Detroit, Detroit

Last Thursday, I attended a new event series by AIGA Detroit called Design + Business. The topic this night was Non-client based work. The discussion was led by a panel of experts, at this one we had Stephanie Tardy, from Handmade Detroit, Nina Bianchi, and Ryan Molloy. I think there were about 12 or 15 other people in the group, which was nice and cozy. We all gathered round, while each panel expert talked about their own work and design process, which lead into a group discussion about non-client based work.

All of them agreed that the best work comes when you start creating a need in the culture around you. Stephanie Tardy explained that Handmade Detroit started because her and her friends needed somewhere to sell their crafts. Nina talked about A People's Guide to Detroit made by the people, for the people. A collaboration with the Detroit Miscellaneous Society and Design 99., "... a collection of personal narratives and clipped entries based on individual experiences living here in the city of Detroit, bound together for ease of use and enjoyment. This is not a comprehensive guide to the city; instead we present a character study of the city based on personal experience. We offer our impressions of places that hold our interest, places that we'd like to share with you, perhaps where we would take you if you came to visit." (statement from Nina's site). Looking at it quickly, as it was being passed around the room, I learned about a collectable shop that has a large collection of records and porn magazines from the 60s! You would NEVER hear about that place in a typical guide, it made me want to buy it to read about other cool places to visit in Detroit. Ryan Molloy said he got the idea for his publication, Redaction when Emigre stopped featuring experimental design work. He decided to put out a publication that only features experimental design work and gives exposure to some great work. All of these projects were funded directly by the creator, but each project created something that was missing in our everyday life.

Listening to the three of them talk, I slowly realized how motivated they all were. I know what that feeling is like, and I think I lost a little bit of it from keeping the same routine everyday. I got it back that night and started writing tons of lists of projects I want to start AND finish! Nina made it sound easy, to just stay active, do something everyday that helps advance a project. I have a few old projects that need finishing, actually, one is so old that it might turn into a new kind of project haha. Either way, this stuff has to get done. I think sometimes people forget that if they are missing something, or if they wish something existed, they have the power to make it.

And, just like the last lecture I went to, I got to explore the building we were in a little bit and discovered a load of surprises! This D+B was hosted by Gyro Creative Group , in downtown Detroit. After the meeting, our host gave us a little tour of the building. The studio space is AMAZING. Beautiful hardwood floors with exposed brick and tons of artwork up on the walls. I learned that the room upstairs was the home of The Gilbert and Lila Silverman Fluxus Collection, one of the largest Fluxus collections in the country! (wow, I wish I took pictures!). There are still a few permanent pieces hiding in the nooks and crannies of the building. And speaking of nook and crannies, we got to see a classic fluxus wallpaper display. At the top of the stairs, there was a wall that was covered in wall paper. As you made your way up the stairs, you notice that its not wallpaper, its 11x17 sheets of paper, pasted on the wall to create a DIY wallpaper. THEN as you approach the top of the stairs, it becomes clear that the pattern is made of curves of a body...(closer..) Curves of a BUTT! the whole thing is a black and white photocopy of a butt. Not just any butt, but Yoko Ono's butt. Amazing. I wish I knew about this building while going through my Fluxus artist phase in college :)

What a weird discovery to realize the history behind the building I was sitting in for an hour talking about design and creation. I wonder how different the experience would be had I gotten the tour at the beginning of the discussion.

AIGA is My Funday

A few projects I have done for AIGA Detroit lately:
the buttons (top) made for the 2009 Leadership Conference. Sadly, I did not save any for the chapter, we handed all of our buttons out. Well actually, we exchanged buttons, so we ended up getting tons of other cool ones! anyway, I'd like to make more of these :) The next image is a foam hand of Michigan that I made for the conference. We had to make something to hold up during a vote on the new AIGA mandate.
The rest are some quick logos made for our event series. If you are interested in attending, keep an eye on our website

My Early Lettering Years

I've been on a mission to track down some of my biggest design influences throughout my life. I'm looking for the resources I grew up with, or used that helped shape my artwork or design work. All the stuff I looked and and kept around me before I knew about design, before I went to school, and before I saw work of famous designers.

When I was about 11 or 12, I remember having this book, The Do-It-Yourself Lettering Book. This was my favorite book at the time, I carried it around EVERYWHERE. Surprisingly, it is still in decent shape and well preserved. I view this book now as my early introduction to lettering and the beginning of my lettering obsession. I can remember drawing just about everything inside of this book, and viewed every project, poster, or report as a chance to do some unique lettering. If only I had some of those reports! (Specifically, a poster about Rhode Island I made in the Second Grade. I loved RI, so much that I started a mini singing group called Rhode Island Rats with my friend Laura. The only words to our song was, Rhode Island.)

Anyway, in high school, my notebooks and book covers were completely covered in lettering. Mostly bands that I liked (which are probably embarrassing to mention now :) ). Each word was written in a different way and were probably 100% inspired by this book. This style of lettering still shows up in my meeting notes

A few pages from The Do-It-Yourself Lettering Book:

ooooh yeah!

I almost forgot about Ben Shahn. I remember, back in history of graphic design class, learning about him. Well actually, I remember falling in love with his illustration of the shopping carts. I came across it today and decided to share my love for these wonderful carts <3 Oh, and I found what I believe is a picture of Ben Shahn himself, and he is super cute! The Walter Matthau of illustration!

oh hey, can I have your business card?

From one of my favorite blogs, FPO



From Card Observer

Money!

Ahh, the economy has gotten everyone thinking about money. Some people are finding creative ways to change the economy by focusing literally on money. Detroit Cheers are making their way around town in an attempt to keep American dollars in the city. This was a technique used in the Depression Era and has really created a tight community between Detroit businesses. Read more about it at Model D

Detroit Cheers




I also just heard about a design contest to design new money for the United States. It is something that was started by the people, and has not been made official by the government, but it is definitely an interesting project that should be given some attention by designers. Their idea is that if we make money shinier (more stimulating) then people will use it more, thus stimulating the economy a bit. ;) Read more about it here

Since we're on the topic of money, I thought I would make note of the beautiful guilder notes from the Netherlands, designed by Ootje. They have since been replaced by the Euro :( check them out, they are beautiful! Read more about them here

How could I ever forget Floor!

Samples designed by Floor Wesseling, one of my favorite designers from Amsterdam. Please check out his work, it is exciting and colorful!

My favorite project is titled, Blood In, Blood Out. He sewed soccer jerseys of different countries together to make a comparison between family crests and jerseys. He said that his show was so controversial that it was only up for a day or two, people were protesting the jerseys! I got to see them first hand, very beautiful!