time, though, as the bags wear down, their paint can flake off and threads fray, releasing the lead. The more elaborate the illustrations on the bags, the more likely they are to contain toxic lead, the Tribune investigation found. Yellow and green paint on bags is a common carrier of lead.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has asked the EPA, FDA, and Consumer Product Safety Commission to investigate the bags. Wouldn't it be better to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act, and ferret out all the hazardous chemicals we unknowingly bring into our homes and bodies, rather than waiting for industry to speak up?

You can support toxic chemical policy reform by signing the Environmental Working Group's action alert here.

Oil, water, ink

2010-10-28T13:01:00.000-04:00

It's an undeniable fact that screenprinted posters are at their most rockin' the more rough and and unpolished they are. But these limited-edition posters by Anthony Burrill are just crude. --pause for laughter-- Made with reclaimed oil from the Gulf coast, these will be auctioned off to help with cleanup efforts. (www.gulfofmexico2010.com) Eye Blog has the goods here.

It's still a problem

2010-10-22T17:16:00.000-04:00

A researcher at USF literally shines some light on a problem that most people have probably forgotten about. The Inertia has it:

Researchers from the University of South Florida Coastal Research Lab are using ultraviolet lights to expose oil that is still on the beaches that appear clean to the naked eye.

More here. And crazy photos here.

Trees and jobs

2010-10-08T13:04:00.001-04:00

Any Oregonian who remotely values their forests and outdoor spaces should keep an eye on the Governor's race. Or at least what happens afterwards. Chris Dudley, the Republican challenger for Governor, is admirably committed to the environment and renewable energy (even opposed to offshore drilling) but he has plans for the state forests. via Kos:

Oregon’s six large state forests are an underutilized state asset that should be a greater source of jobs and revenue for the state.

According to the state Department of Forestry, improving the management of the 93,000 acre Eliot State Forest, alone, could create at least 150 new jobs and more revenue for the Common School Fund.

Improving management. Nice wording. I can't imagine anyone would think that 150 jobs would outweigh 93,000 acres of forest, but it seems this is the political climate that we're in right now. Anyone or anything that stands in the way of creating one or more jobs might as well be called a terrorist. Longer interview with Dudley here.

To promote the general welfare

2010-09-30T11:02:00.000-04:00

For the most part, we don't make things in this country anymore. We import "stuff" for cheap and feel good about not having to pay a lot for it. So if we do make anything, it has to compete, pricewise, with whatever we're shipping in from China or Taiwan. Profit and saving a buck is something to aspire to but when it comes to the general welfare of American society, the actual, tangible, visible results can be depressing. Mary Newsom on the degredation of value in the public arena:

And in recent days I’ve written about the new greenway along Charlotte’s Little Sugar Creek. Not a few people have told me how they hate to see the “waste” of public money on things like the greenway’s stone bridges (actually, that stone is inexpensive molded concrete), public art and the rockwork clock tower (clock donated by the Rotary Club). It’s as if people here are so unused to places that celebrate the public that they think it’s wastefully lavish for a public park to hold anything nicer than cinder-block buildings and utilitarian metal bridges.

And not just the value of physical things, but in how we treat EVERYONE who works hard and plays by the rules:

We’ve stopped valuing workers. The country apparently no longer believes people who work hard deserve wages that pay them enough to afford the rent or a modest mortgage, or deserve a pension to keep them from penury in retirement. We’ve stopped expecting those things from employers – or at least they’ve stopped providing them. We’ve even stopped valuing public schools, stopped expecting them to have mowed lawns and drinking fountains that work.

This hits on what progressives everywhere are working towards in a nutshell. A country that cares enough about ALL of its citizens to put back into the public space the things that make life dignified, respectable, fair, and enjoyable.

We think, therefore we do. Sort of.

2010-09-14T13:26:00.000-04:00

In matters of getting people to make behavioral changes to accomplish a greater good (cleaner environment, better communities, social justice, etc.) I personally have a very critical eye on actions that really just make people feel better as opposed to accomplishing something tangible. i.e. buying something that says "green" on the label or putting on some sort of pointless protest that just annoys people. There's a ton of good intentions that just go to waste out there in good-people-land.

But there are benefits to the things that people do that we might deem insignificant. Unconsumption with a radio transcript:

if a person engages in a particular behaviour they not only feel good about it but it has other benefits. For example people think that the really meaningful behaviour is recycling but actually recycling doesn’t have that much of a consequence in terms of CO2 emissions.

And I think it’s terribly important that they take some kind of action. And that action might not have a direct spin-off in terms of reducing carbon emissions, but it’s psychologically very important. It’s motivating, validating and they can feel they are part of the solution as well as part of the problem,

At the very least, there's a psychological connection that's made when someone, say, takes a plastic bag out of the gutter or turns off the faucet when brushing their teeth, which is better than no connection at all. It's a sort of mental pat on the back that rewards good behavior and encourages it in the future. The real goal is to provoke meaningful action but there's a place for the little things.

The "wonderful" world of coal

2010-09-08T13:48:00.001-04:00

We should remember that big industries have their own cause-based marketing campaigns too. They're just more subversive and the cause is their own. TP alerts us to the coal industry's efforts to influence kids in West Virginia:

MICHAEL (coal executive): Is there a way for the legislature to have a course ‘natural resource week,’ where coal, natural gas, other topics can be taught? We have national history week in this country, everybody creates a national week of something. Is there a way to create a standards of learning that the legislature would passed that the activists could not keep out of the schools so we could get that education across?”

STATE SENATE ENERGY, INDUSTRY & MINING CHAIRMAN MIKE GREEN: I think we should. I think that’s a great idea. I think we need to check with our colleagues in Virginia and see if we can get that done. I don’t think my colleagues disagree with that, do you? [All shook their heads in agreement.]

My guess is that black-lung disease, unions, and mine safety regulations will not be part of the curriculum.

A clay bottle talks about plastic bottles

2010-09-01T10:52:00.001-04:00

The folks at the Bottled Water Association have "produced" a misleading and strange new video to head off the growing backlash against their wasteful, yet lucrative industry. What's jarring is the absolutely amateurish quality this thing is. With all of their money, the best they could do was a seizure-inducing, claymation video that looks like it was set in someone's garage. Secondly, is how defensive and shrill the language is. I think they just had a lawyer read talking points through a voice filter. But the worst is the flat-out lying done here. Change.org takes it on:

Of all the industry's ploys to get consumers to buy bottled water, the claim that it's healthier and safer is probably spewed most frequently—and it's been found to have the greatest impact on buying habits. The video never outright says bottled water is better for you than tap water, but it strongly hints at it by claiming, on separate occasions, that bottled water is "safe and reliable" and "safe and healthy," and by flashing a scary-looking news headline about a boil-water order in Boston.

The only good thing is that there does seem to be a concern in the industry for recycling their product more. I hope that in the future, some of the industry's $4+ billion will go to recycling programs, not into creepy propaganda like this.

Plastic bags - so majestic

2010-08-27T17:06:00.001-04:00

Come join our little bag hero as it makes the magical journey to the sea. Or not. Good stuff:

Passing AB 1998 in the California Senate sounds better.

Being on radio is easy. Making the world better is hard.

2010-08-23T14:13:00.000-04:00

Guess who thinks (and says on his nationally syndicated radio show) that nonprofit workers are "lazy idiots," "rapists," and "bloodsuckers." Go ahead, I'll give you a minute.

"[a] Bunch of lazy idiots. Many of them don’t want to really work. Non-profits siphon contributions, as their salaries and so forth, and think of themselves as good people, charitable people. I mean, these people are rapists, in terms of finance and economy."

So I'm going to make a goal of never giving this man any more attention on this blog, but for now I just have to use this space to stand with the nonprofit world. And here's Robert Egger with the best response.

Political branding

2010-08-05T13:48:00.001-04:00

If you're into podcasts, here's a designer's-side interview of Scott Thomas, the design director for the Obama Presidential campaign. Interesting commentary on how lightning-fast graphics were produced in such an intense environment. Also, presidential seal mistakes, Gotham typeface, and Artists for Obama. RBtL...

Bicycle built for two. Hundred million.

2010-08-03T13:55:00.001-04:00

It has a long way to go and a bunch of obstacles to overcome but cycling (or biking) is poised for a comeback of sorts. The building of car-oriented suburbs is falling out of favor and more people (and I mean the "mainstream" in this country) are aware of the exponential fattening of ourselves and our kids. Thus, biking is already moving up slightly on the favorability meter. Even these guys are into it. But it's not exactly bike-friendly Amsterdam just yet. And until we reach that utopian day when drivers and cyclists hold hands as they roll to and from work together, we'll still need PR campaigns like this one that advocate for a generally healthier environment. Check out the happy:

It’s a biking campaign presented as lifestyle branding, complete with Lance Armstrong as spokesperson. The message is essentially, ‘I bike, therefore I’m cool’. There’s even an opportunity for the crowd to effect change, by being one of a million pledgers to enact legislative change. It’s something America as a whole wasn’t quite ready for a decade ago…

I personally think the "share the road" approach is appropriate at the moment - not everyone can, or is going to give up their cars for bikes, and we'll need a period of "integration" where people get comfortable with, say, giving up a car lane for a bike lane. Or getting used to slightly slower speeds so John Q. Bikestowork doesn't go flying over someone's windshield. And it all needs to be done with a smiling face. Unfortunately when people think of bike activism, they probably think of a sour-faced ultra-competitor, covered in spandex and logos while yelling at cars because they interrupted his own personal Tour-de-Whatever. But those people ARE out there, and campaigns like this do a good job of changing perceptions.

Rebranding mountaintop removal

2010-07-29T13:07:00.002-04:00

Every time Rand Paul opens his mouth, something disturbing comes out. (To the point where we probably shouldn't be shocked any more) This time, it's his de facto support for the atrocious practice of mountaintop removal. He says the government should "let you decide what to do with your land." Via WaMo:

Paul believes mountaintop removal just needs a little rebranding. "I think they should name it something better," he says. "The top ends up flatter, but we're not talking about Mount Everest. We're talking about these little knobby hills that are everywhere out here. And I've seen the reclaimed lands. One of them is 800 acres, with a sports complex on it, elk roaming, covered in grass." Most people, he continues, "would say the land is of enhanced value, because now you can build on it."

Has no one told him about the toxic sludge that comes down the rivers and into "her land" or "their land" or the airborne toxins that float into "our air?" I guess it's easy to deny reality if you close your eyes and plug your ears. This is a crazy person that can turn into a dangerous person if elected to office.

F-bombs for the Gulf

2010-07-27T14:13:00.001-04:00

A somewhat grassroots campaign to benefit from the carthasis of pissed off citizens everywhere. You can't directly clean up the oil in the Gulf but you can buy a shirt (or button) and rile up everyone around you. (is there anything Futura Bold can't do?)

Not the best place to live

2010-07-22T15:10:00.000-04:00

Money Magazine's list of "Best places to Live" ranks Eden Praire, Minnesota at their top spot. A place with no discernable downtown. OnTransport:

Money stated in its description of Eden Prairie that it ”doesn’t have much of a downtown.” That’s a lie; it literally has no downtown at all. The entire town is made up of suburban sprawl, office parks, strip malls, and a big hulking indoor retail monstrosity known as Eden Prairie Plaza surrounded by acres of parking without a tree in sight. There is no sense of place in Eden Prairie. How, then, can it be one of the best places to live?

Now I'm not going to dump on the town, because there seems to be a lot of people who are proud of the area but I'll just say that the Money folks' idea of what makes a "best place" is way different than mine.

As for fiscal strength, Moody's gives the town a perfect AAA bond rating.

Oooh, well. Who needs walkability, active downtowns, and public transit when you've got a perfect bond rating?

The new Y

2010-07-21T10:26:00.001-04:00

Other than the color gradients and the slightly off-balanced feel you get with a lower-case "y," the new YMCA logo is a top-to-bottom upgrade over the old one. Once you take a look at the entire universe of branding elements that had to be created (including a soft and squishy typeface), it all works together. Very fresh. Press release and critique via Brand New:

The Y’s former logo had been in place since 1967 and was the organization’s sixth since its inception. The refreshed logo, with its multiple color options and new, contemporary look, better reflects the vibrancy of the Y and the diversity of the communities it serves. The new logo’s bold, active and welcoming shape symbolizes the Y’s commitment to personal and social progress.

I don't know how the shape of the logo says "social progress" but sure, I'll buy the rest of it. Two thoughts: 1) The word "the"...might not even need to be there. Dangerously close to being an afterthought. 2) Notice the subtle left-to-right arrow.

The right tools for the job

2010-07-20T13:50:00.001-04:00

This is a great idea to create a, sort-of, "lawn tool collective" in Mansfield, Ohio. When communities start to get a little run-down and people want to fix it up, not everyone has the money to buy (and room to store) things like lawnmowers, wheelbarrows, rakes, and so on.

The program works on an honor system, with tools loaned out at no cost with the proviso that they be returned the same day. Residents also are asked to "pay it forward" by using the equipment to help others in the community who may not be able to do such work on their own.

The idea here to "pay it forward" means that residents with the most motivation to see an improved neighborhood can help out elderly neighbors and don't have to wait for other, umm, procrastinators to get their act together. This literally puts tools in the hands of people who care most about keeping their community clean. Leading by example as it were.

Sharks are scary, but necessary.

2010-07-19T10:46:00.001-04:00

A nice ad for the World Wildlife Fund that drives home the point of vanishing ocean species. Even if they're a little scary to us land-dwellers.

text left: Horrifying

text right: More Horrifying

Another in the campaign here

A neighborly country

2010-07-15T14:19:00.001-04:00

If the entire country lived together at the density of Brooklyn NY, we would all fit into the state of New Hampshire. This is, of course, an impossible and unsustainable scenario but I think it says something about how spread out 300,000,000 people can get in this country. And what goes in between.

Oh, please, tell me about plastic. I'm listening.

2010-07-12T13:39:00.001-04:00

Jana "European artesian water" water, sold in the standard, it-just-won't-die plastic bottles has the nerve to tell us how we can make the world a better place by not using so many plastic grocery bags. My question is were they laughing or crying when putting this ad together? I mean, how freaking dense do you have to be to either a) not know the impacts of your own plastic-wrapped product, or b) think that readers won't say exactly what I'm saying here? Guff. Copyranter has a more blunt view.

Oh, and click here to read the the vomit-inducing bottom sentence.

See a Second preachy ad here about magazine recycling.

Huzzah for simplicity!

2010-07-09T13:15:00.001-04:00

A good example of a really simple ad for mental health awareness from SAMHSA's "What a difference a friend makes" campaign. Using the often-used dual-message theme, this stark, attention-getter will work in just about any medium. The obstacle is always about resisting the urge to add more page clutter, so applause to the project manager/team here. See the other campaign materials and media here.

Let's follow the rules! Yay!

2010-07-08T10:11:00.000-04:00

The same folks who gave us the outrageously popular "piano stairs" now float their idea to make obeying the speed limit fun:

Northern Virginia to solar power: we hate you

2010-07-07T12:20:00.001-04:00

So this is a problem. Many home owners associations in Fairfax County, and even all of Northern Virginia, just don't allow solar panels on houses because they turn perfectly nice homes into dilapidated crack houses that bring down neighboring property values as soon as they're installed. Or something like that. Examiner:

"Residential bylaws always have the same one-liner, 'No solar panels,' " Gotschi said. "They believe it ruins the home's aesthetic." A scan of Fairfax homeowners association guidelines backs up Gotschi's contention; from Herndon to Vienna to Chantilly, the same regulation appears again and again.

And I thought that being eco-conscious was in fashion with the well-to-do. Apparently it hasn't caught on everywhere.

Profiles in Leadership

2010-07-02T16:13:00.000-04:00

Shirtless guy moves, and starts a movement. Who is the leader here? And what's to be said of the role of the person behind the camera?

If BP gives you lemons...

2010-07-01T12:34:00.000-04:00

Pretty good print ad from the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. The problem is that it never ran because it was perceived as anti-British, and that could be a problem given that the second-largest international tourist group comes from Britain. You've got to think that, by now, the Brits have heard it all when it comes to Revolutionary War jokes and are pretty thick-skinned about it all. I mean, most of the northeast has some sort of tourism based on the American Revolution that has used humourous advertising at the ol' Redcoat's expense. But now the CVB is blaming the British media for blowing it out of proportion:

Earlier, Perry had written an angry email to the Guardian in which he said: "You cannot imagine the devastation to Louisiana from (hurricane) Katrina and now of our marshes and wetlands down on the coast from the oil spill as we have now suffered the two most devastating events of modern times.

"Your caustic and inaccurate characterisation of our actual intent and affection for the UK has further contributed to our burden and was hard-hearted and shocking."

And this:

The visitors' bureau is moving on to an advert that takes a swipe at Barack Obama's declaration of a moratorium on deepwater offshore oil drilling.

Ugh. Really? Just stop digging that hole. Nevertheless, I like the humor angle here. It's very disarming and shows some resiliency and self-deprecation on the part of the city. Hopefully they'll reconsider.

Bikes + Business = win/win

2010-06-29T11:16:00.001-04:00

Count bike rack design as probably one of the easiest ways for a city district to express itself. I know that DC is getting in on the idea. Actually it's been putting unique designs on the streets for years now. And while not as altruistic as using local artists for original ideas, there is opportunity for sponsorship income with local businesses. For example, in Staunton, VA businesses can pay $300 to get their name inscribed on a rack that shows how community-friendly they are. Or in Hoboken, NJ, a similar program is being set up after immediate success:

New bicycle racks are being installed along the Washington Street and First Street commercial corridors, around the Second and Ninth Street light rail stops, near parks, and in other key areas including the hospital and supermarkets.

"We can't install them fast enough," said Transportation and Parking Director Ian Sacs. "Sometimes within minutes of bolting them down, they fill up with bikes."

And here's an account of a trip up to Vancouver to see no two bike racks that are alike.

The iPad gets useful

2010-06-24T11:03:00.000-04:00

We can stop complaining about how there's no use for an iPad anymore. (Besides providing a bigger screen for the people looking over your shoulder on the subway commute.) Campaign organizers and assorted cause-related volunteers will soon see the iPad as an essential tool in the field. Obama's political campaign, Organizing for America, will be leading the way by offering a new app today:

“We’ve had this in the works for a while,” said a member of the President’s staff. “We’re keen to put organizing tools in the hands of supporters wherever they are, especially given the conditions of this year’s political environment.” Here are some of the features you’ll find in the app:

Alerts about local events and opportunities to get involved — you can watch related videos or RSVP directly from the app, too
National and local election news you can share on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter
Photos and videos, including special video messages from President Obama and clips from local gatherings
“Call Congress” feature that gives you the phone number for your representatives in Congress and helps you take action on issues you care about
Donation features

And I've run into this problem before: excited newcomers are anxious to sign up for future events or even become a member on the spot. But the only thing you can do is send them off with a form, an envelope, or a web address, and hope they follow through later. Or even a charity auction where you need to collect money but all you have is a laptop that's tied to a desk two rooms over. Petition signing, donations, figuring out people's Congressperson, and on and on. Even makeshift signage. This thing may soon be synonymous with cause-related efforts. I'm calling it now: organizations will be able to "brand" their iPads with their logo and colors.

How quickly we forget

2010-06-22T10:10:00.000-04:00

If you recall, back in February when a ton of snow was being dumped on the east coast, climate-change deniers had a field day with the situation, saying that because it was snowing a lot in one particular week was proof that climate-change was a hoax. Complete with hokey Al Gore bashing and political granstanding. Well, here we are four months later about to kick off a heat wave after experiencing above-average temperatures for most of June.

So my question is obvious: where are these people now? Is anybody still here? If you're going to (incorrectly) use a sample size of a couple of weeks to make up your mind about global temperature trends, shouldn't we be hearing some revised opinions now that we're sweating it out for weeks on end? Anybody? Didn't think so.

A River Runs Through 'em

2010-06-21T14:41:00.000-04:00

In Parenting Magazine's latest "Best Cities for Families," Arlington, VA comes up #1 while DC ranks #71. I'm not understanding how two places that are physically next to each other can be viewed so differently. Especially when Parenting lists among Arlington's amenities, "just a stone's throw from the nation's capital" and DC gets criticized for being "poor in wide-open spaces?" PJ Orvetti has it right:

One of the greatest joys of living in D.C. is that, while it is a densely populated city, nature and wilderness can be found an hour down the road. Great Falls, Cabin John, Dyke Marsh, Catoctin Mountain, the C & O Trail -- these may not be in D.C. proper, but if Arlington can claim the Lincoln Memorial, can’t D.C. get a break?

After all, “Parenting” also praises Arlington’s “numerous museums and art galleries”, and it’s a safe bet they don’t mean the Arlington Historical Society Museum. They mean the Smithsonian and the National Gallery of Art -- which, of course, are in D.C.

So it's great that Arlington get the top spot. I spent most of my childhood there and it really is a great place to grow up. But you really can't treat every town in this area as a separate entity. It's all one big, living organism that relies on each geographical "body part" to make a functioning region. These lists are obviously to draw attention to the magazine and are not exactly a scientific study, but maybe next time they turn this into a "best metro area" list.

Spiritual branding

2010-06-21T13:36:00.003-04:00

This is a fine example of branding for the church near our office. A church which, by the way, was the home for Teddy Roosevelt, the Hoovers, and Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. In 1970, arsonists burned down most of the structure but after four decades of acting as a beloved community sanctuary and mini-park, they are pushing ahead with a rebuilding effort. A lovely website echoes the green color scheme and font choice, (More Gotham, I know. But it's ok here) tells the story through a video, and tastefully asks for donations. Note: the location of that sign would have been inside the church before the fire.

It's a jungle in here

2010-06-17T16:14:00.000-04:00

If you're in downtown DC this fall, look out for banners on the streets from the Urban Forest Project, a public arts initiative aimed at raising awareness of the importance of a healthy urban tree canopy in cities. DC is following successful programs in six (and counting) other cities. The photos here are from the gallery exhibition at the Corcoran, who supported the project. My company's work was chosen for inclusion into the project along with other professionals and students. When they come down, they'll be made into totebags and sold to make money for nonprofit efforts.

Check out some of the banners that have already gone up in NYC.

Too many cups

2010-06-17T15:32:00.001-04:00

Not to sound like a self-righteous lefty, but I've recently started re-using my 7-Eleven Big Gulp cup at work after realizing just how many of these plastic containers were piled up in the trash can every Friday. I rinse it out and bring it in with me every day and use it like I would a Nalgene bottle. I sensed some confusion by the cashier at first but they caught on and even give me a little discount for it. Nice.

They eventually break down in a couple of weeks. I'm open to suggestions as how to make them last even longer. Maybe this.

Wow. just wow.

2010-06-17T12:49:00.000-04:00

Rep. Joe Barton apologizes to BP at a committee hearing:

"I'm ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday," Barton said. "I apologize. I do not want to live in a country where any time a citizen or corporation does anything wrong," they are subjected to such political pressure.

Well, at least we know where Mr. Barton stands on this oil spill issue. Far, far away from most of us.

2010-06-17T10:32:00.000-04:00

Come on EPA. Let's show some teeth. No more baby steps. Beckman:

That is why EPA’s much-awaited regulatory blueprint for controlling polluted runoff in the nation’s capitol--billed by EPA, itself, as a new, twenty-first century effort--is so perplexing. Washington, D.C. area waters, such as the Anacostia, are heavily polluted and have been, until recently, neglected and overlooked. There can be no more fitting place to make an Urban Waters Initiative real by effectively controlling the pollution source that often makes such rivers foul.

And how exactly does this happen?:

Second, the Permit cedes most of the task of drafting its terms to the dischargers regulated by the Permit. That’s right: many of the pollution control requirements are not specified in this regulatory document—the regulated party discharging the pollution gets to draft the rules. This is bad policy, and it’s illegal. (Does this remind you of something? If you are thinking the Minerals Management Service’s relationship with the oil industry, that’s what I was thinking of too.

Ugh.

Feel the happy

2010-06-16T13:55:00.002-04:00

Baltimore latest city-branding campaign doesn't exactly hit a home run, but then again It probably doesn't need to. Charm City's newest slogan - "Find Your Happy Place" - is generic enough to be applied to any town in America. (Tulsa, Find Your Happy Place) Inoffensive and blandly versatile, it's the equivalent using a stock photo of a smiling child in an ad for, say, a dentist. Or bank. Or pawn shop. But the thing is, this will probably work just fine. Just like the smiling child photo works just fine. Baltimore is just fine. It's not hip or funny. As long as you're not thinking about "The Wire". City Paper:

With The Wire over, there's no television show reminding people that Baltimore is a distinct place. The "Get In On It" slogan, which the city did pay $500,000 for in 2006, has been abandoned, and Noonan says his organization has given up on slogans entirely, preferring short-lived seasonal campaigns incorporating museum exhibitions, historical anniversaries, and major events. Prepare to spend the next two years hearings about the War of 1812.

There's no exact timeline on the lifespan of this current slogan, but the short-lived campaigns idea seems like a good one. Some cities will always be connected to one cultural ideal. (Detroit: Motown, Denver: Mile High, New Orleans: Big Easy) If after 300 years you don't have a slogan that sticks, just give it up.

After the speculative boom of the past decade, Baltimore enters the next one with potentially greater economic prospects, but arguably a weaker sense of identity. Baltimoreans are constantly asked to love their city, but why they love it, and what they want it to become, is changing.

Embrace the freedom to evolve and reinvent the city identity as you go along. So you don't have "If you can make it here you can make it anywhere." So what. You're free to do something new. And if that doesn't work, do something after that. But for the next campaign I hope the bar will be a little higher than "Happy Place."

When Suits Attack

2009-02-04T10:50:00.003-05:00

It's always interesting to see the process other creatives use for their work, because we all approach problems differently. But in the case of this banner ad for Weight Watchers, the process is apparent in the final product, and the result certainly wasn't the doing of the creative team.

The writer--heck, probably even the person who named the new program--clearly wanted the copy to say "You don't need a diet. You need the momentum." It's catchy. It appeals to people who have tried to lose weight before, and have realized that they need a push to finally succeed. The point is clear to any savvy customer. The designer identified "momentum" as Weight Watchers' new product by using a different typeface, and even a duller white, for the rest of the text. The arrows even make it clear that this is a logo for something. As the ad was originally conceived, it's intriguing enough to click on, to see how Weight Watchers will motivate customers, or give them the momentum they need. The ad is clean and bold, and stands out on the screen without being busy, annoying, or slow to load.

But somebody just had to meddle. "They won't know it's a product," I can hear someone in a suit saying. "It doesn't promote the product enough!" So what do they suggest? "Add 'program,'" the suit insisted. "And it's new! So add 'new.' And make it bold!"

Here's what I think. The designer was already tired of these suits by the time this meddler got involved. So he or she totally capitulated. "Program" is teeny tiny and in a completely unrelated typeface. "New" is loud. Both are obviously tacked on. The designer shrugged his shoulders and just did what he was told. I bet he even left them looking tacked on so people would know he was forced to do it, and that it wasn't his vision for the ad.

Weight Watchers would be better served by giving its customers and potential customers some credit. If the ad campaign had been successful thus far, we'd all already know about the NEW momentum program and get the clever integration of the program's name into the ad copy. Even if you hadn't already seen the TV commercials that have been airing since Christmas (resolutioners!), there are enough clues to prompt action.

And I'd say it has been successful. I noticed, and I'm not in the market for weight loss assistance. I love the hairy orange monster named Hunger. Especially when he pretends his pizza is a laptop. Ha!

Brought to you by the letter

2008-08-02T20:08:00.000-04:00

A Matter of Style

2008-07-18T12:07:00.004-04:00

I'm currently working with a client on developing a style guide. I've been using Chicago when editing their documents for the past year or so, but now they want to use AP instead. I understand their reasoning--much of their materials are targeted to the media and they want to make it easy for reporters.

But I, by far, prefer Chicago.

The series comma (a, b, and c) is just easier to read. Tight em dashes (example--here) are more visually pleasing than open ones (example -- here), especially when, like this client, writers tend to use a lot of them. State names should be spelled out. Numbers should be spelled out (at least up to 100, anyway).

The AP style was developed for reasons of space. Every extra character just takes up room, room better used for more news or advertising. I imagine it also made for faster transmissions for off-site reporters and far-flung bureaus.

But when the bulk of your writing is in the form of reports, and online, and marketing pieces, all media where space is not at a premium, why not use the more leisurely, artful Chicago?

Metro madness

2008-03-04T10:17:00.004-05:00

The Post recently had a story or two about the new cars for our beloved Metro system. The interior changes are all well and good but what jumps out on one of their promo photos is something awful. Someone appears to be entertaining the thought of messing with the big, blocky "M" logo. Please, whoever pulls the strings at Metro, don't go changing this classic DC icon. And don't go calling it "America's Metro." Especially not in that typeface. (Matrix italic?) It's our subway, not anyone elses. Not New York's, not Philly's, not Boston's.

Massimo Vignelli, who designed the system-wide graphics for the Metro back in 1968 said "The whole system was so well designed that there was very little need for graphics." With the recent creeping ad placements in the stations and the prospect of this horrible logo addition, maybe it's time to stop adding and start subtracting.

Helvetica: The Movie

2008-02-27T18:47:00.003-05:00

The title alone would stop anyone's coffeebreak in mid sip. Yes, it's a movie about a typeface. I rented this movie the other night not knowing exactly what it could be, but as I pushed the play button, I was a little giddy to be seeing a movie mostly for and about graphic designers. This is a movie that chronicles 60 years of, arguably, the most famous typeface in the world, Helvetica. Or as it was originally known, Die Neue Haas Grotesk. Set in chronological order, it's a veritable who's who of designers throughout the years. From the high priest of modernism, Massimo Vignelli, to type mavericks David Carson and Neville Brody, the designers tell us their stories over a subtle soundtrack of techno and jazz. Vignelli, Matthew Carter, and Michael Beirut, which is the closest we get to having a narrator, set the tone with a recounting of the glorious beginnings of Helvetica and how it washed away the gaudy, ornamental ad styles that came before it. His explanation of a 60s Coke ad is hilarious and eye-opening. Carter, a prolific type designer, remarks "I'm glad no one asked me to improve on it." In between segments, we're treated to video clips of Helvetica being used in seemingly endless places like restroom signage, store menus, and 20-foot tall neon signs. (Helvetica-watching is now a hobby of mine, thanks to this film)

From there we hear from the naysayers. A parade of younger, post-modernist designers who grew up surrounded by Helvetica's overuse, and in turn, have few positives to say about it all. Accusations of no personality, the typeface of socialism, charges of being "like air...it's just there." Paula Scher sarcastically tells us that it's the official typeface of the Vietnam war. That's rough.

Concluding with design-rebels Stefan Sagmeister and David Carson, we see that an entire generation threw out the rules of typesetting that was put in place decades before, and without apologies. Endless "grunge" fonts come and go, grid systems are completely ignored, all rules were thrown out. Typography had been broken. The most extreme being when Carson tells us of how he set an entire magazine article in the unreadable Zapf Dingbats. But sometime in the 90s, this line of thinking played itself out and we get a new movement that appreciates the "inherent rightness" of Helvetica and the modernist thinking. The movie is rounded out with interviews of designers describing Helvetica not as boring or overused, but "cheeky" and "subversive." We get a sense that our heroic font will be alright after all. That the kids have figured out the master plan and will keep the flame alive. One of the best lines is that we have had 50 years of a typeface daring people to fix it. But after all this time, it's seemingly unfixable.

I would recommend this movie to just about anyone. If only to be exposed to the design world and get an appreciation for the intracacies of typefaces. It explains some of the basics of fonts, where these things come from, and who makes them. I eagerly await the next documentary on Times New Roman, or whatever it may be.

A face you'll be seeing a lot of

2007-11-28T16:25:00.000-05:00

Lately, one of my favorite things to do on extended road trips is to search for road signage that uses the new font Clearview. It's not exactly new, seeing how it was approved in 2004, but it will be considered new for the next few decades. It's expensive to just replace every road sign in the country at once so we'll have to wait until each sign gets worn out and replaced. Check back to this blog in 40 years for an update.

The outgoing typeface we all know (Highway Gothic) was developed way back in the 1940s. Even before I got into design I noticed its quirks and problem areas, like the tendency on the Os to "fill in" and the oddly shortened descender on the lowercase G. Surely I'm not the only bored motorist out there who's noticed this stuff?

Supposedly it's easier to read in the dark, from far away, underwater, etc. Seeing it in person, it'd definitely a more legible set of letters and numbers. If you want to get a look for yourself, take a drive through Pennsylvania. The bulk of the new signs seem to be up in the Keystone State. (or you can go here: http://clearviewhwy.com)

Clear thinking

2007-11-12T14:24:00.000-05:00

"What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention, and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it." -Herbert Simon

In our world, that means stop putting so much junk in the layout and let the important stuff be seen. And understood.

You'd think this would come from Edward Tufte, but no. A political scientist in 1971.

The Latin Grammys

2007-11-09T10:29:00.000-05:00

A CD release that ComVis designed last year has won a Latin Grammy! The Smithsonian Folkways album "Un Fuego de Sangre Pura" took home the trophy for Best Folk Album. Congratulations to everyone at Folkways and thanks for letting us bask a little in the limelight. We thought it to be some of our best work and this makes it even better.

The Space Between

2007-10-26T12:54:00.000-04:00

It's been a seemingly unspoken rule in the punctuation arena: two spaces after a period. Always. It's a practice that's been going on since we can't remember. It seemed right. Right? Well, kind of. The reality is that during the era of typewriters, two spaces were indeed used to give more space between sentences. The theory being that it made it easier to see where one sentence ended and the next began.

With today's proportionally spaced fonts (as opposed to the "monospaced" dinosaurs of yesteryear) there's no need to hit that spacebar a second time. Doing so just creates "holes," or trapped white space in the middle of text blocks. The old fonts took up the same amount of space on the page, whether it was an M or an i. Modern fonts take up space proportional to their width, and this includes regular spaces after a period.

So, if you've been abusing the space bar, like so many others, you can now stop working so hard and watch your productivity soar while technology does the work for you.