Blogs By Tim Girvin
H E L L O,
THE SYMBOLISM OF THE ROPE, TYING AND THE KNOT
THE THREADING OF IDEAS: THE WEFT, WARP, AND LOOM OF DESIGN As a designer, there can’t be a metaphor more powerful than weaving — the ultimate layering of storytelling — the fantastic pattern-maker and emblem of discovery. In our work, we persistently speak to the...
The Concept of The Thing
What is the thing? As in every thing, I begin as a writer, I look into the heart and history of words, to learn more about their original heat — what was their sparking ignition? I contemplate my use of many words as deeper meditations on patterning. Where did the...
The Illustration of Ideas, the Letter form as a Magical Device
When you draw a letter, what happens? A drawing is a drawing out; draw a letter, the string of story unspools and it's something more. A letter is a map, an anciently originated succession of markings, a thought cartography, a seared, scarred, scratched, penned,...
The Book of Signs, the Book of Symbols, the Sign of the Book, the Signal of the Sigil
Designed Magic, Magic Designed. It's been said that illustration, the real meaning of the word is a shining -- to illustrate is "making bright." But also -- to purify. In a manner, thinking about illustration as a craft of communication suggests change, a new, evolved...
THE RED THREAD OF IDEAS AND INTENTIONS
AND THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL, IN THE SPATTERING OF INSPIRATION. When I was in college, I taught workshops to help my payment of the tuition, along with support from my family. I used variously colored butcher paper to do that -- pulled, ripped out and sheared on a...
The Geometry of Design
The Scribing of Design Thinking The word scribe to script, as a verb, is a "scratching, a scribble, a marking." Describe comes to mind, for in that scratching, definition and articulation of idea becomes manifest. It comes right back to the very nature of design as a...
The Pursuit of Designed Magic
The Letter form and the Design of Talismans Over the past several months, I've been talking to a younger person about the idea of the place of magic in a sub-current of popular culture [Supernatural;] in a manner, the interest in magic is an ever-popular sentiment of...
Brand story, the layering of content
Layering content, the palimpsest of meaning A calligraphic broadside, a gift, for speakers and presenting participants at The Evergreen State College 40th Anniversary. When I was a student, library adviser, workshop instructor and finally, faculty member [graduate...
THE PREMISE OF DESIGN THINKING
Exploring the emotionality of strategy, the humanity of brand, untethered creativity and the tactics of design management. EXAMINING CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE We've got history in the balance between the concept of the crossroads of creativity and intelligence, as well as...
The Alphabet | A History of Girvin Calligraphy
Early hand drawn explorations of the letter IMAGE: GIRVIN | hand made cut star alphabets in 12 languages –––––– There's a rhythm to the alphabet, drawing it, the forms can flow from one character to another. The story of their evolvement is a legacy of thousands of...