Danner made dozens of boots for the film Wild, based off of the book by Cheryl Strayed. You can purchase them for $299.

The Game Before the Game

Beats by Dre just wowed me with their new ad for the World Cup. Done with the help of ad agency R/GA and The Sword Fight, it features "Jungle" by Jamie N Commons and the X Ambassadors. I particularly enjoy how it conveys the sense of excitement, competitiveness, and pure pride of cheering for one's team in the World Cup. I love the palpable energy that is felt around the world no matter what country you cheer for in these games.

Faust

Catskills Art Trip: Bomb Shelter from The Lincoln Motor Company on Vimeo.

Faust does a great job inscribing this awesome quote:

"A tart temper never mellows with age, and a sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener with constant use." (Washington Irving)

 

Field Notes: County Fair Edition

Field Notes Brand: From Seed from Coudal Partners on Vimeo.

No, this is not an episode of Hoarders; this is Aaron Draplin's beautiful collection of memo books. He was inspired to make Field Notes with the help of Coudal Partners in Chicago. (Aaron is also the founder of Draplin Design Co. in Portland, OR.)

I just received the 3-pack limited County Fair Edition and can't wait to start using them:

Painter, Rich Pellegrino

Rich Pellegrino celebrated as Big Cartel's 250,000th store. I found this video inspiring.


Big Cartel celebrates 250,000 stores from Big Cartel on Vimeo.

California

Check out this beautiful video on the wonderful state of California. "It's a place where dreamers end up."


Visit California! from Paper Fortress on Vimeo.

Superbowl 48:

Okay, so I was disappointed in this year's Superbowl. I think it would have been more exciting if it were a rematch between the Seahawks and the 49ers, especially with the Richard Sherman drama. The commercials seemed to have the overall theme of nationalism. Some of them I enjoyed, but there is such a strong feeling of American tradition in the championships of sports, from the World Series to the Olympics, that this connection does not need to be overstated. Yes, I'm proud to be an American. Yes, I agree with the values that have made this country great. I am thankful that many people of many different cultures may come together in acceptance as free people and call this land home. I don't necessarily need ads telling me this every single commercial break, unless it's done really beautifully.

Here are my favorite 5 spots:

1. Chrysler featuring Bob Dylan "America's Import":



Global Hue made this spot featuring Bob Dylan, a switch from Wieden+Kennedy (Portland, OR) which produced the last Chrysler Superbowl commercials, "It's Halftime in America" and "Imported From Detroit". Some may worry that it is a rehash of the past two spots highlighting the strength of America, specifically Detroit, in trying times, but the writing still comes off beautiful. This edition reviews the originality and creativity of America, and who better to narrate but this icon of American folk music? I know a lot of fans are viewing this as a sellout, but I still enjoyed it.


2. Budweiser, "Puppy Love":



Directed by Jake Scott and developed by Anomaly (New York, NY), this is possibly the public's favorite pick. It's heartwarming and has the iconic Clydesdales, true to the brand.


3. RadioShack, "The Phone Call":



Directed by Frank Todaro and produced by GSD&M (Austin, TX), this spot shows that RadioShack isn't afraid of admitting truth and poking fun at itself. I love when brands can do this- recognize a valid public observation and work to make it better. This commercial is fun and as over-the-top as the 80's itself. Totally radical.


4. Coca-Cola, "Going All The Way":

5.

Directed by Jake Scott and produced by Wieden+Kennedy (Portland, OR), I liked how cute this spot is, because Adrian appears to be the underdog and ends up having fun as he goes the extra mile to Lambeau Field. I also enjoy the nod back to the iconic Mean Joe Green commercial ('79) with the "Hey, kid". (Did anyone else catch that?)


5. Maserati featuring Quvenzhané Wallis, "Strike":



Directed by David Gordon Green and produced with the help of Wieden+Kennedy (Portland, OR), this spot features the young actress from Beasts of the Southern Wild. I enjoy the beautiful nature shots in the beginning, progressing into views of humans designing, crafting, and engineering, as if preparing something vital and unbeatable. It reveals the new Maserati Ghibli, and although it is a lovely-looking sportscar, I find it a little off paired with the beautiful writing. Maybe it's because I can't imagine this girl choosing a $67,000 Maserati over her father's humble fishing boat in Beasts of the Southern Wild.


Here are several more commercials I see worth mentioning:

Coca-Cola, "America the Beautiful":


Again by Wieden+Kennedy, this showcases the diversity of the United States standing one as a nation.  It is filled with wonderful memories of camping, roadtripping, swimming, enjoying family, and skating, among other things. "America the Beautiful" is played in the background, but edited to capture different voices and languages throughout.

This proved to be controversial. Twitter blew up. Conservatives were outrages that they would take a fundamentally-Christian patriotic song about unity and break it into different languages. Glenn Beck weighed in on it being a dividing factor between racism and progression toward immigration-- so black and white!

This commercial was designed with a message that everyone can enjoy Coca-Cola, and this nation is built on diversity. We are united as a nation and should celebrate and accept differences. It is what makes us different and stronger for it. I liked the commercial, but I think Coca-Cola can do better, too.


GoDaddy, "Bodybuilder":



This caught me by surprise since Danica Patrick is playing a different role, uncommon for the usually sexual Go-Daddy spots. She outruns bodybuilders to the tanning salon- haha! I like their diversion from the sleazy commercials they are common for. Made by Deutsch (New York, NY), it's still entertaining and it reaches a wider audience.


Esurance:



Oh Esurance, you are smart on this one. Not only did they buy the cheaper spot, but they used it to the advantage by offering to give away over a million dollars if viewers would tweet about it. Made by Leo Burnett, they set off a mass promotion on Twitter that landed them a trending spot (in fact, it's still going now, 24 hours later). Well played, Esurance. You won king of social media this year. And who doesn't like to look at John Krasinski? He's one of the most handsome, down-to-earth, funny and sweet guys to have as a spokesperson.


Honestly, overall, I was a little disappointed in the ads and the game this year. There were some good parts, but I found the whole thing underwhelming. I wished that there were more ads that assumed a clever audience rather than elaborate on themes we already know. I wanted more play and strategy with social media. It's the Superbowl! Go all out! I hope that next year will make up for this year's shortcomings.

More striking calligraphy from Luca Barcellona. Lyrics from the song "How Low" by Jose Gonzalez. For closer images, go to The Fox Is Black (great blog).

Clint Eastwood, 'nuff said.

I thought this ad was inspiring and beautiful. I loved the one last year by Chrysler, and this year, they extended the spirit from Detroit to the country. Nice pep talk, Clint. As cheesy as it sounds, it makes me even prouder to be an American.

Things I see around the city

This city surprises me daily with subtle beautiful things that wait around every corner. I've never wanted a camera so badly, just to carry around and capture all the small nuances that make me smile. I'm taking these with my camera phone, so the quality isn't as good as I'd like, but it's something.

The Taj Mahal? No, it's the Conservatory of Flowers!

Loved the color of this lion next to the indigo doors:

Saw "The Creak" and "The Trespassers" at a show in a small local pub on Saturday. They were a great bluegrass band, and I met a new friend!

I found a "me" place, meaning a niche out of the way from the general public, a place for solace.

I love the blue in Claes Oldenburg's sculpture next to the brilliant yellow leaves:

This would be the kind of graffiti/chalk drawings in San Francisco:

The "Checks Cashed" place here is better than the one in your city (only because it has a more elaborate roof)!

I didn't know such a thing as "Lawn Bowling" existed, prior to today.

This one reminds me of an Edward Hopper painting. I think it's the harsh highlights and the lonely windows and spire in that tower on the right.

A view of the city from the top of a park that I discovered today. I could see the Golden Gate bridge from here, so I painted it.

Requiem for a Dream, condensed in 30 seconds.

My roommate mentioned that Darren Aronofsky had recently directed some new ads for the campaign against meth, featured on methproject.org. He released the public service announcements earlier this month.

Aronofsky is my favorite director, ever since I saw Requiem for a Dream (2000). He continued to amaze me with The Wrestler (2008) and Black Swan (2010). He has such a talent for drawing the viewer in and connecting them so closely to the main character, then proceeds to drag them through a train wreck (albeit a beautiful one).

Take his talent for manufacturing an intensely uncomfortable and bizarre scenario, mix it with a bit of terror and disorientation, direct it toward a substance, and you've got a great meth campaign. Brilliant.

“We were thrilled to collaborate with top-tier talent like Darren Aronofsky, the animation house Studio AKA, and photographer Ron Haviv on this campaign,” said Brad Mancuso, Executive Creative Director, Organic. “Darren had a true understanding of addiction as the main character of the TV spots, and his ability to see and bring to life the darker side of the human spirit was inspiring.” (via The New York Egotist)

Some debate that people aren't easily persuaded by scare tactics, but "since the Meth Project launched in 2006, meth use has declined 65 percent in Arizona, 63 percent in Montana and 52 percent in Idaho." (ABC News) That's pretty significant, I'd say. I'm glad to see another way that effective visual media influences culture positively.

Ireland Lake

On this cold and rainy Friday evening at my new place in San Francisco, I find myself missing this backpacking trip I took one weekend with a dear friend of mine who is now halfway across the country en route to New Orleans.

Tommy had this great idea to hike to Ireland Lake from Twolumne, through Lyell Canyon. We backpacked 10 miles and reached the lake before sunset. Upon arriving, we refilled our Nalgenes with ice cold water from the lake. It was the purest water I've ever tasted, free from chlorine or chemicals. Tommy cooked Ramen and tea afterward, and we both walked out into the boulder field nearby, reflecting in silence at the magnificent sunset.

"Vibrant pinks, deep blues, and purples stretched across the sky, staining the mountains in color. Night visibly invaded the last light of day. It was somber, so beautiful it could make you cry. It just all feels so vast, and I'm so small. I feel an unspeakable void within me- maybe the potential for my life, what I could do, who I could be, who I will love. I don't think I've felt so connected with God this whole summer." (September 8, 2011)

Mountaintop experience- literally. It wasn't that everything felt perfect and came together at that moment, in fact, I had been going through a few things and felt mixed up with life. I was tired from the hike, uncomfortably cold and not used to the lower temperature at the higher elevation (which Tommy found funny because he's from Michigan). But as uncertain as things were in my life at that time, I felt a great sense of purpose and love and connection to the universe all at once. It had something to do with God and the span of time, but was too magnanimous to wrap my mind around. It was very deep and spiritual.

I have such a capacity for love, and I'm burning with life. I'm thankful for this chance I've been given. I won't use it idly.

In honor of Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs gave an inspiring commencement address at Stanford University in 2005:

“I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.”

Quote of the day

"I [internalized] this idea that it didn’t matter whether I was called an artist or a designer or an illustrator or whatever else it was. The core value was always the act of making things, and the transformation of an idea that you hold in your mind that becomes real or material. That, to me, still is the glory of any creative activity.”

(Milton Glaser)

Where I've been

Let me explain my hiatus. After spending months looking for jobs while freelancing on the side, I decided to take a short break and find a small summer job in a magnificent place- just for the experience, since I'm young and want to travel. I decided to take a risk. Usually, I would keep plugging away trying to find a position in my career field, and I am definitely passionate about it, but I needed a change and time to refocus.

Although I usually resist change, I grow impatient from getting stuck in cycles. I crave inspiration and a better understanding of what generates great ideas and a productive work process for me. I believe that expanding my experiences gives me more to draw from, therefore making my work better.

I left for Yosemite in late May and drove across the country with some friends from highschool. We stopped in Texas for a night and continued the drive all night until we reached the Grand Canyon, then Yosemite late the next night after. I remember arriving that night and feeling so alienated from this place. It was dark and I got lost in the camp easily. I felt so new and wasn't sure how the place could become my home for the next few months. Then I woke up the next morning, stepped out of the tent, and realized I was surrounded by towering cliffs and magnificent trees. Walking toward the main part of the village, I saw the gigantic waterfall in the distance and passed wide meadows. It was a sensory overload that almost made me cry, as cheesy as it sounds.

Over these past few months, I've had a myriad of experiences, each enhancing my growth. I've seen absolutely beautiful things and met some amazing people. This place has become my temporary home. I've gotten used to storing all of my food in a bear box, accustomed to community kitchens and limited storage space. I have found the places I go in the woods when I need time alone- a favorite rock that cradles my body just right or the log beside the river which is the only place I can nap. It is a comfortable life here, but I know I must leave it soon.

I'm getting restless again. I love to travel, to see new things and meet people. I love people; I really do. I want to get to know them on a deeper level that means something. I want to love them in the most simplest and innocent way. I was discussing with one of my good friends here how interesting the divide of cultures can be, but how universal humans remain at the same time.

I feel remote from the world around me. These granite walls tower above on all sides, in the midst of them lie meadows and rivers. Sometimes it feels safe; sometimes it feels imprisoning. If I had no desire to know much of "the real world", I could go years without looking at the news and remain untroubled about whatever goes on outside of the park.

But I can't do that. I want to express and communicate and affect people's lives- even down to the minor ways I treat strangers. I've been wanting to design. I've been wanting to paint. Taking watercolors into a nearby field has its charm, but I want a studio where I can build canvases again and cover them wildly in brilliant colors. I need a place for the purpose of working, not just making money. I need a place where I can do my own work, the kind that makes me feel I am working toward my purpose, not the kind of days being repeated in a long redundant cycle.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Designers on Failure

I saw this on Swiss Miss blog (who got it from Brain Pickings).

The Berghs' Exhibition 2011 asked some world-renown creatives to speak on the topic of failure. I have included several of my favorites- definitely listen to Milton Glaser's answer. You can watch more on Vimeo.

There's only one solution, and it relates to what I was saying earlier: you must embrace failure. You must admit what is. You must find out what you are capable of doing and what you are not capable of doing. That is the only way to deal with the issue of success and failure because otherwise, you simply will never subject yourself to the possibility that you are not as good as you want to be, hope to be, or as others think you are (but that is, of course, delusional). So my advice, finally, about fear of failure, which is a kind of romantic idea: there is only one way out- embrace the failure. (Milton Glaser)

Designers Wally Olins and Michael Wolff gave great responses as well.

Stefan Sagmeister – on the fear of failure. from Berghs' Exhibition '11 on Vimeo.

Milton Glaser – on the fear of failure. from Berghs' Exhibition '11 on Vimeo.

Paulo Coelho – on the fear of failure. from Berghs' Exhibition '11 on Vimeo.

Mean Girls trailer, even more Disney:

Olive and Sinclair Southern Artisan Chocolate

I recently acquired a bar of Southern Artisan Chocolate made by Olive and Sinclair. Even though I love chocolate, I usually don't spend $5 for one bar, but the packaging (seen on the Dieline) stopped me cold and I just had to have it. (Packaging wins again.) I like the Victorian feel to it which adds character and a sense of genuine craft, like it's a trusted brand, a bit weathered and down-to-earth goodness all in a chocolate bar. Buy some now- they even have a letterpress variety pack!

Anderson Design Group created the logo, packaging, and promotional posters, which went on to win best of show at the Nashville ADDY's last year (see their blog entry).

Here's how they make the heavenly chocolate:

Olive and Sinclair Artisan Chocolate from josh anderson on Vimeo.

Magritte coat hangers

Igor “Rogix” Udushlivy created these great coat hangers inspired by René Magritte’s iconic painting The Son of Man. (Seen on CMYBacon).

Coca-Cola celebrates 125 years!

On Sunday, May 8, Coca-Cola celebrated its 125th birthday! In 1886, Coca-Cola debuted in Jacobs’ Pharmacy in Atlanta. It sold for 5 cents a glass at the soda fountain.

Coke is promoting 125 in different ways, from an illuminated display on the office headquarters in Atlanta (see video below) to giving out free Cokes in London and other European cities, kicking off their "125 Years of Summer Fun" campaign. They also threw a free birthday concert and donated $1 million to the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta and to the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation's Peopling of America® Center.

Zoe Howorth, market activation director at Coca-Cola GB, said: "Coca-Cola is a timeless icon that has been synonymous with happiness and is still as relevant today as it was when it first began in 1886." (Brand Republic)

Also to promote the brand's rich history, Selfridges is selling the 125 Years box set (~$65) which includes several versions of the most recognized and iconic bottle in history housed in a commemorative wooden crate. They are also selling the Hutchinson bottle for about $3.22 U.S. dollars. How cool is that?

I also thought this video was cool, asking people on the street what they would do to make the world better. It's something each of us could think about:

Open happiness!