Went for a stroll around Mungo Park (which happens to be in our backyard). Sun is out, but there is still lots of beautiful snow-covered terrain.
The trails at Mungo Park are great in the snow.
I started reading about alternative academic publishing this morning. Some of the articles are 15-20 years old. I’m a little surprised that over that time, no one has built a successful alternative system. I guess all of the entrenched economic and cultural issues have been too much to overcome.
We got a few inches of snow here in Columbia, South Carolina. Roads are covered with ice and everything is shut down. Staying home today.
Snow is falling steadily here in Columbia.
When lacrosse tryouts are next week and you get a freak snowstorm, you hit the bounce back before the snow really starts to fall.
Realized I hadnât shared a picture from the window of my new office on the third floor of the old State Archives Building. The Palmetto Tree screens are over all of the windows, but I can see the Statehouse dome clearly from my chair.
Looks like Columbia missed the worst of the winter storm. Still some ice out there. The kids have an e-learning day, so I’m grateful my teenage driver doesn’t have to navigate ice this morning. And I’m thankful for the late start for my work today.
Changing careers
For 13 years, I managed the visual brand of the University of South Carolina. I led creative teams and worked with vendors and agencies. I produced banners, designed signage, wrapped buses, worked on TV commercials, and installed 6-foot high USC letters. And while I loved my time as the “Guardian of the USC Brand,”1 this summer, I started to think about making a career change. I’m getting close to finishing my Ph.D. The design industry has changed in countless ways since I started my career almost 30 years ago, and while some of it is great, there are other parts that I don’t love as much. I wanted to stay at USC, so I started looking for other jobs on campus that I felt like would be a good next step for me.
I assumed that role would be a communications job in a different unit on campus. Or maybe a teaching position. I couldn’t wrap my head around what a new career could look like. Making a career change is hard, especially when you are moving from a job that is perceived as more of a “calling.” Design was more than just my chosen profession… it was my identity. I added USC’s jobs listing to my RSS feed and checked every day to see what new opportunities were posted.
One day in early September, I saw a posting for a Director of Research Training position. I read through the post and instantly thought that this was a job I’d enjoy. And then, I started second guessing myself. Was I really qualified for the job? Would I even be happy in a non-design job? I bookmarked the job, but moved on to look at other options.
A couple of days later, I randomly came upon a link to a YouTube short from a podcast with Simon Sinek2 interviewing Arthur Brooks from Harvard Business School about career changes.3
The basic gist of the clip was that most people limit a career change search to something close to what they already do. Instead, Brooks and Sinek suggested that you should look at how your skills, abilities and interests could be leveraged in other careers. Ask yourself “What is my greatest area of interest?" Your instincts should guide you in these decisions. Ideally, Brooks noted, you want to go into a career change with 80% excitement, 20% fear and 0% deadness.
I thought back to the research training position description and looked at it through this new lens. I was limiting myself to adjacent career fields — only considering typical communications or design jobs. Through my grad school experience, I learned that I really enjoy academic research. I loved working with the campus community. Was there a little fear leaving the design world? Absolutely. But that fear was overwhelmed by the excitement of something new. I took a chance, decided to apply and figured I’d see what happened.
The interview process went incredibly well, and right before Christmas, I started my new job: Director of Research Training in the Carolina Grants and Innovation Hub at the University of South Carolina. It’s part of the Office of the Vice President of Research and is focused on helping faculty and staff maximize grant opportunities. It’s very different than what I’ve done for the last few decades, but it’s very much aligned with where I want to go with my career. I’ve only been in the office for a about a month, but so far, I couldn’t be happier with my choice. I feel better than I have in a long time.
Bob Wertz is a type designer, Ph.D. student and researcher living in Columbia, South Carolina. He’s been blogging since 2008.
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That phrase was literally in my job description. ↩︎
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Humorously, my former boss was a huge Simon Sinek fan. He left after an absurdly short stay at USC, but the only reason I noted the video was Simon’s involvement. So I guess I have him to thank… ↩︎
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Here’s the full video on YouTube if you are interested. ↩︎
Two new Fontstruct designs: SbB Crunch’d and SbB Papaya 26
I recently created a couple of new fonts over on Fontstruct: SbB Crunch’d and SbB Papaya 26.
SbB Crunch’d
SbB Crunch’d is a little random. Normally when I start working on a type design, I have an idea of how it will be used. In this case, I started with the shape of the “scalloped edges” and built out the font from there. I like how it turned out, even if I have no idea how I’d use it in a layout.
SbB Papaya 26
Last year, I built a font based on the numerals on McLaren’s F1 livery. The new SbB Papaya 26 updates the font to align with the look of the 2026 preseason McLaren social media graphics. Compared to my original interpretation, the 2026 font is a little more conservative and more readable.
You can download SbB Crunch’d and SbB Papaya 26 at Fontstruct with a free account.
Bob Wertz is a type designer, Ph.D. student and researcher living in Columbia, South Carolina. He’s been blogging since 2008.
Crossposting from Micro.Blog with two inline links
I shared a post earlier today about Honda’s logo change and included two inline links to connect something I wrote in 2024 with a recent press release. Micro.Blog posted it to my site, and then crossposted it to Bluesky, Threads, and Mastodon. Here’s how it looked on the Micro.Blog timeline:
Including multiple links is how the web works, but I know that’s not how social media typically works. So how did other services render the two links?
Threads and Mastodon take the typical social media approach. They only shared the first link, and instead of it being an inline link, it was in a box below the post.
Threads:
Mastodon:
Bluesky, however, handled it perfectly, including both inline links. I was pleasantly surprised:
In this case, the links were just to provide background for anyone that wanted it. To share two links using the social media approach, I’d need to post the first link and then follow up with a comment and second link. In my opinion, that approach puts way too much emphasis on the links.
Hopefully, these newer social media sites will realize that communication is more clear when they allow basic HTML including inline links. And while they are at it, these services should allow basic formatting like bold and italic. Availability of basic formatting is one thing I really like about Micro.blog, and it really does enhance the reading and writing experience.
Bob Wertz is a type designer, Ph.D. student and researcher living in Columbia, South Carolina. He’s been blogging since 2008.
Enjoyed Season 2 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians on Disney+.🍿
Back in 2024, I wrote about Honda’s new logo that was allegedly only for their EVs. They’ve apparently changed their mind, and it will now be used for all Honda Automobiles, starting in 2027. I’m wondering if the slow rollout is how they’ve decided to handle and potential backlash…
Ryan ready for 8th grade semiformal.
Waves at sunrise.
I love the beach in winter. A few shots from Isle of Palms this weekend.
There’s a lot to like about Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Some interesting characters and the show looks amazing. Holly Hunter’s Chancellor Ake is delightfully quirky for a Starfleet captain. I look forward to seeing where the season goes.
During the outage yesterday, Verizon only shared updates on X. Brands and corporations need to start diversifying their messaging strategy. They have a Threads account that has never posted.
What restaurants do you miss?
I enjoyed this article in the NY Times about the sadness that you feel when your favorite restaurant closes.
Every restaurant is a portal — a way to remember who you were and how things felt when you were, say, 19, or 27, or 35, but also to remember the particulars of a city, a neighborhood, a block.
I started to think about the restaurants that I’ve loved that are no longer open. I started with a longer list1, but here are three that I really miss:
The West Side Bowery
Aiken, South Carolina
Closed in 2013 after a 32-year run
There weren’t many nice restaurants in Aiken when I lived there. The Bowery wasn’t exactly upscale, but the food was great. We didn’t go often when I was in high school, but I did go there for dinner before my junior and senior prom. My connection to the Bowery grew over time, though. My wife, Liz, was a waitress at the Bowery, working there in high school and then every summer when she was home from college. She’d always work the slow shift between lunch and dinner, and I’d stop by to visit her when we were dating. They catered our wedding and whenever we’d roll through town, we’d stop to grab a bite and say hi to the owners. Whenever I go to Aiken, I have to urge to stop by the Bowery, but sadly, it’s a Mellow Mushroom now.
My go to order was a Pepper Jack Steak Sandwich with fries and a sweet tea.
Birds on a Wire
Columbia, South Carolina
Closed in 2009, after a 15-year run
My first job after college was on Devine Street, walking distance from Birds on a Wire. We ate there frequently and the office would sometimes ordering catering. The whole menu was fabulous, but the rotisserie chicken was the star. Just phenomenal. It eventually moved to a new location and was sold2 to different owners, who couldn’t keep it going and declared bankruptcy. When Liz and I first got married, we lived in the neighborhood and would get take out from Birds frequently. They even catered Liz’s graduation party when she earned her Master’s degree. I still tell people about how great the pulled chicken was…
My go to order was 6 oz. Pulled Chicken with Hoppin’ John, Baked Potato Wedges, and sweet black bread.
Yesterdays
Columbia, South Carolina
Closed in 2020 after a 43-year run
When my brother started college at USC, we would drive up to visit him and often ate at Yesterdays in the middle of Five Points. When I started college, my photojournalism professor, Don Wooley, held his office hours at the Yesterdays’ bar. The menu featured southern favorites and there was always something for everyone. Over the years, we had lots of family dinners there when people were in town. After Liz and I got married, we’d order take out. We did get to take our kids there several times. (They loved the fish tanks.) There are plenty of other places that I can get Southern comfort food, but aren’t nearly as nostalgic.
My go to order was County3 Fried Steak, but I ordered lots of different stuff off the menu including some fabulous chicken nachos.
Bob Wertz is a type designer, Ph.D. student and researcher living in Columbia, South Carolina. He’s been blogging since 2008.
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My initial list included Blue Flour, Harpers, Willy’s, the Garden Bistro, the original Hunter Gatherer, The Filling Station, and Nonnahs. Each has specific memories attached to them. ↩︎
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The original owner is now the mayor of Columbia. ↩︎
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Originally called the Confederate Fried Steak. Thankfully was renamed at some point. ↩︎
Saw this hawk out on the Horseshoe today. I didn’t get a shot of it flying, but it had a massive wingspan.
