J's WITH A HEEL?

The new Jordan 2009 shoe is ugs! WT!? Since the Jordan XI's, the line has been disappointing. Final word: This shoe is gross.

TIMBO'S

Thought I would post these. These aren't your normal Timbs that are synonymous with east cost/hip hop clientele, but more in line with a "There Will Be Blood"/Billy The Kid crowd. These are dope nonetheless. I am in need of boots.

REMINISCING ON AMAZEMENT

These album covers, or cassette tape covers when I was a kid, had an amazing impact on me. In fact, all of the Jackson 5/Michael Jackson albums, cd's, tapes, records, t-shirts, books or whatever was precious to me. All the covers of their albums, especially michael's "Dangerous" Album which featured the artwork of the incomparable Mark Ryden and "Thriller", though simple (come on it's THRILLER!!) were fascinating and keep sakes to me. Here are some of the images I remember as a kid, which have shaped some of my thoughts on fashion, music, and even design.

sidenote: My brother got a perm because of the Thriller album! Khmer guys everywhere were getting perms because of Thriller. Also, if you see the jackets from the Thriller or Beat it videos..please, please send me a link! It's like the Jordan 11's..so special.

PAPER CUTS

Designed by a golf club designer (William Mills) in 1915 the so called “Mills Bomb” is a classic design; a grooved cast iron 'pineapple' with a central striker held by a close hand lever and secured with a pin. The Grenade was used by armed forces world wide.

via: PAPER WARS.

LOOKING FOR MY WORK?

You can find just images HERE.

EARLY CHRISTMAS GIFT

I saw these and had to get them! What is more appetizing than having some dentures in your lemonade? Gorgeous.

TODAY I AM...

WEDDING INVITATIONS

From our wedding May 5th 2007.

UV PINK PRESS KIT

This was made a while ago, but I just got some pics of it. UV Lemonade had just been released, and we wanted to create a kit that would spark some interest in the product and the possibilities this UV flavor was bringing to the table. The kit consisted of a bottle of UV Lemonade, feather boa, pink flamingo desktop toy, press materials, recipes, and upon opening, a sound chip of a "party".

These kits went out to media, newpapers, bloggers, magazine editors, encouraging all to have their own pink flamingo party.

THESE GOT ME THROUGH THE DAY SATURDAY

-Naughty by Nature: Poverty's Paradise
-A Tribe Called Quest: The Low End Theory
-Sam Cooke: Live at The Harlem Square Club, 1963
-Das EFX: Dead Serious
-Beastie Boys: Hello Nasty
-Red Hot Chili Peppers: Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik
-Pixies: Bossanova
-Chromeo: Fancy Footwork

Also, some Wreckx-n-Effect, Luther Vandross, Trey Songs, Midnight Star, and Pattie Labelle.

BETSEY JOHNSON

A beautiful logotype. It's reminiscent of Alex Trochuts "Rolled Gold" type treatment for the Rolling Stones.

FRESH: CARHARTT X PORTER

It's been a minute, but maaan this HeadPorter x Carhartt Japan togetherness is nice. I'm a little sketchy on camouflage, only because it's overused so much. But, this combo is on point. Amazing.

MACROPHENOMENAL

This cover is dope! A nod to science with the Futura face, and a forward by Gilbert Arenas. They say don't judge a book by it's cover, but how can you go wrong with a cover like this. Hopefully I'll get shots of the pages soon.

FRIDAY DOPENESS

The amazing work of Raymond Savignac:

RANDOM

A drawing I did during a meeting this morning.

I"VE BEEN WORKING ON SOME NEW THINGS

...but I can't share them just yet. The launch for this brands redesign and campaign won't be until early 2009. However, I wanted to share a little bit of what it's all about. It involves full brand design (business suite, brand colors, identity, pattern, structure, and visual tone), packaging, campaign and connection planning. It's been one of the best projects I've had thus far, and I feel honored to be a part of it.

Keep a look out.

PERSONA OF A CROOK

"Persona of a Crook" is a collaboration between clothing label Crooks & Castles and PersonaMagazine. The packaging is what you would expect from Crooks, an aluminum case which alludes to the days of cash transactions between mobsters (or the catalyst of the storyline in Dumb and Dumber), the medusa graphic on the front of the case is cool, but I think it takes away from the sleekness. I do however love the script. The case comes with a limited edition Tee, 126 page book, and a disk from the Chef himself Raekwon. All of this for $150.00US.

VINTAGE FILSON

GORGEOUS! Filson for those that don't know, is one of America's original workwear brands. Since 1850, the outdoors brand associated with Field and Stream, Iron workers, railway workers, miners, and any other form of americana labor. Their product is amazing and strong. I'm eyeing a backpack for christmas! Here is a catalog cover (check out that type lockup..WOW):

VANS BLACK LEATHER 2009

The suede butters, leather toe and piping is killer. Loving the Chukka and Era's in this pack. Yum.

OH WELL...

And so, the heart of the Vikings defense is suspended for the next four games...meaning the last four games of the season, Translation: It's a wrap. Not to sound like a pessimist, but with Childress heading calls, an old Gus leading the team, one wide receiver worth throwing to, and a gaping hole in the defensive line, times will be tough.

Good Luck Vikes.

CONGRATS TO THE VIKES

My man A.P. was amazing lastnight against a decent Bears defense. Vikes are the leaders in the sad NFC north. Nonetheless, Adrian Peterson was superman. Could we be seeing the next generations Barry Sanders? (knock on wood)

MONDAY

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I am thankful for all of my family and friends! Thank you all for being in my life.

MILTON UN

The conundrums of branding oneself can be the easiest or most difficult part of being a designer..depending on the designer. Some feel as though they know exactly what they are, what they represent, and how they should be visually placed in the world. Creating an identity for myself however, wasn't/isn't that simple. Too many ideas, too little ideas, complex ideas, reminding yourself that simplicity is the ultimate goal or questioning the possibilities of a complex identity could speak to the various capabilities...etc. Indecision hell. Ultimately,what I needed to do is simplify, straighten and shorten paths.

So, this is it. No more changes. Like all great brands that we grasp to and have been embedded in our cultural fabric due to their undying consistency, I will attempt to do the same.Maybe not at the grandest of scale, but in principal. Paul Rand wanted to change the UPS logo "just slightly" and the people at UPS said "no", hopefully I will be able to tell myself the same thing.