Inspiration Explosion

Paul Rand: A Designer`s Art

2011-09-17T13:03:00.000-07:00

Classic book with timeless examples of design; it's simply just an amazing book (my all time favorite perhaps?). Paul Rand: A Designer`s Art is a design piece in itself with such impressive work ranging from IBM, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, and the Museum of Modern Art. Flipping through these pages is truly inspiring as you come across such great work from such an influential Designer; a style loaded with playfulness, art, and function are showcased throughout.

Sidewalk Canvas

2011-07-17T11:17:00.000-07:00

I noticed these amazing portraits created on a sidewalk. Viewing these street art portraits from this angle adds another level of perspective and interest.

Summer Limits

2011-07-17T11:06:00.001-07:00

The limited amount of summer weather motivates the capture of sunsets whenever possible.

The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, 2nd edition by Edward R. Tufte

2011-03-26T17:01:00.000-07:00

The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, 2nd edition by Edward R. Tufte was a bit of a vitamin book; I'm glad I read it just because I know it'll be good for me. Taking vitamins isn't always the most exciting task either. After reading and truly enjoying Envisioning Information by Edward Tufte, it was a no-brainer that I needed to add another of his classic books to my collection. However, I did not find as much meat in the latter. The Visual Display of Quantitative Information did address the topic well; multiple examples of using graphic design to communicate huge amounts of data were offered, and I did particularly enjoy the section on sparklines. Overall, there were some great learnings throughout the book, with a major influence towards extracting the irrelevant to create the most powerful and influential communication of information.

Oversized Objects

2011-03-26T16:50:00.000-07:00

Oversized objects (or even objects that are ridiculously smaller than they should be) always catch my eye; so I find myself usually stopping to take a look. I plan to dedicate a room limited to extremely oversized + undersized objects.

Graphic Design 20th Century by Alston W. Purvis

2011-03-20T18:36:00.000-07:00

Graphic Design 20th Century by Alston W. Purvis offered almost 500 pages of historic graphic design examples. The book was almost purely visual, as there was minimal readings throughout. More clear indications of each piece, and a blurb about its history would be an improvement, however, experiencing this book as visual inspiration seems to be its purpose.

Thinking With Type Revised Edition: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students by Ellen Lupton

2011-02-28T21:24:00.000-08:00

Thinking With Type Revised Edition is the updated version of a personal favourite and classic book from the Design Brief Series. If you've already read the original, this is still a great refresher with some added content. Tips and multiple examples of typography kept me turning page after page (loved the nerd alerts and type crimes!). It was inspiring to visit this classic once again.

Gigantic Rubix Cube?

2011-02-06T22:22:00.001-08:00

Infographic: Primary School Drop-Out Rates and Pupils Per Teacher

2011-02-06T21:34:00.000-08:00

I worked on a project where I had to find the story within a large set of numbers. Primary school is an important time in a child’s life. But, in some countries, too many students per teacher in primary schools is leading to higher drop out rates. In 2005 - 2008, a primary education study from the Human Development Report 2010 indicates that the higher the number of pupils per teacher, the higher the dropout rate. In the country of Chad, there is an astonishing ratio of 176.2 students per teacher in primary grades. Not surprisingly, Chad also represents a dropout rate of over 70% in primary school grades.

direction #1

direction #2

direction #3

final solution

Mini-Toilet

2011-02-06T21:31:00.001-08:00

Typographica Issue 1

2011-02-06T21:17:00.001-08:00

I was fortunate to be shown Issue 1 of Typographica, a rare typography magazine from the 1960's by the legendary Herbert Spencer. It was inspiring to witness the great works throughout each spread; pretty amazing. Some single issues can be found online, but all 16 issues will set you back about $3,500.00.

Does the LEGO dot code really work?

2011-02-06T20:37:00.000-08:00

I'm not too much of a LEGO fan anymore, but as a semi-collector of things...I had to check this out myself. LEGO released single packs of figures where you couldn't tell what figure was inside until opening the package; much like old hockey cards or stickers back in the day.

On a random trip to a store, I noticed a big box of these LEGO figures. A couple minutes later I found myself checking out some web sites exposing the codes (found on the bottom-back of the package) that would give me the elusive "street punk" and "sumo wrestler" figures.

Seemed pretty easy (and I wanted the boom box accessory that comes with the street punk) so I riffled through the box and matched the codes.

So, here is the result of my new street punk and sumo LEGO figures...

Book List Design

2010-10-16T17:17:00.001-07:00

I designed a book list for some significant typography/design books. I found inspiration in this concept where the books are loosely placed on a 1 pica x 1 pica grid. This formulated an asymmetrical grid to present each citation on the opposite side of this 2 page spread. Essentially, the books influenced the design.

Type as Population

2010-10-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

I designed a series of six posters about typographic density.

Six of the most populated cities in the world are represented by typeface, size, and leading to formulate a typographic representation of the density of each city.

The text is the national anthem of each city’s country.

Information Graphics by Peter Wildbur

2010-07-10T12:26:00.000-07:00

Information Graphics by Peter Wildbur provides example after example showing how typography, graphics, and the many tools of design are used to communicate information. Complex design problems including aircraft cockpits, exhibitions, human anatomy and maps are just a few of the scenarios. Each with its own set of complex information, the theme of the book seemed pretty consistent; design for simplicity.

Typography Essentials: 100 Design Principles for Working with Type by Ina Saltz

2010-07-03T01:57:00.000-07:00

Typography Essentials: 100 Design Principles for Working with Type by Ina Saltz minimizes the descriptions of its principles while offering some good examples of type and design. This is from a series of books that includes Universal Principles of Design (definitely worth the read). The text may be short, but thinking about the ways you could apply the principles results in some endless mind-wandering, there's some great stuff in here. Although not thoroughly detailed, this book is hard to put down with its great visuals.

Big Figures

2010-06-16T09:32:00.000-07:00

Noticed these large statues/figures around a local beach. It's equally as interesting to see how people interact with these giant sculptures.

Hey Guggenheim, check out my YouTube video

2010-06-15T14:07:00.000-07:00

I recently read an article in the NY Times about a collaboration between YouTube and the ultra prestigious Guggenheim Museum. YouTubers are being asked to submit videos that will be considered by a Guggenheim Currartor - that's right no middleman! It's not often that anyone can ask for a few minutes to show some of their pieces, especially within the walls of these museums. So, inspired by the shear notion of presenting a piece to the Guggenheim, I offered a video I created in 2009 about typographic form and function - wax paper typography. The explosion of social networking is so prevalent in our day. Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are just a few that have been consistently revolutionizing our access to each other creating connections to otherwise untouchable opportunities. There are no prizes for first, second, or even third, but it simply allows the possibility of work to be shared along the walls restricted for a prestigious few; anyone can do it.

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

2010-06-11T09:16:00.000-07:00

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath and Dan Heath reveals an interesting recipe to make ideas resonate longer. The content draws inspiration from Malcolm Gladwell, so I knew I would find the topic pretty interesting. In true Gladwell style, numerous references were made to everyday situations in order to parallel the subject. Advertising, teaching, presentations, and even urban legends are among the many examples within the book. A nice blend of story and learning.

Book Design, Nice Thought

2010-05-31T10:58:00.000-07:00

I recently ordered Wacky Packages. The book is a collection of stickers from the 70's that used to come in wax paper packs accompanied by a single stick of pink gum (like old packs of hockey cards). So it couldn't have been more fitting to use these references in the design of the book - nice. This includes a wax-paper-like book jacket and an image of that single stick of pink gum underneath (on the front and back cover). Appreciated the details specific to the content of the book.

FRONT
BACK

Doggy Sushi Chew Toy

2010-05-29T22:26:00.000-07:00

Interesting doggy chew toy; Vancouver sushi-style.

Skunk Scratch 'n Sniff

2010-05-29T22:17:00.001-07:00

I couldn't help being curious about this strange scratch 'n sniff in a kids book. And yes, it did smell skunk-like.

Ceiling Installation

2010-05-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

Noticed some hanging egg-like pieces made of wood. These objects were pretty massive.

Random Act of Kindness

2010-05-29T21:50:00.000-07:00

After endulging in some fast food, I noticed a little note on someone's car in the parking lot. It reads "you have a right front flat tire."

Pixelated Whale

2010-05-29T21:38:00.001-07:00

I was walking around the Vancouver Convention Centre and noticed a large installation piece. It appears to be a pixelated whale (looks kinda like lego). This 20 foot piece looked pretty interesting against the ocean/mountain backdrop.

Tuna Packaging

2010-05-12T19:00:00.000-07:00

I've been working on a project that involves designing premium packaging for a local tuna company. There were multiple iterations before coming to the final tuna packaging concept.

The final version can be viewed here.

Kiosk Design

2010-05-12T18:53:00.000-07:00

This is one of the first thoughts for the kiosk design. Buried in this little mess there's a concept of a boat at a dock.

The final version can be viewed here.

Tuna Packaging, The Small Version

2010-05-10T10:37:00.000-07:00

I've been creating a small version of a tuna packaging concept. The project involves creating the product packaging and a booth for a trade show event. These micro-packages will give a clear visual of how the product is meant to be presented and placed in a tradeshow booth.

Mini Sumo Display

2010-05-02T23:13:00.000-07:00

Rain Boots Handle

2010-05-02T23:08:00.000-07:00

Thought the addition of this handle makes an easy way to carry around your rainboots.

Installation Work

2010-05-02T22:33:00.000-07:00

Whenever I notice installation pieces, I make an effort to take some time and have a look. Couldn't get out of my car this time so I had to settle for some in-car photography.

you get zip, zilch, zero

2010-05-02T22:22:00.000-07:00

I noticed this billboard on the way to Downtown. Wasn't sure if that massive rip was from the windy week in Vancouver, or if it was an example of some deliberate culture jamming.

Postmodernism in a Bottle

2010-05-01T00:05:00.000-07:00

After completing a piece that was intended to be photographed then discarded, I still wanted to hold on to the project. I decided to bottle up this project on postmodernism as an interesting visual about this current period of design.

My Desk is a Collage

2010-04-28T00:06:00.000-07:00

Current state of my desk right now, slowly I'll be getting through some of these books.

Mini Tradeshow Booth

2010-04-27T02:43:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a project where I'll be designing a tradeshow booth. Having this mini paper model on my desk has worked well in the ideation process.

A Note to Modernism

2010-04-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

Modernism was coming to an end in the 1970’s. A climate of cultural change resulted as the norms in society were questioned and challenged. Postmodernism design opposed the order and clarity of modern design, rejecting universality, strict grid layouts, and the modernist principles that dominated since the Bauhaus. References to history were now used as design elements for style and to evoke feelings of nostalgia.

To reflect the ideals of postmodernism and its reaction against modernism, a piece was created using the Bauhaus Manifesto. The manifesto was remade (original words in mixed typeface style) using individual clippings from newspapers in “ransom note style”, reminiscent of the 1970’s Sex Pistols album cover, Never Mind the Bullocks. This parallels ideals regarding counterculture, and postmodernism's own reaction against the universal ideals originating from the Bauhaus. In addition, the local newspaper used for the piece, The Georgia Straight, is prevalent in a wide variety of design references and style motifs. The mash up of mixed type clippings were loosely spread out on a grid-like background, using the grid as form without function. The piece was further elevated by photographing, then creating a short video, using a clip of a song from the Never Mind the Bullocks album. The piece becomes a mash up of its own photos in digital format.

The Project video can be viewed here.

Concepts for Activism

2010-04-18T00:59:00.000-07:00

I had a couple of activism ideas in my head and created this concept.

Photograms and Laszlo Moholy-Nagy

2010-04-12T10:47:00.000-07:00

Laszlo Moholy-Nagy replaced Johannes Itten as the head of the preliminary course for Bauhaus education. Moholy-Nagy, who explored painting, photography, film, sculpture, and graphic design, was enthusiastic to investigate new materials and new techniques. In 1922, he began experimenting with photograms. He believed that photograms represented the essence of photography because the artist could capture patterns of light and dark on light-sensitive paper without a camera.

I was able to find a local shop that carried light sensitive paper; it was surprisingly hard to find in Vancouver. I used this process to create a 4 image piece. Transparent items, round shapes and a variety of other materials were used to capture this abstract composition. The objects used to create the shaded areas become removed from easy identification. This relates to the expressions of abstract patterns created by the photograms of Moholy-Nagy.

Mini-Airplane Display

2010-04-09T22:47:00.001-07:00

Noticed this display outside of a travel agency, interesting approach to evoke feelings for travelling.

The Drive-Thru Dipper

2010-04-09T14:32:00.001-07:00

I worked on a project where the problem was to create a useful friction fit (can be assembled without glue/adhesives) container. Inspired by a recent trip to a drive-thru, I was frustrated by the unavailability of a place to put your ketchup - I was eating in my car. I am against spreading layers of ketchup all over my fries because I enjoy them best when I dip each one individually. So, my solution was to create this friction fit fries box. I also challenged myself to minimize any additional material from its original form. After multiple iterations I finalized the drive-thru dipper.

The Portrait

2010-04-08T15:01:00.000-07:00

I created a social network; The Portrait, a self portrait defined by its members.

Unlike most social networks, there is only one human member, me. However, I show different representations of myself as separate member profiles. The members include; The Hockey Fan, The Serious Guy, The Movie Lover, The Creative, The Goody Goody, The Funny Guy, and Dave. Each with different representations of myself shown by what is shared on each of their profiles and by the interactions with each other on the wall comments and status updates. This reflects society’s ability to digitally invent/reinvent themselves through online communities such as facebook, twitter, myspace, etc. By sharing specific, minimal, or partial disclosure of information about who someone really is, the viewer is forced to make their own conclusions about who someone appears to be. This extends the question of authenticity of its users and how truthfully they represent themselves.

This is further elevated by the profile pictures used to represent myself in The Portrait. There is a major trend to become someone else, even become a celebrity (or look like a celebrity). This is seen today, with the growing popularity of plastic surgery and Botox appointments of our day. All of the profile pictures are a digital version of plastic surgery, where I morphed my face onto celebrity/well known figures of today. This reflects our fascination of being someone else, maybe even becoming someone else.

Reality shows, magazines, and all forms of media encourage our ability to change. Even without things like cosmetic surgery, the digital world provides us with the ability to globally reinvent and represent ourselves. Today you could be the funny guy - if you choose to be.

Sustainability Scorecard

2010-04-08T01:02:00.000-07:00

I created my sustainability scorecard. This indicates the most ideal to the least ideal when determining design choices for materials/vendors/etc based on environmental protection, social equity, economic health, and cultural vitality.

Local Arts and Craft Facility

2010-04-08T00:29:00.000-07:00

I recently visited Blim, an inspiring local arts and crafts facility in Vancouver.

Retro Toy Display

2010-04-03T18:54:00.001-07:00

Interesting display of retro toys, pretty sure some of these are originals.

The Hand vs The Machine

2010-03-22T11:09:00.001-07:00

Using sound and image, I created a short interpretation about the ideals, challenges, and ironies about the Arts and Craft Movement and The Industrial Revolution.

Industrialization resulted in a decline in creativity as designs by engineers focussed on efficiency. This resulted in a move away from handicraft in favor of mass-produced goods. In reaction against the social, moral, and artistic confusion of the Industrial Revolution, the Arts and Crafts Movement arose during the later part of the nineteenth century.

This short video interprets some of the ideals, challenges, and ironies of this period of time. The ideals of the Arts and Crafts Movement were a return back to the craftsmanship and quality of objects created prior to the Industrial Era. This combination of art and craft could bring happiness back to workers in a man-made environment. However, the challenges of competing with machines were prevalent in society at the time. The demands of society and expectations that technologies created caused pressures to conform to the ideals of industrialization. The Arts and Craft Movement was continually chased by the ideals of the Industrial Revolution. The irony of the Arts and Crafts movement is that as time went on, technologies were gradually being adopted into designs of the time. Eventually, guided by the economy, industrialization soon engulfed the Arts and Craft Movement as a necessary evil.

The project video can be viewed here.

The Postmodern Rubik's Cube

2010-03-17T22:46:00.000-07:00

I reproduced a Rubik's Cube and its packaging as a solution to creating a collage about postmodernism. This Postmodern Rubik's Cube created some interesting parrallels to the endless examples of this current period of time.

Original Works In History

2010-03-10T09:47:00.000-08:00

I viewed the originals to some significant books in the history of graphic design. It was amazing to be so close to books that usually are only seen as images in other books. The details and craftsmanship are a true reflection of the historical periods of the times.

William Morris, Kelmscott Press

Gerard's Herbal, 1636

Leaf of the Gutenberg Bible

book from 1430

Digital Experience Concept

2010-03-10T09:29:00.000-08:00

I worked together on an interesting collaborative project. The project involved creating a concept about our digital culture. We emphasized our reliance on technology by using multiple modes of communication in order to create a narrative. We shared our experiences by showing pictures directly from our digital cameras, through our web cams, on a video conference, uploaded to youtube, then projected onto a wall.

Wall Walkers

2010-03-09T10:48:00.000-08:00

I was making my way through downtown and noticed some people moving on the side of a building. Appears that they were being instructed to do certain movements from someone on the ground. They were also being photographed/filmed. Interesting to see side to side, leaps, upside-down crawling, doubles and other styles instead of a normal vertical rappeller.

Watermark Designs

2010-03-07T20:28:00.001-08:00

I made a set of five watermark designs from garbage bag twist ties. The wire was bent, manipulated, and formed by hand. Modern day logos were made to show the process of watermark design. The wire was flexible but created challenges when attempting to create 90 degree angles and flat areas of the logos. This limited the complexity of each piece; other logos with intricate details would require a steady hand. In addition, with excessive bending the wire’s durability proved to have its own limits as earlier attempts with multiple twisting broke the wire in pieces.

Watermarks were used by the 13th century in Italy. These recognizable images and patterns are translucent emblems that are visible when paper is held up to the light. Watermarks were made by forming and shaping thin bent wire. These flat designs were then attached to the surface of a mold used in paper making, and produced by pressure.

The Crowd

2010-03-07T20:18:00.001-08:00

Watch Your Step

2010-03-04T10:49:00.000-08:00

I noticed a line of about 30 portable toilets. They were all balanced on the centre median between a two way street.

Billboard with an Interesting Message

2010-02-25T12:36:00.000-08:00

This appears to be an installation piece. Maybe this requires a deeper reflection into its meaning, or maybe its an ad I just don't get. Interesting nonetheless, and it did get me curious when I noticed there was no marketing/advertising on the billboard.

Ice Surface

2010-02-25T12:29:00.000-08:00

Dome Projection

2010-02-25T11:46:00.000-08:00

I've noticed more and more wall projections in the city. The scale of some of these projections make these experiences really interesting. Huge walls or the sides of buildings are some obvious opportunities. So when I saw this dome-style projection I thought it was pretty unique.

Camera-Twisting

2010-02-23T12:56:00.000-08:00

At the risk of dropping my camera, I tried a more cautious approach to the camera tossing technique. I found some interesting light sources, used a long exposure, and twisted my camera during each shot. Still an interesting effect (not as dramatic as camera tossing), but my camera is still in one piece.

Designing for Sustainability

2010-02-23T11:47:00.000-08:00

This project is about sustainability, so I decided to design without having to print the final piece. No inks, no paper, just me interacting with the environment. The plan is to create a piece that delivers a message connecting the social, economical, environmental, and cultural balance of our world.

The final piece can be viewed here.

Squiggly

2010-02-23T11:37:00.000-08:00

Some call it a squiggly, but its a tilde.

Relief Graffiti Style

2010-02-22T20:13:00.000-08:00

Going back to the origins of printing, I'm creating a relief surface, but with graffiti inspired lettering.

Scenes from an Olympic City

2010-02-21T16:22:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how a place you're so used to, can be completely transformed. With the big winter sporting event making a home in Vancouver for the next couple of weeks, the city has taken on a new look. Massive crowds, lighted skies, and tons of great visuals provide endless inspiration.

Light Spheres

2010-02-19T16:25:00.000-08:00

I noticed these interesting light spheres overhead. There were a number of these hanging from a tree.

Process Reversal

2010-02-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

I'm working on a project where I take an object with an obvious process (mass manufactured in this case) and reverse the process, the object will be remade by hand. Plenty examples of this with the popularity of DIY culture. I own a few mass manufactured IKEA lamps, so I chose to make my own hand-made version. The lamp will be also made from some mass manufactured IKEA materials.

The Typographic Desk Reference by Theodore Rosendorf

2010-02-11T10:30:00.000-08:00

Beautiful book; not meant to be read cover to cover, but just as the title states, it's an excellent Typographic Desk Reference. The Typographic Desk Reference by Theodore Rosendorf is the perfect desk companion to help answer those type questions that show up throughout the day. What's a finial, what's a widow, what are charateristics of Venetian type? Among some of the type books I've read, I think the three following books work well together: The Typographic Desk Reference by Theodore Rosendorf , Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers by Ellen Lupton, and The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst. Reference, overview, and classic.

Three Large Objects

2010-02-07T23:00:00.000-08:00

I saw some massive objects near a parking lot. Since I couldn't tell what they were, I had to get a closer look. These 3 sculptures stood about 10 feet high and were about as wide as a car. Pretty impressive.

Oversized Computer Keys

2010-02-07T22:52:00.000-08:00

Saw these massive computer-key-stools at a home decor store.

Light Grafitti

2010-02-05T15:05:00.000-08:00

Interesting (and pretty simple) technique using a light source (mini flashlight) and setting a longer exposure on the camera.

Moodboards for Orange Fruit Campaign

2010-02-05T14:16:00.000-08:00

theOrchard.com

narangah.com

whatsyourstyle.com

These are some moodboards I put together. They are made to conceptualize a number of different directions of a campaign to be created.

Defining Yourself

2010-02-04T23:54:00.001-08:00

I took part in a pretty inspiring exercise. My interests, the way I see myself, and the way others see me were part of this process/discussion. When you try to define yourself, you start seeing different connections and parallels with who you are and how you're percieved. This is the early stages of a larger project, but this is definitlely a valuable piece to reflect on. My definitions include that I can see creativity in anything.

Typeface: Classic Typography for Contemporary Design by Tamye Riggs

2010-02-02T14:48:00.000-08:00

Typeface: Classic Typography for Contemporary Design by Tamye Riggs is an excellent combination of interesting visuals, examples, and history. I appreciated the historical summaries but the lists of alternative type choices for each typeface was one of the best features of the book.

Material and Meaning - Air Jordan XI x Artists Canvas

2010-02-01T00:53:00.000-08:00

I made an Air Jordan XI shoe out of blank artists/painters canvas to demonstrate the use of material to alter its meaning.

The Air Jordan XI is made of black leather, lightweight nylon, and features a shiny black patent leather trim surrounding the lower portion of the shoe. In addition, the shoe has a white and clear rubber sole and a dark blue Air Jordan logo stitched into the top of the ankle collar. The shoe is a men’s size 8 which is approximately 11 inches long, 5 inches high, and 4 inches wide.

Although the Air Jordan XI functions as a basketball shoe, sneaker enthusiasts, or “sneaker-heads”, value the shoe as a status symbol, object of desire, some could compare it to a trophy of some sort. In the eyes of a sneaker-head, each shoe comes with a story. Anything from how long they waited in line to purchase the shoe, how they were able to find the shoe, or even how they used to have the particular shoe before it released as a retro (re-releasing the shoe many years after its original release). The emotional attachment to the shoe is undeniable.

The material used to rebuild the shoe is artists/painter’s canvas. The use of the material elevates the shoe into an appreciation of its natural form. Taking away all of the color, by using blank canvas material, forces the viewer to appreciate the curves, and construction of the shoe. Using the canvas also completely removes the function as a basket ball shoe and suggests a relationship to artists and the canvas they use to create their works. The material is also lighter, even delicate; suggesting that extra care should be taken when viewed. Much like pieces of art, careful handling (if any) of the object should be exercised. This Air Jordan XI made from artists canvas is a shoe that is not meant to be worn, but its new form suggests appreciation to exist on levels of other works of art.

Win, Lose, or Rebus

2010-01-31T20:40:00.000-08:00

Win, Lose, or Rebus video

I created a game-show style video to demonstrate the rebus principle.

In Egyptian history, objects or beings were depicted by hieroglyphics, a picture writing system retained by the Egyptians for nearly three and a half thousand years. These pictograms were combined to convey thoughts and ideas. However, when Egyptian scribes needed to communicate words that were difficult to express, they created a rebus.

In this principle, pictures are used to translate the sounds and syllables of the word to be communicated. The following is an example of a rebus; a picture of a burrito, a picture of knees, and separate pictures of soup, and ears. When sounded out, this creates the sound of bureeto-knees soup-ears, with the intention to eventually sound like Britney Spears. In addition, the choice of writing direction was flexible for hieroglyphics, which allows the rebus to be displayed in the vertical arrangement shown in the video.

A modern approach to this historical Egyptian principle was created with the Win, Lose, or Rebus video. Although this example was not carved into stone, the underlying principles of creating a rebus is shown by the video.

Material and Meaning

2010-01-29T02:18:00.000-08:00

What happens when you take the Air Jordan XI (arguably the greatest sneaker of all time) and rebuild the shoe out of painting/artists canvas? I will be constructing the shoe out of the blank canvas material. The change of material creates new meaning and implications. Below are a couple pictures of the early stages of this project.

Ubiquitous Definition

2010-01-22T12:37:00.000-08:00

Graphic Design History: A Critical Guide by Johanna Drucker and Emily McVarish

2010-01-20T11:51:00.000-08:00

Graphic Design History: A Critical Guide by Johanna Drucker and Emily McVarish describes the significance of graphic design from Stone Age artists to digital designers in the 21st century. The importance of graphic design, and its connection with culture are shown through numerous examples and descriptions of significant works in each of the periods. At the end of each section there are interesting lists highlighting some of the current events of the world at that time (i.e. year 1284 - eyeglasses produced in Florence).

Pretzel Face

2010-01-18T01:54:00.000-08:00

After snacking on some pretzels one day, I started creating letterforms from these crispy strips of baked dough.

SustainAble: A Handbook of Materials and Applications for Graphic Designers and Their Clients by Aaris Sherin

2010-01-14T11:24:00.000-08:00

This is one of the most unique book designs I've ever experienced. Before opening the book, the dust jacket explains how the materials used were all sustainable choices. Even the cover is made of a bi-product that is usually thrown out during the printing process. This means that there are no two covers that are the same - nice. Apart from the interesting production of the book, SustainAble by Aaris Sherin, was a useful overview about the challenges between design and its impact on the environment. A good takeaway was the definition of sustainable design, I've seen/heard similar definitions before, but this was a simple and clear thought that starts off Chapter 1. I also appreciated the many examples but was particularily interested in the solutions and concepts by Tricycle, the Nike Considered line, and Nau from part two of the book.

A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink

2010-01-03T21:36:00.000-08:00

A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink was a smooth read detailing the powerful combination of the left and right brain. When used together, the possibilities are endless. Pretty inspiring. I also enjoyed reading the "Portfolio" section after each chapter. Numerous books, websites, activities, and other references were provided to extend the topic beyond the book.

Type on Rice

2010-01-01T15:23:00.001-08:00

What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures by Malcolm Gladwell

2009-12-30T10:55:00.000-08:00

After reading Malcolm Gladwell's previous writings, I knew I would be intrigued by his latest book. What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures was another engaging read. Mustard, football players and teachers, pit bulls and criminals, even Cesar Milan and dance. His way of finding parallels in a number of diverse topics is a style that makes the read enjoyable and worth the time invested in the book.

Unique Christmas Lights

2009-12-21T22:28:00.000-08:00

Took a drive out to Coquitlam to check out Mattson Lights; a really unique Christmas light display. All of the lights at this house are computer controlled then sychronized with radio station 99.7 FM. I definitely have a new appreciation for Christmas lights.

Paint Samples

2009-12-21T22:16:00.000-08:00

The paint sample display at a hardware store had some interesting gradients and colour palettes.

Type Style Glyphs

2009-12-21T00:50:00.000-08:00

I created 2 glyphs for 14 different type styles starting with Lapidary and ending with Clarendon.

Video - Wax Paper Transfer Typography

2009-12-19T00:43:00.000-08:00

It took a few extra cups of coffee, almost a 100 feet of wax paper, multiple stacks of newspapers, and a hallway scattered with 1000 pt Helvetica letterforms taped from floor to ceiling to complete the Wax Paper Typography project. I originally found inspiration from a childhood memory where we used to transfer newsprint onto silly putty. Its the same idea where the ink is lifted from its original source onto something else. The concept was pushed further by placing the ink back onto blank newsprint to re-create a newspaper. Inside of this newspaper, each page contained 1 of the 26 letterforms. Inside of each letterform there are references to each letter, i.e the letter "f" was filled with the funnies (comic section).

The project video can be viewed here.

Building Up the Letterforms - Wax Paper Typography

2009-12-15T04:48:00.000-08:00

I'm progressively building up Helvetica in wax paper. My workspace looks chaotic, but I have a system down in order to complete this multi-step process. When its all done, the ink will have travelled from a newspaper, to wax paper, and back into newsprint. I plan on cutting the blank newsprint to equal the size of a newspaper. For an added touch, I will be attaching the original front page of a newspaper to the finished piece.

Letter 1 of 26 - Wax Paper Typography

2009-12-12T22:19:00.000-08:00

This is the beginnings of the Wax Paper Transfer Typography project. I created a 1000 pt Helvetica stencil, exacto knifed it, placed it on a newspaper, covered it with a long sheet of wax paper, aggressively rubbed it with a shoe horn, then will rub it back onto blank newsprint. Each of the fill (newspaper articles) will correspond to the letterform. For example, for the letter "w", I will be using a page from the weather section to create a Hevetica "w".

Wax Paper Typography

2009-12-09T02:44:00.000-08:00

I've been experimenting with an old image transfer technique using wax paper. I plan to create letterforms by transfering the ink from newspapers onto wax paper. Its a simple but really interesting method; rubbing wax paper on newspaper print lifts the ink.

Mind Map - The Grounding of Structural Metaphors

2009-11-29T15:47:00.000-08:00

Mind Map - How Our Conceptual System is Grounded

2009-11-29T15:46:00.001-08:00

Mind Map - Ontological Metaphors

2009-11-29T15:43:00.002-08:00

Mind Map - Orientational Metaphors

2009-11-29T15:43:00.001-08:00

Mind Map - Concepts We Live By

2009-11-29T15:40:00.000-08:00

Random Page from Sketchbook

2009-11-27T22:38:00.000-08:00

I closed my eyes, thumbed through my sketchbook, and this is the page I stopped at. These are some ideas for a marathon campaign.

Eggatar Family Portrait

2009-11-27T22:18:00.001-08:00

I completed a series of design patterns for teenagers, gen y's, gen x's, and seniors. These eggatars were made seperately but now that this part of the project is finished, it only seemed natural to huddle them all up for one big family portrait.

Mind Map - Sensing, Acting, Perceiving

2009-11-27T21:54:00.000-08:00

Street View; Useful Function

2009-11-20T11:45:00.000-08:00

I'm the first to admit that I can't use maps and often struggle following directions to any location. I also find that I can't effectively visualize the route when trying to even figure out how I need to get to a certain place. I've used google street view to wander around the streets of Tokyo and some parts of Europe from the comfort of my steel computer chair. But, I recently used street view in combination with google maps to find a local destination. Wow! What a difference these visuals make. It's all very simple, I know exactly where to go because I just viewed where to go. Without this additional view, I had know idea where this place was (it's only 8 minutes away). I now find google street view as both an interesting visual experience but equally as impressive as a visual function for non-map readers like myself. The integration of street view with google maps (there is a small camera icon you click on beside each step in the directions) is a simple but powerful tool.

Moodboards for Hockey Store Re-Brand

2009-11-19T14:09:00.000-08:00

I'm working on a project where I take an existing brand and give it a face lift. I chose a local hockey shop in Vancouver. These are a few of the moodboards created to visualize the concept.

Typecity Wall Projection

2009-11-15T00:13:00.000-08:00

This is a shot of the final version of Typecity Vancouver projected on a wall. It was cold, rainy, but totally worth it to see the projects displayed in this medium. In the next few weeks, the projects will be taken to a location with a larger wall area. There is also the potential to use a smoke machine or some dry ice to view the image.

Mind Map - How Language Works

2009-11-10T23:15:00.001-08:00

Mind Map - How We Write and Spell

2009-11-10T23:11:00.001-08:00

Mind Map - How We Read

2009-11-10T23:11:00.000-08:00