Monday, January 26, 2009

The Venice Home


Being on location can be fun but nothing compares to being on location in Venice, Italy. I was fortunate enough spend a month in Venice creating a new site promoting a property for sale in a 500 year old building there. A great experience and no better way to get a true feel for the place. You can view the site, and photos of the residence at venicehome.net

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Is blue the new green?


Everyone seems to be green these days. Not that it's bad but it does make me a little anxious since Design Hovie Studios' color has been a vibrant spring green since 2004. While it was unique 5 years ago, I fear with each new eco-friendly piece that uses the green, it makes us seem somehow pedestrian. For now I'm determined to ride out the green wave in the hope that new colors will come along that also symbolize a friendliness to the environment. We've even done our part in the brand for Just Green giving them a sky blue corporate color that is clean and friendly and different.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Bassetti Architects


At Design Hovie Studios, we've recently finish the new logo/brand for Bassetti Architects. It was a great project and I had a lot of fun working with their in-house marketing department. Great collaboration. It's especially nice to walk out of the elevator and see the logo front and center on their entry wall!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Body text size


New, young designers should enlarge their body text 1 pt. size and increase leading just slightly whereas non designers should decrease their body text 3-4 pts. and double their leading.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Univers or Helvetica?

I now like Univers better than Helvetica. It just seems to look a little tighter, more together in body text. I still love Helvetica but Univers is now my font of choice.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Utah or Florida

Congrats to the Florida Gators for winning the BCS Championship!

Unfortunately, until the NCAA can have a system where all Division I teams have an equal chance to win the Championship, I can not consider them the National Champion in college football. So, until then, the Gators can be happy knowing they're the best team that plays in a BCS conference!

And for those of you counting here are the two items that can be compared...
1. Utah 13-0, Florida 13-1
2. Utah 31 Alabama 17 (+14), Florida 31 Alabama 20 (+11)

Sync Interior Design


It's been a busy start to the new year, which has been quite nice. Our new site for Sync Interior Design went live this week which was great. It's a sleek, clean, site that doesn't get bogged down with a lot of text. Instead Sync uses photo grouping of their interiors to express their style. Have to say I'm pleased with how it turned out the the fun collaborative process with Kim, Sync's owner.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Green Shorelines Guidebook


Our studio just finished a great project for the City of Seattle's Department of Planning and Development. It's the 36 page Green Shorelines Guidebook and shows great examples of how home owners along Lake Washington can remove their bulkheads in favor of a more natural and beneficial waterfront. Be sure to check it out