Archive for November, 2007

The 1976 Thermal is out now at the shop. It’s also 15% off, part of the Holiday sale that’s on now.  This is the first long-sleeved shirt I’ve done, it’s on the American Apparel thermal which I absolutely love. It’s got a nice texture and it’s not too weighty. They’re moving fast so check them out!

Finally back home for a bit, feels good to have some time to focus.  After a long stretch in the design trenches got the next month slated for music. Going to get back to work on the new album which is coming along well, just a lot of the dirty work yet to do. The first track from the forthcoming album will be available as a single on December 11th (iTunes Exclusive at first, all retailers later).  Keep an eye here and tychomusic.com for more updates.
On a design related note, I treated the above pics of the studio using some of the concepts we were discussing back in this post. Took Christian’s advice and applied a lens blur to the vignette, getting closer to digital Lomo! Finally been getting my head around this Nikon D80 I got a while back to replace my broken 8800.  Really been enjoying the results, especially at the higher ISO’s, even at ISO1000 the output is still clean and the noise is actually rather pleasing, not the sort of digital junk I’ve come to expect from high speed exposure’s with non-SLR digicams.

I’m pretty sure it doesn’t get any better than this. By Swiss Designer Carlo Vivarelli who also did the "Flums" Poster.

"997. 1953 poster, advertisement for The New School House, C.L. Vivarelli, Zurich Art Business Museum, marked Vivarelli, printed by Bollmann, dated 1953, linen backed, 36"x 50", 500-700"
Via the Treadway/Toomey Gallery

Seeing great design like this, by designers who are no longer with us, always makes me wonder what our generation’s legacy will be.  in 60 years I wonder what artifacts young designers will look back on in awe.  The pessimist in me wonders if we are doing anything quite as groundbreaking and forward thinking as this in the print medium.  Print seems to have been relegated to a sort of suspended animation while mediums like video and interactive jump leaps and bounds every year.  I don’t know if this is a function of the age of the print medium, i.e. everything new and innovative has been done, of if there just aren’t enough people pursuing print design as an art form anymore.  Or perhaps I’m just stuck in the past and for some reason only design like this affects me in any meaningful way. Either way, there is no denying the greatness of this image.

Can any of you design scholars out there name the style or period that informed this design?  I want to say Bauhaus, but I am sure someone can explain why that is wrong.

UPDATE: Via Eric in the comments:
"This design is definitely a product of the international typographic style developed in Basel switzerland, during the 1950s…This style is is clearly influenced by the bauhaus, but they took it to the next level. beautiful example."

Carsten also wrote a great comment explaining the "Reformed-School" in Germany and how it relates to this poster.

My good friend Jorge Calleja sent me this Eames Catalogue. The cover seems ripe for recreating as a one-off poster for my living room.  More info at Herman Miller

By the way, Jorge’s not just good at sourcing vintage furniture ads, he’s also an incredibly talented graphic designer who’s currently with Wieden & Kennedy Amsterdam.  Be sure to check out his portfolio.

These images sent in by Anthony Mark.

"Interflug was the former state airline of the German Democratic Republic (GDR, "East Germany") from 1963 until 1991, when it ceased operations following German reunification." -  Interflug on Wikipedia

Recently did an interview for the Veerle design blog. Check it out here.

Select ISO50 prints are now available in a mounted option at the ISO50 Shop. The limited prints are hand signed and laminate sealed to a wood backing.  More info here >

Via E-Architect:
"Bang & Olufsen’s main building in Struer is anchored in the landscape, where the design and production company has its identity. The building was inaugurated in 1998 and is to be experienced as a large showroom for Bang & Olufsen’s company culture and production."

There is another shot of the KHR designed building and interior at the site. Neither are as good as this one though.  The building was completed in 1998 but this shot looks like it could be from a 70’s architectural digest.

These great shots sent in by Jason Bustin:

"I found a home graphics kit that was made in Canada back in 1974 named “Supergraphic”.  Its slogan was, “Professional wall graphics made easy for you to paint” and was geared towards creating cutting edge graphics in your household without having to hire a professional, (back at that time).  The examples featured in this do-it-yourself kit remind me of the graphics in your “High Ceilings” photo on your ISO50 blog."  

Some very familiar forms in there, check out the circle pattern reminiscent of the 1975 CBC report.  There’s also the L shapes that look like either an upside-down Huron Spectrum print or the Sacramento Regional Transit Logo. This concept is a bit garish by today’s interior design standards, but it would still make a nice addition to an office or rec room. 
The 70’s were really an interesting time for DIY arts and crafts.  It seemed like people were more willing to take on projects such as these back then.  I remember it seemed like everyone’s mom had a sewing machine, and actually used it. And a lot more people were into things like ceramics, wood working, and other hobbies with artistic leanings.  This is something that in my experience, has sort of been lost on our generation.  With everything in our lives either electrified or automated, I think we may have lost the patience for activities like these. 
Bonus: Name that font (The headline: "Supergraphic")

As Horacio pointed out in the comments, Batman makes a cameo on this 1968 Design Magazine Cover. Such a specific pop culture reference seems a bit out of place among it’s vaguely evocative surroundings (the Union Jack excluded).  As the title suggests, this all must be in reference to Carnaby Street which was sort of a fashion / cultural center to the Mod movement in 1960s England.  Perhaps it had lost it’s hip status by the time this issue was published and the cover depicts the death knell of the movement.  At any rate, a very nice illustration worthy of framing. Right after you clone-stamp out the byline at the bottom, that is.