Friday, May 18, 2012

As a follower of many forms of auto-racing, I’ve seen my fair share of paint schemes and liveries over the years.  With my primary focus being on NASCAR and the many series that fall under that umbrella, I take notice when something new rolls onto the track.  An article on Jalopnik caught my eye last night because they showcased a paint scheme that was unique, yet still familiar. 

Nelson Piquet Jr. will drive the Alpinestars Chevy Silverado in Friday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Charlotte.  He’s a former Formula One driver that’s been performing well in NASCAR’s third-tier series.  The truck that he’ll pilot on Friday might take some traditional fans a while to get used to, but I like the somewhat “pixelated” and digital look that it’s sporting.  Personally, I like the direction that the designer, Death Spray Custom, took with the truck.  It fits the sponsor, and the driver well.  It’s colorful, yet toned and not garish.

Check the truck out for yourself!  I’ll be posting some additional thoughts on auto racing design and branding soon, as it’s always been an interest of mine.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Thursday, March 29, 2012

I may lose my geek cred (and all of the benefits that come with it) by admitting this, but I’m not a huge fan of Star Wars.  Give me Star Trek any day (TNG FTW)!  I should say, I wasn’t a fan of Star Wars until my oldest son became fascinated and enthralled by all things Yoda, Obi Wan Kenobi, and “Dark The Vader”.  Between watching the re-release of Episode I in 3D and playing Lego Star Wars on the Wii, I’ve started to come around and can find some redeeming qualities in “those other space adventure movies”.

My interest is now piqued whenever I see anything related to The Force, The Dark Side, or The Death Star (resisting urge to insert AT&T joke) and I give bonus points if the items I find are design or typeography related.  Enter this stunning piece of work by doaly:

Darth Vader Typography Poster

I might need to make room on my office wall for this (if it’s ever available for purchase).

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

I’ve long been an admirer of the work that Jony Ive has produced for Apple and many of the products that he’s had a hand in designing are the very tools that I work with on a daily basis.  Getting insight into a designer’s mode of thinking and their thoughts on the design process can not only be a useful learning tool, but it sheds light on the decisions that go into to products and service that we all enjoy on a daily basis.  Ive recently gave an interview to the London Evening Standard and touched on these specific items.  One of my favorite quotes from the interview :

“Q: What makes design different at Apple?

A: We struggle with the right words to describe the design process at Apple, but it is very much about designing and prototyping and making. When you separate those, I think the final result suffers. If something is going to be better, it is new, and if it’s new you are confronting problems and challenges you don’t have references for. To solve and address those requires a remarkable focus. There’s a sense of being inquisitive and optimistic, and you don’t see those in combination very often.”

If your’re a fan, a student, or a seasoned-pro in the discipline of design, this interview is well worth the time reading (and learning from).

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Some great words to remember…