As my year-long internship at R29 comes to a close, I realize how lucky I really am. Few people get to experience Rule29 in such an intimate way that I did on a day-to-day basis. I got schooled in mathematical layouts, juggled multiple projects, learned how to communicate with printers, worked with developers, upped my production chops, and refined my type skills.

I knew starting here that some things in school cannot be taught and could only be experienced, but some things can only be learned at R29:

- Carrying 7 coffees at once is truly an art form
- Frozen lakes are best for practicing your golf swing
- Tacos are an essential key to creativity
- Coloring books and crayons make production meetings awesome
- Pumpkin smashing is the new carving
- Dual Shake Weights are easiest when doing deep squats
- Biscuits, honey butter, and blackberry jam taste best at 8am
- Healthy work culture breeds creativity

If you’re still in school or just getting out, an internship will help you grow and better prepare yourself to make the plunge into the working world. Thanks R29 for showing me how to Make Creative Matter®!

One of my passions outside of graphic design is origami and the art of paper folding. It’s a nice way to pass the time, challenge my brain, and the resulting product (if you’ve followed the folding instructions correctly) can turn into a nice little decoration for your home, or even just a small gift for someone else as a friendly gesture. Just this year, I have finally been struck with the idea to integrate graphic design and origami together. The discovery of bringing these two passions of mine together was prompted by a package design class I took this year and has turned into a rewarding way to channel my efforts to do good in the world. It’s my way of becoming an eco-friendly graphic designer.

Applying my paper folding interest to creating well structured, sustainable packaging for school projects wasn’t exactly an easy or a smooth translation from one to the other. I had found myself going from merely following origami instruction booklets, to inventing my own “instructions,” dielines, and fold-lines for packaging projects. With lots of persistence, dozens of packaging prototypes, several Exacto knife wounds, and paper cuts later, I started to get the hang of the process. Although creating some super well thought out, never-been-seen-before dieline wasn’t exactly required for passing the class, I made it required for myself to learn, or at least try. It was not only important to me that I did well, what was more important was how much I could apply myself so that I could hopefully influence others to try as hard as I had. As I learned the ropes of creating my own dielines I also began to understand the importance of sustainable packaging in being eco-friendly and how I could make a difference.

Something that was and is very helpful to me is a book called Folding Techniques For Designers From Sheet To Form by Paul Jackson. From ornate and geometric to extremely simple and even organic, the book covers over 70 techniques designers can put in their toolboxes. These techniques present endless possibilities when applied to packaging design. Here are a few images (after the jump), that were taken by Meidad Suchowolski: Read the rest of the entry >

During the summer I often find myself traveling from my apartment to my hometown. Most of the time the drive consists of podcasts, punk music and cornfields for two straight hours, but this last trip I had an interesting experience, a personal realization.

I have a routine every trip I take back home. I stop at the same gas station, fill up my tank, and purchase two lottery tickets (you know, the dollar scratch-offs you get for your 18th birthday and Christmas).

My lottery ticket rules are as follows; I spend two dollars on the cheapest scratch-offs I can find and dispense them from the first two buttons I glance at. I like to think that luck chooses those who ask.

This past trip started like any other. I purchased the tickets, stuffed them into my pocket, paid for my gas and drink, then exited the store.

After settling into my car, I scratched off the first ticket. To no surprise it was a dud. I reached into my pocket for a second chance, but to my disbelief the lottery ticket wasn’t there.

Thoughts began to race in my mind while I walked back into the gas station. Did I really just lose my winning ticket of $500 a week for life? After a triple pass-over around the lottery machine, the store floor, and even asking the attendant on duty, I went back to my car empty handed.

Driving off disappointed, I pulled onto the highway perplexed. Where did my ticket go? I could only imagine it in the shirt pocket of a trucker, cackling to himself down the interstate. But after a few minutes of running the scenario through my mind, I burst out laughing. Did I really just freak out over a dollar scratch-off ticket?

Then it hit me; I don’t play in hopes of making money, but I do it out of curiosity. Maybe one dollar could change my life. I could have a nice financial padding until I graduate and go on a cross-country vacation. But this last experience threw me for a loop and instead bought me some self reflection.

How often is the hope of a scratch and win life changing event the ultimate motivation for your curiosity? Don’t wait for the wakeup call, everyday is a brand new “ticket” that we have the chance to explore and experience. I know this simple little moment gave me a good reminder of what matters most, and it will be playing in my head the next time I put two dollars into the machine (a guy can dream, right?).

It’s Christmas time and your scouring the Sears catalog circling everything you want/need for Christmas from your parents. And then there it is, the ultimate present… The Omnibot 2000. It’s almost like it’s meant for you, right? Except for the fact that in 1984 it was retailing at $600.

Alright, now come back to reality, it’s 2011 and there is no such thing as a Sears catalog, there is a Target on every corner and an occasional Toys R Us. For a moment there I thought that I was really missing out on this decade’s toy selection. But now, as I look back on what is really going on in the land of toys, I realize that I have never been so wrong.

Recently I got my brother’s old Tomy 2000 Robot up and running and had this realization. He got this gift in 1984, when it was the hottest toy around. This puppy has been in seclusion in a corner of my basement for years, going through multiple floods, numerous moves, dropped, neglected, and ultimately forgotten. Read the rest of the entry >

Rule29 was honored with the opportunity to create the 2nd annual report for Life In Abundance. LIA is helping to rewrite the tragic stories that typically come out of Sub-Saharan Africa. Through the organization’s work, new stories are emerging: communities are learning how to take care of themselves, locals are learning new skills, children are attending new schools, micro-financing programs are enabling individuals to start businesses, and communities are gaining the resources to take care of each other and reduce the spread of an uneducated populace. All in all, LIA is empowering change in the only way that matters (in our opinion) – through the creation of a holistic, sustainable model that brings permanent change to the communities affected.

This 2009 annual report, entitled “Empowering Change”, features articles and stories from 4 countries and surrounding areas that highlighted the struggles of each country, as well as powerful stories about incredible individuals that live there. Showing the actual empowerment of the surrounding communities was key in creating a successful piece. Through compelling stories and vivid photography (taken by our good friend Brian MacDonald), a very successful and enlightening piece was created.

For the cover, stylistically, we wanted to draw the viewer in with an incredible shot of the slums, partially from a distance. The large type that is rising from the horizon line was chosen to simulate the initiative to actually empower change within these communities. Throughout the annual there are 3 stories that feature hand written type on rough paper texture in order to remind us that these stories are coming from real people in the slums.

Life In Abundance now uses this powerful piece to highlight some of the remarkable work they do in Africa to donors, and their supporters.

How do you empower change?