Fitness covers

My new project is a fitness book that discusses not just diet and nutrition but also stress management and other lifestyle habits that impact fitness. The author is buff and beautiful and we all agreed that featuring her on the cover makes sense especially since her brand is a personal one (note the subtitle). Happily, the portraits taken by Starla Fortunato are gorgeous. Check out her photography portfolio here.

Below are selections form my first round of cover designs. The author's team has asked for some changes, so we're not quite there yet. But they were happy with this first round.

Interestingly, the author's team physically posted all of the comps at the author's gym and solicited feedback from the members. Have you worked with clients who get crowdsourced feedback? If so, did you think the response was helpful/valid or not?

Designers respond to disaster II: T-shirt design contest for Gulf Future

My co-workers and I decided to enter the H.O.P.E. (www.hopecampaign.org) T-shirt contest to contribute to Gulf Future. Gulf Future (www.gulffuture.org) is a "collaborative effort to raise awareness and increase public support for the communities along the Gulf coast affected by the BP oil drilling disaster. This campaign is the brainchild of the Gulf Coast Fund and the Gulf Restoration Network."

Our plan is to create the designs, upload them to the Design by Hümans website (www.designbyhumans.com) and then have a get-together to print up some for ourselves.

I'm really interested in crowdsourcing and how creatives can help social causes with their talent. Do you know of any other worthy efforts that designers can get involved with?

"i made a dream" by kharmazero

Designers respond to disaster

There has not been a shortage of disastrous events lately. From Haiti to the BP oil spill, enterprising designers, illustrators, and artists have found their own way to contribute to the recovery efforts. If you haven't seen these two websites already, please take a look. And please contribute. These efforts have generated beautiful work and are wonderful reminders that all of us can find a way to help.

http://www.thehaitiposterproject.com
http://www.thegreatoilleak.com

Business Ideas: Crowdsourcing Creativity

As a consumer I love this site where users upload fabric designs for others to buy. Beautiful and unusual stuff. Basically, a fabric version of the Threadless business model.

WHAT: http://www.spoonflower.com. Read about the history of Spoonflower here.

GOOD/EVIL?: But as creatives, does the growing trend of crowdsourcing spec work pose great risk or tremendous opportunities for us? Read more in this article from Advertising Age.

MORE: And take a look at this growing list of individual businesses, sites or forums that channel the power of online crowds.