Posted at 3:46 AM. There are no trackbacks or pingbacks.

There is something about a culture that knows that it is not always a necessity to be able to consume at anytime. After being in Berlin for a few short months now, I am adjusting to a slightly slower lifestyle, though think I could go even slower.

I am now having to think ahead and plan what I need to purchase for the following day, and what food we may need. A slight nuisance, but one I am grateful for. I am fond of the Sunday’s that are spent browsing flea markets or having the occasional coffee, all without the craziness of consumerism fluctuating around. Sunday’s are dramatically more mellow in the city and it brings the pace of living down to a gentle and reflexive pace. Able to just breath and take the time to enjoy this life.

More and more I feel as if I am a hair away from leaving it all and moving to the country. The thought of owning a plot of sustainable land, and simply living off it without the pressures placed by society is now a constant. I would like to leave the consumerism, general unhappiness, and the attempt to force both on all those around that plagues society and its’ inhabitants. Away from it all, it is easy to be just live and enjoy that for that.

I would love more days like Sunday: the chance to stroll, sip coffee, and think. To enjoy friend’s company, and enjoy life free from the hypocrisy that attempts to drown us all.

Dustin, let’s get that farm! Just need a mountain with a paved road in the area to ride on. We can build the mini in the yard next to the corn!

Posted at 12:54 AM. There are no trackbacks or pingbacks.

I think it is time to renew this creed, and take a self-evaluative look at what we, as designers, are creating and for whom. While talent seems to be at an all time high within the design field, the content and project created seem shallow and self-serving. Whole portfolios of self-initiated projects projected into every blog for what may be nothing less than celebrity? I can not, and do not claim to speak for anyone other than myself, but question where we are heading as a field who no longer creates for a client but for themselves. While that could be an amazing ability to focus on our voices being heard and seen, it feels as though the mark is being missed. While we could do grand projects for just causes, we are simply more interested in small projects that vainly attempt to show our depth as designers, and are in actuality playing in the shallows rather than jumping in completely.

Where are our heroes? Who will move to the front of this new generation?

Posted at 12:46 AM. There are no trackbacks or pingbacks.

A few people from MASH have been working for awhile now on a backpack with the Japanese bag makers SAG. After a number of revisions, we are all happy with the finish product and the features it offers. SAG is always creating innovative bags and this project is something I am proud of being part of (besides design input, I did the inside pattern and labels). Thanks to Yoshi and Ichigo from SAG, and Mike and Andy for their part in making this bag such a great tool for cycling.

Posted at 10:50 AM. There are no trackbacks or pingbacks.

The currency of words will always be fundamentally low due to the fallible nature of language. Spoken or written words will always maintain a slippery surface of meaning, constantly sliding and slipping out of grasp. While the relevance of spoken words over written is endlessly debatable (bring it Andy, haven’t talked about that in a while), for this juncture I am going to say that spoken words are much more credible than that of written.

While the virtue of the internet is the ability of giving voice to any who wishes, it has also become one of the most troubling areas of our existence. It is beautiful that I am able to meet and communicate with people from all around the world, and that my voice can reach them, though what is contained in my voice? If I have never met you face to face, never shared a laugh, a disappointment, a concern, or an outrage, how can I understand? How can I read what is there in words written before me? I am sure over time that it is highly possible that through written discourse, I could come to know someone like kin, yet I do not doubt that that would take a long amount of time and patience. How then must I read these words that people put on their sites? How must I take criticism?

All with very little significance I think. While some people whose thoughts I read with great reverence, though I know that I may be misinterpreting them, and others I give no credibility through lack of knowledge. I read with hesitance, since I do not know where people are coming from, or what their intentions may be. However, I write with no relectance, and verbally spew my thoughts with no regard to how people may read them. I place my words out there with thought to meaning and execution, but think little of how people may feel as if my words are intended as insult, or merely that of an inside joke. Not know that I am fairly serious in almost everything I do, and that my humor can slip through at odd times. Or when I am having fun with my words, and falsely pretending. I apologize to those who read these words and interpret them as malcontent.

I have been told often that I have strong opinions. I have been told that I am an asshole. Both of which are probably true. I wield my opinions like a sword, always willing to let them fly, however I am always willing to listen and converse on whatever that opinion may be. I believe that opinions and the ability to actually discuss, does not happen enough. People are too busy saving face, and worried of upsetting others than to say what is really on their mind. I am weary of that, and don’t wish to have to hold my tongue or keep what I say internalized because it could offend. My intent is never to offend, but to bring relevance to a matter that has relevance to me. I stand by opinions and wait til another one comes along to replace it.

The internet is the anti-thesis of language. Never able to understand the voice of those that choose to voice themselves on it. I take all that I read on the internet as a grain of salt. The words are words with no author, and with that they lose a bit of what little structure they have. I also assume people are like me, but that is not always the case. As for that, do not read what I write as anything more than the that of the schizophrenic homeless man on the street. He is more likely to yield truth than myself.

This blog is merely my ranting for myself, if you ever feel compelled to, please write me, and let me know your opinions and we shall try our best to discuss it. Please do not judge based of random collection of words on a blog, get to know me first before the flags of concern wave.

Posted at 9:12 AM. There are no trackbacks or pingbacks.

The only colors I need.

Posted at 1:59 AM. There are no trackbacks or pingbacks.

The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the affects of Post-Modern philosophy on design. A revolutionary period that brought to the forefront thinking on communication in the visual medium of design. Designers like McCoy, Fella, Earls, Venezky, Tenazas, Blauvelt, Keedy, and many others brought this thinking on semiotics into the design world, and to the clients. What was met as a style, due to the lack of inclusion of such theories into the column that is design philosophy, came and left the design mantra, bringing a revival in modernism. However, the zombie of Post-modernism has come back to walk the streets of Design, though true to a zombie nature, is in bits and pieces and struggling to become whole. (Ok, I apologize, probably a very bad analogy there).

As Graphic Design evolves, the spectrum widens, and what is classified as good design is opened that much more to those that are able to find new ways of communicating ideas. Never before have I seen such experimental play from students, young professionals, and ranked firms. It is quite amazing that so much of this work is done for clients, though the majority is not, and is generally well-accepted by the audience.

I stumbled upon sites from a former colleague and a number of other recent CCA graduates, and I was amazed at the quality of work. Many of the pieces were very impressive; containing the openness and experimentation of a class project, but executed with a visual awareness that was not there when I was in school. I realize trends evolve and that this was not in style when I was attending, though the work was amazingly fun and creative. It felt as if Post-Modernism is back, and maybe actually finding a home within the design canon.

Though as I further look at these pieces, something felt off. The first hit of visual stimulation started to fade and as the facade fell apart I was left looking at the soul of the piece, and it was empty. This is the common fault I see with the majority of this work coming out now; it is not design. It is art. What is being treated as brilliant and slightly skewed interpretation, yielding beautiful forms, is a mass of random pieces that offer little as a whole, and this it what is being held up and paraded around as the great design of our period. Random bits of chaotic scraps, that in the attempt that they are brought together, may mean something. Ironically enough that sounds true enough to my understanding of language, but does not work with the role of communicating, that which is the one main task of the designer.

Maybe this evolution is still young. Possibly over time this will come together, but right now I see the allowance of too many people taking liberties without understanding what they are doing. They have no reference to those that came before in the Post-Modern wave, and are simply not able to achieve the same level of reading in their work. Where Post-Modern was a beautifully layered story of design, these pieces are random puzzles that lack any solution. Post-Randomism needs some clarity before it can move on, or hopefully dies a sudden death.

Posted at 8:30 AM. There are no trackbacks or pingbacks.

For most, including myself, blogging is not easy. Searching for new content or topics to write or share with the digital world is a time-consuming task, and I think it is noteworthy when certain blogs can constantly update with new content that has not been shown on countless other sites prior. It is a time consuming effort to sit down and write and develop your thoughts for something that seems like an extra-curricular activity. I find it difficult to sit down without distractions and write out a full blog post giving it the time it needs to edit and rethink the post, and all the while questioning whether this is an idea worthwhile of voicing. Too many times it would be easy to simply post the nonsense that goes on in my head with no consequence as to who may or may not read it, or just simply post random crap that further pollutes the information highway.

I am active on a few blogs, some of which you can find in the profile section of this site, and cautiously proceed with my posts on those. For some, like Arkitip, it is extremely disappointing when someone seems to miss the point of such an astounding platform. All the other members of the blog are on point with what they post and it is always original. I strive to live up to that level and respect the place they have given me among them. It is sad when the posts under the name MASH, which a number of us post under, are filled with meaningless photos, or the re-hashing of someone else’s blog (or worse, re-post of their own blog post). Can we not create, find, or discuss more important things, especially on a forum such as that? I leave my simple posts on what colors I like or where I rode that day to my own personal blog, so no one has to read it.

This is a small part of a larger issue I find with the internet and the voices it contains. Too many sites are failing to bring the content and authorship they should. This is merely my opinion, and I am falling into my own hypocrisy by turning to the internet to state my opinion, but I am tired of reading the nonsense people have to post. I am slowly finding that my links I check daily are shrinking due to unoriginal or ignorant posts. Something I find troubling since for many of those sites, that is what the authors do; they blog. That is their job.

On the other hand, those that maintain a high level of content and writing deserve the utmost praise. Certain blogs like DesignObserver are constantly updated with interesting and well written pieces on design and culture. Others like Arkitip are a constant source of new information that is not re-iterated across every other ‘culture’ site. Others like Crailtap and Defgrip keep a steady flow of content coming onto their sites.

It seems like a fairly simple task to keep the content new and interesting and not fall into a pattern of writing simple posts with news that is weeks old. Too many sites simply regurgitate that which they have read, or offer no real thought other than unhappiness with one thing or another and that brings the quality of information down across the internet. For a generation that turns to digital means for news and information (almost being told what to do) they are being led astray.

Posted at 9:34 AM. There are no trackbacks or pingbacks.

Since moving two Berlin just two months ago, I have been struggling with the process of finding work, and trying to start up a studio. While most is resolved and figured out with action, I feel there is a lot of thinking that must go on before hand. To realize what it is you want and how you are going to do that, and how they will correspond to what you ‘actually’ get, and how you ‘actually’ get it. A good friend of mine did the same thing two years ago; picking up and starting in a new time to make something of his business. Two years down the road he is making it, but those questions of what he wants and how is he getting it, are still present. We have been discussing these things and where we are heading quite a bit together.

During a chat, he asked me who my top 5 clients would be, and as I thought about it briefly, I was completely stumped. Not one company came to mind immediately. I wasn’t sure if that was positive or negative, but promised I would think of it and would let him know.

Two days later, I sat on my balcony, and started to come up with my list and who my top 5 clients/projects would be. I was perhaps over-thinking it originally, but what was most difficult about naming the top 5, was that they weren’t clients per se, but projects. The difference being that with a project I could impose my role as a designer to that of a Creative Director. Authorship plays a big part in any project, and the able to actually manage the whole experience, from concept to product top packaging to branding to advertising. The ability to have the design and product be completely unified. Plus, I am always hoping to expand to other fields rather than just print. I whole-heartedly believe that any true designer can jump across mediums with no fault. Design is a process, a way of thinking, that can be applied to anything in life. But, enough with that, and on with the top 5 projects…

Number 1.
I would love to be Creative Director of a fashion label. Almost any fashion label that is couture, and designs clothes I would wear. Getting in on something like this from the beginning would be great, but not necessary. Most of the design I am most intrigued by is associated with fashion, and I think it would be an extremely fun project to work on the design and have some influence on runway shows and maybe the odd piece of clothing.

Number 2.
A magazine. I would love to be the main editor of a magazine that is not driven by commercial means, or not completely concerned about how accessible it is to every consumer. Freedom in content and design, and the ability to focus on things that I think are important or relevant to culture, lifestyle and society. Monocle and Tyler Brulé definitely have a large impact on this project.

Number 3.
This is the only one that two brands came to mind. I would love to head up the design department of the skate companies Cliché or Blueprint. They are of a few skateboard brands that take a serious effort in the design of their products. Having a part in the skateboard scene for the better part of my life, I still watch videos non-stop even though I do not get on my board as often. These two companies would be extremely fun to work for. Helping with editing to board graphics and clothing, I imagine nothing but fun at these places.

Number 4.
I would love to brand the city of Berlin. Not necessarily Berlin, but any interesting city. I would love to create a unified system throughout a complete city. A project like this would cross-over into so many fields and products and would be (what I consider) a designers dream come true. The logo to street signs to metro to typefaces. The project is endless, and extremely interesting.

Number 5.
Final one; to start a Typefoundry. Type is one of designs most influential gifts and one that so few seem to get right. I would love to be paid to purely design fonts all day. It is an area of design that I do not get to work in enough, and would love to have the time to develop complete and beautiful typefaces. Hoefler & Frere-Jones - just like that.

Posted at 11:51 AM. There are no trackbacks or pingbacks.

There are few Graphic Design organizations with design that I have come to respect and wish to take part in. Personally, they seem divisive to a profession and lifestyle where there is already enough cliques and attitude. Following my education at CCA and my ability to join organizations cheaply, I had no desire to spend the hundreds of dollars annually to feel as if I belong to a core group of people. The AIGA, the leading US Design organization, was heavily influential while in school, and realize that they do a number of great things for Design across the nation, but in San Francisco it seemed like purely a monthly social hour to rub elbows with the local who’s-who of designers.

I knew most of the members who were active in the local chapter, for most were professors and the new generation of designers making a name for themselves in the profession. However, there were always the other professors who were ‘the names’ of design and had been for a while now, and they seemed very distant from such organizations like the AIGA. I wondered why that was the case, and what, if anything, did they belong to? I found out that there were other organizations out there, and one that had been there for a long time and was not nearly as easy to be part of. That was the Alliance Graphique Internationale. Only a couple hundred members of all the most influential designers since the 1940’s. Now that was an organization I wanted to be part of.

And I just checked their site recently after browsing the work of a design studio from Spain. I checked the new members list and was surprised to see a number of names and work I recognized from recent publications and contests. I was also surprised that these designers were now part of this illustrious group. Not because their work was poor, much to the contrary, but their work was not what I considered to be in the same vein as that of the founders.

I currently see a split in Design, (something I have spoken of before) where Design, on one end is graphic art and the other, Graphic Design. Graphic art is usually hoping to be viewed as Graphic Design, but isn’t quite as successful in communicating it’s idea, being just a hollow shell of style. The Alliance Graphique Internationale was something I saw as Graphic Design, through and through. But some of these new additions to their numbers seemed to show more graphic art than design. This makes me wonder if my delineation of the two is a bit harsh, or that graphic art can be something more than style.

While I don’t think that my views on graphic art and Graphic Design are too extreme, I do question the validity and where that line is between the two. I think it may not nearly be as concise as previously thought. I do respect the AGI, and if they are including such Designers into their convent, I assume that they acknowledge that Design may be shifting, which could signify a very good shift into the Post Modern era… but that is a topic for a later post.

Posted at 5:16 AM. There are no trackbacks or pingbacks.

With the unveiling of a new site, a psychological barrier has been brought down in my mind. Something official comes with this new digital presence, and the claim that I am here to run my own show. Previously, every revision of the site was just another quick means to showcase my portfolio, with little thought to anything other than presenting the work and ensuring I have included an email link. But, this is it; the real deal. Everything matters at this point of the game. The site is no longer the showcase of the work, it is an extension of myself. The writing matters, the design matters, the branding matters and I hope that it is all on point.

I have done the research, gathered some experience with different studios, read ‘How to be a Designer without losing you soul’ by Adrian Shaughnessy (lovely book by the way), and still feel a bit panicked about putting this new site up. No matter how much I read, or how many places I have worked, I don’t think I would feel sufficiently prepared to start off on my own venture. But, I do believe that is just the way it is going to be. No one is completely prepared for it, yet you have to make the jump. It will be a bit daunting, but I know what needs to be done and how to do it. I am excited as ever to start working on projects, find new friends, new clients, explore design through me, rather than through my art director.

And as I finish this short blog post, I am going to get back to work. The long hours, bottomless cups of coffee, collared shirt work days, last-minute freak outs are all on my horizon, but I am excited and ready for it. I am finally at the real beginning of my career.

Take a look through the site, and let me know if you catch any bugs, or have any suggestions. Your feedback is always appreciated. Hope to hear from you all soon. Tschüss!

Posted at 12:27 PM. There are no trackbacks or pingbacks.

Sorry for the lack in updates. It has been far too long, but so much has changed.

On the 26th of May, I finally packed my bags and left San Francisco. May be a bit hard to say, but it was a long time coming. As my lease on my apartment was ending, I knew that I could not lock myself in for another year in San Francisco. I had outgrown San Francisco (or it had outgrown me) and was feeling hampered by the stagnate state of the city, or what I call the ‘Cult of Complacency’. Design is segregated, art is monotonous, music is lacking talent, and the social scene is shallow. Sounds like I am getting old. Anyway, the time came and it was back to Berlin, Germany for me, Lily and Caroline who we suckered into trying to the move with us.

We are now almost one week into Berlin and slowly getting situated. Figuring out the twists and turns of the process that is trying to get settled in a country with a language you don’t speak, no permanent jobs, and not enough money (Damn you US Dollar!). We hopefully move into a flat on Wednesday this week, which should allow us the bank accounts, and handy (mobile phone) accounts to help us get situated, and a steady internet connection.

We, and especially myself, are all very happy to be here. Europe has always oddly felt more comfortable to me than the USA, and the culture a bit more in point (As a whole, extremely scattered, but on point where it matters). The Design scene is alive here in Berlin and the appreciation from businesses is apparent on the walls and signage as you travel the city. Life is slow, and quality is high. And the main thing, rent is cheap! Berlin has all the ingredients that I hope will allow me to make something of Fairwhether and myself. Design studio, store, cafe, restaurant… who knows, but the list seems endless.

Thanks for checking back with me, and more to come. I will post here when it happens, but I may be contributing to the Arkitip and Honeyee Blogs shortly, so a lot more of what is happening here in Berlin there. Until then…

Tschüss!

Posted at 4:43 PM. There are no trackbacks or pingbacks.

Respect. The exact definition of this word is transcendental, escaping definitive meaning. Simple admiration, an altered state of behaviour; a stranger crossing paths to a mentor. WIthin the field of design, of the thousands of designers, few command the respect of an entire field. In a profession that is overwhelmed with the mediocre majority, few have reason up to lead, and teach those hoping the chance (and skill-set) to follow in their foot steps. In my professional career, albeit it short, I have found maybe one person that I feel earns a serious amount of respect, though have in my student career encountered many. I feel lucky to have had a few of those people as mentors, for they are the ones that really show what it is to be a designer and to execute that role in the most professional means possible.

Looking through the history of Graphic Design, there have indeed been some of the greats. The ones that almost any designer who once walked the halls of an educational institution would spout off if asked for sources of inspiration. Sagmeister, Chermayeff and Geismar, Glaser, Johnstone, Müller-Brockmann and a few more recent designers like Blauvelt, Spiekermann, and Scher (just a few, not the definitive list). And a few that seem to rise on top of them all and hold a high position like the untouchable Paul Rand. It is extremely beneficial to have these types of figures to aspire to and help guide young designer in a beneficial path. Beneficial for themselves and their careers, but also for the entire field of Graphic Design.
more »

Posted at 10:09 AM. There are no trackbacks or pingbacks.

I currently work at a large interactive agency, but I would never have considered myself a web designer. However, that said. the internet has been my main source of current trends and happenings in design for the past 9 years. Through those years I have watched the evolution of web design come from amazingly egnimatic, deep, detailed pieces to a rebirth in Mininalism. Recently, I see web design as being rather schizophrenic, coming from all angles. Some stick with a simple clean approach. and others go with something bit more experimental. I think this is a positive thing, that trends are no longer completely ruling the internet world, but rarely do I find a site that seems to push it’s visual style and execution in a smart clean way. Granted, I am no web designer so I am not sure whether these sites would really be considered top-notch, or how many clicks it takes to go from the home page to the work, etc. etc. But I was taken back by this site.

Peepshow Collective is a group of 10 out of East London. With an interesting range of work, they have created a very nice site. From the over look and interaction, to the type selected, to the hover state of the links. It is a great site and one of the few recently that I have found that is a heavy site, but works well and looks great. I know one site doesn’t constitute a ‘Return’ but it was a hopeful surprise.

Posted at 11:29 PM. There is 1 trackback/pingback.

One of my best friend and all around amazing person is Dustin Klein of Cadence. I have been lucky enough to know and work with Dustin on a variety of projects. Almost a month ago, prior to some heavy travelling (yet again), he asked me to help lay out a little zine for him. I took the images, and dropped them into an easy layout he could photocopy and bind on his own, adding his own touch. All images are shot by Dustin Klein, and production is his.

It is a pleasure to work with Dustin, a creator who knows how to keep things at their bare essence. He has been producing goods for the longest time with some of the most meager assets of production. Yet, each piece is only his. Each with a touch that is Dustin, and easily identifiable. He is a breath of fresh original air in a sea of poor plagiarism, and cheap over-priced or over-hyped commodities. I hope Dustin continues on for a long time and keeps
on flourishing.

PICTURES AFTER THE JUMP
more »

Posted at 4:37 PM. There are no trackbacks or pingbacks.

What are these vague anomalous shapes composed in such a beautiful manner but lacking any coherent communicative meaning? Some 17 year old kid from Minneapolis did this with no design training what-so-ever? He obviously must be the next Paul Rand. Or maybe not (sarcasm can either work too little or too well). The current state of Graphic Design is at a very interesting point, and as of late I have had to re-examine how I view the field as a whole and how I am able to interact with it.
more »

Posted at 11:25 PM. There are no trackbacks or pingbacks.

Lily and I travelled to London to make the Royal College of Art Open House. The trip was amazing, and I am in extreme debt to all those I met there. Amazing people all around. As a quick gift to exchange with those we met, we each made a batch of buttons to give away. I still have a few so if anyone is interested let me know. Click the image for the full view.

Posted at 6:14 PM. There are no trackbacks or pingbacks.

I’m changing up the mix a bit with this new blog. I say ‘new,’ but to anyone reading it, it is the same old thing. However, I am going to swap out the content a bit and put not only things I write (essays, thoughts, rants), but also work I do that isn’t quite something I would like to place in my portfolio, and links to other sources of inspiration I may find. A bit more daily if you will. But, the former blog had some writings, though amatuer, are worth keeping so I have created a blog that will exist with them for the time being. If you care to retreat and read anything on Helvetica, my gripe with sneaker culture, or random off-the-cuff writings, you can find them here…

The Former Blog

Posted at 1:18 PM. There is 1 trackback/pingback.

Guten Tag.

I’m sorry for the lack of updates on the blog, but things have been changing. After a few months of travelling to the Northwest, Japan, and London, all followed by the holiday season, it is time to get back on track. During all that a new update to the site was done, and now I have a new blog to go with it. Thanks to Mediatemple and their GS Server, I know have WordPress running this blog, making it all the easier to post and keep updating steadily and effortlessly. The blog will not change too much from what was here in the past, but I hope to expand, and make it a bit more constant and informative on people and events I think are worthwhile in today’s world. I hope to add links and info to a variety of lifestyle things as well as give my personal edit on topics. After all, it is my blog. So, if anyone is still out there reading this, thanks. And keep coming back!

Some new links for now.

Virb

Arlo Jamrog

It Was A Love Affair

Reform&Revolution