20 January 2009
While not everyone is 100% thrilled for this day, most people, I think, are. And a lots been said about Obama’s near-flawless campaign and his beautiful integration of great graphic design and the exceptional way that he sparked grass-roots effort by new, young voters of all walks and race across the nation, and there’s not a ton I can add to all of that. But in commemoration of this historic day, I’ll point your way to a few Obama-related stories that I found interesting.
First, going back to where it all began for me about three and a half years ago: Dreams From My Father. A couple weeks ago, Pentagram revealed its redesign of the book. It’s simple and elegant… As my copy of the book was actually a Father’s Day gift to my dad (the title had “Father” in it and the cover images were intriguing, so I bought it… I think it impacted me more than him, however), I would love to purchase this edition. Unfortunately, it’s only sold in the UK.
Obama definitely struck a chord with the artistic community in America and that was something that really excited me. Not in my recollection has there been a President that, as a nation, we could respect and look up to. And I was a little sick of all the BUSH*IT flags in dog crap and the “Design of Dissent” that flooded the market. So it was both refreshing and inspiring to see artists create positive work promoting a candidate. And this shirt above—one I just saw today—may not be the most humble, respectful, or whatever T-shirt, but it’s funny. And I like it.
And what more can be said about Gotham and the Obama brand? I’m not even going to try. Just this, though: Hoefler & Frere-Jones released new weights of Gotham today. Coincidence? I would guess “no.”
I know there’s a million more things worth commenting on today, but I’ll rest at that and with this picture of Barack Obama’s sans-typography cover on Rolling Stone that totally blew me away (the articles with words inside the magazine are great, too, if you can get your hands on one…)
Good Luck, Mr President. ~
27 December 2008
Rarely do my two passions—design and basketball—come together in such a perfect union: The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac is the probably the most exciting, well-done, and fun example I’ve seen in years. The illustrations are great, the writing is both quirkily dramatic and smartly insightful, and the information design, charts, and diagrams are amazing. AND… it’s not very much money—13 bucks on Amazon. Check out these examples and buy it for your basketball-loving designer in your life… a little post-Christmas gift.
19 December 2008
Since I was little I’ve always been drawn more to design, patterns, and geometry (although that’s the only subject in school I ever failed…). In my last post I mentioned how I was really into using pixels in print. Since I posted that, I’ve been thinking about where that began. I think that started further back than this latest trend. I think it goes back to my childhood/adolescent aesthetic interests, sure. But something else, I think played a big role: the quilts of Gees Bend.
These are beautiful, beautiful works of art. I bought this book a while back and am still completely in love with nearly every page. Check it out for yourself. Learn some of the history—very interesting. And if nothing else, just enjoy the skewed geometric brilliance of these pieces here.
