I recently posted some process pictures from Darren Booth's work on the Kathleen Edwards single Wapusk. Earlier this month, Edwards released her fourth album, Voyageur, a truly remarkable and honest collection of songs. As with Wapusk, Booth illustrated the artwork. He's posted some of the process behind his Voyageur work at his blog. Check it out and, if you haven't already, scoop up Voyageur. You'll be glad you did. Here's some of Darren's work:
In digging through Kris Henry's amazing Vintage Tools and Toolery gallery, I found this gem:
There's a great deal to love here - the color scheme, the type, that script face, the images. But look closer! It's Mr. Lead Screw:
Isn't that great? I love discoveries like this, little things that make a huge difference. Above all else, though, I'll never not love seeing reminders of this state's proud industrial heritage. We used to make so many things in Ohio. And we can again.
Here's Kris Henry coming in hot with a great find from his great Vintage Tools and Toolery gallery. Some heavy-duty stuff right there. Made in Cleveland. Don't you love that background? Thanks, Kris!
I've noted before how much I love the opportunity to combine my passions for design and progressive politics. So it was a real pleasure to work with my friend Pat Lang - who is running for U.S. Congress to fight for Ohio's middle class families in the 15th District - on his campaign identity. Lang is a son of Appalachia who, like me, attended Ohio University. He was elected to Athens City Council as an undergraduate. After graduating law school, Lang served as an assistant county prosecutor before beating a 30-year incumbent to become Athens' Law Director. His opponent, should he get past the march Democratic primary, will be Rep. Steve Stivers, a career banking lobbyist. The contrast couldn't be more obvious.
"I’m running for congress because I grew up in a small Appalachian town - as a child, my parents could sometimes afford to heat just one room of the house in winter time," Lang says. "When the coal mines closed and neighbors got laid off, I saw things go from tough to tougher. That’s why it is so frustrating to watch Congress and see a whole lot of nothing. We can do better. We can start by ensuring a strong middle class, protecting Medicare for seniors and creating jobs. That’s why I’m running for Congress." And that's why I am so eager to work with Pat.
As I set out on the design, I knew I wanted a bold, optimistic look for Lang's name that matched his Midwestern populism and work ethic. Inspired by typefaces like the sturdy Borgstrand Pro, I created a thick, geometric face for his name, which from a design perspective is a good one because it's so short. My next move was taking the counter of the "A" in his name and turning it into a simplified outline of the state Lang hopes to represent.
When I shifted to the descriptor, I wanted the kind of contrast a serif typeface could provide. I didn't want anything too weak and, armed with the desire for something with a more contemporary flair, I chose the sturdy and attractive Archer. From there, it quickly became time to settle on a color scheme. Blue and red, of course, is nothing new in political design - or as shorthand for left and right. I did consider green, which I feel is synonymous in political design not with the Green Party but with one of my all-time heros, the late Sen. Paul Wellstone, who once said:
"The future will not belong to those who sit on the sidelines. The future will not belong to the cynics. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
I decided to leave green with Sen. Wellstone, so in working within the traditional color scheme I settled upon a bold blue, a strong red, and, for accent, a lighter blue to complement both when used. To me, the blue of Lang's name speaks to his Democratic politics, while the red of the descriptor represents how his middle class advocacy speaks to both sides of the aisle. The end result is what you see above. There will be more to share as Lang's campaign rolls on (yard signs, bumper stickers, etc.), but I wanted to show you our first steps. In the meantime, go, Pat, go!
Full disclosure: I'm completely ashamed that I only came across Cleveland-based illustrator Julia Kuo's work just yesterday. Better late than never, I know, but come on. What talent! Kuo has worked with, among others, the New York Times, Capitol Records, and Little, Brown and Company, and is also part of The Nimbus Factory, a small paper goods concern. There's so much to discover in every one of her pieces. Kuo's attention to detail - especially what to include and exclude - is met by a remarkable use of color. To get a closer glimpse at the scope of Kuo's talent, look no further than her 100 Days in Cleveland project, truly a love letter written to her surroundings. And, while you're at it, dig deep into her portfolio. Here are some of my favorites:
I've been asked to participate in an upcoming issue of Ferocious Quarterly, something I'm beyond excited about. What you see above is part of the final product, something I've been busily working on over the holidays. For other sneak peeks, head on over to my Dribbble page.
St. Louis-based interactive media designer Annie McCance traveled to Cleveland last summer to attend WMC Fest. While there, she took visual notes of the lectures she saw and the time she had. She's placed her notes online - you should definitely check them out. Here's a sample, taken from my talk:
I love working on logos. Each project presents another opportunity to distill a concept to its most essential core. But what happens when you take key parts of logos out of their context and, therefore, their intended meaning? I thought I'd give it a try. Below, abstracted from some recent work, is the result:
Here's Quigley, looking relaxed in his new bed.
And here's Bea Arthur, hanging out in her favorite spot near the register (new bed not pictured).
My niece, looking as adorable as ever in a candid from Casey's recent holiday shoot:
We're in love with our new Inspector Stamp, the latest product offering from the official letterpress printer of Northcoast Zeitgeist, Cranky Pressman. The stamps are small (the live area is a little less than .75"), portable, self-inking, and are available in three colors. And they're now for sale - for the nice price of $23. We've already been putting our stamp to good use. They're perfect for the return address area of an envelope, as seen above. They're also going to be helpful in editioning limited runs of artwork - much nicer than my terrible handwriting.
Keith and Jamie at Cranky Pressman were kind enough to let us get our hands on an Inspector Stamp a little early, and I already can't wait to order another for Casey, who's got a home library's worth of academic books to claim as her own. So run, don't walk, to Cranky Pressman and order your own Inspector Stamp. And remember, the medium itself poses a unique set of challenges, so be sure to read Cranky's handy fine print before you get started. Thanks again, Keith and Jamie, we love seeing our design come to life.
I got to know Jana Kinsman at WMC Fest last summer, as she was in Cleveland to speak in her role as one-fifth of Quite Strong. Well Jana's got an updated website and it's really worth your time. As you'll see, there's a lot there, a testament to her talent and Midwestern work ethic. Something else I appreciate about Jana's work is that there's a definite wit and style to it. If your own work has a style - meaning there's no mistaking who's behind it when you see it - it's a great day when people begin coming to you for that style and not just to shoehorn you into a preconceived look or, just as likely, a preconceived fee. Go check out Jana's site! Until then, here are some of my favorite projects of hers:
One of the best retail events this area offers is Made in the 216, the brainchild of Room Service and Dredgers Union founder Danielle DeBoe. Specifically, Made in the 216 "is a shopping event designed to tout the design community of Cleveland and to support those that have chosen to stay and base their creative endeavors right here in 'the 216'. By showcasing the designers along with musicians and caterers in a setting merchandised and designed to look like a fun and engaging retail space, the guests are encouraged to explore and discover the products and shop and have fun!" Great news: This year's holiday event is right around the corner!
Opening soon is the 2011 Made in the 216 Holiday Shoppe, which will call Room Service home from November 25 through December 31. The shop-within-a-shop, located at 2078 West 25th Street in Cleveland (a stone's throw from the West Side Market), will feature more than 60+ area designers' wares. We fully support events like Made in the 216, so we're super excited to report that there's going to be a little 330 invasion of this year's winter event! That's right, when you shop at Made in the 216 this year, you'll have the chance to purchase sets of our Ohio mini-prints!
It's a real honor to have been asked to participate in such a worthwhile event! And I'm not kidding when I say Made in the 216 is an event. Because it's not just a pop-up shop. It's a pop-up shop with an amazing opening night. Here's the fine print:
2011 Made in the 216 Holiday Shoppe
This 5 Week long Shop within a shop featuring 60+ Cleveland-based designers' goods will once again be held INSIDE Room Service.
Kickoff Party on Black Friday
Store will be open from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Black Friday. DJ Pleasure Cruise will join us around 4 p.m. to take it up a notch as will KEGS O' BEER. Sponsored by Bar Cento, Bier Markt, Market Garden Brewery
Official After-Party
9 p.m. - 2 a.m. *OFFICIAL* after-pary @ The Market Garden Brewery. They say "eat local, drink local" & we say SHOP LOCAL TOO!
So much going on, hence the radio silence over the last little bit. Icons, logos, big projects, little projects. Big doings at the day job. Big doings after-hours. Plenty behind, plenty ahead, plenty to share soon! I promise.
