peace, love & helvetica.

Moving.

2010-10-12T01:25:00.001-04:00

Dear Readers,

I am officially no longer blogging via Blogger. I am moving on to better and simpler things, a.k.a. Tumblr. You can continue to follow me here. For those of you seeking to do the switch, I strongly suggest using this, it took a minute or two and was extremely easy to use.

Peace, Love and Helvetica.

Vacuum

2010-09-20T14:59:00.000-04:00

Graphite on paper,
Vacuum by Melissa Cooke.

Caravan

2010-09-15T02:11:00.001-04:00

Deliciously minimal. Design by inhouse.

Panasonic Note

2010-09-09T21:38:00.000-04:00

Minimal Panasonic Note Headphones Designed by: Sholz & Friends.

Ampersand Food Groups

2010-08-30T14:34:00.000-04:00

Delicious Ampersand illustrations by Dan Beckemeyer.

On Vacation

2010-07-22T08:47:00.000-04:00

Just letting you all know that posts have been very slow because I am on vacation. Should be back in full force in a couple of weeks when I am back in town. Thought I'd share a picture I took of the view here in Amman, Jordan.

Hope you're all enjoying your summer.

Lick Line

2010-07-14T18:05:00.000-04:00

Stunning colored pencil drawings from "Lick Line" Series by Julia Randall. Stunning.

the kitchen films.

2010-06-23T12:06:00.000-04:00

Yet another great Identity by Ruiz + Company.

A day in the life of a Graphic Design Student

2010-06-22T11:07:00.000-04:00

The book is comprised of a day in the life of 7 Graphic Design students shown through the use of 7 sections, 7 colors and 7 typefaces and comes shrink wrapped in black metallic foil. Thus must be torn to read the book and represents night transitioning into (revealing) day.

Self-initiated project by Rishi Sodha.

Whippy

2010-06-16T10:33:00.000-04:00

Delicious idea by Mixko.

Graphic Skull

2010-06-14T13:53:00.000-04:00

Graphic Skull by Victor Van Gaasbeek.

Bicycle Wheel Clock

2010-06-01T16:32:00.000-04:00

“This clock was made from a recycled aluminum bike wheel. The wheel mounts directly to the wall through the hub using a hollow wall anchor and gives the illusion that it is floating off the wall. The clock movement is a high torque German quartz movement and is attached to a set of rear cassette gears to conceal the movement. The movement is attached to the wheel by hanging it off of a screw coming out of the hub, and runs on 1 AA battery, included.”

via selectism.

The Brick House

2010-05-31T16:37:00.001-04:00

The Brick House is a blog that features some gorgeous minimal exterior and interior design. Be sure to check it out here for some decor inspiration and design-worthy droolage.

Redesigning The Boarding Pass

2010-05-19T11:48:00.001-04:00

Tyler Thompson has come up with these great alternatives to boring and generally confusing boarding passes. You should check out this blog to submit your own redesign of the boarding pass. Fun idea, too bad boarding passes are printed with thermal printers and can only generate black or 1 other color.

I hope these redesigns were sent to Delta. I think they're fantastic and oh-so-easy to understand.

poster girl | Jasper Goodall

2010-05-12T15:10:00.000-04:00

Poster illustration/photography series entitled Poster Girl by British illustrator Jasper Goodall.

In february 2009 Goodalls first London based solo Gallery show titled ‘Poster Girls’ marked a new direction in his work, mixing photography with illustration in a stunning concoction of shiny latex, dripping pink goo and acrylic cut out body masking that comments on fetishism, dressing up and the fine line between fantasy and reality.

He has quite an interesting interview with icon magazine where he reveals a lot about himself and his dark past. You can read that here. If you're familiar with Muse (the band), then you might be interested in knowing that he's the artist behind this.

This is what I call cmykinky.

Colors in Cultures

2010-05-10T12:51:00.001-04:00

Designing something for a client of a culture you don't know much about? Do your research and be aware of what different colors mean in different countries. Here's a little chart I'd suggest copying onto your desktop (click on picture to enlarge). You never know when you'll need it!

I Hate 2D Posters | Ersin Han Hersin

2010-05-06T12:17:00.000-04:00

Clever 2D gone 3D Posters by Ersin Han Hersin.
Check out more of his stuff here.

Visual Rant

2010-05-04T11:54:00.000-04:00

Agreed.

Visual Rant by xyphid

Match Calendar

2010-04-29T12:11:00.000-04:00

The idea was to create as unique a calendar so that the process of its presenting would become an outstanding event. Alongside with this, it was important to expose theidea of "energy", as it is predetermined by the name and logo of the company. Each page is a month and it looks like a comb made of matches that correspond to the days. The matches are real and the construction of the calendar is absolutely safe

- 9.8 inches wide, 5 inches high.

- Bound on metal spring 1.2 inches diameter.

- Silk printing 2 colors.

- Matches are dipped in a special chemical solution and covered with sulphur, striking surface stripes are applied on both sides of a stand base.

*Info provided via Yurko Gutsulyak's Behance portfolio.

My heart just melted a little. How smart and useful!

Design by Yurko Gutsulyak

Minimalist Pencils

2010-04-28T16:21:00.001-04:00

Gorgeous packaging concept by Swann Marchon from Austria.

These would look stunning on any creative's desk. I don't know if I'd ever use these though, I'd feel too guilty sharpening them and getting them dirty. Stunning nonetheless.

Clayton Cubitt

2010-04-26T12:50:00.000-04:00

Clayton Cubitt might be my new favorite photographer. He would be the Alexander McQueen of photography. The images above are from the Zink Magazine 'Raw Flesh' cover feature. Most of his work is definitely outside the box and is very graphic. I urge you to check out his website and look at his work, it's shocking and we all know how much I love the shock factor.

*Warning: when checking out the portfolio, make sure no children are around. A lot of photos are considered offensive and of highly graphic nature.

So You Need a Typeface

2010-04-19T12:55:00.000-04:00

Chart by Julian Hansen, a student at the Danish School of Media and Journalism. Minus the typos, it's a pretty cute idea. Follow the Comic Sans Route.

Lotta Nieminen

2010-04-14T15:07:00.000-04:00

Art direction, illustration and layout by Lotta Nieminen for the anniversary issue of Tuli&Savu, a Finnish poetry magazine. In collaboration with Janine Rewell. 2008.

Just gorgeous.

Lumadessa | Josh Brill

2010-04-09T12:51:00.002-04:00

Gorgeous minimal illustrations by Josh Brill. His artwork has been exhibited at Addo Novo, Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego Museum of Art, Fabrica’s Annex and May 1st Reboot 2005.

These are some of the limited winter edition art prints that are signed and numbered. You can browse/purchase these beautiful and affordable prints over at Lumadessa.

I will be purchasing a silver edition print myself, and may have also found my third tattoo.

One Color NY Subway Map

2010-04-07T12:55:00.002-04:00

Brooklyn based designers David Heasty and Stefanie Weigler of Triboro have produced a new New York City subway map printed in a single color–florescent red. The map has been printed in a limited edition offset-litho run of only 300 pieces. At 45 x 58 inches the poster is the same size as the large MTA Subway maps that are located at entrances to New York Subway stations.

The new design strips away the familiar color-coding of the subway system routes while still maintaining a level of hierarchy and functionality. All lines of the map are forced to conform to an underlying grid of 45 and 90 degree angles, yet surprisingly, the landmass contours here are more true-to-life than on the MTA map. The florescent red color becomes an unpredictable variable, as legibility can change completely under different lighting conditions. The neon effect can be intense and retina-burning under certain lamps, washed out and unreadable in other environments, or glow otherworldly under black-lights.

via September Industry.

I agree with the whole legibility issue due to its neon red color, may be very difficult to read as it is an informative poster. I'd love to see the eldery's reaction to this approach. Mind you, you'd be able to spot a map a mile away with this color. I think it's a stunning piece regardless.

My Orange Box

2010-04-05T15:03:00.001-04:00

Beautiful Identity work for Black Umbrella by New York based Designer/Studio Lucie Kim/My Orange Box. Projects vary from indentities, websites, posters, animations and illustrations to an output of self-published work. Lucie Kim currently teaches at Parsons School for Design.

I thoroughly enjoy the MyORB website, you can check out more of her work here.

Free Design eBooks

2010-03-23T13:01:00.000-04:00

Arbent's giving out free ebooks. click here to browse their selection.

Simon Page

2010-03-23T12:53:00.000-04:00

Self taught British Graphic Designer Simon Page. His main passions are typography, art, illustration and geometric design (with a mathematics background, it's no surprise!). He also won Digital Artist of 2009 Award.

Interesting interview at Grain Edit. Click here to read it.

Dimo Trifonov

2010-03-22T12:57:00.004-04:00

Bulgarian Graphic Designer Dimo Trifonov has blow my mind. I love the freedom he expresses in his work. Clean, Smart and Powerful. You can take a look at more of his work here.

Interesting fact: Dimo was born in 1990. So that makes him only 20. The talent already. Proof that people are just born to do this.

Four Ways to Mix Fonts

2010-03-18T12:41:00.000-04:00

I'm subscribed to Hoefler & Frere Jones newletters, and this one was especially good. So here are 4 basic rules to combining different fonts.

P.S I absolutely love Tungsten and Hoefler Titling.

Chiquita Banana

2010-03-16T12:49:00.001-04:00

Don't know about you, but I LOVE bananas. How great are these Chiquita Banana brand refresh stickers?

Saffron

2010-03-10T12:10:00.000-05:00

I have been craving Saffron rice pudding (Zarrdeh) for a few days as I have been working on a little project involving this expensive spice. Came across this lovely Greek packaging of the product. Yum!

Be A Kid Again

2010-03-09T15:10:00.000-05:00

Lovely Pop culture work by Tarik Mikou. I especially love Audrey and Marilyn's.

Matthew Rolston

2010-03-08T10:10:00.001-05:00

This will probably forever be my favorite picture of Jack Nicholson ever. Taken by Celebrity Photographer Matthew Rolston.

Saydan Aksit

2010-03-04T15:14:00.000-05:00

Stumbled upon these illustrations here. It's in a foreign language, Turkish I'm guessing (correct me if I'm wrong). Gorgeous ink/water color/mixed media work.

Les Queues de Sardines

2010-02-26T12:42:00.007-05:00

Incredibly cute and creative stockings by Les Queues de Sardines,

they have a couple of collections that are totally worth checking out.

Unfortunately, no stores in North America, only Europe. They're screen printed by hand, and are limited run, so if you want a pair of these

for yourself or even as a gift, they are a sure way to dress up your

legs and get noticed!

I personally love the "Pieces de Boucherie" in Opaque (top picture).

Zach Johnsen

2010-02-25T10:26:00.000-05:00

A couple of great illustrations by Zach Johnsen, an Illustrator, Art director and Graphic Designer based in Portland, Oregan. Most of his work is pen & ink, water color and mixed works on paper. I absolutely love the tension in his drawings.

Zach focuses on the more ignored side of life – on the sides of people and places that visitors rarely see. In Zach’s world, most of the people have obvious human/animal hybrids that can’t be hidden. The corrupt politican is a hideous beast wielding an ax and smoking a cigar. The hollywood actress is a washed-up, half rat w/ open sores surrounded by a mob of rabid birds. The family portrait is a gaggle of jellydrop characters and mutated fish creatures.

Random...

2010-02-18T12:57:00.002-05:00

but I want it nonetheless!

Atelier Müesli

2010-02-17T12:57:00.000-05:00

beautiful clean identity work by Atelier Müesli.

Hedi Slimane

2010-02-15T15:16:00.001-05:00

I've just discovered Hedi Slimane, and I am totally addicted to his diary. He's a french fashion designer who's designed for YSL and Gucci. He's also the guy who did Lady Gaga's Fame Monster Album photography. Above are only a few of the thousands he's got up on his site. Check it out here, its absolutely stunning. This kind of photography really makes me want to go and buy a DSLR.

First Aid Never Looked So Good

2010-02-12T10:08:00.000-05:00

this first-aid box can not only save lives but also looks good.
with its elegantly designed bright-red stainless steel housing it is a functional eyecatcher and good-looking helper in emergencies.
the "home" versions meets the din 13164 standard for private households and the "professional" version complies with din 13157 (workplace ordinance for up to 25 persons).
design: ulf thomas solbach
measurements 25.5 cm [10 in] high, 14 cm [5.5 in] wide and 9 cm [3.5 in] deep.
material: stainless steel, nylon fabric.

If my bathroom wasn't blue, I'd buy this thing in a heartbeat. you can get one here.

Long Live McQueen

2010-02-11T15:15:00.001-05:00

Today the world lost one an incredibly talented and influential designer; Alexander McQueen.

Born the son of a taxi driver, McQueen began making dresses for his sisters at a very young age, where he knew his calling was in fashion. McQueen's early clients included the likes of Mikhail Gorbachev and Prince Charles. He had once written "I am a Cunt" in biro into the sleeve lining in a suit he made just for Prince Charles. tisk tisk.

Upon graduating with a Masters Degree from Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, his entire collection was bought by renowned fashion stylist, Isabella Flow (who passed away back in 2006). Isabella was basically responsible for his exposure, and convinced him to drop his first name (Lee) and use Alexander McQueen for his label.

His collections developed quite the controversial reputation, earning himself nicknames like "L'enfant Terrible" and "the hooligan of English fashion". He was known for his eclectic and and unconventional runway shows, such as that of Spring 2003 (The shipwreck theme) and 2005's Human Chess Game.

He's caused quite the stir in the fashion scene for past couple of years due to his shock tactics and endless creativity. I personally am very saddened by the news, as his shows and collections were always something I looked forward to seeing. "What's this crazy motherfucker gonna do next?"

RIP Lee Alexander McQueen 1969-2010

Chad Hagen

2010-02-10T12:58:00.002-05:00

Introducing my latest obsession Chad Hagen.
Hagen is a Minneapolis based artist and designer who's style is retro meets contemporary/minimalism. He uses various printing methods and collage elements. Music to my ears and candy for my eyes! I wasn't able to find a biography, but his website showcases such a beautiful portfolio. This guy is everything I aspire to be as an artist/designer. I also just found out he's got twitter.

Pretty fucking inspiring.

Floating Shoe Rack

2010-02-09T15:21:00.001-05:00

I think we're all guilty of owning too many shoes, that tend to clutter by the door at some point or another. Well, there's a solution! Introducing the Horizontal Shoe Rack. It suspends your shoes above the ground, making it easy to clean underneath (or if you live in snow for 8 months out of the year like I do, you need to place a mat beneath it so that all the slush and salt doesn't leave nasty puddles on your floor).

It's simply mounted onto a wall, easy to install and is available in various sizes, and price ranges between $110-165). You can add more as your shoe collection grows!
Neat. You buy one via dwr.com.

Fabienne Verdier

2010-02-05T15:08:00.000-05:00

French artist Fabienne Verdier paints on sheets of paper/canvases spread out on the floor. Lucky Verdier even has her own mezzanine in her studio, which helps her with perspective due to the larger-scale work that she creates.

Her paintings are vertical and play with stroke, as well as the weight of her body. The paintbrush is at times hanging by a 10 meter rope and held in place by a pair of bicycle handlebars.

She is greatly inspired by Chinese painting (as you can probably tell by her ink flow and brush strokes).

I've always found one's thought process to be so interesting to look at and I think it's really cool that she's included pages of her visual journal to her website (see 3 last pictures above). The book includes her daily thoughts, research, inspirations and disappointments.

I wish I could understand her chicken scratch.

For more info, you can check out her website here.

Lyndon Wade

2010-02-03T15:12:00.001-05:00

So apparently I've been living under a rock, and so have you if you haven't heard of Lyndon Wade. He's one of America's Top 15 photographers. I can see why! I absolutely adore Hitchcock's The Birds set at the very top. He's the guy that did those cool Nestea ads. Wade produces unique narrative concepts within a series of images that lure in viewers to draw their own conclusion.

These are just a couple of my favorite photos, check out his site (by clicking on his name above). You won't be disappointed.

P.S Click on picture to get full effect, for some reason they're getting cropped and only showing 3/4's of the image.

Salivating all over the living room floor.

2010-02-02T15:12:00.000-05:00

The BCN Design Week, organized yearly by BCD Barcelona Design Centre, is an international business focused congress framed in the field of design and aimed at those companies and professionals in any industry or productive services that use knowledge and creativity as a driver of its business activity.

Designed by ruiz+company.

Yellow Submarine

2010-01-27T16:35:00.000-05:00

Introducing the TeaSub. I'm an avid tea drinker, so when I discovered this cute little thing I had to share. The TeaSub submerges tea leaves to the bottom of your cup, creating the perfect infusion of your favorite brew! Cute as hell!

Designed by Ototo.

Helvetica Cookie Cutters

2010-01-26T12:10:00.000-05:00

Clearly anything Helvetica will make me melt. Beverly Hsu has combined her love for baking and typography and has come up with this crazy beautiful Helvetica cookie cutter set. Unfortunately they are not up for sale YET!

I don't bake, but if these ever do go on sale, I will be the new Betty Crocker! How fun would it be if they also came out with a Bodoni set? Now I'm just teasing myself. YUM!

NEIGE

2010-01-25T12:27:00.000-05:00

I've been walking by the SAQ and noticing the window displays featuring Neige - Local made Ice wine in Quebec. Designed by Chez Valois they used a clean and minimalist design based on a snowflake pattern which is how the product is made. The extreme cold winter temperatures needed to produce the concentration of sugars for its creation.

At least we get one good thing from our horrible winters. Beautifully designed Ice Wine. Never tried it, but I hope it tastes as good as it looks.

Got Twitter?

2010-01-03T11:33:00.002-05:00

If any of you have twitter, you can now follow me @cmykinky

Registered.

2010-01-03T10:33:00.000-05:00

Dear friends and fellow readers,

I am very happy to announce that I have FINALLY gotten around to registering my web domain, and officially reserved myself a spot on the world wide web. This blog (peace, love & Helvetica) serves as a place in between until my website is up. The reason it took me so long to register, was that I didn't want to end up being stuck with a domain I did not like. I will be keeping you posted with updates and process, as this is a very exciting time for me.

oh right, the website is: www.thecmykinky.com

It will include my work, a blog just like this one including more articles and cool finds, along with a lot of other exciting things I'd like to keep a surprise until the launch. So keep your eyes and ears open, 2010 is the year of cmykinky!

Is there anything you would like to read about in particular on a design+art blog? Let me know and I just might make it into one of my first design articles on my website.

My Christmas gift

2009-12-28T10:56:00.000-05:00

I hope that you've all had a wonderful Christmas/holiday and received/gave some thoughtful gifts to those who you love and love you. I received a copy of Stefan Sagmeister's - Made you look. I've been wanting this book for months and just never seemed to pick it up. Well, I almost burst into tears when I unraveled this gift! I haven't got into reading it yet, but am planning to do so tonight! When you slide on the red cover the dog is somber and cute, and when you slide it off he gets ferocious. I couldn't find any other pictures of the back or pages for some reason. But overall, it really is beautiful.

Another self-indulgent design monograph (practically everything we have ever designed including the bad stuff) is Stefan Sagmeister's hand-scrawled subtitle for the first book about his work, Made You Look. This, and the book's clear red case and silver-gilded pages, seem contrary to the raw, handwritten style he is known for, already setting us up for a wild and very personal ride through almost the entire corpus of the 39-year-old designer's work. Sagmeister once scratched words into his skin for his own lecture poster at Cranbrook, and this is the book version--sometimes enlightening, sometimes embarrassing, always self-conscious, and ultimately touching. The story is a conversation between Peter Hall's text and Sagmeister's handwritten commentary, a perfect and believable device for an absorbing dialogue. Self-indulgent as Made You Look may be, Sagmeister lays himself open with idealism, irony, and humor, creating one of the most moving books about design.

Has anyone read this book yet? Does anyone like/dislike Sagmeister?

Toast-its!

2009-12-21T12:43:00.003-05:00

Here's a cute idea for the holidays. Instead of sending a card, you can send a bottle of wine chosen from their range of label designs, then sign the back yourself for the personal touch.

Go to the website here.

Diego Gravinese

2009-12-16T12:40:00.004-05:00

No, it's not a picture. It's oil on canvas by Argentinean artist Diego Gravinese. Unfortunately his site's currently under construction, I would definitely see myself having this up in my kitchen.

Like what you see? More about him here.

Insane isn't it?

Teux Deux

2009-12-14T12:36:00.003-05:00

What deux yeux have teux deux today?

TeuxDeux is a simple, designy, browser-based to-do app and the first collaboration between studio-mates swissmiss and Fictive Kin.

I've been using this app for the past week and I'm addicted. I am generally a really organized person (with the memory of a goldfish) so I constantly carry an agenda in my purse. For those days when I've somehow managed to forget my agenda, there's Teux Deux to the rescue! Sign-in on any computer into your account and voila, there's your 3 o'clock appointment you almost forgot about!

Whether your disorganized or super organized, this app gets two thumbs up for being beautifully designed, and so easy to use. In the works is Teux Deux for your iphone and hopefully blackberries.

visit the site here, and sign-up!

You can thank me later.

Micheal Zavros

2009-12-13T20:49:00.004-05:00

I came across this artist's stunning work by chance a couple of weeks ago, and have not been able to get it off my mind. Most of his work is done with charcoal, and some with oil on canvas. Most of his art revolves around high fashion and horses. Mixing hyper realism with traditional charcoal and oil techniques this Australian artist has definitely turned many heads.

His work has been included in the Craftsman House publication Awesome! Australian Art for Contemporary Kids, featuring 50 Australian contemporary artists. His work is held in numerous private and public collections, including Artbank, National Portrait Gallery, Collex, ABN AMRO, Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Grafton Regional Art Gallery and TMAG (Tasmanian Museum and Gallery).

More of this artist here

inspired

2009-12-13T20:35:00.003-05:00

My apologies for the lack of posts. I really do need to stick to my posting regimen. So much has been going on in my personal and career life. I am hoping to start the new year with a bang. I've been working on getting my website together, as well as working full-time and freelancing, oh and squeeze in Christmas shopping and the ridiculous amount of wrapping paper scraps laying on my living room floor at the moment. I am hoping to add personal flare to my blogging, and in turn hope that I get more feedback from whoever you are, design lover. Keep your eyes peeled, I plan on surprising you.

Colorless Coke Can

2009-11-16T12:59:00.005-05:00

Behold the colorless Coke can. Beautiful isn't it?
Not only is it pretty, but it's eco-friendly as well. Concept by this guy.

Amala organic Skincare

2009-10-05T10:22:00.003-04:00

I have died and gone to beauty product packaging heaven. The simplicity and elegance of the product design along with the photography is.. well, perfect.

"Amala is a new luxury organic skincare line founded in Germany. Liska + Associates, a New York/Chicago communication design firm, helped launch the brand with a focus on Amala’s natural formulas and whole plant ingredients. The brand program included product packaging, logo development and art direction that captures Amala's fundamental values: purity, transparency and responsibility.

Inspired by artisanal food packaging, Liska incorporated cork, copper and uncoated papers to create a distinctive yet simple shelf profile. The tail of the “a” in “Amala” is a pronunciation key and a reference to plant growth, and each of the four plant illustrations identifies the four color-coded product lines."

*Info by thedieline.com

Coca Cola Can Concept

2009-10-05T10:02:00.005-04:00

How great is this Coca Cola can concept? Its geometrical form is a refreshing twist to the traditional cylindrical can. Although there are debates on how much more this mold would cost to make, I think it would be worth distributing as a limited edition. Thoughts?

Untitled Flower Jar

2009-09-04T09:30:00.007-04:00

Aren't these vases absolutely stunning? I would totally buy them in both colors, but unfortunately these have not been produced yet. Found on Behance, these beautiful flower Jars are designed by Industrial designer Alessandro Beda. It is still a work in progress, as he is still trying to figure out a way to produce and sell these babies. I hope they come into production soon!

Wouldn't you buy one?

Matrioska

2009-08-20T21:57:00.001-04:00

A Matrioska suffering from acute radiation sickness.

Jaime Pitarch. Chernobyl (2007). Lime tree wood, aniline, oil, varnish

A work by Jaime Pitarch for The Rest of Now, an exhibition which runs until November 2 in an ex-aluminium factory in Bolzano, Italy, as part of the Manifesta Biennale.

italic anyone?

2009-08-19T09:19:00.002-04:00

Although I am generally not a fan of italicized fonts, I could definitely see this in my living room. Might be a little awkward to frame though :P

bunny

2009-08-16T19:58:00.003-04:00

I must have this.

paper folds.

2009-08-03T12:28:00.002-04:00

So during college, we had a paper folding class at some point during our 2nd year and most of us hated it. We just didn't see the point of it whatsoever. I thought it was a waste of time, and I spent most of the time catching up on other classes. I came across these pictures (above) and thought wow, so that's the point of that class. It's been about a year and a half since I've graduated, and I must say this: Whatever you think was useless in college, really isn't. Anything I've taken so far has come back and proven to be useful and smart some how. Neat huh?

foil stamps

2009-07-16T10:08:00.005-04:00

foil stamps on business cards get me all hot and bothered. If only I could afford printing my business cards with this beautiful effect. sigh.

For those of you who don't know what foil stamping is: Foil stamping is a special kind of printing procedure where heat, pressure, and a metallic paper (foil) is used to create different shiny designs and graphics on various materials. Foil stamping gives the stamped design a shiny and incredible look and is increasingly becoming the preferred method of printing in many an industry. for different kinds of foil stamping, click here.

i heart pudding.

2009-07-14T14:19:00.009-04:00

Now that's what I'm talkin 'bout. Realistic packaging, targeted to.. well, you, me, that girl over there, and that tall dude. According to a design study people buy packaging to reflect who they are not only for what they need. The larger scale pictures are my favorites. Most of the collection is in the thumbnail hereunder. What do you think?

"A design study about the development of brand identities: 30 pudding packages. People no longer simply buy what they need; they buy what reflects their own images of themselves. The content of your shopping-cart is a mirror of your identity. A pudding package for every kind of pudding buyer."

*info found here.

truth be told...

2009-07-06T11:42:00.002-04:00

mhhmmm..

The Trouble Maker Campaign

2009-06-16T13:10:00.002-04:00

Designed by HanTang Communications Group for Quzhou Seezo Trading. Love the tagline "Such tragedy could have been easily avoided".

"Wptt Contraceptive (a brand name) hopes to create a new packaging of novelty and visual impact. The objective is to emphasize the high contraceptive effectiveness of the products by indicating the painful consequences of having sex without a condom. More than 100,000 people have used the condoms and the sales increased by 21%."*

*information provided by thedieline.com

Suck UK: Digit Message Tape

2009-06-11T09:48:00.005-04:00

I'm an addict when it comes to online subscriptions, one of which I was starting to get annoyed with because nothing ever appealed to me and decided to unsubscribe to. As I was doing this, I for once found something. Digital Message Tape. It retails for 10$ and is totally worth it since the pen comes with the tape.

Using the included pen, you can "black out" the full alphabet plus digits, all in stylish digital type.

Cool huh?

instant droolage.

2009-06-02T15:01:00.004-04:00

I'm working on some promotional banners and posters for work and while doing some research this baby popped up in my google search. Instant droolage. I believe these were made by a university with a limited print of 100. As you can see, it's from last year and do I ever wish I could've got my hands on one. I'm super obsessed with red type.

Republica Dominicana.

2009-06-01T22:05:00.002-04:00

So sorry I have been horrible at keeping my blog up-to-date. Mind you, I have one hell of a great excuse. I was toasting under the hot sun down south. My brain really needed a break from, well, everything here in Montreal. It didn't hit me how stressful this city was until I was lying on a beach doing absolutely nothing.

Well, now that I'm back, I'll get back into the swing of things. Keep your eyes and hearts open.

xo

Amateur Theater Festival

2009-05-08T09:39:00.001-04:00

nothing does it better than beautiful photography and simple typography. ♥

Moiré. Marc Kappeler & Markus Reichenbach

2009-04-21T12:41:00.009-04:00

1.‘We rather trust in ice storms than snowguns’
Season's greetings card, 2008, 148 x 210 mm

2.‘I rather trust in crafts than marketing’
Poster, 2008, silkscreen, 905 x 1280 mm

more moire here.

arabic typographic poster

2009-04-20T10:08:00.002-04:00

speaks for itself.

10 Things They don't Teach You In Design School

2009-04-16T15:42:00.003-04:00

Cute article I stumbled upon while at work. Although at least 4 of those I did learn while at school. My teachers couldn't stress BACK UP YOUR WORK enough, seriously. ⌘S is engraved in my brain forever. I do need an external hard drive though, keeping my stuff on DVD is a little nerve wrecking, not gunna lie.
click here to read the article.

Here's my #11: double check, triple check, and then check again. No matter how many times you think your client has sent you the correct text, half the time, they don't proof half the shit they write. So remember to check spelling over, and over and over again. Nothing will kill you more than having a finished product in your hands and then realizing you spelt something out worng.

Anyhoot, hope this is useful in one way or another.

umph.

2009-04-16T12:44:00.004-04:00

Sorry it's been a while since my last update! So much is going on in my personal life, that I have unfortunately fallen behind on my design blog. All for good reason though, I'm working on my website, which I will definitely be sharing with all of you as soon as it is up!

On another note,
i am so utterly in love with black and white photography. I also really love how 3D they've made this look using perspective on the type.

someone, anyone, be cool enough to accept work like this in Montreal.

Effects

2009-04-06T12:54:00.008-04:00

I'm such a big fan of that whole screen, overlap effect. I'd love to make some t-shirt prints with this effect using silk screening. As much as I hate the actual silk screening process, the result is always gratifying. I might be working on some projects in the near future, nothing is set in stone, but I will keep you posted!

Here are a couple of examples I like (I especially love the last example):

2009-03-29T13:43:00.004-04:00

A prime example, that simplicity works best. I've yet to understand why people are obsessed with cluttered/screaming design. With all the overly designed shit there is, wouldn't you want something of the opposite nature to help make your services/product stand out?

This poster is for against child sexual abuse based in Germany (Please click on the image to see it in full-size, definitely has more an impact that way). It's clean, simple and sure as hell gave me goosebumps when I first laid my eyes on it. uh-mmazing.

Yes! Make the Pledge NOW!

2009-03-26T14:36:00.003-04:00

I am so thankful someone finally thought of making this. Please, Pledge.

Remedy | Mu3alaja

2009-03-25T11:35:00.006-04:00

Sierra Korthof designed these lovely packaging for her final semester school project. "For this project we were directed to create a series of five box forms for either a product that already exists or one we created. I chose to create a line of Arab inspired hot chocolates. The idea behind the product is that the hot chocolate is infused with traditional plant remedies from the Arab world. I chose to create this product because I am very interested in Arab culture and language. I am currently in my first semester of Arabic, and I thought this would be great opportunity to attempt to design a product that would appeal to two both Western and Arab culture. The identity is a combination of Arabic and English. The packaging, directions, explanations, and ingredients are also listed in both languages."

How heart warming. I love what she's done and I love it when people take interest in arab culture. I also really admire her ability to play with arabic typography when she's just now learning the language. I wish I could do arabic packaging, maybe one day!

*text and images provided by thedieline.

walking on air.

2009-03-23T11:31:00.008-04:00

I have a great appreciation and fascination with things flying/floating in photography. I've found a couple of photos that I really enjoy due to the dramatic, vulnerable and intense sense it provokes. These are all random pictures with the same theme I've found via ffffound, but are not by the same photographer.

40 Logos

2009-03-20T12:50:00.002-04:00

A friend of mine so kindly sent me a link to 40 Excellent Logos created with Helvetica.
Check it out, You'd be surprised as to how many of these you see on an EVERYDAY basis. Knoll(and has been for a long time), AmericanApparel, and Tupperware are my faves.

What are yours?

How I keep my sanity.

2009-03-19T10:18:00.003-04:00

Thank God for my daily Aisleone updates!
Check out the juicy work from London based branding agency, Stereo. Pictured above is a nice site they’ve created for Consolidated PR, though I do see some widows in there. Also, be sure to check out the work they did for Half Each.

*above information directly quoted from Aisleone

I got goosebumps within 3 seconds of staring at this beautiful thing. It might not be perfect, but nothing makes my nipples harder than hairline strokes and white space. With all the crap my work requires me to do, seeing things like this calm my nerves and give me hope. Thank God at least some people have taste.

Hassan Massoudy

2009-03-17T09:59:00.012-04:00

I am so incredibly inspired by Iraqi art. I don't know if being Iraqi plays a big part in my fascination for it, but I am incredibly proud to be from a country that has an amazing reputation for artists. Today's featured artist is Hassan Massoudy. For more on Hassan Massoudy click here.

Hassan Massoudy was born in 1944 in Najaf, South of Iraq. He grew up amid the scalding heat of the desert, in a traditional Iraqi society characterised by strong religious beliefs, a high sense of solidarity and a keenness for festive gatherings.

In 1961 he left for Baghdad and started working as an apprentice for various calligraphers. He visited exhibitions of modern art which fascinated him and from then on, started to dream of studying art. The unfolding political events and ensuing dictatorship prevented him to do so. He eventually left Iraq for France in 1969, freed from the oppressing regime but heartbroken. He got to the "Ecole des Beaux-Arts" of Paris where he first worked on figurative painting. But he did not stop calligraphy altogether; to pay for his studies, he was doing headlines in calligraphy for Arabic magazines. Over the years, calligraphy progressively got into his figurative painting and eventually took its place.

Creations from Hassan Massoudy are a subtle mix of present and past, oriental and occidental art, tradition and modernity. He perpetuates tradition while braking from it.calligraphies comes from the movement of the lines, their lightness, their transparency, the balance between black, white, emptiness and fullness, the concrete and the abstract. From his training as a calligrapher in Iraq, Hassan Massoudy has kept the noble spirit of the craftsman who creates or invents his own tools and prepares his own inks.

find of the day

2009-03-13T12:58:00.006-04:00

Everyone needs a pantone swatch rubik's cube. Everyone.

Someone please buy me this.

The Birds.

2009-03-11T13:37:00.000-04:00

According to the Miami Herald, Barbie just turned 50. Damn she looks good. Anyway, I recently found this collector's item, which I simply must get my hands on.

I love that it's a little eery looking.

The Birds is my favorite Hitcock movie, and I'm stunned they made a Barbie out of it. Hoorah!

Check it out here.