Typeface Tees.

I have reached new levels of typography geekdom. I can't help it. It is an uncurable malady that I actually don't WANT to be cured of. Does this sound nuts or familiar to you? If it's familiar, then I know you will love this series of t-shirts designed by Camdon Wilde. He had me at hello with his Period Table of Typefaces (thank you SO much each penny pretty for the recommend) and then again, with these shirts. My biggest problem? Which font do I want to wear?!

Khaki + Gap = Fashion Surprise.

Today is the first day of the new Gap Khaki launch with designers (and winners of the 2008 CFDA Vogue fashion awards) Alexander Wang and Vena Cava. The ads are pretty awesome (I just spied my first look at them in the Sunday Times this weekend) and definitely do what Gap used to be known for doing – clean, happy, ads. These were shot by photographer Craig McDean. I myself am not a huge khaki fan but might have to satisfy my curiosity and head into the Fifth Avenue Gap today to see what the hype is all about.

Stina Pearson + Face Boutique.

I saw these products on The Dieline and was immediately taken with them AND immediately knew they were the handiwork of one of my favorite illustrators, Stina Persson! Face Boutique is a natural skincare brand for teens and twenty-somethings.

Absolut No Label.

I've always thought that Absolut has done a killer job in the advertising and design department; always fresh, always clever, never obvious. This latest bottle design, Absolut No Label, is a perfect testimony of how a brand that has built it's reputation on a simple but clean structure design can outwit any marketing manager who says "Make the logo bigger, please". There is no logo, no name, nada. Just the bottle. They are in limited edition and are numbered.

Yet Another Reason to Buy the iPhone.

(If only they would partner with Verizon). But seriously, how cool is this app for the iPhone? Take a picture of something with a fabulous color that you like and via Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore (whichever app you choose to use) a paint chip with that matching color appears! Incredible!

Found via Design*Sponge

An Abstract Alphabet.

I stopped into Kate's Paperie this morning to peruse and be inspired (plus, I just love to touch all of the paper). In the front window there was a lampshade made up of typography as well as a book of the alphabet – done in artsy way of course – that I loved and told myself I would remember the name of the author to look it up on Amazon. Honestly, I don't know why I don't write more of these things done because of course I got on the subway, rode up to midtown and forgot the author's name. Anyhow, in my search I came upon THIS book which turns the alphabet into abstract art (or abstract art into the alphabet), A is for Art: An Abstract Alphabet by Stephen T. Johnson. I kind of love it and kind of want to add it to my ever-growing wishlist of design/typography/photography books. When I find the original book I was looking for, I will post about that one too. Though that might take another trip to Soho and back to Kate's to refresh my memory...

Game...Set...Match...Pentagram!

Yet again the super smart designers at Pentagram find a way to turn something around and make it clever, beautiful and make other design geeks say, "wow, I wish I worked on that". They have redesigned Tennis Magazine and made it nice and clean. I actually want to pick it up and read. The covers have a new font family, a wonderful pop of color for the majority of the backgrounds, and photography full of energy.

Everybody Dance Now.

Except you really can't dance now because we all missed the exhibit! Or at least I did. I hate when I forget to check out the National AIGA gallery here in NYC. I used to work within close walking distance so I would never miss a show that I wanted to see. Now? I work in the neighborhood of tourists, The Today Show, and overpriced salads. Anyhow, I just remembered that I hadn't seen an AIGA show in a bit so I checked out their site and was sad to see one that I would have loved to take in: Everybody Dance Now: 20 Years of Dancing in Print. It's not that I have a huge fascination with dancing (though a couple of friends did try and convince me that "So You Think You Can Dance" is some fantastic summertime TV watching) but I really love the amazing angles and negative space and motion that is created with photography of dancers. For example, this season's NYC Ballet posters (designed by legendary Pentagram designer, Paula Scher) were just perfection in my design mind.

Wine Country. In New York!

A couple of weekends ago, Matt, myself and some other friends headed east to the wineries on the North Fork of Long Island. Normally I don't venture anywhere past Brooklyn on the landmass of New York but for some daytime wine sampling, cheese & cracker-eating in the sunshine, I did. We found ourselves at four different and beautiful wineries that made you think you were not in New York but possibly in California. A small photo collage above from the trip. I loved the diagonals, horizontals and verticals that all of these photos had and what happened when I put them next to each other (though for some reason Blogger is chopping off the right side of the photo).

A Store Filled with Letters!

Seriously, I need to travel to the west coast NOW (San Francisco specifially) so I can check out this fantastic place, Timeless Treasures, that was written up on Felt & Wire the other day. Must see it all in person!

Sweet Typography.

There is something pretty great about old-school candy stores and ice cream shops (and I am not just saying that because my high school job was working in a 50s style ice cream shop complete with soda fountain and glass banana boats for splits). This is a small selection of shots I took at a fantastic old-fashioned candy store, Big Top Candy Shop, in Austin a month ago.

Our Logos Are Getting "Softer".

Great article in the NY Times this weekend about some big-name brands and the facelifts they have done on their logos. Mainstream companies want to make themselves feel a bit more friendly and approachable (in this angry recession) so they are doing things like changing from upper to lower cases and adding a bit more flair to their staid and solid color icons.

Greg Lotus: Photographer.

I love that our art buyer here at work sends over the latest talent from her photo reps. There are some SERIOUSLY talented photographers out there and looking at their work just inspires! Here is the latest from Gerg Lotus (repped by Walter Schupfer) for Vogue Italia– gorgeous and 50s inspired and perfect !

How Do I Get Into This Event?!

I just emailed the RSVP contact to find out more information about this event, but how amazing would it be to sit among 100 of the most Creative People in Business!? The energy floating around the room would be beyond inspiring, I am sure. At the top of my list that I would LOVE to hear speak? J.J. Abrams and Gary Hustwit!

National Running Day this Wednesday!

It's time to tie up those Asics, put on some shorts, grab some water and a friend and hit the trails, the track or the park – it's National Running Day on Wednesday! With my recent half-marathon under my belt and my running shoes just cooled, what better way to celebrate running and the start of June than by joining up with some friends and celebrating National Running Day!