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Where in the World is Andy?

When Korn relaunched the DuVine brand into the world, we fully expected it to fly. What we didn’t expect is that it would ride, eat, and drink in life so voraciously. Andy Levine of DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co has been traveling around in his DuVine gear and blogging every step of the way- bringing the brand to a global stage. Andy is truly living the DuVine way. His amazing travels (and antics) always keep his thousands of newfound loyalists coming back for more. Check out DuVine, grab your bike, and get on the road! 

You can follow DuVine on Instagram

This Way Forward!

Embodying the trailblazing spirit of Boston’s new Innovation District, The Envoy Hotel arrived in late June 2015 as a bold modern stamp of independence on the Waterfront District’s map. Korn Design led the charge, creating an immersive brand experience true to the Envoy’s abiding watchwords, “This Way Forward.” Part homage to the creative community that surrounds it, part ode to the inspirational neighborhood it calls home, The Envoy Hotel ascends—a new genre of hospitality cast in a very original way.

The Logan

Korn is honored to have helped Host Hotels & Resorts—the largest real estate REIT in the country—create their first independent hotel. Seamlessly embodying the independent spirit of Philadelphia,The Logan blends Philadelphia’s classic and historic elements with a modern vibrancy. With new and exciting spa, dining, event and meeting offerings, The Logan will become an inviting social magnet for locals and travelers alike. We are creating a hotel that Philadelphia can proudly call its own, pairing impeccable service with authentic experiences that invite wonder and exploration.

Farewell, Massimo

Massimo Vignelli, FSEGD, the graphic designer whose Modernist sensibility lent new clarity to signage and information in public spaces, died May 27 at his home in Manhattan. He was 83.

Vignelli left a dramatic mark on EGD and many other design disciplines, from packaging to product design.

See the full article here.

AIGA Centennial 100 years of Design

Denise Korn, AIGA Fellow, was among those invited by the national design organization to create a visual statement celebrating 100 years of design.

In celebration of it’s 100th Birthday, AIGA- the professional organization for design, invited 100 design leaders from across the country to each pick a year from the past 100 years that has personal meaning to them and design a piece that captures it for them.

Celebrated designers from across the United States were asked to select one year from AIGA’s history and create a social, political or cultural statement.

Denise selected 2003, the year she founded Youth Design, as a powerful catalyst to inspire young inner city high school students to enter the design field, literally changing the face of the design community.

The piece, created in collaboration with senior designer Jeshurun Webb, plays off of Victorian England’s classical silhouettes and creates a sampling of actual Youth Designer’s silhouettes.

The pieces were unveiled at the AIGA Centennial Gala in New York City.

To view the complete collection visit http://www.aiga.org/celebrating-AIGA-1914-2014/

It’s a Wonderful Winter on the Wharf

The Boston Harbor Hotel and Korn Design combine to provide Bostonians with the perfect remedy for the winter blues.

There’s no denying a Boston winter’s bombardment of blizzards and deep freezes. This weather makes it easy to forget why it’s called “the most wonderful time of the year.” Boston Harbor Hotel’s Winter on the Wharf does a good job reminding us of the joys to be had with a season filled with fun and festivities, including a fabulous skating rink under their iconic rotunda at Rowes Wharf.

Korn Design worked with the Boston Harbor Hotel to create an elegant visual identity that celebrates the season, through a hand-lettered logotype that flutters on a 50 ft. banner suspended above the rink. The typography was inspired the lace arabesques of skate tracks on ice. Korn also helped develop the season’s programming, produced a print ad and transformed the palette of offerings into a playful printed calendar distributed throughout the hotel and surrounding neighborhoods.

The first flakes turned Boston into a snow globe for Winter on the Wharf’s opening ceremony in December. Ribbon was cut, skaters took to the ice and Korn Design was in attendance to celebrate the season of events and the unveiling of the visual identity. With a backdrop like this, the spirits were as warm as the cocoa. The seasonal crowds and cocktails (and Santa!) filled the hotel with a festive coziness that is difficult to forget.

Artcrank Boston

One of our very own designers, Ira F. Cummings, has been selected to participate in the first Boston appearance of the popular Artcrank series of art posters shows.

With shows in major U.S. cities as well as in London and Paris, Artcrank has been curating bike-themed poster shows for the past six years. Since Boston is coming into its own as a world-class cycling city, it is an opportune time to bring the show to our fine city. Artcrank selects a small group of local artists, who then create a limited-edition run of prints specifically for the show. With posters available for sale, Artcrank donates some of the proceeds to the local charity Livable Streets Alliance, which advocates for sustainable urban transportation.

Pedalling Ideas

Design research and exploration are crucial to truly understanding a brand, client, or design obstacle. Our process allows us to gather inspiration and educate ourselves before diving into the design phase; it can also lead to fun immersive excursions away from the office.
We’ve been privileged to collaborate with a world-class bike tour company, DuVine who offers travel experiences like no other. The bicycle became a central element in our research and approach for this project. Our research led us to hot spots like Ride Studio Café in Lexington, MA — a cyclist hub with an amazing library on cycling culture. We also spotted some amazing vintage bike head badges parked outside. Additionally, visiting local clothing outfitters gave us a unique perspective on crafting our design language moving forward.

Palm Mobile

We’re excited to announce the launch of The Palm mobile app. We first became engaged with the Palm Restaurant Group when launching a new identity, website and print collateral. Since then, they’ve utilized their online presence to establish their business and grow their customer base. Over the years, there became a need to maximize this presence on all devices and formats. Palm approached us to create a mobile version of their website, simplifying their content while promoting reservations, menu items, and upcoming events.

The client had some specific goals in mind before design began. These included boosting reservations, competing against other mobile restaurant sites, and having an easy system in place to update both websites. Certain obstacles that arose during the design process helped us learn and understand the growing world of mobile web design. User-friendly navigation and content management were two large areas that were rethought and refined between development and design.

Graphic Intervention

Two and a half years, 11 Cities, 154 posters.

At the end of this year, our exhibition Graphic Intervention: 25 Years of International AIDS Awareness Posters will finish touring. The exhibit traveled to 11 cities, opening at MassArt in September of 2010, and continuing on to New York, Atlanta, Miami, Detroit, Pasadena, and more.

It culminated with selections from the exhibition being on display in Querétaro, Mexico as part of the World Design Congress and International Poster Biennial of Mexico. And next month, during World AIDS Day, December 1st, images of the whole exhibition will be displayed on New York’s Big Screen Plaza and selections will be installed at the Johnson and Johnson headquarters in New Brunswick, NJ.It has been an incredible experience. Thank you Liz Resnick (Chair, Graphic Design at Massachusetts College of Art and Design), for inviting me to share in this journey with you.

Worldwide Design Congress

Javier was thrilled to be invited to lecture on Corporate Identity at the Worldwide Design Congress in Querétaro, México.

Get Out And Vote

Please remember to vote Tuesday November 6th!

To inspire you, take a look at these wonderful “Get Out the Vote” posters from the AIGA website!

AIGA Fellow Award: Denise Korn

On the evening of September 14th, AIGA Boston presented the AIGA Fellow Award to Denise Korn for being a design visionary and youth advocate.

This gala event was in two acts: a dynamic awards ceremony featuring the theme “The Work Ahead” at the Huntington Theatre Company’s Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA, followed by a killer dance party at the Boston Ballet.

The AIGA Boston Fellow Award recognizes a senior designer who has made a significant contribution to raising the standard of excellence in practice and conduct within the local or regional design community. This year’s recipient is our very own Denise Korn, principal of Korn Design and founder of Youth Design, an organization that provides career pathways in design-related industries for talented urban youth.

A panel of distinguished speakers shared how Denise has challenged, motivated, and supported them in their efforts to do creative, meaningful work in their professional and personal lives. Dancers from the Boston Ballet staged a special performance in honor of the occasion.

Oak Feature on Design Work Life

We are excited to share that Oak Long Bar + Kitchen was recently featured on Design Work Life after many months of drawing and perfecting the new identity.

How to Land Your Dream Design Job

Have you ever wondered what it takes to land your dream job? This post is a collection of the details that can help you move from being an interviewee into an being an employee.

1. Craft the Perfect Cover Letter or Inquiry Email

This is the first impression they will have of you, so it should be tailored to them. Do some research on the company you are contacting and in your letter talk about something that interests you about them – it could be a project or an aspect of their philosophy. For extra credit, do some research about the person you are contacting, mention something you have in common, or simply let them know what inspires you about them.

2. Find a Personal Introduction

Your chances of landing an interview are much higher if you have a personal referral. Look wide in your network – one of your professors, family members, or perhaps even alumni from your school may have a personal connection to one of the firms you’re interested in. Ask them to make an introduction.

3. Participate in your Local Design Community

Attend events where you’ll run into the people you want to work with. Events by organizations such as AIGA and the Ad Club are a good place to start. Look out for principals or other members of the design firms you are interested in. Walk up to them and introduce yourself. Follow up with a handwritten note. For extra credit, volunteer and make a difference in these organizations – its a great way to meet people and demonstrate your capacity to accomplish tasks as a team player.

4. Design a Memorable Resume

Of course your resume should be impeccable: perfectly spelled and including all the details of your education, past work experience and relevant interests. As a designer, it should also be a reflection of your personality and creativity. It should be beautifully and functionally designed. A little wit and humor can show that you’d be easy and pleasant to work with. But tread lightly, don’t add too much decoration or too many jokes, which can distract from what is essential.

5. Build a Stellar Personal Website

In addition to showcasing your work, your portfolio site should embody the best example of what is possible on the Web, demonstrating that you are skilled in the latest web developments. Like your resume, it is a peek into who you are. Include engaging details about you or your interests that would inspire someone to want to meet you.

 

 

6. Polish your Portfolio

Every piece of work you show, on your website or during an interview, should be the best work you have ever seen. Take a look at the work in your portfolio. Is every piece the best work you have ever produced? Is it the best you can imagine it to be? Does it stand up to the best work of other designers you have seen, whether they are your peers or design stars that you admire? If the answer to any of these questions is no, keep working on it.

7. Be Politely Persistent

The firms with the best jobs typically have very little turnover. You want to make sure you are on their “radar” so when they do start looking to hire, you are already on their list. Start by asking for a 20 minute informational interview with one of the principals. Their first answer will probably be no. Be polite and persistent. Acknowledge that you know their schedules are busy, and share what a difference it would make for you to get their feedback and advice.

8. Ace the Interview

Make the best of your brief time with the person interviewing you by conducting a well choreographed, smooth presentation of your work. Practice with your friends, family members and instructors. When you arrive at the interview, while you are waiting, put your phone away, sit up straight, and take in the space around you. You can learn a lot about the firm by looking around, and you will feel more relaxed and confident by being fully present. Don’t use your website as the whole presentation during your interview – chances are the person interviewing you has already seen it. Also, make sure you are able to present your work as if you were meeting the person in a park – don’t assume that a wireless connection, or worse, a computer will be readily available for you to use.

9. Send a Thank You

Immediately after the interview, mail a hand written thank you note to the person who interviewed you. Have a blank one with a stamped envelope handy in your portfolio, so you can write it as soon as you’ve left the building and drop it in the nearest mail box. Extra points if you’ve designed and printed the note yourself.

10. Be Yourself

Every step of the way, have confidence in who you are and reach for your wildest dreams. Show your passion for design. Lead a full life. Be open, curious and disciplined. With persistence, focus, and a little luck, you’ll be sure to land your dream design job.

HOW Design Conference 2012 Studio Tours

We were honored to be included as part of the HOW Design conference studio tours while the conference was in Boston. Thanks to all the designers from across the country who visited us, we enjoyed meeting you!

Type Legend Matthew Carter

A few weeks ago, AIGA Boston presented renowned type designer Matthew Carter with the AIGA Fellow award. Javier was honored to be one of 13 designers invited to design a letter from Matthew’s name, to be reproduced as archive quality prints, and auctioned at the event. He was assigned the letter R, shown above. Javier was inspired by Papel Picado, traditional mexican cut paper banners.

Congratulations to AIGA Boston for putting on such a wonderful event.

To see Matthew Carter’s interview in the Boston Globe click here.

An Evening with Milton Glaser

Denise met up with Chris Pullman and Youth Design grad/sum freshman at Cooper Union for an evening of Milton Glaser design, lore and fun. First stop was at the AIGA National Design Center Gallery to see Glaser’s work, In Search of the Miraculous or One Thing Leads to Another, on view through Nov. 24th. They then strolled over to the SVA Theatre to see the screening of To Inform and Delight, a biographical documentary about Glaser’s work, life in NY and thoughts on mentoring, teaching, and working. Their last stop was dinner at EATALY, Batali, Bastianich and Company’s recently opened temple to all that is an Italian eatery . . . they give the Pizza/Pasta Restaurant a thumb’s up- yum!

Design Means Business

Kudos to everyone on the Digma Board who hosted a great day of design thinking by pulling together a rich roster of designers, business leaders, and innovators from our home state of Massachusestts for the Design Means Business Conference at Reebok World Headquarters in Canton. In collaboration with designers from Reebok, Design Museum Boston mounted a great exhibit to parallel the dialogue in the presentations. Small visual case studies spanning a broad variety of design and communications projects came to life for the attendees. Momentum feels likes it’s finally here; let’s keep this Digma train rolling!

To learn more visit: www.digma.us

 

Pecha Kucha 19

To Brett and the whole Pecha Kucha team,

it was a pleasure for Korn Design to be your design partner for Pecha Kucha 19 during Boston Fashion Week. We were equally excited to bring Youth Design back to Pecha Kucha now in its 89th summer. Thank you for hosting a nice tie-in between the greater design community and fashion by bringing it all local- a great curation and a fun evening!

All photos here credit: Jay Calderin

Follow Jay during Boston Fashion Week at: twitter.com/JayCalderin

Graphic Intervention: 25 Years of International AIDS Posters

About a year and a half ago, my friend and colleague, Elizabeth Resnick (Professor and Chair of Graphic Design at Massachusetts College of Art and Design) invited me to lunch and asked me if I would be her partner in a new exhibition she was planning to cover 25 years of international AIDS awareness posters.

Without blinking an eye, I enthusiastically said yes! Little did I know what an enriching and transformational experience it would be. Thank you, Liz, for allowing me to be part of this ride. We edited over 4,000 posters from the collection of Jim Lapides, owner of the International Poster Gallery, searched for some key missing pieces, and ended up with 153 posters from 44 countries.

The exhibition, titled Graphic Intervention: 25 Years of International AIDS Awareness Posters 1985-2010, opened this week in the Stephen D. Paine Gallery at MassArt and will be on display through December 4th.

Best,
Javier

Boston Ballet

If you’re curious to learn more about the thinking behind the new brand for Boston Ballet, you can now check out the brand video we created for them. Check it out here.

Discover the power of a brave new brand.