Working within the blog technology, I want to push the parameters. Visual identifiers are key on the web—big in icons, less strong on themes. So I took on the challenge: how to get the four categories on this blog to have visual distinction and tie into my blog themes—and reflect my personality. As a consummate collector, the visual answer was around me. What inspires me?
Theme for Publishing Pioneer:
Using the opposite of high technology: basic tools of the trade, I reflect on creating new uses for existing resources. See the top of this blog for my visual category theme. I shot these photos for a University of Chicago Graham School course catalog.
The above photo shows where I am sitting as I write this blog—with my tools all around me.
Theme for Cultivating Creativity:
Collecting glass paperweights is a serious preoccupation of mine—I have about fifty of them, sitting on a tea table in my living room where they can catch indirect light from a window. Whenever I travel, I look for them, and if I find one that fits my abstract parameters, I schlep it home to join the collection.
Theme for Women who Win at Work:
Matching my book theme of flowers (Women who Win at Work), I have photographed them in all seasons. My office looks over my garden, which is an inspiration in any weather at any time of year! Here is a photo entering my back garden with the vegetables on the left and flowers on the right. The purple chive border is both.
Theme for Business Barometer:
This is the fourth category that I am about to introduce. My small collection of owls is appropriate as a visual because the owl concept inspired this blog. I have eight little owl statues shown here and you will see them as an identifying border. See the four new designs below.
If you have a collection you’d like to share that inspires you visually, it will be great to do some show and tell!
Liane Sebastian, illustrator, designer, writer, and publishing pioneer
Wisdomofwork's Blog 