Darren Booth. Illustrator + Typographer.

I love Darren Booth’s work. He’s an excellent illustrator, and he incorporates this skill into very unique illustrated typographical imagery. His work has personality and voice. He’s been featured in CommArts, Youngblood, and How Magazine. I want to figure out a way to work with him someday.

The Big Buildings of Beijing

The upcoming Beijing Olympics has been the catalyst for some amazing architectural mega work-in-projects. From the likes of OMA; REM Koolhaus; Herzog & de Meuron; and PTW.

( via anarchitecture )

When They Zig...You ZAG!

Former Critique Magazine editor and author of Brand Gap—Marty Neumeier is at it again with what appears to be another can’t miss book on branding called ZAG. Marty’s two stated goals for writing the book are to make it easy and quick enough to digest on a brief plane trip, and to provide the insights, process and courage to build high-performance brands. Order it here.

( via DESIGN*NOTES )

Sneaker Culture Elevated to Autos

I’m an admirer of Mark Ecko’s vision for design. He’s very intentional in his design thinking, and design execution, and his design continuity shows through his various product lines. Everything from his products to his hangtags to his advertising. Multi colors. Multi layers. Unique printing techniques. His work displays a true vision, and in the end, an authentic voice. Nissan apparently feels similarly. They’ve teamed up with the Ecko brand to create a Special Edition Nissan:Ecko Pathfinder. Very refreshing and encouraging to see automakers calling on different disciplines to add value to their product line and their thinking.

Use my images. What do I care?

Get Your Own! | View Slideshow

The photos above are ones I took myself and have posted on Flickr. You have my permission to use them for commercial jobs or anything else. What do I care? They were just collecting digital dust. Also posted (larger) at sxc.

( slideshow via swissmiss )

Life In Vector

Brooke’s a commercial illustrator & graphic designer from Chicago who can draw like there’s no tomorrow. Be sure to mouse over the vector illustrations to see all the handy work that goes on under the hood.

FlickrStorm: Enhanced Flickr Search Engine

Better than a Flickr search alone, FlickrStorm works by searching for and around what you’re looking for to find other related images. Like other CreativeCommon search engines, FlickerStorm also has an advanced option to allow searches within specified Creative Commons licenses.

The photo in this post shows various images resulting from the search: “Mid-Century Modern.”

Heart of an Audi V8

This video shows how Audi truly understands the emotional connection good design has to it’s audience.

( via computerlove )

DesignChart: The Designer’s “Top 40”

Like a music Top 40, DesignCharts highlights the week’s design website Top 40 by order of traffic. These are the resources used to create DesignChart’s list.
designaside >< dopeawards >< iblog >< refreshlinks >< spyline >< websitedesignawards

I really enjoy this site, but to me searching the web can be compared to garage sales—sometimes the less trafficked one’s are where you find all the good stuff!

( via 30gms )

Photoshop Brushes

A plethora of PS Brushes, or as the site itself claims... “The Largest Photoshop Brush Resource Site on The Internet.”

( via WilliamAlexander )

A Rare Sunday Post

I’ve made it a point not to post on Sundays, however this post is truly an exception. Perhaps you’ll understand why as you watch Mark Schultz speak about his new song Broken and Beautiful— a tribute to his birth mother, who he has never met.

This video really drives home how courageous mothers are who give their babies up for adoption. Sounds crazy, right? Well, I’m learning that like most things which don’t make sense in this world, God has a plan for it all. And for us all. Especially if we listen.

My wife and I find ourselves spending another Sunday together waiting on God’s hand in our lives’ after 4 years trying to conceive and 4 years learning to seek His will and timing for us in these regards. Though she doesn’t know us, I thank Laura Christianson for her blog, and for her sharing this wonderful post.

Are You Beautiful?

The world sets an unrealistic standard on beauty. As a result, and to varying degrees, many women deal with low self esteem. Dove wishes to shed a more inclusive light on the definition of beauty, and has done so via the Dove Self Esteem Fund. Check out this video and see for yourself how the world’s perception of beauty is shaped in just one of many ways. Also, check out the Dove Global Study: the truth about beauty.

In my humble opinion, true beauty is better compared to a higher measure. A bar set by our Father in Heaven. In Psalms 139:14, we’re told we’re loved, and Fearfully and Wonderfully Made. I hope you feel this in your heart no matter what your weight, shape or complexion.

( via 30gms )

VSA: 2016 Chicago Olympic logo

VSA Partner’s probono work— The 2016 Chicago Olympic logo— is styled in the shape of a torch and consists of three distinct visual components. The flame, in the shape of Chicago’s skyline, reflects the international significance of Chicago architecture and speaks to the vitality of a city that rose from the ashes. The body of the torch merges a color palette that represents the blue of Lake Michigan with the vibrant green of the city’s park system — further underscoring Chicago’s commitment to the environment and sustainability. Together, these visual elements evoke the spirit of the Olympic Games and its values.

More about the effort.

( via brentter )

Illustrator Sam Weber

There’s something distinctive about this illustrator’s work that I can’t quite put my finger on. Is it the color palette? The technique? I’m not sure, but I see a lot of illustrators work, and this caught my attention. See what you think.

About Sam: Born in Alaska, Sam grew up in Deep River Ontario, Canada. After attending the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, he moved to New York to pursue illustration and attend graduate school at The School of Visual Arts. In addition to drawing, Sam works part time as assistant art director of the OpEd page at the New York Times.

( via computerlove )

Creative Showcase for Design Students

5oup is a place for creative students to showcase their work to a wide audience.

( via designwire )

The genius of Ken Garland & Associates

From the website:
The choice of the trading name 'Ken Garland and Associates: Designers' was in order to signify that the outfit didn't consist merely of one designer plus odd helpers who knocked off paste-ups, took phone messages or ran errands. Those who worked with me between 1962 and 2002 have always been designers designing - no secretaries, no typists, no donkey- workers. There were never more than three of them at any one time. I intend no criticism of larger, probably more illustrious design groups when I say that, for me, an increase in size would have meant fruitless to-ing and fro-ing, more unexplained and unacceptable overheads, and less fun.

Read their Design Manifesto from 1964—slightly ahead of it’s time, right?!

( via AceJet 170 )

Web 2.0: Giving–vs–Taking

I’m amazed by how large a percentage of friends, family, and colleagues are utterly confused by my blog. I get emails, voicemails, blank stares, and am asked “what am I supposed to do at your blog?” And since all you can really do at any website is click stuff, that’s the advice I give. Everyone wants to know how I have time for adding stuff. They want to know how can I afford it. They ask what I get out of it. And ironically they are all too busy to read it.

So on the rare occasion someone does take an interest in blogging, I offer the Web 2.0 “Give-vs-Take” model as an analogy.

...for the first time in history, the world’s most powerful form of media is about giving, not taking. The implications are vast.

( via gapingvoid )

Shirt Folding. (Yep, Shirt Folding).

That pile of shirts is calling out your name. Now get busy.

David Nasser Outreach Website

Part speaker, author, visionary and ALL minister, David Nasser’s greatest passion is to connect people to the living God. The site is really excellent, and is a result of a collaboration with AM Design.

David also has a blog.

( via DesignMeltDown )

Jewish + Christian History Timelines

Here is an incredible interactive timeline of Jewish and Christian History. And here is a static one.