The blog “Design Oberserver” was founded by heavy-weight designers, writers and thinkers from Pentagram: Michael Bierut, Jessica Helfand and Rick Poynor among others. It is one of the best places to look for intelligent discourse on graphical design and visual culture.

Another very good resource is “SpeakUp”, which is very much like Design Obeserver but with a slightly more humorous/light hearted angle to the articles. Here every designer can discuss what’s on their minds. If you want to have a small idea of how designers think you must check these blogs out and contribute, because without critical thought we will only amass mediocre solutions.

And talking about critical thought check these links out:

M-o-n-a-m-o-u-r Now defunct, but always good for creative inspiration
Serial-Cut
Asterik Studio
Tolleson
Zip Design
FWIS

Janus Friis’ newest project which was codenamed “Venice” launched yesterday under the name of Joost, pronounced juiced. Let us see if the people, who brought online telephony to the public, can do the same for online television. We can only wait and see what will happen.

- Lightning S

A few weeks ago, 1508 had sent Ms Rix to New York to join a very interesting conference “AIGA Gain Conference” about design and business.

It really was an exciting conference. It’s major theme was how design makes a difference. A differentiating factor which makes a significant difference on the bottom line. This point of view towards the design business is not common – but really relevant!

Here are some highlights from the conference:

A man called Tom
That man – Tom Kelley - really is something. Not only has he developed the well-known design company IDEO, but he has also written some really interesting books about design and innovation. The latest one is “The Ten Faces of Innovation”. You must read this one!

Sustainability
One of the main issues at the conference was sustainability. When will we Danish start thinking – seriously – about these things..? In the States, they are ahead of us in Denmark – and presumably in the rest of Europe.

Design changes business
A guy from The British Council, Harry Rich, presented a very interesting – and non-academic - report on how design makes a difference for the companies using design. The Council has through the last 5-6 years proceeded methodically with how the business use design as a strategic tool – and what the factual results are. They can document how companies who are investing in design create a better result on the bottom line – or a bigger return of investment.

Selling by Design
The last – but absolutely best – speaker was Blair Enns. An expert on how to sell design – and most interesting how you can avoid to pitch. Enns was an oracle – and his models and ways of managing the selling process will soon reflect our business!

If you work in the field of design, then you have to join the conference next year. It was really something.

By the selling Ms Rix