Bizdesigner

Let's discuss

Here are some business pages that caught my eye this weekend. Any thoughts?

Kathryn Morton, Central Pennsylvania Business Journal. I like the use of type to make an image. My favorite part is the mustache!

Jeff Meddaugh, Quick. This page made me giggle, just like Elmo.

Robert Davis, Florida Times Union. I applaud the attempt, but every time I look at this page, I think it's about music. The rectangles at a glance look like the volume you'd see on a stereo.  I think it may have been more effective using actual containers, instead of shapes.

This is also by Robert Davis. I really liked this. It was simple, effective and had me saying 'd'oh! why haven't I ever thought of that!?!'

Jackie Avila, Fort Worth Star-Telegram. This is another page that at a glance confused me. I thought it was about slinkies. I guess because the image is so large, I don't think tiny. I think it's key to remember that often, a glance is all your reader gives you, so it's important to immediately convey the message.

Finally, a team effort by the Washington Post. I love this page. I think it's so smart. Great visual storytelling. It conveys the frustration everyone has of choosing a password. I think I have about 50 variations of my cat's names floating out there.

We salute you, Henry Paulson

We all mourned when Alan Greenspan stepped down. Such a good face. Always good for a centerpiece. His successor, Ben Bernanke, just hasn't stepped up to the mike. Although, I think he resembles Adrian Monk.

Never fear, biz designers. I think we have a new favorite.

It's Treasury Secretary Paulson!!! Check out these recent pics from the AP:

I ONCE WAS IN CHARGE OF A COMPANY THIS BIG.

IF YOU LIKE MY BODY, AND YOU THINK I'M SEXY

LOOK AT MY GRILLE. IT'S WHERE I KEEP MY GOLD BARS.

HEYYYYYY MACARENA. AYE!!

I'LL GET YOU BEN BERNANKE. AND YOUR LITTLE FED TOO.

Please welcome our special guest

Daniel Cooper of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram sends along this post. Do you want to be a guest contributor? Email me at francie@williamsonmedia.net

Business is big on numbers. Stock prices, interest rates, profit margins; we see them everywhere. Numbers can be a key part in telling a story. Sometimes they are the story.

Numbers can even be intimidating, and as visual journalists we present figures in a way that makes them easier to understand through lists, charts, etc.

But that doesn¹t mean we can¹t have fun with them. Numbers can serve as entry points into story, or the basis of a great illustration or charticle.

Here are a few examples from NPD.

This page by Jeff Hindenach of the San Jose Mercury News is a great example of how numbers can be illustrated. The illustration is engaging and merges with the bar chart about green-tech funding nicely.

Numbers don¹t always have to be in a chart, as this example by Adrienne Dye of the Indiana Daily Student shows. A 'by the numbers' presentation like this one is great when you have figures that stand out.

SND inspiration

I'm back from SND! What a great conference.

Among the great sessions was one by Joanne Utley of Newsday, in which she discussed using the photo studio for illustrations. She showed quite a few biz pages which utilized the studio. Joanne, if you're out there, would you mind sending me your presentation so I can share it with those who were unable to be in Orlando?

Martin Gee also discussed bringing his digital camera everywhere to get patterns and odd scenes to use in illustrations, then uploading them to Flickr. I was so inspired I started taking funny shots at Sea World for future illos. Thanks Martin!

Next year's SND is in Boston. I encourage everyone to go!