February 1st, 2010 at 11:11am
The new decade is here, and we at Sensical Design & Communication have decided to start it out by launching a new venture. We’ve had a great time running a graphic design business these past six years, and continue to love doing what we do. But for the past few years, we’ve also been harboring a dream. So we’ve decided to start a publishing company.
Without further preamble, then, let me introduce Ruka Press: An Illuminating Publisher. Ruka Press is a new, independent publisher of nonfiction books designed to beautifully and intelligently explain the world. We intend to publish nonfiction books with a strong information-design component for a general audience. (more…)
Filed under: New Projects, Sensical News by Dan
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December 1st, 2009 at 11:04am
I will be moderating an AIGA DC Salon on the Living Principles of Sustainable Design on December 9.
In this members-only Salon, we will review AIGA’s newly-unveiled Living Principles framework to bring clarity to integrated sustainability. Our discussion will focus on what this means for working designers, the next steps in developing the framework, and how we can put these principles into action in our own practices.
Details and registration are here.
Filed under: Sensical News by Dan
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November 6th, 2009 at 10:30am
As you can see (if you’ve been here before), we’ve changed the design of the Website. Let’s call it Sensical 2.1. After a year with the previous design, which was adapted from a preexisting theme, we felt it was time to address some of the shortcomings. So we’ve completely rewritten the XHTML and CSS from the ground up. The new look features a more complex, sophisticated color palette and greatly improved navigation. We’ve moved the portfolio out of the sidebar and onto its own page, and given more emphasis to the “mission statement” and the contact form.
We’ve tested in various browsers (Firefox and Safari on the Mac, IE 6, 7, and 8 on the PC), but if you see any obvious problems on your system, please let us know. We’d love to hear any comments you have, good or bad. Like all Websites, this one’s a work in progress.
And please contact us if we can bring our designer’s eyes to your organization’s Website (or your print materials). We’d love to help you improve and focus your communications.
Filed under: Sensical News, Website Updates by Dan
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September 21st, 2009 at 11:22am
At right is the cover for the book Tainted Money: Are We Losing the War on Money Laundering and Terrorism Finance? by Avi Jorisch. This book about money laundering and terrorism financing is primarily intended for a readership of policy makers, international law enforcement officials, and bankers. The cover needed to be dramatic, simple and interesting. We wanted a strong image that captures the sinister nature of the topic, without resorting to the obvious clichés that spring to mind when envisioning money laundering: clotheslines, washing machines, and the like. The bloody cash, photographed by Stefan Klein, was perfect.
Author Avi Jorisch said, “Working with Sensical Design was nothing short of a pleasure. This is a company that delivers high quality products on time and within the proposed budget. Dan designed an eye-catching cover for my book, Tainted Money. He also designed a sleek and easy-to-follow layout for what proved to be a complicated internal structure for each chapter. This firm’s record of professionalism and success speaks for itself.”
Filed under: New Projects by Dan
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June 16th, 2009 at 4:14pm
I was honored to be part of a panel of judges this spring for the Washington Book Publishers’ Design and Effectiveness Awards. This annual competition showcases the best in DC-area book design (Sensical Design received an award last year). The four-judge panel is drawn from different areas of the profession: a publisher (this year, Gina Lindquist from Georgetown University Press), an editor (Bruce Gossett from the American Society of Civil Engineers), a bookseller or librarian (Nancy Davenport of the DC Public Library), and a designer (yours truly). This is unusual for a design competition, as it draws from voices other than just those of designers, and “effectiveness” is supposed to be as important as “design.”
Judging took place on a Friday in May. We judges pored over the 180 submitted entries to choose the winner in various categories and an overall Best of Show. The winners were then presented to a packed ballroom last Thursday, June 11.
(more…)
Filed under: Awards, Sensical News by Dan
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