Finamore Design

One of my favorite movie interactions regarding the topic of morals and ethics is in the movie Election and goes as follows:

Jim McAllister: Dave, I’m just saying this as your friend: What you’re doing is really, really wrong… and you’ve gotta stop. The line you’ve crossed is… it’s immoral… and it’s illegal.
Dave Novotny: Jim, come on, I don’t need a lecture on ethics.
Jim McAllister: I’m not talking about ethics, I’m talking about morals.
Dave Novotny: What’s the difference?

What is the difference? That is the attitude a lot of designers take, whether it is browsing stock photos or design annuals. Taking a photo, copying a design concept or layout. Is it wrong? Is it illegal? Who cares?

Morals define personal character, while ethics stress a social system in which those morals are applied. While something may be wrong morally, ethically or both, it does not mean that it is illegal (although in most cases it may well be). (more…)

On September 27, I attended AIGA New York’s sold out event titled “Your AD Here: Is Design Reshaping Advertising (Again)?” at FIT’s Katie Murphy Amphitheater.

The talk was supposed to discuss design and it’s impact on advertising. Asking the questions of why so many advertising agencies are starting to hire graphic designers instead of traditionally trained “advertising art directors”, and why so many clients are turning to design agencies to create their advertising campaigns. (more…)

When you initiate a project with a designer you need to do more than say I need a logo and my company’s name is [fill in the blank]. You need to know who you are selling to, what you are selling to them, why you are selling to them, and why they will want to buy it. Typically, this information is provided in a ‘Design Brief’. (more…)

Graphic Design is not like engineering, law, medicine or even plumbing, where you need to be certified in order to practice the trade. Anybody can walk into a stationery store, buy pre-fabricated business card paper and print their name and address on them, and call themselves a graphic designer. Because of this, there are a LOT of designers out there. If you are in need of design services, your job is to qualify who the GOOD graphic designers and choose the one who is smart, creative, and understands your needs. (more…)

Part 2

The process of designing is the ability to control the interaction of elements within a defined space. Understanding the principles of how to organize elements within this space is the second step to becoming a graphic designer. (The first is to be able to define the structure of the elements themselves.)A single image within a single defined space exerts a certain amount of independent force. It instantly creates positive and negative space. It defines itself and what it is not. The designers goal is to achieve an aesthetic order within the space that makes visual sense for the overall goal of the piece. The more elements you introduce the more difficult this task becomes. Below are five visual conditions that an artist needs to be aware of when designing, making sure that the proper amount of each (or lack of) is not only appropriate, but also contributes to the meaning of the piece. (more…)

Part 1

When you build a house there are basic materials that you need in order to complete the project. The basic support structure, fastening materials, roofing materials, paneling, etc. Inside each category there are a multitude of options (ie; your support structure could be aluminum or wood 2×4s, I-beams, bricks, cement and re-bar, etc.).

Graphic design is no different. In design we believe that there are 6 major categories of materials that are used when developing your final piece. How you use these elements will be discussed in Part 2. In this article I will begin by discussing the six categories; Line, Value, Color, Shape, Texture, and Space. When you understand the categories you will have an easier time identifying the choices you have within each. (more…)

Whether in print or on the web, typography is one of the key tools to every designer. Understanding the terminology and history of type can only help you in the long run of your career.

Every industry has a language of it’s own, and every certain terms in each can be interpreted differently by each individual person. Typography is the same. There seems to be two different camps of manipulating type; in print and on screen. Some terms enjoy unanimous approval, others are proprietary. I will try to help you understand both and point out some general “rules” along the way. (more…)

Graphic Design is a commercial art form of selecting and arranging visual elements (typography, images, symbols, colors) to communicate ideas for a purpose (convey information or a message to an audience).

It is a collaborative discipline: writers produce words and photographers and illustrators create images that the designer combines to complete the visual message. (more…)

Color Theory is one of those subjects that takes years to fully understand. Some people have even turned it into a career. Here I will try to cover some of the basics theories of Color Theory and show you some ideas you should think about when developing designs of your own. (more…)

Ready to make that foray into the business world? Wether you are going to work for someone else of start up your own venture here are some tips that you should keep in mind. (more…)