This one’s for you

All right all you internets, this is my invitation to a low down, wild cherry, fracas of a BBQ tomorrow, and all of you are invited. Yep. All of you. Welcome to Chicaaaaa-go. +

Studio : Poetic Blather
Client : Self Promotion
Dimensions : 500px × 500px
Primary Typefaces : Black Oak, Knockout

Caterpillar 2008 Annual Report

With national economic instability at hand, companies were faced with a big challenge. The 2008 Annual Report is Caterpillar’s response to this challenge, highlighting many of their current global endeavors. In addition, the book was not printed, but created into a fully interactive PDF that could be distributed via download or email, yet sized appropriately to individually print if necessary.

Unfortunately, the interactive elements don’t work when viewing through Scribd. To get the full experience, feel free to download.

Studio : VSA Partners
Creative Direction : Dave Ritter
Designers : Brandt Brinkerhoff, Peter Ty
Client : Caterpillar Inc.
Dimensions : 8.5 in × 11 in [21.5 cm × 28 cm]
Primary Typefaces : Univers, Scala
Special Features : Fully interactive PDF
Caterpillar 2008 Annual Report - Electronic Only

Electro-nik

SRSLY AWNIAC
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The world in a peach pit

I just wanted to show off my little girl to everyone. She likes looking at stuff. She thinks that everything is extremely interesting; even the boring stuff. +

Sappi eQ Journal

Studio : VSA Partners
Creative Direction : Dana Arnett
Designers : Brandt Brinkerhoff, John Foust, Kyle Poff
Client : Sappi Fine Paper
Paper : Opus Dull Text 70lb
Dimensions : 9.75 in × 5.25 in [24.75 cm × 13 cm]
Primary Typefaces : Freight Text, Freight Sans
Special Features : Oversized magazine, folds down into mailable size, Tipped in selection guide

First issue of Sappi's latest aid to the world of print. eQ, standing for Environmental Quarterly, focuses on relevant environmental issues that designers, printers, and merchants should be cognizant of. eQ features voices, opinions, and case-studies all revolving around a specific theme; for example, this issue all about the myths & realities of sustainability.
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Onesies : 3 : Graff

What kid doesn't love an animal with an absurdly long neck?
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Onesies : 2 : Genial Garden

Friendly, warm, happy; and most important – cute.
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Onesies : 1 : The Twins

These next few posts have been a long time coming. Prior to my daughter being born I drew and screen printed a few onesies for her. There are four all together but before I could get to the fourth, Jane showed up. She then proceeded to take over my studio, so I still haven't gotten around to making the final installment. I was going to wait until I had them all finished, but... come on, really... who knows how long that will be.

These first little guys I like to call "the twins."
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IBM 2007-2008 Corporate Responsibility Report

This Responsibility Report showcases IBM's broad portfolio in thought leadership. It was designed to be an accessible compendium incorporating a diverse range sustainability issues, case-studies, metrics, and diagrammatic explanations of complex ideas.

Studio : VSA Partners
Creative Direction : Kurt Schreiber
Designers : Brandt Brinkerhoff, Conor McFerrin, Jason McKean
Client : IBM
Paper : Mohawk Superfine
Dimensions : 8.5 in × 6.5 in [21.5 cm × 16.5 cm]
Primary Typefaces : IBM Mod Sans, Minion

Mustachio

(noun)
an elaborate sculpture left to grow above the upper lip

The mustachio is the quintessential adulation for a mustachephile. Owners of such prestigious grooming standards find absolute gratification in their idiosyncrasy. Mustachio owners are usually most comfortable in atypical environments, sanguinely involving large unsuspecting crowds. Mustachios are common among Carnes, eccentric Spaniards, Santa impersonators during the off season, Dadaists, County fair booth operators, villains from most any olde tyme silent film, and alpaca farmers. A tony urbanity is an eclectic priority often comprising pinstripe pants with boot straps, bowler hats, pince-nez, strategically cascading vests, houndstooth, herringbone, gabardine, and twill all paired together, spurs, fluted jackets, imported cigars, nine-foot stilts, Bavarian creme filled doughnuts, shrimp cocktail platters, and an affinity for pairing stinky cheeses. +

Mungstache

(noun)
elongated weaving strands left to grow above the upper lip

Mungstache punctilios are deeply steeped in mystery and intrigue. Owners are generally most comfortable in tin mountaintop shanties, incense/cigar smoke filled back-room poker games, or hotdog eating contests. A few of their favorite things include bonsai trees, broken english, walking sticks disguised as weaponry, mongolian barbecues, slow motion, plum dyed togas, pickled octopus on a stick, and monochromatic color palettes. Preferred Mungstache métier recurrently involves either imports/exports, acquisitions, or Jeet Kun Do master. +

Mentistache

(noun)
a narrow woolly striation left to grow above the upper lip

The Mentistache, rooted from the latin “non compos mentis,” is a forgotten past time from persons keenly lucid to neurotically unhinged alike. Regrettably, history has spoiled the novelty of this once trendy grooming technique. Mentistache owners are commonly individuals of neglected perspicacity taking a final a desperate grasp at garnering their needed validation. The Mentistache is primarily used to maifest the ethos “Don’t mess, I am completely serious” or “No applause, just throw money.” Owners of the Mentistache often find themselves in situations involving prison cells, staring contests, short people, over starched clothing, 14 hour games of Risk, rochambeau, and “tree-of-life” showering systems. +

Motorstache

(noun)
a brusque mane left to grow above and below the upper lip.

The Motorstache is traditionally employed not as an expression of originality but one of masculinity. Counter their tetchy mien, owners of the Motorstache are often jovial, obliging, and huggable (in principle not practice). Often swarming at car shows, bar fights, dusty roadside cafes and pirate ships, if you see one there is a good chance you will see another nearby. Prevalent Motorstache constituents might include leather for every extremity, spurs, piercings, revealingly tight denim pants, missing digits, mom heart tattoos, dirty fingers, shotguns, reuben sandwiches, and Johnny Cash or Three Dog Night eight-tracks. +

Misstache

(noun)
a translucent fuzz left to grow above the upper lip. (See also Mexistache)

More prevalent than women choose to let on, the Misstache is a modern societal taboo. Though most women choose to clandestinely trim their Misstache, avowing denial of such existence, many are bold in their apathetic kitsch. Stereotypical vocational choices include construction worker, lunch lady, meter maid, bus driver, and cat lady. Routine items found nearby a Misstache could include, though not limited to, overalls, hairnets, cardigans laced with cat fur, stained glass wind chimes, frocks, cloaks, conversational door mats, and jello dishes that include meat. +

Mexistache

(noun)
a translucent fuzz left to grow above the upper lip.

In relation to, but not limited by it's root, the Mexistache is ubiquitous among pubescent males. It is commonly assumed by the owner as a symbol of status or rite of passage. External ridicule often furnishes a brief lifespan, yet some find the Mexistache a durable companion. Familiar to the Mexistache are El Caminos, plaid shorts, calculators, blackletter tatoos, bowl cuts, and unmistakably oversized sporting jerseys. +

Monsieurstache

(noun)
a finely manicured tine left to grow above the upper lip.

The rare Monsieurstache is perhaps the most arcane of the stache family. It's owners are often clever, phlegmatic, or clinically unbalanced. Typical vocational preferences include eccentric inventor, power mogul, and over-compensating fencing partner. Owners of the Monsieurstache often enjoy novelty gewgaws such as eye pieces, pocket watches, walking canes with fowl carved onto the top, tight-fitting pleated pants, suspenders, bow ties, feathers, and non-monsieurstached assistants. +

Molestache

(noun)
a discomfiting brow left to grow above the upper lip.

Due to it's accessibility, the molestache is the most frequent form of facial coiffure found among males. The molestache is often akin with such friends as the rocking mullet, understated clothing, a curiously consistent greasy sheen on all outer surfaces, and art festivals. Contrary to it's name, most owners of the molestache are harmless, pitifully unaware of their current social status, but harmless. +

Moosetache

(noun)
a dense luxuriant shag left to grow above the upper lip.

The Moosetache requires a great deal of confidence and commitment to reach veritable fruition. Common companions of the Moostache are really tight swimming trunks, over-sized belt buckles, extreme amounts of hair, and bolo ties. +

Mustache

(noun)
a strip of hair left to grow above the upper lip. +

TEDS : 10

This weeks TEDS is one of my favorite collaboratives to visit, peruse, and reference than I think any other design firm out there. Most of Onlab's projects are thought driven sequential artifacts, aka books. Working out of Germany, Onlab is a small team with savvy sensibilities. They have a natural affinity for beautiful typography with rich intriguing texture, small important details, and the perfect subtle flare that makes a project vibrate. Each project is a new and refreshing exploration of hierarchy, space, and composition. Let me know if there are any others out there as enamored as myself. +

Stimulus

The concept of a stimulus package is like putting oil on the axle of a flat tire. +

Gesture (like up and down)

"As I recall it was a long meeting of moderate importance," he thought reminiscently, glancing over at his red ball of yarn nestled snugly against the speaker. +

Take it.

I dare anyone to try and find something cooler than this.


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It snowed again today

Oh, and hey look, it's snowing again right now. Chicago has no use for snow. It's like a penguins wings, or unreachable itches (well just itching all together) or reality TV. There are just some things that are completely unnecessary. +