So I found a great site that has a lot of links to various graphic design zines and magazines, and sells them online! The website is www.youworkforthem.com

Some of the zines I found interesting:

CMYK Magazine: a visual communication magazine

IDN Magazine: focuses on inforgraphics

Relax: a Japanese zine that covers modern art and design

-Justin

So I still am a little unsure about what direction I want to take for my final website design. I’m thinking I’m going to use a lot of natural elements since I take a lot of my inspiration for my art from nature.. “Fresh Ideas, ripe design by Justin Burks”, is the idea I have for my design company/website. I think that also plays into the HUGE growing trend in green design and preservational living. I want my website to feel very fresh and young, but also play into the green trend.

I think my background will just end up being one solid color, not a picture or pattern, because I want a lot of emphasis on the photos I use and information presented throughout my website. Large photographs of nature and outdoor scenery will decorate each page of my design, while each page will be different from each other. I will gather these images from a variety of sources:

- My friend Paul is a wonderful photographer and has take a lot of natural and landscape photographs. I have told him about my website project and he was excited to let me use his library of photos to implement in my design!

- Joseph Holmes is a wonderful photographer that I would also love to use in my website’s design! www.josephholmes.com 

- I will also use various images I find on Flickr and my own personal photography!

Charlie Griak:

I love this guy’s illustration techniques. His ad campaign for Trojan Condoms are very well done and comical. I also enjoy his personal work and the work he has done on a few comic books.

http://www.charliegriak.com/

Brian Gallagher:

I love this guy’s style! His work is given a woodcut like feel by his use of line. I guess he achieves this by using scraper board… Which most be some kind of relief or something..?

http://www.bdgart.com/

Steven Salerno:

His graphics are very recognizable! Many have been popularized through Microsoft Office’s clip art. His designs are very simple and nostalgic, which I really enjoy.

http://www.stevensalerno.com/

Milton Glaser:

Mr. Glaser is very well known for his I <3 NY design and a very well-known Bob Dylan CD cover.. It’s quite astounding looking through his portfolio and being able to recognize so many of his designs! Though he may not be designing anymore, he has had a profound impact on my future career choice.

http://miltonglaser.com/

David Carson:

I love this man’s style! His designs are very organic and have and almost aged or used quality about them. He has obviously had a lot of influence from and over the California surf movement.. It can easily be seen in his designs. Very cool!

http://www.davidcarsondesign.com/

Ok, so I find this a little bit confusing… Apparently web 2.0 is not a new version of the world wide web, which is what I thought the name applied. I guess it’s just changes to the pre-existing web that make it better?

I guess the main concept behind the idea is the growth of inter-connectivity among web users. It also promotes the growth of unique features on the internet.. Stuff like eBay or Wikipedia.

I’m still really confused… Maybe one of you guys can help?

So the topic of the week is:

Why is web design important to my design career?

First off let me start by saying I find HTML quite scary, its extremely complicated and it seems like if you mess up just one little thing you’re in trouble, but I hope that by taking this class most of my fears will disappear.

Well being that my career is in graphic design it may seem like web design is not that important… but I’ve heard from several people that are currently working as graphic designers who say that having your own website is essential just for many employers to consider you for a job. Having your own website certainly makes you look more professional, and it also is a great way for you to showcase your portfolio. I think that the graphic designers that have their own websites will have a leg-up on the competition.