Brown Is Blue (but he ain't sad)

Great use of type. I mean, I've seen this method of portraiture used plenty of times. But this use just seems so funky. Whoever did this should be proud.

Great Effect for Type (If Done Right)

Look at this! Absolutely wonderful. Simple, effective, memorable. Gives me hope for modern typographers.

Typography Week - Watch Your Words!

As revealed in previous posts, typography is a love hate thing for me. Mostly hate. But that's what makes me love great uses of typography. I always think that simplicity is key for most design elements, but I strongly believe that a minimalist approach to type design separates the best from the rest.

I'll be posting great typography examples all week and highlighting typography geniuses. If you have any thoughts or pics you'd like to share, please do.

Click the pictures to enlarge. Read carefully.

Funny Stuff

I found these ads while surfing around. I've seen the ass one before, but the old SEGA ad is absolutely hilarious.

I'm actually really impressed with the typography too. And it's hard to impress me typographically.

Um... Nutrigrain?

Do you like this commercial? Do I like this commercial?

I guess I do... Kinda gets old around the end. Maybe they should have shortened it a little bit. And the woman annoys me while she's walking through the office.

It's weird though, I like weird. But is this an expected weird? Still on the fence.

Simple Design = Simply Good

I found these book covers while scanning design forums. They hit me just right. I love that illustrated and well-composed look.

Attention Advertisers: Ad Age Wants You

I read that AdAge wants someone to design their latest magazine cover. It's called their "Global Cover Contest", and the winner gets sent to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Sounds fun as hell to me. I usually don't participate in too many contests, but the reward looks good enough for me to actually give it a shot. So maybe I should have titled this blog "Don't Submit To AdAge Contest".

Check it out --->  CONTEST INFO

Royal Wedding Merchandise Offers A Jolly Good Time

William and Kate merchandise has hit the market. Analysts say total sales could reach $42 million within the year. There are Royal sliding doors, refrigerators, donuts, comic books, toilet seats, and sick bags (among many more useless items). The items I'm choosing to highlight are a little more intimate.

William and Kate condoms and arousal stimulants (in beer flavor, couldn't make that up) have entered the market. And no, the condoms don't make you feel like you're having intercourse in Buckingham Palace. Who's idea was it anyway to make a beer that arouses you? Alcohol is known for increasing people's friskier tendencies. Seems like something might go wrong, but I don't know.

How hilarious is this? Skittles just stepped it up a notch. But to be honest, the rest of the videos on this campaign aren't funny. The idea is still there though, just try not to drop the ball anymore, new Skittles campaign designers. You guys almost had it perfect. Almost.

The print campaign you had going was ok too. Just ok though. Hey, at least it's not bad type - actually an interesting use of typography. But I've seen way better uses, sorry.

Typography, it's a love hate thing.

I love typography. I hate typography.

You see words everywhere. When are they meaningless? When are they informing? When are they selling me something? When are they doing all of the above? Hell if I know. But I do know that commanding words force us to pay attention. Like a stop sign (well, hopefully it makes you pay attention).

When do words become more than letters? We've all seen simple shapes form out of letters.

But look, type doesn't have to be so literal.

And type can be more beautiful than the words.

My problem with type is that people tend to use it very, very very, very very very poorly. Which makes me want to vomit. At least someone agrees with me.

But being an advertiser/graphic designer means you're bound to typography, whether you like it or not (I don't see the human race returning to grunts and cave drawings any time soon, but don't quote me on that). And on the positive side, all the horrible uses just emphasize the brilliant ones. Well, that applies to most facets of life, but you get my point.

This is a great ad for 9gag.com

The site is about sharing funny things - that's it. And somehow I get that from this picture. That's when you know something works, when you don't know why and it does.

Thinking literally and laterally.

Thinking literally can be the undoing of any good advertising, but what happens when you think so literal it becomes lateral? Good design, that's what.

Eyes for Ads

What is "good" design? That is obviously a very subjective question. Almost as subjective as the "what is art" question - but not quite. Art can be art, but be poorly crafted/conceived/executed/etc. Design is art with a purpose, it can't be thrown together. Think of art as the bullet and advertising design as the gun.

So I'll tell you what "good" design is - it is a "good" conversation. The conversation doesn't have to be positive (it can even be horribly depressing), it just has to make you pay attention. A good message forces you to listen, and doesn't let you know it's making you pause. "Good" design is the hobo holding a sign that reads, "I need money to buy drugs, alcohol, and hookers".

If you're like me, you're disgusted with bad design. And if you're not, start trying to be - because as design gets better, it also gets worse. You don't want to own a Snuggie blanket and not know it's a joke. So join me in highlighting great design and bashing on bad design. Just think, you could be seconds away from being your own favorite art-critic.