A couple of years ago, I started volunteering to help local refugee students get acclimated to “high school life” in America. I had been working closely with a group of five Freshmen who had stepped foot on American soil only a few months prior. Four of the refugees were Karen (from Burma) and one was from the Congo.

Being that it was mid-October, I decided to ask whether or not any of them were going to do anything for Halloween… and about ten-seconds later, realizing how presumptuous my question was, I rephrased: “Does anyone know what Halloween is? You know, trick-or-treating?”

Blank stares.

Finally, the kid from the Congo asked me in broken English what trick-or-treating was? I began to explain…

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On this brisk fall morning there’s nothing like a hot cup of coffee to warm you up and start the day. It’s finally the time of year your local Starbucks Barista stops asking if you want coffee hot or cold. (I never did buy into the whole iced coffee drink) Granted if you’re not much of a coffee drinker there are many other wonderful warm fall drinks out there.

Some people like to start off their morning with a cup of tea or hot chocolate. There’s this great tea shop call Teavana where they have all these wonderful teas for all different times of day and moods. There’s also tons of health benefits to drinking a cup of tea a day. Not to mention there’s always the classic instant hot chocolate mix, but there’s a simple pleasure to melting down some chocolate and making it from scratch. Messy but worth it. Read the rest of the entry >

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.

This time of year certainly holds a lot of nostalgia, doesn’t it? I don’t care how old I get…when mid/late-August rolls around I am itching for the start of something new. New routine, new weather, new clothes! But I have to say at the top of the list of favorite things…New School Supplies!!

That list comes out and there are some things that just don’t change…

1) Crayola crayons,They have a distinct smell and they just color better than any other brand. I have tried some “off” brands….not even close to worth the $.50 I saved!

2) #2 Pencils…sharpened! Nothing better than a sharp tip on a new pencil. I personally prefer Ticonderoga #2. Ever get one of the “rubbery” pencils??!! Such a bummer…the tip breaks right away and never gets quite sharp enough. In 3rd grade, one of my friends got Smencils …totally jealous!

3) Folders always make the list. On most lists, they ask for plain folders, but we all know that is NOT going to happen! I distinctly remember getting Strawberry Shortcake folders, My Little Pony folders and Cabbage Patch Kid ones. And as I got older my choices got much more “mature”…Michael Jackson or Menudo. But how could we forget the culmination of folder greatness…the Trapper Keeper! The day I got that for 6th grade will forever be remembered.

I hope you had a chance to peruse the school supply aisle this year, even if you weren’t buying. There is a renewing quality…a start of something new…a clean slate, perhaps? What is your favorite school supply?