John Mamus. Design everything: a philosophy of design, branding and living.

MAMUS Approved: Telefuzz

2010-07-28T00:10:46Z

Great, enigmatic song from Ron Vebrilli and team out of Vancouver, BC. Love this. The blog is on a temporary vacation as we are recuperating from the insane heat and our own vacations on beaches up and down the east coast.

Telefuzz
The Financiers of Samsara

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MAMUS Approved: Doc Delay

2010-06-30T01:49:56Z

Doc Delay is an immense talent from Brooklyn, about 10 miles from here. Listening to this it is clear why Brooklyn is where some of the best music in the world is happening. If you visit the bright colors section of our website, you can hear another Brooklyn artist - Lloop (although he is living in Germany right now)....anyway.

Doc Delay
Pity

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MAMUS Approved: Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

2010-06-24T02:04:31Z

On the second full day of summer it is fantastic to hear Frankie Valli. It is quintessential New York summer music. I grew up hearing this music and I still love it. If you were lucky enough to see it, Frankie Valli's appearance on "The Soprano's" was classic.

Listening to ambient, chill and dubstep is my work. Frankie Valli, big band and jazz is my life.

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
Dawn

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MAMUS Approved: General David Patraeus.

2010-06-24T01:14:32Z

He is smarter than you. He is faster than you. He is stronger than you. He is smarter than I am as well, but I can design much better than he can ... and I am certain I am a better mason. He can do anything that he orders our soldiers to do and more. He is the modern day George Washington and Teddy Roosevelt. He is also Fareed Zakaria approved - and Vanity Fair approved. He is Obama approved (smarter than Petraeus and you and I combined)

What does this have to do with design? Everything. When a creative is too "senior" to do a less than desirable task (let's say design a presentation) - he is obsolete. Like Petraeus, a good creative can pitch in when needed, and do whatever the team (client) needs. He.she is also smart enough to do whatever his team needs to do. Only better. If your "creative" is not helping, you know what to do (McChrystal). ____________________________________________________________________________________

Sneak Preview: Magnolia LA

2010-06-20T01:25:18Z

look for it in FLAUNT Magazine (Los Angeles). Tod Brilliant foto and headline.

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Soft launch.

2010-06-19T19:23:17Z

Our newly refreshed site is live at www.mamuscreative.com. We are still working out some kinks on "bright colors" portfolio section. New music by Lloop on bright colors as well.

It is like a jellyfish - soft, but lethal.

Sign up for Transformations , we have some great stories.

306 page ACTA NON VERBA, our über portfolio book is complete as well. Best-jm

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MAMUS Approved: BP logo design contest.

2010-06-08T15:45:42Z

I glanced at some of the entries - this one is my favorite so far. It uses the iconic image of a Vietnamese officer shooting a Viet Cong or NVA soldier (for you young people who do not recognize this image - you should - look it up)

Guys - even with a contest like this - the knee jerk reaction was to make an oil slick, or a fucking bird. That is too easy. This execution (no pun intended) is smart and really drives the overarching issue home. The rest of the designers are dismissed.

Entry# 244188

http://www.logomyway.com

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MAMUS approved: May 2010

2010-05-23T17:23:07Z

Every once in a while, actually - very often - I am enamored with a product, music, restaurant or idea. These are some things that I believe are excellent. In case you have not seen or heard of any of them - then now you have. They are MAMUS approved.

Uniqlo +J Collection
Uniqlo is a Japanese phenomena that has really taken over New York with simple clothing, really well made - and inexpensive. The +J Collection is designed by Jil Sander, who most recently designed lines for Prada and Puma. The pieces in the collection are beautifully designed in the utilitarian, modern, perfect way that Jil Sander does - and again, extremely well made and inexpensive. We love it. Unfortunately, Uniqlo has one store - here in SOHO (sorry LA...maybe you can take back American Apparel now please)

Christian Scott and Brother J
Christian Scott is a New Orleans native, whose last album "Anthem" is his reaction to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The most powerful piece is also called "Anthem (Post Diluvial Adaptation)" and is with Brother J. This music is excellent for a number of reasons - firstly, the strong emotion is undeniable, secondly, it is distinctly American. Jazz and Rap, two art forms that as an American I am very proud of. The combination of these two is just amazing.

Christian Scott & Brother J
Anthem (Post Diluvial Adaptation)

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Coming soon.

2010-05-07T13:55:37Z

Website will be ready soon. Maybe a few weeks. Bright colors update with 19 new clients - and new work on MAMUS site. We are refreshing bright colors homepage with a collision between old and new - 18th century and 21st.

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Sneak Preview: animation

2010-04-07T00:31:47Z

Something we are working on. Stay tuned.

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Sneak Preview: Optimist LA

2010-02-21T14:10:42Z

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Website update delay.

2010-02-18T15:05:20Z

Well - we tried for December. We tried for January. Now we are trying for February. The thing is - we have been working more/less 7 days a week since the New Year. Building brands, Positioning brands. Fixing problems. Helping our clients make money.

Stay tuned. It will be worth the wait We have some great stories and design to share. Thankfully, we have a portfolio that is so fucking compelling that we have to figure out what not to put in it - not trying to dredge anything that looks halfway decent. I thank God for that.

What's in your portfolio?

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Sneak Preview: Black Knight

2010-01-21T02:27:42Z

We are currently repositioning and creating new identity the Canadian company Black Knight. They are one of the leading badminton and squash racquet companies in the world. And they are really nice folks as well.

Stem Cell Fund.

2009-12-19T03:21:12Z

I have this idea that I will send to Chuck Schumer. It is basically this: Harvested stem cells from new births should be sold and the money put into a fund that goes to the child when he/she turns 18.

If you have a child in the future, unless you register to save the stem cells - they are harvested and sold by hospitals like a commodity. They don't bother to tell you that - most people have no fucking idea what a stem cell is anyway - or simply don't care. Having a baby is serious business, and it does not leave a lot of time for random concepts such as harvesting stem cells.

You may wonder, "what's wrong with this dude, who cares about stem cells?"

Stay with me here.

In the near future, in fact - on today's CNN.com report - I glanced a headline that said "human stem cells help repair damaged hearts." Brilliant. This is what we need to do with stem cells. Fix broken bodies. Give people a new lease on life. That, my friend, is genius. People can be more creative when they are not dead or dying. That is good design.

Of course, I will ask Schumer to amend the bill thusly: "No stem cells for idiots, no matter what."
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Food: Laissez les bons temps rouler!

2009-12-02T00:50:43Z

Every other Monday is Red Beans and Rice day. I cook it for about 8-9 hours - then share the goodness with friends, family and visitors. It is amazing. The foto at the top is the beginning and most delicious mirepoix stage - with smoked hock. The bottom foto is of our dog Dziga Vertov - who is constant company and has developed a taste for Cajun.

Life is too short. Eat well. Drink well.

* we use the Red Beans and Rice recipe from Emeril Lagasse. He is great.