very small thoughts of jan hoyer

Jim Hoffman has created an interactive Loose Change critique that presents a visually appealing interface and unique tone for what might otherwise be mundane reading. Michael Wolsey recently interviewed Jim for his weekly podcast (part 1). As fast as Jim speaks, I believe he actually thinks several times faster.

Fresh graphic design inspiration and resources site.
Designfeeds.com: A Plethora of Design Related Newsfeeds

Today’s video of historical significance is Thank you to Canada! With upbeat sincerity, a founder of the 9/11 truth movement expresses gratitude to Canada, Barrie Zwicker and Global Outlook magazine. The video also describes the National 9/11 Visibility Project’s groundbreaking facilitation of 9/11 action efforts, and mentions the birth of 911Truth.org.

Other videos include one that shows a group of 9/11 truth movement independent media and activists escort Ellen Mariani in delivering a letter to the Canadian Consulate’s office. Another very brief video clip shows Mike Ruppert speaking about 9/11 activism.

Speaking of Canada, an action photo of mine is on the front cover of Global Outlook’s new issue #11. At the March 28, 2004 Phase One Citizen’s Inquiry in San Francisco, I had been helping Mike Berger with videotaping private interviews when someone alerted us to grab our cameras and follow the action. Bill Douglas and Emanuel had just roused a large audience at the Brecht Center to “proudly carry signs above their heads” and march to City Hall! Nick Levis, Carol Brouillet, Ellen Mariani, and Lynn Pentz then delivered a formal inquiry letter addressed to SF Mayor Willie Brown (handed to security).

Congratulations to 911Truth.org for the somewhat positive New York Times coverage of their Chicago Revealing the Truth event. Because I have significant personal history with them, it was especially exciting to see a photo of friend David Kubiak and good friend Mike Berger’s comments in the NYT. I dashed to Borders for two copies, but (drat!) they only had Sunday’s edition.

Considering previous 9/11 Inquiries and events attended, it truly feels like I should be working on publishing a couple of online photo albums right about now. Other than missing many friends and acquaintances, no regrets. A part of me wanted to be at the Chicago conference, but it was impossible for several reasons.

Speaking of photos, reveiwing photos from Friday’s 9/11 protest event, and somewhat surprised that there were not any of 911Truth’s previously designed signage. Several activists had independently printed out black and white prints of the tabloid sized “ONLY 9/11 TRUTH WILL SET US FREE” (.pdf available at my dsd downloads page). (Note the small black and white sign Alex Jones holds). It appears that the protest organizers only freely distributed the new signage. NEO-CON JOBS IRAQ 9-11.

As the staff graphic designer for 911Truth.org for over a year (June 2004 – October 2005) I had worked on 911Truth.org’s marketing materials with several exemplary writers, most notably David Kubiak. I also consider myself fortunate to have worked a short amount of time with Michael Richardson, a talented website developer. Michael has a sensitive communication manner and was very patient and kind with his design comments and explaining technical issues.

There is an art to offering design feedback and I am still striving to master it. As previously mentioned, because of my part time work in the graphic design educational area, design students often request my honest evaluation of their work and are grateful for candor. The communication transition to regular people is not always an easy one. Design feedback is very often met by easily dinged egos who inject emotion where none is intended, or do not appreciate what they perceive to be any type of criticism. (Having previously owned an easily dinged ego, I do have a fair amount of empathy for this.)

On April 13th, I had responded to an inquiry email from Gabriel Day, politely asking my preference for proper credit on his website for a photo and credit for my previously designed 911 truth signage designs. I replied with the information, and commented that the current placement of sign credits made it appear as if I had designed the NEO CON JOBS sign, which I described as ineffective. (At the time, I did not realize that the group had already printed 5000 of the Neo Con Jobs signs.)

This was part of my message to Gabriel:
“The noeocon poster [due to the credit placement] appears like it was designed by me. It is an ineffective message, so please clarify by placement this poster is not one of mine. It looks like a regular neocon sign to me, no big deal. The crux of my constructive criticism about the design is that the message requres too much thinking to “get it”. At first glances, I did not get that one of the neocon jobs was 9/11. Imo, the focus should be on the 9/11 rather than most of the real estate being the message “neocon jobs”. The neocon message detracts focus from the 911 point.”

To clarify, the NEO CON JOBS sign is very well designed, but the slogan is simply an ineffective message for 911 truth protests. People on the street (and in the media) first see NEO CON JOBS, not 9/11. Effective protest sign design requires a treatment that is similar to billboard sign design. A sign has 2-3 seconds to get the message across. For any large order of 5000, independent viewer testing should always be conducted prior to presstime. Imho (which admittedly, no one has asked for), NEO CON JOBS slogan signage is more aptly suited to an anti-war rally.

As an environmentalist I have an aversion to wasted materials of any type. I suppose this aversion sometimes causes me to appear a jerk (or worse yet, a busybody!). Not the case.

mundidesign.com has a striking Principles of Graphic Design learning interface useful for students (click on numbers at left).

Friend Jenna Orkin has been named the administrator of Mike Ruppert’s FTW Peak Oil blog.

Rush retouching and watercolor deadlines to meet so may be away for a few days.

Pray for the Good, Jan H.

Today begins 911Truth’s Revealing the Truth conference. I received two 4 c/p postcards in the mail for the event (with far, far too many words). Anywho, there are about fifteen speakers (and/or friends) who I would sincerely liked to have seen. I wish these all the best of success. As it is, I appreciate that my respected contingent is disassociated from this 911Truth event.

I have been silent for a couple of weeks, but it has been a busy time with critical discussions going on in the background. More to follow soon.

Contact jhoyer@digitalstyledesigns.com

Previous blog commentary can be found at digitalstyledesigns blog page.