I still want to make a post about my adventures in Germany, but that is going to take some deep reflection, and lots of time sifting through my journal and photos. SO FOR NOW I am just going to make a long-overdue post while I am working/researching/sketching for a current freelance project of mine. Currently I am seeking out job opportunities and trying to figure out where I want to be in this world.  I keep going back and forth and I can’t really make up my mind about things, but I know this time will pass. I AM OPTIMISTIC AND EXCITED AND EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY! I just have to keep telling myself that :) 

MY POINT TO THIS POST IS: while I have doing some typography research, I came across my favorite letterer/designer Erik Marinovich (seriously guys, I LOVE him). I have had the pleasure of hearing him speak at Cal Poly, as well as seen him at Title Case in SF (which he co-founded with JESSICA HISCHE). When I’m having a weird day, I always go and look at Friends Of Type (which he is also a co-founder for) and today the top post was from Erik. I quickly took it, and used it for my FB cover photo. I then proceeded to look through all of the posts that I have missed while I have been out of the country and my giddiness took over. I can’t even formulate words, I’m just going to post images of his greatness. 

There are so many more that I could post, but I need to get back to work……and stop drooling…..GAHHH I COULD LOOK AT TYPOGRAPHY FOR DAYS! Erik, thank you for being a constant source of inspiration, and for being so freaking talented! 

Superbig Creative: a small design firm in Seattle, Washington who have been around since 1999.  Another great find on my favorite discovery site Graphic-Exchange

Check out some of their work below; I had fun going through their site and blog posts. Not only are they a kick-ass creative agency with obvious, but I really enjoy how in their blog posts, it’s not all about their company, but about discoveries (which i LOOOOOVE looking through). They have some pretty neat stuff CHECK ‘EM OUT YO! and enjoy some samples below!

look! they’re funny too!!! and they like mustaches :)

mmmmm look at this brand guidline book for Macaroni Grill. NIIIICEEEE!!!

Their website has some pretty neat client work, so again, go check them out! Seriously, you won’t regret it!

Dana Tanamachi is amazing. She creates typographic masterpieces with CHALK. Yes, CHALK!

LOOK AT WHAT SHE DID WITH OPRAH’S COVER vvvvvvvv!!!!!!

Seriously talented right here. Check her out and watch some of her super sick time-lapse videos!

Thank you John Larwood for this site. Now I will have a never-ending flow of design quotes. And now I have another site to make sure I stay on the right track to procrastination. Check it out! JUST KEEP CLICKING THE BUTTON FOR MORE QUOTES!!!!! YEEEEEEE!

buttons are so much fun.

Quotes on Design

Thank you John Larwood

Thanks to my all-time favorite Graphic Design blog, Graphic-Exchange, I was introduced to Filthymedia, an independent design studio in Brighton.  I am loving their identity, which includes a custom font created just for their company.  I just want to touch the shiny “filthy” on all of their work. especially the one of the envelope…mmmmmm I LOVE IT!

Our belief is that effective design is engaging and attention grabbing. We beleive that our name, like our work, stands out from the crowd and we aspire to turn our passion for design into commercial success with a creative edge for our clients

So naturally, I had to take a look to see if I could find any steals!

I quickly went to the Art section, where I skimmed over the design books and bought the following: “The Best of Business Card Design 8”

I have been wanting this for soooooooo long and this was the perfect opportunity to make the purchase.

THEN i headed over to the religion section, because I really wanted to find “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan, but of course, they were all sold out. INSTEAD I found “The Christian Atheist” by Craig Groeschel. 

It has had some pretty good reviews and seems like the book that I need to read at the moment, so we shall see how it goes.  I’m pretty stoked to read it; I kind of need a breakthrough in my life right now (but in all honesty, when do we ever NOT need breakthroughs in our lives….)

I thought I was satisfied with my book finds, but my curiosity got the best of me and I wandered over to the Home Cooking section where I found a book that I hope will be useful in the coming months: “The Bartender’s Best Friend: A Complete Guide to Cocktails, Martinis, and Mixed Drinks”

Honestly, I was pretty stoked when I picked it up; the cover is water proof, so if I become a tard at creating drink masterpieces, it won’t ruin the cover.  The inside has marked tabs on the side, so it’s easy to find recipes, and it comes complete with a little place-keeping ribbon. I feel like I jumped the gun with my 21st birthday being right around the corner, but I just couldn’t wait.

I’m sure the girl at the check-out counter was internally laughing at my interesting purchase choices.

I can’t wait to read, study, and enjoy all three of these books!