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So I've made some 8.5 in. by 5.25 in. graph paper notebooks because I wanted something a little more functional than what I was using for sketching. They're basically a mini version of the wireframe grid I use, with markers for 1/3s and 1/4s, but without the gutters. I've been working with a prototype of this for a few months now and have a bunch of these ready to put up for sale, but haven't been rushing to do it, mostly because I made them for myself and selling stuff like notebooks isn't profitable until you get into selling large quantities, and unfortunately I haven't the time to market the pads and books.

So I had a great idea for now. I am going to sell these eventually, when other higher priorities get out of the way, but for now, I'm going to start off by giving the first 30 or so away, starting with a little gift for my Konigi readers who happen to be able to make it to SXSW to hear the wireframe panel that Nick Finck, Donna Maurer and I are doing. After the talk, if you're one of the first 30 to come up to me and give me the secret word, which I'll announce on Twitter a few days before the talk, you'll get one of the books. My little thank you for being a reader and making it out to the talk.

Stay tuned.

chrome://speeddial/content/speeddial.xul

Print Magazine interviews Milton Glaser to discuss Shepard Fairey and the topic of appropriation and plagiarism. If you're not familiar, Fairey is the graffiti artist responsible for such iconic imagery as the ubiquitous Andre OBEY tag and the Obama Hope image. Glaser had this to say, on the topic of copying other artists' work:

The process of looking back at the past is very accepted in our business—the difference is when you take something without adding anything to the conversation. ... I think unless you’re modifying it and making it your own, you’re on very tenuous ground.

He makes the finer point that copying ideas and appropriating imagery is not patently wrong. To the contrary, it is the basis for a lot of work that is celebrated. The difference comes in appropriating and making one's own. He points out the danger the idea of copying poses to future designers and artists.

It’s a dangerous example for students, if they see that appropriating people’s work is the path to success. Simply reproducing the work of others robs you of your imagination and form-making abilities. You’re not developing the muscularity you need to invent your own ideas. ... But it’s important for students to understand that any idea can be exploited, but not simply reproduced.

I, for one, don't sit in judgement of Shepard Fairey's work because I find the idea of what he does, the mass underground distribution of iconic imagery in the form of an ilegal activity for spreading one's art, to be interesting for that controversial aspect alone. Is it art or is it vandalism? Is it stealing or is it some sort of free speech that should be protected? But, I digress on that issue, only to share what I think is provocative. Getting back to Glaser's point, if in the realm of design we tend to be gray on the issue of copying ideas or actual form without making a thing our own, what do we gain from that experience? Not very much, for not very long.

You might also want to check out the interview with Shepard Fairey on the Fresh Air show at NPR.

http://www.printmag.com/design_articles/MiltonGlaseronShepardFairey/tabid/492/Default.aspx

Prezi is an interesting web app that allows users to create Flash-based Zoomable/Pannable presentations. The interface brings up a presentation editor with a keyboard command, and displays a radial menu for placing media objects, drawing paths for prev/next animation, etc. The finished presentation allows users to step through the "slides" as the canvas zooms and pans. It really might be a nice service for doing things like simple product screencasts, for instance, and hopefully the finished product will allow you to export your work for embedding on your site.

http://prezi.com/