2025-11-03 – Weekly Graphic Design News : Origins of the Mac ⌘ icon

Last week, the forum buzzed with discussions around emerging job trends, particularly the rise in adjunct faculty roles and the growing appeal of remote positions. Members exchanged advice on assembling junior portfolios and dissected common myths like the significance of toothpaste color squares. There was also a nostalgic dive into the origins of iconic design elements, and practical tips for creating Outlook-safe email templates.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Weekly Graphic Design Jobs: Adjunct Faculty roles on the rise
The conversation here centers on the increasing demand for adjunct faculty positions in design education. It’s a significant trend for those considering a blend of teaching and practice.
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Weekly Graphic Design Jobs: Explore remote design roles now
Remote work continues to be a hot topic, with members sharing tips and opportunities for designers looking to work from anywhere.
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Where to find solid briefs for a junior portfolio
A practical discussion on sources for quality briefs, helping newcomers build a strong portfolio without real-world experience.
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The truth about those toothpaste color squares
A debunking session on a common myth—are those colored squares on toothpaste tubes really telling us something?
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Would You Take This Job? Graphic Design Intern — Minitab
Members weigh the pros and cons of a current internship offer, providing insights into what to consider in entry-level positions.
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The origin of the Mac ⌘ icon
A fascinating look at the history behind the Mac command icon, sparking nostalgia and appreciation for design heritage.
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Outlook-safe email templates for internal comms
Tips and tricks for designing email templates that maintain their integrity in Outlook—an essential skill for in-house designers.
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FAQ/Guidelines
Essential reading for new members, covering the basics of forum participation.
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Admin Guide: Getting Started
A helpful resource for those managing forum spaces, offering foundational advice on administration.
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Thinking of Becoming a Graphic Designer?
A thread for those at the crossroads, exploring what it takes to enter the graphic design field.
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Looking forward to another week of insightful discussions. Keep sharing your experiences and questions—they make this community vibrant and informative.

I’ve gotten more callbacks for remote roles by adding a 90‑second screen recording that walks through a single Figma file — layer naming, export prep, and why I referenced the ⌘ icon’s origin (dropping Command key - Wikipedia in the notes) — instead of piling on more mockups… Keep it under two minutes or reviewers won’t watch.

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Quick tip that helped me on remote roles: I pin a 20–30s silent GIF to the top of my Figma cover showing before/after and the export constraints (2x PNGs, about 100 KB cap), then include a Dev Mode link — people check that more than full videos, @Guide. Small caveat: keep captions tight; one line like “why this grid” is enough — no need to drift into toothpaste‑square myth land, . A tiny note on icon rationale (think the ⌘ “place of interest” origin) adds story without bloat.

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