WATERCOLOR MS PAC MAN MACHINE

How can a simple watercolor portrayal of a Ms. Pac Man get someone fired from a job? We’ll let me explain. Let’s go back to the magical year of 2003 where I was working the customer service lines for Delta Faucets in this cold, soulless call center. In retrospect, this has to be one of the worst jobs that I’ve ever had the displeasure of exposing myself to. Basically, look at it this way. Our job was to be punching bags for disgruntled customers who were having problems installing their newly bought faucets. I’m no plumber! Call a real professional. Anyway, on with the story.

There was a considerable amount of downtime working the phones and often people busied themselves by reading a book or surfing the web. But I’m much more creative than that. So what did I do? I brought in all my arts and crafts supplies and painted in my cubicle. It was great! My office looked more like an artists studio than a place of business. The management hated it. In fact, they threatened me numerous times that I couldn’t paint at my desk. But I continued on despite their bearing down.  

“What if a client comes walking in here? We can’t have them seeing our employees doodling. Get rid of this stuff. We’re not going to tell you again!”

You know that part in “Rainman”, where Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise are stuck in that hotel room? Dustin Hoffman is sitting on the edge of the bed drawing compulsively with a juice box next to him while Jeopardy plays in the background. It was just like that. But picture that in a cubicle while I’m painting a Ms. Pac Man machine trying to answer questions into a headset. I dug this picture out recently and it immediately took me back to that moment in time.

I wish I had a real introspective meaning as to why I created this, but the real answer is out of boredom. Maybe I was subconsciously trying to connect to an entity that lied in my childhood. Maybe I was on the edge of adulthood and trying to cling onto anything that had anything to do with my youth. Maybe I’m just a weirdo. Who knows.

I didn’t end up actually getting fired. I quit before they got around to it. I was definitely on the chopping block though. You could see the disappointment and resentment in my boss’ eyes whenever he told me to stop painting. Maybe that’s why I kept doing it.

Year’s later, I did a bigger painting of the machine where I merged it with Al Hansen’s “Yoko Ono Piano Drop” Acrylic on board of course!

THESIS UNDERWAY: WEBSITE DESIGN

During the past few critiques that I’ve been involved with at school for my thesis, I’ve found that I’ve run into a few issues.

1.   A -- People aren’t very responsive in giving me feedback. I’m to believe that either I’ve got everything nailed and it’s perfect or nobody knows what the hell I’m talking about. Therefore they have no ground to base any opinion on.

2.   B -- Is my topic so niche and specific that it’s hard to communicate its essence without dumbing it down? I believe in simplicity, but how far is too far. Granted, the demographics of people that I’m targeting IS a small community. A community, I feel, that is turned on by cutting edge aesthetics and over the top intensity. So the real challenge is interpreting this small minute culture in a way that is broad and mainstream acceptable. It’s all rooted in pop culture anyway right? What’s not to understand?

At any rate, progress has been fairly smooth and uncomplicated. I’m fortunate that I chose and stuck with my direction throughout the entire process and thus enables me to fine tune it further as I get deeper and deeper. At this point, design and conception is 95% done. He next big stepping stone is production and making it come alive.

Here is a few designs that I put together for the website portion. My plan is to build it in After Effects where motion graphics will dictate how this whole thing works. This way, people can just watch the site in action without having to interact with it. It will also play a snippet of a podcast that I made as well as streaming video webisodes.

The prime objective is tie into this “crafty whimsical” sort of vibe while appealing to a hipper younger audience. I don’t think going for the corporate look would work for this. I’m also trying to “box” in certain aesthetics to help better separate the different options. An example of this would be the feature spread where the main box has the feature story, but then on the right hand side of the screen, everything else will be organized in smaller spaces to better help navigation. I agree it might be a little “chunky” right now. I’m wondering if there is a better way to connect the boxes without getting too cluttered. daytrotter.com is a major influences. As well as vbs.tv. 

Yes, I am aware of the typos. This is all IN PROGRESS work. I may go in a change a few of the images too. I'm also leaving some room available at the top to incorporate an advertising web banner. These websites don't pay for themselves!

PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING #2

Public relations is more than a mere marketing strategy to garner better business. It’s an art. Through my course at Marquette studying public relations writing, I’ve learned that. My semester long project requires me to figure out angles in which to better serve the business through writing features and news releases that may prove beneficial to their cause. So I thought I’d update everyone on how that is all shaping up. I’m working with a small café on the south side that deals primarily in slinging delicious coffee drinks and fabulous hot and cold sandwiches. But this isn’t all that they’re known for. Take one step inside and you’ll find an entire atmosphere to soak in. Art deco design, art on display by local artists, free Wi-Fi, a smoking hot juke box, and mood lighting are only a few of the amazing things that lie inside.

By nature, I am a designer at heart. So I’m always thinking in designer terms. I pay attention to color, type, and composition. So when I come across a problem, design is usually the first tool I use in solving it. Take for instance this project for Public Relations Writing. As soon as I was given this assignment, I wasn’t thinking in terms of writing to better expound its identity. I was thinking in more visual terms.

How can this café better its relation with the community through design?

As I wrote paper after paper about this café, I began to understand its true essence. Through the course, I came up with a few choice ideas that might prove worthy to their establishment.

• This class has taught me the importance of a press release. Why not come up with an event for the community to get behind. Write a press release and promote it in local papers and media. This particular café has a once a week pizza special and it is quite popular. I propose hosting a giant party on national pizza day (November 12th. Yes it exists. I looked it up.) Imagine the hype that can be built around this. No other restaurant I can think of does anything like this.
• The Internet and especially social media have really changed the way we live our lives. To date, the café doesn’t have an adequate address system for getting the word out on specials and events. Twitter, facebook, and even a mass email newsletter would be good in keeping everyone posted on upcoming changes. This will create better web presence and in this day and age of business, that is very important.
• I had also thought that the café would do well if it marketed itself to their prime demographic a little harder. It’s a hip place for young people to hang out, drink espresso, and visit with friends. No doubt discussing various chapters from a Kerouac novel. Offering a student discount or incentive would really help them in gathering new potential customers. With free Wi-Fi and cheap coffee, how can any college student resist?
• Another interesting facet that I thought would be a great idea would be to host a regular video feed featuring the spotlighted artist showing their work for that month. I could be treated like an online show. It would be relatively easy to put together through after effects or imovie. The show could have an interview with the artist in the café and showcase a number of pieces from the event. This would give the café much better attention from the art community. Again, I don’t know of any café’s or restaurants that would do this sort of thing. Make it seem bigger than life!

 For your patience in getting through this entire blog, here is a picture of a cool bubble gum wrapper with a cowboy and a banana. Enjoy!

MY TOP TEN FAVORITE RECORDS TO DESIGN TO.

A THIN LINE BETWEEN CHAOS AND ORGANIZATION:

I recently read this article on about how designers can be influenced by music. This intrigued me because music was the initial spark that got me started on my own design path. My younger years were spent glued to posters, records, and flyers that I would compulsively collect and litter my bedroom walls with. But it wasn't until I came to school, did I really start to understand the impact of how music's visual counterparts could connect on a deeper level. With my own journey through design, I often find myself referring to the many aspects of music as inspiration and motivation. Here are my favorite top ten records that set the mood and pace for graphic design exploration.

10: THE PENETRATORS :: BASEMENT ANTHOLOGY 1976-1984

Whenever I feel myself slowing down or getting creatively drained, I can always count on this record to get me back on track. This thing is filled to the brim with attitude and youthful exuberance, which lends itself quite nicely to perpetuating strong consistent motivation. The overall sound is very “strut and swagger” and is usually the main drive in relentless aural stimulation.

Key tracks include: Life Stinks, Teenage Lifestyle, Shopping Bag, and (I Like) Brooklyn

9: COCOCOMA :: THINGS ARE NOT ALRIGHT

This one is kind of a newer record. I never really paid much attention to these cats until last fall when I saw them perform at Stumblurfest. They really knocked me out and after getting the record; it has been on heavy rotation whenever I find myself needing a little push in the right creative direction. Plus, the cover art is totally fab! 

Key tracks include: Water into Wine, Suspicious, Enemies, You Better Beware

8: ABBA :: ANY AND ALL (I PREFER THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION)

This one is sort of the odd duck of the bunch, but I always pull this one out when I'm in the mood to create something a little more on the happy or whimsical side. There is certain potency that ABBA capsulates that works really well for me when concepting logo design. I can't really explain why, but their quirky take on Swedish pop makes a great soundtrack for detailing and configuring fonts and type. Hmmm..... could there be a Swiss connection here? 

Key Tracks include: S.O.S, Does Your Mother Know, Take A Chance, and Love Isn’t Easy

7: THE MAKE UP :: I WANT SOME

Who can't resist the soultastic croon of Ian Svenonious while his band bashes away at some high-energy mod infused garage rock? Is THAT what it is? Actually, I'm not even really sure how to categorize this band, but they always bring the good vibes when I need them the most. It's definitely 60's influenced and carries a sort of pop art contingency that plays really nicely when exploring retro or vintage type design. It all gets intertwined with this psychobabble explosiveness too. I like that. Especially when I have to deal with a lot of varying components or materials that need to be cohesive. Ian Svenonious’s philosophies about rock n’ roll are something that ties in closely with the balance of organization and chaos, which is something most and all designers must understand.

Key tracks include: Pow! To the People, Blue Is Beautiful, R U a Believer, Born on the Floor

6: THE MAKERS :: HUNGER

The Makers are just filled with so much unadulterated energy that it takes some real will power not to get up and start flailing your arms around in excitement. They embody the true spirit of rave up rock n’ roll and do it with such furor that anyone within an earshot is going to be impacted in one way or another. Hunger has to be my all time favorite album from these guys. Design wise, it forces me to think in more solidified terms. I personally think that this record was put together with careful skill and in turn, puts that idea in my design practices. It sounds like your average drunken garage punk band, but there it this untouchable tightness that lies underneath all that is very hard to duplicate. This is very true with design. In every endeavor; attack it from a place where you’re thinking in terms of absolute tightness and solidification. Leave no stone unturned, no spell check unused, and no project half assed.

Key tracks include: Small Town Depression, STICKY, Stone Pony, Razorblade, Leopard Print Sissy, No Count

5: DEATH BY CHOCOLATE :: S/T

I bought this record years ago simply based on the cover. I had no idea what was to be expected, but it quickly became one of my all time favorite albums. This goes for the music as well as the package design. You really can judge a book by its cover and this one epitomizes the candy-coated psychedelia that lies within to an absolute T. The music in itself is extremely colorful, which leads me to believe that this record is a great in figuring out color combinations and theories. Very visual indeed. There are even selected spoken word tracks where the singer lists items that remind her of a particular color. It’s fun to listen to. For example, the track entitled “red”, she lists everything from ketchup to fire engines to raincoats.

Key tracks include: Magpie, L.S. Bumblebee, Ice Cold Lemonade, Mustard Yellow, Sky Blue, Olive Green

4: NANCY SINATRA :: NANCY AND LEE

This isn’t really a melancholy record so to speak, but it’s got this vibe that balances nicely with a bit of dreariness and rainy day contentment. Lee Hazelwood is a goddamn master of story telling and setting just the right mood all under this umbrella of a make shift drug hazed spaghetti western.  Creatively, this record offers a psychoanalytical view of the content that I’m usually involved with. I could be doing something mundane like laying out forms or contract sheets, but with this record is in full motion, I attack it with a philosophical angle rooted in concentrated focus.

Key tracks include: Sundown, Sundown, Lady Bird, Summer Wine, Some Velvet Morning

3: IGGY AND THE STOOGES :: RAW POWER

This record doesn't so much influence me design-wise as it does social-wise. It's just one of those albums that gets you revved up and ready for action. Anytime I give a presentation or need to meet with someone to discuss design solutions, this record puts the go-getter/take-no-prisoner’s attitude in me. I always come out with more confidence after listening to this and therefore tend to make me a better speaker, presenter and performer. Street walkin’ cheetah, motherfucker!

Key tracks include: Search and Destroy, Penetration, Shake appeal, and Gimme Danger.

2: SUBSONICS :: S/T

Of course my all time favorite band ever has to make this list. I think the main reason for me getting into this band is their unique way in approaching a familiar or traditional sound. It’s all rock n’ roll. It’s all played with the same three chords. It’s all done with guitars, bass’, and drums. It’s all got attitude. But the Subsonics wrangle it through their own unique attack. Clay Reed’s guitar playing in itself is something that can’t be touched or mimicked. Even the way he spits out the lyrics while wrapped up in the mic stand is totally original. I could go on all day about the importance of this group, but for time sake I’ll just get to the point. If you ever find yourself in need of a push in the creative direction, look no further than this record. The pictures this record paints are inspiring and inducing.

Key Tracks include: It’s a Long Way Suzy to New York City, I’m Charlie/I’m Jesus, This is Holly Goldman’s Room, Heroin Addicts Beach Party

1: RICHARD HELL AND THE VOIDOIDS--BLANK GENERATION

Richard’s philosophy on music as well as life in general is something that I think the rest of the artistic community can get behind. I like the idea of transforming something out of nothing to create real magic. Just take a look at his artistic direction through the years. Look at all the twists and turns he made and how he did it all on his own terms. I like that he never compromised his vision to compensate for the lack of musicianship and ability. He stood his ground, proclaimed that this was what he had to offer, and if no one paid attention; what the fuck did he care? The very fact that he was building it from his own creativity and forging ahead a completely new way at looking at things is extremely inspiring. This is very important to me in terms of design. I believe in having 100% faith in what you do and not letting circumstance or hindrances dictate direction, vision or conception. If you WANT to make it happen, you’ll figure out a way to MAKE it happen. By any means necessary.

Key tracks include: Love Comes in Spurts, Liar’s Beware, Down at the Rock n’ Roll Club, New Pleasure

THESIS UNDERWAY: SOME LOGO DEVELOPMENT

Logo development is something that generally takes me a considerable amount of time to finalize. Not sure exactly why. I can piece a layout or a simple composition of images and type in no time. Albeit it takes some patience and time to finesse and tweak it to perfection. But really crafting a word mark or logo takes a special focus of attention. I have my practices that I follow and my processes to adhere to, but often times I find myself really hammering out a solidified concrete form through hours of experimentation. I thought I’d showcase some of the transitions that my thesis logo has been gong through.

I started with the title Kinetic Underground.  I started to study the letters and figure out connections between them. I then began to form shapes out of the two words. This led me to cracking open Illustrator and playing around with a few choice fonts and typefaces. Although the direction was clear, I was still unaware of how I was going to follow this path. As you can see from the examples shown above, a good majority of these marks were derived from piecing together the two words to create a form of sorts.

I felt I could take this way beyond a simple existing typeface. So I tried hand rendering the logo, scanning it, and then manipulating it through various effects and treatments. This proved to be a major chore as the quality wasn’t up to my standards. But I pressed on and took it as far as it would go. Eventually, I started to see the potential in crafting my own unique font and logo out of thin air. Even if I didn’t settle on any of these represented below, I did finally start to zero in on my concept and get a tighter focus on what I hoped to create.

By the time I got to my third round of logos, I was really starting to feel confident in how this was all unfolding. I kept pushing the boundaries until I came up with a breakthrough. After creating a plethora of word marks, it dawned on me. “I don’t need to settle on one defining mark. This is totally my vision. I can have as many as I want. So I decided to select a few logos and build from them. This would ultimately lead to a number of unique options and ideas. And it has. Currently, the logo will be used for a variety of applications so for it to work on these platforms, minor variances will have to be implemented. But I’m not totally finished. Every time I revisit this logo development, I’m nudging something here or tweaking something there. This could really go on forever.

THESIS UNDERWAY: AN INTRODUCTION

I’ve been really swamped with thesis work lately. Sorry I haven’t been updating this blog as often as I’d like. Here is a little run down on what I’m involved in. I’m building a media conglomerate that exploits underground rock n’ roll, outsider art and design, and degenerate lifestyle practice. Vice Magazine out of New York is a major influential force in me creating this. I’ve also been paying a lot of attention to Juxtapose as well. I’ll be implementing a print magazine version of this endeavor as well as a website that will house features, articles, podcasts, videos and more. I’m also putting together some merchandise options for good measure. And because I’m interested in the whole social media buzz that has hit our culture like a sonic boom, I’ll also be figuring out ways that I can incorporate that. I’m calling this empire Kinetic Underground.

kinetic |kəˈnetik|
adjective
of, relating to, or resulting from motion.
• (of a work of art) depending on movement for its effect.

underground əndərˈground|
adverb
• of or denoting a group or movement seeking to explore alternative forms of lifestyle or artistic expression; radical and experimental

Get it? Here is a logo that I am currently working on. It’s all kinds of crazy!

This logo may primarily be used for a sticker, button or t-shirt. It's not so much meant to be readable as cohesive letters, but to be used as an image based in graphics to perpetuate the kinetic underground brand and ideal. I decided that I didn't one almighty logo to encompass everything but rather a multitude of logos. Of course to better communicate its brand, a similar feel and mood must be adhered to. Color is an important factor as well. Here are a few other ideas that I've been playing around with.