Chalk Bored?

Wow. If you haven't seen the amazing custom chalk lettering projects by Dana Tanamachi do yourself a favor and check out the time-lapse videos of some her projects. Initially I was expecting to see a projector or perhaps some stencils but she simply and methodically attacks the chalk board in the same way that one might scribble an idea in a notebook or journal.

I think the thing I'm really digging and responding to, above and beyond the tactile, is the sheer, stark beauty and simplicity of the white chalk on a basic black board - classic in every sense.


It's no surprise that she's not only from Texas, but she's also part of Louise Fili Ltd., home of one of my favorite designers and the reigning queen of some of the most incredible typography and packaging projects of the last 40 years.


Super inspiring. If this doesn't make you want to turn of the technology for an hour or so and bust out some chalk or at least a pen and some paper you might not be the old school, soulful artist/designer your think you are or used to be. But it's not too late - turn of the machine, pick up a pen and paper and get back to the fine art of thinking on paper!

That's Right,

HMK

Stencil It In

I love stencil fonts, always have. And according to Steven Heller, one of my favorite design gurus, stencil lettering never really went out of fashion, yet it’s coming back in style.


In the same way that booming martial rhythms have been incorporated into classical and popular music, stencil-lettering style has long influenced sophisticated typography and graphic design.

The top logo is something I did back in 2001 for the Sabas Trio featuring my friends Joe Reyes, Greg Norris and Mark Rubinstein. The District 9 poster is by Ignition Print and below is the poster and GUI for the iPhone app I did for the Rackspace Cloud Lounge Party. This was in collaboration with the wicked smart and cool folks at 2 Pixels + GetApp for SWSW this past March, 2009.



Learn more about stencil fonts from Mr. Heller's latest design article for the New York Times: Stencil It In.

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HMK

Steven Heller, a former art director at The New York Times, is a co-chair of the M.F.A. Design Department at the School of Visual Arts and a blogger and author.

Vintage Bicycle Logos

I've been putting some milage on my bike lately, a great way to exercise both body and mind. So, with bikes on the brain I thought I'd share this small gruppo of truly awesome classic type and script-based old bicycle logos, many of which are still in use, courtesy of One+One=Three.

Gotta love those Italians and their attention to detail, simplicity and elegance regarding food, wine and foot ware, but also for the top shelf engineering of their bikes and their brilliant identities as well.

Ok, got some brainstorming to do - time for a quick 45 minute ride!

That's Right,

HMK

Hip To Be Square

Behold the Minox DCC Rolleiflex AF 5.0.

I used to shoot with a similar twin reflex, a Yashica-D to be specific, back in high school in the late 70's. I loved the big, upside-down preview window as well as the large square format negatives.

As one of the most recognized cameras in the world, the Rolleiflex now returns with modern digital technology.

With this fully functioning, high precision replica of the world famous Rolleiflex 6x6 camera (scale 1:2) Minox presents yet another exclusive design and technical highlight in an outstanding pocket camera.

Many functions and details reproduced to scale create that true Rolleiflex feeling when shooting photos. Just like the square negatives produced using the original Rolleiflex, with the Minox Rolleiflex AF 5.0 the photographer has square format digital photos with a resolution of up to 5 million pixels.

More info at Let's Go Digital.

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HMK

The Real Thing

Alice Rawsthorn waxes on intelligent, elegant and appropriate examples of design that make you feel better just by being there.

There was a time when Coca-Cola's packaging was as irritatingly fussy and over-complicated as its competitors'. No more. Coke unveiled the engagingly simple new Coca-Cola Classic can last summer, after junking the neurotic illustrations on the old cans in favor of the beautifully scripted "signature" that's been its corporate logo since the 1880s.



Really appreciate the clean, subtle and "classic" use of Gotham.

Read the whole thing over at the International Herald Tribune: Alice Rawsthorn on Quietly Good Design.

That's Right,

HMK

Mad Fold-Ins

If you were young at any time in the last 44 years, you know the fold-in: the feature on the inside of Mad’s back cover that poses a question whose answer is found by folding the page in thirds. September 1978: “What colorful fantastic creature is still being exploited even after it has wiggled and died?” A picture of a garish butterfly, folded, becomes an equally garish Elvis.

The fold-ins these days are as full of youth culture as ever. (March 2008: “What major star has recently admitted receiving illegal career-damaging human growth injections?” And a picture that looks as if it’s going to be Roger Clemens folds to become Jamie Lynn Spears, pregnant.) So the first thing that strikes you when Mr. Jaffee greets you at the door of his studio on the East Side of Manhattan is his age. This man, still credibly negotiating the milieu of teenagers, is 87.

“I work for a magazine that’s essentially for young people, and to have them keep me going, I feel very lucky,” Mr. Jaffee said. “To use an old cliché, I’m like an old racehorse. When the other horses are running, I want to run too.”

Check out some of the classic Mad Fold-Ins!

Read the rest of Neil Genzlinger's story on Mr. Jaffee over at the New York Times: A Veteran MAD Man Remains in the Fold.

Thanks Mr. Jaffee!

That's Right,

HMK

Smart Serving Platter

Allright, let's see... double espresso crema, Miguel si?

Dig this smart, waiteresque serving platter that lets you scribble orders or names directly on to the tray with chalk. Very nice.

Check out the German made Notes Tray exclusively at Koziol.

That's Right,

HMK

Gracias: Josh Spear.