Fonts for the Masses

The revolution will not be televised.

But it might very well be printed in hella cool fonts. At least, that is, if the minds behind Lost Type Co-Op have anything to do with it.

Lost Type is the first of its kind: an online library of original font types contributed by its users, where shoppers can download their selection and then choose how much they’d like to donate directly to the designer.

No more price tags, no more bazaar-style haggling; just pick your font, pay what you think it’s worth and be on your merry, typesetting way.

It also helps that these are some of the dang-nam slickest types available today. See them all here.

Macimalism

As an underpaid, under-appreciated, over-caffeinated member of the snarky little world of advertising, nothing makes a creative’s eyes roll back deep into their skull more than when a client asks for work that, “oh, you know, looks like… you know… an Apple ad.” Barf.

I can only expect that the minimalist geniuses behind “Applified” also feel our pain. That’s why they’ve gone a step further to give those lemmingeasque, creative-black holes that they call clients exactly what they asked for.

Now, if only they could make these ideas “pop”.

All images belong to Applified. Get your Mac on here.

Pretty in #16-2124

In commemoration of sixty years  of Queenily rule, Pantone has teamed up with Leo Burnett London to equip designers and Monarchy-philes alike with a dazzling limited edition Pantone wheel. The  collector’s item organizes the Queen’s favorite fashion colors into handy Pantone numbers and features enough pastel to make the Easter Bunny puke up his Cadbury Eggs.

So, who’s next? I vote for a commemoration of Johnny Cash’s 80th birthday. Hell, it would be an easy print run.

See more here.

 

Seeding the Urban Jungle

Weekends spent digging in the backyard, ankle deep in cow dung? Waiting six months just to watch the fruits of your labor get snatched up by crows? Putting in 87 hours of backbreaking work for a handful of alfalfa sprouts that cost 12 cents at the store?

Gardening is for losers.

Especially when the good lord (or the Department of Public Works) already plants much more impressive creations everywhere we look. Thanks to the quirky Carmichael Collective, now you will never misplace where your favorite urban flora is again (you know, just so you don’t mistake that fire hydrant for a bench… youch).

Get yours here.

The Story Behind Keeping Calm and Carrying On

“Keep Calm and Carry On” — it seems this iconic slogan is printed just about everywhere; on the wall at your neighborhood coffee shop, pasted on souvenir coffee mugs, bouncing on the back of the shorts of the girl jogging on the treadmill at the gym (c’mon, you just appreciate great slogans!).

But ever wonder where the hell those simply typo-ed posters came from and just why they are so bossy? I mean, who are they to say you can’t stay frantic and sit your bum down?

Well, as it turns out, it’s a very unique story. And a pretty good yarn at that. Calming down… calming down…

A Tale of Two Marks

You need to continually evolve your brand in order to stay afloat in the rough and tumble ad world, right? Maybe not.

Here’s a clever and simple look at how two of the biggest brands — ever — handle brand change.

Compliments of Jay Mug.

I Like Your Style, Dude

Come on, you’re being very un-Dude, dude. But just wait ’til you get a load of these dudes.

Self-dubbed Etsy artists TommyAlexJoel DejaTapsBrown were just looking for an artsy way to enjoy their favorites Big Lebowski lines between viewings — but they just couldn’t find the thing that  put the Kaluha in their cups.

So they took matters into their own hands.

“Finding nothing that seemed right we put our heads together to create our own designs. Our mates were keen and putting them out to a wider audience seemed like half a plan.

 

We’ve been overwhelmed by your reaction, and will continue to bring you new designs as soon as they pop into our 3 heads.”

Fuckin’ A, man.

All the more reason to put down the remote and check out these cool Lebowski-inspired poster at their Etsy shop, VisualEtiquette.

Plus, they’ve got some pretty snappy posters for other cult favorites, if you’re into that sort of thing.

That must be exhausting.

 

 

Brands from the Mouths of Babes

Consumer research doesn’t get much more real than a five-year-old and a mic.

Or so learned brand identity guru Adam Lind when he asked his young daughter to name — as best she could — several market-leading marks.

It’s also interesting to note that this is just about the age that sociologists say we first start interacting with brands and assigning them values — sometimes values that hardly waver over the course of our lives.

I, for one, have always continued to associate Republicans with parade elephants. And I always will. Hmpf.

 

Shout out to Brand New.

Flicks to the Future

It’s a scientific fact: everything was better back in the day.

To put that maxim to the test, designer Peter Stults has created vintage movie poster mashups that combine today’s hottest box office hits (read: crap) with yesteryear’s coolest actors and designs. Consider it blockbusters from a bygone era.

Hell, before it just felt as if the plot of “Avatar” had been done a million times before — now here’s the proof.

Haute Art in the Hood

There are a few things I love: original art deco designs, iconic Chicago landmarks and blue collar Northside neighborhoods.

And now you can add the visionary work of local Chi-town artist StudioChris to the list, thanks to a series of pieces dedicated to the legendary landmarks of some of Chicago’s Northside ‘hoods.

Grab a piece of Windy City architecture for yourself at StudioChris.com.