Darryl Brown design and illustration

Handmade modular type

2012-01-09T22:44:00.001-08:00

These are my new house numbers, made out of 2 inch square scraps of different kinds of wood. I came up with the modular design based on squares and quarter circles.

I used the same modules for these thank you cards, using exacto-carved carrot stamps (kind of like potato prints).

Joel Bock cards win FPO Award

2012-01-08T13:58:00.001-08:00

I don't normally enter design contests, but these business cards I designed for for Joel Bock Photography fit well with the FPO Awards, which are judged on both design and print production. The cards are offset printed, then laser diecut.

George Fox Journal Fall 2011

2012-01-08T13:50:00.000-08:00

The latest Journal I designed; you can check out the whole issue here (click on upper right to page through). The cover image is by Dominique Berho, taken during a serve trip to Nicaragua.

Happy 2012

2012-01-05T07:58:00.001-08:00

I did a new snowflake for 2012 to accompany the ones from 2011 and 2010. These are not proper six-sided snowflakes; maybe I should be reported to the Campaign for Real Snowflakes?

Geez 24, the privilege issue

2011-12-23T11:49:00.000-08:00

The latest issue of Geez is out; it deals with the problems of privilege people like me (white, male, ablebodied, hetero, North American) deal with. Lots of good stuff. My wife Laura took the photo of me (bottom) that appears in this issue.

Logos in limbo

2011-11-29T20:35:00.000-08:00

This is an unused logo design for Bruin Gold, an organization that supports athletic excellence at George Fox University (home of the Bruins). I especially like how the cut gold type turned out.

And this is a logo for a software company that I don't believe they ever used. It was an attempt to do a very abstracted pine tree that didn't just look like a triangle or a Christmas tree; I felt like it was a pretty original solution.

Emigre magazine remembered

2011-11-29T20:17:00.000-08:00

I recently shared my collection of old Emigre magazines with some design students. Emigre was quite influential to me in the late 1980s and 90s. It was an early proponent of using the Macintosh as a design tool and pioneered digital typeface design, as well as showcasing experimental design. Later it published ideas about the ethical issues in design, including this article that affected my career. The entire collection of their magazines are in the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art.

Miriam's Garden Coaching card

2011-11-29T20:11:00.000-08:00

I hand-lettered this business card design for Miriam Bock's garden coaching and design business. It's printed on a nice iridescent paper.

A couple of food posters for George Fox

2011-09-27T19:27:00.000-07:00

Here's a poster I designed for George Fox University's third annual Food Meet. Kind of an obvious treatment of the title, but oh, well. The toy truck has been the primary image on previous posters, so we retained it for this one as well. The Food Meet was fun and inspirational, by the way.

This is a poster for an upcoming faculty lecture at George Fox about the social implications of the local food movement. Should be good.

Geez 23, the Sacred Space issue

2011-09-10T14:50:00.001-07:00

The latest Geez magazine is about sacred space. The second spread shown highlights a bunch of cool things different churches are doing with their space (click to enlarge). The bottom image is a fun pseudo magazine cover featured in this issue which was written by associate editor Bre and designed by me.

Fundraising campaigns

2011-07-23T18:02:00.001-07:00

Some promotional materials I've been working on for a couple of capital campaigns at George Fox University. The first is for our new physical therapy program that'll begin next year.

The second is for the football program, which is slated to begin in 2013. George Fox has had a football team for the majority of its 115 year history, but we haven't had a football program for over 40 years (which is why the bookstore sells "GFU Football - Undefeated since 1969" t-shirts).

In the Making welcome weekend at George Fox

2011-07-23T15:53:00.000-07:00

A hand-drawn logo and invitation for the welcome weekend for incoming freshmen at George Fox. Click images to enlarge.

How Long? book cover

2011-07-10T10:11:00.001-07:00

Cover design for Barclay Press's book How Long?, a sequel of sorts to It's a Dance, which I designed a few years ago. This book again is primarily made up of conversations, this time dealing with a Christian community going through its own theological wilderness.

Small possessions

2011-06-12T22:40:00.000-07:00

Sixteen small objects I own that carry some degree of sentimental value to me. Details here.

Geez 22, the contemplation issue

2011-06-06T18:01:00.000-07:00

This is the first cover of Geez that I have illustrated; hard to believe, since I've done plenty of artwork for the inside pages over the years. Anyway, I really like how this turned out. Click any image to enlarge.

I did a whole bunch of little line art spot illustrations for the inside as well, mostly portraits.

I also used a decorative typeface called Restraint, designed by Marian Bantjes; Restraint has lots of beautiful connecting design elements, and is both fun and frustrating to use.

Just Moms cover

2011-05-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

I took a different approach to this book cover design for Just Moms, an anthology of essays by moms about raising kids with the ethical values of peace, justice, simplicity, equality and love. I often try to come up with a single simple image to convey the essence of the book, but for this one I went with a more-is-more approach. I added additional words to the cover, and put in many details drawn from the stories themselves (toy guns, cats, bugs, the jack-o-lantern and the boy in pink shoes).

There's a Geez magazine connection to this book: several authors have had pieces in Geez, and one was even a cover model.

Northwest Yearly Meeting sessions image

2011-05-05T19:21:00.000-07:00

This is a logo/illustration I did for the annual sessions of the Northwest Yearly Meeting, which has a theme this year of In Christ - One People, Growing Together; it'll appear on posters, etc.

Drawing for Geez

2011-04-24T18:31:00.000-07:00

Working on a bunch of line art portraits for the upcoming issue of Geez magazine, the "inner work for outer change" issue.

Getting global with the George Fox Journal

2011-03-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

Cover illustration I did for the new George Fox Journal. It's surprising to me that some people don't see the figures in the globe right away.

You can take a look at the whole issue here. (Click on the little magazine in the upper right to page through it.)

Geez 21 - cops and robbers

2011-03-19T20:21:00.000-07:00

This issue of Geez magazine deals with the police, security, and surveillance. The cover is a photo of a stencil piece in the UK by the street artist d*base.

Taming of the Shrew

2011-03-11T20:08:00.001-08:00

A poster I designed for an upcoming theatrical production at George Fox University. One unfortunate effect of the kittywampus layout is that it appears crooked no matter how it's hung.

Geez 21 postcard

2011-03-04T19:29:00.000-08:00

The new issue of Geez magazine will hit the mailboxes soon; it has this postcard in it (click to enlarge), with this text on the back:

We are trees

What if we were more like trees, converting carbon
dioxide and releasing oxygen?

We live in a bite-back, one-up world where anger,
bitterness, resentment, prejudice and violence are
the soul’s carbon dioxide.

We could receive curses, then give blessings.
We could get manipulated, then speak the truth.
We could be spat upon, then respond with grace.
We could be struck, but not strike back.

The thing about trees is that they need to absorb
CO2 in order to live and grow.

We could do the same. We could absorb hate,
discrimination, judgment and harm, and use
forgiveness to demonstrate healing and love.

This would free us from having to avenge our own
injustices and allow us to open our arms, welcoming
those who are often unwelcome and unwanted.

Photosynthesis and forgiveness are miracles of life.
Without them, the world is a hostile place.

– Ryan McCormick

Caution tape headlines in Geez

2011-02-09T22:02:00.001-08:00

For the upcoming security/police-themed issue of Geez magazine, I wanted to do some section headlines as though they were on police caution tape. I couldn't figure out how to get that look, then Laura gave me some glossy yellow tape that fit the bill. So I photographed it in various positions and added text to it in Photoshop. It would've looked even better if Geez was printed in color.

George Fox posters

2011-02-05T08:30:00.001-08:00

Posters for a couple of upcoming events at George Fox University. I designed the food one, and Karina Salgado designed the Theology of the Wild one based on a sketch I did, and I like how it turned out.

Happy 2011

2011-01-01T12:07:00.000-08:00

After making a new year's paper snowflake last year, I decided to continue the tradition (although this year's looks more like a doily than a snowflake). May joy be yours in 2011.

Laura's planner

2010-12-25T18:02:00.001-08:00

My friend (and wife) Laura likes handmade things, and needed a new planner for 2011. So I drew and designed the pages, and our friend Kim chose some beautiful handmade paper, then crafted the binding and covers to create this unique planner.

William Stafford poster

2010-12-21T19:25:00.000-08:00

A poster for a George Fox University event celebrating the life and work of William Stafford, who was a poet laureate and peacemaker. I tried a version illustrating the featured documentary "Every War Has Two Losers" (below), but it got too busy. Plus wasn't room for the large amount of text that went on the poster.

Just married

2010-12-19T16:21:00.000-08:00

I just got married to Laura Dunn! I did a somewhat casual handlettered invitation, since we were having a small, somewhat casual wedding. Our beautiful rings were made by Patrick Burt, and Joel Bock took some great photos for us. And we lived happily ever after...

Geez 20, the Super Cyber issue

2010-11-25T11:58:00.001-08:00

This is the 20th issue of Geez magazine, so we're celebrating our 5th anniversary. The cover features a photo by Joel Bock. This issue looks at the pros and cons (and gray areas) of technology on relationships, and life in general.

Typographic oddities in Scotland

2010-11-21T09:08:00.000-08:00

Photos of signs I took years ago in Scotland and England. Lots of interesting typography and handlettering there. The one of the old cigarette machine appears to read "ever open kids" but actually reads "ever open kiosk."

Fall George Fox Journal

2010-11-15T22:59:00.000-08:00

The new George Fox Journal is out, with a nice cover photographed by Mike Richeson (and art directed by me). Check it all out here.

Geez magazine's 5th anniversary

2010-11-08T17:48:00.001-08:00

Geez is celebrating 5 years with the upcoming 20th issue, and there's a party, if you happen to be in Winnipeg. This poster offers a sneak peek of cover girl Laura Dunn, photographed by Joel Bock. I wish I could go to the celebration...

George Fox LACI book cover

2010-10-17T17:12:00.000-07:00

Book cover I designed for a textbook for the Liberal Arts and Critical Issues senior class at George Fox University. The book includes chapters by various George Fox professors, as well as excerpts by writers such as Wendell Berry, Jim Wallis and John Stott.

I OK, YOU OK

2010-10-10T21:19:00.000-07:00

Photo of the sidewalk in Eugene, Oregon. It originally said "look" so people would look both ways when crossing the street. They must not teach that skill in kindergarten anymore...

Be Known at George Fox

2010-10-03T19:52:00.000-07:00

We've adopted the theme "be known" at George Fox; here are some print pieces and an installation that use that. Go here for a more thorough explanation of the theme.

Joel Bock photography cards

2010-09-20T21:46:00.001-07:00

New logo and business cards I designed for Joel Bock photography. The cards are printed on iridescent paper, diecut, with four different backs.

Newberg banners

2010-09-12T16:51:00.001-07:00

Fall banners I designed that line the streets in downtown Newberg.

Crow secrets

2010-09-05T16:46:00.000-07:00

Geez 19, the wild issue, features an excerpt from Crow Planet, a book by Lyanda Lynn Haupt, as well as factoids ("crow secrets") about crows scattered throughout the magazine. I did a few drawings of crows to accompany to excerpt and the crow secrets.

Geez 19, the wild issue

2010-09-05T16:28:00.000-07:00

The 19th issue of Geez Magazine, the wild issue, is out; here are a some sample spreads. Thanks to Joel Bock for photo assistance of the cover collage.

Top spread photo by Mike Richeson; top center by Rachel Belgard; lower center by me; bottom by Ginny.

Cookbook ephemera

2010-08-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

My coworker and fellow designer Janelle inherited this 1936 Household Searchlight cookbook from her grandmother. It has a cool sculpture-embossed cover and beautifully worn tabs, plus lots of old clipped recipes stuck inside.

Geez civil disobedience essay contest

2010-07-26T07:46:00.000-07:00

Poster/ad/image for Geez magazine's civil disobedience essay contest. Anyone can enter, but college and high school students are especially encouraged to write. Thanks to Laura for being my civilly disobedient model.

Invisible t-shirt design

2010-07-20T20:32:00.001-07:00

At Twin Rocks Tween camp this year the campers were going to tie-dye their t-shirts. So I did a design to make it a little more fun: we printed white on a white shirt. It wasn't quite invisible before dying, but close. The ink resists the dye, so the design shows up after the shirt is dyed. Pretty cool, huh?

A few camper's shirts shown below.

Making of Geez video

2010-07-08T09:16:00.001-07:00

Making Geez #18 from Playing In Traffic on Vimeo.

Winnipeg filmmaker Kevin Nikkel directed and produced this short documentary about the making of Geez 18, the body issue.

Summer Journal

2010-06-28T20:52:00.001-07:00

We just finished the summer issue of the George Fox Journal, with a cover story about football returning to the university in 2013. It seems strange to me to have football at a Quaker school, but it's been played here for much of the school's history, ending in the late 1960s.

You can check out the whole issue here.

Conservation magazine cover

2010-06-26T17:13:00.000-07:00

Conservation magazine used this Adam and Eve illustration I'd done for the George Fox Journal for their latest issue; it's for this story.

Geez 18 stamps

2010-06-06T18:03:00.000-07:00

In the Geez body issue, there are these "notes to bodily self" that I designed like postcards, and got to create some fun stamps for them. The notes are from Chronic Babe, a networking forum for women with chronic illness.

Geez 18, the body issue

2010-06-06T18:01:00.001-07:00

The latest Geez magazine is the body issue, featuring an alternative swimsuit edition story that's sure to disappoint, a critique of the mind/body dichotomy, a fat acceptance primer, and a story called "Jesus loves your penis, son." Good stuff.

Geez wins Canadian Church Press awards

2010-06-05T10:28:00.000-07:00

"After many years of taking second place to the United Church Observer, Geez magazine won top honours for general excellence at the Canadian Church Press convention in May this year. We received a total of six awards, including an additional first place award for layout and design of an issue. Way to go, Geez team!" – Aiden Enns, Geez editor. More here.

Dust to dust

2010-05-30T17:29:00.000-07:00

I saw this sign at the cemetery; it's in a glass case and is deteriorating in an interesting way, with fallen bits collecting in the bottom of the case.

George Fox signage quiz

2010-05-17T08:13:00.001-07:00

I made this quiz to see if my coworkers at George Fox University could identify where these signs appeared on our campus. The winner got 17 out of 20.

Official Skee-Skate

2010-05-08T16:12:00.001-07:00

I won this at a silent auction fundraiser for the Dundee skatepark; it's a very early skateboard, circa 1961. So it's an antique, just like me. Pretty cool, but a deathtrap to ride.

Geek t-shirt

2010-05-02T12:35:00.001-07:00

This is one of my favorite t-shirts I've designed. It is given out at the engineering expo put on by the engineering department at George Fox University.
Credit for the headline goes to Sal Cusumano.

Geez 17, the work issue

2010-04-11T14:45:00.001-07:00

Issue 17 of Geez magazine is now out; you can preview it here.

The issue ends with this quote by Joshua Glenn and Mark Kingwell:

Free time, in the sense of “freedom from,” is merely restful and relaxing.

Freedom-from time is a vacation or recess; i.e., it’s a scheduled and mandated period during which we androidized humans can recharge our batteries.

Freedom-to time, on the other hand, is what all idlers seek; it is a true state of leisure, in which actions are performed entirely for their own sake.

Free time, in the sense of “freedom to,” is electrifying and beautiful.

Sticky love

2010-03-28T14:54:00.000-07:00

This is a postage stamp I designed and submitted to the U.S. Postal Service recently. I noticed that a heart could be substituted for any of the letters in "love" and decided to design a stamp around that idea.

Spring George Fox Journal

2010-03-22T20:31:00.001-07:00

This issue has a nice photo essay about the Empty Bowls for Haiti project and a moving story about Mark Doyle, a professor at George Fox University.

A Hamster is Missing

2010-03-10T19:53:00.001-08:00

I did the illustration (but not the cover design) a while back for this book by Ed Spivey Jr., a very funny writer and art director of Sojourners magazine. For the second printing I got to do the cover design as well. Original is at the bottom, redesign at the top.

Team Molldrew wedding invitation

2010-03-10T18:49:00.000-08:00

Wedding invitation and save-the-date card I designed for some friends who wanted a circus/carnival theme for their wedding. My favorite part is the way the invitation folds. This job was a perfect excuse to purchase the typeface Great Circus, designed by Eduardo Recife.

Empty bowls for Haiti

2010-03-04T17:45:00.001-08:00

I had fun doing this hand-lettered logotype for the Empty Bowls event at George Fox University. The art department had a marathon bowl-throwing session, and there will be a fundraising meal where you get to choose and keep the handmade bowl you eat out of.

Pretty rockin' sweet

2010-02-22T19:47:00.000-08:00

A photo of my rocking chair's shadow on the wall.

Geez logo exploration

2010-02-08T22:03:00.001-08:00

For the newest issue of Geez magazine, I designed some modified logos for the cover. Previous issues have had a rough woodtype logo based on a bold Egyptian expanded font I scanned from an old type catalog. The angular version above was somewhat influenced by the typeface Meran, which we are using in the new issue.

This second version retains the wideness of the original, and is an attempt at an expanded blackletter type, with a swash at the end of the z.

We ended up with a cleaned-up version of the original that I redrew, shown above. I'm guessing we will occasionally do physical versions of it like we've done before, here and here.

letterpressed wedding

2010-01-25T19:58:00.000-08:00

A wedding announcement I did for a big, traditional wedding. The invitations were letterpressed, and I did a monogram for them that was on the wedding program.

Celebrate good times

2010-01-21T23:26:00.001-08:00

Another wedding invitation – well, this is actually a simple post-wedding party invitation.

Winter wedding

2010-01-16T13:58:00.000-08:00

I'm designing a fun wedding invitation right now, so decided to post up some ones I've done in the past. This was for a winter wedding with snowflakes in the theme, so I made snowflakes out of the bride and groom's names, as well as other words (such as "Love" shown above).

Food Meet 2010

2010-01-03T18:26:00.001-08:00

I designed this poster and mini card for Food Meet 2010, a cool upcoming event at George Fox University that features local farmers and retailers that support the local food economy.

For the event name, I scanned type from an old metal type foundry sample book. The typeface is Steelplate Gothic Shaded, which is available digitally, but it doesn't have the same feel as the old letterpressed sample.

Happy new year!

2010-01-01T10:08:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the beginning of 2010, I made this paper snowflake.

Stop copying me

2009-12-30T18:29:00.000-08:00

The end-of-year issue of The Economist has a cover with some similarity to the George Fox Journal cover I did a couple months ago; kind of funny. Of course, we're both just copying Cranach the Elder's original...

Off-seasons greetings

2009-12-18T19:56:00.000-08:00

Illustration I did for the Indianapolis Indians baseball team's holiday card. Done for Lodge Design.

ho ho ho

2009-12-17T23:49:00.000-08:00

Box lid I found on the street in Portland.

Angel/devil Bush

2009-11-28T10:35:00.000-08:00

I shot this a couple years ago as a photo illustration for Geez magazine. There are these walls with old postings in Portland, so I made my Bush sticker and put it on there to photograph.

Geez 16, the Jesus issue

2009-11-28T10:24:00.000-08:00

Geez 16, the Jesus issue, features many different contemporary views of Jesus. Get a sneak peek here.

Consolidated screw

2009-11-16T20:44:00.000-08:00

Sign on a wall in a small town in Oregon.

Cute cute little baby

2009-11-04T19:22:00.001-08:00

Yes, I am capable of doing saccharine-sweet baby animal drawings.

Illustration illustration

2009-11-04T19:20:00.000-08:00

Messing with the surface: some things appear to be laying on it, some cut into it. Drawn on elephant hide paper with ball point pen and white pencil.

Saturday sketchbook: love is...

2009-10-26T20:30:00.000-07:00

Differing opinions on love; I did this a decade ago. Can you tell which one is me? Click to enlarge.

Fall George Fox Journal

2009-10-26T20:01:00.001-07:00

I used a 16th century painting by Cranach the Elder (original shown below) as a starting point for this Journal cover. After some informal focus group testing on some older alumni at my dad's retirement home, it was deemed necessary to add some foliage to the original first couple's attire.

This turned out to be way harder and more time-consuming than I expected, and it turned out just okay. It took a little acrylic painting and a lot of digital retouching. Credit for the concept goes to my coworker Tamara.

George Fox undergraduate admissions suite

2009-10-20T21:43:00.001-07:00

The top piece is a little self-mailer to introduce high school juniors to George Fox University. It's the final piece in a suite of print materials I've designed for undergraduate admissions. The rest of the pieces are shown below: a folder, several brochures, and these cards, which have been a big hit with high schoolers.

Aerial photos

2009-10-15T09:08:00.000-07:00

These are some aerial photos I took at the Oregon coast of some interesting land formations. They are shot from a height of about 5 feet; they are actually just shots of beach sand scupted by water and the wanderings of small crustaceans. Click to enlarge.

George Fox parents and financial aid brochures

2009-10-13T17:42:00.000-07:00

A couple of small brochures for George Fox University. The layout of these is a bit calmer than the viewbook, which is for high school kids.

Geez clothing thoughts

2009-09-20T19:25:00.000-07:00

I took this picture and wrote a couple paragraphs for the new issue of Geez; Aiden Enns, the publisher, added some meaningful quotes, some thoughts and photos of his own and made a decent spread out of it. My text:

Since I shifted over to bike commuting, I needed a rain jacket for the long wet winters here in Oregon. I got a jacket that has this saying on the zipper that I find inspiring. That feeling of inspiration could turn into a loyalty to this brand of jacket, but I try to separate the message from the product.

It reminds me of a friend who collects meaningful quotes, and has some from Nike ads from the early ’90s. She also separates the message from the brand, and can enjoy the statements for what they are. As she says, “They hired some savvy writers, tapped into some empowering-women motifs. Though I don’t celebrate empowering women to consume and compete more, I can celebrate empowering women to enjoy their strong bodies and being active and alive.”

Aha

2009-09-20T11:54:00.000-07:00

Details from an old amplifier box in my garage. I find the icons intriguing; any guesses as to what they mean? Not what they really mean, what they could mean. My thoughts:
Left: box may be safely levitated
Center: suitable for Oregon weather
Right: good for use in castles

New Geez illustrations

2009-09-06T10:55:00.000-07:00

A couple of drawings I did for the newest issue of Geez magazine. The top one is for this article about the overmerchandising of the Bible by Zondervan, part of Rupert Murdoch's media empire. Yes, all those Bible titles are actual ones published by Zondervan.

The second one is a BS detector, an invention of Geez publisher Aiden Enns.

George Fox University invitation

2009-09-06T10:46:00.000-07:00

This is a special invitation to visit campus sent to selected high school students. I designed it to stand out in the mail: it is printed on a cool iridescent paper which looks great in person.

Geez 15 section dividers

2009-08-29T18:24:00.000-07:00

For the start of each new section in Geez 15, I created some custom lettering by scanning a plastic lettering template (visible in the middle picture).

Geez 15, the slippery issue

2009-08-29T12:15:00.000-07:00

The cover of Geez 15 was guest-designed by The Goggles, a duo who have done many projects, including I Live Here, a book project with Mia Kirshner and J.B. Mackinnon. Check out a preview of Geez 15 here.

The Goggles also contributed this image, Facebook #14, to Geez 14.

George Fox cards

2009-08-22T23:02:00.000-07:00

This is a cool pack of cards I designed for George Fox University; the cards are diecut and bound by a printed silicone band that can also be a bracelet. It's given out to high school students at college fairs and other events, and introduces them to the university. Writing credits go to Mike Richeson, with brainstorming assistance from the whole marketing communications department at George Fox.

Tigard Community Friends

2009-08-05T19:26:00.000-07:00

This is a logo I recently designed for Tigard Community Friends Church. The woven tree represents several things (their theme of "belonging, believing, becoming," the Trinity, etc.). Trees have been used in lots of church logos, so I was excited to come up with an interesting twist on that tired theme. The original sketch looked a bit too much like a tribal tatoo, so I redrew it to be more angular and I think it works better.

Geez 14 art contributors

2009-07-28T19:31:00.000-07:00

The photographer JR does these amazing installations celebrating women in marginalized, conflict-ridden parts of the world. He reinvests earnings from his art back into the slums.

The artwork of Mark Bryan has been featured many times in Geez. This piece is titled Pie in the sky. From his artist statement: "Given this beautiful planet, our intelligence, talent and opposable thumbs, one would think that things for us would be a lot better than they are. I suppose I've carried a general disappointment in human nature for quite a while that makes itself apparent in most of my work."

This photo by Steve Lambert is featured on the back cover. He does some really interesting work, such as designing and building a video game called Simmer Down Sprinter that measures the player's biofeedback (the more you relax, the faster you go), and a browser plug-in that replaces all the ads on a website with Art. Also check out his anti-advertising agency.

My head is a book and it is on fire.

2009-07-27T19:50:00.000-07:00

A t-shirt I designed for Barclay Press commemorating their 50th anniversary.

Urban grit Newberg style part III

2009-07-15T18:24:00.000-07:00

The third and final installment of gritty old typography found in Newberg, Oregon.

This sign near the skatepark makes me happy each time I see it.

Wash me. I think these letters are styrofoam.

Many years ago Darby's was a cool old diner on the main street. It's long gone, but this sign in the alley behind it lingers on.

This hand-painted sign is on one of those old quonset huts.

I wish I could tell what was painted on the front of this abandoned bus. Bi-La-Vonne?

I was on the Tonight Show

2009-07-13T17:21:00.000-07:00

Okay, not really, but this shirt I originally designed back in 2004 was; Conan O'Brien makes fun of it here at the 7:45 mark.

It's nice to see they are still using the design. Thanks to Eric, who originally came up with the "go for the Au" idea, for spotting this.

Urban grit Newberg style part III

2009-07-10T18:59:00.000-07:00

Urban grit Newberg style part II

2009-07-10T18:21:00.001-07:00

More grungy old typography found in here in Newberg.

I like how this sign blended in perfectly with the blue sky.

Nowadays no one would get a hand painted wood sign like this, they'd get some vinyl lettering or digital output. This ages better...

Although this plastic sign is pretty cool.

One of my favorites; I used it as a backdrop for this Geez photo.

Yes, we have a functioning drive-in theater in town. I like the "of" and "the" ligatures. (And yes, I'm a design nerd.)

Urban grit Newberg style part I

2009-07-09T19:42:00.000-07:00

Inspired by my friend Eric's post of found typography, I rode my bike around Newberg looking for urban grit type. Pretty slim pickings compared to when I drove around Indianapolis with Eric, looking for cool old signs.

I found glory.

Sometimes stuff gets more interesting the less legible it becomes.

What little graffiti there is in Newberg is mostly sloppy tags; this is one of the few stencils I've seen.

Yes, we're open; be back soon!

Most signage in Newberg is boring and plastic. Plastic and vinyl doesn't age as beautifully as wood and paint and metal. This peeling vinyl letter is interesting, though.

Happy 4th of July

2009-07-04T09:53:00.000-07:00

This warm-hearted message brought to you by a guy in my neighborhood, who feels this sentiment is important enough to share with anyone driving behind his trailer. I believe this is an excerpt from the text on the statue of liberty, but I could be mistaken.

Design ethics

2009-06-28T15:05:00.001-07:00

I gave a talk to George Fox University art and design students on how my path has been shaped by ethical considerations. I handed out these cards with a link to my blog and how to find a couple of essays online that were meaningful milestones for me regarding design ethics.

I also talk about projects at my previous job that I found troubling ethically. This logo was one such project: an identity design for a company that created interactive tv, a way for people to connect with brands in ways that "will create a true relationship between viewer and product and may even encourage them to internalize brands as an element of personal culture and self-expression." In other words, encourage people to watch more tv, buy stuff through their tvs, and ultimately define themselves through the brands they consume. Needless to say, I was thankful to switch jobs shortly thereafter.

Geez wins Utne award

2009-06-28T13:43:00.000-07:00

Geez magazine won Utne Reader magazine's 2009 award for Best Spiritual Coverage magazine in their annual independent press awards. You can read their comments here (half way down).

George Fox University viewbook

2009-06-06T16:15:00.000-07:00

This is the new George Fox University viewbook for potential undergrad students; I designed it in conjunction with the new undergrad admission website (below). We tried to capture life at George Fox with lots of photos, captions and testimonials. Click to enlarge.

Geez 14: the awkward issue

2009-06-06T15:03:00.001-07:00

Geez magazine issue 14, the awkward issue, featuring the winners of the "daringly awkward sermon contest." Check out one of the winning sermons here. The cover photo is from the Square America snapshot archive; it's one of my favorite Geez covers. The magazine is divided into different sections with photos of leaps of faith.

R.I.P. Shaw's

2009-06-03T19:24:00.000-07:00

Shaw's is an old restaurant here in Newberg that had this great yet odd lettering on their sign. They recently went out of business, and I went by there to see if I could get this old sign. It turns out the letters were so old they just crumbled off when they were removing them, so there was nothing to salvage. Oh, well, at least I got a picture before it disappeared.

Twitter is dead.

2009-06-02T18:02:00.000-07:00