Fewer, Better

There's a video store just a few miles from work and home called Videodrome. A tiny shop, it can't quite compete with Blockbuster (who now can't compete with Netflix). But it doesn't try to.

View Full Post
Posted by: Alvin Diec on March 11th, 2010

Entrepreneur Organization

This year we've had the privilege of working with the Atlanta chapter of Entrepreneur Organization (EO). EO is a dynamic, global network of more than 7,000 business owners in 38 countries and is the catalyst that enables entrepreneurs to learn and grow from each other, leading to greater business success and enriched personal lives.

View Full Post
Posted by: Craig Johnson on March 3rd, 2010

Guest Post: Pace

How do you do? My name is Daniel Cole, Matchstic employee for just one and half weeks. I am guest posting today about a simple topic: pace.

View Full Post
Posted by: admin on February 18th, 2010

OTH Partner- Battle Axe

We are incredibly excited to announce the generosity of Battle Axe, a broadcast design studio specializing in motion, joining the On The House 2010 team to help transform the Atlanta Union Mission! They are not only our dear friends, but also a recent client.

View Full Post
Posted by: Blake Howard on February 9th, 2010

Do You Believe in Magic?

It's become apparent that the iPad isn't really meant to be a device of creation, but rather of consumption. Where would the Pad fit in your life? Does it fill a necessary niche, or will it just turn into an extra gadget to haul around?

View Full Post
Posted by: Alvin Diec on January 28th, 2010

Don’t Recycle. Repair.

My first printer was an old HP LaserJet that was built like a tank and weighed about the same. It worked flawlessly for almost ten years before being replaced by a far more advanced model that was twice as fast and half as durable.

View Full Post
Posted by: Alvin Diec on January 21st, 2010

Pretty in Green

I have a dilemma. You see, as a rational, Earth-dwelling person, I care about the environment. But I also love cars. Put those two together and what you get are depressing visions of a world filled with soft, bubbly hybrids and electrics.

View Full Post
Posted by: Alvin Diec on January 13th, 2010

Your Designer’s Bookshelf

In closing out 2009 and the decade before, we talk about what has inspired us. Blake set things off with a nice list of "best practices". We are often inspired (and humbled) by great work produced by our fellow designers -- especially those with different backgrounds, skill-sets, and styles.

View Full Post
Posted by: Alvin Diec on December 31st, 2009
Bikes to Beer
November 19th, 2009
posted by: Alvin Diec | 9 Comments »

Life is complicated. But at least it doesn’t have to look that way. Such is the beauty of graphic design — specifically information graphics. Wikipedia tells us:

Information graphics or infographics are visual representations of information, data or knowledge. These graphics are used where complex information needs to be explained quickly and clearly.

It seems that there’s been somewhat of an infographics renaissance lately, headed by popular sites like Information is Beautiful, innovative publications such as GOOD, and even online tools to track your own life.

The weather’s been really nice, so I’ve enjoyed riding my bike to work as much as possible. I could go on and on about the saving the earth, well-shaped calves and a healthy heart amongst the many benefits of biking, but chances are you’ll either be confused, bored, or asleep by the end. Instead, let’s see how biking a short distance just three days a week can get me a bunch of free beer.

So there you have it. Something that can be difficult or boring to explain through words can oftentimes be simple and clear when set in a pretty graphic. It can even show how to turn a few miles of peddling into a delicious free beverage. Cheers.

Disappearing Act
November 12th, 2009
posted by: Alvin Diec | 1 Comment »

We’re a short-sighted people. We like to consume, and we want our goods in nice packages — oftentimes individually wrapped. But where do these things end up? Who cares — out of sight, out of mind, right? (If you care to know what happens to those plastic Coke bottles tossed away without a second thought, it’s not pretty).

You can throw research, facts, figures, and disturbing images at people all day but it’s still unlikely they’ll kick their habits. So what can be done between now and actual catastrophe? (Or: how can we continue to sell more stuff while making people feel better about consuming?) Most companies are touting all-new “green” initiatives.. and most of it is marketing gimmick.

But Apple is one company that has actually put their promises in practice. I was in need of a mouse a few weeks ago, and noticed a very lightly-packaged product amidst rows of oversized blister packs (you know, those annoying, molded plastic containers that require nothing short of a box cutter to open).

It was the new Magic Mouse, and the packaging — or lack thereof — was simply refreshing.

This philosophy doesn’t end with the mouse. Apple claims a reduction in notebook packaging with almost every new generation and has consistently moved up the ladder on both EPEAT and Greenpeace guides.

“Except for the small amount that’s been incinerated—and it’s a very small amount—every bit of plastic ever made still exists”  — Our Oceans Are Turning Into Plastic

It’s time to realize that sustainability is not extra credit. It’s not marketing buzz nor some government conspiracy to steal away profits. It’s the cost of doing business, period. And as more and more companies are discovering, it’s good business.