Neue Lucifer, you guys.

Above is the first crack at a poster that is supposed to encompass our working methods and interests. As those of you that know me know, I am someone of acute visual preferences to a fault at times. I have decided that this semester is one of more experimentation and less overthinking. This poster is one of the first steps in that direction.

The visual interests I chose to synthesize were punk film (Harmony Korine, French New Wave etc), Black Metal, and Swiss Modernism. The type is obviously done with a modernist intent, and the image making is a combination of aspects of the other two. The goal of the poster and main theme of my "manifesto" is messing things up. Defiling, respectfully, the standards of purity and perfection. I chose this theme because for me, Swiss Modernism is the peak of graphic design...and for that matter communication. This poster attempts to dirty the conventions of that style up a bit. The lamb is used for it's symbolism of purity. The "X" and blood is my addition to this symbol and the modernist type to soil these icons of cleanliness and ideology. In other words...this is just me having a little fun with making fun of my own style and so forth.

Finally, The name "Neue Lucifer" is a nod to both the origins of modernism (germany) and the grand act Lucifer made when he turned away from Heaven. I am not interested in the character of Satan, but instead the concept of his character. Also, considering Black metal seems to have a love affair with character...well, that works right along with my visual interest.

The Typeface is Akzidenz Grotesk Bold.

More iterations to come!


Interests of the moment: Drastus, Blut Aus Nord, Beach House, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Working on my typeface "Kenose", enjoying the company of a lovely lady, coffee, and obviously waffles.

The Captivating World of Katja Gretzinger

There is something entrancing about Katja Gretzinger's work that has been with me for a while now. I first saw the "FAZ Wissen und Bedenken" poster/publication on aisleone many months ago and have since found myself at her website studying what exactly it is that I am obsessed with. Her masterful use of typography is fresh and well informed. I find the rather colorful posters the three people are holding (I think that is her on the left) extremely interesting. They manage to combine a strict grid with playful elements that recall the ill-advised typographic (in my opinion) experimentation the 90's brought us...but here we have a very refined and mature approach to modular grid use and humanistic flourishes.












An utterly fascinating talent in the field. Keep an eye out for her.


Record spinning: Department of Eagles-"In Ear Park", Beach House-"Teen Dream", Blut Aus Nord-"Dialogue with the Stars", Funeral Mist-"Maranatha", and Lindstrom and Christobelle-"Real life is No Cool"

Kenosis-The Beginnings

The beginnings of my typeface based on the synthesis of geometric and humanistic attributes in sans serif typefaces. The explanation of the name is expressed below:

"In Christian theology, Kenosis is the concept of the 'self-emptying' of one's own will and becoming entirely receptive to God and his perfect will. It is used both as an explanation of the Incarnation, and an indication of the nature of God's activity and condescension."

The eventual goal is to combine both the geometric perfection of typefaces such as Futura with the more humanistic characteristics of Akzidenz Grotesk, Gotham, and Helvetica. Similar in theory to kenotic concept of the perfect entity of Christ becoming human to equate the necessary atonement for man's sins.

Wordy? yes. Lofty? Also yes. Influenced by a landmark Black Metal Band's 3-song EP? Definitely.

This is League

Oh, ok you guys...this firm's work is simply astounding. Obviously, they, like me, enjoy modernism. The interesting thing is though, is that they take a completely new spin on it, creating a unique style in itself. They are swiss designers...so let's add another tally to the chart for the Swiss, they just get it right.

The “2009 was– pretty lame, but there was some pretty awesome music” list of 20 albums from 2009

Click the image to see my choices for my top 20 records of 2009!
I spent more time than I should of on this so feel free to look
as long as you like ok guys!

Akzidenz! Holidaze!

Here is a little postcard I designed for the holidays.
I mixed up the "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays"
solely because I, and I alone, think it sounds funny.

The typeface is Akzidenz Grotesk Medium.

Happy Christmas! Merry Holidays!


Head-spinning: Katatonia, The Mountain Goats,
Espers, Red Pepper Hummus, and clarity

Catch for Me the Foxes

This poster above is my favorite of the "film series"
that we worked on in the earlier portion of the
semester. For the film, "The Royal Tenenbaums"
I immediately connected with this idea of the
characters being these sly and secretive characters,
creeping around causing mischief for themselves
and others. Naturally the fox is immediately tied
(albeit quite unfairly) to this type of behavior.
I then decided to place them in a rather ornate and
flamboyant upper class room that might exist in
the world of Wes Anderson's film. The fact that
the found image of the room contains the eiffle
tower was a nice touch, especially if you see
the rather distant fox to be Margot.

As for the typography and layout, I wanted to express
a feeling of "functional dysfunction", which was
basically the theme that drove my film festival. I chose
the akward placement of the image in the corner to
create a slight tension, and then placed the type along
a grid, but in a somewhat disjointed manner,
placeing the description text over the image which
should never really be done without a reason...especially
with body copy.

The final conceptual aspect was that of the color choice.
I chose the red to tie into the color I immediately thought
of when I pictured the film itself. I then chose the type
colors to completely combat the background color, making
it nearly painful to look at. I got this idea from one of my
absolute favorite firms, Experimental Jetset's poster
series for De Theatercompagnie. The results of which, are
humourously blinding even on screen.

Ill post the remainder of the project soon.


Music Carousel: The Avett Brothers-"I and Love and You",
Katatonia-"Night is the New Day", breathing, Studio Culture
by Adrian Shaughnessy, White Peach Cranberry juice, and
Gossip Girl (Seriously.)

Master of None

Above are a few of my favorite sketches for the second
run of poster sketches. The last one is moving in a
direction I want to get behind, although a good deal
of refinement and "conceptual" tweaks need to be made.
Onward and upward.


Orbiting: Julian Casablancas-"11th dimension",
Brand New-"Noro", New Converge and Broadcast,
and anatomy of a typeface.

The Constant Image

If you look to your left, you will notice a new addition to the section regarding
my other locations on the interwebs called The Constant Image. What I
hope this to be, is a collection of random images I make in the vein of other
"image a day" exercises that designers are known to partake in. I will set
it all up in due time, but for now it has one sketchy image in response to a
black metal album I very much enjoy by Deathspell Omega.

Let's see how this goes.

2:30 Am Design Heart Attack

Well I'll be damned. I have seen Mark Weaver's stuff
before courtesy the perma-excited Robyn Baker and
always found myself enjoying his work. The above
images take that enjoyment all the way to home base.
His work is simply stunning. It has a weird Text-book-
by-way-of-retro-modernist-sepia vibe that I'm really
into. Just check it out NOW.

That state poster blows my heart out of it's steel cage
and explodes in my face. real talk.

Orbiting: Katatonia-"Forsaker", Broadcast-"Noise Made
by People", saltine crackers, drawing letters, Deathspell
Omega, and Fuji Apple Pear Lifewater.