STEPHANIE ORMA :: travel, arts, & design writer

If you ask any graphic design student at San Francisco’s Academy of Art University to name his/her most-faved teachers, Typography 2 instructor Carolina de Bartolo will no doubt pop up in the mix. In fact, it was with her students’ encouragement (and their resulting wow-worthy portfolios) that finally convinced de Bartolo to bring her ten-years-in-the-making book idea to fruition. Two more years and a steep learning curve later, de Bartolo can now add author/entrepreneur to her title.“Explorations in Typography: Mastering the Art of Fine Typesetting” is de Bartolo’s first venture into the world of self-publishing – and a beautiful, instructive piece to boot.

Read my full article on Print Magazine’s awesome design blog IMPRINT.

"Explorations in Typography" by Carolina de Bartolo

“Sexy people are apple pies.” “One, two, tin …” “Acne, pimp, jerk…” The unlikely grouping and categorizing of words, phrases and numbers in the new exhibition “They Are Full of Holy Nonsense”  at SF’s Creativity Explored range from the whimsical to the philosophical to the seemingly nonsensical. In fact, decoding the multiple layers of meaning in autistic artist John Patrick McKenzie’s show and understanding his unique, free-association thought process is all part of the fun.

John Patrick Mckenzie likes Cumulus Clouds, 2008

by John Patrick Mckenzie

In my very first article for the SF Chronicle, I was beyond thrilled to learn more about this fascinating artist and how he turns his hand-drawn typography into art. Read my full article on the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE. (and check out the newspaper version below!)

What is it about hand-made letters that utterly rocks our world? Are we just so bored with reading and seeing everything digitally nowadays? Or is it because working with type is such a huge component to our jobs as designers that our fascination with typography never ceases? Or maybe it’s just so dang refreshing to see a unique interpretation of the banally familiar. For whatever reason, spicing up the alphabet sure makes looking at letters way more exciting than it ever was in kindergarten!

Jillian Mackintosh curator of the recently launched San Francisco-based art exhibition, The Letter Collector, at Gallery Hijinks adds, “I think hand-made letters have always been popular for artists and letter enthusiasts since the invention of the press…”

Read my full article on Print Magazine’s awesome design blog, IMPRINT.

Bo-Heimlich-Andrew-Johnson-P-pen-ink-on-paper-8-x-10

Look in the mirror and say hello to the nightmare of all clients—Yourself. Why is it so hard for graphic designers to design for ourselves? In my latest article for HOW Magazine, I offer tips for taming the fire-breathing client within yourself while working on your brand’s website and other promotional materials. Read the full article HERE.

The February 2010 issue of HOW magazine is currently on newstands and in bookstores all across the country. The article I wrote, “Turn Downtime into Playtime” features the awesome work by design firms Flywheel Design, Brand Engine, and graphic designer France Liddell.

DOWNLOAD & READ STEPHANIE ORMA’S ARTICLE (the PDF is 8.9mb so download time is a little slow – but SO worth it!)

You’re in a fabulous mood, the weather is gorgeous, the sun is shining but as you stroll down any U.S. city street not even the Prozac-free among us can avoid the depressing vision of vacant storefronts; a constant reminder of one of the ugliest economic times in our nation’s history. So what’s a city to do?

The San Francisco Art in Storefronts project (an effort by The San Francisco Arts Commission, in collaboration with the Mayor’s office of Economic and Workforce Development and Triple Base Gallery) will launch a unique initiative on October 23rd to revitalize local neighborhoods hardest hit by the economic downturn. At this inaugural event, San Francisco-based artists and designers will temporarily place original art installations into 10 vacant storefront windows transforming them into inspiring works of art.

Among the initial storefronts to be unveiled is a thought-provoking piece by the San Francisco design firm MINE™. In a darkened storefront a neon sign proclaiming, “Everything is OK” will hover above rows of canned “products” that promise instant “OK-ness.” According to Mine’s founder and creative director Christopher Simmons, “The installation is designed as a provocation through which passersby are challenged to explore their relationship to the status quo and the term ‘OK.’ Does ‘OK’ signify ‘good’ or merely mediocre? If everything is mediocre, is that what we’re being asked to accept?”

This installation could not be more appropriate as the world sits with bated breath wondering, “Is the economy improving? Is everything OK?” With innovative economic revitalization efforts like this one, I don’t know about you, but my little black Magic 8-Ball reads “outlook good.”  So let’s go shopping…window-shopping that is! And hey, more good news, it won’t cost a dime.

WHEN:
Friday, October 23, 2009, 5-7PM
Formal Remarks at 5:30, followed by an unveiling of the the window installations, live music, and an art walk with the artists.

WHERE:
Storefronts located along Market Street between 5th and 8th Streets.
Reception and remarks at 989 Market Street at 6th Street
(originally appeared in SF Examiner  9/23/09)

If you’re an entrepreneur (or ever had daydreams during death-by-boredom conference meetings of becoming one) you’re familiar with the process of trying to come up with “the big idea.” It ain’t easy, to say the least: researching, brainstorming, sleepless nights, feeling like your banging your head against a brick wall, headaches (from actually banging your head against a brick wall), more sleepless nights (from uncomfortable bandages wrapped around now bruised head). Then, finally, at 4:23am as you lay in bed ready to strangle the 1,099th sheep you’ve counted – the idea finally comes!

Understanding this crazy, difficult process, I’m ever more appreciative of creative, original, inspired new business and product ideas. Thus, the moment I heard about ARTCRANK, the bike-themed poster art show (coming to San Francisco on October 24 at 580 4th Street), I had to know – who the heck thought of such a brilliantly simple concept of combining bikes and art??

Now before you go banging your head against a wall (again) in a “why didn’t I think of that” frenzy, check out this insightful interview with the clever brains behind ARTCRANK, Director/Curator Charles Youel. And then go check out an art show like you have never experienced before. READ FULL ARTICLE: SF EXAMINER