Likes & Likes

Check out this Masters degree in Packaging Design project designed by José Luis García Eguiguren. It’s a new take on both the dated look and packaging for teh shaving cream brand Barbasol. for Not sure of the feasibility in terms of cost, but graphically, this is an astounding and energetic revamp or a seemingly tired brand. While still staying true to the original feel of the dispenser, the look has been given a jolt of modernism and sophistication to bring it upmarket without alienating previous customers.

Here’s some background information on the project:

This project’s objective was to re-style the popular American “Barbasol” shaving cream in order to introduced it into the European market. For this, I maintained the basic form that they have used for years: the barber shop pole (stripes). The aggressive diagonal line that divides the stripes suggest a mix between the shaving cream and the fragance. It also alludes to the razor blades on the surface of the skin cutting through the facial hair. The way the lines drive all the way up and down on the sides makes a perfect simulation of the shaving cream mixing and exiting the can. The form of the can (cap & bottom) are in harmony with the angle of the stripes, thus providing a fluid motion for the eye. The typography utilized provides a more industrial and tech appearance.

Fascinating, dramatic, surprising. Reminds me of another highly stylized animation I spied on Vimeo a few months back - equally as dark in subject matter but set in a more detailed world. I’m such a sucker for slow-motion! Definitely check out the making-of featurette as well…

What happens to the banners that hung from streetlamps in Center City, welcoming visitors to Philadelphia and promoting cultural events? They usually pile up in storage. But now, Philadelphia’s Center City District has found a way to recycle them as hand-made tote bags - no two are alike.

All manufacturing is done right here in Philadelphia by two nonprofit work rehabilitation programs: the banners are cleaned by Philacor, a vocational program in the Philadelphia Department of Corrections, and then another non-profit vocational program, Baker Industries, makes the cleaned banners into the totes.

Currently, the bags are available at Open House at 107 South 13th Street, the Pennsylvania General Store at the Reading Terminal Market, and the PAFA online and retail store at 128 North Broad Street.

The ads coming from Porsche lately have been nothing short of fantastic. I’ve watched the Panamera intro spot about a zillion times, squinting to make out each and every model and livery. Here’s another video from their YouTube channel that continues to push their racing heritage. Not sure if this is in response to some other manufacturer’s claims or a retaliation of sorts, but the message is clear - racing, not posing. Strongly liked.

John Langon, professor of typography and corporate identity at Drexel University’s Westphal College of Media Arts and Design, will have several paintings hanging at the Type Directors Club in New York in February and through March. On Thursday, February 4th 6-8 pm, there will be a reception and Professor Langdon will be giving a brief talk about his work. More information at the TDC website.

Letterheady is an online collection of letterhead design. An initiative of freelance writer Shaun Usher, the site is simple, straightforward, and instantly addicting. A must for anyone interested in typography, vintage ephemera, or just curious as to what a letter from Luke Skywalker might look like.

In Linas Philips’ new film “Bass Ackwards”, a man, recently kicked off of his friend’s couch and dumped by his lover, finds a chopped up 1976 VW van on a farm and decides to head east. Official selection at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, the movie hits theaters February 1st. However, bypassing theatrical and other traditional distribution avenues, the film was made available for purchase nationwide even before it’s Sundance premiere on January 23rd. It can now be viewed in it’s entirety through YouTube Rentals.

The Society of Typographic Aficionados has announced a call for entries for Font Aid IV, a collaborative typographical project to raise raise money for relief efforts in Haiti:

Type designers, graphic designers and other artists from around the world are invited to contribute artwork to be included in a typeface created exclusively for the Font Aid IV effort. The theme of Font Aid IV is “Coming Together” which we will represented though a font consisting entirely of ampersands. Coming Together will be made available for sale through several type distributors, with all proceeds going to Doctors Without Borders. SOTA, a US-based non-profit, is acting as a non-partisan organizing body to help coordinate the effort and ensure all funds are distributed appropriately.

To participate, submit a black and white vector format ampersand as an EPS file to fontaid@typesociety.org. But hurry! Submissions accepted up to this Friday the 29th.

UPDATE: The font will be sold for $20US, and is now available through font distributors Veer and Ascender Fonts. It will be available on FontShop and MyFonts later in the week.

Philagrafika is Philadelphia’s city-wide international festival created to celebrate printmaking in contemporary art. It was conceived by a consortium of print curators and artists to build audience and visibility for the area’s print community. Opening weekend starts this Friday the 29th, and the festival extends all the way into May (see the calendar of events).

The events planned for the festival will explore the role of printmaking in shaping contemporary visual culture around the world. Almost every major Philadelphia art institution is participating - the exhibition now involves more than 300 artists for events and exhibitions to be held at more than 80 venues throughout the city. Philagrafika is being billed as one of the largest art events in the US and “the world’s most important print-related exposition”.

For more information and events, see the official website.

A friend forwarded this to my attention. It’s a new shop called Big Green Earth Store on Philadelphia’s South Street where you can bring your own empty bottles and refill them with locally-produced Sun & Earth (of Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen fame) natural cleaners. You pay by the ounce. So far the list includes laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid and packs, all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, fabric softener and hand soap. For more information. check out their website.