To Live and brand in LA

Promax print

2011-11-15T21:27:00.001-08:00

Thought I'd finally throw up some creative the I did this past year for Promax Nutrition. A fun project with lots of moving parts.

Kofie One

2011-11-14T17:40:00.000-08:00

Quite taken by this very talented street artist Kofie One. His creative choices regarding color and graphic elements are quite nice. I'd like to acquire a piece very, very soon. You can see all the wonderfulness here.

Virgin America

2011-11-09T15:29:00.000-08:00

San Francisco's very own Eleven has created a tasty micro site to persuade travelers to switch from their current airline to Virgin America. Entering your travel miles into a calculator provides you with a dynamic series of infographics highlighting among other things; the various hours you've wasted, pretzels you've choked down, type of mystery stains you've sat on and seconds of WiFi you could have enjoyed.

The site also will help you craft a "Dear John" letter to help you break up with your current airline and a "Twin tested" page that showcases 3 sets of twins and their experience of having one twin travel Virgin and another traveling a competitor. The design and concept is really well done and actually a clever way to promote the tone and voice of Virgin, the brand. Two thumbs up!

Hero Series No 1. John Jay

2011-11-05T08:08:00.000-07:00

I have been a huge fan of John Jay, Wieden and Kennedy's, Executive Creative Director for quite some time. A designer, taste-maker, visionary, incubator, instigator and mentor - with a supernatural instinct for creating beauty and what lies just beyond the public's perception of Now.

A few decades ago, John was working in New York as Bloomingdale's creative director and was tapped by Dan Wieden to bring his eye for elegance and grace to campaigns they were working on for Nike. Dan's idea of bringing in someone outside of the advertising industry to creatively drive Nike's visual language was nothing short brilliance. John's passion and drive was evident from the start and he has been inspiring and informing W+K's creativity culture internally and externally ever since.

Taking his vision and experience globally, he expanded W+K into Tokyo in 1998 and Shanghai in 2003. The Tokyo studio, W+K Tokyo Labs, in particular, has become a hotbed of experimentation and has been a key factor in spreading the hip-hop aesthetic into Asia. He now divides his time between those two offices and his base in Portland, where he plays a quiet role in the emergence of the city's exciting arts, design and music scenes.

Recently he was names as one of Fast Company's Top 100 Most Creative People in Business 2011. A video of his creative philosophy can be seen here.

2011-11-02T20:43:00.000-07:00

I recently came across The Donut Project's "Good Fucking Design Advice" website which actually brought a smile to my face and is actually quite accurate in terms of stating (boldly) what it takes to be a good (fucking) designer. One can absorb such profane pearls such as "A computer is a Lite-Brite for bad fucking ideas", "Find fucking inspiration everywhere" and the always brilliant "Stay up all fucking night". If you are so inclined, you can even pick up a poster suitable for framing.

As an instructor, I have often repeated these design rules over and over again (on rare occasions eliminating the profanity) but, for my money the best design advice would have to be Bruce Mau's Manifesto which can be viewed here. Know it. Learn it. Live it, Baby.

Eat Big Fish

2011-10-23T20:43:00.000-07:00

Last year I had the pleasure to work with Mark Bardon while working at Eleven Inc on a creative initiative for Rosemount Wines. Mark is one of the brilliant partners at a strategy agency called Eat Big Fish and their whole mission is to promote Challenger thinking and behavior to give companies a creative edge. EBF will consult with you and your company to craft strategy and a action plan to make it all come together - or you can dial up on of their workshops and work it internally. I really enjoyed the experience and got a first hand opportunity to see EBF in action.

More than ever, clients are demanding a clear pathway to higher ground and looking for a solid strategic game plan that has teeth and a brain. EBF's site contains lot's of great thinking and case studies and even has an iphone app for inspiration on the go.

F Bombs Away!

2011-10-17T10:06:00.000-07:00

So, this is how the F Bomb wine label with the Tavis Coburn goodness illustration turned out. Quite pleased with the results and hope that it's a big hit on the shelves.

Love Gun

2011-10-11T23:00:00.000-07:00

Tonight's little project is refining a Napa Valley sparkling wine label titled "Love Gun". A fun execution that takes the fight to the shelf with a dramatic black and white execution.

Love Typography Study

2011-09-26T20:55:00.000-07:00

Couldn't sleep last night, so this is the result. Part one of a little type execution simply called "Love". I'm thinking of doing a poster series based on this type of exploration. Hm.

Chicago Marathon 2011 Poster

2011-09-21T15:10:00.000-07:00

I have a brother in Chicago who is insane enough to pull this run off annually and someday I would love to accompany him on the exercise in pain management.

This year artist and art director, Brandon Knowlden, has created a series of posters to give to whomever donates to the American Liver Foundation. Knowlden is actually giving something to those willing to sponsor his race, and those who donate will get their choice of one of three pretty awesome personalized prints representing training for the marathon, running the marathon and finishing the marathon. Knowlden’s training sessions are broken into short, medium and long runs, and interested parties will sponsor $30, $40 and $50 for these runs respectively, with all proceeds going to the American Liver Foundation. Each print will come with the sponsor’s name and the distance and the average speed Knowlden ran. The posters are actually pretty cool and it's a clever way to really get the donations boosted. If interested, donate to Knowlden’s run here.

The Lullaby

2011-09-20T17:39:00.000-07:00

Love this video of Joe Fenton creating brilliance called "The Lullaby" on Vimeo. Check it.

Mission Critical

2011-09-19T23:20:00.000-07:00

Here is a little typography project that I have secretly been working on. I could tell you more, but then I'd have to kill you...

Baubauhaus

2011-09-19T23:05:00.000-07:00

Just came across this cool design inspiration blog, Baubauhaus, curated by two guys from Romania, Stefan Lucut & Andrei Don who put a little different spin on what's thrown up there. A nice selection of photos, typographic executions, posters, illustrations and the like. Hours of viewing pleasure!

MovingBrands

2011-09-09T17:07:00.000-07:00

A branding agency that I have loved for a while, MovingBrands hails from the UK and in my book, "get's it". They have a fresh and forward angle on branding and the work reflects their deep appreciation for strategy and positioning. Each case study starts with a tasty set of sketches and brainstorming sessions, drawing you into the process and showcasing the engineering that goes into the creation of an identity. In a world that seems increasingly resistant to high design and just goes straight for functionality (i.e. Facebook, Google, Seattle's Best Coffee...) , MB fights back with dynamic, inventive, sophisticated, smart work. Well done, mates. Well done.

Leah Giberson

2011-08-23T16:54:00.000-07:00

As summer winds down, I can't help but be whimsically drawn to the artistic visual splendor created by Leah Giberson. Her work is bright, colorful and beautifully crafted as it transports you to some quite moment that makes you feel as if you are the last one at the beach. infinitely more optimistic than Edward Hopper and leaning closer to Thiebaud. Prints of Leah's paintings can be had for a song at Etsy.

2011-08-22T17:49:00.000-07:00

Nice work from across the pond by designer/art director Patrick Fry. He has a great feel for clean, evocative design and really handles type well. I also enjoy the fact that his work seems to be able to traverse a wide distance yet, always in his roundhouse of aesthetics. Patrick's tasty identity work is also very telling with regards to his illustrative talents. One thing that I've also noticed with a lot of leading designers is that they are not afraid to create a tasty Zine to showcase the work. It's nice idea when executed well.

Diet Cokeness!

2011-08-15T16:09:00.000-07:00

Coca Cola recently turned to SF's Turner Duckworth for a Diet Coke package refresh that solidly delivers a punch on the grocery shelf as well as on the chin of it's competitor's. Earlier in the year, DC became America's leading soft drink and this package communicates the brand's confidence and position as the logo is wrapped around the can and only gives you a partial glimpse of the brand's name. While Pepsi continue's to slide after last years Arnell Group debacle, Coke continue's to embrace it's visual heritage and cultural position with attitude.

Cafe Zoetrope

2011-06-17T11:47:00.000-07:00

Recently I was riding on a Muni bus marveling at the incredible beauty that lives in every corner of San Francisco and I was thinking that I should have a nice point and shoot camera like a Leica M8 (sliver please) to capture these visual opportunities as they present themselves every 5 seconds in SF. I don't have a Leica, but I do have an iPhone4 and I took a picture of Cafe Zoetrope as we paused for 5 seconds at a stoplight. The interior lights of the bus created these great diagonals that made the shot so graphically interesting. No special effects or Photoshop. Just Apple.

Getting Ugly

2011-06-14T22:12:00.000-07:00

Just a few preliminary looks at a Coyote Ugly whiskey label I have currently underway. Fun brand so, it should be a fairly edgy, fun label. Cheers

2011-06-03T12:35:00.000-07:00

Once in a great while, you see something that actually kicks your heart into high gear and you get excited about what you do and why you do it - it's like falling in love all over again and I really love this.

At a time when we have an entire generation of brilliant, creative, intelligent post graduates sleeping in their parents basement because of a dismal job market and lack of opportunities, comes a group of young upstarts with a fresh idea. Freakers.

What is Freakers? It's basically a new approach to to a beer cozy and they are raising money on Kickstarter to get the whole thing rolling. Is this something that needed to be rethought? Is this a product I really need? Can't tell you and I don't care. All I know is that this is something that is cleverly promoted by a group in North Carolina and with their kooky ex-coffee barista pitchman, Zack (think of a scruffy Willy Wonka on a Jolt cola and Vente latte high...) delivers with an irreverence that perfectly matches the product and the desired demographic they are speaking to. It's all there.

Was the birth of this the result of some large agency on Madison avenue and a giant bag of money? No, this was simply a creative collective that wanted to start something unique, different and not expected. By utilizing everything within reach: humor, music, great design, a hard work ethic, a "give back" cause mentality, beautifully shot videos, charisma, social networking and a little bit of voodoo, they are creating a tribal following to a product that has yet to even hit the market. If these guys can make a sock with the end cut off desirable and cool, it makes one ponder with regards to what would happen if other companies started telling stories that actually made you pay attention and care. Old Navy? VW? Sony Playstation? Coke? Travelocity? Farmers Insurance? The results are fantastic and I wish them the best of luck.

Old Tyme Typography

2011-06-03T12:20:00.000-07:00

Hey Kids! Gather round the fireplace and I'll tell you a story... In a past not too long ago before computers, Typography (with a capital "T") was actually hand crafted by artisans that created a exciting, living, breathing communication that leapt off of the page. Stamps, bank documents, deeds, stock certificates, packaging and advertising were all adorned with beautifully constructed typographical works of art that made that particular document special and something of importance. You dig? Be prepared to be amazed here!

Always Beautiful

2011-04-08T15:24:00.000-07:00

Big Spaceship (one of my fav dig shops) was tasked with creating a unique experience using the new beta release of Microsoft's IE9 that took full advantage if IE's browser features and functionality and push the limits of what’s possible. "Always Beautiful" – is an interactive experience that uses the history of the web as a personal paintbrush.

Drawing inspiration from the ever-evolving trends of the Web and setting them against a soundtrack from recording artist Ming, users generate a completely unique piece of artwork from a library of Web-inspired graphic assets we created. IE9’s unique use of the user's graphics processor allowed for hundreds of assets on the screen at once with no drop in performance. And with native browser support of HTML5 standards and SVG, the creation could be be generated based on real-time user input and output at any size.

The result? A beautiful piece of work created by Big Spaceship that's rich in detail and uniquely beautiful.

New MIT Media logo

2011-03-10T17:37:00.000-08:00

The logo designed by The Green Eyl, captures a look and feel for the Media Lab, but instead of being a just static image, the logo is actually a conceptual and dynamic algorithm. The design is a simple set of rules defining a grid overcast by three overlapping shapes; designer Richard The explains below:

The new visual identity of the MIT Media Lab is inspired by the community it comprises: Highly creative people from all kinds of backgrounds come together, inspire each other and collaboratively develop a vision of the future.

This unique offering of the MIT Media Lab is reflected in the logo design. Each of the three shapes stands for one individual’s contribution, the resulting shape represents the outcome of this process: A constant redefinition of what media and technology means today.

The Media Lab has outgrown this notion of traditional media, with researchers working in areas ranging from human computer interaction to neurobiology or nanotechnology. Whatever ‘media’ means, it has been and will be defined at this place, in the next 5, 10, 20 years. The algorithmic logo is an effort to capture this dynamism.

A nice way to colorfully and artfully communicate the essence of what the entity is conceptually.

Jordan (maybe)

2011-02-17T22:47:00.000-08:00

Depending upon wether you are a part of Nike's legal office, I may (or may not) have been deeply involved with a Jordan rebranding dream assignment that may (or may not) have taken up 5 months of my life last summer. I did (maybe) have an extensive showcase of all the thinking and creative executions of the rebranding, but some members of Nike may (or may not) have politely asked me to take the work down off of my site or Charles Barkley may (or may not) have to come to my house and pull my lungs out through my nostrils...

Here is some work that may (or may not) have something to do with the project. Thank you.

Zombies on the Street

2011-02-12T15:28:00.000-08:00

From the dawn of man, every tribe has had a very distinct and aggressive graphic style alerting all in the vicinity that they were a group that meant business and not to be trifled with.

When designing the new Triathlete Zombies cycling uniform, I kept thinking about how to utilize the bold logo and incorporate some additional graphic elements to help support the mark and make some noise on the road. Above is where we ended up and fact that they have already sold out of them means that there are going to be a lot of TZ tribe members standing out in the crowded LA streets.

The Photographer That Wasn't There

2011-01-11T15:35:00.001-08:00

Once upon a time, there was a single woman named Vivian Maier, who for 50 years was a nanny for households in the greater Chicago area and in her free time traversed the city with a camera and was able to stop time and create amazing stolen moments with the snap of a button. Photographers like Edward Weston, Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand all come to mind when viewing the work and Vivian's images easily hold up when held up through the lens of these contemporaries.

The source of these images is truly the remarkable thing and I am sure will someday be coming to a theater near you. Vivian, a loner, was a strong willed individual who (from what has been uncovered from her life’s history) never formally studied photography and was only working from that place in the artist’s heart that knows without a doubt, she must produce. Shooting year after year, creating thousands and thousands of images and undeveloped rolls of film – never entered a contest, had a show, or had any audience to speak of.

Undiscovered, she died recently at the age of 83 and the only reason her work was discovered was due to a 26 year old real estate agent who bought a box of her negatives at a public storage auction. Luckily for all of us, his jaw dropped and he has devoted his life to collecting and curating her life’s work. You can view a video telling the whole story here.

Simply beautiful.

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Pentagram Goodness

2011-01-11T11:21:00.000-08:00

One of the design world’s most respected firms, Pentagram, has recently given it’s website a much needed update with a easy nav system and a clean experience. It’s now easier than ever to bask in the warm glow of greatness including work from Michael Beirut, Paula Scher, DJ Stout and a host of other visual communication heros with more accolades than you can shake a big stick at.
Awesome.

Adios LA

2010-12-21T12:39:00.000-08:00

From the "I love this or hate it" file: John Jackson is moving to New York to take a CD position at HUGE/NY and is marking the occasion by leasing out 5 billboards throughout Los Angeles graphically advertising the breakup. The boards are beautifully designed and an attention getter which I'm sure will gain him some (positive/negative?) attention on both coasts. Check it out here .

The Influencers

2010-11-05T21:21:00.000-07:00

Influencers - How Trends and Creativity Become Contagious is a nice little film exploring the art of influencing society and taking a concept from a small kernel of passion and exposing it to the world. Beautifully crafted the 13 minute online docu is a Poloraid snapshot, and shows New York creatives talking about those who are shaping todays pop culture. Inspiring. You can see it in it's entirety here.

Gabriel Moreno

2010-10-30T17:40:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post regarding some beautiful work by Gabriel Moreno. An Illustrator, engraver and painter based in Madrid. His work is glorious and definitely worth a look here.

Projeqt: A Creative Storytelling Platform

2010-10-20T22:21:00.000-07:00

Responding to the creative, advertising and marketing community mantra to tell better and more engaging stories, TBWA has launched Projeqt , a “creative storytelling platform.” Projeqt provides users (currently only TBWA employees) with a multi-media and social media-driven vehicle in which to capture and tell their complete story. The site was built in HTML5 and is device-agnostic, allowing for mobile phone access.

While Projeqt is currently available primarily to TBWA employees, the wider creative community can sign up for a beta account. Beyond being an interesting Content Management System (CMS) – it also powers the relaunched TBWA Worldwide website. Projeqt is also a step towards helping the advertising and marketing world better tell their own stories to the industry by showcasing not only the imprint it has made on behalf of its brands across the web (and off), but the creative talent that resides in their offices – whom are capable of creating their own stories. Projeqt aims to provide the technology and tools by which to more seamlessly do that.

One of the projects posted on Projeqt is called "Love Letters from New Orleans" which was created by one of my favorite designers here in Los Angeles, Nessim Higson. He is a master of typography, his work is beautifully designed and always carries with it a proprietary illustrative quality. Pack a lunch and hold your calls as there is a plethora of great work to admire here .

F Bomber

2010-09-30T16:45:00.000-07:00

Recently, I have been working on a wine label design for a hot, fresh Napa Valley wine group (headed up by wine genius, James Harder) called The Dirty Pure Project. The idea was to create a wine so ridiculously good that the drinker of the wine would be dropping F Bombs (Tourette syndrome?) all over the place declaring what a truly delicious find it was. The very talented and great illustrator of our time, Tavis Coburn brought to life the idea and this is the result. An intoxicating image to shake up the wine crowd and spark a heady conversation regarding the product.

Typography Great Wins

2010-09-28T22:01:00.000-07:00

Exciting news for all type-geeks everywhere! Today, typography legend Matthew Carter won a $500k Genius Grant. The MacArthur Foundation honors a graphic design legend, who created Verdana, Georgia, and dozens of other fonts we have used many times over the years. “Matthew Carter is a master type designer who crafts letterforms of unequaled elegance and precision for a seemingly limitless range of applications and media,” the MacArthur Foundation’s Web site says. “Throughout his career, which spans the migration of text from the printed page to the computer screen, he has pursued typographic solutions for the rapidly changing landscape of text-based communications.” A true craftsman and founder of Bitstream (a powerhouse type foundry), the 72 year old has been a prolific designer unassumingly crafting hundreds of faces that succeed precisely because you don't notice them. From early projects like AT&T's Bell Centennial typeface, to more recent work adapting to digital media with screen-friendly typefaces like Verdana and Georgia, his style is characterized by simplicity and readability. He has produced type for a raft of publications. Among them: Time, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, Wired, and Newsweek. The New York Times’s headline typefaces were designed by Carter. "Matthew Carter is often described as the most widely read man in the world," the New Yorker wrote in a 2005 profile

Miller High Life, Tasty!

2010-07-27T17:42:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, Miller High Life introduced a whole new look for all of its packaging and graphics designed by the San Francisco office of Landor, with illustration assistance by Chris Mitchell.

First brewed in the mid nineteenth century by Frederick Miller in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Miller High Life is one of most well known American beer brands and (coming from the midwest) I have a long standing relationship with the product and am quite a fan. I really love what Landor has done as far as updating the entire product offering as well as all visual touch points. Everything has been handled quite nicely from the revised logo to the packaging and illustrated Miller "Moon Girl". This is one of those dream projects and you can tell whoever had an opportunity to work on it really enjoyed the process.

Bauhaus 1919-1933: Workshops for Modernity

2010-07-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

At Arizona State, I had an instructor named Rob Roy Kelly who was heavily influenced by many of his instructors at Yale, one of whom was Joseph Albers who was an instructor at the Dessau Bauhaus campus. It was evident that Rob carried with him that connection and it made a deep impression on me early on, though it took years for me to fully understand that impact.

Hello Design (a fantastic interactive agency here in LA) has created a beautiful site for MOMA - Bauhaus 1919-1933: Workshops for Modernity, highlighting over 400 works by some 100 teachers and students of the Baushaus that reflect the extraordinary broad range of the school's output. Additionally, it gives a historical overview of the school, it's workshop and faculty.

Bauhaus 1919-1933: Workshops for Modernity is on view at The Museum of Modern Art, New York from November 8, 2009 through January 25, 2010. It will not travel so catch in person if you can.

David Carson on Ted

2010-06-29T23:04:00.000-07:00

Love him or hate him, there is no doubt that David Carson has created a body of work that has effected a generation of designers and made it look fun in the process. Here is a great video of David at the 2003 Ted Conference explaining his process and insights regarding typography in the world and his views on it's impact. Definitely an engaging speaker with a great sense of humor.

Vania Zouravliov

2010-06-29T22:36:00.000-07:00

So, I've discovered yet another genius creator of well drawn images. Vania Zouravliov, a Russian who is a master draftsman, is able to conjure up illustrations that are haunting and beautiful with exquisite detail. His work is rife with hidden meaning and symbolism and the longer one stares at the piece, the more is revealed.

Once again I find myself tempted to take a rock and tie it around my sketchbook and throw it into the ocean out of pure jealousy...

Communication Arts

2010-06-28T14:42:00.000-07:00

Very excited to announce that Communication Arts recently selected my label design for Ex Nihilo Vineyards to be included in the packaging section of the upcoming 2010 Design Annual. Ex Nihilo is actually Latin for "creation out of nothing" so, I chose a typographical solve to best communicate the term. Photo credit goes to Trevor Pearson.

Iron Fist

2010-06-28T14:28:00.000-07:00

Hey! I'm back! Yes, after a long break (work coma...). Not that anyone actually reads this, but if you are - I am ready to post some more work and expound on the various theories and ideas that I've collected lo these many years.

So, let's start with an easy one. Iron Fist Clothing needed an identity and the only requirement is that you can't use imagery of iron or a fist, or a fist made of iron, or iron with a fist imprint, or anything remotely resembling a scull. Here are a couple of logo treatments that have been happily rejected by my heavily tattooed and pierced clients from down south in SD. Cheers!

Pure Bar Sweetness

2010-05-06T16:00:00.000-07:00

Currently at a photo shoot for Pure Bar, a brand that I was asked to reinvent top to bottom. From the logo, packaging, shippers and marketing materials. In 3 months, the whole thing came together pretty tight and they are now in production. Special thanks to Mr. Adam Graves for making it all happen. Check em out on a Whole Foods shelf near you!

2010-04-29T20:47:00.000-07:00

David Choe opened his first show in Los Angeles in six years last week, on Friday, April 24th. The show title, Nothing to Declare, is appropriate as David Choe leaves everything he has experienced as an artist culminated into the canvases, water colors and inflatable sculptures on the proverbial table. The show is impressive it is to catch a glimpse of this exhibit. The show is at Lazarides, a pop-up gallery on Beverly Drive which was formerly an Anthropologie store. The curator of the show, Lazarides himself, is the proprietor of Lazarides Gallery in London, best known for showing and being closely tied to Banksy — which puts Choe in some rarefied company. Drop in and check it.

Mike's Giant Bike

2010-04-29T20:39:00.001-07:00

Street artist Mike Giant has teamed up with Cannondale to create the Cannondale X Mike Giant Graffiti Bike, a one-off cycle to be auctioned for The Bahati Foundation. Their Giveback program works to inspire cycling in youth. A tasty ride that would look nice in my garage. Pick it up on eBay for a slick $30,000 and help kids learn to love biking.

Are you DEVO?

2010-04-20T16:37:00.000-07:00

It's been 20 years since DEVO released their last album and they are ready to drop another one. Deviating from the norm, DEVO, is enlisting the help of their fans to cull through 16 tracks and curate the list down to 12. Tracks of the new album can be found online and interested parties can go to their Song Study website and listen to 30 second versions of the tracks and vote. A great band back in the day and always experimental in their music as well as their relationship to the audience. DEVO, Proves that innovation never goes out of style. Glad to see them still rockin' it hard after all these years.

I LOVE DUST!

2010-04-14T13:35:00.000-07:00

Nike chase from ilovedust on Vimeo.

One of my favorite UK design firms, I LOVE DUST, teamed up with AKQA/SF and created this fantastic 1:20 second animation for Nike's Sister One. Illustration, design, typography, product design - it's all there in one beautiful package named "I Love Dust" and yes, it's true, I do love these dusty fellows...

Go Puma Go!

2010-04-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

In an effort of reduce it's carbon footprint, Puma has enlisted the aid of designer Yves Behar and his team at FuseProject to create an alternative to the age old cardboard shoebox. After 21 months, 41 prototypes and 2000 ideas, Puma has unveiled it's "Clever Little Bag" shoebag concept. This is in complete alignment with the companies progressive chief exec Jochen Zeitz's maverick attitude and a great example of a big company stepping up to make a positive change for the better.

Sweet Spot

2010-03-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

One of the things that is most enjoyable about working in design/advertising is the opportunity to see some pretty amazing spaces where people work day and night to produce great work. A work space that is well design and considered is important to the creative spirit of the agency and a constant reminder that the company cares enough to communicate it's ethos through it's choice of materials and aesthetics. Here some "nice examples" of agencies from around the world that execute this brilliantly.

James Roper

2010-03-21T22:48:00.000-07:00

Spotted this amazing image on the interwebs recently and I really love this artists work. His name is James Roper and his paintings are beautiful depictions of Heaven? Hell? or maybe some other galaxy giving birth to a new star. I'd love to talk to him about it only I think he's locate in the UK. Check him out at http://www.jroper.co.uk/

Beautiful LA

2010-02-23T17:37:00.000-08:00

It's no secret that Los Angeles is a challenging place to live with regards to our eclectic and disjointed topography. One of the common complaints here in Los Angeles is the heinous and offensive use of the ugly outdoor billboard. It invades our skylines and byways with traditional billboards as well as the digital glowing billboard (a giant flat screen...) that changes ads every 30 seconds. As of this week, a new program by the MAK Center called "How Many Billboards?" has commissioned 21 contemporary artists to create art instead of ads. Now as motorists navigate through the interior of LA, they'll be exposed to artists such as: Kenneth Anger, David Lamelas, Kerry Tribe, Yvonne Rainer and a host of others all using the almighty billboard as a canvas from now till the end of March. I love this idea and would like to see more of this happening in our public spaces.

Refresh Everything

2010-02-17T20:49:00.000-08:00

Every January people gather around the TV to watch the Super Bowl as two teams battle it out to see who will rein victorious. In addition to some (hopefully) great football, many people are also interested in seeing what TV advertisers have created for the coveted 4 hour time period. To advertise during the game, it costs 2.5 million dollars for a 30 second spot. Invariably during the game - there is always someone in the room that states "Wow! That's a ton of cash!! What if someone actually did something good with all that money?"

Well this year someone actually did. Instead of running a Super Bowl ad, Pepsi has decided to donate from $5k to $250,000k to projects that will make a positive impact on their communities. People wanting to make a positive change can drop into Pepsi's Refresh Everything Facebook (social networking!) page and vote on their favorite causes. This move by Pepsi has been closely watched by the Advertising community at large and whether or not it's successful will be a difficult thing to determine. Will is sell more soda? Will it finally climb proudly above Coca Cola and become the dominant brand because of it's intent to do good? Only time will tell, but in the meantime - how great is it that someone actually did something good with all that money...? Go ahead and Refresh!

Champagne Valentine

2010-02-10T22:32:00.000-08:00

The first time I ever saw a David Lynch movie, drank my first beer, listened to The Pixies Doolittle CD, touched an iPod, looked at a painting by Chaime Soutine, mushrooms, etc... These were all very "first time" experiences and today was another one of those experiences.

I've been to the site several times now and I'm still not quite sure what I am looking at or how they created the work in the first place. Champagne Valentine is a digital agency out of Amsterdam and is led by Anita Fontaine and Geoff Lillemon, interactive directors originally hailing from Australia and the US respectively. They have blurred the lines between commerce and art quite nicely and to say the work is "other worldy" is an understatement. Champagne Valentine specialize in expanding/twisting the digital terrain by combining facets of interactive new media, motion and gaming into compelling and technologically advanced works for a diverse group of clients such as Diesel, vh1, T-Mobile, Scion XB, Comedy Central and (RED).

Bestor Architecture

2010-02-08T19:45:00.000-08:00

Currently keeping me busy is a ongoing branding project for a chain of Los Angeles based artisan pizza parlors, Pitfire Pizza. As we entered the architectural phase of the project, I was able to encourage the partners to use Barbara Bestor of Bestor Architecture. Bestor, the chair of graduate studies at Woodbury University School of Architecture, has a formidable reputation in Southern California for her loose and eclectic style and has a fantastic book out chronicling her projects called Bohemian Modernism, Living in Silver Lake.

As the Pitfire Pizza, Culver City build-out comes to an end, it's really exciting to see how it turned out and how well Barbara and her team interpreted the brand's tone and voice and brought it to life. Increasingly, brands are looking to their creative partners to help deliver an immersive and memorable experience that separates them from the competition at eye level with the consumer. Starbucks, Nike, Apple are all up there in the front and executing a holistic brand experience from the second you walk into the establishment to the moment you get back to the car with whatever that brand is selling. Barbara's vision for PP, is really going to assist Pitfire in being a fantastic eatery here in Los Angeles and elsewhere. You can see more of Barbara's work in the current issue of Dwell, as she created a surfer's paradise in Venice, California for TBWA/Chiat Day's MAL creative director Eric Grunbaum.

Credit for Sherlock Holmes movie credits

2010-02-08T14:09:00.000-08:00

The movie industry is having a banner year in a somewhat dismal economy and I cannot pinpoint the exact reason for it but, Danny Yount is significantly doing his part by breathing new life and energy into a lost art - the art of the movie title. A self-taught designer, (I always love hearing that...) Danny has developed his own creative style as Creative Director over at Prologue and has collected many awards for his work on Six Feet Under, The Grid, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Iron Man and RockNRolla. The work he and his team created for Sherlock Holmes is amazing with brilliant imagery, storytelling, typography and attention to detail. Danny is a powerful master of his skills and he has truly brought a higher aesthetic to realm of title sequences and credits. The interview with Danny Yount + Sherlock Holmes movie titles can be viewed here.

The iPad

2010-01-29T16:52:00.000-08:00

Apple released it's new iPad this week and it seemed to catch everybody off guard. Steve went public and stated that it was "the most important product he has ever developed". I spoke to a pretty tech-savvy friend who owns many Apple products and his comment was "Huh, I guess it solves a problem I never knew I had..." That pretty much sums up what the rest of the world seems to be saying.

Apple is one of the world's most innovative and progressive tech company and have taken us all by surprise many times over the years. One of my favorite quotes is by Alan Kay "The best way to predict the future is to invent it." I think Steve and Co. are doing just that with this new device. It functions much like an iPhone only bigger and has the same open source platform that allows developers to create apps for it. Apple just made it, but it will be We the People who will determine how to use it. This isn't another Newton but rather a bold move by Apple to be in a place where we'll all want to be soon enough. (and no, I do not work for Apple...)

Second Story

2010-01-27T14:33:00.000-08:00

Second Story. is a interactive story-telling factory located in Portland, Oregon and originally launched by interactive pioneer Brad Johnson. Since it's inception in 1994, Brad and team have been leading the charge by bridging the world between technology and design. Second Story's ability to take large pieces of information and distill it down to a beautifully architected design experience is nothing short of amazing and they have truck loads of awards to prove it. The image above is from a site created for The City of Santa Monica called Beach Stories. In the site, visitors can cull through page after page of visually rich stories related to a stretch of beach in Santa Monica steep in history and colorful characters. It's engaging, informative and smartly delivers a tremendous amount of information in a entertaining fashion.

Dave Kinsey

2010-01-22T21:10:00.000-08:00

I have a new favorite artist and his name is Dave Kinsey. A traditionally trained designer/artist originally from Philadelphia with a McGee vibe and a powerful application of color. I want an original and I want it now...

18 Rabbits

2010-01-21T21:00:00.000-08:00

Packaging done well should tell a story that hooks the consumer on the spot. Currently, I am working on a energy/health bar product and have been doing a lot of research related to the category. This beautiful package, 18 Rabbits, was created by the very talented Christine Celic Stohl, a design phenom who is operating out of Mucca's SF branch and doing an amazing job as you can see here. Christine's solutions all have a common mastery of retro/fresh typography, brilliant design choices and sophisticated color pallets. It's evident that she is clearly in her zone and having fun which translates to a happy brand that is quite memorable.

The Tempest

2010-01-20T21:25:00.000-08:00

Once in a great while Los Angeles has weather that is on par with what the rest of the country is experiencing. This photo by talented local photographer Karl Polverino, captures the vibe quite nicely.

Pitfire Pizza

2010-01-19T21:45:00.000-08:00

Above is a new identity I developed for the Pitfire Pizza chain last year and it's finally going live. It's always exciting to see one of your babies take it's first steps into the world.

Studio On Fire

2010-01-07T22:12:00.000-08:00

As the world we live in becomes increasingly more digital, I find much to love when presented with a well executed, tactile, old-fashioned printed piece that has been loved by both designer and printer. Studio On Fire is actually both a design firm and a letterpress printer. Studio On Fire's website has a lot of visual stimulation and prime examples of beautifully printed work that makes it difficult not to find a reason to employ letterpress on the next print assignment.

London Calling 30 Year Anniversary

2010-01-06T09:12:00.000-08:00

In what was a seminal piece of Rock and Roll history, The Clashes', London Calling was released 30 years ago this week. Always located on music critics Top 10 List's and referenced countless times by musicians worldwide as having been influenced by the album. London Calling, spoke to a generation of punk rebels and opened the door to thousands of voices who joined in and produced a wave of creativity (i.e. Fashion, Film, Surf/Skate, etc. etc..) sparked by the Punk Generation.

Prior to it's official release, I remember London Calling first appearing in the Art Department as a homemade cassette tape that made it's way via a student hailing from New York City. It was simply awesome and more than a just a musical offering. To all of us it was a call to action that gave everyone permission to throw out the rules and look at everything in a raw and feral perspective. There was no early media push like a movie soundtrack single, Facebook page or a YouTube video - it was virally passed around and copied by all those who "got it" and wanted to be a part of this anti-establishment movement. I Loved it then and I love even more now.

"Ataque de Panico!"

2009-12-21T20:15:00.000-08:00

It's not a Dicken's Christmas tale, but here's a story that I really love to hear.

Apparently a producer in Uruguay created a 4 minute short of a robot attack on Uruguay's capital called "Ataque de Panico!". The Playlist stated that the director may be the next Neill Blomkamp, who made the South African-based alien flick "District 9." With the blog abuzz, the South American short went viral, and has already been viewed on YouTube 1.5 million times.

Well, apparently nothing gets by Hollywood these days. The lucky duck told the BBC, "I uploaded 'Ataque de Panico!' on a Thursday and on Monday my inbox was totally full of emails from Hollywood studios." Long story short, a bidding war ensued. The offer he pocketed: A $30 million deal with Sam "Spiderman" Raimi's Ghost House Pictures. That's a nice return on investment.

This a perfect example of what happens when you put it out there. Got hit single, screenplay, art installation, cupcake recipe rolling around inside dying to get out? Well, Fede Alvarez had a dream and he is now about to see what happens when you put a plan into action.

iPhonetastic!

2009-12-14T22:28:00.000-08:00

One the reasons I love Apple so much is because they make products that allow everyone the opportunity to express themselves artistically. A prime example of this is the myriad of photography apps available that allow you to manipulate and alter images taken by your camera. My latest favorite is the imimux iPhone application, TiltShift. It allows you to transform any scene into a miniature world. This application simulates a tilt-shift lens that tricks your mind into viewing a photo as a miniature scene like a model railroad for example. Here are some that I shot recently here in SoCal. I really love using the app ($2 bucks!) and am always looking for an opportunity to use it. (And no, I was not paid by Apple to post this...)

It's a Jean-Charles de Castelbajac’s Xmas!

2009-12-03T19:56:00.000-08:00

I really wanted to post something beautiful so, this is it.

To bring Christmas Cheer to Paris, 2 well known Parisian retail facades will be dressed-up for the holidays by non other than Jean-Charles de Castelbajac this month to visually stimulate and excite Parisian shoppers. At the second-oldest department store in Paris, Bazaar de l'Hotel de Ville, or better known as the BHV, a dynamically neon-lit facade will be lit up on November 17, blasting powerful vocals performed by the 28-year-old, Arkansas-born Beth Ditto of the group Gossip.

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac’s the other Holiday installation is at the top of Champs Elysée, at Publicis Drugstore, established in 1958 and located on the site of the famed Astoria Hotel. The complex now houses two restaurants and several specialty shops, including a high-end grocery store. From November 20 to January 20, the building will be covered with gigantic colour glass panels and the inside will have a similar color-rich treatment with the theme “Pop your X-mas”. I'm a big fan of having renown artists to manipulate and enhance our surroundings and I doubly love the fact that there isn't a gigantic logo hovering above the installation. Joyeux Noël!

Aol. Lol?

2009-11-30T10:22:00.000-08:00

AOL recently revealed it's brand new logo as it separates from parent company Time Warner, on December 10th, and becomes a wholly new and independent entity. The new mark was created by Wolff Olins, who have been on a tremendous tear as of late for creating identities that have design blogs everywhere incensed and confused as to how some of these identities ever see the light of day.

The new mark is no longer uppercase “AOL” now it’s title case “Aol.” with a period. This new mark is suppose to communicate a solid departure from it's corporate parent and is now committed to position itself as a solid player in creating a platform for a content-driven organization. The AOL press release states:

AOL today previewed its new brand identity for its future as an independent company committed to creating the world’s most simple and stimulating content and online experiences.

The new AOL brand identity is a simple, confident logotype, revealed by ever-changing images. It’s one consistent logo with countless ways to reveal. The new brand identity will be fully unveiled on December 10, when AOL common stock begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

“Our new identity is uniquely dynamic. Our business is focused on creating world-class experiences for consumers and AOL is centered on creative and talented people — employees, partners, and advertisers. We have a clear strategy that we are passionate about and we plan on standing behind the AOL brand as we take the company into the next decade,” said Tim Armstrong, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AOL.

Currently, here seems to be a lot of haters regarding this new mark and the consensus seems to be quite negative.

My take on this new logo? I like it. It's clean, simple and going away from it's corporate roots and aligning itself visually with the newly structured company's new promise of being content-driven. I don't mind the font or the period as it's a nice base for Aol.Personals, Aol.Autos, Aol.Classifieds etc. It also makes a solid statement with the period as Aol. being the definitive online destination and one of the first players as a global internet provider. The graphic elements floating behind the Aol. logotype are interesting - a simple and engaging visual cue as to what we can expect from this new company. Nice going, Wolff Olins.

Tasty Tomato

2009-11-23T15:12:00.000-08:00

I love typography especially when it's handled well. Tomato out of the UK has a firm grasp on how type can enhance, engage and most importantly communicate. More than just mere words just lying there listlessly, Tomato's type executions are sophisticated and smart. Case in point, their latest project for Smirnoff is a beautiful black and white on-air execution with typography actually floating and interacting with the product to tell the story. Nicely done.

James Jean

2009-11-21T23:32:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time, I used to think I was a pretty good at drawing until I came across another talented artist with a really cool name, James Jean. His subject matter tends to be dark and dreamlike with an almost children's book style that really shows off his enviable draftsmanship. It's all amazing, but I think my favorite stuff is his sketchbook work.

Best Commercial of the Decade

2009-11-21T13:56:00.000-08:00

Adweek is collecting votes for Best of The Decade regarding all things advertising. You can vote for a myriad of categories such as: Best Agency, Best Production Studio, Best Promotion, Best Brand etc. etc. There is a large range of print, outdoor and commercial selections to entertain and delight. My vote for "Best Non-Super Bowl Ad of the Decade" is split between Goodby's Comcast Rabbit and Honda Grrr (Wieden + Kennedy) as I am sucker for clever writing, brilliant visuals and rabbits. Cast your vote now!

Fresh Cherry

2009-11-11T13:06:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd post something from my latest online portfolio for Dr Pepper Cherry that I thought turned out rather well. Now with more explosive Cherry visual impact and taste! Dig it.

chipsheean.com

2009-11-08T09:07:00.000-08:00

It has come to my attention that designing and producing your own portfolio site is very similar to giving birth (though I am sure my wife would have a few words on the subject...). After many years of never having a spare moment to do my own site, I finally found both the time and the determination needed to get it completed. The hardest part was sifting through all the hard drives, collecting the work and trying to construct a thread or feel that told my story. Additionally, writing the copy, shooting the pieces, trying to figure out the proper canvas from which to project the work and the right navigation - it all takes time. When it came to the About page, I knew that I did not want to have a photo or one particular piece from the book tell the story - so, I decided to take something from my sketchbook which is a common exercise for me and depict it in a pictogram. A collective of images and symbols that quickly described myself quickly. Clever? No. Easy? Yes.

All and all, I'm pretty happy with the result and I've gotten a lot positive feedback and some possible projects as a result.

Jim Carrey

2009-11-05T20:59:00.000-08:00

I recently discovered a new site devoted to all things related to the highly entertaining (and possibly disturbing) comic Jim Carrey. The site seems to have been heavily directed by Jim and incorporates all of his various film characters and personas that he has portrayed over the years. What I love about the site is that it is a content-rich, insane joyride through the world of Jim Carrey. With graphic elements and links that seems to go from one rabbit hole after another, It's as if someone peeled back top of Jim Carrey's head and poured the contents into the internet. A perfect vehicle for the entertainer and raises the bar as an authentic interactive experience.

Open Happiness

2009-10-23T08:18:00.000-07:00

Coca Cola is launching a new social media push by sending 3 bloggers worldwide to uncover what makes people happy. The bloggers are chosen by the highest amount of votes the team receives from Coke’s “Open Happiness” campaign website. Starting January 1st, the lucky bloggers will hop from country to country hunting bliss, while Coke pays their salary and expenses. The travelers will meet with locals, attend internationally-renowned events like the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and ultimately blog about it. Wish I could take a year off and do this myself - sounds like a blast.

In an era marked by a tough economy and a spirit lacking in the optimism department, this is a great way for Coca Cola to "walk it and blog it" and hopefully shed some light as to what it is that truly puts a smile on our face.

Go Fatoe Go!

2009-10-14T11:28:00.000-07:00

Fatoe is the portfolio site of the ridiculously talented Mike Orduna. He has been on my radar for some time now and I typically have something of his pinned up on my style board when I need to convey a cool, hip street vibe. His illustration work is fantastic and has a loose gestural energy to it that looks as though it's an animated piece that's ready to lift off of the page and magically render right before your eyes. Additionally, it looks like he has been quite busy as an interactive art director. A double threat and no doubt a very busy creative. Check it out!

Ex Nihilo

2009-10-13T09:52:00.000-07:00

Just completed this label for Jeff Harder of Ex Nihilo Vineyards out of the BC. The term Ex Nihilo is Latin for "Out of Nothing". A typographical solve that communicates exactly that. Hope it's a big hit.

Union Bank's new identity

2009-10-13T09:07:00.000-07:00

Recently received a message from the president of Union Bank announcing the launch of their new logomark. In a letter issued to customers last month, Union Bank President and CEO Masa Tanaka explained:

“With the change in our name, it was necessary to update our logo, and this gave us a wonderful opportunity to develop a look that underscored the values that we hold close.”

“The most important among these values is a singular dedication to serving your financial needs, which we have very boldly illustrated by adopting a dominant U in our new look. We hope you will always consider it your personal invitation to let us provide your financial solutions.”
— Press Release

My personal take on this new logo is that it's a departure from a bold and solid communication to a kinder and softer look that is trying to communicate that they are truly focused on you the individual. I am sure that Union Bank paid Landor and Associates, more than the GNP for Brazil to create the mark and the standards manual that went along with it, but I am not impressed with the mark.

This softer, rounder approach is a trend that seems to be catching fire and it's more and more common to see large companies adopt a warm, fuzzy approach to their identity hoping to catch some the "green" breeze that seems to be blowing through corporate america.

We just went through one of the most horrific financial periods of this generation and the last thing I want to see is my bank's logo softening up and looking like the local flower shop that specializes in tulips . Personally, I want to see my financial institution evoke a strong confidence that let's me know everything related to the financial meltdown is a thing of the past and we can look to a solid and bright future together without having to "hug it out" visually.

Just my two cents...

A Sketch from the Sketchbook

2009-10-08T15:17:00.000-07:00

One thing that helps me as a creative is always having a sketchbook on my person. It's a habit I've had since grade school and it's interesting to see the entries evolve as a connective visual timeline. It seems that even though I am creating on the computer more than ever - the basic need to put pencil to paper and work out the concept remains the same. The scans from this particular sketchbook are really interesting in that I was caught in a rain storm and the entire book was soaking wet. When it dried, the pages had an uneven roll and curl that made the whole thing seem almost better because of the water damage.

2009-09-29T10:38:00.000-07:00

OUT OF TIME from Андрей Скурьят DREE on Vimeo.

I have often thought of the human body as one of the greatest and most powerful inspiration for art. It's been drawn, painted, sculpted, filmed, etc. etc. Take a look at what several youths from the Ukraine, a case of Jolt Cola and lots of free time at the playground can produce. Jaw dropping amazing what they are able to do and worth taking a look.

Lance Rides on Art in the Tour de France

2009-07-26T21:19:00.000-07:00

This year's tour is over and after a three year break, Lance Armstrong came in a solid third place. Many of us are excited about the comeback and look forward to what 2010 may hold for Lance and his teammates. For this years race, Trek, Nike, Lance Armstrong and some of the best artists alive today have teamed up together to create STAGES, a rolling art exhibit with Lance's Trek bikes used as the canvas. Shepard Fairy, Kaws, Kenny Scharf, Marc Newson, Yoshitomo Nara and Damien Hirst have all participated and the bikes will be auctioned off to raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Pictured above is a bike designed by Damien Hirst in which he used real butterflies to apply to the bike frame. Sounds crazy, looks amazing.

MJ takes his leave

2009-07-09T22:33:00.000-07:00

Can a person be a brand? This week we said goodbye to one of our own here in Los Angeles. Say what you will about the man, but he led quite a colorful life full of twists and turns and always had the ability to make us take notice. Recently, he was about to make a comeback by launching a huge tour with 50 shows in London, just to kick it off. Even though many of us did not fully embrace his antics or lifestyle - throw on a "Thriller" cd and see what happens to the energy in the room.

Somehow, secretly we were all rooting for the Michael we used to know and hoped to see again. If you look at MJ "the brand", it speaks volumes about what we as a collective will forgive if the brand is built on a solid gold foundation and goes sideways. Even though the current experience doesn't quite match our earlier takeaway, we look at the brand through a forgiving lens based on what was delivered previously. The bigger the initial payoff for us, the more forgiving we become.

GM is another brand that comes to mind that had America, if not the world, enthralled with it's product and image, but, eventually ran out of "brand credibility" to be a brand to be trusted. There is indeed a limit to what we will endure from a broken brand. Even though we still love the brand, it's like that crazy uncle that always shows up late to Thanksgiving, throws up on the couch and passes out. Love the guy, but from a cautious distance.

So, with a heavy heart and a single gloved hand we wave a fond goodbye to MJ as he rides of into the sunset on a circus elephant. Adios MJ and godspeed.

JThree Concepts

2009-06-11T09:20:00.000-07:00

Recently I discovered this amazing artist, Jared Nickerson, a 26 year old illustrator based out of Seattle, WA. His digital work is sublime and each piece he's created could easily be converted to a canvas and hung on a wall. Love it all day long, and being one quite familiar with all things vector - I know how much work he's put into creating his art. I'm sure Jared has had his fair share of late nighters and hot pockets...

Please, call me Pascal...

2009-06-04T16:52:00.000-07:00

Pascal Colrat. Artist? Designer? Photographer? I'm not really sure because the site is entirely in french. All I know is that I am fiercely jealous of his talent and his first name. I always wanted to be called Pascal. His work is arresting and interesting. Check out the site here.

This tip came from my esteemed colleague Aaron Onsurez.

Aloha Saturn

2009-06-02T12:47:00.000-07:00

GM announced today that it had 16 buyers interested in purchasing Saturn and were aggressively trying to reach an agreement soon. After spending the last two years working hard to try and get the word out about “a different kind of car company”, I am happy to hear that there may indeed be a tomorrow for Saturn. The company really tried to tell a new story about being forward thinking, innovative and human. The products recently released (Outlook, Vue, Aura, Sky and Astra) have been remarkably well received and have been gaining a stronger position in the marketplace. The people at Saturn are smart, funny and passionate about what they are doing. Who knows what the future holds for GM and how it’ll all shake out in the end, but I really felt like Saturn was headed in the right direction. Maybe GM will learn something and offer us a new car company that indeed thinks differently, act responsibly and offers products that are well built and lust-worthy. Maybe...

The Raven

2009-06-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite poems "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe is celebrated with a commemorative edition book to commemorate the 2009 release of the Edgar Allen Poe stamp. Charlottesville, Virginia-based Journey Group created this booklet for the United States Postal Service. The book is largely a graphic representation and features the stamp artwork (oil painting) and commentary by stamp artist Michael J. Deas and a block of four Edgar Allan Poe stamps. The artwork for the book was created by French artist Emmanuel Polanco. Quite a beautiful example of design and illustration coming together to create something special.

2012 Olympic Posters

2009-05-26T13:02:00.000-07:00

Spotted these posters online for the London 2012 Olympics depicting tennis, fencing, cycling and diving. I'm not sure if they are actual posters in production or proposed - all I know is that I really like them and applaud Alan Clarke for designing them.

The Olympics is a great venue that draws international interest and is ripe with opportunities for brilliant design. These posters are a step in the right direction and take the events to a higher level.

On the other hand, this logo for the 2012 Olympics (designed by Wolff Olins and costing some $400,000) is not well designed and feels trapped in a time-zone in some mall in Sherman Oaks circa 1983, sandwiched between an "Esprit" store and a "Hotdog on a Stick" stand.

Ouch.

Diz Chair

2009-05-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

Wha...? Posting twice in the same month? Crazy.

Anyway, do you love furniture? Well I do! And this chair is what it's all about. The Diz chair designed by Sergio Rodrigues is hand-built from solid eucalyptus and the stuff of dreams. I discovered it in the products section of Design Hotels. It's $7500.00 a piece but well worth it if only to have your body ensconced euphorically in this work of art.

Musica Bonita

2009-05-25T21:26:00.000-07:00

Came across this promotional site for creative director Sebastien Agneessens. A highly educated and ambitious cat that goes by the name of Seb Leon when promoting his musical offerings. I'm a big fan of how well his promotional site is designed. It's clean, rich with information about the artist and gives you a clear understanding of what Seb is puttin' down.

Currently the music industry is in a death spiral and one way to create a much needed following is by taking the fight out of the empty Best Buy music aisles and onto the internet. More and more, artists are stretching opportunities online to tell the story, provide downloadable assets such as free music and artwork and allow for fans to congregate. Radiohead, Brian Eno + David Byrne and Wilco are all there at the front and leading a pretty solid charge.

Pitfire Pizza

2009-05-20T13:10:00.000-07:00

Here is a recent logo I created for a chain of artisan pizza restaurants called Pitfire Pizza. The mark is suppose to communicate a mid-century, North Beach SF, craftsman vibe.

Honda Day

2009-05-18T17:32:00.000-07:00

So, after many weeks of work, today is the day we finally present the work for a pitch for Honda Motorsports.

Being a dad and having a serious fear of winding up roadkill on the 405, I have never really embraced the whole idea of being on a motorcycle. That scene in the movie where Pee Wee Herman peels out on a Harley goes about 100 yards and smashes through a billboard comes to mind. Yet, somewhere in the back of my mind I do have a dark corner reserved for that reckless feeling of freedom and mind-numbing speed that only a motorcycle can deliver. It was great to work on the assignments and I gained a tremendous amount of insight into the various bikes and the people who ride them.
Honda is one of those dream brands that has a spot in American pop culture - hell, I had a cool long sleeved Honda motorcycle t-shirt in 7th grade and never even owned a bike.

Honda just needs the right nudge to be that lust-worthy brand it deserves to be. For one reason or another, the company that made the statement "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" and made motorcycles cool for everyone, somehow fell into a sea of sameness and receded into the background. Honda is a strong leader brand and has the power to be a Nike, Apple or Starbucks - if only they are willing to put it out there again.

If we get it, I really hope I get to work on it - and maybe even get a bike like an Interceptor or a Shadow...

Taxi Cafe

2009-04-28T16:47:00.000-07:00

I work at a pretty great place. It's an ad agency filled with really hip, smart, people all devoted to a common purpose of creating brilliant work. It's pretty cool, but, not that cool. Why? because I just discovered an even cooler place. TAXI, an ad agency in Vancouver, BC. They have managed to combine two things together so naturally and beautiful that it hurts. Advertising and Coffee.

Behold, TAXI CAFE. Taxi decided that it would be a good idea to create a coffee shop in the entrance of the agency where clients or anyone looking for a great cup of coffee can stroll in and sit down. At the same time, Taxi is also displaying some pretty great branding that gets noticed (see above images) in a city over flowing with coffee shops. There is even a plan to open up an additional one across town away from the agency.

The Future of Advertising

2009-02-04T10:42:00.000-08:00

Lately, I've been using Nike+ as a perfect example of where advertising as a medium may be headed.

Nike+ is a brilliant collaboration between two companies Apple and Nike, in which the end results transcend a mere product offering but rather a cultural shift in terms of what we as consumers expect from top brands and ways that the brand connects us to what is lust-worthy about that brand.

"In 2006, Nike and Apple teamed up to create a device that measures and records the distance and pace of a walk or run. The information is transmitted from a sensor located in the sole of your Nike running shoe and stored on your Apple iPod Nano. The kit is able to store information such as the elapsed time of the workout, the distance traveled, pace, or calories burned by the individual wearing the shoes, and display it on the screen or broadcast it through the headphones of an iPod. The receiver displays information comparable to that of the iPod kit on the built-in display. After a run, the receiver can be plugged straight into a USB port and the software will upload the run information automatically to the Nike+ website."

What are the results? A killer product that is supported by a well-thought out website. Nike+ taps directly into a collective that are fervently passionate about fitness and provides them something that can feed that passion.

"In addition to tracking personal workout statistics, the Nike+ integrates directly with the Nike website (created by R/GA). Workout data can be automatically uploaded to the website during an iPod sync with iTunes or through another program via the website's public API. The uploaded information is mostly not personally-identifying, but does also contain some personal statistics such as weight (if configured). Workout data is stored in XML files on the iPod, which has led some web and applications programmers to offer alternatives to the official Nike reports. On October 19, 2006, new features were added to the Nike+ website, including the ability to name runs. Forums were also added (which they refer to as "talk some trash"), allowing users to meet and challenge other runners, ask questions, and give feedback. Recently, there have been several more additions to the Nike+ website including but not limited to: a challenge gallery where all user created challenges are viewable, the ability to name the route taken when running or walking, compatibility with the new iPod Nano (fourth generation), a distance club to view everyone's total distance traveled, fastest 5K et cetera."

The positioning and messaging of both brands (Nike+Apple) are communicated seamlessly by providing an experience with tremendous benefits and then backing it up with a FREE website that allows the user additional opportunities to enjoy the product. Without a doubt, the best example to date of how a company can create a deep and lasting brand culture that is measurable and memorable.

Super Bowl XL111

2009-01-28T21:40:00.000-08:00

The New York Times wrote an interesting article article regarding this year's Super Bowl logo and how the Super Bowl's identity reflects us as a nation, current graphic design trends and our intense passion for the game. Additionally, The New York Times created a slideshow of alternative marks created by various design firms to show a different look for this years game. Personally, I think it best to leave this type of logo development to the pros, although I can't say that I am that impressed with what Landor produced for this year's game. Dull, lifeless and pedestrian, the mark lacks any sense of excitement, depth or passion. Steven Heller said it best when he was quoted as saying “looks like the Bank of America logo.”

InFamous Wallpaper

2009-01-27T17:32:00.000-08:00

One of the things I love about working at this place is that one day is never like the day before. Last week I was asked to help out on a bit of creative for a new Sony Playstation game called inFAMOUS. I had one day to come up with as many ideas and looks as possible and this is one of the things I had a chance to illustrate before the bell rang. It isn't very conceptual but, was well liked by the group and may live as a downloadable wallpaper...

Photog of the week _ Trevor Pearson

2009-01-27T17:22:00.000-08:00

Once in a while you get to work with someone that you respect as a creative and admire as a person. Over the last couple of years I've had the good fortune of working with Trevor and consider him to one of the best. Whether it's shooting a new phone for Helio or getting a distinctive look down for Saturn, Trevor seems to have a solid understanding of what it takes to get a great shot off and at the same time have fun doing it. Take a look and if you really need something to look extraordinarily good, check out his site.

North Kingdom

2009-01-27T16:50:00.000-08:00

A few years back I came across a site called Designchapel that contained some pretty amazing work by an individual named Robert Lindstrom. Every click of the mouse brought new and exciting imagery that showed a wide depth of talent and deep mastery of applications needed to create them. I continued to drop in periodically to see where this talented creative might land and in 2003 I discovered that he started his own company named North Kingdom.

Situated in the north of Sweden, North Kingdom has gone on to create and produce award winning work that has everybody talking. It is one of those shops that has yet to really defined itself completely and is actually a collective of many talented people who seem to stretch and pull Digital in any direction. The art direction is amazing and the experience seems to deliver results that delivers right on target. North Kingdom is just one great example of how much the role of digital has grown from being purely a storytelling device to more of an idea machine that binds the consumer closer to the brand through engaging experiences that really connect with the desired audience.

Goodbye Indie 103.1 FM

2009-01-27T12:59:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, one of my favorite radio stations INDY103.1 FM has fallen victim to corporate pressures and has decided to leave the FM airwaves rather than acquiesce to "The Man". Anyone who lives in the LA area and has a penchant for listening to an eclectic mix of music (The Clash, LCD Soundsystem, Air) played by DJ's with a soul knows about 103.1 FM and has been illuminated by it's brilliance. What a bold move in an age where people would rather switch than fight. It's RAW, it's PUNK and it's REAL. Check out the station online and also the nice logo mark created by our very local LA phenom creative Studio Number 1 Sheppard Fairey.

Pepsi vs. Coke

2009-01-13T10:39:00.000-08:00

Due to slumping sales and lost marketshare, Pepsi recently introduced it’s first rebranding effort in over 14 years. The new work was created by New York design office Arnell Group and was a complete departure from it’s earlier look.

An Ad Age quote states: “PepsiCo today said it will pour some $1.2 billion over three years into a push that will include sweeping changes to its brands, including what Chairman-CEO Indra Nooyi characterized as a revamp of "every aspect of the brand proposition for our key [carbonated soft drink] brands. How they look, how they're packaged, how they will be merchandised on the shelves, and how they connect with consumers.”

The new Pepsi logo is suppose to depict a smile rather than a fluid swoosh and try to connect with a broader and hipper audience. Why Pepsi felt the need to abandon whatever equity it had established with it’s original look is a real mystery. The logo and new packaging seems a bit too “cool” and minimal and has been stripped of any sense of fun or excitement. It’s a soft drink – not motor oil or some bourgeois Canadian mineral water. Where’s the enticement and promise of a refreshing and tasty experience?

Interestingly enough, Coca Cola updated their packaging and came out with an entirely new look that embraced it’s heritage and strength in the category. The brilliant, bold and confident new package design (by TurnerDuckworth of San Francisco) emphasizes the well-established Coca Cola logo and makes a bold and striking avatar for the brand. Clean? Yes. Minimal and spare? Yes. But, we as a collective are well connected to the brand and all the flavor that needs to be translated visually is right there in the logo. One glance and you know the whole story; Coke is still number 1.

Rock the Vote

2008-11-04T16:58:00.000-08:00

So, today is Election Day and the entire country is waiting to see where we land as a nation and who our next President might be. Every year, I am asked by my brother Chris to create a memorable and iconic graphic for his Big Shoulders swim meet. This is what I came up with this year and man, did I catch some heat...

Photog of the week _ Dirk Karsten

2008-10-17T16:41:00.000-07:00

Each week I am going to feature a photographer that has created a an evocative style that is a cut above the rest. I've been a big fan of Netherland shooter, "Dirk Karsten" for a while and look forward to the day when I can find a project to utilize his genius talent. His website shows off his skills but does not come close to the beauty contained in his full-sized portfolio. Each image seems to be a still captured from some dark movie that speaks of mystery and magic. Take a look if you have a moment.

Y Water

2008-09-29T17:35:00.000-07:00

A new concept in children’s beverages.

Organic, Nutrient Rich, Low Calorie. Y Water , a new nutrient water that combines high design with a great of concept. The bottle was designed by Yeves Behar of FuseProject and is 100% recyclable. The entire offering is a simple example of what happens when you create an alignment with today’s modern parent. A drink I can give my kids in a smartly designed package that does not harm the planet. Brilliant.

Ruby Rocks

2008-07-08T22:44:00.000-07:00

This one comes from my brother-in-law in NorCal.
The company? Ateliers Ruby. The product? Super cool helmets and scarves created for the cool two-wheeled hipsters in Europe. From the website it states, "Inspired by Steve McQueen, Science Fiction and the great tradition of French luxury". After spending some time in the United States (mostly California) Frenchman, Jerome Coste returned to his homeland to create Ruby, a brand which guarantees good looks and safety for everyday heros and heroines." Each helmet ships in a cool ruby red box and is accompanied with a 12" vinyl disc that contains instrumentals inspired by whatever helmet was ordered. With a well executed site that combines art + commerce and communicates sexy-cool, it's easy to see how Ruby could quickly develop a feverish, cult-like following and produce additional Ruby product spin-offs to keep the everyone wanting more for years to come. Checkit out.

Obey Kobey

2008-06-29T14:02:00.000-07:00

Well, the Lakers may not have come come with the title, but are very own Aaron Onsurez created this fantastic graphic for all of the fans here in LA. It's a nice little combo of a clever play on the name and a pretty good nod to local legend/rock star Sheppard Fairey - the world famous street artist (now a brand) Obey Giant .

Dave Plafchan of Detroit Sprinkles did a limited run of shirts for everyone here in the office and they were a huge, huge hit.