An Intelligent Designer?

Hello! As new folks have been introducing themselves, I’d like to do so as well.

I’m new. Erm, I mean… I’m Beth. I always get all flustery talking to a bunch of people at once, even though I’m just sittin’ at home in my jammies with my Dirty Hipster Laptop. You got me all flustery, and you didn’t even know it. Or me. Yet.

So, yes. HARD FACTS! Those are good around here, yes? I’m a graphic designer in the tallest building in the United States, expanding the Windy City contingent here at the Lab. I’m originally from Detroit… and if you ask one of those silly questions, then the answer is yes. (Oh, was that YOUR car?)

My background is all over the place. I’ve been an espresso-slinger, a candlestick-maker, a magician’s assistant, a contractor’s apprentice, a bartender, a fire-eater, a costumed Rennie, a convention usher, a fraternity brother, an archival assistant, a tour guide, an honor student… and now they tell me I’m a grownup with a real job and stuff. I wouldn’t believe it if the rest wasn’t already true, honestly.

A couple things in demonstration of my designery-skepticky-nerd cred after the jump:

I made this lil’ guy a while ago for this fine group of folks I know. Pre-name-change, obvs.

I took Steve’s poster/program/hat idea, made it a Thing for this year’s Skepticamp in Chicago, and found out that a surprising number of skeptics did not know how to fold a paper hat.

As a designer… I hate the phrase “as a designer.” I like grids. I like fonts. I like color. (I can’t decide if my favorite is plaid or clear) I like Jan Tschichold. I like order (despite the state of my apartment). I like things that make sense… and I like making nonsense anyway. I like making things work, and figuring out how and why they do. I like making connections between distinctly disparate things. And I like telling interested people about what happens next.

And now I’m here with all you lovelies.

*waves*

Thanks to Jamie Bernstein for taking fab pics of me at Chicago’s Skepticamp!