Amazing, look at this ridiculous letraset page. If I had back all the time I've spent...

Wow, do you remember Letraset?

I just read this article from the NYT (published back in Feb) about how much graphic design has changed over the past 20 years with the introduction of new technologies. Michael Beirut is probably close to 20 years older than me, but I’m young enough to remember letraset, pencils and erasers. OH and onion skin.

Beirut reminisces and quickly ponders what may be lost with current computer technologies. I too have had this thought. One of my greatest obstacles in design when I first started college was learning how to just start drawing. I wanted to draw the final product. My first viscom teacher gave me very sage advice, advice that sticks with me today when starting out a project on my trusty computer.

Here it is: JUST START. Put the pencil down and start sketching. Sketch a bubble diagram if you have to, draw a cartoon of you working on the project, write out the name of the project over and over again. I don’t care, just start something. In many ways this is how I still work even if it isn’t a pencil and onionskin. If I’m starting a website project, sometimes I jump ahead and start playing with typography, art and homepage themes. It’s something to get the creative juices flowing, and for a visual person, that is very important.

Anyway, just a quick thought and my own personal take on this article. And a chance to post a picture of a used letraset page…CAN YOU BELIEVE WE USED TO DO THIS?