Looks like W got all gamer on us. Took some inspiration from Galaga, which happens to be the last video game I ever played, back in the 1980s... Not a big video game fan, but W is...
You can bet that this letter isn't forgetting anything when it walks out the door. This is the letter that checks to make sure the door is locked, walks to it's car, drives away, stops and runs back to check again. Not only does it check, but it unlocks the door, opens it up, and then closes it again and re-locks it. Yeah, this W has issues.
Nothing like a nice letter V to start the day off. V's take on what a vitamin water company logo just might look like. You have a V, a water drop and some nice welcoming water. Good job to V. So pure.
The letter U has cooled off for today's design quota and is chilling by the pool. Hopefully it us wearing some of that UV block from yesterday's post. The letter U has fair skin and is prone to burning. Nothing worse than a burnt U. Don't you agree?
The letter U is coming in hot. It's representing itself in the form of a UV sunblock logo. Ultra-Violet, the dangerous invisible little rays that make you extra crispy. Smart little letter, I say.
Some things I would keep on changing and tweaking if this was going to be a logo. Spacing and alignment, as well as some extra modifications to the standard type. Thanks to Futura for lending us it's bold U. Always a happy helper.
If you haven't already seen this video, take a look. It's the USA reacting to Donovan's goal from around the world. Good stuff and great to see the country getting into it. This is the World Cup...
I have never been much of a video game player. Maybe because I am terrible at it, and the remote would eventually end up in the TV. But Tetris is one of those games I did like growing up. I never knew I had so much in common with T. It's a whole family of Tetris pieces. Imagine T's family picnics, good times...
The double-decker T is rare in these parts. It showed up with all the latest trends from overlap, transparencies and arrows. Kudos T, you are like vampire movies of typography... so hot right now.
Yup, it's a T-Square. Just the beginning of what could be a nice plaid repeat pattern. I could see you on the golf course rocking your T-Square polo. Collar down, like a gentlemen...
The double double S. Simple Univers condensed spun around to make a nice semi-geometric shape. Pleasing to see and taste. A subtle folding border and you have the making of the Design Quota. Until tomorrow when T makes it's debut.
We have some noise on this one. Got this 'S' from a found photo in the Newbaric archive. I was looking for something a little less obvious, but that is how the Design Quota works. Mysterious ways... not really.
I swiped this off of my buddy 'ol pal, Joe Turpel's website. The Black Keys are without hesitation one of my favortie bands of the last decade. I was poking around Joe's Page Turner blog, and saw he posted this vid. Definately worth a repost. So talented. Music and design go together like two things that really should always be together... always.
Just wrapped up a nice little full page gem for Infinity. Off to print.
We changed up the art direction and look for Infinity. Went from the black and worn look to something a little brighter and fresh. Just in time for summer. Put your feet up, grab an iced tea (with an umbrella) and soak in the rays.
The USA won today, 3-2, against Slovenia... that is until the referee decided to take back the goal for no explainable reason. FIFA, get your act together. The other cards in the games were human mistakes, but taking a goal away is corruption. You can't blame games on the ref, but I am finding it hard to figure out any other reason why the USA lost this game...
That said, the Slovenian team is good, and all due respect to their efforts on the pitch. USA defense, wake up, you can't afford anymore early goals. Great comeback, let's keep it rolling into next Wednesday against Algeria.
The letter S is here. This is S. Yup. A little swoopy swoop and that's about all this one has to offer. Background image is part of a painting I just finished. Nice texture to it.
Bookman is the typeface that has sponsored today's design quota. Have a great weekend, and see y'all on Monday.
In a nice continuation from yesterday, we stick with the eye games. This one is a salute to Mr. Escher, the wizard of perception. Neutra is the typeface behind the scenes of this one. Always a good helper.
I like those emails you get where all the words are jumbled up and makes no sense, but you can read them. Then they tell you "if you can read this you are not neccessarily a genius, but you might be smart." They make me feel smart. I am in the top 99% of all humankind. Very rewarding. So this design quota is a tribute to those tests, without pushing the boundaries as much. Don't worry, you're smart too. Brains rule!
I was playing with R as an icon and it morphed into what I thought of as a moving line company. It has that 'North American' moving line vibe, so I figured I would roll with it. Who knows, maybe it's a subway line. "Take the 'r' line downtown and get off at the Newbaric stop..."
The design quota did it's job, it got the juices flowing and time to move on to projects. A small list for the day: Infinity magazine ad, CH Robinson graphic for their LA office, Infinity catalog layout, logo for start up company, and finish up JSK website and Academy icon. Better get started. Until tomorrow...
I set out today to design a new crest for the USA national soccer, ehm football, team. As I researched our history, something our current crest completely lacks, I became inspired to create a crest that shows who we are, and our attitude as a nation and soccer team.
Perhaps my favorite icon of American history is the Gadsden flag and Benjamin Franklin's original "Join or Die" wood cut. It symbolized the 8 sections of the new colonies and the message was to unite. What could be more symbolic for the United States of America?
Of course, Nike Soccer has had the "Don't Tread on Me" graphic for a number of years now and I think it sums up what I would want to get across. I know, a lazy design quota right? I didn't design the crest, as it would be different if I did. Unfortunately, the research and reading I did, that led to what would be my direction for the solution, took up all the time I have for the design quota today :)
I am slightly embarrassed of our current emblem. It shows no history, and has that cliche soccer ball with speed lines. A little too clip art for my taste. It looks like a young, underdog logo. So much fun could be had. For now, I think the USA should adopt the Nike art direction.
Having said that, I will pursue a deeper exploration and design of what I would have the USA soccer crest be. The snake coiled around a ball shape is a start. Maybe add in the 8 sections like Mr. Franklin's original drawing. I would look into using a different shield, maybe a circle for the crest. Typographically I think a bold USA would be the call, without the "soccer". I would also explore a less cliche way to display the stars and stripes. Could get tough, stay tuned...
On that note, CONGRATS to the USA team for their 1-1 tie with England. Ball possession was almost even and the US looked like the more composed and poise team. Our defense was shaky at best and that needs to be addressed right away. You have to love hype and how it forms stereotypes. Although a tie with England is nice, they are far from a Germany, Brazil, Argentina or Spain. England's goalie mistake was no worse than the USA's defensive slip-up when England scored. That's soccer. Don't Tread on Me...
Yup, it's a Q with nice tail, "painted" on the wall. This is the hallway of one of the more interesting buildings I have been in. UT Architecture and Design department. Plenty of photo ops in a place like that.
Never really know what a Q will come up with until you give it a try. Neutra typeface Q, a little repeat pattern, some nifty colors and bamn! You have a stained-glass window!
We interrupt the Design Quota once more for the NHL Stanley Cup champs, the Chicago Blackhawks!!! Yup, that's the Hancock and SEARS, hoisting the Stanley Cup over Chicago. Looks heavy.
What great playoffs, what a phenomenal series and what a priceless championship. Here's to the Blackhawks, the city of Chicago and Chicago fans around the world. The Flyers were fighters and had me throwing hats and remotes at the TV more than once. Hats off to them for a great, clean series. Good hits, great goals and respectable sportsmanship.
Couldn't be more proud to be a Chicagoan. Greatest sports city, well deserved. Thank you Blackhawks.
Quelle eh? I know it's not fair to design an icon, and then apply it, but that's the design quota. Whatever gets the design juices flowing. Here is the letter Q, for the ficticious company 'Quelle'. They print books, hence the 'page'/'book' shape that rounds out the Q at the bottom.
