If I didn’t miss count, it’s not three yet. You’re not yet out.
50 Things You Should Know About Graphic/Brand Designers
Photo by Cam Riley from http://www.southsearepublic.org/
An adaptation from the original post I read by a bourbon for silvia’s 50 Reasons Not To Date A Graphic Designers and here’s my version (with a few edits and explanation) so you’ll somehow understand a family member, an officemate, a friend and probably your soon-to-date designer: 50 Things You Should Know About Graphic/Brand Designers.
1. We are weird people: But we don’t bite. And we don’t physically or verbally hurt people (well, most of the time… kidding!).
2. There are billions of us in the world, like colors on the screen of your computer: Bet you don’t know that, huh? :p
3. We analyze conversations in layers: As to what you are saying with perhaps what you intended to say.
4. We could spend the day assembling furniture from IKEA: Not that we don’t know how to but we study the furniture or structure again for possible learning which we perhaps can apply at work.
5. We drink and eat all kinds of weird stuff just because we like the packaging. <– This I can’t deny!!! Wait does this means we judge by how the packaging looks like? YES.
6. We (secretly) hate each other: Not all, just some to be explained by entry no. 12.
7. We usually come out the last out of the movies: because we have to see not just the full list of credits but also to check out if there are inserted clips at the end like what Pixar or Marvel Entertainment do. (Have you seen Thor? You understand what I mean then.)
8. We fuck up all the tables with their cutters: blame the clients that ask for mockups (kidding!)
9. We rather study the paisley pattern on your outfit than listen to what you have to say: not all the time, just when what you’re saying is all too much about you or when your topic is irrelevant or not interesting to us.
10. Our house is filled with magazines and whatever is out there that has drawings: of course, we have to update ourselves. The world is now our classroom.
11. If we give you an artwork or a photograph, you can’t tell if it is really an original or a copy: That’s how good we are. Hihihi :p
12. We can detect posers: And we can catch them when we start talking in technical by experience.
13. We do not know how to add and subtract, we just understand letters <– I TOTALLY DISAGREE!!! I make structural designs like gondolas, window displays, make boxes and bottle from 3D softwares plus make booth designs and layout as well and I do planograms. All those requires adding and subtracting numbers, even the basic use of the Pythagorean Theorem formula. We may not be engineers or physicists but we just don’t recognize numbers, we know and work on them!
14. We idolize people who nobody knows and speak of them as if they were our colleagues: Yes, we do. Because those people made something from design and art.
15. We take pictures almost daily: Some has those 360 Project, other just post something interesting (for us) that might be for others as well.
16. We ask your opinion about everything but we do whatever we want: It just so happen that we analyze and compare… and DECIDE.
17. Everything is left justified, right or center unless they arrive late: Either we just wanted everything laid out fine if not perfect or most of us are OCs 
18. We hate Comic Sans with the same passion they love Helvetica: Use of the word “hate” is quite downplayed. We DESPISE Comic Sans!!!
19. We use the iPhone for everything, because everyone has one: This is not true. Not all have iPhones. Some has iPad, MacAir or Macbook Pro :p
20. You can not decorate the house without consulting them: True even though Interior Design is from a different college or degree course.
21. We steal street signs: Not all but there was a rumor that some guys from a certain Fine Arts school stole a statue of Ronald McDonald in one of it’s store chains.
22. We always carry our hands painted with something or cut from cutter or paper: We’re working, what do you expect?
23. We buy dolls unfinished for them to paint: It’s relaxing for some. A way too, for expressing once idea without being terrorized 
24. Everything becomes something other than what it really is: cards as tickets, cards as … Well, what can we do? We’re creative… and we recycle
25. When arguing, you will be nicknamed like the OSX spinning wheel (not affectionately): It’s what we call code naming Ü
26. Do not know how to dress without consulting the Pantone book: Really?
27. We hate Excel: Oh hell YEAH!
28. We read comics: and graphic novels too!
29. We want to save the world only with a poster: well, there’s an upgrade now… include stickers as well :p
30. You will spend the day brainstorming: probably… or watching a movie or reruns of…
31. On vacation they will take you to countries that you do not know exist and have no beach: we like adventure and never before seen possible photo subjects :p
32. Museums are our second home: True. But each has their own preference.
33. We know more positions than the Kamasutra: Oh. Really. Now. It’s for you to know and for me to find out
34. We can’t go to a restaurant without secretly critiquing the menu design: A-MEN.
35. We listen to music you have never heard of.
36. We can´t cook a normal dish, they always have to experiment with new ingredients: Don’t worry. So far, there’s no recorded event of food poisoning by a designer, yet.
37. We read rare books: stories of children, Semiotics… in connection with no. 10, learning doesn’t stop after graduation. And we’d like to know OTHER stuff as well… stuff that interests us Ü
38. When we are going to tell you something, everyone has read it in their Facebook and Twitter: Can this be counted as (some) designer’s life is an open book? Hahaha.
39. We have own iPods before you knew they existed: We support, spread and live with good… no, BEST designs.
40. The orgasm we remember is when we heard that Adobe was acquiring Macromedia: Hmmm… on a personal note, I was actually not quite satisfied with what Adobe did to Freehand 
They just killed it. Didn’t apply its simplicity (of use and tools) with Illustrator
41. We have our own shops just for us and there are the most expensive in the city: Privileged? Hahaha. It’s just like for the fashionistas, there’s Forever 21.
42. We want to spend all the money in the Apple Store: Go back to no. 39 Ü
43. You will never understand (or appreciate) our gifts: This breaks our hearts
44. We see ordinary objects and laugh: We’re weird, yes. Lovable and still understandable I suppose :p
45. You wake up in the middle of the night hearing them screaming “When is the deadline?” <– Has anyone experienced this? O_o
46. We see CMYK and RGB like Neo sees the Matrix: It’s our world. CMYK and RGB are colors for those who don’t know what they are. There’s still Pantone, by the way.
47. We dream of the day nobody will make a single change to their designs: Very true!!!
48. We rather pay for a font (or an illustration or photo) than for a special birthday gift: We could use those for the gift we can make for you :p (though see 24 and 43)
49. We might sound like aliens to you when we talk to our fellow brand or graphic designers: Like Star Wars has Klingon and Elven to Lord of the Rings, we have our language which can be understood by fellow graphic or brand designers. It’s visual and/or technical.
50. We are always sleepy because we work 24/7: Either coffee’s not working on us anymore or because we are sugar-crashing from overdose of sweet treats
That Happiness Came From A Box
Been busy the past month and yes, it still is this month. But there were good and bad things that happened. But like every storm that comes, a sign of hope arrives.
It started from the crashing incident of my work iMac. Then a few days later, Lucky (The Survivor), my lolo Powerbook gave signals of breaking down. Well, all its innards are still intact and kicking. It’s just the monitor that flickering and suddenly turning black. But the thing is, since it’s “ancient” parts are already faced out But then came the blessing: an email from my book publisher. My long forgotten royalties from the children’s book I illustrated accumulated to let’s just say enough to pay my rent for a couple of months, a few bills AND a new MacBook Pro ^_^
I’ll just make it quick. Since this had been announced more than a month ago and has already been posted in Facebook, next will be the series of photos that once in a while I look back and smile with my head shaking. Thanks to Myles for capturing and sharing with me (and who by the way, is also excited that time as well) these moments…
Pulling out the box from the box (See! The box has my name on it. Its mine... MINE!!!)
Ummmm... the smell of good new Apple computer. Its been more than a decade since I first smell that crisp, "new" scent.
Whooohooo... My Happiness in a box of Apple
Thunder, thunder, thunderbolt... hooooooo!!! (Corny!)
Before I remember Myles captured my happiness smile because of another box: a box of J.Co Donuts which I also blogged almost the time last year. I guess happiness for me always comes from a box? :p What could be my next happiness box? Could it be that tiny blue box? Nah. That’s impossible! Hahaha :p
———-
Oh. I do have a habit of naming my favorite things. But a week had passed and I haven’t given it a name yet. For less than a week I called it Mac•Kee but it was too common as pronounced. But thanks to Milan, Myles’ eldest daughter and my inaanak or god-daughter it became Sparkee Ü
Impact
I’ve been out from the blogging world for quite a long time. A lot of not so good things happened to me and my dear friends. We have to cope up, reconstruct ourselves and tried to start from where we’ve left off. It saddens me that I came back posting something really heartbreaking.
With all the events that occurred to me, I will have a hard time retelling it here, to share them to you because I really prefer that these events be buried and forgotten. But tonight, as I check my account in pinterest.com, an illustration has struck me and I couldn’t resist sharing it here.
Illustration by Natascha Rosenberg
“Where and how to start?” is always the question…
It breaks my heart seeing images of the devastation that happened in Japan. But it inspires me seeing and hearing how our fellow Asian neighbor calmly reacts and accepts the situation. Proves that culture does make a difference.
After all the storm that came to us, I always believe that the rainbow will soon appear giving us hope. After all the not so good things that happened to me and my friends, not just the rainbow but also the smiling sun came out. Paving the way of more good news.
Nothing given to us we couldn’t bear and surpass. I believe Japan will be back in its old glory.
Sending virtual hugs to all the victims of the tsunami and earthquake tragedy in Japan.
A Timely Reminder
Wow! It’s already February. January came by quite fast. I barely noticed it! Gees!
We’ll for one, the last days of last month was quite heavy for me. Had that asthma attack and flu and I have to do some quarantine time and recuperation to get back here at my board. So here I am back from the grave, though still not 100% well, I’m feeling better and preferred to be this way than be staring at walls and ceilings again for days!!! (Couldn’t stand watching of reading back then, made me dizzy and throw up… sorry for the details!)
So here I am, with a lot in mind but I seem can’t organize my thoughts that seem to be swimming in Carbocisteine and Salbutamol (my meds!) until I came across to this image in my Pinterest.com…
Perfect!
It’s February: the love month. Love is in the air as others say it. (Feels cold here in my location though.) There will always be the opposites of everything. Some are lucky, others are not. So why not have some reminder to those uncoupled out there like a few friends of mine this month?
Timely.
Better In Time
Sharing a beautiful song (and its music video too). Thanks to my VBF, Chong for sharing this to me. You are right, dear. This song is perfect for you.
Quoting the a part of the songs lyrics:
“Thought I couldn’t live without you
It’s gonna hurt when it heals too
It’ll all get better in time
Even though I really love you
I’m gonna smile cause I deserve to
It’ll all get better in time”
For the complete lyrics, check here.
This song was also covered in a nice male version by Boyce Avenue:
For those who are in the “recovery” path in their life. When you used to have someone with you but things didn’t end up as you’ve planned, dreamed or expected it, I share you this reminder and power song.
We’ll all be better in time.
Double Happiness: Give and Take
Anyone who couldn’t relate to Linus here?
Most of us would like to make our stay here on earth a pleasant and memorable one. But don’t you think it would also nice if we make others’ stay a pleasant one too, right?
Why not apply the principle do of “Do to others what you want them do to you”? It won’t work always because there are jerks, assholes and bitches sharing the planet with us but why give up?
Let’s not forget to say “Please”, “Thank you”, “You’re welcome” and/or give compliments, true ones and not the “for the heck of pulling one’s leg” compliments. Say it if you mean it. Smile. Who knows you might be lifting someone’s spirit. Making them smile (from the liver!) as well ^_^
Pay it forward.
Garfield Makes Sense (Again)
Sarcasm it may appear from Garfield. And we all know he’s a trouble maker of some sort… but we have to admit that in the comic strip above he makes sense.
Life isn’t perfect. And for some of us, it sucks.
But life is not always like that. There are heydays like we want to kiss, hug and/or treat everyone for a meal or coffee. Life is short so why have to mope, complain, be in rage and say nothing works for you? Mine is not perfect but at least I make the most of what the day is bringing me. Be useful. Be productive. First of all, to yourself before dealing with others.
Like what a friend a few moments shared in his Twitter account: Enjoy life, don’t just endure it.
And in the light of Garfield: be the worrier: person the worries (too much!) or the one that provides worries to others?
It’s bad as it may sound but chose your side.
