TYPE AS AN IMAGE TO THE SOUL

“S&S” Letterforms represent concept of marriage
Type patterns, framed art prints, Designer: Shawn Randall

(click on image for larger view of all three)

Recently I was asked to submit work for a local gallery show. My wife and I are coming up on our 8th wedding anniversary and so I decided to focus on the concept of Marraige in this triptic piece entitled “S&S”.

Each piece is framed in a solid wood black frame and was printed on a fine art velvet paper. The two smaller pieces measure 15 inches square and the center piece measures approx. 23 inches square.

Each piece was created from a single letter/symbol: S, &, S (Mine and my wife’s initials with an “&” in the middle). The letter was repeated, rotated, mirrored and composed by hand. Each piece has a short description of its content as well as of its concept:

(Read More…)

Thoughts on Tufte

I guess this is better late than never! Just over a month ago I had the opportunity to attend “Presenting Data and Information: A One-Day Course Taught By Edward Tufte.”

I absorbed a lot in this one day course and came back excited to apply some of these techniques into some of the different applications in which we present data and information here at TONIC.

I was lucky enough to pick up a print of a statistical graph poster of Napoleon’s march to Moscow. As described on Tufte’s website: “Probably the best statistical graphic ever drawn, this map by Charles Joseph Minard portrays the losses suffered by Napoleon’s army in the Russian campaign of 1812. Beginning at the Polish-Russian border, the thick band shows the size of the army at each position. The path of Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow in the bitterly cold winter is depicted by the dark lower band, which is tied to temperature and time scales.

I also jumped at some signed press sheets from some of Edward’s books. Check them out below:

-g

Designer Must Haves…….

Here are a few cool things we love at Tonic.

Moleskine Journals

It is two centuries now that moleskine has been the legendary notebook of European artists and intellectuals, from Van Gogh to Henri Matisse, from the exponents of the historical avant-garde movements to Ernest Hemingway.

They now have a new soft cover.

Alphabet Paperclips by Stephan Reed

ICU recycled readers

The Play-Doh Challenge

Did you know that September 18 is National Play-Doh Day? People have been innovating with Play-Doh since 1956, so the TONIC team decided to join in on the fun.

Check out our team’s creations:

Think you can build something even more innovative? Send us your Play-Doh creation photos at info@thinkTONIC.com and you could be featured on our blog!

Inspiration: Graffiti from Around the World

class=”pageImge” width=”500″ height=”433″ border=”0″ />

10 Reasons to Vote in 2008

AIGA held a design competition to create posters that inspire people to participate in the upcoming Presidential election. Here are a few of our favorites:

To see more entries, and for more information on each of the entries above, including artist name and location, please visit http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/get-out-the-vote

Happy Birthday to Cube

I typically like to celebrate birthdays.  I like ice cream, candles, and I LOVE birthday cake.  But today I don’t feel like celebrating.  It’s Cubicle’s 40th birthday, and frankly, I’m downright annoyed.

When the Herman Miller designers created the “Action Office,” I don’t think they envisioned how the cubicle would take over corporate America.  The original Action Office design featured larger, more private workspaces that promoted productivity and good health and posture.  Somewhere, someone figured out that it’s possible to make the Action Office workspaces a fourth of the size to save costs.

At TONIC, we despise traditional cubes.  We try to promote an open and collaborative working environment, which we believe leads to ultimate creativity.  Here are a few office spaces that we really like:

Even if you can’t afford trendy, modern furniture, there are a few things you can do to spice up your workspace beyond a giant paperweight and an annual kitten calendar:

Kid Robot Toys. You’ll find at least one Kid Robot toy at every desk at TONIC.  Prices start at $5.95.  Buy one here.

A Sweet Poster. Grant really likes this slightly nerdy poster found at My Little Underground.  Buy a set of 3 prints for $12 here.

Bring the Outdoors Inside. I personally enjoy having a plant or flower on my desk to brighten my workspace.  Orchids can last for weeks or months without direct sunlight and minimal maintenance (I kill all plants—mine lived practically maintenance-free for 3 months).  I bought mine at the local Bristol Farms for about $10-15.

Mousepad Notepads. Who needs a bunch of paper cluttering up their desk?  Consolidate your mousepad and notepad with this geometric mousepad by Galison.  Buy one here for $9.

Hedgehog Magnetic Paperclip Holder. This cute magnetic paperclip holder comes in black, pink or green.  Buy one here for $23.

Do you have ideas for brightening up your workspace?  Send us your ideas at info@thinkTONIC.com and you could be featured on our blog!

Off to the Art Center Design Conference

We’re heading out to Pasadena today to attend the 2008 Art Center Design Conference “Serious Play”

“The biennial Art Center Design Conference is a three-day international gathering of entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and innovators from many fields and disciplines. The 2008 Conference, Serious Play, will explore the essential role of play in business, the arts, science, storytelling, technology, and more.

Going on a Type Hunt…

A Portrait of Rexburg in Typography:

Now you may be asking yourself, what or where is Rexburg? Well, just past Idaho Falls in south east Idaho is a small town called Rexburg, home of Brigham Young University’s Idaho campus. As part of our Typography class, I asked students to go on a local type hunt.

Type is all around us, we experience it so many times we simply don’t see it anymore. Communities have different typographic tendencies and personalities. In an attempt to raise awareness of the different styles and unique character (in typography) of a community, we collected a series of different type styles from around Rexburg and combined them into a large (9 foot by 22 foot) type “quilt”. Each letterform was captured photographically and then mounted on a 4 inch by 6 inch piece of foamcore.

The final artifact is truly impressive and captures the attention of anyone who enters the art building as it hangs from the 3rd floor atrium.

Spray Paint + Stencils = Fun

Just having a little fun with some new materials and stencils in preparation for… Munny!