Sharon Silverberg : Blog

Make Something Cool Everyday

sharonsilverberg — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 02:15:50 +0000

I know, I know, I can barely write one blog post every week (apparently this weekly update business has already started off as more of a monthly business…sorry reader – yes, singular). But this is such a great idea. Started by Olly Moss a fabulous designer/illustrator/all around artist, the project rules are simple. Make. Something. Cool. Every. Day. After looking through Brock Davis‘s set on Behance, I was hooked. I think I’ll be a bit more lenient on myself and start with one thing a day – starting Sunday.

Flickr pool of images from 2009 MSCE here.

Filed under: Inspiration

This is what growing up feels like.

sharonsilverberg — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:58:23 +0000

Great article about the transition between the university setting and the “real world” by Frank Chimero – worth the whole read but here’s the part that really got me.

I will say this as squarely as I know how for the students and young professionals reading this. Within the first year or two of working as a professional designer, you will question if you want to do this any more. You will get beat up and overworked, you will produce a giant pile of work that you are not proud of. You will be lucky if you get out of the first year with a feeling of pride in or ownership of anything you make. You will look back after the first year and not remember most of what kept you busy. You will make work that you question the use of, and you will do things that make you feel like a cog in some sort of awful, wasteful machine. There will be times that you will be just merely a tool for someone else. You will question what all this work is for and you will need to re-convince yourself at some point as to whether or not you love this practice.

And so it is. This is what growing up feels like.

Depressing? Maybe. But somehow, even this part made me optimistic about the work I’m doing now. It quelled my fear that maybe I’m settling for projects and prospects just because they’re in my grasp. So maybe that’s okay, just have to keep going, keep producing, practicing, perfecting and challenging myself with self-initiated projects and getting excited about the work that others do, even if my first year as an esteemed “design professional” doesn’t live up to my extraordinarily high expectations for myself. On a more positive (maybe?) note for those who might not have gotten such a warm fuzzy feeling about the prospect of growing up this way:

I always come back. It’s either because I love this thing, or because it’s the only thing I know how to do, the only thing I’ve ever done. I haven’t decided yet. Maybe this is like any kind of young-love relationship: euphoric highs and cratering lows. Maybe the normalization comes with experience and age, or finding the right kind of cocktail. Maybe it is getting the correct mix that’s just right for you: a bit of client work, a dash of self-indulgent creative activity, a hint of collaboration, a healthy bit of self-loathing, and maybe a tiny bit of off-time. Or maybe all this turmoil just comes from being a fussy, navel-gazing, difficult creative person. Touché.

Filed under: Inspiration

Orthinology Prints by Neil Stevens

sharonsilverberg — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:09:10 +0000

Came across these this morning and just had to share – I love the colors and cut paper style of Neil Stevens’ work. Crayons on Fire is Stevens’ illustrated work and embodies all the things I wish I could create but just aren’t in my nature – textured graphic shapes that make simple incisions and alterations to a form to give it life. Love it.

Filed under: Inspiration

Weekly Update: July 4–10

sharonsilverberg — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 04:32:53 +0000

So I’m going to try and keep my word and update this every week with new projects I’m starting, design problems I’m solving, and what I’m currently being inspired by. I’ll also keep track of who I’m listening to, what I’m reading, and new places I’m finding out here in Austin. Even though I’ve lived here (technically) for fifteen years, this city’s still full of surprises!

WORKING: The Grasshopper Hostel Business Plan

Every time I show this project, someone tells me I should figure out how to take it to the next level. With the help of some new connections and old friends, I’m learning how to develop a business plan for The Grasshopper. I want to gain as much experience in all aspects of the graphic design, marketing, and advertising field as I can, and develop auxiliary skills that’ll help set me apart from the competition.

LISTENING: Top 5 Artists

1. The Hold Steady
2. Okkervil River
3. Old 97′s
4. Eels
5. Wolfmother

FFFFOUNDING:The Ultimate Image Changer from FlowingData

Great little ads that really focus on the potential benefit of the product instead of just using your typical glasses glamour shot. As a designer (and fellow glasses-wearer), I love seeing how much changing one detail can turn everything upside down. Great illustration style and simple infographic that really drives the point home with simple shapes and copy.

INDULGING: Spartan on South Lamar

Great little shop at Riverside & S. Lamar that a friend told me about – they’ve got some great vintage Postalco notebooks I’d love to get my hands on!

Stay tuned for next weeks finds & updates.

Filed under: Update

The Screamer Co. Identity Sneak Peek

sharonsilverberg — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 05:32:35 +0000

Sneak peek of some of the photos that inspired the new The Screamer Co. identity system. I’ve been a design intern at The Screamer Co. for a little over a month now and my main project has been helping the Austin ad agency transition from marketing themselves as an “award-winning, fully integrated, full-service advertising agency based in Austin, Texas.” (although they are, so are a lot of other firms) into a team of idea generators and your local creative resource. Here are some of the photos that are the foundation of our new identity system, and the basis of the new website (slowly taking over the old WordPress design at thescreamercompany.com.

Filed under: Identity, Introduction, The Screamer Co.

Pamphlets

sharonsilverberg — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 04:30:12 +0000

New idea for self-promotion

How do you cram months of content research, market analysis, design brainstorming, development, and production into a two-minute description to someone who may (or may not) have any interest in hiring you at the end of the day? Give it to ‘em in five spreads and hope they’ll ask for more and keep one to remember you by.

Filed under: Introduction

Hello, world.

sharonsilverberg — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 02:05:12 +0000

Here’s to new beginnings.

Kickstarting my post-grad life and design career here in Austin also means starting this blog.

Lots of good stuff to look forward to, including (hopefully) weekly updates: what I’m making, inspiration, adventures, ideas, and other cool stuff that catches my attention. Feel free to drop me a line at any time.

Cheers!

Filed under: Introduction