this is enthusiasm: books

Showing posts with label books. Show all posts

For the Dreamers

When my friend Kevin in New York recommended this book I snatched it off the rack in hopes to find a publication with more than a novel relevance. Knowing it was art directed by a former Urban Outfitters designer I expected this level of sophistication in type and image. Unfortunately, the appeal stops there. This coffee-table book will look fantastic in a rustic-themed, modern home where young people still romanticize the outdoors and farming more than they even try to live it.

Deduced to its tiny paragraphs, disjointed diagrams, and hazy fashion-catalog-esque photography of plants and their growers, this quarterly publication is a missed opportunity to make important information about "growing" accessible to the ambitious urban farmer. The allure stops when read in the comforts of the densely urban home, as a conversation piece at one's dinner party. Perfect the few in their narrowly-focused audience, this publication is an attempt—presumptuous in its appearance—to provide useful content to "those enthralled with nature", less those actually depending on the natural world.

BOOK HANDS

Art of McSweenys by Chronicle Books

Don't you wish there were a video like this for every book design you enjoyed? I'm always fascinated by the stories and hands involved in art, design, film, politics, marketing, crafting, sailing, yoga, farming, etc. Looking out for video tutorials of all!

New York & Art Directors Club

I attended the National Student Portfolio Review May 4th in Manhattan. It was a short and lively stay in good company and in the rain.

The event was somewhat exhilarating, the most significant pressure being the hundred or so young graphic designers all competing for the attention of New York art directors. I was thrilled to meet some very courageous young talent and very encouraging professionals.

Thanks to Tom Garrett and Nancy Rice, especially, for taking us under her wing.

Colin Trechter and Aimee Gauthier pictured above, travel buddies and fellow MCAD grads, amidst their designy displays.
I must mention having seen skateboarding legend, absolute number one, Mark Gonzales on the lower east side with his family on our first day hoofing around!! This is a photograph of his skateboard graphic at Printed Matter.
Pizza for breakfast!

TRADE/TRADE Exhibit

My senior project was presented yesterday, to my class, my instructors Jan Jancourt, Dan Ibarra, and our special guest
Jon Forss from Non-Format!

I received a good bit of response. Critique was mild, comparatively.
I am thrilled!

Please visit the TRADE/TRADE Website I made corresponding to my project that encourages graphic designers to integrate bartering and trade in their graphic design practice.

Motto

I have to say, my first interest with design began here, in the pages and covers of my parents' yearbooks (1978 & 1976). Not only was this a representation of a farm community during a historical era, but the style of dress at the time continues to be my favorite, and my parent's younger years fascinating.

When I last revisited these books, as I have routinely done since I was a young schoolgirl, I was intrigued by the lightheartedness of the design and its irony when paired with such valiant class mottos.

My mother and I laughed as I acknowledged the charm of the layouts. She explained, "Its called doin' the best with what 'chya had!"

And that is the wisest bit of knowledge I have heard in a long time, which I now have adopted as my personal motto for my upcoming graduation from sixteen years of academics. Susan B. Anthony also supports my sentiments, when she said "Failure is impossible." And in summation of my extended years of collegiate experience, I know that the best I can do is try.

Be sure to browse the black and white photograph pages for my mom and future-uncle, as life goes on around them, (when they were dating before my mom married his brother...) and note my father as president of Future Farmers of America! Any relation to my goal of being a Future Farmer?

SEEN AND SKUNK'D

I have had a curious morning of browsing admired design websites that have presented publications in a variety of ways.

Today as I work in my studio at school, I aim to document my work from the last year. So far the documentation styles of my books are not consistent in any way, and after my findings I am still not so confident about any one strategy.

At the Walker Art Center, Mylinh Trieu Nguyen reports on a beautiful fluxus book with clean, flatbed scans, on black background, that I recognize from Chad Kleopfer's documentation method. I notice in the bookshelf section of the Walker design blog, Emmet Byrne had a more dynamic approach that includes a photo of a levitating book (I couldnt help but wonder how involved Greg Beckel was at mastering that drop shadow in photoshop), and variously angled macro photos including the humane effect of the hand-browsing element, that really puts a book in to context.

By some twist of fate, I then looked at a new website featuring my friend's old-ish skateboarding magazine, in all of its 4 issues. Luke Hunt recently set up this SKUNK blog that exhibits their magazines with an interactive feature that allows the viewer to flip/click through each issue that is programmed to represent a glossy sheen on fluidly flipping pages. It is uniquely satisfying to me, regardless if I have all 4 printed magazines in my library 5 feet away...

I wonder what the future of book documentation is. Could I invent it today? Could I ever accept all of my craft to be represented on flash-animated pages like my Rad Dude Dicky article in Issue #2 of SKUNK mag? (I will now introduce the beginning to my new documentation process, which includes screenshots of my work as seen on isuu.com)

LOVE DRUGS

Ok, I love paper-cut design. Paper cutting is my drug. Also tea is my drug, and scorpions are my biggest fear probably.

Thank you to the great Aaron Draplin for posting this on his truly great blog.

SO SHANTY

Lots of work to do this week. Especially with this bad boy; the Frozen Light book featuring a tiny selection of Snap Shot Shanty lore.

The rest, pictured here, are collateral pieces designed for a fuax gallery exhibit. Invite (assembled to resemble the real shanty), ticket (after ice-house-fishing license), and poster (bubblewrapped). They also need some love.

New additions to this book will include shanty sentiments from us artists.
Tomorrow here in Minnesota will be our first extreme temps of the season.
Here is a tidbit from Sam Hoolihan about an icey day this last winter:

I remember on one of the coldest days of the projects, most people (shanty artists) didn't even show up. but the snap shot shanty did, and our shanty without a heater was as comfortable as usual.
most people didn't believe we weren't using a heater when they walked in.

How's that for passive solar?!