Can you still be referred to as a graphic designer even if you usually do web design work? Every time I've told someone I'm a "web designer", the word "web" stuck while "designer" soared clear over their head. The outlander's perception seemed to be that web design was more about building than designing. This belies the skill and experience that a good designer contributes, instead making them out to ... Read full entry

Great poster by Harmonie Intérieure: Designers are meant to be loved. Not to be understood. More posters here.

From website backgrounds to gift wrap, some of these patterns are pretty cool. :) The Pattern Foundry is an archive of decorative patterns, open for anyone to license and use, created by designers and artists from around the world. The uses of these patterns are not prescribed; they can be applied anywhere and to anything.

An interesting definition of data visualisation, by Todd Holloway, with an example that compares the DNA dataset of monkeys with that of humans. Graphic design is different from data visualization. Graphic designers are largely free from having to deal with actual data, and from having their product emerge from data. Graphic design components and data visualization components are often mixed, and with great success. But they are different. ... Read full entry

10 tips for writing graphic design briefs by David Airey. All designers need to anonymously email this post to their clients. If it were me, I'd add particular emphasis to point number two: Understand that designers are not mind readers - that class is still under development. "That class is still under development"... that just might be asking for more trouble methinks :)

Curvy 5: the annual ALL-GIRL art book, featuring 100 of the most exciting female graphic designers and illustrators from around the world, was launched in Sydney last night at the Mori Gallery. Flickr photos. Girls. Everywhere.

Cheat sheets for designers & developers Scott Klarr has the lot, whether you're a graphic designer, web developer, programmer, trying to set up a network. Cheat sheets rock :)

Winners of the What is Graphic design poster competition Congratulations to Juanma & Gabriele. If you haven't seen the entries yet I suggest you take the time to do so, the work is awesome :)

The What is Graphic Design poster competition Veerle has posted a selection of entries from "The What is Graphic Design poster competition" she is currently running. In a word: Wow!

Pick One. debbie millman writes about her search for graduate work that is bound to ring a few bells with those who have been through the process before. I knew that what happened next could change my life forever. As I sat on the cramped, balmy Express Bus into Manhattan, I fantasized befriending the Human Resources Director, being invited up to meet the design director of Vogue or Vanity Fair ... Read full entry