Filed under: 5. Check this out | Tags: animation, design, graphic design, kerning, typography
Many moons ago, budding design students were lectured on the history of type, the nuances of type and the art of ‘typography’. Sadly this is becoming a lost art form – with many new design graduates simply relying on their design software to kern their fonts for them. They plonk it down and move on….yuck! It may be ‘old school’ [but hey, we love some of that in here] – appreciating and pursuing aesthetically optimal typography goes a lot further in appeasing our sensibilities and adds to effective communication. We really like this animated history about it…enjoy!
The History of Typography – Animated Short from Ben Barrett-Forrest on Vimeo.
PS – Want to know how we do it…here’s a fun little kerning game. This shows off the subtle decisions we make when working with type…
To help further Spectrum’s understanding on what happens to our sorted rubbish when it leaves the office, Bill headed off to an ACTSmart hosted tour of Canberra’s Materials Recovery Facility in Hume. Thanks to Roz from ACTSmart for her impassioned talk about recycling and ACTSmart’s various programs and insight into how the facility sorts through the jumble of materials.
There was an array of interesting facts and figures…did you know that certain rubbish types are seasonal? For example, when the new school year starts they are inundated with packaging from stationery and related items and so on. After Mothers Day and Fathers Day there is far more wrapping paper and packaging in the mix. Hearing about how much ACT landfill is being saved and how much of the waste is being made into new products etc etc by all of us recycling is inspiring stuff!
Filed under: 1. We made this, 3. Latest news, 5. Check this out | Tags: ARLF, Brochure, DL
In March we did a minor re-design of ARLF’s ARLP brochure. A refresh of the cover and a lighter colour scheme on the inside. It’s an A4 sheet, roll-folded to DL, full-colour and printed on uncoated stock.
Filed under: 1. We made this, 3. Latest news, 5. Check this out | Tags: A5, flyer, High Court of Australia
We were delighted when the High Court of Australia (HCA) approached us once again to design their lecture series flyer. It’s A5 in size and printed in full colour on uncoated stock. The design kept in-line with previous flyers we have created for the HCA – with a lush palette of cream, aubergine and rich brown colour scheme across the suite.
Filed under: 1. We made this, 3. Latest news, 5. Check this out | Tags: ARLF, Brochure
ARLF have been keeping us busy! This is a full colour [CMYK], 8pp saddle-stitched [stapled] brochure for Trailblazers. One of ARLF’s highly regarded (8 day) rural leadership development programs. As usual, it was a fun project with many great images to choose from. As with all of ARLF’s print collateral, the brochure is printed on uncoated paper stock (which is great because we love using uncoated at SG!)
It’s that time of the year again when we’re all starting to rev up for the annual report season.
- How to choose a report team.
Don’t worry – we’ve got this.We’ve been producing annual reports for nearly 20 years and have been part of IPAA award report teams in that time. In two decades we can proudly boast that we have not missed a key milestone or tabling date. We have an enviable record of accuracy and job tracking.Creative concepts with a conscience.
We can follow branding guidelines as well as breathing new life into one with a refreshing new-look report! There’s a host of niceties that we can weave into a report to help functionality, aesthetics and to enhance the reader’s experience. - No problem with commitment.
This is a biggie. When quotes are compared and concepts are finalised and the nitty gritty of getting a major document completed accurately and on time has to happen, it’s the commitment of your design team that really counts. We ensure timelines are plotted so all parties – you, SG and contractors, such as indexers and printers, are all on the same page. We make allowances for your approval processes and map these into a common timeline for all to follow. We keep you informed at all times on the report’s progress.Your very own Designer.
You will deal directly with the one and the same designer from concept to delivery. NO account managers, NO ‘Art Directors’, NO sales staff…no one but the same designer who knows your material back to front. You have direct access at all times. You’re always welcome to pop into the studio and have a tete-a-tete with that designer throughout the report’s production. - A helping hand – Contractors.
If you’d like us to manage the proofreader, indexer and printer we’re happy to do so. We will forewarn you of associated costs in a formal quote so there are no invoice surprises. Their time requirements will be plotted on the timeline you’ll have from us, and we’ll manage the deliverables to agreed deadlines. EASY! And just so you can relax even more – our contractors have intrinsic knowledge of the Embargo and Tabling procedures surrounding the production of annual reports. All their staff are security cleared by the Australian Security Vetting Service and also have strict internal security procedures in place. - Crossing finish line!
Once your fabulous annual report is done and delivered on time and everyone, including the Minister, is happy, we will develop accessible PDFs and any other format requirements you may need.Crowd go wild!
This is where all the kudos owing is heaped upon you. The collective respond with plaudits beyond your imaginings and you join us for a celebratory morning tea of freshly made coffee and baked goods.The elephant in the room.
Money, budget, blowouts, explanations and nasty surprises. You can relax about this too….we’ll quote you everything you’ve asked us for and possibly include things you may not have considered. We may also make suggestions on how to bring costs down. When the dust has cleared and we’re all still basking in the after glow of success, we will invoice you against quoted totals – so everything is cross-referenced and you’re still in the good books with everyone, especially with the number crunchers!
Filed under: 3. Latest news, 5. Check this out | Tags: cycling, Fundraising, Midi-Smiddy Charity Bike Ride
The big fundraising ride training continues….The thought of attempting this a month ago would of meant a sleepless and anxious night for Bill. However, after recently knocking off a few big rides he recently rode 120kms to and from Corin Dam! He rode rolling hills to get up there – with lots and lots and lots of up bits…finally he could turn around for a fast and fun ride back down through the twisty bits and eventually rolled into town many hours later. He reckons he felt great the whole ride – no doubt helped by being lucky with cool weather and no wind. There were a few ‘medicinal’ coffee stops along the way to. The next day’s challenge was met with a [flat] 95km day in the saddle. This included a maiden ride up into Canberra’s own and newish Arboretum with some great views over Canberra.
