Friday, February 25, 2011

Found Fridays: Matchbooks

The Mermaid Inn:




The Standard (Chris Johanson Illustration):



Vintage Chester Ferry:



Love the map on the inside:

Vintage Watch Ads







Came across these gems today while sifting around the internet. Leave it to the Swiss to make even the best watch ads.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Recently Purchased: Help, I Have Allergies

So there I was--my second time to Duane Reade in 20 minutes. Nose running, eyes watering, nervous about wether or not my co-workers have noticed me wiping my nose for the past hour. I had just bought Sudafed for my sinuses but I realized that I was just having allergies from something in the office building, possibly from the paint they’re using at the new office across the hall. Being an intern, I definitely didn't want to be perceived as the "sick guy" at work who uses the same tissue over and over again, but sadly I was slowly reaching that status. I needed to do something. So I returned to Duane Reade, grabbed a travel pack of Zyrtec for an over priced 8 dollars and searched for a single travel pack of tissues. For some reason the travel size tissues come in what seems like an 18 pack or something--all I needed was one. (This is something I will never understand as I refuse to buy 18 of anything besides beer.) Not giving in to their sales ploy I decided to just use toilet paper for the rest of the day. I didn’t care about the chapped discomfort my nose would soon be feeling, I most certainly didn't want to arrive back at the office with a plethora of tissues all for myself. Defeated and soon to be broke, I made my way towards the cashier when I came across this:


I didn’t want to get my hopes up though. Was it possible that there’s such a thing as a well designed, cleverly written, personable pharmaceutical product that seems like it’s made for design nerds? And for under 4 dollars? Am I seeing things? So I reached for it and thankfully, I was not hallucinating from the Sudafed--this product was real. I was as happy and thankful as an allergenic grade schooler with a new inhaler. I clenched it tight and walked towards the cashier. I placed my new product on the counter and what do you know, I even found a single pack of travel tissues. I was overjoyed. It seemed like my allergies had already been lifted out of my face and I hadn't even gotten past geeking out over the clever copy on the back. I returned to the office, proud to place my newly purchased allergy medicine on my desk. I popped a pill, and let it help me get through the rest of my day. I never thought I'd fully back medicine brand the way I do now, but it works. I guess they know their audience. And as it turns out, not only do they make a good product, they have a good website too. Cleverly written, fun stuff to do, t-shirts to buy, etc. Check it out and see what other products they have as well.
Thanks for the help, Help.

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What is Graphic Design?

What is graphic design? from Design Council on Vimeo.


From the British Design Council. Good Watch.

Adios LA

Designer Jon Jackson announces his departure from LA in a unique way of billboards:

Adios LA from Christopher Szadkowski on Vimeo.






From Jon's site:
“Adios LA is a visual goodbye to the city Jon Jackson has called home for years as the artist heads east making New York his new home. Not wanting to string LA along, he has decided to firmly break it off through a graphic billboard series posted on the famous streets of his first love.Jon Jackson has spent nearly his entire life wearing shorts living in LA. He is now zipping the pant legs back on and moving east. Jon is leaving Los Angeles to work for HUGE as a Creative DIrector in Brooklyn”

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Currently Listening: Destroyer


Listening to the new Destroyer album a lot. One word: sexy.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Subway Sounds


Thought of this today while I was waiting for the J train for too long in the freezing rain. Hate the J train. Be patient.

Google Creative Lab's Alexander Chen turned the train paths of the New York subway into an interactive instrument at mta.me. Chen used the MTA's real subway schedule, so trains start their journey in real-time.

Via Creativity Online.