Nov. 4th: Be heard today

The AIGA recently invited designers from across the United States to create nonpartisan posters that “inspire the American public to participate in the electoral process and vote for a presidential candidate in the 2008 general election.” The posters were all made available as printable PDFs, and 50 were selected and displayed during the 2008 national conventions in Denver and Minneapolis.

znormanvote08

Although there were many excellent posters submitted, the one shown above, by Zach Norman (AIGA Salt Lake City), is among my favorites. To choose your favorite, view the full collection of posters submitted.

Self-effacing self-promotion

jenius_mug_sidea jenius_mug_sideb

UPDATE – Aug. 2010 – We just found an unopened box of these “jenius juice” coffee mugs in an office supply closet, left over from this old promotion. Would you like one sent to you for free? Just be one of the first five people to name any animal that breeds annually in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Provide your answer via the comment field below. Each answer must be unique (no repeats). If you are one of the first five correct respondents, we’ll contact you privately via email for your preferred mailing address (shipping to United States only).

Poster for 2008 Breakers Marathon

I originally created this in a single color (navy blue) as a T-shirt design, then later adapted it for the poster (18″ x 24″) shown here (© Sproutreach).

breakers08_poster

The Amica Insurance Breakers Marathon, billed as “the smallest state’s longest race”, is held every October in Newport, Rhode Island. Proceeds from the race support the Providence Ronald McDonald House, a nonprofit providing services and temporary shelter for families with hospitalized children..

Typography fun for a cause: Part III

Stem Cells Image

Support Stem Cell Research Bumper Sticker

Available as a bumper sticker (10″ x 3″) or a T-shirt.

As the title of this blog entry suggests, I find type design to be fun. This particular use of typography might also be the most important design I’ve ever created.

stemcellsticker

A personal connection

Stem cell research has the potential to impact many diseases and injuries, including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autoimmune disease, blood diseases, leukemia, severe burns, spinal injuries, and many more. In fact, it is estimated that stem cell research has the potential to help over 100 million Americans who suffer from these and other diseases and injuries.

Among those 100 million lives is the one that is at the center of my world. It is the life of Lisa —my beautiful wife and my hero— a life which includes Type 1 diabetes and its many complications. My support for stem cell research is rooted in my love for Lisa and my desire to help others avoid the endless struggles she bravely faces in her fight against this disease.

Want to learn more about stem cell research?

Stem cell research, while a controversial issue, is also one of today’s most misunderstood issues. Regardless of one’s position or beliefs, information, and the sharing of that information, is critical to improving understanding. A great place to start is tellmeaboutstemcells.org.

Flock printing: “This is the air we breathe”

While conducting some research for a project several months ago, I came across the interesting work of Jenny Bergström, a designer and researcher in Stockholm. I was particularly intrigued by her 2007 research project entitled “This is the air we breathe…”, in which she uses a flock printing technique to display air pollution over time in an urban environment.

Flock Printing Photo

Above: Billboard revealing pollution over time via flock printing

You can view the progression of air pollution being revealed on this sign over time at Bergström’s website.

This is the air we breathe… provides instant feedback on our actions in the city. By using a technique for printing called ‘flock’ a dirt absorbing text or pattern can be printed on a less dirt absorbing surface and create a slow but direct response on pollution. People passing every day by car will be reminded of how they effect the urban environment.
In the city we are used to being approached by information from almost all directions. The commercialized urban environment consists of messages, constantly fighting for our attention, loud and/or with rapidly moving images. This is the air we breathe… uses another method in order to communicate. It demands time from the receiver and it does not deliver a straight answer.Jenny Bergström