Jacek Utko designs to save newspapers

From TED.com: Jacek Utko is an extraordinary Polish newspaper designer whose redesigns for papers in Eastern Europe not only win awards, but increase circulation by up to 100%. Can good design save the newspaper? It just might.

Newspaper designer Jacek Utko suggests that it’s time for a fresh, top-to-bottom rethink of the newspaper. (At this point, why not try it?) In his work, he’s proved that good design can help readers reconnect with newspapers. A former architect, Utko took on the job of redesigning several newspapers in former Soviet Bloc nations, starting from basic principles. He worked closely with newspaper executives to figure out the business goals of their papers, and then radically reformatted the product to fit those goals. (And he wasn’t afraid to break a few grids in the process.)

As the art director at Warsaw’s Puls Biznesu in 2004, he redesigned this small business-focused newspaper and immediately won the SND award for world’s best-designed newspaper. Readers responded, and circulation went up. He’s now art director for the Bonnier Business Press, overseeing papers in Eastern Europe and the Baltic states, and the work he oversees consistently wins major prizes (including another SND world’s-best in 2007 for Estonia’s Äripäev), despite their small teams and limited resources.

“Who knew that the world’s best designed newspapers are in Poland and Estonia?”
-June Cohen, TED

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Paula Scher – Graphic Design

An interesting talk about graphic design. I was particularly interested in her blending of graphics and architecture.
Here is a good book on her work: Make It Bigger
She is also interviewed and featured in the documentary Helvetica. Buy the DVD here: Helvetica

Stefan Sagmeister: The power of time off

From Ted.com: Every seven years, designer Stefan Sagmeister closes his New York studio for a yearlong sabbatical to rejuvenate and refresh their creative outlook. He explains the often overlooked value of time off and shows the innovative projects inspired by his time in Bali.

If you liked this video check out these others: Stefan Sagmeister Talks

These Books may also be of interest: Things I have learned in my life so far, Sagmeister: Made You Look
As will this movie, available on DVD and for download: Helvetica for download, Helvetica on DVD

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Stefan Sagmeister

Stefan Sagmeister has continuously produced remarkable graphic design. Innovative, bold and continually inspiring his work spans many genres, styles, and always looks to challenge its viewers. I am particularly moved by the “being not truthful” installation. Direct interaction between the graphics and the public is a unique and fascinating angle to consider for a normally static field. I was also struck by the Lisbon Bilboard “Complaining is easy..” that relied on temporal change as a fundamental aspect of the design. Paying close attention to the properties of materiality is usually closer associated with architecture than with graphic design yet here makes statement that catches the eye and causes the viewers to really contemplate what the message is actually saying. I find this particular use of the yellowing of paper in the sun a beautifully elegant relationship between nature and design – something I strive for in my own design work.

Some of his other well known work includes the Columbia School of Architecture Lecture Series Posters, and Album covers for musician such as The Talking Heads, David Byrne, Lou Reed, and the Rolling Stones among others. He also was creative or perhaps crazy enough to have an intern scratch words directly onto his skin to create a lecture series poster for AIDA Detriot – this definitely catches your eye. He was also interviewed about his work in the documentary film called “Helvetica” – a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture (according the their website).

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Milton Glaser on using design to make ideas new

Famous for his I Love NY logo and other profound works throughout his illustrious career, the legendary graphic designer Milton Glaser gives an inspiring view into his design process and highlights some of his groundbreaking works. With this video I would like to introduce the world of graphic design to the currently architecture heavy site. Thanks again to TED for offering another inspiring talk.