Irish Graphic Designer’s Blogs in 2009

This post is a detailed listing of all 22 Irish graphic designer’s blogs analysed during my MA research project in 2009 giving details about the nature and characteristics of each blog. Any additional blogs added after September are not included in the research analysis. The full 2009 list is after the jump.

UPDATE: The 2010 list now has its own separate page on this blog, see the ‘Irish graphic designer’s blogs’ tab in the masthead of this page.


This list is sorted alphabetically by surname.

Author: David Airey
Blog name: David Airey’s Blog
Published since: October 2006
Date reviewed: 11 July 2009
Number of days since last post: 3 days
Predominant class of post content: Professional journal, Design analysis, Design commentary
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? Yes
— Trackbacks enabled? No
— Social networking tools enabled? Yes
— If yes which? Delicious, Stumbleupon and Twitter options for posts
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts):
30 posts reviewed 30 with comments 0 without comments
1580 comments on 30 posts
Does the blogger answer comments? Yes
System used for the blog: WordPress
Website address for the blog: http://www.davidairey.com
Also on Twitter: Yes at http://twitter.com/davidairey

Author: Conor Clarke
Blog name: Design Thinker Dublin
Published since: January 2009
Date reviewed: 11 July 2009
Number of days since last post: 148 days
Predominant class of post content: Professional journal
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? Yes
— Trackbacks enabled? No
— Social networking tools enabled? Yes
— If yes which? Google Friend Connect
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts): None
Does the blogger answer comments? N/A
System used for the blog: Blogger
Website address for the blog: http://designthinkerdublin.blogspot.com
Also on Twitter: No

Author: Laura Colgan
Blog name: Laura Colgan Design
Published since: June 2009
Date reviewed: 11 July 2009
Number of days since last post: 4 days
Predominant class of post content: Own design projects
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? Yes
— Trackbacks enabled? No
— Social networking tools enabled? Yes
— If yes which? Google Friend Connect
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts):
17 posts reviewed (all) 1 with comments 16 without comments
2 comments on 1 post
Does the blogger answer comments? Yes
System used for the blog: Blogger
Website address for the blog: www.lauracolgan.blogspot.com
Also on Twitter: No

Author: Simone Crowley
Blog name: Simone Crowley’s Blog
Published since: May 2008
Date reviewed: 03 June 2009
Number of days since last post: 50 days
Predominant class of post content: Own design projects, Professional journal
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? Yes
— Trackbacks enabled? No
— Social networking tools enabled? Yes
— If yes which? Google Friend Connect
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts):
25 posts reviewed (all). 7 with comments 18 without comments
7 comments on 7 posts
Does the blogger answer comments? No
System used for the blog: Blogger
Website address for the blog: http://simone-crowley.blogspot.com
Also on Twitter: No

Author: James Cullen
Blog name: Fffvound’s Blog
Published since: December 2008
Date reviewed: 06 June 2009
Number of days since last post: 131 days
Predominant class of post content: Link-blog, Design-reference Image-reference.
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? Yes
— Trackbacks enabled? No
— Social networking tools enabled? No
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts): None
Does the blogger answer comments? No
System used for the blog: WordPress
Website address for the blog: http://fffvvound.wordpress.com
Also on Twitter: Yes at http://twitter.com/jamescullen123

Author: Cornelius Dorgan
Blog name: Graphik Attik
Published since: March 2009
Date reviewed: 06 June 2009
Number of days since last post: 24 days
Predominant class of post content: Link-blog, Design reference, Image reference
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? Yes
— Trackbacks enabled? No
— Social networking tools enabled? Yes
— If yes which? Social bookmarking widget for posts
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts): None
Does the blogger answer comments? N/A
System used for the blog: WordPress
Website address for the blog: www.grafikattik.com
Also on Twitter: No

Author: Jennifer Farley
Blog name: Laughing Lion Blog
Published since: 22 May 2005
Date reviewed: 12 July 2009
Number of days since last post: 5 days
Predominant class of post content: Software tutorials, Own design projects, Design reference, Image reference
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? Yes
— Trackbacks enabled? No
— Social networking tools enabled? No
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts):
30 posts reviewed 28 with comments 2 without comments
100 comments on 30 posts
Does the blogger answer comments? Yes
System used for the blog: WordPress
Website address for the blog: http://laughingliondesign.net/category/all/
Also on Twitter: Yes at http://twitter.com/Laughing_lion

Author: Pawel Grabowski
Blog name: Paper To Pixel
Published since: April 2009
Date reviewed: 06 June 2009
Number of days since last post: 27 days
Predominant class of post content: How-To (Informing graphic designers about web design)
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? Yes
— Trackbacks enabled? Yes
— Social networking tools enabled? No
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts):
15 posts reviewed (all). 3 with comments 12 without comments
4 comments in total on 3 posts.
Does the blogger answer comments? No
System used for the blog: WordPress
Website address for the blog: www.papertopixel.org
Also on Twitter: Yes at http://twitter.com/pawelgra77

Author: Paul Guinan
Blog name: Our Bees Make Honey
Published since: October 2007
Date reviewed: 11 July 2009
Number of days since last post: 3 days
Predominant class of post content: Design reference, Image reference, Link-blog
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? Yes
— Trackbacks enabled? Yes
— Social networking tools enabled? No
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts):
30 posts reviewed 4 with comments 26 without comments
10 comments on 4 posts
Does the blogger answer comments? Yes
System used for the blog: WordPress
Website address for the blog: http://ourbeesmakehoney.wordpress.com
Also on Twitter: Yes at http://twitter.com/PaulGuinan

Author: Paul Guinan
Blog name: Paul Guinan Blog
Published since: 27 Feb 2009
Date reviewed: 26 June 2009
Number of days since last post: 2 days
Predominant class of post content: Design reference, Image reference, Link-blog
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? No
— Trackbacks enabled? N/A
— Social networking tools enabled? No
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts): N/A
Does the blogger answer comments? N/A
System used for the blog: Tumblr
Website address for the blog: http://paulguinan.tumblr.com
Also on Twitter: Yes at http://twitter.com/PaulGuinan

Author: Hilary Kenna
Blog name: Type4Screen
Published since: March 2005
Date reviewed: 01 April 2009
Number of days since last post: 55 days
Predominant class of post content: Design research, Design commentary, Design reference
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? Yes
— Trackbacks enabled? No
— Social networking tools enabled? No
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts):
30 posts reviewed 2 with comments 28 without comments
2 comments on 2 posts
Does the blogger answer comments? Yes
System used for the blog: WordPress
Website address for the blog: http://www.type4screen.com
Also on Twitter: No

Author: Con Kennedy
Blog name: Con Kennedy Design Blog
Published since: 13 May 2005
Date reviewed: 01 April 2009
Number of days since last post: 115 days
Predominant class of post content: Professional journal, Design commentary, Design reference
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? No
— Trackbacks enabled? No
— Social networking tools enabled? Yes
— If yes which? Google Friend Connect
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts): N/A
Does the blogger answer comments? N/A
System used for the blog: Blogger
Website address for the blog: http://conkennedy.blogspot.com
Also on Twitter: Yes at http://twitter.com/conkennedy

Author: Aiden Kenny
Blog name: ThoughtPort
Published since: 15 June 2004
Date reviewed: 21 May 2009
Number of days since last post: 3 days
Predominant class of post content: Design commentary, Design analysis, Professional journal
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? Yes
— Trackbacks enabled? Yes
— Social networking tools enabled? Yes
— If yes which? Facebook, Linked-In, Technorati and Delicious widgets
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts): None
Does the blogger answer comments? Yes
System used for the blog: Blogger
Website address for the blog: http://thoughtport.blogspot.com
Also on Twitter: Yes at http://twitter.com/aidenkenny
[Disclaimer: this is one of my own blogs.]

Author: Aiden Kenny
Blog name: ImpressionStream
Published since: February 2007
Date reviewed: 01 April 2009
Number of days since last post: 1 day
Predominant class of post content: Link-blog, Design reference, Image reference
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? No
— Trackbacks enabled? No
— Social networking tools enabled? Yes
— If yes which? Tumblr Followers
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts): None
Does the blogger answer comments? N/A
System used for the blog: Tumblr
Website address for the blog: http://aidenkenny.tumblr.com
Also on Twitter: Yes at http://twitter.com/aidenkenny
[Disclaimer: this is one of my own blogs.]

Author: Osmand Noffe
Blog name: These Were Fields News Blog
Published since: February 2009
Date reviewed: 06 June 2009
Number of days since last post: 11 days
Predominant class of post content: Own design projects, Professional journal
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? Yes
— Trackbacks enabled? Yes
— Social networking tools enabled? Yes
— If yes which? Google Friend Connect
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts): None
Does the blogger answer comments? N/A
System used for the blog: Blogger
Website address for the blog: http://www.nowitsfullofthis.blogspot.com
Also on Twitter: Yes at http://twitter.com/acatisacat

Author: Gary McGinty
Blog name: Design Thinking
Published since: 03 June 2009
Date reviewed: 11 July 2009
Number of days since last post: 7 days
Predominant class of post content: Professional journal, Design reference
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? Yes
— Trackbacks enabled? Yes
— Social networking tools enabled? Yes
— If yes which? Flickr widget
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts):
6 posts reviewed (all) 1 with comments 5 without comments
2 comments on 1 posts
Does the blogger answer comments? N/A
System used for the blog: WordPress
Website address for the blog: http://www.garymcginty.com
Also on Twitter: Yes at http://twitter.com/garymcginty

Author: Daragh O’Toole
Blog name: Roughbeast
Published since: June 2007
Date reviewed: 01 April 2009
Number of days since last post: 7 days
Predominant class of post content: Design reference, Image reference, Link-blog
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? No
— Trackbacks enabled? No
— Social networking tools enabled? Yes
— If yes which? Tumblr Followers, Flickr Widget
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts): None
Does the blogger answer comments? N/A
System used for the blog: Tumblr
Website address for the blog: http://roughbeast.tumblr.com
Also on Twitter: Yes at http://twitter.com/daragh_ot

Authors: Timothy Phelan & Youssef Sarhan
Blog name: White Ink Blog
Published since: January 2009
Date reviewed: 01 July 2009
Number of days since last post: 13 days
Predominant class of post content: Professional journal, Design analysis, Own design projects
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? Yes
— Trackbacks enabled? No
— Social networking tools enabled? No
— If yes which?
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts):
30 posts reviewed 29 with comments 1 without comments
160 comments on 29 posts
Do the bloggers answer comments? Yes
System used for the blog: WordPress
Website address for the blog: www.whiteinkblog.com
Also on Twitter: Yes at http://twitter.com/youssefsarhan

Author: Garrett Reil
Blog name: Design Research Journal Blog
Published since: 25 May 2009
Date reviewed: 11 July 2009
Number of days since last post: 10 days
Predominant class of post content: Design research, Design analysis
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? Yes
— Trackbacks enabled? No
— Social networking tools enabled? No
Volume of comments received:
16 posts reviewed (all) 6 with comments 10 without comments
26 comments on 6 posts
Does the blogger answer comments? Yes
System used for the blog: Rapidweaver
Website address for the blog: http://garrettreil.ie
Also on Twitter: No

Author: Garrett Reil
Blog name: Signs & Portents
Published since: 20 August 2008
Date reviewed: 1 April 2009
Number of days since last post: 7 days
Predominant class of post content: Design reference, Image reference, Link-blog
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? No
— Trackbacks enabled? No
— Social networking tools enabled? No
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts): N/A
Does the blogger answer comments? N/A
System used for the blog: Tumblr
Website address for the blog: http://visualblog.garrettreil.ie
Also on Twitter: No

Author: Richard Seabrooke
Blog name: The Small Print
Published since: 09 March 2009
Date reviewed: 11 July 2009
Number of days since last post: 1 day
Predominant class of post content: Design reference, Image reference, Link-blog
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? Yes
— Trackbacks enabled? No
— Social networking tools enabled? Yes
— If yes which? Flickr widget
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts):
30 posts reviewed 6 with comments 24 without comments
10 comments on 6 posts
Does the blogger answer comments? Yes
System used for the blog: WordPress
Website address for the blog: http://alwaysreadthesmallprint.com
Also on Twitter: No

Author: Eoin Stanley
Blog name: Eoin Stanley Blog
Published since: March 2007
Date reviewed: 26 June 2009
Number of days since last post: 20 days
Predominant class of post content: Own design projects, Professional journal
Interaction elements allowed:
— Commenting turned on? Yes
— Trackbacks enabled? No
— Social networking tools enabled? No
Volume of comments received (based on last 30 posts):
30 posts reviewed 4 with comments 26 without comments
14 comments on 4 posts
Does the blogger answer comments? No
System used for the blog: Custom
Website address for the blog: http://www.eoinstanley.com/blog
Also on Twitter: Yes at http://twitter.com/eoinstan