Monthly Archives: June 2016

The Typofiles: Kinfolk

Nubby Twiglet | The Typofiles: Kinfolk

It seems weird to only now be mentioning Kinfolk in a Typofiles column because 1. it’s beautifully designed and 2. it has a base in my hometown. I’m so intrigued by its enormous growth in the publishing industry (during a time that every mainstream magazine seems to be shrinking by the day) and its focus on premium pricing in an effort to keep advertising to a minimum.

Nubby Twiglet | The Typofiles: Kinfolk

I’ve passed by the magazine what feels like 1,000 times over the years in bookstores, hip clothing boutiques and everywhere in-between but something always held me back — as drawn as I was to the simple cover imagery, the content inside never really spoke to my lifestyle.

I’m not big on entertaining or living a slower lifestyle and I’m also not much of a foodie (I could literally eat the same exact thing every day and be happy) so I always felt like I was glimpsing into someone else’s thoughtfully curated life. It was beautiful….but it wasn’t me.

Nubby Twiglet | The Typofiles: Kinfolk

Nubby Twiglet | The Typofiles: Kinfolk

But, something with this issue feels different. It feels less local, less home-y and much more worldly…which makes sense since the primary topic in this release revolves around travel.

Travel is just the start of it, though. The interviews are refreshingly unique and focus on underground creatives. The fashion editorial all about hats focuses more on the design details than gorgeous models with unattainable physiques.

Nubby Twiglet | The Typofiles: Kinfolk

I’m late to the game with getting into Kinfolk and I’ve been trying to pinpoint what makes it feel so different than a lot of the big, mainstream magazines out there.

I think it all comes down to thoughtfulness.

The design is thoughtful. There aren’t advertorials selling a bunch of random products spliced in every few pages. There’s crisp article intros with tasteful type and a surprising amount of white space. Interview subjects are often photographed in their own surroundings instead of brightly lit studios. There’s photos of people doing what they excel at, feeling natural and unposed, whether it’s playing piano or dancing.

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Even with its continued growth, the magazine retains an authencity that’s refreshing. Every page feels like it has a purpose.

In line with Kinfolk’s ethos of living a slower, more meaningful lifestyle, it focuses on quality over quantity with just 4 issues published per year — and I’m looking forward to picking up many more.

Nubby Twiglet | The Typofiles: Kinfolk

All images photographed / scanned / modified from Kinfolk issue 20.
Subscribe to the magazine here.

Creative Chronicles: 3 Sources for Choosing a Color Palette

Nubby Twiget | 3 Sources for Choosing a Color Palette

I saw the images by photographer Dominik Tarabanski featured in this post months ago and have been thinking about the color palettes ever since.

There’s something about the bold hues that draw me in — they’re soft and slightly unexpected yet thoroughly modern.

When I see a color combinations as unique as these, I often wonder how the creator behind it pulled it together.

What was their inspiration?

How did they know it would even work?

I’ve always struggled with color palettes — they just don’t come naturally to me. If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, you can see that outside of the client work I produce, my personal style veers towards a very minimalist palette of black and white.

When it comes to choosing unique palettes for branding projects (I often have 5 going in the studio at any given time), there are 3 tools I use to source the right mix of colors.

Nubby Twiget | 3 Sources for Choosing a Color Palette

1. Color Lovers

I’ve been using Colour Lovers to gather unique combinations for years because I love the ease of searching by keywords. Depending on what my client is drawn to, I’ll type in a variety of search terms just to see what comes up and screenshot my top picks to sample from. This process has a bit of market research thrown in, too since you can see which palettes have the highest number of “loves” and votes from the community.

Nubby Twiget | 3 Sources for Choosing a Color Palette

2. Adobe Kuler

Kuler isn’t just another site full of cool color palettes — its secret weapon is the camera icon in the top right. When you click on it, you can upload a photo that’s full of colors you love and it will pinpoint the key swatches for you. Creating your own original palettes has never been easier.

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3. Pinterest

When I’m doing image research for a client project, I usually start with Pinterest which is also super convenient for color palettes. Tons of folks keep inspiration boards dedicated to the subject and you can check out my color study board here. I’m always adding combos for future reference.

Between these three sources, I never feel stumped when it comes to building out a fresh color palette and I hope they help you do the same!

Your turn: Do you have any special techniques for pulling together color combinations?

Photos: Dominik Tarabanski for Thisispaper.

The Week + Links: 6.24.16

Nubby Twiglet | The Week + Links

Happy Friday, friends!

After a very long week of getting over the last bit of a cold, I’m taking it easy and working from home today. It’s nice to have a change of scenery from the office and to get some quality time in with my cute little creatures, Rocky and Chubs.

Today is also the day the new issue of Rock n Roll Bride Magazine goes off to print and I’m so happy with how this one came together. We’ve got a nice little routine down now and after a bunch of experimentation, the content and design feel really in synch.

It’s been a year since Branch took over the design of the magazine and though I’d designed a few smaller issues years before, managing the role of designing a real life glossy magazine that was going to be on newsstands next to the biggest titles out there scared me to death. And then some. Where do you even start?

One thing I’ve learned over time is that those things that scare you the most are the things you should do. There are chance meetings, emails and phone calls that will bring out full-on fear but also, some of the best opportunities in your life. The truth is, you’ll never be fully prepared.

Nubby Twiglet | The Week + Links

I think that’s the hardest part. When an opportunity arises, you don’t often have the chance to say, “Give me a month and I’ll get back to you. I need to prepare for this.” Haha, I wish!

You just have to go for it. And, sometimes you’ll fail. I’ve had a million things go wrong in life, with projects, during travels, you name it. But as long as you’re learning, you’re growing. And…that is what matters most.

“I feel myself becoming the fearless person I have dreamt of being. Have I arrived? No. But I’m constantly evolving and challenging myself to be unafraid to make mistakes.” —Janelle Monae

Have a great weekend! xo

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THE LINKS

• I love, love, love this post from Alex about unsolicited criticism and how she handled it in an unexpected way that had a positive ending! If you’ve ever been burnt by someone’s hurtful words, this worth a read.

• This guy’s resume was so impressive that he landed his dream internship without an interview!

• Judith Hill was on the fateful flight with Prince the week before he died and tells her story of what it was like knowing him.

• I read this post about love and not taking it for granted and was nearly in tears by the end. It’s a great reality check — hug the ones you love a little tighter tonight and remind yourself of how lucky you are.

• Don’t ask for permission to do something. Show up with intent.

• An interesting study finds that you don’t need more free time. It’s more complicated than that.

• I’m laughing so hard at this collection of misleading thumbnails!

• Envy is a complicated emotion and I love how this article breaks it all down and makes us realize that it’s not all bad.

• I love learning more about how people spend their days because even if it seems routine from their perspective, we can learn something new. Breanna shares hers.

• Even if you’ve dreaded exercising your entire life, it’s never too late to start.

Creative Chronicles: 5 Tips For Getting Comfortable With Saying No

Nubby Twiglet: Creative Chronicles: 5 Tips For Getting Comfortable With Saying No

Saying no when it comes to your business seems easy enough, right?

“No” is only two letters…but it can evoke so many loaded responses.

I’ve never had a problem saying no to anything outside of work. If I don’t have the time, if something makes me uncomfortable or if I just need some space, “no” comes very easily. But for some reason, it’s always felt harder when running my own business. There’s a reputation to uphold. It never feels good disappointing people. It’s nice to be helpful. So even when I should say no, I sometimes say yes.

The thing is, your business will have a hard time growing into what you envision if you’re afraid to say no. I know that sounds counter-intuitive so let me explain: If your calendar is full of calls, meetings, projects and events you’re not excited about but agreed to do anyway, you’re going to be completely drained of energy before you even scratch the surface of all the things you feel passionate about.

Saying no is uncomfortable but it’s the only way to keep your sanity intact and more times than not, you can actually turn it into a positive for yourself and the person on the other side.

If you’re tripping up about saying no, remind yourself of these 5 points:

1. It’s not personal. Business is business. If you don’t feel you can truly deliver what someone is asking of you, saying no is going to help both of you in the long run. Hurt feelings are better than missed deadlines and broken contracts.

2. You have to protect your time. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of anyone else. You have an infinite amount of energy, so use it wisely. It’s as simple as that.

3. You know what’s best for you. If something doesn’t feel like the perfect fit, recommend someone who you feel can do an amazing job — saying no can help others around you grow their businesses.

4. Your values are everything. When you say yes when you should say no, you’re compromising what your business stands for. Always choose quality over quantity so you have the space to produce the best possible outcome for your clients.

5. High pressure equals sub-par work. And honestly? Nobody wants that. If timelines and deliverables feel out of your reach, it’s important to be honest. Your clients will respect you for being a professional and setting guidelines.

Saying No Isn’t The End of The Road

Saying no doesn’t have to be abrupt or rude – it should always be done with care and consideration.

When you say no, always offer helpful solutions, referrals or recommendations. Being genuinely helpful will make you memorable for all the right reasons.

Your turn: Are you good at saying no when it comes to your business? Have you been in any tough situations? Do you have any tips to make it easier?

Beach, Please.

Nubby Twiglet | Beach, Please

After a very long Winter and Spring with months on end of hibernating indoors, I just returned from Miami last week, inspired to upgrade my beach necessities.

I’ve lined up some summer vacation plans covering Las Vegas, the Amalfi Coast, Milan, Marrakech and Palm Springs and with all that sun (and hopefully plenty of pool / beach time coming up), I’m thinking about some of the items that would be nice to have on-hand.

Nubby Twiglet | Beach, Please

My Summer Must-Haves

1. Big, floppy hat. An absolute must to protect your face from too much direct sunlight. Plus, they look so glam paired with a simple swimsuit.

2. Basic black footwear. I always pack the wrong kinds of shoes for the beach which end up full of sand. Keep it simple with something that washes off easily! I also like my sandals to have a little extra height since I’m on the short side (5’3”).

3. Eccentric pool float. These are so much fun! I’ve seen everything from pizza slices to donuts but especially love the added drama of this black swan. Might as well make an entrance to summer pool parties, right?!

4. Neon nails. Since I tend to pack mostly black and white basics, I love an extra pop of color on my nails. Neon Nacho (gotta love that name!) is my absolute favorite and I wear it all the time. Even better, the Floss Gloss line is free from the usual list of toxins found in a lot of mainstream brands.

5. Fun swimsuit. I’ve always stuck with basic black when it comes to swimwear but when Victoria’s Secret put all their styles on mega-sale, I had to jump on this color blocked design! Ignore the dramatic poses in their photos (haha) because their swimwear fits like a DREAM and I love that you can buy the tops and bottoms separately.

6. Statement sunglasses. I tend to rotate the same basic styles of sunglasses but I’m craving something a little more fun. Cool accessories can go a long way and I’m loving these Quay sunglasses because they are right on trend in a marbleized pattern but don’t break the bank.

7. Dry shampoo. When traveling and hanging by the pool / beach, your hair can get oily when you’re outside having fun all day. I pack dry shampoo so I’m not constantly washing it and stripping it of its natural oils and No Drought by LUSH is fantastic with a clean, citrusy scent.

8. Copper pineapple. When Gala and I were in Miami last week, our favorite bar served drinks in these and I was immediately smitten. The pineapple opens to hold your drink of choice and once you’ve closed it, there’s a a spot for your straw. It takes any drink to the next level — and I want one badly!

9. Unique beach towel. Towels were always an afterthought to me but then I found this grid version on sale at Urban Outfitters and loved how it worked as a great backdrop in photos, not to mention it was more comfortable to lay on than the standard issues at hotels. Worth it!

Your turn: What are your summer necessities? What sunscreen do you swear by? What’s your go-to brand for sunglasses and swimwear? Let me know in the comments!