Leigh Hill

2012-02-05T23:21:00.004-05:00

More striking calligraphy from Luca Barcellona. Lyrics from the song "How Low" by Jose Gonzalez. For closer images, go to The Fox Is Black (great blog).

Clint Eastwood, 'nuff said.

2012-02-05T20:44:00.004-05:00

I thought this ad was inspiring and beautiful. I loved the one last year by Chrysler, and this year, they extended the spirit from Detroit to the country. Nice pep talk, Clint. As cheesy as it sounds, it makes me even prouder to be an American.

Things I see around the city

2011-11-22T21:27:00.008-05:00

This city surprises me daily with subtle beautiful things that wait around every corner. I've never wanted a camera so badly, just to carry around and capture all the small nuances that make me smile. I'm taking these with my camera phone, so the quality isn't as good as I'd like, but it's something.

The Taj Mahal? No, it's the Conservatory of Flowers!

Loved the color of this lion next to the indigo doors:

Saw "The Creak" and "The Trespassers" at a show in a small local pub on Saturday. They were a great bluegrass band, and I met a new friend!

I found a "me" place, meaning a niche out of the way from the general public, a place for solace.

I love the blue in Claes Oldenburg's sculpture next to the brilliant yellow leaves:

This would be the kind of graffiti/chalk drawings in San Francisco:

The "Checks Cashed" place here is better than the one in your city (only because it has a more elaborate roof)!

I didn't know such a thing as "Lawn Bowling" existed, prior to today.

This one reminds me of an Edward Hopper painting. I think it's the harsh highlights and the lonely windows and spire in that tower on the right.

A view of the city from the top of a park that I discovered today. I could see the Golden Gate bridge from here, so I painted it.

Requiem for a Dream, condensed in 30 seconds.

2011-11-19T22:10:00.002-05:00

My roommate mentioned that Darren Aronofsky had recently directed some new ads for the campaign against meth, featured on methproject.org. He released the public service announcements earlier this month.

Aronofsky is my favorite director, ever since I saw Requiem for a Dream (2000). He continued to amaze me with The Wrestler (2008) and Black Swan (2010). He has such a talent for drawing the viewer in and connecting them so closely to the main character, then proceeds to drag them through a train wreck (albeit a beautiful one).

Take his talent for manufacturing an intensely uncomfortable and bizarre scenario, mix it with a bit of terror and disorientation, direct it toward a substance, and you've got a great meth campaign. Brilliant.

“We were thrilled to collaborate with top-tier talent like Darren Aronofsky, the animation house Studio AKA, and photographer Ron Haviv on this campaign,” said Brad Mancuso, Executive Creative Director, Organic. “Darren had a true understanding of addiction as the main character of the TV spots, and his ability to see and bring to life the darker side of the human spirit was inspiring.” (via The New York Egotist)

Some debate that people aren't easily persuaded by scare tactics, but "since the Meth Project launched in 2006, meth use has declined 65 percent in Arizona, 63 percent in Montana and 52 percent in Idaho." (ABC News) That's pretty significant, I'd say. I'm glad to see another way that effective visual media influences culture positively.

Ireland Lake

2011-11-11T22:33:00.005-05:00

On this cold and rainy Friday evening at my new place in San Francisco, I find myself missing this backpacking trip I took one weekend with a dear friend of mine who is now halfway across the country en route to New Orleans.

Tommy had this great idea to hike to Ireland Lake from Twolumne, through Lyell Canyon. We backpacked 10 miles and reached the lake before sunset. Upon arriving, we refilled our Nalgenes with ice cold water from the lake. It was the purest water I've ever tasted, free from chlorine or chemicals. Tommy cooked Ramen and tea afterward, and we both walked out into the boulder field nearby, reflecting in silence at the magnificent sunset.

"Vibrant pinks, deep blues, and purples stretched across the sky, staining the mountains in color. Night visibly invaded the last light of day. It was somber, so beautiful it could make you cry. It just all feels so vast, and I'm so small. I feel an unspeakable void within me- maybe the potential for my life, what I could do, who I could be, who I will love. I don't think I've felt so connected with God this whole summer." (September 8, 2011)

Mountaintop experience- literally. It wasn't that everything felt perfect and came together at that moment, in fact, I had been going through a few things and felt mixed up with life. I was tired from the hike, uncomfortably cold and not used to the lower temperature at the higher elevation (which Tommy found funny because he's from Michigan). But as uncertain as things were in my life at that time, I felt a great sense of purpose and love and connection to the universe all at once. It had something to do with God and the span of time, but was too magnanimous to wrap my mind around. It was very deep and spiritual.

I have such a capacity for love, and I'm burning with life. I'm thankful for this chance I've been given. I won't use it idly.

In honor of Steve Jobs

2011-10-07T12:37:00.003-04:00

Steve Jobs gave an inspiring commencement address at Stanford University in 2005:

“I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.”

Quote of the day

2011-09-18T12:10:00.001-04:00

"I [internalized] this idea that it didn’t matter whether I was called an artist or a designer or an illustrator or whatever else it was. The core value was always the act of making things, and the transformation of an idea that you hold in your mind that becomes real or material. That, to me, still is the glory of any creative activity.”

(Milton Glaser)

Where I've been

2011-08-23T19:03:00.004-04:00

Let me explain my hiatus. After spending months looking for jobs while freelancing on the side, I decided to take a short break and find a small summer job in a magnificent place- just for the experience, since I'm young and want to travel. I decided to take a risk. Usually, I would keep plugging away trying to find a position in my career field, and I am definitely passionate about it, but I needed a change and time to refocus.

Although I usually resist change, I grow impatient from getting stuck in cycles. I crave inspiration and a better understanding of what generates great ideas and a productive work process for me. I believe that expanding my experiences gives me more to draw from, therefore making my work better.

I left for Yosemite in late May and drove across the country with some friends from highschool. We stopped in Texas for a night and continued the drive all night until we reached the Grand Canyon, then Yosemite late the next night after. I remember arriving that night and feeling so alienated from this place. It was dark and I got lost in the camp easily. I felt so new and wasn't sure how the place could become my home for the next few months. Then I woke up the next morning, stepped out of the tent, and realized I was surrounded by towering cliffs and magnificent trees. Walking toward the main part of the village, I saw the gigantic waterfall in the distance and passed wide meadows. It was a sensory overload that almost made me cry, as cheesy as it sounds.

Over these past few months, I've had a myriad of experiences, each enhancing my growth. I've seen absolutely beautiful things and met some amazing people. This place has become my temporary home. I've gotten used to storing all of my food in a bear box, accustomed to community kitchens and limited storage space. I have found the places I go in the woods when I need time alone- a favorite rock that cradles my body just right or the log beside the river which is the only place I can nap. It is a comfortable life here, but I know I must leave it soon.

I'm getting restless again. I love to travel, to see new things and meet people. I love people; I really do. I want to get to know them on a deeper level that means something. I want to love them in the most simplest and innocent way. I was discussing with one of my good friends here how interesting the divide of cultures can be, but how universal humans remain at the same time.

I feel remote from the world around me. These granite walls tower above on all sides, in the midst of them lie meadows and rivers. Sometimes it feels safe; sometimes it feels imprisoning. If I had no desire to know much of "the real world", I could go years without looking at the news and remain untroubled about whatever goes on outside of the park.

But I can't do that. I want to express and communicate and affect people's lives- even down to the minor ways I treat strangers. I've been wanting to design. I've been wanting to paint. Taking watercolors into a nearby field has its charm, but I want a studio where I can build canvases again and cover them wildly in brilliant colors. I need a place for the purpose of working, not just making money. I need a place where I can do my own work, the kind that makes me feel I am working toward my purpose, not the kind of days being repeated in a long redundant cycle.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Designers on Failure

2011-05-17T22:21:00.003-04:00

I saw this on Swiss Miss blog (who got it from Brain Pickings).

The Berghs' Exhibition 2011 asked some world-renown creatives to speak on the topic of failure. I have included several of my favorites- definitely listen to Milton Glaser's answer. You can watch more on Vimeo.

There's only one solution, and it relates to what I was saying earlier: you must embrace failure. You must admit what is. You must find out what you are capable of doing and what you are not capable of doing. That is the only way to deal with the issue of success and failure because otherwise, you simply will never subject yourself to the possibility that you are not as good as you want to be, hope to be, or as others think you are (but that is, of course, delusional). So my advice, finally, about fear of failure, which is a kind of romantic idea: there is only one way out- embrace the failure. (Milton Glaser)

Designers Wally Olins and Michael Wolff gave great responses as well.

Stefan Sagmeister – on the fear of failure. from Berghs' Exhibition '11 on Vimeo.

Milton Glaser – on the fear of failure. from Berghs' Exhibition '11 on Vimeo.

Paulo Coelho – on the fear of failure. from Berghs' Exhibition '11 on Vimeo.

Mean Girls trailer, even more Disney:

2011-05-17T17:41:00.001-04:00

Olive and Sinclair Southern Artisan Chocolate

2011-05-17T16:28:00.006-04:00

I recently acquired a bar of Southern Artisan Chocolate made by Olive and Sinclair. Even though I love chocolate, I usually don't spend $5 for one bar, but the packaging (seen on the Dieline) stopped me cold and I just had to have it. (Packaging wins again.) I like the Victorian feel to it which adds character and a sense of genuine craft, like it's a trusted brand, a bit weathered and down-to-earth goodness all in a chocolate bar. Buy some now- they even have a letterpress variety pack!

Anderson Design Group created the logo, packaging, and promotional posters, which went on to win best of show at the Nashville ADDY's last year (see their blog entry).

Here's how they make the heavenly chocolate:

Olive and Sinclair Artisan Chocolate from josh anderson on Vimeo.

Magritte coat hangers

2011-05-17T10:33:00.001-04:00

Igor “Rogix” Udushlivy created these great coat hangers inspired by René Magritte’s iconic painting The Son of Man. (Seen on CMYBacon).

Coca-Cola celebrates 125 years!

2011-05-14T11:52:00.005-04:00

On Sunday, May 8, Coca-Cola celebrated its 125th birthday! In 1886, Coca-Cola debuted in Jacobs’ Pharmacy in Atlanta. It sold for 5 cents a glass at the soda fountain.

Coke is promoting 125 in different ways, from an illuminated display on the office headquarters in Atlanta (see video below) to giving out free Cokes in London and other European cities, kicking off their "125 Years of Summer Fun" campaign. They also threw a free birthday concert and donated $1 million to the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta and to the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation's Peopling of America® Center.

Zoe Howorth, market activation director at Coca-Cola GB, said: "Coca-Cola is a timeless icon that has been synonymous with happiness and is still as relevant today as it was when it first began in 1886." (Brand Republic)

Also to promote the brand's rich history, Selfridges is selling the 125 Years box set (~$65) which includes several versions of the most recognized and iconic bottle in history housed in a commemorative wooden crate. They are also selling the Hutchinson bottle for about $3.22 U.S. dollars. How cool is that?

I also thought this video was cool, asking people on the street what they would do to make the world better. It's something each of us could think about:

Open happiness!

Barbra Streisand.

2011-05-11T21:53:00.000-04:00

I know this has been out since last year, but I love it 'cause it's New York, and I can't get it out of my head.

"Barbra Streisand" continues to perfect the Duck Sauce sound, which joyously mashes classic disco house with forward-thinking dancefloor energy and expert production. A-Trak and AVH are bona fide DJ heroes whose team-ups are fueled by anything-goes samples, an almost childlike sense of fun, and 100% NYC attitude. This approach has made Duck Sauce fans-for-life out of partygoers around the globe, and will continue to convert anyone within earshot of "Barbra"'s instantly addictive, whistling hook.

For the video, director So Me (Justice, Kid Cudi, MGMT) uses the song to soundtrack a hyperactive, ecstatic New York City travelogue. Shot over a week of long nights out with A-Trak and Armand (including live footage from the Fool's Gold "Day Off" labor day block party), the clip is a pop-art adventure starring commandeered taxis and hotdog stands, sexy strangers, and a who's-who of famous friends: rappers, producers, indie rockers, graffiti writers and nightlife icons all take turns adding their own special sauce to the song, turning "Barbra Streisand" into one of this year's must-rewind clips. (Mr. Goldbar on Vimeo)

Duck Sauce - "Barbra Streisand" from Paradoxal Inc on Vimeo.

Letterpress, an instructional video:

2011-05-11T09:26:00.002-04:00

Letterpress from Naomie Ross on Vimeo.

Get your 'shine on.

2011-05-11T06:56:00.005-04:00

This moonshine packaging is by Shane Cranford (Winston-Salem, NC) for Piedmont Distillers. I like the simplicity of the black and white.

Few family recipes carry a jail sentence, but for the Johnson family it was a way of life; with the law on his heels, Junior ran the finest moonshine to the dry rural south. Junior Johnson’s family recipe is a triple distilled, lower proof and a legal version then the original. As smooth as premium vodka, it’s grain neutral and virtually odorless. Drawing inspiration from the design of Johnson’s cars, used for running in the 1930s and ’40s the packaging was kept simple and bold. (The Dieline)

Haley Reinhart sings "House of the Rising Sun"

2011-05-04T22:25:00.002-04:00

I don't watch American Idol every week, but from what little I've seen this season, Haley Reinhart is my favorite. She's got this unique kind of jazzy but raspy (in a good way) voice with lots of soul. There's something classic about it, but it never gets old.

Tonight, she sang my ultimate favorite song, House of the Rising Sun (made popular by the Animals in 1964). I can't tell you exactly why I love it so much, but it resonates deep within me, besides the tune and the lyrics being so bad-ass. On top of all that, no one knows where it came from; there is no known original author. I have 17 versions of the song currently in my iTunes, and I want Haley's as soon as it's released. She does it right.

I thought it was also worth mentioning that Siobhan Magnus sang it last year. I liked it a lot then, but I think Haley Reinhart topped it this season:

Happy birthday, Audrey Hepburn!

2011-05-04T10:55:00.003-04:00

Happy birthday to Audrey Hepburn! She would have been 82 today. Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) is one of my favorite classic films.

You know what's wrong with you, Miss Whoever-you-are? You're chicken, you've got no guts. You're afraid to stick out your chin and say, "Okay, life's a fact, people do fall in love, people do belong to each other, because that's the only chance anybody's got for real happiness." You call yourself a free spirit, a "wild thing," and you're terrified somebody's gonna stick you in a cage. Well baby, you're already in that cage. You built it yourself. And it's not bounded in the west by Tulip, Texas, or in the east by Somali-land. It's wherever you go. Because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself.

50 reasons not to date a graphic designer

2011-05-03T10:47:00.002-04:00

I put my favorites in bold. From A Bourbon for Silvia:

1. They are very weird people.
2. There are billions of them in the world, like colors on the screen of your computer.
3. They will analyze conversations in layers.
4. You will spend the day assembling furniture from IKEA.
5. They drink and eat all kinds of weird shit just because they like the packaging.
6. They hate each other.
7. You’ll come out the last out of the movies because you have to see the full list of credits.
8. They cant change a light bulb or without making a sketch.
9. They fuck up all the tables with their cutters.
10. They rather study the paisley pattern on your outfit than listen to what you have to say.
11. They will fill your house with magazines and whatever is out there that has drawings.
12. You never know if it is really an original or a copy.
13. They make collages with your photos.
14. They do not know how to add and subtract, they just understand letters.
15. They idolize people who nobody knows and speak of them as if they were his colleagues.
16. They take pictures almost daily and all are cut in weird shapes.
17. They ask your opinion about everything but they do whatever they want.
18. Everything is left justified, right or center unless they arrive late.
19. They hate Comic Sans with the same passion they love Helvetica.
20. They use iPhone for everything, because everyone has one.
21. You can not decorate the house without consulting them.
22. They steal street signs.
23. Always carry their hands painted with something.
24. They buy dolls unfinished for them to paint.
25. Everything becomes something other than what it really is: cards as tickets, cards as …
26. When arguing, you will be nicknamed like the OSX spinning wheel (not affectionately)
27. Do not know how to dress without consulting the Pantone book.
28. They hate Excel.
29. They read comics.
30. They want to save the world only with a poster.
31. You will spend the day brainstorming.
32. On vacation they will take you to countries that you do not know exist and have no beach.
33. Museums are their second home.
34. They know more positions than the Kamasutra.
35. They can’t go to a restaurant without secretly critiquing the menu design.
36. They listen to music you have never heard of.
37. They can´t cook a normal dish, they always have to experiment with new ingredients.
38. They read rare books: stories of children, Semiotics …
39. When you are going to tell you something, everyone has read it in their facebook and twitter.
40. They have own iPods before you knew they existed.
41. The orgasm they remember is when they heard that Adobe was acquiring Macromedia.
42. They have their own shops just for them and there are the most expensive in the city.
43. They want to spend all the money in the Apple Store.
44. You will never understand their gifts.
45. They see ordinary objects and laugh.
46. You wake up in the middle of the night hearing them screaming, “When is the deadline?”
47. They see CMYK and RGB like Neo sees the Matrix.
48. They dream of the day nobody will make a single change to their designs.
49. They rather pay for a font than for a special birthday gift.
50. They are always sleepy because they work 24/7.

Severed Dreams

2011-05-03T09:41:00.003-04:00

Ian Bucknole was asked to direct a video for Ruarri Joseph at Mondo Management. The story is based on Ted Hughes' The Iron Man, telling a story of a childhood imaginary friend that is carried into adult life. Read more about the video on Bucknole's blog.

And I wasn't going to admit this, but it made me tear up.

Severed Dreams from Ian Bucknole on Vimeo.

Oh, Kate Middleton...

2011-04-28T22:45:00.004-04:00

Are you getting up at 4 a.m. to watch the Royal Wedding? I'm not. But I thought this blog was funny, featuring pictures of Kate with "LOL Cats" style captions. You should probably check it out.

Karmin covers "Look at Me Now"

2011-04-27T22:35:00.004-04:00

Okay, so I usually refrain from posting overly popular YouTube videos, but I can't get this song out of my head. I like this better than the original version by Chris Brown (ft. Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes). Karmin went on to perform it on Ellen last week.

I love even more that Amy's fiance, Nick, had to convince her to produce and release this- her rapping talent was only revealed when she sung in the shower.

2011-04-24T21:10:00.000-04:00

(from PostSecret)

2011-04-21T21:38:00.002-04:00

From Paul Z.

The Gatsby Home

2011-04-21T20:30:00.002-04:00

I saw this on Sunday Morning on CBS this past week. It's a shame this house has to go (or that it wasn't kept up or renovated). It was said to be an inspiration for F. Scott Fitzgerald when he was writing The Great Gatsby. I love the 1920's party scenes described in the book and can totally envision them happening here, eighty-something years ago.

Want free Starbucks this Friday?

2011-04-20T14:00:00.003-04:00

Bring in your reusable mug to Starbucks and they'll fill it with coffee and tea, for free.

The project in this commercial reminds me of Sagmeister's poster composed of 2,500 coffee cups:

The Nomadic Letterhead

2011-04-19T09:42:00.008-04:00

Eight Hour Day rolled out a new look for their letterhead/branding package, specifically designed to adapt to their traveling scheduled for this year. They scaled down the traditional letterhead to a postcard size, making it more mobile. The letterpress was expertly done by Studio On Fire.

"Our new blog was a large part of this trip. For us it was a way to record and share our travels. Because of this, we wanted to have something to give people we met along the way, or those people or places we wanted to feature that wasn’t as stuffy as a business card. Our solution was the blog pog–a bit quirkier leave behind that let people know we were going to blog about them (EHD Likes You) or simply directed people to the blog to find out more (EHD Was Here)."

(Eight Hour Day blog)

Maybe it's because I grew up in the 90's, but I like the idea of resurrecting pogs into a different new ephemera, a quaint detail in this case. I would smile if I got one of those, and I think a lot of people will.

Look at more work by Eight Hour Day; they've got some good stuff.

We aren't living up to what the 1930's anticipated.

2011-04-19T09:05:00.003-04:00

My favorite part is when he says "whoosh!" and the part describing men's wear in the end. Too bad the guys today don't walk around with candy. Then again, maybe that's a good thing.

This skateboard is so beautiful.

2011-04-14T08:53:00.003-04:00

Beautiful skateboard by Loren Kulesus, a NYC based designer. Check out more of his work on Coroflot (he's got some musical instruments and even a car design worth looking at).

I freaking love abandoned places! (Theatre entry)

2011-04-06T08:37:00.006-04:00

At my old university, there was a small theatre-style auditorium in the upstairs of one of the oldest buildings. The staircases went from the well-circulated halls on the bottom floor to the increasingly quiet halls of old administration rooms and finally the silence of the old theatre. There was a main entrance at the top of the stairs, but the balcony entrance was higher, and I liked this space best. Some nights when I was roaming around campus, climbing to the rooftops to gaze at stars or just laying in the soft grass under great oaks (and partially pretending it was Narnia, in whole truth), I would wander on occasion up to the old theatre to see if it had been left unlocked. My breath would become slightly nervous and more controllably still as I climbed the creaky last steps to the balcony doors. Once inside, I would use the light of my cell phone and find a seat looking over the dark rows of chairs leading to the stage and further darker backstage. I wondered if there were any ghosts- it was a perfect place for them. I sat in silence examining the intricate trimming and odd ornamentation paired with the large, dark windows, chipped paint, and old smell, wondering if there were any others like me in years before that were content to sit in the creepy stillness of the empty theatre.

(New Orleans, Louisiana, source)

Thus I was pleased to find this link from Buzzfeed showing 75 beautiful photos of abandoned theaters throughout the U.S. The following theater is located in Norwich, Connecticut (picture by rustyjaw on Flickr-- and if you like abandoned buildings of all kinds, check out his photostream).

For more abandoned theaters, check out abandonedtheaters.com, a photography series by Julia Solis.

If you share an interest in abandoned spaces, also see abandoned theme parks, abandoned buildings, and ghost towns.

Blue suede shoes for your rainy day blues

2011-03-27T09:09:00.003-04:00

And you thought they were going to be Chuck Taylor Converse All-Stars, didn't you? (Those blue suede ones sell custom for $75.)

I would really like these someday when I have money. I don't think I've ever owned a pair of Adidas shoes (I'm a New Balance girl). Since I can't have them now, the closest I can come is drawing them.

And I found these unexpected Coruscant shoes, for the Star Wars fans.

Facebook news and visual cues

2011-03-24T10:54:00.004-04:00

This is an interesting piece I saw in this issue of CMYK: Episodic Memory, Semiotics of Facebook by Annabel Mangold, a student from Portfolio Center. Her portfolio is featured on CMYK, and she was recently interviewed by GD USA.

I like the iconic blue of Facebook and how it's layered onto the newspaper with interesting symbols and type.

"To me, studying design is studying life. It is a wonderful blend of psychology, aesthetics, pragmatics, and the ethereal. I study design to ultimately find my own truth, communicating my perspective to others as a part of an ongoing dialogue. I study design to learn and to be challenged. It is my belief that by becoming a designer, I will practice a profession where one's work and one's purpose are closely aligned — and that excites me. I want to design transparent, effective systems that encourage and support individuals and entities." (Annabel Mangold, GD USA interview)

Word of the day: etoecology

2011-03-23T13:32:00.004-04:00

(to find out the meaning, watch the film)

Unfortunately, I didn't get the answers right when asked in Biology, thus I couldn't do what this guy did. It's a super way to recycle old notes from class and a lot more creative that just burning them in celebration when exams are over.

(Produced by by Ornana films)

(notes on) biology from ornana films on Vimeo.

The Art Spirit

2011-03-23T09:56:00.003-04:00

I am currently reading The Art Spirit by Robert Henri, which is a guide of technical practices in painting along with wisdom and philosophy of art-making. It is filled with rich advice and great quotes. I highly recommend it to my peers.

I was reading a bit of it yesterday and found this passage to be relevant to my life currently:

"The wise draftsman brings forward what he can use most effectively to present his case. His case is his special interest- his special vision. He does not repeat nature... When a fine dancer appears before you in a very significant gesture, you are caught only by the folds of her drapery which respond to the great will in her movement. She has established in you a trend of interest. What enters your vision is only the sequences of this established interest. When gamblers play in luck, when they continue to win, seem to have a knowledge of how the card will turn, they may be said to have fallen in with one of the courses nature takes. They do not know it, but there are sequences and sequences, untold numbers of them overlaying, intermingling. Every movement in nature is orderly, one thing the outcome of another, a matter of constructive, growing force. We live our lives in tune with nature when we are happy, and all our misery is the result of our effort to dictate against nature. In moments of great happiness we seem to be with the universe; when all is wrong we seem to be alone, disjointed. Things are going on without us..." (Robert Henri, The Art Spirit)

I have always been interested in seeing patterns that occur through nature. There are curious turn of events that prompt success and failure despite what we can control. I am finding it important to learn to adjust to challenging circumstances, but most of all, to keep a good attitude whether it seems you are aligned with nature or not. Sometimes if everything seems to be against you, having a bad attitude and dwelling on these things only brings more misery and chances missed. But if you hold your head up and keep looking for opportunity, persistence will get you through these times, and you'll be better for it. Look for the good things and you will find them, maybe minor things at first, but it will progress. (Same with negative things- look for the bad and you will find an abundance that drags you down further).

Can I be honest here? I don't usually write about my personal life on this blog, but I'm struggling right now. In the context of Henri's passage, I've been dictating against nature for too many months. I made a commitment at the beginning of this year to start improving my attitude and doing the best I could to take care of my health, spiritually, mentally and physically. I have improved, and am excited about the vast possibility of growth (as always). I have been very financially challenged and although my lifestyle does not require much, it is debilitating in other ways. I tried to move to a larger city late last year, but this failed when I could not find a job fast enough. I was running out of money, so much to the point of planning my last trip to the city to accomplish everything in those few days from looking at the cheapest living space I could find to an interview that I had been granted at a wonderful firm in the city. This was planned all in the same 2 days to save on gas so I could deposit the rest on the shared room I found. The only problem was that it took substantially more to move in than 2 months rent. The interview was for a paid internship, and although it was a great opportunity and the firm liked my work, I couldn't start out with less than $2,000.

Furthermore, I damaged a friendship by taking advantage of someone when trying to find a job and get a start there. It was not my intention at all, but my lack of communication was a main factor here. I left the city discouraged and frustrated with myself, in desperate need of healing and a reevaluation of my so called dreams. I've used the time since then to change and improve. I felt that I had failed miserably by the whole experience, but at the same time, I learned things that could not have been taught to me any other way. I had two offers for internships and I know with everything in me that I could have made it if I had the money to start out, and that is encouraging.

I know who I am. Among many things, I am a dreamer, and this can be a blessing and a curse. There is so much I want out of life and I can feel the push of reality urging me to let go of the things it deems impossible or unfit for me. I am developing a judgement of knowing what to give up and what to keep, from personal qualities to ambitions. I won't grow to be satisfied and complacent if I do not achieve that which I have set out to do, yet I will learn to forfeit the extraneous for that which is more important overall. There are things which aren't worth sacrificing your values for, and there are other things that you must adjust to meet if you really want them. I am learning to enjoy the small things and looking for the good in these trying circumstances while keeping hope and a determination and not settling. As a dreamer, I will always push myself to be and accomplish more.

I know I need to be better, but furthermore, I know I can and I will, because I won't stop.

Painter: Ian Francis

2011-03-22T09:04:00.005-04:00

Ian Francis is a painter based in Bristol, England. He attended the University of the West of England for his BA degree, and frequently shows at Lazarides Gallery in London, among a couple places in the U.S. His latest show, Fireland, can be found at the Joshua Liner Gallery in NYC until April 2.

I am in love with Ian Francis' work. His style combines a spontaneous application of paint freely with areas that get tighter in form to create a juxtaposition of the intricate and the direct. Layers of washes create a rich surface in which the forms find definition, then digress. It gives the appearance of half-recalled dreams or incomplete memories.

He's done some great pieces in 2011 already, which you can check out on his site. Also, see his blog to discover more about his process. He posts bits and pieces of what he's working on, his inspiration, photos, and sketches. Fecal Face did a great interview with Ian awhile back, which reveals a bit more about his process:

"I normally describe what I do as mixed media painting... the idea is to get different kinds of marks to work off of each other - so sometimes I'll paint/draw fairly accurately, then work quite loosely on a section, then break up elements of print on another section. At the moment I think a lot of the painting I do is too tight, it should really be looser and more expressive." (John Trippe, Fecal Face)

Happy 5 years, Twitter!

2011-03-22T07:55:00.001-04:00

Twitter made a video in honor of its 5 year birthday (yesterday), showcasing its use by celebrities and workers in different industries:

Irish coffee cupcakes

2011-03-21T08:42:00.003-04:00

I made these really good Irish coffee cupcakes for St. Patrick's Day to share with a friend. Yes, I know they're Martha Stewart's, and I'm disinclined to like her for various reasons, one of which includes that we share the same birthday, but these cupcakes were delicious! They weren't over-the-top too sweet, and the icing really brought it together. You should try it if you have a bit of Jameson on hand.

I also found a bunch of traditional Irish recipes on chow.com, including boxty and Guinness chocolate ice cream (if you have an ice cream maker). It makes me really miss Ireland.

Reebok gets its Zig on

2011-03-15T07:40:00.002-04:00

March Madness has progressed to the bracket stage, and while watching ESPN for stats, I happened to see this new spot for Reebok's ZigTech shoes ("the energy drink for your feet"). I like the fun mix of animation becoming the real athlete in the end. I saw the one featuring John Wall, but I love the music for the one with Peyton Manning (both shown below). There's also spots with Iker Casillas, Alexander Ovechkin, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (he jumps over a cow!).

The ads were created by DDB (Berlin), who have worked with Reebok for the past two years. According to Ad Age, "In 2010, the athletic brand nearly tripled its measured media spending in the U.S. to $75.7 million, with $38 million devoted to ZigTech and $31 million to EasyTone."

And it's been paying off. Sales grew about 12% in 2010, and with the ongoing momentum of advertising, Reebok anticipates more in 2011.

Richard Prenderville, VP-global brand marketing at Reebok comments on the attitude of the brand:

"We walked into the relationship with DDB saying we've always had a different take on the world. All the other brands take more of a blood, sweat and tears approach. We think fun is more of a sustaining motivational factor. Having fun staying in shape is our strategic territory." (Advertising Age)

Fellow young designers- did you catch this in HOW?

2011-03-13T17:40:00.003-04:00

January's issue of HOW Magazine published an article by Doug Bartow (29 Things that All Young Designers Need to Know), which I found very useful. I was reading the magazine in B&N and had to copy down a few notes in my sketchbook. I've thought of it several times over the past couple months since reading it.

Here's a few great suggestions for example, but there are so many others (I also like 9, 12, and 23).

3. Don't fear type; become its master.

Often, being a good typographer means not making the simple mistakes. To accomplish this, you’ll need a working knowledge of classical typography. Go get one. “The Elements of Typographic Style” by Robert Bringhurst, “Thinking With Type” by Ellen Lupton and “Grid Systems in Graphic Design” by Josef Müller-Brockmann are cover-to-cover must-reads. Repeat after me: “Free fonts from the internet are crap, I will not use them.” Keep saying that.

4. Define your audience.

Who are you speaking to and what is the objective? If you can’t definitively answer both of these questions about a project you’re about to start working on, go back to the drawing board. Graphic design is simply a plan that visually articulates a message. Make sure you have the message and its intended viewer sorted out before you start making. Communicate with purpose—don’t just make eye candy.

15. Content is still king.

Technically, Elvis is still the king, but for the sake of this argument, let’s put an emphasis on the message, and consider design as a plan for delivering it. The most effective and memorable visual communication almost always has the right mix of form and content, regardless of medium. Good design can engage a viewer, but interesting content will keep them reading, and thinking, past the headline.

27. Remember that your Mac is a tool.

Twenty years ago, many people in our industry were sure that desktop publishing would mark the end of professional graphic design as we knew it. They confused the convenience of new technology with the skill and passion required to design with it. Take a good look at your design methodology and the role technology plays in your work. Can you select “Shut Down” and still be an effective visual communicator? Practice that.

Really though, it's a great article that will remind you of a few things and teach you a few more, so go read it!

Illustrator: Carine Brancowitz

2011-03-12T10:36:00.002-05:00

Carine Brancowitz is a French illustrator who reminds me a bit of Andrea Joseph, one of my favorites. Brancowitz uses brilliant colors of ballpoint pens and intricate patterns to create interesting compositions. Furthermore, these drawings are not limited to small sketchbook pages, but some reach to almost 4 feet! The work is trendy, but in a good way. Check out her portfolio on her site (both client and personal), and watch the video to get a closer look (it's different from any "showcase" video I've seen).

I was interested in her bio, and according to Rich Soil Clothing, Carine "spent her childhood in the woods of her family's castle in France. When she turned 16, she moved to Paris to study illustration at the Paris school of arts, Ecole Estienne. Her career began in 1996 as the Junior Art Director at a Parisian communications agency specializing in fashion and trends."

...Her family has a castle??

Chronicle Books Design Fellowship poster

2011-03-11T22:08:00.003-05:00

Nice 2-color silkscreen informational poster designed by Wilfred Castillo and Supriya Kalidas for Chronicle Books Design Fellowship. Both designers have experience with the Fellowship, so it's cool they could create the poster for them.

Chronicle Books Design Fellowship is taking applications for the summer & fall of this year until April 11, 2011, f.y.i. Sounds like a valuable opportunity and you could see San Francisco!

Effective design on a budget

2011-03-11T11:08:00.002-05:00

I can't get over this low-budget letterhead package designed by Chris Richardson for Peace Corps at 50. The project utilizes 2 different stamps to create nice texture and overall effect. Other printing costs included labels, but the total production was $70, including paper. I also like the use of Bodoni and Akzidenz Grotesk in the type.

It beautifully demonstrates how to wisely use resources and good fundamental design to create an identity that doesn't cost hundreds, but is just as appealing and effective.

It's as if Elvis came back to life and signed her car!

2011-03-11T10:49:00.003-05:00

Usually, I'm hesitant about car stickers/decals, but this one is an automatic win. Also, I must add that although I like Elvis, there is a lot of tacky memorabilia out there and I'm glad this doesn't fall into that category. My sister just put this vinyl sticker on her new car. You can get one from Amazon (and at a price of $3, I suggest you do).

Better Half Ale

2011-03-08T17:36:00.005-05:00

I love hand-drawn script, especially when it looks carefree and natural. This lovely label comes from VSA Partners (NY), made for a Valentine's Day exhibition, g(love), with Stephen Antonson. Clever name for the ale, considering the show. The Chelsea Brewing Company supplied the beverages.

"Artist Stephen Antonson paired up with VSA NY to present g(love), a singular exhibition inspired by the bittersweet feeling of love lost and found. G(love): A Valentine from Stephen Antonson and VSA showcased 21 framed pairs of gloves and mittens picked up off the streets of New York and lovingly mismatched by Antonson.

VSA treated more than 175 of our friends and associates to a signature blonde ale and a complimentary set of postcards featuring pieces from the show. Antonson’s Icicle Chandelier and birch wood lamps provided warmth and whimsy that transformed VSA NY into a gallery for one festive evening." (-VSA)

(Seen on The Dieline.)

Meggs

2011-03-07T10:11:00.004-05:00

Meggs is a contemporary artist featured on the NB574 project started by New Balance. The project showcases the careers of 5 creative Australians, following them over the span of four months through photography and video. Check out Meggs within the project.

For me it's about the middle ground, I guess, between the darker aspects of life and the optimism, the good aspects... It's like I find it's that internal search about balance, about one's life being balanced, I mean, like you've got between morals and desires and all that sort of stuff, which I think about a lot.

...and he likes Francis Bacon. WIN.

NB574.com | Meggs | Part 01 from NB 574 on Vimeo.

Daft Coke

2011-03-04T18:35:00.003-05:00

Coca-Cola is coming out with commemorative bottles of Daft Coke that will be hitting the clubs in Paris this month. DaftCoke.com, a site about the project, will go live soon. The design is inspired by Daft Punk's helmets. Read more about it in the Huffington Post.

Need a laugh?

2011-03-03T20:34:00.005-05:00

Here are some of my favorite funny sites, in case you need a break:

You may have heard of Fail Blog, Texts From Last Night, Stuff White People Like, and People of Walmart.

I've started reading Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh at the suggestion of my dear friend, Diana. I was skeptical at first when seeing illustrations done in Microsoft Paint, but was won over after reading the hilarious and well-written stories that went with these outrageous and fitting drawings.

Damn You, Auto Correct!- Gotta love when technology screws up a message.

For the photographers:

Awkward Family Photos- conjures up memories of Olan Mills in my best 90's floral prints and lace, except much worse and funnier.

The Awkward Lean

Photobomb

For the English majors:

Awful Library Books

The "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks

Apostrophe Abuse

Stall Wall Poetry

For the Designers:

Clients From Hell- actual conversations and ridiculous requests from difficult clients.

Photoshop Disasters- maybe it was 3 a.m. or maybe they were drunk?

27b/6- Melanie suggested I read Missing Missy, and I found this guy's sarcasm entertaining.

Font Police

A few more random ones:

Passive Aggressive Notes

God Hates Protesters

You Suck at Craigslist

Crummy Church Signs

I hope you get some good laughs!

There's wisdom in these words and beauty in the type

2011-02-24T22:05:00.004-05:00

I like these quotes, even more so with the type done by Pogo, a design/art boutique in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Free Yourself

2011-02-23T18:08:00.003-05:00

I love this one too- especially to the new Adele song. It's empowering. Maybe next time I need motivation to work out, I'll just watch a couple Nike commercials!

Moleskine+Screen Printing

2011-02-22T22:33:00.003-05:00

Moleskine Silk Screen Printing from Moleskine ® on Vimeo.

(Video by Alvise Tedesco, music by Kevin MacLeod.) More details on the process here.

Why Coke is dope:

2011-02-22T17:07:00.002-05:00

Coca-Cola is taking it to the streets. Free happiness all around! (I love that they also give out random things amidst the bottles too.)

Brazil:

The Philippines:

Ireland is a separate country.

2011-02-22T16:07:00.003-05:00

I'm glad this is explained. Let it be known that it is a grave misconception to regard Ireland as part of Great Britain or the United Kingdom. Also, the narrator of this video should rap if he has more rhythm.

The Blank Page

2011-02-22T15:36:00.002-05:00

I don't usually read web comics, but Incidental Comics by Grant Snider is pretty cute.

2011-02-20T17:08:00.002-05:00

Desiron Chalk Art from Dana Tanamachi on Vimeo.

Dana Tanamachi, a Brooklyn native designer, draws exquisite typography with chalk. (And I do believe that she likes to have a Coca-Cola close by when she creates too!)

Happy birthday, Kurt Cobain!

2011-02-20T13:27:00.003-05:00

Kurt Cobain would have been 44 today.

"Enabling fine gentlemen to get messy"

2011-02-20T09:56:00.005-05:00

We have had some gorgeous weather lately, and I'm actually starting to welcome sun, warmth, and summer (in the past, I have adamantly loved rain and storms). I sat outside the other day with iced peach tea in a handmade mug and wrote a letter. I'm taking daily walks to enjoy these days as best I can. I'm looking forward to that summer smell in the air and the lightning bugs dotting twilight.

Another great part of summer is grilling. Thomas Hayes designed this barbeque kit, Proper BBQ, featured on Lovely Package.

“Proper BBQ, enabling fine gentlemen to get messy. The range of products are essentials for the BBQ mad gentleman or the lavish messy hungry man, they were designed with a big bold punchy flavor in mind. Each product allows the user to get crazy and splash some charisma into their food, allowing each item to be generously applied."

The Johnny Cash Project

2011-02-20T08:24:00.003-05:00

This global collective art project invites anyone to draw a frame to be submitted into a music video of "Ain't No Grave", Cash's last studio recording. The project will be completed in 1318 frames streamed together to make an animation by fans and contributors, directed by Chris Milk. Check it out, and contribute, if you want!

Menosunocerouno's Pepper branding

2011-02-17T22:20:00.000-05:00

The guys at Menosunocerouno, a design agency based in Mexico, have really nice and simple designs. Most of their work is done in just black and white- uncomplicated, but expertly done. Here is a branding package done for Pepper, a kitchen+bar. It is reminiscent of Art Deco, but has an eye-catching modern twist. It's upscale and exquisite, but with a fun side too.

Menosunocerouno's branding for Basanti also caught my eye. You can see more on Behance as well.

Calligraphy is sexy.

2011-02-17T21:47:00.003-05:00

Beautiful calligraphy from Frank Ortmann of Freies Graphik Design, designed for Max Goldt's L'Eglise des Crocodiles. Seeing his process is interesting and relaxing too. I enjoy elegant script, and I'm a bit afraid that the value of penmanship is fading.

2011-02-17T20:19:00.002-05:00

The Waterhouse Gallery in Santa Monica, CA has a great exhibition (Great American Figurative Artists 2010) with a good variety of figure paintings. Here are a few of my favorites:

Fongwei Liu, "Black Bandana"

Stan Moeller, "The Pool"

Mark Lague, "Walking In Winter"

Jacquelyn Bischak, "Zephyrus"

Hain Yao Tseng, "Keira"

Tony Riff draws

2011-02-17T12:18:00.003-05:00

I love watching someone draw (and the video is well-shot). This is Tony Riff, and he's got style.

Tony Riff from itdrewitself on Vimeo.

Greenville, SC- Represent!

2011-02-15T14:24:00.003-05:00

Some interesting typography was done under D.A. Sanborn, a surveyor who compiled insurance maps. Find many more headings and letterforms cropped from the maps (1865-1920) at BibliOdyssey.

An outreach program that has me saying "Hallelujah!"

2011-02-15T09:27:00.007-05:00

Stephen Powers, a.k.a. ESPO (Exterior Surface Painting Outreach) is producing a documentary film in collaboration with Joey Garfield and the Mural Arts Program of Philadelphia. The book was published not long ago. Powers' work was featured in the Venice and Liverpool Biennials, and the Deitch gallery in New York. In 2007, he won a Fulbright Program grant and used it to paint murals in Belfast and Dublin with local teenagers.

A Love Letter For You is a project by Stephen Powers with the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program and is sponsored by the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage through the Philadelphia Exhibitions Initiative (check out the murals). 50 walls were painted between 63rd and 45th on Market Street. Powers has also tackled a Love Letter to Syracuse.

In case you didn't get enough...

2011-02-14T18:46:00.005-05:00

Lovely letterpress valentines by 9 Spot Monk:

and Wiley Valentine:

Love Against Hate

2011-02-14T12:30:00.002-05:00

Nice book covers by the Great Paul Rand (my favorite is the last, Love Against Hate). Some enlightening essays and thoughts on design by Mr. Rand can be found here.

Love Potion No. 9

2011-02-14T11:31:00.003-05:00

I always tried to picture how "Love Potion Number 9" (from the song released in 1959) would be packaged, and this is one variation. It turned into some odd kind of valentine card. I wanted to have fun drawing letters and doing some prints again. I loved it so much, I'm buying more linoleum and making more linocuts.

Happy Valentine's Day!

BANDIT-I$M keepin' it fresh

2011-02-11T22:58:00.004-05:00

123KLAN is a design firm in Montreal, Quebec founded by graffiti artists in 1993. They wanted to mix graffiti styles and graphic design to create bold new trends.

They recently released a cool promo video for 2011:

(Music is Get It Together by the Beastie Boys.)

123KLAN REEL 2011 from 123 KLAN on Vimeo.

Check out that "J"! That's a really nice "J".

2011-02-10T19:20:00.002-05:00

Really nice poster by Jude Landry for a Jessica Hische lecture inspired by the Daily Drop Cap. (And if you've never visited the Daily Drop Cap, it's worth it.)

The Musician of Type

2011-02-09T17:34:00.003-05:00

"People speak different dialects- visual dialects, and it's fascinating."

There's a lot of great typographical (and life) wisdom here. It's Erik Spiekermann, so you know it's got to be good. Thanks to Jane Dorn for posting the link on Twitter (you should probably follow her; she's a pretty inspirational figure).

Erik Spiekermann - Putting Back the Face into Typeface from Gestalten on Vimeo.

Great campaign for a great cause

2011-02-08T10:34:00.005-05:00

Several months ago, I was having a great conversation with a friend about their aspirations with design. They had been researching a little about war propaganda and was seeing the impact that design had on these cultures for a specific, driven cause. Noticing how the industry can get so caught up in money, sales, and advertising meaningless products, she was trying to find a more fulfilling option. She believes that design can impact people for better and can be used to accomplish great things, socially, for the good of all. This kind of design, dedicated to the improvement of society is truly beautiful and rewarding. It's a very passionate, inspiring idea, which is why I love finding things like this:

Mashable has a great article about Urban Ministries of Durham (UMD), a nonprofit organization, is teaming up with McKinney, a local design agency in Durham, NC. The objective is to cause awareness about the homeless population in the area through social media campaigns such as Foursquare and this interactive online game, Spent.

The game is well designed, with nice typography and simple usage. It walks the player through a series of decisions that one would encounter if they lived on limited means, beginning with no job, no house, and $1000. How does it end? You decide. There are a few opportunities within the game to cause awareness on Facebook, and at the end, the player has the option to donate to UMD.

From the Mashable article:

The game, however, walks a fine line with tone. Non-profits constantly have to balance bumming out their audience with important facts and stats, and motivating that same audience to then donate or become engaged. SPENT seamlessly blends that information into the game. Your choices are met with great insights about how many people opt out of health insurance because of high premiums, how 44% of people living below the poverty line use public libraries to access the Internet or how in 2009, 50 million Americans lived in households that had a hard time getting food. These facts are made all the more powerful after you’ve had to weigh the options for yourself.

Jenny Nicholson, a copywriter at McKinney, is one of a handful of people that created the game and came from circumstances like the ones SPENT simulates. She says the game isn’t about disparaging the user but creating empathy: “You have to make the best decisions you can. The people that are in these situations don’t do this because they’re stupid but because they’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.”

Here's more of McKinney's work for Urban Ministries of Durham.

2011-02-07T19:32:00.000-05:00

"The broader one's understanding of the human experience, the better design we will have." (Steve Jobs)

Some of my favorite Super Bowl commercials this year:

2011-02-06T22:42:00.004-05:00

I know everyone is talking about this one. Volkswagen made some great ones, including the Beetle spot. The Darth Vader kid (6 yr. old Max Page) and his efforts to control the Force is incredibly cute. I want to watch it again and again. This incredible campaign was developed by Deutsch Inc. (L.A.).

Coca-Cola didn't disappoint either. They always come up with fun and whimsical mini-stories, imaginative, slightly suspenseful, and touching.

Most of the time, I'm not crazy about the beer ads. I remember them being funnier in the 90's, but sometimes I like one from the Super Bowl. I thought this one was good, maybe because I like the song and it was unexpected, or that I liked the simplicity of the classic association between saloons and the tradition of bar songs. This spot was brought to you by Anheuser-Busch with Anomaly of New York.

Really, Chrysler? This was a pleasant surprise for me. I started watching this, not expecting much from the glorification of Detroit, but somewhere in the middle got pulled in and by the end, felt such excitement for this city. Great writing. I was sincerely impressed.

Doritos makes me laugh again with House Sitting. Tynesha Williams came up with the idea for the Doritos/Pepsi Max Crash the Super Bowl Challenge. It's an interesting approach to form the ad ideas from contest submissions- the winners get fame and Doritos/Pepsi save money and spark interest?

...and I'm glad the Packers won!

Super Bowl!

2011-02-05T22:28:00.006-05:00

I liked the relation of shape and form of a human skull and a football helmet juxtaposed, so I wanted to draw it, although it's kind of weird. I'm pulling for the Packers tomorrow, and am making spinach artichoke dip for the occasion. I'm equally excited about the commercials and hope to see a great one by Coca-Cola. They've created some of my favorites, like Heist (2009) and Grand Theft Auto (2007). And of course, no one can forget the famous Mean Joe Green (1979).

What are some of your favorite Super Bowl commercials?

Go Packers!

"The Alphabet" by Alessandro Novelli

2011-02-04T09:39:00.002-05:00

Alessandro Novelli is an Italian designer. He animated the English alphabet. My favorite is "B".

The Alphabet from n9ve on Vimeo.

The Kraken, brought to you in 3D!

2011-02-03T08:45:00.003-05:00

In 2007, there were 4 feature-length films in 3D. Since the success of James Cameron's Avatar (2009) the number of 3D movies shot up to 23 in 2010. There's clearly a need for more 3D in our lives, so the Kraken Rum has come out with 3D labels! The rum will be available for purchase at their online store, where you can also buy an awesome Kraken Moleskine!

What money can't buy:

2011-02-02T12:46:00.003-05:00

FLOWmarket is a permanent exhibition at the Danish Design Center in Copenhagen, Denmark. It opened in 2004, and has developed temporary stores in six other locations since, including Zurich (2005) and New York (2006).

The online store sells packaging for items such as "Trust", "Self Esteem", "Effortlessness", and dozens more. It's an interesting concept designed by Mads Hagstrom, the director of The Flow Institute, to prompt consumers to consider sustainability and immaterial values. The brand focuses on 3 main levels: man's relation to oneself, man's relation to society, and man's relation to nature.

Where's the peacock?

2011-02-02T11:14:00.010-05:00

NBC has changed to various logos over the years, starting from their TV logo of the microphone in 1942. John J. Graham (colleague of Herb Lubalin) was responsible for adding the iconic peacock in 1956. Although NBC strayed a few instances from the peacock design, it appeared again in later logos.

The NBC Universal logo has changed again this year and has done away with the peacock. It is now a word mark, using purple as the primary color, and "NBC Universal" in white. Chief Executive, Steve Burke was quoted saying that the old logo "seemed kind of busy." While that may have been true (including the globe shape from universal and the peacock from NBC), the new logo went overboard with ditching everything, in my opinion.

As the digital revolution advances with changes in social media and devices getting smaller and faster, many companies are looking for redesigns to adapt. They are attempting to make logos extremely simple and minimalist in many cases, but some miss the mark altogether and settle for boring. If something is going to be minimalistic or diverting from classic icons, it's got to be good. It must retain excitement or spark by having some twist or at least looking elegant and well-done.

Why must NBC Universal give up to this when they have a company with rich history? They can do better. There's already a community contest inviting redesigns with hundreds of designers hoping to reverse the mistake. Linda Holmes of NPR wrote an entertaining blog about the redesign: NBC Universal Unveils New Logo Built To Thrill You Into Deep Relaxation. The new logo reminds many people of the Fantastic 4. I hope NBC Universal considers changing.

The Indie Grits Film Festival

2011-02-02T10:34:00.004-05:00

Years ago, I came across an impressive logo for the Indie Grits Film Festival designed by John Foust at Riggs Partners (Columbia, SC) while reading design books in Barnes & Noble. I was happy to see the great design carried on into these recent posters by Stitch Design Co. (Charleston, SC). It includes great use of typography and a simple, fun color palette.

2011-02-02T10:18:00.000-05:00

Marion Bolognesi

2011-02-02T09:37:00.001-05:00

Marion Bolognesi is a painter and designer in Brooklyn, NY. Her watercolor portraits capture something beautifully fragile and human within her subjects while using the medium in a nice way, staining and dripping when necessary. The combination of colors are expertly done, giving note to rich shadows and playful outlines of light.

If you want to "be leaner, have more sex, and be in a better mood overall", try this...

2011-02-01T22:47:00.010-05:00

SLEEP.

FFunction designed this interesting infographic for Zeo illustrating statistics on sleep deprivation. Found on FastCo. I like the conclusion- haha.

As an art major, sleep deprivation is no stranger. It practically becomes a living entity dwelling among droopy eyes in late night studios, lurking in the drawn out silent hours and occasionally playing small tricks on vision. It manifests itself in stages- drowsiness, second-wind, slap happy, grumpy, frustrated, wide-eyed concentration tinged with a weird anxious exhaustion...

My longest staying up was 2 days straight, and I felt as if I was slipping in and out of time. With several more hours, I knew I would be seeing things. There were several other times that I was greatly sleep deprived, getting from 2-5 hours per night for 2 weeks, then pulling an all-nighter on top of that. I've slept in 3 different studios and once fell asleep while throwing on the ceramics wheel... haha. I actually miss those late nights, as stressful as they were. Many times, great designers and painters were keeping me company as music blared in the background, and I was most likely aided by coffee and a whole carton of Coca-Cola.

Okay, enough reminiscing about college...

What can 40 cents buy?

2011-02-01T22:01:00.003-05:00

I like this commercial supporting Lazarus Effect, a movement with the (RED) campaign. Watch The Lazarus Effect film directed by Lance Bangs and produced by Spike Jonze.

The cause is dedicated to supplying victims of AIDS with pills that will keep them alive and healthy. The AIDS epidemic is sweeping Africa, killing about 3,600 people per day and leaving at least 14.1 million orphans.

“The Lazarus Effect” references the biblical story of Lazarus who was resurrected four days after his death by Jesus. The term is used to describe the effect of antiretroviral medicine on those living with HIV as the pills, which cost 40 cents a day, allow a person dying from aids to regain their strength within 40 days. (Daelyn Fortney)

Since I like writing letters...

2011-01-27T21:35:00.003-05:00

I was experimenting with ink and watercolor while trying to make a card for my friend. The only drawback is that the watercolor wrinkles the paper, even if it is 100 lb. linen. The quote is by D.M. Dellinger. I think the card could have done without the skeleton key this time, but that was part of the experiment too.

I love doing things by hand!

"Trust in what is difficult."

2011-01-25T21:59:00.007-05:00

Jocelyn Glei writes a post on The 99 Percent about one of my favorite poets, Rainer Maria Rilke. His book, Letters To A Young Poet, is easily in my top 3 favorite books on creativity. Glei notes the wisdom within Rilke's advice, including passages from the book about solitude, patience, and difficulty.

Read the article.

This past summer, I came across Letters on Life, which I found similarly enriching. Reasons to love Rilke? (As if you need them): He's brilliant, he valued correspondence, and he was great friends with Auguste Rodin.

This may be my all-time favorite quote:

"You are looking outward, and that above all you should not do now. Nobody can counsel and help you, nobody. There is only one single way. Go into yourself. Search for the reason that bids you to write; find out whether it is spreading out its roots in the deepest places of your heart, acknowledge to yourself whether you would have to die if it were denied you to write. This above all- ask yourself in the stillest hour of your night: must I write? Delve into yourself for a deep answer. And if this should be affirmative, if you may meet this earnest question with a strong and simple "I must," then build your life according to this necessity; your life even into its most indifferent and slightest hour must be a sign of this urge and a testimony to it. Then draw near to Nature. Then try, like some first human being, to say what you see and experience and love and lose."

-Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters To A Young Poet.

33 years, over 375 sketchbooks!

2011-01-25T11:02:00.003-05:00

This is a great video posted by Pentagram where Daniel Weil discusses the importance of sketchbooks and drawing in his process. He walks through many of his projects (Mothercare, Benetton, the Israel Museum, United Airlines, the Savoy Hotel), demonstrating that a good knowledge of art history can do wonders for influencing his designs. He's had more than 375 sketchbooks since 1978! If you don't want to watch all 7.5 minutes, make sure you don't miss from 5:30 on.

Daniel Weil: Drawing the Process from Pentagram on Vimeo.

"The nature of drawing is changing... The fear for me is the accumulative benefit of process is disappearing. I think technology brings us phenomenal advances and great opportunity in reinventing the way we do things, but maybe it is a reinvention too far, as certain things cannot just be reinvented without... losing the benefit of the culture that they bring with them. So I hope that the more we go into a technological world, the more we'll keep on investing in the analog one. The artistic heritage... is something that i think designers are as responsible to keep on enriching as they are in developing things for the future."

(Daniel Weil)

2011-01-22T11:09:00.002-05:00

(I don't know who drew this type, but I find it quite amazing, and it's Rage Against the Machine lyrics; how can you not love it?)

Design encouraging healthier food choices?

2011-01-21T09:18:00.005-05:00

Interesting article by Alexandra Lange from Design Observer.

Can changing food packaging entice people to choose something healthier? The blog entry covers several interesting points about choices and packaging. Not only does the design have to be great and stand out from other competitors, but class is a factor as well.

"I started to think about what food packaging says about class in America. Where you shop, and what the bag, bottle or box looks like, is as good an indicator of your class and what you think food is as any survey." (Lisa Miller, Newsweek, Divided We Eat).

There's clear separation between upscale, minimalistic packaging and organic paper bag, chalk, simple illustration within health food design. It sets it apart from tacky potato chip bags or cookie packaging, but is it approachable within the same class who would buy generic because of price or habit?

It's an interesting creative problem to approach.

(Packaging by Rick's Picks)

(Tasty Pot Co. packaging by New Zealand's Beyond)

(Innocent packaging by Pearlfisher)

*I had the fruit smoothie in London a few years ago and bought it specifically for the adorable packaging.

2011-01-19T11:05:00.008-05:00

Matthew Freel

2011-01-17T20:01:00.007-05:00

Warrior-Preacher (Theodore Roosevelt), watercolor on paper, 54x74"

In the recent past, I had the privilege of seeing the work of Matthew Freel at his studio located at Studio 33 Arts Center in Baltimore. I was drawn to his work after catching a glimpse of the large (54"x70") watercolor, Warrior-Preacher (Theodore Roosevelt), from the hall. The work was magnetic. I had to get closer and examine the brushstrokes and the exciting movement on the enormous paper. As I looked at the many other works he had displayed, I felt a passion for the work welling up inside me. It was so inspiring!

I noticed several themes in the subjects of his work. He seemed interested in Theodore Roosevelt, boxers, Superman, and Hindu gods. His drawings are well crafted with careful and interesting marks. His paintings are passionate- I love the aggressive use of movement in them. There's an excitement in the work where they seemed to come alive and the figural struggles felt tangible. It is truly great work by a talented artist.

The Pacific opening sequence

2011-01-16T20:44:00.003-05:00

Jivan Dave posted this in his blog a couple months ago, and when I saw that The Pacific was nominated for a Golden Globe, I wanted to show this awesome title sequence designed by Imaginary Forces. It was also nominated for best main title design in the EMMY's. The inspiration was taken from "the history of battlefield sketchers". The charcoal is so sensual, leading into poetic procession of images. I like how the crumbling bits of charcoal visually represent explosions throughout the scenes.

Imaginary Forces is also responsible for the Mad Men opening sequence, and the spectacular Paul Rand short film (designers- if you haven't seen it yet, YOU MUST. It's worth it).

The Pacific Opening Credits from Steve Fuller on Vimeo.

Got Morning Breath?

2011-01-16T14:06:00.004-05:00

The exciting duo of Doug Cunningham and Jason Noto began in a skateboard design shop in San Francisco and evolved into a business located in Brooklyn, NY called Morning Breath Inc.. This team has worked beyond skateboard designs into posters, books, and records. In December they opened a show of 20 medium and large paintings and 49 smaller works, mostly silkscreen on wood panel. Photos of the show can be found on their blog.

I really love their work. I'm intrigued by the simplicity and character of American kitsch, ads and design from the 1940's-1950's era in the U.S. There's something innocent and nostalgic about it. Morning Breath is inspired by work from the past decades, but they make it their own and put a new spin on it so it functions as a contemporary work. The functionality of 50's ad references in the work makes the overall paintings seem juicy in a grungy or slightly obscene way, as provocative as gossip feeding curiosity. They remind me of the great Art Chantry, another favorite of mine.

"In their own words, the Morning Breath signature style is 'a dismantling of classic American typography and illustration,' constructed in a way that preserves the retro look and feel, only 'broken down in a way that would never have taken place 40 years ago.'” (Diana Salier interview) See more about them on their site.

On the process:

We just start building, layering and layering. Jason primarily does the typography and design, and I’ll do the illustration part. Sometimes we’ll block in areas with acrylic paint and silkscreen on top of that, bring in some hand-drawn elements, working with inks to create more overlap in the imagery. Whereas in the past we’d do things that were very random, more of an accidental coming-together, now we’re pushing it deliberately, but still in a way that the aesthetic stays and looks very accidental. (Doug Cunningham)

On the concept:

A lot of old advertisements promised things to people that were false; they had a very strange way of going about it. So we change the lettering and juxtapose different words — strange, bizarre words — that when pushed into the middle of an ad almost become religious. It’s flipping the context of the ad, so all of a sudden the viewer is looking at it and almost feeling kind of grossed out...Even in the scheme of our whole jumbling of words and imagery, it starts to make a visual sense that is wrong in its own right way. (Jason Noto)

Oh yeah- and their portfolio is pretty boss. I tried to find a link to one of my favorite pieces, but honestly, I had too much trouble choosing. I like them all.

Comedy Central rebrand

2011-01-14T09:45:00.007-05:00

Comedy Central launched the new brand at the beginning of January. The new logo and sleek typography was incorporated into all routes of media, from television to the web and apps. The decision for change was lead by Bob Salazar, the Creative Director at Comedy Central, who noted that the Comedy Central brand "has never been so robust and so relevant in the comedy zeitgeist". The new double "C" logo with the upside down "Central" is "the irreverent wink of Comedy Central". He adds in another interview:

“Ten years, that was the last time we did anything this meaningful. If you think of social media, videogames, and the conventional competition, it has changed dramatically in the last 10 years. Even though the brand has never been as strong, we felt that refreshing it in our promotion and our branding, was something that we felt this moment in the network’s history would be the perfect time for."

Comedy Central Brand Transformation from thelab on Vimeo.

The Lab in NYC also worked on the brand. Alicia Johnson and Hal Wolverton gave some insightful thoughts when approaching the problem of the rebrand:

Rebranding Comedy Central - A Portrait of thelab from JaegerSloan Inc. on Vimeo.

The team at the Lab invented a branding device that they felt could live in any medium. Alicia explained “the idea of this packet” which would shorten the distance between the viewer and the channel by delivering a packet to the audience through digital media, leveraging social functionality to connect the right comedy to the right audience. The goal, Alicia said, is for the packet to “behave as an object that you could share, and the object would retain branding while being screen agnostic”. This lead to a discussion on how Comedy Central could become more visible outside of the television screen: on the street, in advertising, online, on mobile platforms, tablets and smart phones. Hal cited one of the biggest challenges, “How do we get our identity to travel along with these clips that end up on YouTube?”

The solution kept restating itself. As Alicia explained “Being screen agnostic was something that just we kept going back to them on.” thelab’s solution included pages of web, tablet and mobile design comps with new navigation models demonstrating how a viewer might find the packets of content they’re looking for and what was trending, tagged or even popular amongst friends. As this structure became clear, they needed a way for viewers to identify them.

"In their pitch, thelab created the comedy mark as a branding device. The C is derived from a slide carousel of “packets” viewed from above, not unlike the Kodak Carousel Projector. This C becomes the playful center of a 3d explosion of screen caps and colors in a muted palette with elegant typography. When the action rests, the flat gothic round c, is met with a second C at the same line weight to form an incomplete circle, resulting in a c surrounded by a larger backward C. In its final representation, the mark looks not unlike the © symbol with a chunk cut out of the left side. The new symbol works in a similar spirit, effectively attributing and tagging every content packet as Comedy Central’s wherever it appears."

(-Motionographer)

My opinion? I like the new rebrand. There's some resistance to it, saying that it's bland and doesn't hold enough personality for Comedy Central. I agree with Suzanne Labarre in her FastCo. blog about the logo:

"One of the chief complaints about the new logo is that it’s too corporate and looks exactly like the copyright symbol. (It also looks a lot like the Copyleft logo.) Duh, that’s the point! The copyright is the ultimate emblem of the corporate world. Here, Comedy Central is literally turning it on its head. The joke is subtle but clever. You don’t need comic sans and a brick backdrop at the Ha Ha Club to say “funny.” The new logo brands Comedy Central as funny -- and subtly suggests that they've got a lock on laughs."

The new logo incorporates an underlying irony while giving the polished look of a successful company that will translate well in all forms of media. I like that the logo isn't as obnoxious and tacky as the old- besides, with something subtle, they are letting the comedy and the shows speak for themselves. Well done, Comedy Central, you have my applause.

How the Recession Changed Us

2011-01-12T20:15:00.004-05:00

Fast Company's Co.Design posted this cool infographic that puts the U.S. recession in perspective. Follow this link to better see the chart. It was created by The Atlantic. Apparently, Americans are reading less, and for some reason that troubles me just the same as the unemployment rate.

Moleskine ads

2011-01-12T16:35:00.005-05:00

My favorite line of notebooks came out with a new line of helpful diaries directed toward the interests of the individual. Moleskine Passions feature 6 different themes: Recipes, Music, Film, Books, Wine, and Wellness journals. I thought the advertisements for them were pretty neat, but I really geek out about anything having to do with journals.

More about the notebooks.
More Moleskine videos.

Overview:

Film:

Book:

Recipe:

Wellness:

"The Art of Drowning"

2011-01-10T20:57:00.003-05:00

Diego Maclean is an animator from Vancouver. This is a lovely hand-drawn short with nice textural surprises. It's impressive how well water is portrayed- the floating and crashing motions of it. The Art of Drowning is by the American poet, Billy Collins.

The Art of Drowning from Diego Maclean on Vimeo.

Have some ice with your sculpture.

2011-01-10T19:08:00.005-05:00

Check out the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan! Google it!

SNOW!

2011-01-10T18:00:00.004-05:00

Snow days are very rare in South Carolina, so naturally, everyone freaks out at the smallest hint of snow. Surprisingly, we got 4-5 inches (and more in Spartanburg). I find the reaction to snow in the South pretty comical. If we're expecting even 2 inches, most people rush to the store and buy milk, bread, and eggs. ALL the milk was gone from Walmart yesterday, even the buttermilk! Then, when it snows for sure, EVERYTHING closes.

My sister and I played in the snow for awhile. The last photo is of her peeking through a space she carved under the ice that formed on the top of the car. The snow was fine and powdery this morning- wouldn't even stick- then it sleeted and a layer of ice formed on top.

Do you know what today is?

2011-01-08T09:20:00.002-05:00

Happy [76th] birthday, Elvis Aaron Presley! (My sister and I always celebrate his birthday.)

And by the way, the Wertheimer exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery was AMAZING. It was better than I expected, 56 huge black and white photographs spanning 6 rooms and a full hallway! I had a rough couple of days in D.C. by this time, and seeing the Elvis photograph exhibit really lifted my spirits. It was along the way from one of the places I was interviewing at, and I decided to stop by after everything was done. After asking the helpful lady at the front desk, I headed straight for the exhibit and was immediately impressed by the setup. Nice typography, layout of space, and great explanations of each photograph. I took my time and walked through each room slowly. It was very nice.

The exhibit stays at the National Portrait Gallery until January 23, then moves to Doylestown, PA. Find the other tour dates on Facebook if you can't make it. A companion book, Elvis 1956: Photographs by Alfred Wertheimer, was made for the show, and can be found here or on Amazon. Bob Colacello of Vanity Fair covered some great stories from Wertheimer about the portfolio of Elvis in this article.

Starbucks logo redesign- lukewarm?

2011-01-05T18:34:00.004-05:00

The Starbucks brand has arguably one of the most recognizable logos in the U.S.; why would they want to change? The brand has evolved through some adaptations in the past, but is planning on unveiling their latest to mark their 40th year in business. From the beginning, Seattle designer Terry Heckler developed the image of the siren inspired by an old Norse woodcut, and the green ring was added when the owner of Il Giornale (Howard Schultz) bought Starbucks from the original owners in 1987. Today, most of the redesign (87% according to Terry Davenport) was done in-house.

AdweekMedia asked Terry Davenport some great questions in this interview:

Q: How big was the challenge of modifying an iconic mark, given the negative reaction consumers had with the recent redesign of another well-known logo for the Gap?

A: Obviously with a brand with such a huge profile as Starbucks, we approach this change very sensitively. We actually explored a very wide range of options and when we stood back and looked from afar as well as looked close, we all unanimously gravitated toward the images that freed the siren from the word mark. We really took inspiration from companies like Nike where at one point they separated the word "Nike" from the "swoosh" in their logo. This allows us to bring our identity to life anytime and anywhere. You’ll see it as we apply it to our white cups that will be showing up in stores around the 40th anniversary.

The logo has been simplified with the omission of the wordmark, which is a bold move. Some say that it shows that Starbucks is ready to move up in status with brands such as Nike and Apple, where the logo is recognizable on its own without the name. Others add that the influence of social media and the prevalent use of icons and apps have spurred the change in this new, simplified direction, and that the new logo will allow easier transfer into new media developments.

There are a lot of haters though, and anticipation of a backlash from designers, as there was with the terrible Gap logo last year. A lot of people feel that the 'old' logo embodied more of the feeling of a warm and comfortable coffee shop lounge, rather than this present corporate icon, cold and less approachable.

Personally, it is difficult for me to get used to change, but I'm going to take a breath and trust my beloved Starbucks on this one. I can see the need for the new adaptation in the contemporary market, fast paced and easy, but I hope this doesn't make them appear too corporate. Yes, I know they're about as corporate as you can get with a coffee shop, but my love of their brand overlooks that.

What do you think?

"After one glass, you see things as you wish they were..."

2011-01-04T20:49:00.002-05:00

I know I've posted quite a few alcohol packaging on here, but some are just too good to pass up, like this Christmas Absinthe from Stranger & Stranger, the same company that brought you the lovely Kraken Rum branding. I love the Victorian lettering and the detail of it all (nice touch with the gold foil too). They make a batch of spirits every year as a special Christmas gift for people, and this year they gave absinthe. Unfortunately, it cannot be purchased.

The label on the cork reads:

“Nectar, bitter-sweet - like the last kiss on the lips of a discarded mistress, is the secret charm of my existence; green as the moon’s light on a forest pool it glimmers in my glass; eagerly I quaff it, and, as I drink, I dream.” Marie Corelli, 1890.