If you know anything about anything (design related), you know that white space is always in. I would like to define white space as: the art of not filling every inch of canvas with clutter and stuff. And although it’s nothing new, lately we’ve been noticing it popping up a lot in a good way – in interior design, magazine layout, etc. – and it’s beautiful. To what shall we compare the good use of white space? It’s like knowing when to say, “No”. It’s like having responsible personal boundaries. It’s like being at peace with silence. If it were a person, it would be whatever the opposite of a hoarder is.

Yet, the world is full of people with no boundaries, folks who must have the TV and radio on at all times, and closets full of clutter. I think that’s why it’s so refreshing when restraint is exercised in design. Have you ever been out at a restaurant, and when your meal comes its American sized – enough for 2 adults and a medium sized child to share…? But you keep eating way past the point of being full because, well, you can. It’s there. Why not? I think designers have a similar temptation/challenge to deal with. Especially when there are clients involved asking for the logo to be bigger.

Of course, not all blank space is good. And not all white space is white. But when used effectively, a blank space can help create simple, balanced, clean, minimal design. It will focus attention where it’s needed, without telling you where to focus your attention. It’s doesn’t need to be flashy because it’s totally self-confident as is. If the viewer can’t recognize that, that’s their problem. (Or you did it wrong.)

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So by geometric shapes we mean bold shapes and lines, arranged in simple or complex patterns. Diamonds, hexagons, polyhedrons, and the like.

Geometric shapes have been around forever. Well, maybe not in single-celled, blob-shaped organisms – but everything after that. The Egyptians were at it with the pyramids, the Ancient Greeks also made some awesome geometric patterns. So why is geometric design in right now? Maybe there’s something nostalgic about creating art out of simple shapes. Perhaps it takes us back to learning geometry in school, or making paper airplanes and printing potato shape art. Or maybe it’s just that this type of design is very mid-century Swedish and just plain awesome.

In a world of visual noise and clutter, geometric design makes a clean and bold statement. It is simple, effortless and timeless. We like it.

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So, the bird trend flew the coop ages ago. Sorry about those sparrows you got tattooed, This Is In wasn’t around yet to warn you.

I think the rise in the use of fish in design has two main contributing factors: First, they are the exact animal opposite of birds. Obviously. Fish are a logical reaction to the overuse of birds. Second, the use of fish graphics play a major role in mid-century (and beyond) scandinavian ceramics and textiles. And we all know mid-century and scandinavian design are becoming quite favored among the gen pop.

So there you have it. Fish make great icons, work wonderfully in patterns, and they are mostly good for you – or so I’m told.

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Don’t fret…we havent abandoned our endeavors here at This Is In. We are just regrouping, redesigning, rethinking. We’ll back with new posts in April.

Obviously, wood is IN. We all like wood. Trees, on the other hand, are OUT (except for birch trees). So how does one deal with this tension? Well until fairly recently we have overlooked the tree stump. Tree stumps, are the new tree.

Tree stumps look kind of sad which is why we like them. They are the underdog of the forest trend (or “woodland vogue” trend: a phrase coined by Brian). You can also sit down on one which comes in handy sometimes. Tree stumps send a message that say, “Hey, you cut me down and I don’t like it, but I’m here to stay any I’m gonna live on anyway.” Which we like.

Here are some stumpy examples:

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Now there’s nothing wrong with trying to keep spirits high in light of a potential Nazi bombing. And if thats still a reality for you, then by all means, put up “Keep Calm…” posters anywhere you want. For the rest of us, lets just give it a break. It was fun while it lasted (which was about 3 years ago, for approximately 2 months), but its time to find some different things to put on our walls (and mugs, tea towels, mouse pads, iphone cases, decorative pillows, cookie jars). Here is a good place to start. Its always sad to see clean and classy design run into the ground but humanity has managed to do it again.

Spin off designs of Keep Calm poster – also out. Posters that make fun of Keep Calm posters in the Keep Calm style – even more out.

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Who doesn’t like a mustache? Well, me. Not anymore. I appreciate real mustaches, actual human ones like the one that belongs to this guy. But at this point putting a mustache on your design is the equivalent to throwing in the towel. Nothing says, “I’ve run out of ideas” like adding a mustache to your logo. Why not just use dingbats? At least then we’d get some variety.

Mustaches were funny at the turn of the decade when we used them as photo booth props and printed them on baby onesies. But it’s time to stop. If you’re about to come up with branding for a new line of men’s finery and need an icon, may we suggest you don’t use a mustache and use one of the following instead: A bow tie. A pipe. A comb. A hat. A shoe. Anything but novelty facial hair. Please.

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Happy Valentine’s Day. For today, we each selected 2-3 fonts we’ve been in to as of late. (Just don’t overuse these and ruin it for everyone…) Our fickle hearts are currently in love with:

Adelle:

Bello:

Brandon Grotesque:

Frosted:

Kulurista:

Magnel:

Trend: