Comments for Katharine Taylor Design

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Comment on Everyday Design: Craftsmanship by Katharine

Katharine — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:47:54 +0000

Very well said, Pher. I am working on a follow up post, but maybe I should just link to your comment instead! I agree that doing your best is key to a sense of craftsmanship in design. As a matter of fact I was just reading a section in which Ruskin argues for using the best materials of their kinds — so whether it is marble or brick or wood, craftsmanship is still possible even if you can’t afford to use the most luxurious materials.

Comment on Everyday Design: Craftsmanship by Pher

Pher — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 03:38:54 +0000

John Ruskin believed that even the most rude materials could be ennobled by being worked by hand (The Seven Lamps of Architecture, chapter 2, XX). He would have much preferred a crudely hand fashioned finial of local flint than a finely polished proportionally perfect machine turned column of the finest marble. He would rather have the best work out of cheaper materials than mediocre work with better materials.

Beside the aesthetic qualities of worn wood and patinaed metals, I imagine (and I know its true for me) is the contrast between these old tools (drafting, wood, kitchen etc.) and their modern counterparts. I’m fascinated with these things that were made before limited lifetime warranties, in reality, many of them are just past being broken in. They weren’t just made to last until the next model came out or even a lifetime, they were just made “well,” because some pasta machine company took pride in their products.

A lot of companies toady say “we take pride in our products,” but today its a little different. It means that they’ll give you another one of equal or better value if it breaks (we’re on our second tea kettle that, after 4 months use, just broke in the exact way the first one did. It’s ok, they’ll give us another one…if we want it).

Apart from opening a specialty printing shop, Katharine, as a graphic designer, is never going to go back to engraving plates, lithography and letterpresses, and websites are so immaterial that my mind almost exploded when I was thinking about it the other day.

You’ll never live up to Ruskin’s ideal (I don’t think anyone can these days), and most people aren’t going to be using your stuff in 90 years, but I think you can learn something from the makers of those old tools. You can take pride in your handy work and make the very best invitation or website you can, no matter how long you expect it to be used, because that’s what you do. Maybe Aristotle will be happy with you, even if Ruskin won’t.

Comment on Everyday Design: Craftsmanship by Katharine

Katharine — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 03:12:05 +0000

It’s something I definitely struggle with–many of the invitations and even brochures I put together are not going to be lasting either. In some ways websites last longer than some of the one-off print things I’ve done! But neither print brochures or websites are ever going to be antiques. So what does craftsmanship mean in our work? I’m thinking about it, and I might do a follow up post.

Of course maybe you’re right and we should just abandon all this digital stuff… Ha. Right.

Comment on Everyday Design: Craftsmanship by Rajett

Rajett — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 13:07:34 +0000

Something to think about… am I making lasting design in my websites? What about the web? Web 2.0 has been around for awhile and they’re talking more and more about 3.0. Many, many top web designers follow the trends. Just browse around and take note of how many websites now have deep rich colors, funky little fake “old” graphic elements, etc. The web itself has no staying power as far as I can see. I can’t imagine being able to make a website that one day, someone will hold lovingly in their hands and marvel over the craftsmanship. Maybe I should go back to stained glass…

Comment on How to Pick a Good Font by Katharine

Katharine — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 03:08:08 +0000

Rajett, good additions. Indeed, there might be a Typography Part II perhaps titled Cool Things You Can Do With Ordinary Fonts or something. I have a soft spot for small caps, myself. One site that does fun things with web typography is Speak Up. What do you think of it? I like the small caps and the funky little font they use for the subheads.

Comment on How to Pick a Good Font by Rajett

Rajett — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 23:59:15 +0000

Nice article; as a web designer, I am not so familiar with non-core fonts. Another typography feature that I do use for variety, because I can apply this to core fonts, is capitals/lower case, as well as small caps.

The serif fonts with all capitals looks sort of romanesque. Of course all caps can be shouting, too, just chunky bold text. Sans-serif fonts in caps or small caps are good for titles sometimes.

This might be a Typography, Part II? Any comments from you, Katharine?

Comment on What graphic design can do for you by Rajett

Rajett — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 11:59:54 +0000

Great post, and applicable to all areas of design-for-customers, not just print. Web designers deal with this, too. “I want a website and its existence alone will be enough to justify that existence.” They don’t think through what is required to make the site actually do what they assume it will do just by being on the ‘net. Thanks for a good writeup that I will share with future clients.