Okay, I want to get a tattoo representing music. I have quite a few tattoos already and they are all well done (i was even fortunate to win a couple awards and be in a magazine - that’s my 15 minutes of fame!). So, I’m coming to you guys with a request. I am looking to get a tattoo that represents what music means to me. But I am having a problem with trying to define music with an image. I would like to avoid anything stereotypical like a guitar with wings, or a music note, etc. I am very passionate about the music I listen to but do not claim to be an expert by any means, so I also don’t want anything that would make someone think i’m a blues, jazz, metal freak, you know? Anyone have any ideas?
(more…)

What color do you associate with each number? Do you think any are universal? Write your answers and compare with others.

NOTE: this is a self-indulgent post about my history as an artist and designer. It’s probably too long for you to enjoy but I thought it might be interesting to see the evolution of one mindframe to another. My feelings won’t be hurt if you aren’t interested in my personal history.

It was in junior high that I first realized I had artistic skill. It puzzled me to see other people in art class failing so miserably at drawing the most basic objects. I had always assumed that drawing (the most basic and perhaps most important skill an artist can have) was something everyone could do. Therefore when my classmates turned in the chicken scratch they called still-lifes I convinced myself it was because they weren’t really trying. (more…)

1) The Far Side
2) Calvin and Hobbes
3) Get Your War On
4) Boondocks
5) Dilbert

I watched with some interest recent commericals and advertisements for the Sony Playstation 3. (more…)

1) FedEx

2) Apple

3) ABC

4) Nike

5) IBM

Seriously. My car caught on fire on the 405 freeway. (more…)

Kanye West’s new Rolling Stone cover image is a bit controversial. I haven’t seen a Jesus exploitation this tacky since Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” video.

Is this art? Is it marketing? Any theories? I especially like the Jon Brion quote in the article: “Everyone in the country is in therapy and spending all their money on self-help books so their little internal voice will be able to say, ‘I am good and I am OK.’… If you’re going to believe all the stuff about positive thinking and self-actualization, that we affect our environment by the way we think about ourselves, do you want a better example than Kanye West? F*ck Tony Robbins. Kanye West should have infomercials.”

I’m going to post a few logos you’re all familiar with along side their redesign. Some have been recently redesigned (Kodak, Intel, AT&T, Sprint, etc.) and others are from a few years ago. I’m curious what everyone thinks of the new looks. Did you even notice? Are they better? Worse? Why?

I will weigh in later but I’d like to see what everyone else says first. (more…)

The difference between the two is not as subtle as a spelling change… trust me. It’s a chasm a mile deep and light years wide.
(more…)

If I had to choose the most important class I took in college I’d say it was Basic Drawing. Anything that I’ve learned since then (both undergrad and graduate work) are just appendages of what I learned in that class.

(more…)

Last night I was walking down St. Nicholas Ave.  at twilight, on my way to a hometeaching appointment.

(more…)

Last semester, before the election, a few people in my graduate class
decided to print a political "newspaper" and distribute it among
whomever we wanted.

(more…)

I got an iPod last week, and it has changed my life.  So what’s on my iPod?  This.

(more…)

Another plug for my project from last year, Mormoniana has received another beautiful review, in Sunday’s Salt Lake Tribune, which can be found here.

Mormoniana

(more…)

Literally, people are dying for cheap furniture, as this story about an Ikea opening in London demonstrates.  What is the allure?  It cannot be quality — Ikea furniture is not the sturdiest.  Nor can it be design — other stores offer better, more interesting design.  Is it price?  Ikea offers some of the cheapest stuff around, but other retailers sell cheap furniture.

I believe it is a pop culture phenomenon, spurred by slightly more interesting design and cheap prices.  Target is edging into similar terrain.

I was originally asked to post my thoughts on the design process, which I haven’t really done yet. So what I’d like to do, if you will indulge me, is explain the process I’m going through with my thesis project.
(more…)

I really enjoyed Steve’s post with the NY Times article about Ruth Gershon.  The article and all of your comments got me thinking about about what makes one an artist, and the eternal "struggle" between following your dream and having a career. 

(more…)

I often wonder which professions are trusted most by their clients. I would imagine a heart surgeon is near the top of the list. Airline pilots are up there as well. Even my tax guy has all my trust. These are people that I have no problem paying them a lot of money because my return on investment is significant. I pay the surgeon, my heart continues to beat. I pay the pilot, I see my family in five hours and don’t die. I pay my tax guy, the government pays me more than if I were to do it. Simple.
(more…)

The NY TImes has an interesting piece on the current world of furniture shopping.  I don’t know about you, but I’m a big believer in interior design, and I think that choosing the right furniture can make or break how you feel about your home.  I’m not an expert in this field; I only know what I like.  So before  debating the merits of Le Corbusier vs. Eames, I’d like to set the bar a little lower and talk about rational, realistic furniture choices for the average poor citizen.

(more…)

During the Superbowl on January 23rd, 1984, Apple Computers broadcast a commercial for it’s forthcoming computer, the Macintosh.

(more…)

One of the most popular links at del.icio.us is Adam Poselli’s 2005 Color Forecast, a fun post about trends in design and predictions for the new year.  His revelation: a toned-down, natural approach as we shift from greys towards natural tones (for the most part).  Adam’s site is worth checking out for those interested in photography and design in general, but I like the idea of a color forecast because it’s an ambitious way of predicting trends in taste and mood for the coming year.

(more…)

Typography might be the least appreciated of all the arts. We don’t often think about the fact that every little curve of every letter of every font you’ve ever used has been designed by someone. These used to be cast in a metal matrix (which is what Gutenberg really invented, he didn’t invent moveable type nor did he invent the printing press), and are now 1’s and 0’s passing through silicon (it’s software that can and shouldn’t be copied).

(more…)

For years the graphic design icon Stefan Sagmeister had a sign in his studio with the equation "Style = Fart". I always loved that quote for how it so eloquently encapsulated the problem with style. As my design cohorts and I raised our metaphorical fists in unison, we decried the evil god of style by the power and authority of Sagmeister. Empowered we were, boldly advancing to a better communicating world. "Just think, by 2005 graphic design will be totally devoid of all it’s extraneous elements. Pure communication! Yay for us!"

The sign is no longer there.

(more…)