A photo tour of the Fishingham Garden

By combining part of my last name with a portion of my partner Ed Cunningham's, friends have been calling us the "Fishinghams" for over 20 years now - and it should be no surprise that the garden at our North Portland home has been dubbed the "Fishingham Garden."

For all practical purposes, the 2011 gardening season has come to an end. However, it's possible to take a virtual walk through the Fishingham Garden by viewing a Flickr gallery of images exhibiting my gardening efforts and results of this past year.

© 2011 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Back to this reality...

I've just returned from an annual two+ week vacation to the island of St. Croix. Each year, my partner Ed and I jet off to the Caribbean, with friends Lisa Francolini and Bev Wells (owners of RiverWest Acupuncture), in an attempt to perfect the art of doing nothing. We have the pleasure of staying at the beautiful beachfront home of Bev's sister and brother-in-law, Jim and Bonnie Pavel.

For a little cyber vacation, you might want to take a look at the Flickr gallery of our sand, sun, food and fun photos.

Of course, we've have returned to one of the coldest and rainiest March months in Portland history...and I've developed a miserable cold.

© 2011 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Writer|designer Ellen Shapiro 'digs' my early blooms

Yesterday I received a Facebook direct message from writer/designer Ellen Shapiro, in regards to some early 2011 garden photos I have posted on my personal Facebook page and on Flickr. From her home in snowy New York, photographic documentation that anything was blooming anywhere must have offered hope that this winter might yet end. Shapiro asked if some of my garden images could be shared on her garden and design blog, ">Dig It!"

Today a little bit of spring was presented to "Dig It!" readers, in the form of the entry "It's Spring (Somewhere)." I appreciate Shapiro's interest in my gardening efforts - and for giving friends Joy Creek Nursery a mention. She also writes of her intention to check in occasionally on my garden throughout the coming year.

For several years now, I have shared my gardening adventures on bLog-oMotives and in Flickr galleries for the years 2010, 2009 and 2008.

Graphic designer, writer, and gardener Ellen Shapiro is based in Irvington, New York. A frequent contributor to design magazines including Print, Communication Arts, and Etapes, she writes about trends, issues and personalities in design, illustration, photography, and visual culture around the world. She was also a contributor to the book, Identity Crisis!: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands, by Jeff Fisher.

© 2011 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

A visual stroll through the year in my garden

Winter is here and another year in my garden has come to an end. Throughout 2010, gardening was my best and favorite therapy. When I needed a break from designing or writing, it was always great to simply step outside of my home studio and spend some time playing in the dirt.

This past week, it was a wonderful treat to have Joy Creek Nursery send a crew over to do a seasonal clean-up of our garden (above). After the visit by the gardeners, I was able to get the last 150 bulbs planted for spring. For the most part, the garden is prepared for a Portland winter - there's even a forecast of a possible dusting of snow this week. I'm a bit concerned that some older bulbs in my beds think winter has already passed, as they are already poking through the soil, compost and gravel.

Over the past 12 months, as plants have grown, come into bloom or been added to the beds, I have documented the activity with my camera. I invite you to take a visual stroll through a year in my garden by way of a Flickr gallery of my images.

Best wishes for a new year of happy gardening!

© 2010 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Spring 2010: Does your garden grow?

It has been a less than ideal spring in the Pacific Northwest - especially if you are a gardener. Playing in the dirt of my garden is a favorite source of therapy and inspiration. With the recent cold, rain and cloudy days, the garden is not flourishing as in past years.

Our garden did get off to a good start this spring. While we were on vacation in St. Croix in March, a crew from Joy Creek Nursery spent two days cleaning things up, removing plants damaged by the winter storms of the past two years and pruning the pink dogwood behind our home. I did have a blank slate for moving some plants around and the addition of many new items.

While things are a bit behind the usual season - and much wetter - there has still been a lot of color in the garden. As plants have poked through the soil, come into bloom or been added to the beds, I have contibuted photos to my 2010 Flickr gallery of garden images.

© 2010 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

"Playing in the dirt" as a favorite therapy

With my somewhat crazed schedule of client project work, speaking engagements, writing my third book and other activities, some form of "therapy" is a necessity. Luckily, my garden is just outside the door of my home-based studio. Gardening has increasingly become my passion and greatest form of relaxation. "Playing in the dirt" has often led to surprising creative "brain farts," almost subconsciously solving the design challenges of some client needs.

With the gardening has come an increased interest in the photographing of the beautiful results. Some have even suggested I consider doing a book of garden photographs at some point in the future. A Flickr gallery of images exhibits the success of my gardening efforts this year.

© 2009 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

The Magic of View-Master exhibit in Portland

As a kid I was fascinated with my View-Master. It took me on travels around the world and gave incredible dimension to some of my favorite cartoon characters. I also thought it was really cool that the company was based in Oregon - and, on our station wagon adventures, my family occasionally went by the factory where the magic was taking place.

My childhood flashed back to me the other day with an article in The Oregonian about the new exhibit at the The 3D Center of Art and Photography. This past Thursday the exhibition The Magic of View-Master opened in the gallery/museum. The show will run through May 27, 2007.

From the Center's website:

The Magic of View-Master will take a stroll through the history of the View-Master company. The exhibition will included numerous pieces of View-Master history, such as cameras, viewers, reels and projectors.

A highlight of the exhibition will be original sculptures from View-Master artist, Joe Liptak. Mr. Liptak hand-crafted many of the best View-Master sets in the 1970's including Cinderella, the Jungle Book and the Flintstones. A selection of Mr. Liptak's creations will be on display in the Gallery.

During the run of the exhibit, a digital stereo slide show, View-Master Through the Ages, will be presented in the Stereo Theater. On the evenings of April 19th and May 19th there will be discussions with sculptor Joe Liptak and former View-Master employee Rich Dubnow.

The 3D Center of Art and Photography, a non-profit museum/gallery, features the best in antique and contemporary 3D imagery. The Center houses everything from antique stereocards to View Master, contemporary 3D photography, lenticulars, anaglyphs, and computer generated 3D art. The facility is located at 1928 NW Lovejoy Street in Portland, Oregon.

Hmmm...I wonder what happened to the View-Master and reels that my siblings and I enjoyed as kids. I suppose our parents sold it all at some point, along with our Lionel train set, because they felt we were no longer interested in the toys of our childhood.

Photo of View-Master sculptor Joe Liptak from The 3D Center of Art and Photography website

© 2007 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

"Little Guys" offer big resources

As an independent graphic design business person I always like to support others in the same position. I'm pleased to give The Little Guys Network some exposure on bLog-oMotives. The group is a consortium of small businesses offering design profession resources.

The image companies in the "Little Guys" neighborhood include Andy Nortnik, ArtBitz, Art Parts, Havana Street and Miss Mary. Just down the street are the font firms Blue Vinyl Fonts, FontHaus, Fonthead Design and Letterhead Fonts. Around the corner are the design resources The Design Center and ideabook.com.

Fonthead Design is one of my personal favorites when it comes to type for some logo designs. In fact, I wrote about the company in a previous bLog-oMotives entry. I've also got a bit of a connection to Chuck Green, the individual behind ideabook.com - he was a contributor to my first book, The Savvy Designer's Guide to Success.

If you get a chance, take a look at The Little Guys Network. You'll find some great resources that may be a big help to you in future design efforts.

Illustration: Little Guys Network home page

© Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Good as Gold (+ Williams)

We've got an electic collection of furniture in our home - family pieces, antiques collected over the years, art pieces, things literally found on the side of the road, and even a dining room set that I designed and had built. Then there are the "investment" items that we've purchased or had custom-made, spending more than we probably should have, that will last for years. One of those is our leather recliner that doesn't look like a recliner.

Ed wanted a recliner. I had visions of the two matching, clunky, blue velour, monstrosities a neighbor lady had on her front porch when we first moved into our North Portland neighborhood. My directive to Ed was simple: "you can have a recliner if it's small and doesn't look like a recliner." A few years ago, while he was working out of his firm's San Francisco office, I came across the chair that would work. The next day I took him to the store, he sat in the chair, and a look of complete bliss came over his face as he pushed himself back into a reclined position. I smiled and said, "OK, now look at the price tag." Investment furniture.

That particular chair was designed and produced by, what was then, a company named Mitchell Gold. Since then the company name has changed to Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. What originally attracted me to the company were the simple and beautiful print ad campaigns. (There's an archive of past ads on the firm's website.) Then there's the simple, beautiful and well-built furniture.

This past week I got an email asking me to RSVP for an event, held at the Portland retail store, to celebrate the release of book Let's Get Comfortable, written by the duo with Gold's sister-in-law Mindy Drucker. Last night at the event there was champagne, white wine, tasty "poo poos," and sugar cookies featuring the cover of the new book. Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams could not have been nicer and more down-to-earth - and then they gave me a copy of the book, which they personalized to "The Fishinghams" (a nickname given to my partner and I, formed by combining my last name and his name Cunningham).

The book is a great resource for insiration in "how to furnish and decorate a welcoming home." It offers many photographed suggestions for a variety of home styles - complete with photos and possible room layouts. It's kind of a beautiful "coffee table" book about how and where to place your coffee table.

In conjuction with the book release MG+BW has also launched the online "magazine" Comfort mag.net. The introductory "issue" contains an interesting interview with playwright/activist Eve Ensler - the writer of The Vagina Monologues (that's the first time I've used the word "vagina" in a bLog-oMotives entry) and a piece on furnishing Second Homes.

I encourage readers to spend some time poking around the MG+BW website. You'll find the incredible photography of Tipper Gore (yes, that Tipper Gore) being sold to raise funds for The Climate Project. There's also the adventures of company mascot - and sometimes spokesdog - Lulu. Of course, the MG+BW furniture and accessories are also on display.

Photos courtesy of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

© 2007 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Toot! Toot!*: Jeff Fisher LogoMotivesfeatured in Creatively Self-Employed

Jeff Fisher, the Engineer of Creative Identity for the design firm Jeff Fisher LogoMotives, is featured in the recently released book Creatively Self-Employed: How Writers and Artists Deal with Career Ups and Downs, by writer Kristen Fischer. In the book, more than 65 creative types - writers, designers, painters, illustrators and others - speak out about dealing with rejection, coping with loneliness and building strong businesses. Any creative professional, either starting an new business venture or looking to give their existing efforts an infusion of inspiration, will find the volume a valuable resource.

The author says she included Fisher as "a Creative Profile in a chapter about support, and also to discuss how to stay physically healthy - and what can happen when we don't."

Jeff Fisher has worked independently as a graphic designer, specializing in logo design, for all but three years since moving to Portland, Oregon in 1980. Since then he has received over 500 regional, national and international design awards for his logo design efforts, and his work is featured in over 80 books about logos, the business of design, and small business marketing. He shared many of his own business experiences in his initial book, The Savvy Designer's Guide to Success, which was released in 2004. A second book, Identity Crisis!, is currently in production and will be on bookstore shelves in the fall of 2007.

Other "creative types" featured in the book include "real world" industry friends Ilise Benun, Von Glitschka, Cat Morley - founder of Designers Who Blog, and Neil Tortorella. The experiences of cyber acquaintances Art Javid, Kristen King (also a recent client), Calvin Lee, Chris Tomlinson, and Tamar Wallace are also highlighted.

Kristen Fischer is a New Jersey copywriter with a wide range of print and Web copywriting experience. More information about the author, and her first book, is available at her Creatively Self-Employed website

Creatively Self-Employed is available through online booksellers such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com.

Note: Photo courtesy of Kristen Fischer

(*If I don't "toot!" my own horn, no one else will.)

© 2007 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

In memoriam: Walt Nixon

This weekend my partner Ed and I learned of the death of our good friend Walt Nixon. We first met Walt, his wife Sharon and their teenage son Walter, when we all were living in the same Pearl District loft building in the early 90's. The loft building, commonly referred to as "the dorm for adults," provided the residents an incredible living experience, and valuable friendships that continued after the building went condo and all moved on to other homes - in Portland and throughout the U.S.

While living in the building, the community of friends supported the Nixon family through the cancer illness, and eventual death, of Walter. In 2005, everyone again came together to offer support to Sharon and Walt as Sharon battled breast cancer. The day after their 30th wedding anniversary Sharon lost her battle with the disease. The close knit group of friends rallied around Walt in his time of renewed grief. Today we are offering each other solace in dealing with Walt's own death.

Walt was a brilliant and talented man. He was an accomplished web designer/developer and an amazing amateur photographer. His photos can be viewed on his personal site: The Photography of Walt Nixon (Update 06.22.09: Unfortunately Walt's personal photography site was not maintained and I have not come across an archive of all of his incredible photos. However, I have found some images posted on his Flickr page). In addition, Walt was a wonderful friend and will be missed greatly by all who knew him.

In accordance to the wishes of Sharon and Walt, their ashes were combined with those of their son and scattered in a beautiful and beloved location overlooking their adopted home of Portland.

Photo: Sharon & Walt Nixon at our wedding ceremony in 2004

© 2007 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

A toot! toot!,* a cup of coffee & a coffee table book

David E. Carter's latest graphic design book, American Corporate Identity 2006, has hit the shelves of bookstores nationwide. I saw it yesterday while checking out the latest offerings in the design section at Powell's City Of Books. The book features the winning entries from the annual American Corporate Identity design competition. (The deadline for entering this year's awards is December 12.)

Logo designs for two of my Portland area clients are featured in the latest edition of the awards annual. One is the identity for Beaverton architect Thomas Fallon. The Fallon identity is also featured in the book Logo Design for Small Business 2. The other is the logo for Bella Terra Landscape Designs, the firm of designer Tina Olsen Binegar. Her project came about after we met when I spoke several years ago, on the topic of marketing small businesses, at a seminar for the Association of Northwest Landscape Designers.

This morning, while having coffee at DiPrima Dolci (one of my neighborhood home office "conference rooms"), I got to flip through an absolutely beautiful book. It was written by Janet Loughrey, another local client and friend, and features her gorgeous photography. I designed the logo for her business, Janet Loughrey Horticulture Photography, several years ago. Loughrey, whose writing and photography has appeared in such publications as Better Homes & Gardens, Garden Design, Horticulture, Sunset and The Oregonian has produced the book Gardens Adirondack Style. It is an incredible "coffee table book" of photographic images and history of many spectacular Adirondack gardens in upstate New York. It's a book that would be greatly appreciated by any gardening enthusiast.

* If I don't "toot!" my own horn, no one else will

© 2005 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives