Design from Brooklyn with Love

Last night Hyperakt kicked off the first in what poses to be a regular event on the New York graphic design circuit. On our cozy patio behind the studio, we shared an intimate night with friends and colleagues and screened the movie Helvetica.

Of course the film was enjoyable. But a special part in the evening was the pre-show event, learning what some of our colleagues are up to in their own day-to-day. Last night we partook in the curiously disparate stories of a web developer and a painter.

Steven Baughman
First up was Steve, an old friend of mine from my days in Seattle, and now one of Hyperakt’s trusted go-to developers. Steve’s background professes a route from graphic design to interaction design, awards from the likes of Adobe, and clients such as The Director’s Label, ESPN and Michel Gondry. He is one part of the social network development operation Famouser, and is currently employed full-time at the branding and interactive agency Tender, in Manhattan. Steve shared with us his latest baby. Inspired in part by the internet release of Radiohead’s 2008 album In Rainbows, which at first had no official artwork as part of the sale package, Steve and two partners concepted and developed Album tArt, a social portal for the lovers of both music and art. For those who dislike the empty covers in your iTunes collection, this site is for you.

Album tArt interior profile page

Album tArt’s Facebook application

Jake Messing
Jake is an affiliate of the Hyperakt family by way of an illustration class he took under the tutelage of Deroy. That was a few years back, and since then we have worked with him on a couple projects and have had the joy of watching him flourish as a painter and illustrator in the New York art scene. To observe him, one could pin him as the type of person who has the ability to pick up any artform and a week later to already have mastered it. Jake crosses mediums like a weathered seaman crosses a puddle. His paintings are thick with emotive layers that capture people and places in all their raw beauty. But on the flip side, he is also one of the most sincere and amiable people you could hope to meet. Last night he shared with us a collection of his paintings and ink drawings. Your eyes are sure to be happy.

“Jade”, detail: oil, from a series of tattoo-themed paintings.

“Queensboro”, pastel.

Imaginary Forces have put together a great little short featuring Paul Rand’s work and his design philosophy.

Over the weekend I picked up Michael Bierut’s book Seventy-nine Short Essays on Design. Number one in the volume is a must-read piece called Warning: May Contain Non-Design Content. The essay, which was originally published on Design Observer, makes some noteworthy comments on the importance of design that is informed by life, not the other way around. I applaud Mr. Bierut’s words.

On a similar, less tasteful note, I ffffound this commentary over the weekend too. “Pardon my French,” states the author. “Really, I’m not usually such a potty mouth. [But] is anyone else thinking this?”

So they’re in. And Rosy was right when she told our printer, “we luv them!”

We are now proud to show off our newest collection of Hyperakt business cards. These new beauties are letterpressed by the same shop that did our New Years Coasters. We loved the fluorescent orange and minimal type treatment used in the body copy. So this time around, we had fun with the design, tapping in to Massimo Vignelli’s love for sparsity (if straying outside the bounds of his restrictive list of typefaces). The only problem is that, while we are beaming with joy, and feeling über professional, we can only fit 3 cards in our pocket at a time. They are dangerously thick. But Will Robinson would be proud.

On a personal note, I must thank Deroy and Julia for a gracious gift. In addition to the Hyperakt cards, they were kind in allowing me to add my own personal card to the run. I am proud to have my first ever set of personal cards. But more importantly I am truly thankful to work with such generous and caring friends.

We recently got some hot new business cards made. They’re HUGE! and this is how we made them!

Just kidding. But I’m not joking about them being hot. Stay tuned, we’ll have pictures soon.

Meet Your Printmaker is a site I found through Thinking For A Living (see one post below), which apparently I’m now obsessed about.

There are moments in my blog browsing life where I cannot help but wonder why I continue to click and scroll; there are weeks worth of sites that do nothing but waste my time. But tonight brought redemption to the act when I stumbled across a newly rejuvenated gem.

Thinking For A Living is a designer’s asset, a hub of useful information on graphic design for both web and print, housed in one of the most interesting—if minimal—designs the internet has to offer. There is no flashy animation, no spinny things. But there are layers of beauty to this site worth noting.

First comes the color and type combination. Anyone who pays attention to Duane knows that he likes him some vibrant color. But to pull off a gradient on the surface of the type across a full page of text—while retaining both it’s readability and class—is a feat. The typography across the site is set strictly in Georgia. While more adventurous alternatives could easily be suggested, this is an entirely well executed maneuver.

But what makes the skin so appealing to me, though, goes deeper. It is rare to find highly functional (or useful) sites that maintain an outwardly attractive veneer. Del.icio.us (technology TFAL puts to use as an element in this site’s backbone), ffffound.com and Gmail all come to mind. These are sites which have varied practical uses, but for whatever reason have never set out to incorporate good design into the equation. Of course, that fact is debated.

But Thinking For A Living earns it’s credibility. The content itself is about design. “An ever-growing platform dedicated to the concept of open source design education,” it opens a world of informative and inspirational material to designers who need it. And what makes me especially happy about it is the focus on graphic design for both web and print mediums. Here finally is a place where inspiration (the blog) and topical resources all coexist, driven by passionate and tasteful professionals.

For more thorough information on the site, please read this.

Men’s Vogue had the brilliant idea of having Massimo Vignelli update his famous subway map. It’s a thing of beauty. And you can buy a limited edition signed print! Drooling now.

Check out our new initiative to put Obama on a billboard in NYC.

Update, Nov 5, 2008. Check out our new sets of silkscreen prints titled “We Made History” and “Victory”.

Since I can’t contain my excitement over the current state of affairs in the 2008 presidential primaries, I felt like the least I could do was put some of my skills to good use. We’ve put together a fresh batch of homemade Barack Obama posters and invite you to download and disseminate at will (just don’t sell it, it’s meant to be free).

The free printable posters are available in five color combos and three sizes at the links below. Send us a picture showing where you’ve posted your poster so we can create a gallery. Spread the word.

Obama - The New Hope - Orange
24″ X 36″
11″ X 17″
8.5″ X 11″

Obama - The New Hope - Magenta
24″ X 36″
11″ X 17″
8.5″ X 11″

Obama - The New Hope - Teal
24″ X 36″
11″ X 17″
8.5″ X 11″

Obama - The New Hope - Blue & Red
24″ X 36″
11″ X 17″
8.5″ X 11″

Obama - The New Hope - Black & White
24″ X 36″
11″ X 17″
8.5″ X 11″

A few weeks ago, a few of us went to see Massimo Vignelli (Martin Scorcese of Graphic Design) speak at an AIGA event. Since pretty much everything that came out of his mouth was quotable, I’ll just let him do the talking. Here’s some of the best nuggets:

“Without a grid I’m lost”

“A chair is more important for your head than it is for your ass.”
Discussing his love for a Rietvelt chair

“Design and fashion are big enemies”

“Obsolescence is morally despicable.”
In reference to the fashion industry

“If you can’t find it, design it”
On finding a good suit

“The culture of refinement is much bigger than the culture of change.”
Thoughts on typefaces

“Émigré is the worst thing that happened to the country”

“There is no room for irresponsible design.”

“I was very happy to design a church because I’m not a very religious person, but you never know”

“I got the idea for the church pews from a toilet seat.”
In reference to folding pews

“Design is a continuous orgasm.”

“I’m terrorized by oblivion”

“The opposite of modern is contemporary. Contemporary is trendy”

“We never figured out how to make politicians modern. They’re still old farts. Except Gore, we miss him.”

Amen, Massimo.

I am in the market for a list of competent graphic design or typography-related podcasts. Any suggestions?

I’ve been listening to Typeradio, but have honestly found myself a little disappointed with the interviews. Despite an offering of a great range of influential designers in the archives there seems to be little depth in the substance, with too many one-off questions which often never develop in to interesting conversation. Peter Bilak even mentions this in the first part of his own Typeradio interview.

So, that said, I’d like to find a podcast that proves both engaging and informative. Not too much to ask is it? What I’ve found so far (but haven’t honestly spent much time with) is Be A Design Cast, a seemingly good humored and wide-ranging show; gpkcast, a decidedly progressive, academic-feeling (not to mention infrequent) podcast from Art Center College of Design; and The Mill podcast , a behind the scenes peek at a motion graphics trickery. Each have their benefits, I just wish that Ellen Lupton, Khoi Vinh and Armin Vit could all just get together and have talks with the best of the best.

Maybe that is too much to ask…