March 2013 (#211)

It seems everyone’s a design critic these days. And the current wave of ultra-minimalist rebrands for the likes of Microsoft, eBay and USA Today has sparked its share of outrage from the general public.

But as we explore in this month’s cover feature, application is everything. As Dolly Parton once said, “It takes a lot of money to look this cheap” – and a similar principle applies. Often the most brutally simple design solution has seen plenty of time and creative energy invested in it, and shines once viewed in its proper context.

Of course, as cases such as Gap – and more recently the University of California – show, sometimes brands will back down in the face of overwhelming criticism. Others successfully weather the storm, and prove that the minimalist trend can be effective when done right.

Elsewhere in the issue, Yuko Shimizu reveals why she just can’t shake off Japanese influences in her work, and we chat to illustrators who have successfully made the (sometimes bumpy) transition into animation. Plus there’s your usual mix of tutorials to hone your design skills.

Next month, we investigate the thorny subject of getting ripped off. We’ve all heard stories of illustrations being live-traced and passed off as original work; students pinching design work for their folios; and designers crossing the line between homage and mimicry – we reveal what to do about it and, better, how to prevent it happening in the first place.

Nick Carson Editor