Tag Archives: Design

Inspired By A.F. Vandevorst and Round Stamps

April 25, 2012

Over the weekend, I decided that it was time to order some rubber stamps featuring my branding. I set up vector files for my wordmark and square ‘Nubby Script’ logo but wanted a third option as well (when you’re on a roll with these types of projects, you might as well go all out). I wasn’t exactly sure what the third option should be but then I remembered a really great window installation that Belgian fashion line A.F. Vandevorst had done a few years back. In a way, the logo reminded me of the round stamps that were common at the post office though that is now sadly history. Inspired by A.F. Vandevorst and the old school round post office stamps, I’m working on that third option. The other two custom stamps have been ordered and I’ll be reviewing them on my blog as soon as they arrive! Inspiration is everywhere. It’s all connected.

Pantone: The 20th Century in Color

January 10, 2012

Today, I’m going to share my new favorite book with you, Pantone: The Twentieth Century in Color. What makes this book so amazing is that it covers the evolution of color in our society over the last 100 years, from 1900 onwards. Each decade receives its own chapter along with corresponding images of art, fashion and decor representative of particular palettes that were popular during that period.

Excerpts from Pantone: The 20th Century in Color.

From the swatches of 1930s The Wizard of Oz (Silver, Straw and Lion) to 1980s Miami Vice (Pink Mist, Lavendula and Radiant Orchid) to 1990s Grunge (Coffee Bean, Faded Denim and Earth Red), the cultural movements of America and the colors they helped influence are all painstakingly covered. Students of graphic and fashion design as well as lovers of color theory will adore this book.

Skylab

June 19, 2010

While roaming around Portland, there are a few places that I’ve been inside of that immediately took my breath away. I never really connected the dots until recently but they all seemed to have a few things in common: a very sleek, modern core containing a lot of glass merged with slightly rustic wood grain details.

When I first stepped inside North a few months ago, it was easily one of the coolest spaces I’d ever been in so I asked who’d designed the interior. Turns out that the honor goes to Portland’s Skylab Architecture. Here are some of my favorite projects of theirs:

Departure

Departure Restaurant & Lounge, Portland, Oregon

North

North Ad Agency, Portland, Oregon

Sugar Laboratories

Sugar Laboratories Salon & Spa, Portland, Oregon

Flavor Paper

Flavor Paper Wallpapers, Brooklyn, New York

East

East Chinatown Lounge, Portland, Oregon

Doug Fir

Doug Fir Lounge Restaurant & Bar, Portland, Oregon

nubby signature

Black & White Collages Circa 2007

November 5, 2009

I was recently cleaning off my computer and came across a folder of collages I made back in 2007 as an experiment for Black & White Graphic Insight. Working with your hands opens up your mind to think about design in a completely different way. After sitting in front of the computer for the majority of this year, I am itching to get back into collaging to break up my routine in 2010.

2XL Headphones

September 6, 2009

2XL, Skullcandy’s secondary line of headphones has been out on the market for a few months now. With their trendy, youth-centric graphics and wallet friendly prices (averaging from $10.00 to $40.00), they’re bound to be a huge hit.

For a big chunk of last year, I worked closely with the Nemo HQ team on the development of the 2XL line of headphones, packaging, stickers, catalog and trade show booth.

2XL was the first job that I’ve worked on of this size and it was interesting seeing how product development unfolds from researching and creating graphics to applying them to 3-D mockups, then to mechanicals and finally receiving prototypes from the factory over a period of many months.

The line features 14 color ways with five separate styles for each:

Brickyard: DJ-style headphone with over-ear design, comfort headband suspension and full dynamic acoustic range.

Grid: Headphone featuring super comfort on-ear design, headband suspension and dynamic acoustic range.

Groove: Adjustable headphone with active grip hanger ear buds.

Ratio: Ear buds with soft silicone wrap and dynamic acoustic range.

Spoke: In-ear bud featuring noise isolating, in-ear acoustics and changeable gels for comfort fit.

I prefer larger, DJ style headphones so my personal favorite is the Brickyard model.

2XL has smartly made a PDF version of their entire catalog downloadable from their website. Below are a few examples of what the line looks like:

The full product line can be seen on these pages:

If you’re a fan of Skullcandy but on a budget, 2XL is a viable option. These are fantastic for everyday use and you don’t have to stress about breaking or losing them because of the low price point. For a complete catalog, a list of dealers and more, please visit the 2XL website.

Media Kit Book

August 5, 2009

A solid resumé and a portfolio are standard issue these days. What can you do to push the boundaries, to go that extra mile? In my case, I was doing media kits for companies fairly regularly and then I had a light bulb moment; why not make one for myself? From what I can tell, media kits for individuals are pretty rare. But I have no shame in marketing myself and for a good reason. As a designer, you are your most important brand.

After creating a media kit, I turned it into a little book for mailing out to clients. While a PDF is great, some love to hold the actual product in their hands instead of staring at a screen. Here are some details of the results:

Right now, I’m preparing for a trip that’s going to be filled with many meetings and I am making a stack of these to bring along for leaving behind.

Readers: Do you have any unique and inventive ways that you market yourself?

Bodoni Shirt Sale

June 15, 2009

As I’ve been doing a major office cleaning, I discovered that I have a small crate of Bodoni shirts in both black and white left. And, the less I have to move, the better! So, this week I will be running a special with all Bodoni shirts marked down from $22.00 to $16.00. SHOP HERE!

April Showers Bring May Flowers: Marbled Dries Shoes

May 11, 2009

I am definitely feeling more optimistic than ever now that I’m walking around with the equivalent of psychedelic rainbows on my feet. When the Dries Van Noten Fall 2008 RTW collection came out, I was immediately drawn to the bright, slightly futuristic marbled patterns on some of the clothing. I saw some of the pieces in person twice, but they were woefully out of reach. And, the shoes didn’t appeal to me because they’d lost the chunkiness of seasons past.

Fast forward to last week when I was perusing the selection at Halo and realized that they had some pumps from that collection marked down to less than half price in my odd size (36.5) which is extremely hard to find. I slipped them on, took a few steps and they actually stayed on my feet. A miracle. And, the curvy pin-up girl shape suddenly made sense, balancing out the blindingly bright pattern.

When I originally saw the Fall 2008 collection, it had a strange familiarity. Back in 2006, I had made an art piece called Psychedelia with a similar bright mix of colors that later influenced the work I did for Virgin Records.

And, that’s partially why I make no differentiation between fashion, graphic design and fine art. They are all triggered in some manner by one another with influences that constantly circle back around. One inspiration leads to another and they form a path like little stepping stones to an even bigger vision. But, enough of the philosophical meanderings. All I know is that from now on, each one of my brightly colored steps will be filled with rainbows and smiles!

P.S. Jane of Sea of Shoes wears the marbled dress from the same collection here and you can get a much better idea of how intense the pattern really is!