weetstraw.com
 weetstraw offers several interesting sets of ephemera, photographs and a variety of visuals. "weetstraw.com draws in users based on familiar subjects, and creates connections to ideas from various contexts. the purpose of the site is to introduce the user to new possibilities of visual associations, through the common and the obscure." weetstraw.comLabels: ephemera, graphic design, illustration, photography, resource, weetstraw.com
Mid-Century Modern illustrations
Advertising in America, 1850-1920
onlab
 onlab, a Berlin-based graphic design studio that produces a combination of client and self-initiated projects. I quite like the Quarry Workers publication; it has an interesting format and is a great solution for 1-color printing. onlabLabels: graphic design, onlab, site design
Letters and Lettering, 1938
 While visiting family over the holidays, I stopped into one of my favorite used bookstores, and ended-up with a few spectacular finds. Including this 1938 type style / specimen book by Paul Carlyle and Guy Oring. It's a hardcover Wire-O / double-loop bound book, printed two-colors on cover weight uncoated paper stock. The specimen is around 130-pages of typographic goodness, and I photographed a sampling of 36-pages for your historical enjoyment. Letters and Lettering via studiotwentysix2 on flickrLabels: flickr, graphic design, Guy Oring, Letters and Lettering, Paul Carlyle
Russian Poster Collection
Stephen Farrell
 I recently visited the Cooper Union Typography blog, and the latest entry features typographer and designer Stephen Farrell. Stephen was one of my mentors during graduate school, and he is as smart, detail-oriented and talented as they come. He doesn't maintain a site of his own, but Cooper Union did a great job of compiling all the information available on him into a single point of reference. Be sure to check out his work, it's definitely worthwhile. Stephen Farrell via Cooper Union TypographyLabels: blog, Cooper Union Typography, graphic design, Stephen Farrell
The Art of Hatch Show Print
Behance Network
 I recently set up a portfolio on the Behance Network, which considers itself "a platform for creative portfolios, projects, and collaborations." There is a nice mixture of well-known and lesser-known artists and designers, and most of the work represented seems to range from decent to exceptional quality. If you're a creative, you might want to consider joining, or, if you're just interested in keeping tabs on contemporary art & design, you might have a good time simply browsing. Tom Davie on Behance NetworkLabels: Behance Network, fine art, graphic design, illustration, resource, studiotwentysix2, Tom Davie
Xavier Encinas
 Check out the nice portfolio of French-born, Vancouver-based designer and art director Xavier Encinas. He has a well-rounded body of work, but I'm particularly interested in his fashion-oriented design. Xavier created and edits the type and design blog Swiss Legacy. Xavier EncinasLabels: graphic design, site design, Xavier Encinas
British Wrestling Posters
Now on flickr
 It may take some time to finish organizing and uploading the work, but studiotwentysix2 is now officially on flickr. My photostream will feature a sampling of posters, prints, drawings and client work, with images being available at a large 900 pixels. The direct flickr link is posted below, and I will continue to upload work to the site, as time and energy allows. studiotwentysix2 : the art + design of tom davie via flickrLabels: fine art, flickr, graphic design, studiotwentysix2, Tom Davie, update
Typoretum
 I was really impressed with the design, photography and content on Justin Knopp's Typoretum blog. He seems to have a wonderful appreciation for the history of type and printing... Since then my involvement with letterpress printing has deepened and I have acquired a substantial collection of lead and wooden types, printing machines and other paraphernalia - much of which I have rescued and restored to working order. My continuing interest in letterpress printing has led me to provide practical demonstrations and workshops and I am deeply involved with preserving the history of the Anchor Press, with the long-term ambition of establishing a printing museum in Tiptree. Typoretum blogLabels: blog, graphic design, Justin Knopp, site design, Typoretum
Please Explain: Typography
Create Democracy
 I was recently asked to contribute work for the upcoming Create Democracy poster exhibition that will be part of London's Design Event '09. Since the theme of the exhibition is democracy, only the posters with highest vote totals will be exhibited during the event. If you would like to support my design work, visit the link below and vote for my posters to be included in the exhibition. About Create Democracy... Democracy is a challenging new graphic design exhibition forming part of Design Event, the North East's annual design festival. We're aiming to create the ultimate democratic exhibition; we're inviting designers and illustrators to submit their visual interpretation of the theme of Democracy and only those with the most votes will be featured in the exhibition. All qualifying entries are showcased on this website and you can then vote for your favourite. You can also leave comments on the work and get in contact with the artist/designer behind them.
This project is a unique chance for designers and artists to pit their work against peers from all over the world. It is also a great platform to promote your creative talent to thousands of art-lovers and design-fans engaging with Design Event 09. Feel free to use Facebook, MySpace, forums etc. to spread the word and get people to vote for your work.
Rise to the challenge and participate in the process. The sooner you submit, the more votes you have the potential to get, so get cracking... View my postersVote or submit at Create Democracy siteLabels: Create Democracy, Design Event 09, graphic design, illustration, studiotwentysix2, Tom Davie
Lost and Taken
 Sorry for the lack of posts this week, I was out-of-town for a few days. Lost and Taken is a great resource site for Hi Res, good-quality textures and scans. Most, if not all, are copyright / royalty-free images that are acceptable for personal and commercial use. Check it out. Lost and TakenLabels: blog, graphic design, illustration, photography, resource
Target ClearRx
 I was in the process of organizing some old bookmarks, and came across this 2005 Design Observer essay by Michael Beirut. The topic is the Target ClearRx prescription bottle that started as a graduate assignment at the School of Visual Arts. Although he probably overstates the importance of the bottle redesign, it's still a good piece of writing; and with the inclusion of the comments section, it makes for an interesting read. Target ClearRx via Design ObserverLabels: article, Design Observer, graphic design, Michael Beirut, redesign, resource, Target
What we can learn from Tropicana
 I was sent a copy of this article a few weeks ago as a PDF file, but now that Brand Packaging has added it to their site, I thought I would forward it along. The article focuses on the recent Tropicana rebranding failure by discussing what went wrong, what we can learn from it, and how to potentially avoid a future rebranding backlash. What we can learn from TropicanaLabels: article, graphic design, redesign, resource, Tropicana
Good Type, Bad Type.
 I will be teaching an introduction to typography class this semester, and as a reference point for examples and discussion, have created Good Type, Bad Type - where the best and worst of typography, mingle seamlessly. I encourage you to stop by and check it out, and if you would like to join or start a discussion, or have an outstanding example of good / bad typography to share - that's even better. Good Type, Bad Type.Labels: blog, Good Type Bad Type, graphic design, resource, Tom Davie
Miller Genuine Draft can design, Russia
Thirst
 I have been meaning to post this for quite sometime – better late than never I guess. Thirst, the Chicago based studio, relaunched their site earlier this spring, with additional work and a new interface. Thirst is one of the nation's preeminent design studios with the following philosophy... Thirst is a firm devoted to art with function and serves a collection of clients whose refined and enlightened design sensibilities yield rewards in the experience of creation.
Our passion for design and embrace of new technologies make for a dynamic union of imagery and inspiration.
Thirst's strategic and creative versatility continues to lead the discourse and pursue the elusive ideals of intelligence, fashion and real human presence within today's world of communication. If you're unfamiliar with Thirst, you will definitely want to take a few minutes and check out their work. ThirstLabels: graphic design, Rick Valicenti, site design, Thirst
Rick Valicenti
 I decided to split one long post into two shorter ones, so it's a two-for-one day. In honor of yesterday's black and white drawings, and today's post about Thirst, here are some personal works by Thirst founder, Rick Valicenti. Rick was recently awarded the American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA) Medal in 2006 for his sustained contribution to design excellence and development of the profession. This medal is the highest honor in the graphic design profession. Rick Valicenti provides inspiration to his colleagues and mentorship to a generation of students. For the past two decades, Rick has lent his time and energies to college and high school students in the form of workshops and personal critiques on the design industry. Rick ValicentiLabels: fine art, graphic design, illustration, Rick Valicenti
Current Work : Poster Design
Hello Monday
 I like Flash as an application, but I typically don't care for most web sites that are created in it. With the combination of resized browser windows, and slow navigations or overall loading times, there is usually something frustrating about visiting a flash site. However, none of that applies to Denmark-based Hello Monday. The "designery" specializes in identity, illustration, flash and campaign development, and the firm also has one of the nicest studio sites out there. Check it out. Hello MondayLabels: graphic design, Hello Monday, illustration, interactive design, site design
Sleevage
 Sleevage is a blog / archive dedicated to album cover art. Accompanying each cover is detailed information about the band, the artist (if known) and any historical art or design references that may have influenced the cover art. It's a quality site and definitely worth a bookmark. SleevageLabels: blog, fine art, graphic design, music, resource, Sleevage
Vintage Neon Signs
 Outdoorsman and photographer Tom Spaulding has put together a fabulous flickr set of over 800 vintage neon signs. The collection has a nice mix of day and night images, stylistic variety and the overall image quality is quite good. The signs were located and photographed throughout Northern California. Just Vintage NeonLabels: design, graphic design, industrial design, neon signs, Tom Spaulding
Si Scott
 Although the site is under construction, the work is still interesting. Si Scott has has a nice organic illustration style, and the way it translates into the typographic pieces is quite impressive. Si ScottLabels: graphic design, illustration, Si Scott Design
For Print Only
 The UnderConsideration team has launched a new blog focused entirely on print design... FPO is a blog dedicated to both the visual stimulus and the detailing of the development and production of printed matter: Annual reports, books, business cards, stationery suites, collateral materials, posters, packaging and anything else where ink meets substrate. A subject matter we know, love and understand. A process that, despite numerous eulogies, is still alive. For Print OnlyLabels: blog, For Print Only, graphic design, resource, UnderConsideration
Corporate Logo Redesigns
 A friend sent me this article from the New York Times about recent corporate logo redesigns. The article implies that the current US recession has directly influenced the trend of softer, happier, more inviting logo treatments. This may in fact be true, but the trend I am more concerned about...naming the individual parts of your logo. "Spark" and "Flavor burst" are pretty sweet, but I would have recommended "Spirit fingers" and "Jazz hands" instead. Unfortunately, I don't have a MBA, so my opinion is virtually worthless when it comes to these decisions. The Refreshed LogoLabels: article, graphic design, New York Times, redesign
Esquire Cover, July 2009
 Nice use of hand-written text...seriously. I have a feeling some middle-aged chubby guy will parody this pose and type treatment in the not-too-distant future. It's unfortunate that Chris Farley is no longer with us; he would have made for a perfect candidate. Bar RefaeliLabels: Bar Refaeli, Esquire, graphic design
The Book Cover Archive
 This is an outstanding resource for all things book cover design related. In addition to providing a database of well-designed covers, each archive entry also lists the designer, studio and font usage. Quite a fantastic bookmark for anyone interested in graphic or literature design. The archive is edited and maintained by Ben Pieratt of General Projects and Eric Jacobsen of Whisky Van Gogh Go. The Book Cover ArchiveLabels: books, graphic design, resource, The Book Cover Archive
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