Bud Rodecker Weblog

I Take Pictures Then Forget About Them

2009-01-06T15:40:00.006-06:00

I was going through my photos and found some from a day I drove around Chicago taking pictures of signs. It was a gorgeous day, the sky had some crazy clouds. I need to spend more time exploring and looking at Chicago, I spend too much of my time just passing through Chicago.

AGI

2008-12-29T22:32:00.002-06:00

AGI, Originally uploaded by Avenue53

Ben just found this photo on Flickr. It's a pretty cool feeling seeing my work on someone else's page. I worked on the typeface with Rick Valicenti, and Ben Animated it for the conference.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T10:59:00.002-06:00

I hope everyone is warm and with family today. Peace, goodwill towards men (and women), and all those type of things to you all.

I've got a brand spankin' new feed!

2008-12-21T22:10:00.005-06:00

This is for all of you rss subscribers our there. I know there's at least 2 of you! I've just burned my feeds with feedburner. So I'm asking you to please updated your feed reader with these two links:

This one's for my blog
feed://feeds.feedburner.com/BudRodeckerWeblog

This one's for my work page
feed://feeds.feedburner.com/BudRodeckerWork

I'm going to leave the current ones running for awhile but I imagine I'll take them down sometime next week. And hey, if you're not a subscriber yet now's the perfect time!

Also, let me know if you have any problems with the new feeds!

Writing a Bio is Hard

2008-12-19T21:14:00.004-06:00

I had to write a bio because I'm speaking on a panel discussion about Helvetica, the film and typeface. Emily helped me get started, and I tried to fill in the rest. Here it is... Ya'll should help me and add to it!

------------------------------------

Bud Rodecker studied Graphic Design at University of Minnesota Duluth where he learned the true meaning of cold. He took on the role of president of the Student Design Organization (SDO) from 2005 to 2007. Following graduation in May 2007, Bud came to Chicago for an internship at Thirst. At the end of the summer he stayed on as a full-time designer with Rick Valicenti and John Pobojewski.

He discovered his passion for design at age 14 when his brother gave him his first copy of Photoshop, but he didn't put a name to it until he took Commercial Design in high school. To this day, seeing Papyrus in a font menu makes him cry inside.

Bud is a multidisciplinary designer, creating work in close collaboration with Valicenti and Pobojewski for a variety of clients including Detroit's College for Creative Studies (CCS), the Merchandise Mart, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. While at Thirst he as created TV commercials for CCS' new MFA program, a website for architectural photographer Wayne Cable, and has worked on the branding campaigns for Lyric Opera and The Merchandise Mart's cultural events including NeoCon and Art Chicago.

While in Chicago, Bud has presented at an AIGA Small Talk hosted at Thirst and spoke about "What I Didn't Learn in College" for the design program at Harrington College. He was invited to participate at Design Inquiry, a week-long design conference that brought designers in varying fields from all across the country together to discuss the topic, "Fail Again."

Dear Chicago

2008-12-16T21:32:00.001-06:00

Dear Chicago,

Where are all your Plows!?
It took me an hour to drive 3 miles today.
None of the roads had been cleared off.
I highly suggest you get on top of that.

Sincerely,
Bud

Adobe! I put a doom upon you!

2008-12-16T21:27:00.004-06:00

Dear Adobe,

What the hell are you thinking? Why is it that in illustrator, and photoshop it is possible to save to any previous version of their respective programs, but to do that with indesign you have to use something you've dubbed an interchange file? It's the same program! Why can't we save down to a previous version? Also, why the HELL does an interchange file put a black 1pt stroke around EVERYTHING. Do you realize how much of a pain in the ass this is? Or is this some kind of built in bug to force everyone to upgrade lest they go completely bat shit crazy from chasing black strokes around everything! Not to mention that first you have to package the file, then export an interchange file if you don't want your links to turn into gray boxes.

And now you've released CS4! And from my first browse though the program I'm not sure CS4 deserved to be a completely new upgrade. It seems that this version should have been reduced to a free update to all those frustrated CS3 users who found indesign harder to use than before.

Picture 2, Originally uploaded by budr

Now back to the Interchange problem! Look at this note on Adobe's official help page. REALLY ADOBE!?!??!?!?!! I If I'm a CS2 user and someone who works on CS4 wants to give me an indesign file one of us has to own CS3 and have it installed on our system!? How is that even remotely a smart design decision?

So to conclude this open letter.
WTF.

Oh Sweet Jesus

2008-12-12T17:48:00.001-06:00

This week was insane.
I'm so stressed out still, and I have everything finished.
We had a freelancer here this week and I'm pretty sure he thinks we're all crazy.

An Interview with Rick Valicenti

2008-12-09T14:44:00.003-06:00

There is no distinction between the day job and the night job. In fact, there is a blurred boundary between them. One informs the other . . . they are symbiotic in my nature.

24-7 Design Heaven has a nice interview with Rick from Nov 14.

1976 Honda CB750F

2008-12-08T09:51:00.005-06:00

IMG_1822, Originally uploaded by budr

My latest project at home has been my '76 Honda. I bought it this summer as you see above and rode it all summer. I'm storing it at my parents house in Minnesota for the winter. Where my Dad has been working tirelessly on it.

New drag bars.

New, smaller turn signals.

I want to get it looking closer to this when I'm all done with it. Check out my Flickr set to see the in progress shots.

Counting Down the Days

2008-12-05T00:01:00.003-06:00

Today Topher and I went into a Starbucks. They were selling an advent calendar, but it didn't tell the story of the nativity? Isn't that the whole point of an advent calendar? Or have they been reduced to merely a tool for counting down the days until you get presents?

Department of Redundancy Department

2008-12-02T23:12:00.011-06:00

Department of Redundancy Department, Originally uploaded by budr

Getting back on the blog train. To start, here is a glimpse into my world.

Is this someone you want working in YOUR library?

2008-10-14T21:34:00.003-05:00

Read this excerpt from this blog.

"Censorship Love Note by ALA Councilor Rory Litwin

American Library Association [ALA] Councilor Rory Litwin has written a contemptible note proudly announcing his censorship of publicly available information and his permanent censorship of any future comments from me. This while defending the ALA for repeatedly refusing to assist Cuban librarians beaten and jailed for political reasons--including opposing censorship!"

Read more about this encounter with UMD Librarian Rory Litwin

Pentagram Hops on the GeoFont Train.

2008-10-05T13:39:00.007-05:00

Pentagram recently posted a new identity design for the Museum of Arts and Design which was quickly posted on Brand New.

Pentagram describes the new identity like this:
"The museum’s new graphic identity can already be seen throughout the city, on the sides of buses, on street banners, in print ads and in the subways. The geometric-based mark reflects the circles and squares present in the building’s shape; its location, on Columbus Circle; and the building’s iconic “lollipop” columns retained in the redesign."

Here are some more images from Pentagram's blog:

I love the craft, implementation, and restraint used in this system, but it feels so incredibly trendy. I was a bit surprised to see this kind of work coming out of Pentagram, which I always felt made work that transcends trendiness. This style of geometric type has been around for ages, but seems to be extremely prevalent in the current design landscape.

Here are a few examples from ffffound:

Don't forget Milton Glaser's contribution, Baby Teeth, done in 1968.

To Pentagram's credit; when comparing their iteration on the geometric typeface to others, theirs holds its own. It is disciplined, quirky, and recognizable among the sea of geo-fonts. The identity is well designed and well implemented, and it has flexibility to work well over many mediums.

…Not to mention my friend from back in Duluth Kai Salmela worked on this project.

I'm pretty sure that's him there. Hi Kai!

Face Lift and a little liposuction

2008-10-04T16:48:00.002-05:00

You may have noticed a change around these parts. This site's old design was starting to feel pretty worn, so I trashed it and made a new one using blueprint css. Let me know your thoughts.

I also plan on blogging again sometime soon…

I don't know about those politics

2008-09-04T23:00:00.003-05:00

This presidential election has me drawn in like never before, as I'm sure the case is with lots of other people. I find myself watching all the news about each candidate, watching both conventions, and reading what I can online. I find myself somewhere in the middle, liking elements from both candidates. I also find myself watching their speeches and being keenly aware of all the bullshit that gets thrown around.

Obama left me inspired, but wondering how much of what he claims he can pull off. Biden didn't move me that much. Palin left me feeling dirty. Finally McCain left me bored until the very end of his speech when he finally started saying something with any specific relevance to what he plans to do if elected president. I need to find more neutral news sources to find out the "truth" of their plans. Politifact has a "thruth-o-meter" that gives a pretty good idea of the half truths that get thrown around.

Any other good sites out there?

Design Inquiry - The Journey Begins

2008-07-19T22:30:00.004-05:00

IMG_1997
Originally uploaded by budr

Someone made a face on the Airplane!

I'm on my way to Design Inquiry! I don't really know what to expect. It's all kind of sudden. Yesterday I was speaking at Harrington College and finishing up things at work... Today I'm sitting in my room at a HOJO. I'm going to this conference and I am the youngest by far... I think it's going to be an exciting week. Hopefully I can keep posting along the way. This is my journey.

The bustling terminal at the Portland airport. The Security guard was very busy keeping all the cars moving.

This is my personal driver. She came to pick me up at the airport and also drove me to the "Maine Mall" (Get it!?) so I could get a new phone. My old one took control of it's life and now calls whoever it wants, when it wants... So sad, such a bright future.

Oh dear friend HOJO you charm me. Man, I need to go to bed and sleep of this snark.

Good Things.

2008-06-19T21:42:00.001-05:00

Beer, Hot Tomales, The charleston, Topher, and Design. Such a good night.

Fact

2008-06-08T11:34:00.003-05:00

Fitted sheets are stupid and impossible to fold.

Cat Dance

2008-06-07T14:35:00.003-05:00

I'm back home, In the living room of my parents' house in Forest Lake. The house I grew up in. Looking around everything is the same. Two big comfortable green couches sit around a pair of old distressed wood coffee tables. Tables that have moved with our family since before I can remember. They're more distressed now than they ever have been. When I look to the right, I see a cat in our backyard. As I watch, the cat starts pooping… and it keeps pooping. This cat is dropping a load that would put anyone to shame. As it finishes, it stands on it's hind legs and starts to dance a crazy cat dance. If that's not strange enough I look to the right and there are two more cats dancing. I hear a bongo beat playing and the cats are dancing in sync with it. Their paws and legs moving in the awkward fashion I imagine a cat standing up might dance… I turn my head to the left and through blurry eyes I can i see my sideways alarm clock reading 3 am. "Damn that was weird."

21 accents in 2 1/2 minutes

2008-05-19T21:51:00.001-05:00

via Very Short List

True Story in the Life of Bud #3 - Homeward Bound

2008-05-13T22:28:00.002-05:00

"Look!", Emily exclaims "Do you see that dog!?" I turn my head and there is what looks like a border collie bolting down sidewalk on the other side of the street. The dog without pause or hesitation ran straight past all the people walking. no one seemed to notice as it zipped by. Emily and I watched as it successfully negotiated an intersection without slowing down, and then ran out of sight. It was the strangest sight. No one seemed to be chasing after the dog and there was no sign of anything that would make it run like that. It was like it had somewhere to be and it needed to be there fast.

Random Ugly Dog

Random Fat Dog

Those are some magic sandals

2008-05-07T12:44:00.000-05:00

Spring

2008-05-05T08:49:00.006-05:00

IMG_0276
Originally uploaded by budr

I remember growing a sunflower when I lived in Woodbury Minnesota. My teacher brought in a bunch of seeds and pots and we got to pick what kind of plant we wanted to grow. I easily passed over the tomatoes and other vegetables to pick a sunflower. Once the plants started sprouting I got to take my flower home. We planted it in the front yard. The sunflower grew over my head! I think I have a picture of it somewhere…

When I started growing these sunflowers, I felt like I was in grade school all over again. I love how they stretch towards the sun, so cool.

I can't wait for summer to start!

Bill Valicenti Photography

2008-04-28T18:20:00.004-05:00

We just posted a new site over here at Thirst that I designed!

The design of the site was born out of the direction that it should be simple, and have big pictures. Well, there it is.

This was my first major actionscripting adventure and I had lots of help along the way from John Pobojewski. Check it out.

wmvphoto.com

Now it's time to build my next one!