But I probably won’t get one just yet… But I AM extremely excited about what this means for the magazine and publishing industry. There’s so much potential with this device to extend and transform the way we consume media. I’m not even sure we know how people will be using the iPad in 6 months time from now. It’s all up to the app developers!

I almost feel like I’ve has first hand access to what this will look like all week…sorta.  I’ve been working on an iPad app site for Men’s Health  Magazine for the past few days at Brunello, Photoshoping screenshots into iPad photos, sprinkling jQuery here and there and getting the site ready for todays launch. So go check it out while you are at it: http://menshealth.com/ipad.

Now I’m curious what you think of the iPad - regardless of if you will buy it or not. What impact do you think it will have on the publishing industry? On computers in general? On your media consuming habbits (if you are buying one). Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

It’s been mighty quiet here for the past few weeks and some of you might wonder what is going on? Have no fear… I’ve just been insanely busy working on a bunch of top secret projects!

Portfolio Update!

A site I spent many long hours working on a few months ago at Brunello Creative has finally launched! Read more about the project in my Web Design Portfolio or view the site over at GalileanSecret.com. I’ll admit that it was a bit challanging at first to design a semi-photorealistic site. Please feel free to chime in and let me know your thoughts about the design – I’m always open to suggestions and constructive criticism!

Taking a bit of time off

Why am I taking some time off? (besides the fact that I want to make amazing hidden message banana installations…)

Watch the video below:

Every seven years, designer Stefan Sagmeister closes his New York studio for a yearlong sabbatical to rejuvenate and refresh their creative outlook. He explains the often overlooked value of time off and shows the innovative projects inspired by his time in Bali.

I’ve been blogging on a regular basis for quite a while and am starting to feel a bit burned out. I’ve been planning on taking a month or so off from blogging in order to come back at the new year with a fresh perspective. So stay tuned – I’ll be back sometime mid January with new content and hopefully a fresh outlook on design!

In the meantime you should follow me on twitter and check out Daily Design Bits!

I hope you all enjoy the holiday season and take some time to relax and reflect. I’ll see you next year!

In this quick tip I show you some different ways to control guide placement in Photoshop. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think!

I had a chance to interview Liz Andrade of CMD+Shift+Design. Liz shares her ninja skills, her banana prefrences, and talks about making the jump into the freelance world.

1) Do you like bananas?
They’re my favorite potassium rich fruit!   I like buying the ones from Ecuador, cause I’m half-Ecuadorian.

I’ve been doing it since I was a kid. Design and more fine art stuff. When I was really young I would make my own  board games and comic books.. as I got to be a teenager, I made zines and eventually websites. I was born with that creative gene – but it wasn’t until college that I discovered how drawn i was to the problem solving aspect of graphic design.

The usual — like music and movies, but I also get inspired by the day to day. Being in Seattle is inspiring! I love this city and I love the people in the city. I’m big on people watching… ease dropping on the bus. I guess that could sound a little creepy, but humans are interesting, they inspire me.

4) Favorite design magazine?

As far as printed publications go, I have to admit – over the last 2 years, I have stopped paying attention for the most part. I read a lot of online magazines and blogs. Design (especially web design) changes so rapidly, I don’t want to wait an entire print cycle to hear about something, and you don’t have to anymore because of the web! Smashing Mag, Vandelay, A List Apart, WebCreme… to name a few of the biggies.

Dan Cederholm is a UI genius, Jina Bolton’s type skills are hot! The color and texture I see from Design Sensory out of Knoxville  inspires me.

I had a regular 9 to 5. I worked with a boutique firm here in Seattle doing web and print design for almost 4 years and I learned a lot. For most of those 4 years it was just me and the firms owner running the whole operation – so i really got on the fast track plan to learning the ins and outs of the industry — if not for that experience, I probably wouldn’t have made the freelance leap when I did.

About a year ago, I really felt like I had gotten all I could out of my old job. I broke out on my own and I have no regrets whatsoever! It’s one of the best decision I have ever made. Some people ask if I’m nervous because of the economic situation right now, but I’m not. I feel like I have more control over my career being out on my own than some of my friends and family who’re  getting hours cut…  or worse, getting laid off.

Advice I would give is — you’ve got to really want it. It’s not for everyone and it’s not easy. Even though I didn’t take this route, I’d advise anyone thinking of going freelance to first do it on the side of your 9 to 5 for a while to see how you handle it.

LOL. I dunno, a cat? I’m a crazy cat lady, so i have to say that. Maybe it’s true though? I know what I like and I’m not too concerned with what’s trendy at the moment or what isn’t. If it works, it works.

I don’t think of my design style in an aesthetic way, but more of my style of working. I try to be smart in my process, you have to be. Good design has to marry form and function… sacrificing usability is as offensive as bad kerning.

Do you have a preference for print or web work? Which one do you like more?

Since going freelance I have marketed myself more as a web designer, I enjoy the web design community a lot, you get the design geeks and internet nerds all in one pool — perfect place for me! I still do print work from time to time and I really enjoy it. In the past I’ve worked with clients on complete branding solutions, so I’d  get my hands in both their print and web marketing, that’s when it really gets exciting… developing and growing a whole package.

#252525 as a substitute for black.

10) Favorite font?

Avenir is my favorite San Serif, but my favorite San Serif numbers are Meta Plus. My favorite Serfied small cap is  Mrs. Eaves and I also adore the numbers in that typeface. My favorite puntuation is in AGaramond… The quotation marks, are to die for…

Thanks Liz!!!!!

A project I worked on at Brunello Creative just launched: Pickup Zone. The client wanted something similar to Web 2.0 startups out there. Pretty cool service.

PickupZone picks up where carriers drop off. Our goal is to make getting packages into your hands as fast, secure and convenient as possible. We sign for and then store your packages at our neighborhood Pickup points so you can feel safe knowing your packages are always cared for and waiting for you.

Just follow our FIND, SHIP, PICKUP process.

What do you guys think?

I was also asked to be a part of a web design directory which is part of a website called Web Hosting Search. Tiny Mouse Design is featured under Massachusetts! I gotta get on a redesign for that site! <:3)~

Anyways…here are the beauties in their final form:

If you are in the DSM area then come on down and bring your own meeeeeats!