Just a note to let everyone know that my blog is currently on hiatus. Porcupines Float originally intended to operate as several things, first as an easily-updatable portfolio of my work, and second (and most importantly) as a design- and typography-centric blog for which the development of content would engage my other passions besides strict graphic design: Writing and random outbursts of creativity.
Somehow, as the posts gradually drifted towards “look-at-what-I-found-on-the-Internet-today-isn’t-that-cool?” and as I became more and more dissatisfied with the way it showcased my portfolio, Porcupines Float lost sight of its purpose. There are enough “cool shit” blogs out there, the collective creative-concsious of the Internet doesn’t need that kind of contribution from me. I am a creator of others’ blog topics, not a blogger of others’ creative.
So, in conjunction with re-design of my personal identity, as well as two other exciting upcoming endeavors, I’m re-evaluating what my personal web site is suppposed to be and the role it fulfills for me personally.
Hope that all makes sense!
Love,
Darrin
Apparently this idea a few years old (I guess MUJI doesn’t actually do this anymore), but my AD just dripped this off on my desk — a two-inch by two-inch cube, containing a tightly-folded, vaccum-wrapped T-shirt. Pretty rad idea, apparently when you open it up the wrinkle effect is so cool that you never actually want to wash the shirt. Plus the merchandising possibilities are endless…
Sorry for the poor photo quality, I took it with my iPhone.
Take a peak at this amazing collection of found-object robots… as a collector of all things tiny robot, I think these are quite swell. Buy them for me!
I always seem to post links of found-object alphabets, but this has to be one of my favorites ever:
From Amandine Alessandra.
… and I say that not as a graphic designer for their chief rival, but rather as an avid NBA supporter who happens to appreciates a well designed sports uniform. Sometimes, Adidas team sports does it well. Other times… well, they don’t. At all.
Observe, the uniforms for the upcoming NBA All-Star game:
I’ve been intensely following the NBA All-Star balloting for the past few weeks, mostly in hopes to see one Brandon Roy get his rightful place on the West’s squad. But, after observing the coture which Adi has unveiled for this annual match-up between the world’s greatest players, I would almost rather BRoy not make the cut and spend the rest of the season as a martyr to the city of Portland. It would certainly be better than dropping 18 and 8 wearing what appears to be the title sequence to any number of ’80s action movies.
Shudder.
Of course, this isn’t the first time this has happened. Last year’s two-tone uniforms (white front/gold back for the West, blue front/grey back for the East) made the game nearly unwatchable, as there appeared to be four teams on the court and any given time. But at least the type was interesting:
I honestly don’t know how they even knew who to throw the ball to.
An very interesting conversation is happening over on Context Response regarding the ethics of assimilating an individual designer’s portfolio into the collective body of work of a studio. The confusing circumstance in which several studios claiming credit for the same work due to employee migration is a sensitive one, and is yet all-too-common.
I’ve participated in many similar discussions with colleagues, as credit and attribution is an notably bizarre grey area within graphic design. The problem seems especially prevalent here in the NW, as the (tiny) Portland design community — along with the sport apparel giants which comprise the majority of the client base here — seems to create a recipe for incestuous bodies of work.
I certainly don’t know what the answer is, and I assume it has a great deal to do with the integrity of the people involved, and the legal agreements made between studios, clients, designers and freelancers. All of which is fraught with complication. I have a friend who was forced, at the threat of litigation, to remove work from her portfolio after leaving the studio where the work was done, despite being the lone creative force behind it. Conversely, I have also known a designer who was paid a retainer from a studio solely for the use of his client list.
I like to think of our community as being a close-knit brotherhood — friends and colleges and competitors all working together to further our craft and make the world a better and more beautiful place through design. Very often the reality is far different, where competition, cut-throat business tactics and survival-of-the-fittest mentalities rule.
Anyway, food for thought I guess.
Why, I’m feeling twittery… perhaps I’ve had too much coffee.
Meet Helbotica, a T-shirt from the Chop Shop. Cute.
Thanks, Erin, for sending this my way.
Recent Comments