I am really surprised at how difficult it is to find well-photographed collections of 60s psychedelic posters. I’ve been looking for several years for a nice online collection, and these two links are the best I’ve found. If you are aware of a better quality collection, please share the address:
I would love to see this show...The Denver Art Museum is currently exhibiting The Psychedelic Experience, which consists of 300 rock posters from the San Francisco Bay Area, 1965 – 71. Maybe someone from Denver can give us a recap of the poster collection.
I dig this time-lapse video by Sydney-based photographer Keith Loutit. While all the frames are authentic, I can’t help but feel like the piece exists somewhere between real and surreal.
You The Designer has assembled a pretty nice list (with links) containing 30 of the most popular graphic design books available for purchase. Most of the publications are well known within the field, but even if you are familiar with the books, the list is still a quality resource and a good bookmark to have.
This list also reminded me that I would like to read How to Think Like a Great Graphic Designer — but I have never come across a copy of it.
For some reason, I feel like I’ve already done a post about her work, but quickly scanning through the blog archive, I can’t find that I actually did.
Nevertheless, Alyssa Pheobus has been producing some compelling large-scale text drawings, created using graphite on paper. I really enjoy the contrast between the mechanical rendering of the drawings and the slightly uneven surface of the cotton rag paper.
The state of Wisconsin has revealed their new marketing and tourism slogan and logo.
“After conducting market research, tourism officials last year decided the strategy should emphasize Wisconsin’s creativity, hospitality and unique destinations under the platform, “In Wisconsin, originality rules.”
“The silhouetted figure cartwheeling across the top of Wisconsin really speaks to the invitation to live and work and play here,” she said. “And ‘Live like you mean it’ speaks to the fact that if you can imagine it, you can do it in Wisconsin. It was chosen for its energy.”
What do you think, does the mark successfully meet their objective or not?
I realize the movie is a few years old, but I recently came across the 2005 film Hostage, and really liked the opening title sequence. French director and After Effects artist, Laurent Brett, created the title.
The piece integrates a strong use of color and typography — it’s certainly worth viewing if you’re unfamiliar with it.
Good luck to my alma mater, the University of Dayton Flyers, as they attempt to stomp West Virginia University in the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament today.
This is Rudy, the Flyers mascot. I was going to post the Flyers logo instead of him, but it’s kind of embarrassing. The university athletics logo appeared dated in 1995 when it was created, and now 14 years later...it still looks dated. But hey, if the university decides to keep it around for another 27 years, it might be in style again...so that kind of works out for everyone who currently likes it.
I really enjoy the Reese's ad campaign and wanted to find out which agency was responsible for it.
I haven't been able to confirm that they were responsible for the concept, but Arnold Wordwide is credited with creating the above spots. The minimalist approach can sometimes backfire when applied to commercials, but these do just enough to remain interesting. The visual style is nice as well, as the candy illustrations and background color choices appear retro, while the typography and cropping seem contemporary.
Netherlands agency N=5 created this ad campaign for Fitness First, the world’s largest health club operator, to help increase memberships. A digital scale has been added to the seat at this Rotterdam bus stop, which then shows the weight of unsuspecting travelers in the advertising display case.
I’m not sure if the campaign will have the intended effect of increased memberships, as I’m sure the company runs the risk of offending as many people as it impresses. Nevertheless, the idea is original, inspired and a memorable piece of advertising.
I grew up in northern Ohio, and every time I go back to visit it seems like there is another architectural mural by designer and illustrator Eric Grohe.
The paintings are really impressive and completely unexpected. Most are located in smaller communities and towns where you just wouldn’t expect to find murals of this size and quality.
Orange you glad you spent millions of dollars on a brand redesign that had a shelf life of eight weeks? PepsiCo isn’t.
In response to consumer complaints, company executives have decided to pull-the-plug on the new packaging and will return to the previous design by the end of March.
So drink-in this picture while you can, because it might be the last time you will get to see this particular Tropicana package. Unless of course you attend a future branding conference, where one of the topics covered is “epic rebranding failures,” you might see this picture there too.
The New York Times states:
“The about-face comes after consumers complained about the makeover in letters, e-mail messages and telephone calls and clamored for a return of the original look.
Some of those commenting described the new packaging as “ugly” or “stupid,” and resembling “a generic bargain brand” or a “store brand.”
The 30 Drawings in 30 Days project is now complete. It was more difficult than I anticipated having to conceptualize, create a layout and render each piece in a 24-hour span. It was a good experience, but I enjoy taking a bit more time to develop my thoughts. Thanks to everyone who regularly visited the blog.
Somehow, I overlooked the fact that the This Drawing Could Be Yours contest should have ended last Friday, and not tomorrow. That being said, Jeff has officially secured himself a drawing, as he had the most blog comments on Friday, March 06.
Due to my mistake, if anyone surpasses Jeff’s total of six comments by tomorrow at noon, they will be given a drawing as well. If more than one person surpasses Jeff’s total, the drawing will go to the person with the highest total.
I am in the process of uploading some new work to the studiotwentysix2 site. I have removed the abstract painting category from the main navigation and replaced it with drawings from the 30 Drawings in 30 Days project. The abstract work will remain on the site, and can be viewed here.
I will also try to upload additional work to the cryptography and independent categories over the next few days as well.
I wanted to post this letter to the NCAA written by Charles Kupchella, President of the University of North Dakota for several reasons: 1. It deals with the significance of logos and identity systems 2. It’s one of the best-written and thought-out letters I’ve ever come across 3. It’s becoming harder to find on the Internet.
The letter is quite lengthy, but a fantastic read. President Kupchella wrote this piece to the NCAA to appeal the claim that their logo is offensive toward Native Americans. In the letter Kupchella defends the university’s sports identity, and seeks continued use of their logo and mascot, the Fighting Sioux.
This commercial gets inside your head and lives there...much like the Filet-o-Fish, which gets inside your intestines...and lives there. Now, who’s ready for lunch?
* Bonus McDonald’s menu calorie-counter Goodness:
Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese: 740 Premium Crispy Chicken Club Sandwich: 630 Large French Fries: 500 Deluxe Breakfast (w/o Syrup & Margarine): 1150 Strawberry Triple Thick Shake (32 fl oz.): 1110
I received this “call to artists” for the upcoming Cincinnati Fringe Festival, and thought I would pass it along:
“The Cincinnati Fringe Festival is proud to celebrate its 6th Anniversary Festival opening on May 26, 2009 and running through June 6, 2009. The 2009 Festival will mark the third year that the Festival has been managed by the Know Theatre of Cincinnati, who successfully produced another record-breaking year for attendance in 2008. This year the Fringe will continue to pursue its mission to provide opportunities and exposure to artists who are willing to take artistic risks by experimenting with style, content, format, process and so on. The festival is open to all local, regional, national and international artists who come to our city from a wide variety of mediums and backgrounds.
Visual Artists will be presented at The Art Academy of Cincinnati, just one block away from Fringe HQ on Jackson Street. The Visual Fringe will open on Tuesday, May 26, marking the kick-off of The Fringe Festival and will run through closing Saturday of the Festival (Saturday June 6, 2009)”.
The New York-based artist has developed a subtle-yet-intricate patterning style that consists of pencil and tape on paper.
I’d like to see the work in person to get a better feel for scale and dimensionality, but based on the images on her site, it appears that lighting would be an important factor in how the pieces are exhibited and perceived.
Here are several nicely illustrated theater intermissions — a treat for those who are old enough to remember them, and a history lesson for those who aren’t. I wasn’t able to track down specific dates for the videos, but if I had to guess, they probably range from the late 1950s to 1970.
Thanks go out to Dan for sending me the link to this fine food packaging.
While I have concerns about the overall typographic choices and unappetizing use of poorly lit product photography, I am even more befuddled by the product itself.
What are pork brains? Wouldn’t brains need to come from a specific living entity? Pork, as I understand it, is not a specific living entity. Perhaps they are pig brains? Was using the descriptor pig brains instead of pork brains considered too risky from a sales standpoint?
I’m at a loss.
I must admit though, the cholesterol intake per serving is phenomenal. I wonder if the designer called the client to confirm that the 1170% wasn’t a typo?
If you are into 18th to 20th century Japanese Woodblock Prints, then this is a site you will want to bookmark. The Japan Print Gallery in London has an excellent online collection of Japanese prints by some of the period’s most recognizable artists.
I only wish they provided a thumbnail preview, because unless you are an art historian or collector of Japanese prints, it is quite a lot of work to search through without a reference point. The gallery did a great job on the documentation of the work — the color and image sizes are spot-on.
