Advil or Tylenol? There's useful info in there somewhere, but the disorganization of the story gives me a headache. Infographic plz.![]()
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Advil or Tylenol?
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Tamiya
Relink because of its shear awesomeness. Kieran Kelly on the box art and illustrations from 1980's Tamiya remote-control car kits. Boss.![]()
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On Writing Well
Rest in peace William Zinsser.![]()
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The Sleeping Brother
For JC: Hi, ya, Burford!![]()
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Popular exercises to avoid at all costs-unless you do them right
So you know, popular exercises to avoid at all costs- unless you do them right.![]()
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Reviewed:
Private Patchwork
Established in 1890, Bartell Drugs is self-described as the oldest family-owned drugstore chain in the U.S. with the founder's grandson currently serving as chairman and CEO. Bartell Drugs has over 60 locations around the Puget Sound with the majority of them in Seattle, WA. Last year, the pharmacy introduced a private label brand, Emerald & Spruce, starting with a range of ice creams and now growing into vitamin supplements and dog treats — an eclectic range of products, for sure. The identity and packaging have been designed by Seattle-based Hornall Anderson.
Taking a cue from the local surroundings, the new brand name Emerald & Spruce evokes the landscape and spirit of the beloved Pacific Northwest and its vibrant, eclectic blend of people. It's a juxtaposition of rugged natural environment with a polished crown jewel.
A colorful, modern-day patchwork pattern epitomizes the wide range of unique offerings and different flavors, tastes, and sounds of the Pacific Northwest. This unmistakable brand cue creates recognition in aisle, ties the packages together as a cohesive family of products, and breaks through the clutter on shelf in a memorable and recognizable way.
Through tone of voice and flavor names, the Emerald & Spruce ice cream line offers a touch of whimsy and fun, drawing upon much-loved locations around the Greater Seattle area. The result: A design flexible enough to maintain the integrity of a variety of brand extensions including vitamins, dog treats, and beyond.
Hornall Anderson provided text
Logo detail. I appreciate the idea of the logo — an abstract tree ring (either that or it's an iceberg lettuce cut in half, so I'm leaning towards tree ring) — but the execution is underwhelming. It feels overly vectorized and not nature-y at all. The typography isn't very engaging either; even the flourish ampersand feels like it's trying too hard. Luckily, the packaging is quite nice and makes the logo a little more convincing.
Ice cream. I get the sense that the logo was done before the packaging because they are operating on two very different spectrums. If they had used the same typography from the packaging on the logo it would have improved by the scoopful. The main attraction on the packaging is a diamond-based quilt pattern that's always anchored at the bottom of the product. The simple, hand-drawn patterns within the quilt pattern provide a fantastic texture and the color palettes for each product are attractively in synch. Like most private label brands, the products have a heavy white background and colorful typography and both traits have been very well handled here.
Vitamins. 
Dog treats. The packaging certainly reaches the desired perception from the provided text, giving the brand a unique Washington-State-ian look and feel, if there is such a thing. Overall, while the packaging is precious like an emerald, the logo could use a spruce up.
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The Title Design of Saul Bass
To celebrate last week's birthday of the legendary graphic designer and filmmaker Saul Bass, enjoy this brief visual history of some of his most celebrated work. From Art of the Title, of course.![]()
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Noted: New Logos for Philadelphia 76ers
Ben There Done That
(Est. 1946) "The Philadelphia 76ers (also commonly known as the Sixers) are an American professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Founded in 1946 and originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA, and one of only eight (out of 23) to survive the league's first decade." (Wikipedia)
Design by: N/A
Opinion/Notes: Yay… I guess? The "76ers" wordmark is one of the best in the NBA and it was a pleasure to see it make a comeback in 2009. Double the pleasure this time around simply for the fact that the typography didn't change or got swapped by some crappy spiked type. The biggest change is the rotation of the ball, where the middle seam of the ball used to land in the middle and now it's off to the top right. It's a good move as it frees up the wordmark but — BUT — if they went through the trouble of rotating the basketball why would they not take care of a small detail like the end of the middle seam of the ball right under the "s". It creates a very distracting ink blob in that area. Wait until they have to embroider that. The Philadelphia type and stars around it are passable (although that "ILA" kerning…) and much better than the old lock-up. Perhaps the biggest story here is that the Dribbling Ben/Running Ben/Ballin' Ben logo leaked (and denied) last year is now official! It's the perfect example of "It's so bad, it's good".
Related Links: 76ers press release
Select Quote: The team's new primary logo is a modern interpretation of the classic Sixers insignia, stylistically redeveloped to include a patriotic blue border with six white stars and "PHILADELPHIA" adorned across the heading. The familiar white basketball has been visually updated with a positional rotation of the seams. The emblematic ring of 13 stars present in the primary, partial and secondary logos continues to represent the original American Colonies.
Primary logo detail. 
Logo family. 
Secondary Ben Franklin logo. 
SportsLogos explains the evolution of the 76ers logo over the years. ↧
Linked: Nestle + YouTube = Confusion
Link
There is supposed to be some sort of brand synergy thing going on here but it's fairly convoluted: Googled code-named its latest Android OS "KitKat", the chocolate bar from Nestle. Then in a "Break" campaign by KitKat, Nestle gave Google a spot in its limited edition packaging to put a "YouTube" placement and… yeah, something.
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Well-Rounded
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Kirby Spreads
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Cinderblock
Stefan Kjartansson's Cinderblock "is a brand new typeface designed to achieve maximum coverage on any given surface." Achievement unlocked.![]()
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Kepler's Six Years In Science
Kepler's six years in science (and counting).![]()
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Pizza In The Wild
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Preach
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Revolution
Rethinking my Apple Watch pre-order.![]()
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Unsafe At Any Speed
Last week, the L.A. Times published an op-ed by Bearing Arms editor, Bob Owens, wherein he hung the litany of plain human irresponsibility and resultant failings squarely around the neck of an inanimate object: the Glock pistol. Allow me to respond to his demagogic and grossly misleading article…
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Newgate Calendar
"Comprised of the tales of both famous and lesser-known criminals from the 18th and 19th centuries and named after Newgate Prison in London, the Newgate Calendar became one of the most popular books of its day, said to be as much a part of the British household as the Bible."![]()
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Crimson Peak
Trailer for Guillermo del Toro's Crimson Peak.![]()
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Type Design Week
ISIA Urbino Type Design Week 2015with Fred Smeijers and Eric KindelPeriod: July 20–24, 2015Deadline: May 29 About the school ISIA Type Design Week is a one week intensive summer course in type design and lettering held at the ISIA – the High Institute for Applied Arts of Urbino. Since 2009 ISIA has been running a […]
Sponsored by Hoefler & Co.
Type Design Week
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