I’m still deciding if I’m really going to make the next comic about “procrasturbation”. Also, thanks to Systemics Marty and Grace for help figuring out how to write this one. I can’t say it took the whole month but I was a little stuck.

Super Art Fight at the Black Cat on February 22nd!

In an ongoing effort to pretend to be a rock star, the Super Art Fight crew (including myself) is playing a show in Washington, DC at the legendary Black Cat rock club! I couldn’t be more excited. February 22nd, 9:30pm doors, $12 tickets, all ages. More details and info on preorders here.

I’m talking about comics and stuff in Baltimore!

I’m giving a talk called “How Comics Can Make Us Better Designers” to the web/design/development community in Baltimore as part of “Refresh Baltimore” on February 26th. It’ll be based upon but a revised and awesomer version of the talk I gave at Refresh last fall. It’s free. You should come! Here’s the EventBrite. Here’s the other details.

I’d love to see some Systemics in the crowd, and I’ll have time to answer all the questions people have on design and comics and stuff. Let me know if you can make it!

…in which my stunt double explains the deal with Comic Sans. I’m down with it.

This seems like the logical evolution of the iTunes logo. Soon, the interface will be so glossy it’s entirely white.

Be sure to check out the other iTunes and logo posts. That’s what those big yellow words below this text is for!

Still raising money for #Movember. There’s still time! I’m $15 away from a shiny round number!!! http://mobro.co/rossnover

I guess I should put a psot here. Fine.

It’s amazing how your perspective can change.

When I was in school, I thought what made a good design was merely one thing: a good designer. Now I realize the truth is much larger than that. Projects are a collaboration between all those involved, and cannot succeed without everyone doing their part, or one person being the Incredible Hulk and doing everyone’s part (or at least scaring them off with the green and the gamma rays and all). Sure, a great designer can make the best of a bad situation and turn it into a great result, but even that isn’t a skill of a “talented designer”, it’s the skill of a talented Designer (capital D).

What’s the difference between a designer and a Designer? You earn a capital “D” when you can see the bigger picture and work within it. When you learn not just how to create something that you were taught in school, but to work in the professional role of a Designer. Create something that’s not just interesting-looking or functional, but that works for the client and meets the project’s goals. Can design the amazing within scope and budget. Tracks their time and keeps other members of the team in mind. Fills in the gaps when others come up short. Can sell the client on good ideas. Only suggests things that they can make happen. AND, can balance all of these things with other projects. Sounds boring, but it’s not. It’s what makes you successful.

Sure, it helps to be a good designer to be a good Designer, but it’s time to start looking at the bigger picture.

Oh, and don’t use Papyrus or Impact. Ever.

Ross Nover – A Dose of Design Inspiration from Comic Strips from Refresh DC on Vimeo.

Earlier this week I gave what might be the most Ross-like talk I could possibly think of. It’s all about what designers can learn from their cousins the comic artists. I got to touch on some points like closure, verbal/visual pairings, art as exercise, and poop jokes. I’m really happy with how it went and so happy to see it online!

It was a part of Refresh DC, which is a group of my peers of designers and developers in the DC area. I’m pretty proud of it and was honored to be able to speak at such an event.

I tried to make it as accessible as I could to designers and non-designers, and also give credit where it’s due. With that in mind, thanks to Olly Moss, Caldwell Tanner, Danielle Corsetto, Jamie Noguchi, Steve Napierski, Ananth Pasdlfkjksjdf;j, Randal Munroe, Shannon Wheeler, Frank Chimero, 3eanuts and Garfield Minus Garfield, Alex Robinson, Jeph Jacques, Jessica Hische, Carolyn Sewell, Noah Scalin, Austin Kleon, my friends at Super Art Fight, the American University Design Program (whose resources evolved into this presentation), and Scott McCloud. (Did I miss anyone?)

The audio is passable, but the exposure kills the projector so you may have to follow along in the SlideShare (this is the link to that).

If you watch any or all of it, let me know what you think! And if you are looking for someone to talk about comics and design, just let me know.

(Click to make bigger)

This is a poster I made for the Super Precious art show on blockbuster movies. I normally post this kinda thing on my Tumblr (and I did) but thought I’d share it here as well. It was really fun to make and write, and I owe much of the writing to my friend and Super Art Fight co-host Marty F’n Day, who is much more of a movie buff than I am (I haven’t bought a DVD in about 7 years and he owns everything on Blu-Ray). It was really fun to write and make all the little parody jokes, and we actually wrote more but couldn’t fit them. If anyone wants prints, let me know and I’ll post them on HilariAwesome.com (the online store of The System).

It was really fun to play with all the tropes of movie posters. The over-done grit and all the tiny type at the bottom (which is both funny writing and in Univers Ultra-Condensed). I’m mainly proud of all the texture on it, that’s not a style any client ever asks for so it’s fun to have a chance to experiment with stuff like this.

I’d happily do another parody movie poster, and am looking for ideas! Feel free to write quotes to use or movie ideas in the comments, I might use them.

Responsive web design is the new thing, and if you ask me DAMN interesting. It can solve a lot of problems for web sites, since it means not having to build a separate mobile site. Everything just works fine on every device! Of course, building one is a lot of extra work and planning, not to mention that it is a lot of tedious little maths. Still, you can see some great examples of responsive sites in action over at MediaQueri.es, and learn about them from the beginning with Ethan Marcotte’s first article on the matter over at A List Apart. There’s also now a book on it, too!

Oh, and the new SystemComic.com site? TOTALLY RESPONSIVE.

Last chances to get the deal of the century on CATS DON’T CARE shirts! Next up for HilariAwesome.com is something with this comic/chart. As soon as I figure out what. Suggestions in the comments?

I was brainstorming with my friend Amy, and we came up with a bunch more:

• People either think what you do is awesome or scratch their head and walk away
• Nobody expects to pay for it
• Involves lots of berating
• Nobody gets the dress code
• You always have to beat the client into submission

Also, I had to look up the plural of “dominatrix”. There’s two theories, and honestly the math minor in me wanted to go with “dominatricies” but this is the more colloquial answer.