Posts filed under ‘Culture’
Broadsides!
Our broadside ordering process is up and running! You can now order a print of our holiday card. This is the newest broadside poster from HB Design. Supplies are limited.
Add comment April 12, 2013
The Importance of Typography
I love typography. A LOT. I always have. As strange as it sounds, it’s always been an important part of me, even as a kid. I was the kid drawing logos at age six. There will be more about my type obsession later…
Anyway, a while back, I fed my type obsession and ventured over to McMenamins Kennedy School Theater to attend the Portland premier of Linotype: The Film. It was a fascinating and entertaining documentary about typography and the history of the Linotype machine, invented by Otto Mergenthaler in 1886. For those of you who are thinking “I’ve heard of that word, but I have no idea what the heck it is,” read on.
A Linotype machine
Add comment February 12, 2013
An Idea Leads to A Change
Each morning, before I go to work, I take an hour and ride my spinning bike. I love this early morning exercise time—it is an hour of the day when my mind clears and I have no interruptions or distractions, and creative thoughts flow freely.
The other day I began to think about some work things: how to energize our blog posts, how to utilize our letterpress, how to present new design to our clients, old technology, new technology—sounds random but that’s how my mind sometimes works. Anyway, I came up with an idea that I’m really excited about, and here it is. (more…)
Add comment January 15, 2013
Printing Holiday Cards on Our Letterpress
This year’s HB Design Holiday gift has an extra special hand-made touch. We printed holiday cards on our new in-office letterpress. “New” being a relative term. The cards were printed on a Vandercook Proof Press circa 1936. Check out a few shots from the process.
UPDATE: Request a print of our holiday card. Limited to supply on hand.
Add comment November 28, 2012
An Introduction to {HB}design’s own letterpress
Leslie, our creative director, gave the company our first training session on our letterpress. Below are some photos, click to see larger views. (more…)
2 comments November 6, 2012
Homeless Teens Graduate
Today was an extraordinary day for a group of homeless Portland teenagers. They graduated from high school. Over the past few years, they’ve worked hard to change the trajectory of their young lives and reinvent a promising future via hard work and education. Today they arrived on the threshold of a better future sans the love, support, and encouragement of solid parentage.
I volunteer with Outside In, a social service organization that addresses the needs of homeless and other marginalized people in Portland. Without their help, this day may not have happened for these promising individuals. I’ve attended many graduations over the years but none of them has ever felt so joyous. I wanted to congratulate each of these graduates and wish them well on the road ahead.
Check out more about preventing the tragedy of homeless youth.
If you want to get involved with helping area homeless youth check out www.outsidein.org. It takes a whole village and many of us have much to give in terms of our time, expertise, or financial assistance.
Update: Outside In posted photos from the graduation ceremony on their Facebook page.
Add comment June 28, 2012
Photos of Typography in the Wild
Bob, our resident magician, is also a photographer and has posted an interesting series of shots on his Facebook page.
Here are a few samples of his photos:
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Add comment April 30, 2012
Of Gardeners and Geeks
People have looked at me oddly when I mentioned that people in Korea have used sausages on a stick to use their iPhones. Especially when I add that this Korean snack food had a jump in sales once the word got around that it could be used this way.
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Add comment April 6, 2012
What is a design system?
Often in our work we are asked for things that sound simple, but in fact aren’t.
(Or would be simple, but wouldn’t be a truly good solution.) And many of those challenges relate to design systems, and whether or not the client has one, or even thinks they need one.
A solid design system gives you the visual building blocks needed for building your messaging and brand with consistent identity and tone.
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2 comments March 16, 2012
Ode to the HB Popcorn Maker
Of all the many pieces of office equipment that have been purchased in my five years of employment here,
I have to confess that the popcorn maker is truly the best!
Add comment March 8, 2012
