IdN v20n1: Environmental Graphics Issue — Embellishing your surroundings
What design discipline combines aspects of architecture, urban planning, landscaping, interior decoration, scenography, lighting, historical preservation, industrial design, way-finding, information graphics and graffiti? Answer: environmental design.
IdN v19n6: Character Design Issue — Character Building
A good story, in any medium, is only as interesting as the characters in it. How do you invent a fictional being with which the whole world can identify? If we knew the answer we'd be millionaires, but there are plenty of people out there trying hard to come up with the next Mickey Mouse or Homer Simpson. We talk to some of them about the difficulties and satisfactions of this challenge and ask them what advice they would give to someone starting out on the character-building path.
IdN v19n5: Interactive Design — Perfecting those Air to Surface Missiles
Designing the perfect digital tools and useful applications that end-users will want to embrace is the design world's new holy grail. We present the work and observations of 9 prestigious practitioners of this most cutting-edge end of the design field to show us how interaction design can be as functional as it is fun to use – and to discuss the challenges that it offers, as well as to predict some of the future paths it may take.
IdN v19n4: Shapes-in-Pattern — Shaping Their Own Patterns
Patterns are easy, right? Just come up with a nice little design, then copy-and-paste it ad infinitum. Well, nothing could be further from the truth. We decided to reduce the parameters even further – and asked seven creatives who utilise mainly shapes to achieve their desired effect, how the tight discipline involved both constrains and liberates them. It is a lot more complicated than you might think – but the results can be deeply satisfying.
IdN v19n3: The Line Issue — Artist on the Front Line
A line is so much more than just the distance between two dots. It is the fundamental building-block that every artist employs – even if, like Jackson Pollock, they are simply dribbling paint onto a horizontal canvas. It is a signifier of innate talent: the critics speak of "bold" lines and "subtle" lines. One would be hard-pressed to think of any work of art that did not involve lines – even Malevich's notorious 1915 "Black Square" wouldn't have worked without an outline to define it.
IdN v19n2: Sexual Graphics — Visual Orgasm
We're pretty sure we've already got your attention just with the use of that word "sexual" because nothing arouses so much interest or is capable of stirring up so much controversy. With the help of 11 top-flight practitioners who have flirted with the bare-all approach, we examine the pros and cons of using sex to spice up your portfolio – and present some eye-popping examples of their work to help you make up your mind about this ever-burning issue.
IdN v19n1: Invitation Design — RSVP
Whether it happens to be what they specialize in, or something that they are only called upon to undertake from time to time, almost all designers enjoy putting together the collateral for a meaningful private event. The freedom from the often suffocating demands of a commercial brief are part of the attraction, as is the satisfaction that comes from giving immediate pleasure to people and being temporarily welcomed into their world. In this issue, we have sought the opinions of 21 creative units on how to make that very personal party go with a bang!
IdN v18n6: Humorous Design — Design in Contempt
Who doesn't like to make people laugh? An ability to do this always adds something special to the message being conveyed, however serious its ultimate intent, and the rewards for those designers with a universal sense of humour, and technique to match, can be huge. In this issue, we have gathered together the work and words of 11 genuinely funny designers, who all have radically different approaches. If you think that you possess a prominent funny bone, their experiences may inspire you. We hope that some of them, at least, will leave you chortling or wryly smiling.
