Jessica Stoffers

D. Collins Design Co. was hired to art direct and redesign Dinosaur Magazine. The magazine looked at culture and what has taken place in the past, what is taking place in the present, and where that trajectory is arcing into the future, all from the perspective of “generation x” (loosely speaking, those of us born between 1961 and 1981). This generation is interesting because it is the last generation to see an analog era wane to that of the internet age; this generation has the clearest understanding of what has been gained and lost within this transition. The idea for the “mirror image” logo was discovered in the rear view mirror when at a stop sign. An ambulance pulled up behind, and the right-reading image of the word “ambulance” appeared in the rear view mirror. And that’s when the visual metaphor presented itself. We often look behind us to gather information about the present moment and how to proceed in the future. This is not unlike how Dinosaur functioned as a magazine. Photos by Steven Miller and Greg Dohler. While redesigning Dinosaur, I was looking at quite a bit of magazine designs from the 90s, post-punk record covers, and music ephemera from the late 80s and early 90s—the stuff concocted by those who belonged to Gen X. I consciously made the attempt to capture the spirit of this era; I knew the attempt was futile. I came to realize that I didn’t want to replicate the past but did want to reinterpret it, reinvent it, and present it in more contemporary terms. Fred Woodward (creative director, 1990s era, Rolling Stone Magazine). The work done during the 1990s at Rolling Stone magazine is, in my humble opinion, the pinnacle of magazine design. After a seemingly more regimented “invisible” design approach practiced at Rolling Stone during the 1980s, Woodward had made the magazine relevant and fun again. https://lnkd.in/gXikz7YB Vaughan Oliver I bought His Name is Alive’s Livonia" album. I never heard of this band or of the now seminal 4AD record label before this. I found myself mesmerized by the ghost like black and white photo, badged by a formal postmodern script typeface stamped in gold upon a dried-blood burgundy rectangle. The timing was ripe. After a good ten years immersed in punk and hardcore, I was beginning to get of my “give me punk, er gimme nothin!” screed. I had been preaching the tenants of an open mind in defense of punk, but ten years on, I found it was time to open my own.  https://lnkd.in/gpqcna7w

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💡 Want to know how to create a compelling narrative for your agency? Join Roland Gurney from Treacle as we discuss the art of strategic storytelling in the world of design agencies. In this episode of BRANDERMAN, Roland explores the intricacies of crafting distinctive and compelling narratives for design agencies. He discusses common pitfalls agencies face, the importance of a well-defined target client, and introduces the 3D positioning model—desirable, distinctive, and defensible. #AgencyNarrative #CreativeStrategy 🎙 Listen now: Link to the BRANDERMAN episode in the comments.

As May is winding down, this week will be filled with some completed projects and one new hallway. Today's first finished piece is "Harmony Haven's" opening. Details like bamboo edging to the windchime walls, simplifying parts of the windchimes, shadowing, and extra lighting effects to the archway helped bring this area to life more. Stay tuned for tomorrow's "Mindful Beginnings Foyer" update. Share your thoughts in the comments section below. #ImmersiveDesign #EventProfs #ExhibitDesign #MeetingProfs #ExperientialDesign #SpatialDesign #Design #Experience

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Symmetrical and freestyle pattern design. The is a new blog post published today in Artista's website. You can learn about the difference of designing a symmetrical and freestyle pattern design using the same elements and colors. www.a-artista.com #patterndesign #digitalpatterns #surfacepatterns

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BOOK COVER DESIGN, "OIL FICTIONS", PENN STATE UNIVERSITY PRESS Fossil fuel permeates every aspect of society, yet it has been largely ignored by cultural critics. By shining a light on non-Western literary responses to petroleum in a thorough and thoughtful way, this book exposes cross-national dimensions to the discourse on oil. Of all of the ideas presented for this project, this was the most simple and bold; Smeared charcoal was scanned and placed on a yellow backdrop. I have always found black and yellow to be an effective color scheme when something needs to be visually loud but not saturated or "cute." The subject matter of "Oil Fictions" lent itself well to this color scheme; this cover almost works as a warning sign. #universitypresses #bookcoverdesign #bookdesign #printisntdead While working on "Oil Fictions", I was looking at a lot of: Piotr Panasiewicz: https://lnkd.in/gSQJ2_m5 I was looking at quite a bit of the lithography of Piotr Panasiewicz. His work was a brand-spankin’-new discovery for me at the time. The smeared and heavy blacks, his sense of color, and his dedication to the craft of stone lithography struck a chord.   Franz Kline: https://lnkd.in/gGwJkJTK Looking at Panasiewicz stuff reminded me of Franz Kline somehow; I am not fully certain why, but I can say with certainty that I was drawn to the black-smeared approach of both artists. Bruce Licher: https://lnkd.in/gjWeyi9b Licher’s work is so goddamn immediate and open to improvisation during the letterpress printmaking process. His mind for resources and exploring limitations only makes for a richer experience. Without pause, I would much rather hire Licher to make a record cover for my (hypothetical) band using a used q-tip, ink, and toilet paper than commission AI to perfect the living soul out of it.

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Is Design Overrated in Business? John Maeda, a design luminary and former president of the Rhode Island School of Design, suggests that design shouldn’t always take the lead in tech companies. In his annual Design in Tech report, Maeda argues that while design is crucial, it should act as a support system to developers and product managers, rather than dominating them. Teamwork Over Leadership: Maeda emphasizes the importance of collaboration, stating that designers should focus on being good teammates. Learning from Failures: The case of Jawbone, a company that produced beautifully designed wearables but faced technical challenges that ultimately led to its downfall, underscores the need for a balance between design and engineering. Broader Perspectives: Alex Schleifer from Airbnb, who has led design at one of the world’s most design-focused companies, also supports the idea that design-led cultures can sometimes overlook valuable insights from other team members. Maeda’s perspective is a reminder that the best products come from collaborative efforts, not just from design-driven approaches. In my experience, I’ve seen how a balanced approach between design and engineering can lead to innovative and successful products. Let’s rethink how we integrate design into our business strategies. What are your thoughts on design’s role in tech companies? Share your experiences and insights below! #design #businessstrategy #collaboration #productdevelopment #techIndustry Credits: Fastcompany, John Maeda "In reality, design isn’t that important." Image:  Wired, John Maeda "If You Want to Survive in Design, You Better Learn to Code"

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YES! Robert Fabricant, great Fast Company follow-up article. Stoked has been on this train for many years and I deeply believe it is the model of the future.  Last year, ⅓ of our projects were completely designed, staffed, and led by contract design talent and ¾ of all projects had collective team members on the project (collective = contractor). The future of design and innovation talent must recognize that there are incredible innovation leaders out there who don’t want to be full-time employees.  But, being independent comes with some challenges: 1. It can be lonely.  2. By nature, design leaders are obsessive learners. As an independent wearing many hats, seeking inspiration can fall to the bottom of this list. 3. Biz dev is a unique skill that many creatives don’t love. Cultivating our Collective meant solving these challenges while also creating consistency and reliability in what it means to deliver a Stoked experience.  The 50 or so projects we lead each year allow us to see emerging needs (e.g. design leaders must be skilled at complex problem-solving, take a systems perspective, and know how to measure innovation) and cultivate a community of leaders who can do these things with confidence and consistency. But, closest to my heart, and regardless of whether someone is an employee or a contractor - design leaders know how to create a human-centered environment. When big-business gets caught up in automation, optimization, and risk-mitigation they can look to design leaders to find a humanized work experience.  #innovation #design #culture #systemsdesign https://lnkd.in/eBh8hcu8

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NeoCon and Fulton Market Design Days 2024 Recap: A Joyful Fusion of Colors, Shapes, and Textures! Earlier this week, Tracy Ho and I enjoyed a few thrilling days filled with discovery, knowledge-sharing, networking, and a vibrant celebration of creativity and innovation at THE MART and in #FultonMarket. Our key takeaways: > Sustainability Focus: Manufacturers are emphasizing their commitment to sustainability through storytelling, highlighting the full lifecycle of their products and improvements at every step. > Attracting Employees: Employers continue to seek effective ways to bring people back to the office. > Evolving Amenities: There’s a shift from large group-focused spaces to private, individual spaces. > Semi-Enclosed Furniture: These designs foster intimate and comfortable conversations, enhancing workplace connections. > Neuroaesthetics: Top of mind for manufacturers, with products designed to ease over-stimulation and recognize the impact of light, color, and texture on our brains. > Concierge Services: Becoming an expected standard in the workplace. > Focus Areas: Prioritizing 'psycho-physical' and 'sensory comfort,' using sound-absorbing surfaces, textiles, curtains, and flooring to create tranquil meeting areas. > Sensory Design: When designing commercial interiors, engage all five senses! Exciting shifts are happening in our industry, and we’re eager to see where things go from here! #SDIdesign #SDIretail #SDIhospitality #Sustainability #OfficeDesign #Collaboration #Design #Innovation #InteriorDesign #ExperienceDesign #RetailDesign #HospitalityDesign #CommercialInteriors #CommercialDesign #WorkplaceDesign #WorkplaceInnovation #FutureOfWork #Chicago #TheMART #DesignDays #NeoCon2024

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I've done quite a few vehicle wraps in the last year.  Each one is a different kind of challenge, and its often a question of 'how much information do we want to display?'.  This is an example of the planning process for a new trailer for @stewartrichey 's service group devision.  - - #graphicdesign #graphicartist #creativeprocess #graphicdesigner #designinspiration #branddesign #typography #illustration #adobeillustrator #artdirector #logodesign #logodesign #branddesign #vehiclewraps #vehiclewrap #vehiclewrapdesign #customvehiclewraps

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Arc Search looks so helpful. There is so much information out there. So many interesting and helpful industry articles that I have no time to read. Love the pinch to summarize feature. https://lnkd.in/eXHr5mPd

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Looking to attract customers who crave the cutting-edge? "The Pioneers" are your ideal audience. This forward-thinking group values advanced technology, groundbreaking ideas, and design that pushes boundaries. Our latest blog (https://lnkd.in/ed3qk6Y7) dives deep into what makes them tick, and unveils strategies to resonate with their desire to challenge the status quo. Discover how to connect with The Pioneers and propel your brand to the forefront! #FutureofTech #DesignThinking #ThePioneers P.S. Do you have a product or service that screams "Pioneer-worthy"? Share it in the comments! Let's spark some innovation!

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Join me and my guest, George Aye, for Episode 136 of the #DesignThinking 101 #Podcast, the first DT101 Live! episode: Design Ethics. You can listen, AND watch the live recording. See link in comments. #design #ethics #EthicalDesign

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In episode 73, we are going over the final settings for subdivision surface modeling. This episode focuses on the Open Subdiv settings. It feels like finishing a chapter in a book. #learning #podcast #videoproduction #3d #3dmodeling #3dmodelling #maxon #c4d #cinema4d #freelancer #freelancedesigner #podcast #youtube #tutorial

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Shout-out to Adobe & Kirk Wallace for the goodies during the Create Now event in Boston. One of my favorite pickups from the event is issue 1 of the Half Page zine (cover art by Hoodzpah), which "is a quarterly zine created by the Adobe community team that's for creatives, by creatives." I'll place the link to sign up for future zines in the comments section below. #adobecreate #adobecreatenow #merch #graphicdesign

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"Design is not just about how a space looks, but about how you feel within that space." Dive into the mind of Blima Ehrentreu on our latest episode of Construction Disruption. Discover how design shapes our emotions and environments. 🔊🎨 #DesignThinking #InteriorDesign

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Creating #immersiveexperiences for physically confined spaces requires careful consideration of #contextual and #spatial awareness. It's, important that one synchronizes user movement, installation transitions, and sound design seamlessly to maintain coherence. Leveraging immersive media to convey a compelling narrative adds another layer of complexity and opportunity. As we prepare to unveil two expansive #expereincecenters , we are meticulously integrating interactive elements such as #tactile displays, #augmentedreality exhibits, and interactive narratives, ensuring that visitors are not just passive observers but active participants in the storytelling experience. #storytelling #userexpereince

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Looking forward to the event and discussion next week. In advance of the talk some thoughts I posted in a blog a few months back: https://lnkd.in/eZyvV367 #AI #Design #Innovation #CDW2024 #OfficeDesign #GenAI #experiencedesign #BrandDesign  #WorkspaceSolutions #ArchitectsLife #ModernOffice #WorkplaceDesign #OfficeInteriors #CommercialInteriors #ExperienceDesign #ApeDesigns #BrandExperienceDesign #RetailDesign

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With new research coming out every year and the state of practice shifting to a more flexible approach to design, it’s important that state and local agencies keep their design manuals and other guidebooks in step with evolving best practices. But rewriting a full manual can be a pretty daunting task. 📚 To mitigate the extended wait, agencies are developing bridging documents, which can immediately implement necessary changes while a full manual rewrite is in the works. Putting essential design strategies into practice right away keeps transportation engineers on the cutting edge of change. 📝

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