In the design blog world, there are an undisputed few who are the heaviest hitters. The blogs that receive the most hits daily, sure, but we're talking about the ones that even people not obsessed with design have heard of before. Blogs like Apartment Therapy, Design Sponge, and beginning in mid-2007, Design for Mankind.
Started by the multi-talented Erin Beneker Loechner, Design for Mankind has seen a meteoric rise since its inception, now receiving over 8,000 viewers daily. With the simple premise of bringing “light to the inspiration found in today’s creative culture” Design for Mankind has done just it through such favorite blog post series as ‘The Dailies’ (“a glance into the daily life of artisans/designers”) and ‘Reader Profiles’ (“where we hear from our many loyal readers”), as well as many, many others.
Featuring simple layouts, brief commentary and inspiring photos, Design for Mankind let’s the artists and designers that are being profiled really stand out in posts. Readers view Design for Mankind to gain inspiration from these other creative people being profiled, who are often unknown and not featured anywhere else. And in what some might call their favorite feature of the blog, Loechner frequently gives out prizes during giveaways on the blog. Recently adding a video feature to the blog, Loechner also participates and curates a video series called "Dialogue", where other design creatives talk about the ups and downs of running a creative business.
Sensing there was too much inspiring content out there to try to only fit into one blog, Loechner also launched the equally as popular Mankind Magazine, an entirely online monthly 'zine that features themes each month, like “love” or “rose-colored glasses” and has articles, photography and poetry submitted to her by creative folks all over the web. Boasting a readership of something like 20,000 per issue, some might even say the magazine is more popular than the blog!
Simply not content to stop at an award-winning blog and magazine, Loechner, in conjunction with fellow blogger Jaime Derringer of Design Milk fame (more on that blog in a later post!) have teamed up to create the
Think Bakery. Not selling cookies, cakes or cupcakes, these two industrious bloggers help other small businesses and creative types bake and grow their own enterprises.
Adding one last title to the resume, Loechner recently signed on as a blogger for AOL’s home design site ShelterPop, no doubt bringing her signature style and keen design eye to an even wider audience of design-lovers. For more information about Loechner (including an incredibly cute list of 18 things you didn’t know about her), check out her
about page.
Design for Mankind.
Started by the multi-talented Erin Beneker Loechner, Design for Mankind has seen a meteoric rise since its inception, now receiving over 8,000 viewers daily. With the simple premise of bringing “light to the inspiration found in today’s creative culture” Design for Mankind has done just it through such favorite blog post series as ‘The Dailies’ (“a glance into the daily life of artisans/designers”) and ‘Reader Profiles’ (“where we hear from our many loyal readers”), as well as many, many others.
Featuring simple layouts, brief commentary and inspiring photos, Design for Mankind let’s the artists and designers that are being profiled really stand out in posts. Readers view Design for Mankind to gain inspiration from these other creative people being profiled, who are often unknown and not featured anywhere else. And in what some might call their favorite feature of the blog, Loechner frequently gives out prizes during giveaways on the blog. Recently adding a video feature to the blog, Loechner also participates and curates a video series called "Dialogue", where other design creatives talk about the ups and downs of running a creative business.
Sensing there was too much inspiring content out there to try to only fit into one blog, Loechner also launched the equally as popular Mankind Magazine, an entirely online monthly 'zine that features themes each month, like “love” or “rose-colored glasses” and has articles, photography and poetry submitted to her by creative folks all over the web. Boasting a readership of something like 20,000 per issue, some might even say the magazine is more popular than the blog!
Simply not content to stop at an award-winning blog and magazine, Loechner, in conjunction with fellow blogger Jaime Derringer of Design Milk fame (more on that blog in a later post!) have teamed up to create the Think Bakery. Not selling cookies, cakes or cupcakes, these two industrious bloggers help other small businesses and creative types bake and grow their own enterprises.
Adding one last title to the resume, Loechner recently signed on as a blogger for AOL’s home design site ShelterPop, no doubt bringing her signature style and keen design eye to an even wider audience of design-lovers. For more information about Loechner (including an incredibly cute list of 18 things you didn’t know about her), check out her about page. Design for Mankind. 
