..:: THOUGHTS? ::..

Via Brand New
If looking at the above image suddenly inspires an unprecedented urge to grab a smoke and start puffing away, that’s because Marlboro wants you to buy their cigarettes. Or at least that’s how the conspiracy theory goes. Dutifully reported by Graphicology, it turns that the Ferrari Formula One racing team is trying to sneak an allusion of the Marlboro logo through their speedy car’s new paint job in the form of an abstract bar code that supposedly resembles a Marlboro pack — a tactic made necessary due to a ban on tobacco advertising by the European Union. Fact or fiction? You decide.

..:: ILIKE ::,,

Another one of the Bay Areas finest, Jeremy Fish, talks about Art and Tee Shirts.

Love his take on it.

..:: iLIKE ::..

Very similar to another post I have done, and equally as much as a guilty pleasure for me is CHAIR WHORE.

All chairs all the time.

Some of the most inspirational pieces out there right now.

Go check it out

..:: THOUGHTS ::..

For over 20 years Freshjive has been a mainstay in the street wear game. And its identifiable logo has been there for the whole ride.

But, things change.

"Freshjive embarks upon one of the world's first anti-branding campaigns, in which they will be stripping their logos from not just the outside of their garments, but from the labels themselves."

In an exclusive interview with the Hundreds streetwear blog, Klotz states:

"Throughout the years I've become uncomfortable with this business of branding and brand identity. I'm not the type of person that buys something for the brand name. I've also never done a very good job at creating a captivating identity to our own brand logo. Also, within the streetwear culture, the promotion of a company's brand has become downright silly to me. What's amusing is I still really enjoy designing gear, graphics, and even logos. But when I see kids wearing company logos it reminds of people who are trying to be a part of a "tribe" or "gang", as if they need to be part of something, which seems to go against the idea of individualism in style."

Not sure how I feel about it. I mean, me, I wear a plain white or black shirt everyday, so I may actually wear it, but is it really a smart move for business?
Will younger kids spend the money when nothing really distinguishes the brand?

Thoughts?

Huffington Post

..:: THOUGHTS? ::..

I found this while stumbling around the inter web.

Is it just me, or is this a direct ripoff of one of the worlds most famous graffiti artists BANKSY


I'm not saying its not good, it just it's almost done exactly! Even the message is the same! I wonder if BANSKY gets CD credit?!

Probably not.

..:: DIG THIS ::..

I have done other posts on creative uses for Dumpsters before, But this one is perfect for the summer.

One of my favorite magazines, ReadyMade, posted this.
And I had to post on it.

Pools made out of Dumpsters! Brilliant!

Read the full story here.

..:: SNEAK OF THE WEEK ::..

One sneaker company that is making big waves
in the shoe game right now is

SUPRA.

One of their core models is the Vaider.
With stars like Lil' Wayne wearing them during the VMA's. These models have moved to top of the list with many sneaker collectors.

With a decent variety of colorways, a high-top version, and low-top version, I wouldn't be surprised to start seeing these on a lot of peoples feet real soon, if you haven't already.

..:: SNEAK OF THE WEEK ::..

OH! SNAP! This weeks S.O.T.W, is another classic!

This brightly colored gem got re-released, the Nike Air Tech Challenge II.
I had these for a bit when I was younger, and wore them somewhat, but they never got the "cred" they deserved where I was from.

Now with the re-release, and a few changes from the original, (which they do to all re-makes) I plan of giving them there do.

Before it was standard in tennis to were loud colored clothes, and be a "Rebel" there was Agassi. And these here, were his kicks.

..:: COOL ::..

You all know I am a huge fan of "street art". And I am also a huge fan of documentary films. So its no wonder I am into this! I found out about this documentary the other day. Looks great!

Roadsworth
Is a Montreal based graffiti artist, known for using the street itself as a canvas.
And has become quite the celebrity lately.

Watch the trailer, cant wait for the release.

Go to his site, repeat, enjoy.

..:: iLIKE ::..

By now you all know I am a fan of the iPhone!

Check out this app. B-BOT, By famed artist Tristan Eaton.

I am working on my very first MUNNY project right now, so I am into this!

It looks fun, and that's what its all about.

..:: LANCE X ART ::..

(Above: Lance Armstrong, Nike CEO Mark Parker, and Shepard Fairey)

Kinda excited for this.

Lance is a part of what seems like a pretty cool thing.
Launching on July 16th, STAGES, An exhibition curated to reflect the personal art collecting tastes of Lance himself, the exhibition was developed by Nike to illustrate LIVESTRONG’s expanded global outreach in the fight against cancer and as a means of engaging the creative community in the shared struggle. The show will feature nearly thirty original artworks by a diverse roster of emerging and established artists including ED RUSCHA, RAYMOND PETTIBON, KAWS, ROSSON CROW, JR, TARYN SIMON, CHRISTOPHER WOOL, JULES DE BALINCOURT, SHEPARD FAIREY, JOSE PARLA, AARON YOUNG, MARC NEWSON, KENNY SCHARF, OS GEMEOS, YOSHITOMO NARA, ERIC WHITE, and DZINE, to name just a few. To highlight the event, Lance will be riding a special series of “art bikes” in the Tour de France created in collaboration with TREK and designed by none other than modern art and design masters MARC NEWSON, TAKASHI MURAKAMI, and DAMIEN HIRST.

Should be a really good tour this year!

..:: LOVIN THIS ::..

Here is a really great project. Mail Me Art: Going Postal with the World’s Best Illustrators and Designers is the finished product of a project where Darren Di Lieto, asked people to send there art to him in the form of mail. Over the course of a year, the Mail Me Art project brought together a vast collection of artistic work sent by both professional and amateur artists of all ages from across the world. A wide variety of media was used in an equally wide variety of styles and the work was done on everything from postcards and envelopes
to boxes and pieces of wood.
The Book follows a group show that opened in London to rave reviews, it is the finale to this wonderful interactive art project.
It also includes 11 interviews with contributing artists, and great pictures of chosen pieces.
Go get it here USA
Here UK

(Oh and yours truly is in the book as well! :) pg. 162!)

..:: iLIKE ::..

I was sitting around the other day thinking about how I got to this point in my life where I get to create art for a living.
I really think it has so much to do with the books I read as a kid. Well, I didn't really read them, more like study the pictures at great length. I used to sit for hours, eyes fixated on one page, trying to see how they did that, or how much I like it!
One very special book for me was The Rainbow Goblins by Ul de Rico
It was a great story about these goblins that would get strength from the colors, and in turn would take all the color wherever they went. They go on a mission to find the one place where there is still color, I wont give away the end, but I remember thinking as a kid, how dark it was, and almost disturbing. And I loved it.
I think about it quite a bit, how did I become who I am, I think it goes back to childhood, I know, news flash, who you are is all about how you are raised!, but, as I get closer and closer to one day having a family, I am starting to see how important it is to have great books around.

Buy it here.

..:: DIG THIS ::..

Loving this color.

Pantone 3262.

So many uses, depending on what you pair it with it can be kinda 80's, or super modern.

Try it with a nice soft brown, and white, classic.

I have used it lately with great success, and in painting, I am using it mixed with pinks and gray tones. Looking really good.

Anyway. Have a great weekend.

..:: iLIKE ::..

Helvetica is for sure in my top ten as favorite fonts.
(which I will be posting soon)

And if you haven't seen Helvetica the movie, go check it out.

Here is a great look at 40 Logos using Helvetica.

Classics.

..:: INNOVATIVE ::..

One of my new favorite blogs posted this awhile ago,
but I had to put it up.

If you haven't seen True Blood yet, its worth a watch, but really, this campaign is almost better then the show!

I love when agencies/clients are not afraid to take a risk. The campaign really stretches out way past the realm of "The Box". Great work.

Read more here.

..:: BRILLIANT ::..

God Damn that's good!

Have a great weekend.

..:: LEGENDS ::..

I feature people that are influential in the world of art and design on this blog all the time.

But I have to say none have been more influential to me personally then this guy.

Jim Phillips. The guy is seriously a god to me. I basically got into skateboarding for the graphics of the decks. I didn't realize until much later, that pretty much all of the graphics I liked was from Jim Phillips. If you don't know his work, your missing out. Look here, for just a taste.

Honestly, I could go on for ever about how much I love this guys work, but you would get bored. Instead, go look at his stuff.

In fact, While looking for stuff, I got so distracted by images from my youth, that I am going to go. I have eBay to search!

..:: REBRANDING ::..

I have wanted to share my thoughts on when a company or brand should Re-Brand for quite awhile, But that's a really tough question. There will always be someone thinking "it looks better the old way", or "it looks to spacey" or "I don't get it", blah, blah, blah.

I think its best to re brand when its not working anymore. and by IT, I mean the thing that got you to where you are now, is no longer the core message. When you have grown, when you have made strides in another direction, offering a new service. When the company changes in a major way, maybe its time to update? Just sayin.

The Detroit Lions announced their new logo the other day, and this is an example of IT not working. Not only is the team needing to bounce back from a horrible season last year, but the city of Detroit is in need of something fresh, something new.

Lets hope that the new logo can help pull Detroit out of its slump, not only the team, but the city.

..:: GOOD DESIGN ::..

I know I have been slacking on my posting lately, I promise to be more on it when things calm down.

ANYWAY!

I am in California right now for work and play, and I got to thinking
about the state of design in CA.
California has always been huge in creating new ways to be environmentally sound, and with the economy being the way it is, its time to make a difference in the way architects think about housing in CA.

Modern residential design is one of my passions, and thinking of the environment is so key in the next steps of our world. This is a great look at the way we, as designers should be thinking.