Blending In vs. Standing Out

This poster was created by English graphic designer Craig Ward and raises a particularly good point.  The good typography is the typography you don't notice.  In any design that incorporates type, it is the responsibility of the type to work alongside the design to better convey the message.  Type that falls out of step with it's design partner is not only noticeable, but it detracts from the message that you are trying to deliver.  This poster conveys this message wonderfully.  It's a lesson for us all to learn.

How Dry I Am

This book cover for a memoir of Augusten Burroughs was designed by Chip Kidd, and was actually explained a little during a recent talk of his given at the international TED conference.  Kidd explained that, in the book, Burroughs recounts his time as a raging alcoholic, yet one in denial, and his journey out of that.  Kidd went on to say how, to him, "this was always going to be a typographic solution, what [he called] the opposite of Type 101."  He said that, unlike standard typographic practices, where the type matches the meaning or intent of the word, he wanted to do the complete opposite.  As he put it, "I want this book to look like it's lying to you, desperately and hopelessly, the way an alcoholic would."  His solution?  Set up the type, print it off on an Epson printer with water-soluble ink, and throw a bucket of water at it.  The resulting effect is very powerful and extremely effective.  I say bravo, Mr. Kidd.  Bravo.

"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark..."

"Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,

And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,

I will be brief." -Hamlet Act 2, scene 2,

I am a huge Shakespeare fan, having acted in many of his plays, including Hamlet.  In fact, I delivered the above line (the irony of which is that, after saying this, the character goes on for a few more pages).  This poster for a production put on by the Saratoga Shakespeare Company was designed by Palio, a design firm out of Saratoga Springs, NY.  It is utterly brilliant.  For those who aren't familiar with the play, the main character, Hamlet, slowly descends into madness as the play progresses.  This poster conveys that quite well.  The man is covering his face, yet one eye stares out.  Hiding, yet seeking.  Looking at this, you know nothing happy is going to come of this.  I love it.

The poster comes courtesy of the Graphis website.

"There can be only one..."

ITC Highlander

ITC Highlander was designed by David Farey and released in 1993. Highlander is a tribute to the Cooper typeface, designed by early 20^th century American typeface designer and lettering artist Oswald Cooper. Farey, a long time fan of Cooper, modeled this sans-serif typeface in the handlettering style of the Cooper typeface. While Oswald Cooper never released a sans-serif typeface, there were sans-serif letterforms used in a number of lettering exercises that he produced, which Farey also drew upon in his designing of ITC Highlander.   

Oh, Canada...

I seriously love this logo because it has almost no right to be as brilliant as it is.  The logo was made by the MacLaren McCann firm, which is based out of Calgary, a providence of Alberta, Canada.  The logo was created for Murray Piano Services.  It has no right to be this brilliant because it is so simple.  It's not flashy or innovative or groundbreaking.  It is, quite simply, five piano keys from a point of view that you rarely see them, and they resemble an M.  I love this logo because it has no right to be this brilliant.  Gotta love Canadian ingenuity. 

The photo is courtesy of the Graphis website.

BAM! POW! WOW!

This magazine cover caught my eye...which is exactly what it was supposed to do.  Like the Psychedelic design style it is modeled after, its purpose is to grab your attention violently by the throat.  The jagged edges and vibrating colors grab the eye and almost force it to look.  While I am not saying that this is a spot-on reference to the Psychedelic style of graphic design, it definitely shares a similar desire to be noticed and seen.

On the road again...again...

It used to be that the weekends were made up of mom and dad announcing an impromptu road trip, huge smiles on faces and picnic baskets in hand...or at least that's how the ads portrayed it.  According to my dad, there were times like that for him, but they weren't all that often.  However, in today's world of fast-paced living, having to be able to be reached wherever you are via cellphone, and hectic schedules, the weekend road trip is almost non-existent.  The Dodge Journey will change all that...or so they are claiming with this ad.  The design of the ad is American Kitsch, mostly because of the casual hand-written font.  Kitsch was the time period of those bygone road trips.  It is a call back to those simpler times, and is appealing to the children who remember those trips so well.  Clever.