Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Happy Holidays


Here's to a stress-free holiday season and a new year of creative adventure!
Happy Holidays from the GraphicDesignBar team

Sensitivetype

Helvetica hoodies, Pantone pins... check out Sensitivetype, the brainchild of LA based graphic designer Shari Sakahara. And while their rep is less than stellar, you could always use Neighborhoodies or Café Press to make your own clothing proclaiming your love for a particular typeface or design in general.

UPDATE, January 1, 2006: Tragically, Shari Sakahara was struck and killed by a car on December 21st, the very same day we posted this item about her online store. Josh Rubin's Coolhunting site and the LA Times have more info about this terrible loss. RIP Shari.

1201am Stationery

Recently spotted by the coolhunters: 1201am, a collection of handmade paper goods by Laurie Forehand, a graphic designer who studied at the Art Institute of Atlanta for Visual Communication.

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

ADC Young Guns 5

ADC (Art Director's Club) is conducting its fifth biennial search for the most exciting young talent in visual communications. If you are age 30 or under and working in advertising, publishing, graphic design, illustration, photography, film and video, packaging and environmental design, experimental fashion and interactive media, send them your best work.

This international competition showcases winners in an international exhibition, with a gala premiere at the ADC Gallery in New York, and in a full-color book to be published by Rockport, both in the fall of 2006.

ONLINE REGISTRATION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 1, 2006
Learn more on the ADC site.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Pixar Animation Exhibition at MOMA

December 14, 2005 through February 6, 2006
Gothamist has a nice article about the new Pixar (Toy Story, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo) Animation Art retrospective at MOMA, done in honor of the studio’s 20th anniversary. Design related? Definitely. In addition to breaking new ground in the frontier of digital animation and motion, Pixar films both refresh and reflect the mainstream artistic eye—it's interesting to think about how the style of A Bug's Life, for example, had far-reaching influence in areas such as logo design (how many green leaf designs appeared after that smash hit, mm?). Or how the elements of 60s furniture design in the Incredibles were perfectly in tune with the recent onslaught of Eames/Nelson/Pop related stuff. All things are connected.
Gothamist article
MOMA site

Marathon Figure Drawing Session

For all you designers who draw, Michael Alan and Artistic Revolution Gallery are putting on their second energetic, alternative eight-hour figure drawing marathon session. Models in wild costumes (or none at all) pose and perform while DJs spin and you sketch your heart out. (BYO art supplies.)
When: Thurs., 7 p.m.-4 a.m.
Where: Fix Cafe, 110 Bedford St., at N. 11th St., Williamsburg (718-388-8087).
More Info: http://www.michaelalanart.com/

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

SVA Transit Ads

Have you seen the School of Visual Arts ads appearing in the subway? In the past they have done some fairly remarkable ads and my impression was that they were done by students. Or at least featured the work of students.

As a former student of SVA and a great admirer of many of the faculty, I have always attempted to support the school. (Even though my degree is from Parsons!) Having said that, the typography on the current ads is a disaster! The letter spacing -- even on the name of the school -- is way, way off. There are ads that have two kinds of sans serif type. I really see no excuse. Have a look and see if you are as shocked as me!

Holiday Cards


I love these all-purpose holiday cards from the creative team of Dresser Johnson (who also maintain the oddly fascinating Brooklyn Bunny live rabbit webcam).

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

MTA Hacks, Typographers bicker

Gothamist features an article today about MTA hacks, or people making their own subway signs (an MTA style-love letter? I don't know whether to laugh, cry or swoon). As a bonus, typographers argue in the comments about whether the MTA uses Helvetica or Akzidenz Grotesk.