The summer of lots of work

The last few weeks of this summer have been hot and productive. While I've been furiously trying to tie up the last few ends of my summer extra-curricular design work, I've been totally slacking on my design a day (and feeling a little guilty I must admit). So in Dribbble-esque style, I decided to post snapshots of a few of the projects that I've had the chance to be involved with this summer. It's not everything - I don't know that I'm allowed to post some of them just yet - but it is my design a day alibi.

Invite for a co-worker's annual School's Out Party

A very exciting multi-part, summer-long project that's still under wraps

Updated an existing logo  - Need a custom vacation home in Colorado? I can hook you up.

T-Shirt design for an annual retreat. It ended up being a little too girly, but still fun anyway

This is actually an Aptera project - the annual open house. The best night of your life.

Mad Men crazy

The past few weeks have been absolutely crazy. Mix that with a little sunshine and you get a big lack of blogging. In the meantime and until things settle, I've decided to profess my love for MadMen (Season 4 starts Sunday evening). If you haven't seen MadMen, you're missing out big time; there is absolutely nothing that's not to love about that show.

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Image via Style Inspiration

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Image via Ugo

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Image via AMC

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Image via FanPop

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Image via FanPop

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Image via AMC

Design #97: Re-purposed monsters

Yikes! It's been way to long since I've lasted posted. It seems like my Design a Day project has turned into something more like Design a Week this summer. While I may have gotten slightly off track during these warm sunny days, rest assured things will be back to normal once fall and winter roll around. This evening I re-purposed one of my little monster dudes from March for the wallpaper.

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320 x 480 |  640 x 980
1280 x 800 |  1280 x 1024 |  1920 x 1200

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Design #82: Introducing Patterns

Without much of a bang, the month of circles came and went. In summary, it was a fun challenge. However, I have a feeling my June challenge is going to be much more difficult - I've got a feeling that it will be one of my most difficult challenges this year. While I've had some experience creating patterns (mainly pattern-like designs) it isn't very often that I need to create repeating patterns. On top of that, but I seem to have a problem with committing to a lot of things during the summer. To prove my point, the first few days of June have produced no patterns; however it has produced other design work that I can't post quite yet.

To kick off the 5th day of June, I've modified one of the design patterns I created for my friend's Save the Date cards. We didn't end up using it, but ironically, her wedding is today so I've named it after her in a sort of congratulations! Unfortunately, we weren't able to make it to the wedding. Lucky for my readers, I plan to make all of my patterns available for download in vector format and as a Photoshop pattern.

As with all free resources, please reference me when possible if you plan to use my patterns.

Download Erica in vector format

Download Erica as a Photoshop pattern set

Design #79: War on Bugs

Today marked the beginning. The beginning of what I hope will not be a summer-long war on soldier beetles in my office at Aptera. Solider beetles are completely harmless and are some of the least frightening bugs out in the world - the look almost exactly akin to a lightening bug or firefly. But (and there is a but) they think they are made to fly and obviously aren't. They clumsily flap their insect wings and usually end up flying into other objects in their general vicinity; which would be me if you were wondering. For that reason alone, I detest these little creatures. I work in fear of having one of them drop from the ceiling into my hair, or of having one of them fly directly into my face while trying to escape our office.

Luckily, our office manager was kind enough to purchase a bottle of insect spray and thus the War on Bugs began. I'm thinking about purchasing a holster for my bottle of bug spray tomorrow.

* Note: The insect in the image I've used is not a solider beetle. It looks like some sort of bee and the great thing about bees is you always know exactly where they stand. Bother them and they will sting you. Leave them alone and they'll do the same.