The word unique is thrown around a lot. This said, in our often cookie-cutter culture it’s rarely used in the true sense. Lucky for us, we were recently given the opportunity to work with a company that encourages its customers to embrace what they love and make something completely unique.

LexiWynn owners Seth and Alexa Holzwarth came to us in 2010 as a small start-up with a single goal – build their brand to allow them to be a stronger competitor in the custom purse design market. The pair had been making one-of-a-kind handbags for their friends since 2006. They eventually began throwing parties where guests could come and pick materials to design their own bags. From the uber-trendy to more classic, the outcome of the process is always unique. In fact, LexiWynn stands by their promise that once a bag is made, no one else can choose the same materials in the same application, ensuring that every bag is completely exclusive to its owner.

As designers, we love it when people are given the opportunity to grow their passion for design, whether it is with images, typography, or in this case, fabric. Because of this, we were so excited to work with LexiWynn. We wanted to help them as they worked to promote a sense of imagination, creativity, and sophistication.

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I’m sure that by this time most Americans have had their fill of turkey, what with it being five days after Thanksgiving, but not us at Rule29. We love us some turkey…especially in hand drawn form. We’ve talied up the results of this year’s hand turkey illustration contest.

Find out who was victorious in R29′s Show of Hands competition after the jump.

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My iChat buddy icon is Wonder Woman. She is the ideal for strength and femininity in the comic book world (not that I read comics, but Comic Con would be fun to visit). Her lasso of truth is something I would kill to have—wouldn’t client meetings be a lot more fun with that in the mix? Alas, I’m not Wonder Woman… but I do have a superpower of sorts.

Like many other creatives I get run down. Deadlines, meetings, packed schedules—they all keep me on my toes, and often cause a little stress (<< understatement). We all feel this way, yet it’s part of life. I think as designers we secretly love it. The thing is handling it all—work, family, and everything else inbetween—is our superpower. And it can be for anyone. Some of us just need to learn how to reveal our inner hero.

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It’s that time of year again—the end of summer is officially in view. The breezes are stronger, and the cookouts are fewer. Fall is fast approaching, and most of us are happy to welcome the change in seasons. Here in the midwest we only get what seems like a couple weeks of this season, sandwiched between the excruciatingly hot, I-want-to-camp-in-front-of-my-freezer Summers and frigid, dig-your-car-out-of-the-snow Winters. Yet, that short time is enough for us to appreciate it’s highlights.

As designers, we tend to be drawn to the visual elements—with Fall that tends to mean the cornucopia of transforming colors. The ones that make you want to have pie and cider or jump in a pile of leaves. The beauty of the autumnal palette is in its diversity. From candy apple red to rich golds—the spectacular tones of Fall are worth taking a second look at.

Who else gets excited for Fall colors? Pantone of course. A while back, they released their Fashion Color Report for 2010 and the signature hues were all inspired by the upcoming season. Based on the hottest looks from well-known fashion designers, the list of hues determines the latest trends for the season—primarily muted tones, with a couple of brights thrown in. Favorites include Woodbine (PMS 18-0538), Oyster Gray (PMS 14-1107), and Chocolate Truffle (PMS 1901528).

The Pantone report is a great source of inspiration, no matter what sector of the design field you’re in. Even though they ARE considered trends, experimenting with this palette can add richness and depth to everyday projects. The warm neutrals make ideal backdrops for imagery, while the vivid brights would help any beautifully typeset headline stand out.

Of course, Pantone doesn’t include every color in the spectrum. That’s when a field trip outside can provide all the inspiration you need. Take a photo of a pile of leaves to create your own warm-toned palette. The best part is that nature does all the work for you in creating subtle tonal variations. Just let your Photoshop’s eye dropper do the rest.

This Fall, where will you find inspiration for your color palettes? Share in the comments.

“Bad Typography is Everywhere, Good Typography is invisible.” —Craig Ward

As designers, we live this quote daily. Whether it’s a horribly kerned sign on the train, or a flyer in the local paper completely set in Impact. It makes us cringe, wince, and gasp. All of us “type snobs” have been there:

“Why on earth would you think typesetting your resumé in Brush Script would make it seem more personal?”

“Really, real estate agent? You thought Chalkboard would make your boring paperwork more fun for me to read?!”

We all have our own personal tragedies, but sometimes there comes one so horrible that the masses turn their heads. It’s not that these typefaces are terrible; it’s more that their applications were so out of place that it made us take notice. So take a walk down memory lane with us and read about our favorite typographic controversies of the last few years after the jump.

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