Max Riffner

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You Can Think While Shoveling

Fourteen inches of snow later, and I still have a head full of random thoughts.

I went out last night to shovel my driveway when it was a mere 8-10 inches of snow on the ground. Rough work. While walking back to the garage there was already an inch down where I first started.

Snow this high kind of freaks Quincy out. It used to freak me out also, but this year it hasn’t, strangely. Probably a combination of having a home (hello, nesting instincts) and not being able to go out and run anymore is battling the cabin fever that usually takes hold.

One of the thoughts I had last night was that I need to redesign this site badly; I’ve been thinking about it all week. Not just the Parlor, but MaxRiffner.com in general could use a big face lift. A new identity – although there are many fans of my current mark, I’m not the same designer I was when I created it 6 years ago. On top of the mark, I want to explore grid systems more – a piece of my traditional design education that was lost on the wayside due to the inflexibility of early web design (this post really inspired me). Finally back in print, my copy of Grid Systems in Graphic Design (Amazon) is on its way to my home. I’ve flipped through it in the school library, and it just clicked with me.

Speaking of Swiss design and the grid, I’m always reminded of how much Kate hated the 80s acolytes who were slaves to it; we would run into these inflexible designers occasionally. Christian, on the other hand, is a master of the grid, and the three of us had a couple good conversations about its use. I miss that.

Design is so important to my being – sometimes I forget that in the rush to make more comics. I’m in a strange point of my career also (both of them) – kind of floundering a bit, or trying to find the right path on where to go next, especially in design.

Plus, there’s the business plan…

That is probably enough randomness for awhile. My back feels huge, like Conan’s, and it still has a hefty workout to look forward to this evening when I finally clear the front path and sidewalk again.

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