A Smile in the Mind

A Smile in the Mind explores witty thinking in graphic design and why it is successful. First wit depends on two things, the familiar and the play. The play is the unexpected twist; its the surprise that excites us. Done successfully witty design can:

• win time - people ponder the meaning
• invite participation - the design doesn't give all the answers
• give the pleasure of decoding - discover the answer for yourself
• provide reward - pat yourself on the back
• amuse - laugh out loud because it's clever
• get under the gaurd - now you will listen to me because I made you laugh

"For example, most signs are straightforward, like 'Fire Exit' or 'No Parking". What about a sign that delivers the information in a witty way? Suppose it says 'No Parking - Don't even think about it'?"

The "No Parking" sign example plays on two levels. Instead of a simple, straightforward message, 'Don't even think about it' implies that there is the option to not listen to the sign. Clever. 

From: A Smile in the Mind by Beryl McAlhone & David Stuart. 

Alternative Spring Break Video

Service is a huge part of everything I do. For the past four years I have taken part in Cardinal Stritch University's Alternative Spring Break Trips. Usually this means spending a week with Habitat for Humanity. This year we traveled to New Orleans and worked with Camp Restore. Each day we worked in a different area of the community and it was really exciting to be able to help out where there is still so much need even seven years after Katrina. 


I also had the honor of creating a short video to give a general idea of our experience to people who supported our trip. It was a challenge to show them both sides of the trip. One that was so emotion filled because there is still a huge amount of need for volunteers in New Orleans and the other that shows the fun we had coming together as a group. The two combined to give everyone who attended the trip an amazing set of memories from their spring break, myself included. 


Here is the link to watch the video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keEdJB-a6kE


Let me know what you think!