I'm just back from a weekend in Baltimore, where the seven other program committee members and I turned over 400 proposals into what will be STC's 51st annual conference in May. Alas, you'll have to wait a bit before I give any sneak session previews!

We managed to spend at least as much time getting a look at all that balmer (as the locals say) has to offer attendees. From our fab location in the Inner Harbor, we walked or water taxi'd to places like the Aquarium, the touristy Harborplace and the more historic (but full of nightlife) Fells Point. This morning, a few of us took off a bit north for brunch at the very kitschy Papermoon Diner, which has to be seen to be believed...ya gotta love a place that hot glues hundreds of kewpie dolls to the walls for decor!

Anyways, the icon ref in the title refers to an article in Boxes and Arrows titled Learning to Love the Pixel: Exploring the Craft of Icon Design. I'm looking forward to taking some time and giving it the proper read it deserves. But I'm intrigued already by the top pullquote:

Discussing craft as a value of the user-centered process will expand upon typical issues confronting designers, highlighting matters of moral value, innovative potential, and aesthetic character.

Years ago, I did a (PDF; the newsletter of the STC Information Design SIG) that focused on the future of information design as a profession. Some interesting responses there, and the topic of craft came up there as well...see David Sless' comment in particular.

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