Compare: Verdana and Helvetica

The Design Center and DT&G have taken pride over the years in remaining as non-platform specific as possible, and provide content that is accessible to everyone without a lot of fancy configuration and bother. With the advent of Verdana however things will change a bit. In the early '90s we switched to Frutiger as our official replacement for Helvetica. We have used it for all the anchor ('house') typography in The Design Center as well as The User Group Network. Verdana has tested out to be a very close knock-off of Frutiger so we're going to experiment with it a bit here in the web site.

Showker, Fred. Design, Typography and Graphics (2001). Design>Typography

Digital Photo Tent Ideas

Each year we like to highlight some of the outstanding print publication samples we've seen and ask ourselves is there opportunity for a do-it-yourself project.

Showker, Fred. Design, Typography and Graphics (2002). Design>Document Design>Marketing

Dirty Dozen Typefitting Tricks for Designers

One of the most frequent questions from workshop attendees is 'What do I do about too much text?' Did you ever notice how any publication is like a container? No matter how much space you've got, it always seems to get filled up. Have you ever had a client call with 'just a few' revisions and additions and it turns out to be several pages? What I'd like to know is how come the article can get bigger but the page can't! So many people in my workshops say 'But Fred, I can't use your great graphics tips because I have too much text!' Here are a few suggestions for those times when you're on deadline, and the copy is just a few lines longer than the space you've designed for it...

Showker, Fred. Design and Publishing Center (1996). Design>Typography

Getting it to the Printer: DTP to Press FAQ

Although it takes many hours and piles books to prepare yourself for competent DTP -> Print, we've capsulized a series of comments which address some of the most frequent questions readers and workshop attendees ask. These are also based on our mentoring program, and makeover clinics as the most common problem areas we see in beginner to intermediate desktop publishers. These steps will help you as you approach each project. Each topic is by no means a complete text -- but serves to alert you of problem areas, and suggest simple entry-level solutions.

Showker, Fred. Design, Typography and Graphics (2001). Design>Graphic Design>Prepress

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Here's a revival article from an early DTG that talks answers the age-old questions: 'What should I look for in a font?'...or 'Why does this font look so strange?'

Showker, Fred. Design, Typography and Graphics (2004). Design>Typography

How to Hire a Designer

Each year during May and June we get hundreds of calls, letters and emails from young graduates who would like to work for Showker Graphic Arts & Design or any of the Graphic Design Network web sites. This year, since we had a specific letter from a potential employer, we thought it would be cool to show graduates how we approach reviewing candidates for employment.

Showker, Fred. Design, Typography and Graphics (2001). Careers>Management>Graphic Design

Looking for Art in All the Right Places

Although this doesn't seem to be a Design and Publishing topic, it really is. Your visual experience should always be digesting new and different input. You need visual stimulation to maintain your creative edge. Looking at art is one way of doing this -- and the web offers an unlimited wealth of visual wonders. Pull out your daytimer, or your palm, and make an appointment with yourself. Take one or two hours each month and discover new visual landscapes. It will serve you well, and you'll come to look forward to those little jaunts into the visual web.

Showker, Fred. Design, Typography and Graphics (2000). Design>Graphic Design>Typography

Newsletter Make-over Clinic

One of the most frequent problem areas I encounter in the publishing field is when editors, writers and, yes even business people are expected to turn out a good newsletter. If my car isn't running right, I take it to the mechanic. I don't expect the car wash to fix the motor any more than I expect the mechanic to give it a wash and wax. Rare are the instances where the writer or editor is also a good designer and/or typographer. Yet they're almost always restricted by the software they use, the availability of good clip art or images, and the time to think about the details. I'm going to restrict myself to just the initial visual and organizational points in this critique. We could spend days talking about minutiae and the array of options involved in a full scale makeover. What I'll do is share some quick and easy areas where a simple fix will make a big difference.

Showker, Fred. Design, Typography and Graphics (2002). Design>Document Design>Graphic Design>Newsletters

Publication Design Standards

When you are at the onset of a publication design, you need to set up a prototype. The style or personality of the publication is determined at this point, so you need to be sure each decision you make pays careful attention to the details of good design.

Showker, Fred. Design, Typography and Graphics (2004). Design>Document Design>Standards

Single-Sheet 16-Page Gift Book

Everyone loves photos, and by using a little creativity and a little planning you can make a superb photo album.

Showker, Fred. Design, Typography and Graphics (2005). Design>Document Design>Prepress

Trapping? Dangerous Subject

Oh, it's in vogue these days isn't it. Trap here. Trap there. All the computer graphics experts and magazine writers showing off their divine knowledge, writing about 'trapping.' Some people don't even know what trapping is. Some don't even care. But the computer industry sure wants us to know – and they want us to buy the latest and greatest software to prove it. Do I sound cynical? (He asks with a sly grin.) Your first line of defense in avoiding trapping traps is to understand the concepts.

Showker, Fred. Design, Typography and Graphics (2001). Design>Graphic Design>Prepress

Which Typeface Should I Use?

In this article, Fred talks about experiences with some of the greats of typography... and helps to answer the question with a quote from Jan White.

Showker, Fred. Design, Typography and Graphics (2004). Design>Typography>Graphic Design