Geez clothing thoughts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Urban grit Newberg style part III

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

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

Urban grit Newberg style part II

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

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

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.