Google Patents launched earlier this week and it looks to be a pretty impressive tool for searching from over 7 million patents issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. I found a few interesting ones including: Creating gradient fills from Adobe, Hot unpluggable media storage device from Apple, and System for web content management based on server-side application.

Peter Flaschner has made a terrific suggestion of providing a proposal gallery to share ideas on content, layout and design. “It would be organized by category. Prices and names (including firm names) could be blacked out. The point would be to create a resource for best practices in proposal writing.” Any web developers or designers game for developing this? If so, please get in touch with me to discuss further (daniel at graphicdefine period org).

I am not sure how, but I stumbled onto this hilarious website that provides a…ahem….service to help you get off of a phone call. You just have to see it for yourself to get the full context.

I give this handout to my students on the first day of the semester. I guess it is my way of attempting to weed out the ones whom aren’t quite ready to embark on this journey.

How magazine is offering a download of a terrific worksheet by Stefan Bucher, author of All Access: The Making of Thirty Extraordinary Graphic Designers. The worksheet is provided to help you shape your professional path as a designer by outlining your values in life, identifying your goals, and providing a series of steps and tasks to achieve those goals. Absolutely a terrific sheet for all of us to follow!

You probably haven’t heard of Code Line Communications but I am sure you are familiar with their products. Code Line develops “software for creative professionals” and has some great apps such as Art Directors Toolkit, Art Files, Color Consultant Pro, and Screen Shot Pro. I have been test-driving them all and am very impressed at how easily they integrate into my creative workflow. Take a look and check it out for yourself!

Hawk Wings provides a comprehensive overview of plug-ins and Applescripts for Apple Mail, iCal, and Address Book.

Are you on a mac? Do you hate it when you try to uninstall an app only to find that there are preference files and other associated files left throughout your computer? Well look no further because this handy little AppZapper will give you easy uninstalls on a mac. Sweet genius I say!

Design portal Core77 and Businessweek magazine have teamed up to create the Design Directory, the intersection of business and design. The site provides potential design clients the ability to search for a design firm from a variety of specialties, fields, or location. All design companies are encouraged to list their firm in the directory, so make sure you sign up!
found via The Prepared Mind

Illustrator Keri Smith presents some interesting checklist of questions to ask yourself before taking on your next freelance illustration project. One thing I would definitely stress is that if you decide to do the project make sure you have a contract that outlines all of the answers to section one in her checklist. A contract is what will protect you if you have any legal disputes down the road.