|cats do what?|

A new year and a new decade calls for a new calendar! However, if your New Year's resolution is to save money, then this one probably isn't for you. Still, we can admire the design.

Created by Cats Let Nothing Darken Their Roar (ha), this calendar annually collects 12 seemingly random phrases and colorfully emphasizes the month name hidden on each page. I don't think I can pick a favorite, but I'm a big fan of January ("NINJA BUNNIES RUN NEARBY").

The calendar is available in two sizes, but the smaller one has already sold out, which leaves you with the $50 option. I'll just continue to admire it via the Web...

--J. Gibb

|catch intro if you can|

As a type lover, I adored the opening title sequence of the film Catch Me if You Can, and I remember it more than the movie itself. Designed by Paris-based artists Kuntzel+Deygas, the introduction elegantly combines extending letter forms with simple shapes, solid colors, and minimal texture. Overall, the sequence exudes a cool and modern feel while still alluding to the era of the film's story. Check it out here and let me know what you think!

--J. Gibb

|asb meets tmnt and dr. seuss|

This is one of my two T-shirt designs for Union's Associated Student Body this school year. I started the design planning to sort of 'rip off' an American Eagle shirt design, but I quickly changed the colors and arrangement of the type as I 'unionized' the graphic. I chose purple for the shirt color because that seems like an uncommon free-shirt shade, and the lime green seemed like a natural partner. After the shirts were printed and distributed, John Luckiesh confessed that he loves the shirt because it reminds him of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

This second shirt design took me a very long time to complete. Also (loosely) starting as an idea from American Eagle, it went through a few arrangements of the type and many different color schemes until I ended with this version. I manipulated the text a bit to make it fit better together, keeping the Star Wars logo in the back of my mind. However, a few people mentioned that this design reminds them of Dr. Seuss, which never crossed my mind.

It's interesting to see how designs are interpreted and how they make people feel. Depending on emphasis, placement, or wording, you could be insinuating something to one person and offending another. That's why it is so important for designers to be intentional with their work and give it purpose, always with the audience in mind.

--J. Gibb

P.S. I hope you like the new blog layout I found! Unfortunately, I perused the code and cannot figure out how to change 'il primo' and 'il secondo'! So, I guess the blog will remain bilingual until I find a solution. :-D

|no your alphabet|

London-based designer Daniel Eatock created this clever bag to benefit The International Dyslexia Association. While a lot Eatock's work makes me scratch my head (here's his site), I love this tote bag design.

--J. Gibb

P.S. Be sure to check out my new personal blog, just g!bs.

|all fun and half-games|

Yet again, I've managed to neglect my little blog for a month. Perhaps my return to school—and a more structured schedule—will prompt me to resume more frequent updates. Currently, I'm operating in panic mode as I need to finalize ASB T-shirt designs by the 29th and the Peanut Gallery cover and tab pages by the 31st.

So today, I quickly present a fascinating designer, Shakar Peleg (Web site here). Many of his products incorporate magnetism or reflection to boldly grab attention. Pictured above is his reflective tic-tac-toe set, which places half-shapes on a mirror to create the optical illusion of x's and o's.

Make sure to visit his site and click on "Products" to witness his clever and sometimes mind-blowing design solutions for everyday use!

-J. Gibb