As a designer, you know that there are probably millions of  ways to arrange color palettes. Our environment is continually informing us of colors that best represent a slice of our humanity at any particular time. Technology, current events and philosophical beliefs are just some things that move and shape our color trends.

Since following color trends is an ever changing, organic and creative process, there will never be one definitive resource on the matter. However, designers and manufacturers must stay on top of these patterns, to incorporate them, to respond to them or at least, just to be aware of them.

In my efforts to stay on top of this ever changing and inspiring world of color, I have created a handy color trends toolbar to include quick and easy links to some of my favorite sites on COLOR.

(click to zoom)

As a special gift to my e-zine subscribers, I would love to share this very helpful color trend toolbar - “Cherish COLOR”.

• Designed for anyone who researches color and trends along with those who just love color and art
• Especially helpful for manufacturers, licensees and artists
• Over 30 sites that celebrate color will be at your fingertips on a daily basis
• It works on Windows, Mac and Linux

This easy to install tool bar has links to the most popular and useful sites in the areas of:

• Color Trends + Palettes (Sites, Blogs, Google Search, Books)
• Color Mixing (Tools and Software)
• Color Me Fun (+ Games)
• Built in Google search engine
• Internet Radio (Add your favorite stations)
• Note Pad
• Weather
• E-mail Notifier
• Plus customize it by adding your “gadgets”

This is my gift to you for subscribing to my e-zine.

I would love to share this color trends toolbar with you as my gift for signing up for the Something to Cherish Souvenirs E-zine. Occasionally, I will send out an e-mail that will update you on the latest trends, inspiration artistic happenings with Something to Cherish with a sprinkle of whimsy and fun.

When you sign up please note if you are a licensee/manufacturer/art buyer, an artist, media member, retail store, art fan or end consumer. This will help me send you only the information that is of interest to you.

You will get an e-mail to confirm your subscription; once you are “opted-in” you will automatically receive instructions on how to download your color trends toolbar.

Get Cherish’s “Color Trends Toolbar” and her article on “Leveraging LinkedIn’s Networking Power for Art Licensors” when you sign up today!

If you haven’t had a chance to play with this little online program, you might want to put down your mouse and have some fun typing keywords into Worlde.

This little program will automatically generate designer-looking word clouds of any words that you enter. The more your enter a word, the larger it will appear in the grouping. Looking at a group of words together can really convey a message all its own and give you a greater appreciation for the language you employ.

Try your family members names, your mission statement, your favorite poems, quotes, speeches, blog posts, website categories, friends . . . the list of possibilities goes on and on.

Shake things up by letting it randomize the fonts, colors and positioning. Try customizing the settings too for even more control. Perhaps it will inspire you on a design you are working on that needs a little extra push.

This sample is from somethingtocherish.com. Now it’s your turn to worlde: try it out at : wordle.net.

“Milton Glaser is…well, words nearly don’t do him justice…one of the most important, prolific and profound leaders in visual and graphic arts in your lifetime and his. He is personally responsible for the design and illustration of more than 300 posters for clients in the areas of publishing, music, theater, film, institutional and civic enterprise, as well as those for commercial products and services. The image above and the essay below are reproduced here with permission. Read on to discover his sage advice with words that ring as true today as when written in 2001. Peruse his bio and work on his Milton Glaser Web site for more essays and insights into this man’s creative force, remarkable accomplishments and matchless oeuvre.”-Barney Davey

Read Article: Ten Things I Have Learned (Part of AIGA Talk in London)

Scott Hull, Visual Ambassador, interviews Isabella Hunter, Lead Designer at FRCH Worldwide. They discuss the importance of heritage and diversity, and its impact on culture.

Today I was honored to be the “Visiting Artist” to the Illustration department at Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design. It was a blast spending time with this group of very passionate and talented students and we talked about web design and marketing for illustrators. They best part was that I feel like I connected with each one on a different level as I did my best to open their eyes up to some new possibilities in web design. I know if they use some of my advice they can position themselves in the online world in order to benefit their art careers and stand heads and shoulders above their competition. I truly hope they will keep in touch.

For more info on RMCAD’s illustration program, visit: rmcad.edu