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Draplin Design Co., North America

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Before I get going, check out Minnesota grand champion citizen Ken Gimlin and his MNDOT tattoo! Dedication, man! Love it. I’ve had a soft spot for that logo for some time, and man, seeing it this afternoon on the way back to Harlan’s got me all fired up, and in my searching late tonight, I came across this article on Mr. Gimlin, and his inked appendage. Just doesn’t get any better than that. Seriously.

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DDC vs Mankato State Design Program, Day 01: Got up good and early here in Mankato and got over to campus to let those students have it. We did two loose workshops today:

01. “Process, Process, Process” where I walk them through top-secret, real life, harrowing accounts of “doing whatever the hell you have to” to get the project done. Showing project decks, detailing blow-by-blow logo variations.

02. “Aaron Draplin’s 15 Rules of Good Typography” where we went down the line, nerding out on macro type issues, that, hell, just might be only inside my thinker? Maybe not. You know, general themes of the right way and wrong way of handling type, and, a couple tricky pointers for surefire type mastery. Serious business. Don’t stretch type. Ever.

And man, the day whipped by. All those Mankato eyeballs staring me down. Kinda weird, kinda fun. All in the name of “going for it” for the design students of Minnesota State Mankato! Great group of people.

Tonight we had burgers and sandwiches at Westwood Marina overlooking Lake Washington. I couldn’t keep my big trap shut, but not like that’s anything but “par for the course.” Tall tales, laughs and general riff raff. Good, clean fun. Thanks for hanging out, everyone!

And man, before I get escorted out of the building tomorrow night in the middle of my talk, let me just thank Harlan, Matt and David right now: Much gratitude, fellas. Can’t tell you how much I appreciate the opportunity to come here, meet everyone, let some hot talk fly and see the program you guys have built. Good stuff all around. Thank you.

Goodnight from Ernie’s place!


There Are 2 Comments

Re: not stretching type…

That’s a great general principle, but one of my most well received book designs used some stretched type in the title, maybe only 10-15% or so added to the width, but it fattened it up, and with that particular font, it worked. Gave it a really pro feel. It really depends on the font. It usually just knocks the proportions way out of kilter and makes it look amateur. The president of the book company said that he thought it was the best looking book cover that they had ever put out. I loved rubbing that in my boss’ face, since he had forbidden me to ever stretch type.

Posted by: trnsnd on 10/12/10 at 3:57 PM

Hey Draplin,

We were glad to have you out here! I personally learned a lot and all I can say is thank you and I hope we cross paths again some day….Design Camp perhaps…anyways safe travels and thanks!

Posted by: Chad Freund on 10/12/10 at 7:13 PM
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