March 2008 Archives
Truly inspired filmic performances.
We watched Elizabeth: The Golden Years last week and it was outstanding. Cate Blanchett and Clive Owen were brilliant, and the set design and direction was inspired.The true story of the fall of Philip of Spain and the Spanish Armada is worth seeing - as this illustration of what we call the "karmic boomerang" is brilliantly executed. If you do not know what a "karmic boomerang" is, watch the movie and it will be clear. Funny thing is, the boomerang is very much real, has been repeated throughout history, and if you threw one in the air, watch out - because it's coming back at you.
_________________________________________________
Preview of new positioning for a development in NYC.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Something we are working on.
New upcoming website and identity system for the Kinney Group.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Listening to now.
Nautilis.Unexpected brilliant music. Ambient, noisy, trippy, funny. Absolutely fantastic music via Austin, Texas. Some of it as deep/deeper than our beloved Boards of Canada.
Really.
Available on iTunes. ____________________________________________________________________________________
The Rabbit Hole of Confusion.
On very rare occasion, a client comes along that portrays themselves as professional, together and respectful. As a sensitive, aware creative, you intuitively feel something is wrong - yet you proceed.They have got you in their fucking "rabbit hole of confusion" and you are taking a ride. Ciao.
What exactly do I mean by this? Well, rabbit holes come in different styles: lack of vision, inability of a senior person to make a decision, poor taste, or what I reckon is the driving force behind most rabbit hole colonies - fear. Fear of making a decision. Fear of failure. Fear that someone may realize their incompetence.
My creative friend, avoid the hole at all costs. If you are fooled and led into their lair - you must extricate yourself by any means necessary. Even if it means losing money.
We had to do this yesterday. I was led into a rather insidious hole - after being begged by the rabbit to do the project. I feared the worst - and got it! Thankfully, we are in process of extricating ourselves after considerable financial loss. But you know what? I will be able to sleep at night. The story does not end badly my little creative friend, we have amazing, respectful and super talented clients in Sonoma, Indianapolis, London, Geneva, Chicago, New York and Hollywood. These clients are not rabbits - they are men (and women) who are great at what they do.
Amazingly accurate illustration by Dave Schlafman
_______________________________________________________________________________
Sears and Kmart FW2008
Immersed working on lookbooks for Sears and Kmart FW2008. I must say - there is really nice/cool product in the fall line. Fashion lookbook design is very cool as it really challenges a designers compositional and style aptitude.It's almost as much fun as making fun of other agencies and hacks that use keywordspy.com _______________________________________________________________________________________
Site of the day.
ON50 Tampa is web pick of the day on Communication Arts website.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Exploitation of a robot.
I was skeptical, but I have to admit - this robot works its' little bot butt off. It looks great, scares our big 110 lb. doberman/shepard mix - and does a fantastic job on the pergo floors (and the lagos blue tile limestone) Wow. If you don't like vacuuming - you must get this robot - and exploit it.I bet if it were the other way around - the roomba would exploit you. I can almost guarantee it, and it would not be pretty either.
It's design is neutral in my mind - nothing to offend (like our Dyson) and nothing to wow either. The wow factor is that it is a robot. _____________________________________________________________________________________
Detail of something we are working on.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Quotes I love.
"It makes me ill - physically ill." - John Gotti
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Detail of something we are working on.
Color, form, energy - a work in progress.___________________________________________________________________
- G2 visualization and web design. New section of www.g2.com
Global - USTA playtennis.com brand development, postioning.
New York - SAM-NYC.com updates. New print collateral and redesign website
New York - Branding and packaging for accessory startup.
New York, Boston - 2012 advertising and book design for ICON.
Los Angeles - Titleist. Brand book/apparel identity system/tagging.
Boston - MAdAthlete. Brand development, print, identity, web design, broadcast.
Boston - Repositioning for VIVOX.
Boston - Brand development,visual positioning, web design for C3.A groundbreaking new VoIP for gamers.
New York - Repositioning for Drync. An amazing wine-centric startup.
Boston - Brand development, naming, positioning, web design for new ceramic knife company.
New York - Brand development, positioning, interface for groundbreaking technology startup.
New York - New advertising and positioning for Cancer Center of Sarasota for Dr. Mamus.
Sarasota - Web design and development for new e-commerce startup.
Salt Lake City - Rebrand and web design for one of NY's top literary agencies.
New York - Our book now available: ACTA NON VERBA. 310 pages, hardcover.
- Ongoing proposals. Amazing brands in New York, Toronto, Paris, Montréal, Tokyo, Miami and Los Angeles. Look for us in LE BOOK FALL 2011
