Another Limited Rebellion

Fixing the Fractured Atlas

2012-02-14T08:30:00.027-05:00

ALR was recently asked to rebrand Fractured Atlas, the venerable nonprofit business services organization for artists.

For many years the company had used a logo that was a literal interpretation of their name, with the image of Atlas carrying a fractured Earth. However, many people interpreted it as implying the organization had roots in Ayn Rand-ian philosophy, which couldn't be further from the truth.

With a mandate of helping the organization to appear more modern, while erasing the existing misconceptions, we developed a logo that reframes the company name in terms of what they're doing: helping to fix a world that is already fractured.

We were specifically asked to create something that positioned them as an innovative organization, that was at the same time both approachable and dependable. And since their audience consists of a diverse range of artists (both visual and performing) it was important to create something broad enough to encompass everyone.

The resulting logo features a stylized compass rose which signifies that Fractured Atlas, not only acknowledges that the system is broken, but provides navigation & direction, blazing a trail through the mire.The multifaceted icon, which could imply the literal pieces of the fractured atlas, can also be seen as a representation of the diverse audience and the various creative directions in which they are going. The solid, strong square at the middle gives a sense of order to something that would otherwise be chaotic.

We also developed an updated stationery system for them, with the logo playfully bleeding off of the letterhead, and their tagline "Liberate the Artist" in bold text on the back of their business cards.

In addition to the logo we provided a visual update for their website. The challenge here was that the existing backend could not be dramatically changed, so a skin had to be designed that could create an entirely new look based on this updated branding, while conforming to a fairly rigid set of technical and structural parameters. The colors of the logo were used to break up the site into visually distinct sections, that made it easier to navigate the vast amount of information contained within.

Happily they've received immediate praise for the new look, when they reached out to the membership about it via their blog shortly after it was launched.

Find out more about Fractured Atlas and see their rebranding in action on their site HERE.

Professional Muse

2012-02-13T08:30:00.060-05:00

My wife recently started a new venture doing executive coaching and creative therapy, so of course I volunteered to design her business cards. We wanted to make something that expressed her unique sense of style and set her apart from other people in the field. Casting herself as a "professional muse" we decided to make a card that you could possibly imagine a magical creature of lore might actually hand you...

The card is laser etched & cut. There's no ink on it at all. What you're seeing is just the green color of the paper and the lighter color of the type & image results from how it reacts to the laser.

My friends at BIG SECRET did the laser work and, as always, went above and beyond to make sure that this unusual piece came out exactly how we wanted it.

Need inspiration for your own business venture? Jessica is available to give you some professional musing today!

The DoGooder Nonprofit Video Awards

2012-02-11T11:53:00.001-05:00

Hey nonprofits here's your chance to get some attention (and money) for what you're doing...

The 6^th Annual DoGooder Nonprofit Video Awards Now Open for Submissions

The Nonprofit Video Awards is designed to recognize the creative and effective use of video to promote the work of the nonprofit sector in catalyzing social good.

$14,000 in cash prizes and up to $6,000 in products to be divided amongst the winning organizations. Winners must be members or signed up for the YouTube Nonprofit Program—a special program that YouTube designed to help nonprofits achieve their missions through video.

The four contest winners will be featured on the YouTube homepage and receive free registrations to the Nonprofit Technology Network's (NTEN) signature event, the Nonprofit Technology Conference.

Submissions will be accepted until February 29th, when a panel of expert judges will select four finalists in four categories: Best Small Organization Video, Best Medium Organization Video, Best Large Organization Video, and Best Video Storytelling (awarded to the organization that uses video to tell the most compelling, human stories).

Finalists will be announced on April 5^th.

Organizations can enter the contest by going to www.youtube.com/nonprofitvideoawards.

Where's Ralph Waldo Emerson?

2012-02-07T12:13:00.002-05:00

Working Theater recently commissioned me to create an image for their new production, the off-Broadway premier of Call Me Waldo by Rob Ackerman.

Since the show is about a electrician who begins channeling the spirit of poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. I proposed that I create a portrait of Emerson out of only materials that electricians would use. I scoured the local reclaimed building material store for the 100+ outlets and switches I needed to create this image. In additional I used electrical wire for details and background. There's no Photoshop trickery here; all details are created with the actual items including a couple of wire caps for the dots of light in the pupils.

My initial version of the image (below) was much more minimalist, but it's also rather somber and didn't reflect the comedic quality of the show, thus the addition of the wire which brought in both color and movement to the piece.

If you're in the NYC are you can see the show starting February 14. Details can be found HERE.

Design Rebels 2012

2012-02-06T20:00:00.000-05:00

I will be once again be teaching Design Rebels, my course on socially conscious design, in the Graphic Design department at Virginia Commonwealth University this fall. But for the first time since I created the course, back in 2003, I will be joined by a co-teacher: Bizhan Khodabandeh. Bizhan is not only a friend and fellow socially conscious designer, but he was actually a student in my very first Design Rebels class! He's already designed this poster to encourage students to sign up for the class (which is an elective)...

I look forward to seeing how this new collaboration will take Design Rebels to another level. Expect a post or two after the semester starts. In the meantime, you can see some of the previous projects created by Design Rebels students HERE.

Peace Begins At Home

2012-01-14T15:59:00.009-05:00

I was recently asked to design a custom license plate in support of healthy relationships by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance. The result is this "Peace Begins at Home" plate that is now available for pre-order...

If you're a Virginia resident please consider making this your new license plate. It's just $25, with a proceeds going to support the Building Healthy Futures fund. They need to get 450 orders by the end of the month or the plate won't get made at all, so you can really make a difference by signing up now.

More information is HERE.

Variety Pack - a night of inspired creativity in NYC

2012-01-04T12:49:00.001-05:00

We want you to be inspired in 2012! So, we have invited a diverse group of the most creative performers we know to entertain you with their talents and answer your questions about how they do it...

Join us in New York City on Wednesday January 18th for

Variety Pack

an evening of inspired creativity featuring our panel of experts:

$8, Doors 8pm

This is an intimate venue with limited seating, so arrive early!

Jimmy's No. 43 - craft beer and delicious locavore cuisine!

43 East 7th St. btwn 2nd and 3rd Ave. NYC

6 to Astor Place or R/W to 8th St. or F to 2nd Ave.

Unstuck Book Release Party: Richmond, VA

2011-11-22T08:30:00.000-05:00

Richmond friends please come out celebrate the release of my new book Unstuck...

Saturday, December 3rd

5-7pm

Chop Suey Books

2913 W. Cary St.

Richmond, VA

804.422.8066

Hope to see you there!

Radical Gardening: Plant The Piece

2011-11-21T08:30:00.000-05:00

In 2004 I co-created the guerrilla gardening art project Plant The Piece with Christopher Humes in which we made handguns out of dirt & plant seeds. To brand the project I developed a logo inspired by the classic photo of a flower being placed in the barrel of a gun.

The project initially ran for nine months here in Richmond, Virginia and then took on another life online and eventually ended up in galleries across the globe.

Then earlier this year I was contacted by a designer who was working in the UK on a new book about guerrilla gardening she asked if she could use a version of the logo on the cover.

Since the original image wasn't made for commercial purposes I decided to update it and also create it as a spray paint stencil to go with the aesthetic of the book cover as already designed.

More information about the book Radical Gardening can be found HERE.

My new book Unstuck is in stores today!

2011-11-15T08:30:00.000-05:00

My new book Unstuck: 52 Ways to Get (and Keep) Your Creativity Flowing at Home, at Work & in Your Studio is officially in stores as of today!

It features 52 creativity boosting projects, that are arranged by time commitment from 30 seconds to several hours, and is designed to be used by anyone, regardless of age, profession, or level of skill.

The book also features interviews with a dozen of my favorite inspiring people and how they deal with their own roadblocks to creativity.

In addition there are sidebars with even more projects to get your creative wheels turning.

And it includes plenty of blank space to use as you see fit!

I hope you'll pick up a copy today. As always I recommend supporting your local independent bookstore if you still have one, but if not you can also order online at Powells, Amazon.com, Qbookshop, Barnes & Noble, and Chapters/Indigo.

Unstuck Book Signing: NYC

2011-11-09T08:30:00.000-05:00

The first book signing event for my newest book Unstuck: 52 Ways to Get (and Keep) Your Creativity Flowing at Home, at Work & in Your Studio will be next week in NYC!

Friday, November 18th

6-8pm

@ Kidrobot New York

118 Prince Street
SOHO, NYC
212.966.6688

Hope to see you there!

Skulls in NYC

2011-11-08T11:30:00.000-05:00

Krause Gallery in NYC will be exhibiting a selection of objects and images from my Skull-A-Day project this month!

The show opens Thursday, November 17th with a reception from 6–9pm.
If you're in the area I hope you'll come by and say hi!

The show runs through mid-December so even if you can't make the opening there'll be plenty of time to see the work in person.

Krause Gallery
149 Orchard St.
Lower East Side, NYC
212-777-7799

Wed-Sun 12-6pm
Mon-Tue By Appointment

image: Nude Skull

The 99% Vote

2011-11-07T08:30:00.001-05:00

My friend Bizhan Khodabandeh was inspired by my 99% design to create his own Occupy Wall Street poster...

You can download a PDF of this poster via his site HERE.

99% Art in Action II

2011-11-02T08:30:00.000-04:00

My ever vigilant friend Phoebe spotted my 99% art in use in a beauty salon in Brooklyn!...

99% Tee Too

2011-11-01T09:06:00.000-04:00

I decided to make a slightly different version of my 99% design on Zazzle so that it would work on lighter colored shirts as well...

You can get this version HERE.

And you can still get the original design on red (and other darker colored shirts) HERE.

As before, all profits will be donated to support the Occupy Wall Street movement.

99% Art in Action

2011-10-26T10:41:00.000-04:00

I was delighted to get this photo from my friend Phoebe of an unnamed protestor holding a custom made sign for the NYC General Assembly featuring my 99% design at Zuccotti Park where Occupy Wall Street is taking place!

You can download my art for your own use HERE.

And T-shirts with the graphic are available from Zazzle HERE (all profits go to support the Occupy Wall Street movement).

CD Package Design: Lightning Slingers and Dead Ringers

2011-10-25T08:30:00.000-04:00

I recently designed this CD package for Lisa Moore's new EP Lightning Slingers and Dead Ringers from Cantaloupe Music...

The typography is all hand painted and the image was one taken by Lisa herself. The disc is a follow-up to her EP Seven.

More information can be found on the album page HERE.

CD Package Design: Baroque Tardif

2011-10-24T08:30:00.000-04:00

I recently designed this package for the new Florent Ghys album Baroque Tardif from Cantaloupe Music...

Florent specifically asked for something that was minimalist and had a rich feel to it.

The title on the cover is reflective gold foil. The image, an illustration by Romain Cadillhon, is printed in gloss varnish on a matte varnish background on the outside of the package and in gold ink on the interior and disc.

For more about the CD including audio samples check out its page on the Cantaloupe site HERE.

Jerky Activism

2011-10-21T15:14:00.002-04:00

I'm at a loss for what a company (and ostensibly the designer behind it) is thinking when they create a campaign like this. "Hey, let's co-opt the hip aesthetics of social activism to sell cheap processed meat products!" Seriously?! I just can't imagine the audience for either has much overlap. But maybe I'm wrong. Ug.

Here's a nice article giving a history of this icon, prior to its use in highway side convenience stores in southern Virginia.

Secret Heart Wedding Invitations

2011-10-18T09:11:00.000-04:00

I recently designed these wedding invitations made from vintage books...

I decided it would be fun to create a bit of a mystery for people who were invited, so they were just sent what looked like a normal book, with a ribbon bookmark that was tied to a small wooden key.

Inside they discovered a heart shaped lock fit snugly into a hole inside the book.

The lock had to be removed and turned over to discover a URL which led to a website that explained the details of this destination event.

The wooden pieces are laser etched bamboo and the books were laser cut (all by my friend Jason at Big Secret) and then the entire thing was hand assembled and delivered in a large sturdy envelope.

Blog Action Day: Food

2011-10-16T08:30:00.037-04:00

Today is Blog Action Day and this year's topic is Food.

You are what you eat. It's a phrase we hear all the time and yet, it seems that most people don't take it to heart. I think of it when I hear people complaining about how expensive it is to buy local/organic food and I think of it when I hear people bragging about the bargains they got on large quantities of mass-produced, highly processed food, at national chain-stores. We live in a culture in the US that has made food consumption about cost and quantity rather than taste and quality. And it's killing us, literally from the inside out.

And it's not just about your personal health, there are many reasons that it's important to make conscious choices about the food you eat. Here's just a sampling:

The health and well-being of the workers that grow, pick, & process food.
The health and well-being of animals that are used for food.
The affect on the environment by large scale food production, including cattle ranching.
The lack of access to healthy food by people all over the world (even in the US).

I made a choice several years ago that I would eat lower on the food chain (i.e. be vegetarian), support local food producers/sellers as much as possible, and that I would avoid non-organic and GM (Genetically Modified) foods at all costs. It turns out that once you stop seeing those other options as actual food, it's really not that hard to do.

As for the cost? Americans currently spend a smaller percentage of their income on food than ever before (in 1949 it was 22%, in 2009 it was just 10% via). So where is the rest of our money going? Obviously we've been convinced that the consumer products we buy are more important than the things we ingest and ultimately incorporate into our bodies!

So where do you start? Luckily there are tons of excellent resources out there for people interested in starting to think about their food differently. Here are just a few great ways to begin...

Watch the documentary Food, Inc. it does a good job of covering the gamut of issues that surround what's on your plate.

Read Michael Pollan's succint In Defense of Food. Also worth reading is his book Omnivore's Dilemma.

Get the facts about healthy food from the Center for Science in The Public Interest.

Check out the Slow Food movement that encourages thoughtful eating.

Find a local Farmer's Market to shop at, you might be surprised at how affordable local can be.

Join a CSA (Consumer Supported Agriculture) group to really get to know where your food is coming from.

Happy eating!

99% Tee

2011-10-11T13:18:00.001-04:00

Just put up a quick T-shirt design on Zazzle using my 99% design...

All profits will be donated to support the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Get yours HERE.

Eye In The Sky

2011-10-10T08:30:00.001-04:00

Artist Marcos Zotes shared his intriguing video installation from this year's Nuit Blanche in Greenpoint, Brooklyn which happened on October 1st. I'm a big fan of large-scale public art installations, especially when they question the increasing amount of control private concerns have over public spaces. He explains,

"CCTV/Creative Control seeks to question the oppressive mechanisms and discourses implemented in the city through the temporary appropriation of public space. The intervention consists of a video projection displaying an over-sized eye onto the lower surface of the 10-storey-hight Milton Street water tower in Brooklyn, New York. Still the highest point in the area, until it is dwarfed by new gentrification plans, the water tower exists as a relic of the neighbourhood’s industrial past. The intervention temporarily transforms this iconic landmark into a discernible CCTV tower, raising questions of private control over public space in the urban context. By intervening in the everyday order of contemporary urban life, CCTV/Creative Control aims at both producing moments of antagonism –however transitory, fragmentary or ephemeral– and finding new ways to practice the city, not simply as consumers but as creators."

I only wish I could've seen it in person.

Occupy Wall Street Visuals

2011-10-09T03:59:00.001-04:00

Here is a nice web site called owni.fr, with some photos and visuals concerning the "Occupy Wall Street" movement. A Lot of links too if you want to follow the movement on the net or if you want to take it to the street. Nice analyses.

The website is in French but all the links are in English though.

Occupy Wall Street Posters

2011-10-07T18:23:00.006-04:00

Inspired by the Occupy Wall Street protestors I've created a few posters that are free to download and use as you please. Click on the images for giant files or use the links below them for PDFs.

Get the PDF

[UPDATE] This was a tagline I had initially considered and per request I have added it as an option...

Get the PDF.

Be sure to check out the posters created by my friend John Emerson and as well the ones from Josh at Just Seeds. There's also an ongoing online collection of them to be found HERE.

You can also now buy T-shirts with my image on it HERE.

And you can see it in use in NYC HERE and HERE.