Rule number one for designers of all kinds: use a contract What type of contract do I need? How should I organize the payment structure? Should I use a service agreement? Or a retainer? Don't know? There are several contract templates available for you online.  Get answers and a host of legal resources from Smashing Magazine!!! ...

I'm back from vacation and feeling rejuvenated! Before I hit the Costa Rican coast, I put the finishing touches on the Office of Technology Services Strategic Plan Update.  In addition to layout on this project, I also did a bit of copy editing. This is an activity that's a bit out of my comfort zone, but necessary to keep the page numbers down! T'was fun. Here's what we got back from...

In going through my first TB drive and cleaning up files, I came across a fun project assigned by Max Boam. I loved this typography poster project: select type designer and interpret one of their typefaces in a calendar. I chose Herb Lubalin's Avant Garde. This was my first go round . . . I think I'mma plop this guy into my portfolio for nostalgias sake: {I'll be sure to make a more realistic...

Yes, I read an article last year in an old NYer mag that went over the finer points of getting freebies and upgrades. Sabado /Saturday: Just before getting on the airplane to Panama City, Rob’s friend marveled at my calmness in response to Rob’s joke that his ticket had a seat assignment while mine said I was flying standby. His ticket actually indicated his standby status too, so we surmised...

Miercoles / Wednesday: Stayed up late into the morning contemplating the water cycle. Here in Pto. Viejo it functions practically like clockwork. The constant beating of the waters on the sand and the high daytime heat creates a steady stream of moisture raising up into the air. This eventually forms clouds. The clouds coagulate and obscure the early evening sun, always around 4pm, making...

Ticos and Dogs Tico taking his dog for a swim The people of Costa Rica love their dogs...this is in stark contrast to the way we treat dogs back in my neck of the Caribbean. Here they dote on, play with, cherish and respect their canines. As a result the dogs are all friendly and bite only when being playful. At home, dogs are generally chained to a stake and left to protect the home. They are...

Best vacation reading, indeed the best book I’ve read all year: Empress of Ireland, by Christopher Robbin...