A collection of creative work in print, digital, typography, identity, advertising, packaging, illustration, graffiti, painting, fashion, photography, trends, & more.
One of my main cohorts, Mike McQuade, just launched his new site and it’s loaded with a grip of incredible new work. Originally from Philadelphia and currently working as an art director at Energy BBDO in Chicago, Mike considers himself an artist, designer, and illustrator. I’ve always admired his drawing skills and hand-lettering, and it’s great to see these talents crossing over into his advertising work for big brands. Mike and I formed National Record Holders a few years ago, and although we haven’t done much with it lately, we are currently working together on a poster for The Infantree’s Help Haiti Heal poster project, as well as plotting our next move with NRH. Stay tuned.
Chris Labrooy has a thing for 3D typography and his approach really sets it a part from what we’re accustomed to seeing from the likes of Serial Cut, etc. I love how he treats the forms as living environments. Clever and cool with flawless execution and great attention to detail.
From Toy to King is a (long) tongue-in-cheek, typographic animation based on some very elementary (often sarcastic) rules on becoming a “top-notch graffiti writer” in just 5 simple steps. (via: Clout)
Currently based in Philadelphia, Mikey Burton is a self-proclaimed “hard-working creative person from the Midwest with a passion for design. There is letterpress ink on my blue collar and I wear my Ohio-shaped heart on my sleeve.” He also started a company with two friends called Little Jacket which has worked for such clients as The Sundance Channel, Wilco, Spoon (the band), MTV2, and the Cleveland RTA. Very impressive work from this dude, which I’m sure you’ve seen around quite a bit lately, and deservedly so – but I had to post him here as well.
This blog details the daily trials and tribulations of creating a series of wood type fonts for letterpress use. The project is the brainchild of artist, poet, letterpresser, and bookmaker Chris Fritton, and it is based in Buffalo, NY. (via Mikey Burton)
Brand new site for Established & Sons, love their bold use of Didoni which has always been part of their branding system. The type, paired with large images & video, establishes a clean overall experience. (via It’s Nice That)
Woodtyper is an online journal focusing on wood type and related topics, such as large-scale lettering, decorative typefounding, letterpress printing, sign painting, penmanship, poster printing, engraving, etc. It is edited by Nick Sherman, seen below in a self-portrait with one of the largest woodtype specimens I think I’ve ever seen. Also, check out this Flickr set from his 1 month residency at Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum.
Harry Pearce, a graphic designer and partner at Pentagram, has produced an awesome new book titled, Conundrums. It consists of 171 typographic puzzles which are both fun and challenging, and set in a way that is visually striking. All of this for only around $10! Check out a slideshow over at Wallpaper* for a more in-depth preview.
Adrian Shaughnessy is a London based graphic designer and art director who spent 15 years as the Creative Director of Intro. He now spends his time focused on design and editorial direction, and writing extensively about visual communication, including (among others) Look At This as well as How to be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul which, in itself, has established Shaughnessy as a leading voice within the design community.
I have several of Shaughnessy’s books and just picked up his latest, Graphic Design: A User’s Manual which offers students, novice designers, and battle-toughened professionals alike an insider’s guide to the complexities of current graphic design practice and thinking. Set out in A-Z style and written in a realistic, conversational, and insightful way, the book provides advice on the fundamental topics and issues that face designers in their daily lives. It looks at everything from kerning to presenting, from budgeting to dealing with rejection, from annual reports to interface design. Not to mention a forward by Michael Bierut.
Check out Fast Company’s recent Q&A with Adrian about his newest book, and be sure to grab a copy. I highly recommend it.
