Kenosis: Graphic Design,Observation and Inspiration of Paul Cooley

Icons of the Invisible-Exhibition Graphics

2012-01-30T12:01:00.000-08:00

December 2011 Behance/AIGA Meetup Poster

2011-12-08T23:25:00.000-08:00

Here is a poster I did for Miss. Michelle LeClerc's lovely Behance/AIGA meetups that happen all over Los Angeles throughout the year. This is clearly the last one of the year, and ever...if you are into the whole 2012 thing. So act accordingly and make good decisions and that. Great.

Musics: The Sea and Cake-"Innkeeping", Deafheaven-"Unrequited", Ulcerate-"Burning Skies", The Chameleons-"Second Skin", Cass McCombs-"County Line", Melancholia: Proloque (from "Tristan und Isolde: Prelude")

Transcultural Pilgrim-Exhibition Graphics

2011-10-08T22:30:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to design the exhibition graphics for Transcultural Pilgrim: Three Decades of Work by José Bedia. I was in charge of the title treatment, text panel design/production and various other tasks related to layout and design for the exhibition.

It was an exciting and fufilling experience...I look forward to the next one.

Song of the Week | This Heat-Paper Hats

2011-08-25T00:47:00.001-07:00

This is literally what this week sounds like.

Song of the Week: The Walkmen-Another One Goes By

2011-08-19T09:27:00.000-07:00

An essentially brilliant song, plain and simple. Everything sounds aged...and not in that way that is making Urban Outfitters rich; just a genuinely gorgeous and timeless collection of sounds really. Ramshackle guitar jangle, splashy percussion...and a stunningly plain vocal performance, and all and the most suitable pace.

Fowler Update: Transcultural Pilgrim Poster

2011-07-22T14:57:00.000-07:00

This here is the poster for the upcoming exhibition Transcultural Pilgrim: Three Decades of Work by José Bedia. This is the first exhibition for the Fowler that I developed entirely from the ground up...in terms of graphic treatments. Everything started with the title treatment, a typographic lockup set in ITC Franklin Gothic Compressed. The red will make an extensive appearance throughout the actual exhibition itself. It was chosen based on it's prevalence in the work. The titled angle of the type mirrors qualities of the exhibitions architectural structure, and provides a point of contrast with the very organic work.

You can see the web banner for this as well as other shows still in development here. Coool.

Be on the look out for street banners primarily on the West side of Hollywood for this Transcultural Pilgrim show.

The piece used in the poster is as follows:

Mama quiere menga, menga de su nkombo
(Mama Wants Blood, Blood of His Bull)
1988
Acrylic on canvas
139.7 x 200 cm
Collection of Diane and Robert Moss, Miami, Florida

Fowler Update: LA Xicano Poster

2011-07-22T13:31:00.000-07:00

July Behance/AIGA Meetup Poster

2011-07-22T10:19:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of designing the poster for the upcoming Behance/AIGA Meetup. This event is organized and brilliantly executed by Michelle LeClerc, an extremely talented designer and dear friend. The poster features a neat little city skyline illustration by Wesley Adam Belak-Berger and the typeface is Akzidenz Grotesk in a variety of weights.

The Event info is as follows:

Thursday, July 28, 2011
7pm to 10pm

Blvd 16 at Hotel Palomar
10740 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, Ca 90024

RSVP via Eventbrite:
july-meetup.eventbrite.com

Oh hi dreams...glad you could make it

2011-07-21T12:15:00.000-07:00

via If we don't, remember me

A Few Fowler things

2011-06-24T12:21:00.000-07:00

Here are some things that I made this week for the museum. My favorite part about these is the fact that the "free button" has entered into the design lexicon here as a "solution". It has been requested 3 times now. This is very funny to me. Also drop shadows are the "cowbell" of graphic design. You know what that means because it makes complete sense.

Jamming: Bon Iver-Self-Titled, Twin Sister-Meet the Frownies, The Velvet Underground-Self-Titled, Deathspell Omega-Paracletus, James Black-Self-Titled

Fowler Update

2011-06-15T16:02:00.000-07:00

Hello, all the many people that read this persistently updated blog. Above is a poster that I designed to be featured outside the entrance to the museum. The white rectangle you see near the top is an 8.5x11 space to allow for any updates for the day.

Many more things to see soon, as I am constantly working on stuff for the museum. Very cool.

Listenings: Twin Sister-"Bad Street", Peter Gabriel, Junior Boys-"It's All True", Cass McCombs-"Wit's End", Liturgy-"Aesthetica"

Post-Graduate Cool News #1

2011-05-18T16:52:00.000-07:00

Photo: Ana Llorente

Above is a photo of a portion of the 750 catalogs for our senior show, entitled "Therefore". This book was designed by Nigel Zeff and Myself. It came out lovely. I'll post more photos soon.

Song of the Week: Emperor-"Ye Entrancemperium"

2011-05-08T01:36:00.000-07:00

Its called graphic design...

2011-05-04T00:47:00.000-07:00

Look it up.

Undocuments: 17-20

2011-05-03T14:36:00.000-07:00

Sneak Peeks, You Guys

2011-04-30T04:36:00.000-07:00

Sand Dunes & Car Trouble

2011-04-23T18:43:00.000-07:00

For my class entitled, "Superexuberance"...we went out to the Eureka Dune in Death Valley. I spent the evening in a tent, changed a tire, witnessed friends get out of a hell of a car crash, and completely tumbled down a very steep crater in a blazer like a total douchebag.

For "The" to "A"

2011-04-21T15:10:00.000-07:00

A Tentative Ontology: Abridged
B/W laser print with color-printed cover
5.3 x 8.5in
Staple-bound
20 page (maybe?)
Edition of 50 (probably?)

————————————————————————————————————————————
The Image above is a sketch for the cover of a portion of my thesis project. The publication that this cover will adorn will house my only completely original contribution to my final publication, a 15+ page essay about Christianity and Graphic design and how both have figured into my life. The project as you may have noticed has changed its name from "The Tentative Ontology" to "A Tentative Ontology". I decided that this made far more sense considering this project has become considerably more about perspective on the material, as opposed the broad comparative literature project I thought I was going to embark on...thankfully.

Curiously enough, Karina, my long abandoned typeface seemed to be a perfect fit for this "abridged" edition, as it is itself, unfinished. Get it? Tentative Ontology?

Cool.

"Subtle Bodies"//Music Packaging, Poster, etc

2011-04-20T06:50:00.000-07:00

Here are some images of a project I am working on for my Visual Language class. Its a small box containing 'art prints', single-use cardboard usb drives, and a fold out poster (See Below) that also serves as the cd booklet. The project is basically about how digitally acquired music sacrifices a whole experience that is a physical, tangible object. The music contained is a curated collection of contemporary ambient, instrumental electronic music.

Bill Pullman will explain/show more soon.

Musics: Between the Buried and Me-"The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogs", The Velvet Underground-"VU", R.Kelly-"Love Letter", Deathspell Omega-"Paracletus", The National-"Exile Vilify"

Song of the Universe: R.Kelly-"Real Talk"

2011-04-15T03:27:00.000-07:00

No Comment.

Catalog Update

2011-04-14T03:25:00.000-07:00

As those of us at OTIS know, Senior show is approaching quickly. Nigel and I are hard at work plugging in and laying out all of the imagery and text for our publication which is shaping up to be one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had at OTIS.

It just came to my attention today, that there will be 1000 copies printed. That is 1000 108 pages of 2 Color (PMS 3135 and Black) reproductions of the advertising, graphic design, and illustrators work for the Comm Arts class of 2011. It will all be perfect bound and ready for your perusal on March 13th from 6-9pm. Exciting.

Musicing: Phoenix "It's never been like that", Celeste-"Nihiliste(s)", The Velvet Underground-"VU", R. Kelly-"Love Letter", Fleet Foxes-"Hopelessness Blues", and James Blake-"S/T"

It's Weird Designing Your Own Spread...

2011-04-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

"The Tentative Ontology" lives

2011-04-09T19:43:00.001-07:00

Desert Crosses

2011-04-06T19:46:00.000-07:00

SiQ.

2011-04-05T21:43:00.000-07:00

Breaking News…

2011-04-05T20:02:00.000-07:00

Space Movies continues to be updated. No child left behind.

Undocuments:8-16

2011-04-05T02:02:00.000-07:00

Updated the Undocuments collection on my website with numerous nevermindings/sketches/garbage/gold/nonsense/artifacts.

Comm Arts Class of 2011 BFA Show!

2011-03-31T16:50:00.000-07:00

Thats when Our Senior Show is. I made this "flyer" for no reason. The real one, that I did not design, is below.

Senior Show Catalog Iterations

2011-03-31T15:42:00.000-07:00

As excitement mounts for the senior show, we have moved in on some final ideas for the senior show catalog layout that myself and the brilliant Nigel will be working on. Currently, for economic reasons, we are going with a 1-color treatment. This may change. Regardless, its going to be a 108 page book, perfect bound.

Quite frankly I just cant wait to design the spine. What?

Jamming: Dum Dum Girls-He Gets Me High EP, Fleet Foxes-Helplessness Blues, Converge-Axe to Fall, The Strokes-Room on Fire, Joanna Newsom-Have One on Me, F*cked Up-The Chemistry of Common Life and "The Other Shoe"

Song of the Week: Six Organs of Admittance-Actaeon's Fall

2011-03-10T00:14:00.000-08:00

An absolutely perfect use of flute, you guys.

Bro...

2011-02-28T11:02:00.000-08:00

Song of the Week: Godspeed You! Black Emperor-Moya

2011-02-28T02:16:00.000-08:00

Basically one of the most incredible pieces of music ever written.

Women-Locust Valley Poster

2011-02-22T00:48:00.000-08:00

Absolutely one of the greatest songs of the last forever. "Public Strain" is an unfettered masterwork. This little guy is a possible consideration for a quick attempt at working with cyanotype photo processes. So, if I do choose to go forward with it...I will be posting that version in coming weeks.

This and Thats: Desert birthday wanderings, Radiohead-"The King of Limbs", Eisley-"The Valley", Fighting off shitty colds and morning coffee.

Something Angled...

2011-02-21T01:04:00.000-08:00

So it Begins...

2011-02-13T14:42:00.001-08:00

Nigel Zeff and I have begun the process of developing the catalog for our graduating senior communication arts class. Its a very exciting process and ideas are flowing at a very pleasant rate. The above spread is one of my contributions to this early developmental stage. Futura and Minion are the typefaces used.

Music Spinnings: Women-"Public Strain", Ryan Adams -"III", Games-"That We Play", Circa Survive-"On Letting Go", Cass McCombs-"Catacombs", Nick Drake-"Pink Moon"

Cult of Luna-Owlwood

2011-02-12T03:33:00.001-08:00

Cult of Luna-Dark City Dead Man

2011-02-12T02:17:00.001-08:00

Espers-Dead Queen

2011-02-10T23:29:00.001-08:00

Women-Untogether

2011-02-10T23:27:00.001-08:00

5:51am

2011-02-09T05:49:00.000-08:00

UNDOCUMENTS:7

2011-01-25T21:47:00.000-08:00

UNDOCUMENTS:6

2011-01-21T19:31:00.000-08:00

Circa Survive-On Letting Go

2011-01-20T14:08:00.001-08:00

Cocteau Twins-Iceblink Luck

2011-01-20T03:28:00.001-08:00

UNDOCUMENTS:5

2011-01-20T02:09:00.000-08:00

Watches-KLS

2011-01-18T02:13:00.000-08:00

Cursed-II

2011-01-15T04:15:00.000-08:00

Austra-Beat and the Pulse

2011-01-15T02:37:00.001-08:00

III

2011-01-13T17:52:00.000-08:00

II

2011-01-13T01:52:00.001-08:00

Words are Folly

2010-12-31T03:11:00.001-08:00

2010/A List in Music | #12 Blonde Redhead-Penny Sparkle

2010-12-31T01:17:00.000-08:00

Interpol-Summer Well

2010-12-31T00:28:00.001-08:00

2010/A List in Music | #13 Emeralds-Does It Look Like…

2010-12-30T20:27:00.001-08:00

UNDOCUMENTS:4

2010-12-29T02:23:00.000-08:00

Women-Live on CBC

2010-12-29T02:22:00.001-08:00

2010/A List in Music | #14 Crystal Castles-Crystal Castles

2010-12-21T15:25:00.002-08:00

2010/A List in Music | #15 Alcest-Écailles de Lune

2010-12-21T15:25:00.001-08:00

2010/A List in Music | #16 Watain-Lawless Darkness

2010-12-21T15:24:00.001-08:00

2010/A List in Music | #17 Ghost-Opus Eponymous

2010-12-21T15:23:00.003-08:00

2010/A List in Music | #18 Thee Silver Mt. Zion-Kollaps…

2010-12-21T15:23:00.001-08:00

2010/A List in Music | #19 Clair Cassis-Self-Titled

2010-12-21T15:22:00.000-08:00

2010/A List in Music | #20 Underoath-Disambiguation

2010-12-21T15:20:00.001-08:00

I

2010-12-08T03:49:00.000-08:00

UNDOCUMENTS:3

2010-12-06T01:47:00.001-08:00

UNDOCUMENTS:2

2010-12-06T01:19:00.001-08:00

UNDOCUMENTS:1

2010-12-05T23:34:00.001-08:00

The Walkmen-"Juveniles"

2010-12-02T03:14:00.001-08:00

Song of the Week | Wire-"Blessed State"

2010-12-01T23:07:00.000-08:00

Totally simple and totally brilliant song by one of the greatest (post)punk bands ever. I dare you to write a song so repetitive and dynamic at the same time.

'...To Our Despair' Installation Mock-Up

2010-11-17T03:12:00.000-08:00

Synopsis
The above image contains two posters positioned in a public space with 3 pieces of paper. Both posters pull quotes from 2 opposing texts. The black poster is from Georges Bataille's written response to Sartre's critique of Bataille's writings on Religion and the white is from C.S. Lewis' succinct treatise on the Christian faith, "Mere Christianity". Each poster's quote is an argument regarding each author's position on the idea of Religion/God, both of which end in the word "Despair".

The point of having the posters large and high on a wall with tiny text (The quote text is set at about 30pt.), is so that people literally have to find a way to get closer to the posters themselves, and even closer to grab one of the publications/documents. They have to use their surrounding to access the information...otherwise he/she is left simply with the ambiguous headline text. This is based on the concept of reversing the "Despair" inherent in any existential pursuit, and actively engaging in the on-going dialog within Religious/Philosophical theories.

The pamphlets/publications attached to the wall originally started as a reference to Martin Luther's nailing of the 95 thesis to the church wall, but was not really explored beyond that initial idea. In general, I see the attached papers as an even further explanation of the positions presented in the posters, once again requiring added effort to reach the depth of the content, literally and figuratively. I left the idea of the publication slightly open, as I see myself exploring this idea for next week's assignment.

Locations

I would see this piece as an idea that would be created in multiple locations, possibly with a variety of different posters, yet the same free publication, functioning in a similar way to the free newspapers that you find all over los angeles. Obviously areas of religious or intellectual interest would be the main spots that this would exist. Churches, Universities, Libraries, Graveyards, are among a few that come to mind first.

Musics: Agalloch, Deathspell Omega, Women, Al Green, Arcade Fire "Sprawl II" (and only that song), The National, Cat Power, maudlin of the Well, Underoath.

Huge Update over at League's website

2010-11-15T01:49:00.000-08:00

One of my absolute favorite firms, League just updated their website with some stunning work. The above photo is titled "Discussing Water Colour Techniques", and that makes me that much more a fan of them. I placed some images below from the website, but obviously you need to go see all the work and quickly. I especially like the fact that they basically own, in an Yves Klein kind of way, that bizarre teal color that appears all over their website. They even posted some shots of a specimen book they did for their customized version of futura for gig posters. It's all a little overwhelming in the best way.

It's especially nice to see musicians like Ulver and Attila Csihar get a nice contrasting, yet intense clinically structured graphic treatment. Extreme music's visual language has been marred by the slumping ghost of punk's DIY aesthetic for too long. It's nice to see disciplined and sharp work done like this that completely refreshes the band's image and shines a new light on their work.

Considering the many directions design is moving in Europe, especially with this whole resurgence of "The Cult of Ugly", well documented in the zeitgeist capturing book "Turning Pages", League fits in an interesting slot. Thankfully, I would argue, this second wave of anarchic design is fronted by an avant-garde that is fully aware of the history it is helping shape. Obviously for every 032c magazine we get this bastardized commodified version, but the discourse remains valid and exciting to watch. League's work obviously has foundations in the International Typographic Style, but I think they stray away from rote & predictable solutions time and time again, consistently injecting an element of bizarre whimsy. They have a style entirely their own and I would not be surprised if we see more and more people trying to replicate the elegantly subversive work of these Swiss folk.

Great work, I can't stress that enough, take a look.

Ondskapt-Lord of All Unclean Spirits

2010-11-15T00:07:00.000-08:00

(Attempt at Black Metal done via 60's modernist tropes)

Song of the Week | Al Green-"Just For Me"

2010-11-14T22:27:00.000-08:00

Now some of you, out of ALL two of you that kindly visit from time to time, may think it is at least mildly absurd that this song, from Al Green's 2006 album "Lay it Down", is the first jam of his that totally caught my ear. Woops, I guess I'm as late as one can be to this party, but as long as that perfectly smooth guitar line exists I am quite content. Just spend of few extra minutes and listen in awe as the bass and guitar play off each other in the most perfect way. Cool.

Beach House-Better Times

2010-11-14T18:46:00.001-08:00

Typefaces: Gill Sans Book, Century School Book Regular Italic, Akidenz Grotesk Medium

Belle and Sebastian-Read the Blessed Pages

2010-11-14T13:58:00.000-08:00

Typeface: Garamond Premier Pro Display

Cat Power-Maybe Not

2010-11-13T19:41:00.000-08:00

Typeface: Karina

Candy Claws-A Strange Land Discovered

2010-11-13T18:03:00.000-08:00

Cults-Go Outside

2010-11-13T16:37:00.001-08:00

Kayo Dot-Abyss Hinge I: Sleeping Birds Sighing in Roscolux

2010-11-12T18:59:00.001-08:00

Deathspell Omega-Abscission

2010-11-11T00:27:00.001-08:00

Underoath-In Division

2010-11-10T23:14:00.000-08:00

Women-Upstairs

2010-11-10T00:32:00.000-08:00

Crystal Castles-Suffocation

2010-11-09T23:40:00.001-08:00

Dedicated to C.W. Moss

Deathspell Omega-Malconfort

2010-11-09T01:23:00.001-08:00

2010-11-08T01:18:00.001-08:00

Song of the Week | The Tammys-"Egyptian Shumba"

2010-11-08T00:13:00.000-08:00

Now, I have a certain roommate that plays many an oldies girl band tune, and although I have always enjoyed that kind of music on some kind of weird nostalgic level...or something, it has never been the type of stuff I put on repeat. This song on the other hand is absolutely one of the best songs I have heard in a while. The elongated harmonies and eerily metallic background drone drive the song into a cathartic collapse of frenzied screams and yips that I have never heard anything like before. COOL SONG YOU GUYS.

Women-Locust Valley

2010-11-07T00:27:00.001-07:00

Song of the Week | Watain-Black Salvation

2010-10-29T20:38:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween Weekend. Here is your soundtrack. The quick, truncated snare beat right at the beginning of the guitar riff is THE BUSINESS. Stay safe this weekend and make smart adult decisions.

2.42:2.46

2010-10-26T04:27:00.001-07:00

Song of the Week | Warpaint-'Majesty' Acoustic

2010-10-24T14:57:00.000-07:00

Warpaint, also known as your next favorite band, is releasing their debut full length 'The Fool' .his week. Its utterly fantastic. The album cover is not...but the music is. This is an acoustic rendition of the song "Majesty". I am especially fond of the chorus, at around 2:40, and the fact that Theresa sings in this song, as she is very pretty and also a pleasantly 'ok' singer. She can't quite reach the high register's here and it's kind of lovely. Feel free to explore their small catalogue, 'Stars' and 'Krimson' are real highlights from the earlier days.

Quietness & Assurance

2010-10-21T01:42:00.001-07:00

Emeralds-"Now You See Me"

2010-10-20T00:35:00.000-07:00

Song of the Week: Deathspell Omega-"Devouring Famine"

2010-10-19T22:06:00.000-07:00

If all the contemporary metal bands disappeared off the face of the earth in a grim fog of death or whatever…Deathspell Omega would somehow manage to survive. This band has been incredible since the start, but it was really at the turning point that was "Si Monvmentvm…" that solidfied their place as masters of their Craft. Since that point in 2004 they have only grown more technical and utterly engrossing. Two years ago saw the release of the 20-minute epic "Chaining the Katechon", where much of the ambient interludes seemed to have been dissolved, leaving the buzzsaw guitars and breakneck rhythm and key changes to lead the assault. Music Hyperbole aside, "Devouring Famine" off of the new album "Paracletus" is an exciting taste of what we can expect from the proper album. For the terminally obsessed, Amazon has 30 second samples of the other tracks. Album of the year material indeed.

Grizzly Bear-About Face

2010-10-19T03:44:00.001-07:00

'Squalor Victorian' Book

2010-10-18T06:33:00.000-07:00

This is a little 4.5x6.5 book I made over the weekend, based on an essay about the National, basically taking the opening lyric of Terrible Love, and interperating it over the course of 20 pages. Live Photos by Mr. Cole Moss and myself are included. Just a quick little project.

Musicologies: Warpaint-'The Fool', The Sundays-'Blind', Women-'Public Strain'…

Bonfires for Nobody-"Moments Like These"

2010-10-16T20:57:00.000-07:00

A couple months ago, I designed a couple album covers for my friend Jordan Leal's project, Bonfires for Nobody. He chose the one above to house his lovely album of music. You can download the record for free here.

I personally enjoy the track "Summer", the cascade of sparkling notes and the subtle frenzy of the drumming are really quite nice. This song's mood was a primary catalyst for the 'soft blue' colors and airy aesthetic of the cover. "High and Dry" is utterly perfect background music for anything, very reminiscent of the washes of sound created by Wolfgang Voight and The Sight Below.

Here are some other versions of the cover I made:

The Branding Mastery of Field Notes

2010-10-14T14:42:00.000-07:00

I remember first seeing these Field Notes notebooks thanks to my classmate Mr. Sean Batac a year or so ago. It's a simple and pleasant little empty notebook, identical in shape to a plethora of others, but there is something about them that sets them very much apart. No, it's not the fact that they are all set in Futura (although it is gorgeously done) but something else. Visiting their website you can see that they have many variations of a similar style employing different colors schemes, themes, subscription services, pens, pencils and even a calender and a boxset(!) to create a diverse brand. Now, maybe my interest is tethered to our recent readings in our Design Theory class, but I think this company is a fantastic example of how powerful branding and good design are. They have taken are relatively dull little notebook and transformed it into an object of desire.

Part of what prompted my renewed interest was the fact that their "Raven Wing" series has recently sold out. As you can see in the link, it is the same design and layout as the other notebooks, but the website explains the differences "The outside cover is letterpress-debossed and varnished, black-on-black. The charcoal-colored inside cover is printed in black on a vintage offset press". That's it, just a change of color, vintage printing techniques and some debossing. The simple fact that this minor change contributed to the books being completely sold out, while the other numerous and similar options remain in stock is fascinating. Reading through the post explaining the process of making the books gives a narrative to the object, it shows how they were made and expands your experience with the notebook. This, I think, definitely contributes to peoples desire for the objects, plus they manage to make an already stylish item even more striking.

It's really quite brilliant and I think one of the most poignant and uncomplicated showcases of the power of design and branding. If such an attention to detail and narrative can be applied to something as seemingly banal as a notebook...imagine what other fascinating things are in store for this company and the creative team behind it. Keep your eyes on these guys and pick up some notebooks for good measure, they are quality notebooks, paper and all.

(All Photos are from the Field Notes Website.)

212.216,964

2010-10-13T22:14:00.000-07:00

Song of the Week | Women-Locust Valley

2010-10-13T05:44:00.000-07:00

A Brilliant track from a stellar record. I hear Television, the Beach Boys, Wire and The Velvet Underground all hanging out in a seedy backroom playing music while the T.V. features interviews with serial killers.

Horizon Lines...

2010-10-13T03:31:00.000-07:00

After thinking about a website, instead of making one for some time...I have finally decided to take action. The above image is where I am at now. It's all very exciting. COOL.

Musicings: Women-"Public Strain", Belle & Sebastian-"Write About Love", Enslaved-"Isa", Chromatics-"Night Drive", Elton John-"Tumbleweed Connection", Cavil at Rest-"Flower of Rhodes"…