Cut to the Paste

2010-03-10T15:53:00.004-06:00

We've Moved!

Cut to the Paste has relocated to cuttothepaste.jbchicago.com - please follow us there for all future posts. While you're at it, feel free to click around our redesigned website and get comfortable with the new look of JB Chicago!

Designer Spotlight - Alexander Girard

2010-02-08T15:21:00.016-06:00

From time to time, the designers at JB Chicago want to give a shout out to a graphic artist that inspires us. Many people don't know the name Alexander Girard, but he was widely considered the greatest colorist and textile designer of modern time.

Girard used traditional folk art to infuse color, whimsy, and humor into vibrant modern design. He was able to capture the essence of Latin America while still creating designs that were fresh and contemporary, finding the perfect balance of high and low art forms. Girard managed to inject an uninhibited use of color and a clever playfulness into the industry. He turned to countries like Mexico and India where a handicraft, or folk art, tradition still thrived, their processes, motifs and colors not yet threatened by an industrial culture. These pieces inspired Girard to develop a new method of coloring and patterning that proved to be a vibrant counterpoint to American modernist furniture.

To get started let's check out this quick retrospective from House Industries http://girard.houseind.com/

Nativity poster by Alexander Girard. The poster is for an Exhibition at the Gallery of Art in Kansas City in 1962.

Girard pillows - an affordable way to get a legendary designer's accents into your home.

Designer dolls - Girard remarked that "toys represent a microcosm of man’s world and dreams; they exhibit fantasy, imagination, humour and love."

Many Girard designs were well suited for natural textures.

Check out this Girard inspired nativity scene - can they make one lawn size?

Web Trends - 2010

2010-01-04T15:35:00.011-06:00

Wondering what the next year holds for web design? Our crystal ball is predicting a refining and expansion of some of the major looks of 2009. As designers we are excited to contribute to this design revolution that is putting the viewer first - why make a boring site that doesn't captivate your audience? So lets get started - here are the design styles we think will dominate in 2010!

Sketch - Hand-Drawing
Creating your own design elements is a great way to add a personal touch to any site. Don't worry if your drawing skills are rusty, this isn't going in a museum.

The Huge Header
Takes up a lot of room and can be risky as you’re taking up valuable space, but done right it looks great and makes an impact.

Slab Typefaces
Like old Wild West "Wanted Posters", these bold typefaces can really get attention.

Retro
What's old is new with these sites!

A Hipster Christmas

2009-12-10T14:06:00.010-06:00

Forget the days of Christmas sweaters and stale fruitcakes, it's time to add a little flair to the holidays. We found this selection of stylish decor to give your holidays a modern touch. Check out this "Wall Tree" - all you need is a little brick-a-brack and some imagination and you got yourself one cooool Christmas tree.

Why not serve up a little sophistication at your next holiday gathering? Check out these chic party favors - better than a double shot of egg nog!

Time to re-think that boring gift wrap - try a simple retro print like below and top it off with some holly and pine cones.

We're so cool we don't need color! Check out these urbane mantel pieces, your grandma may not even see them.

Don't forget the kids. With this gear, your wee-ones will think they're in Whoville!

Last but not least, is this fuzzy wreath. I can't decide if this is genius or tacky. I'm leaning towards genius, but I'd love to hear from our readers.

Giving Thanks!

2009-11-24T09:33:00.009-06:00

Thanksgiving is just two days away and us designers here at JB Chicago have a lot to be thankful for this year. We wanted to take the time today to share with you all of the wonderful things that have brought joy to our lives this year.

We are thankful for:

Our fabulous and devoted followers of "Cut to the Paste"
Our amazing coworkers at JB Chicago who put up with us each and every day : )
Our families and friends who support us each step of the way
Awesome designers who inspire us to do great things
Other design blogs that keep us entertained and distracted from the work we should be doing
The best company in the world, Apple, who willingly make our wallets thinner each year with every new product they put on the market
iTunes, who supply us with killer music all day long (half the reason why we are so damn talented)
Our place we call home, Chicago, the greatest city in the world
The clients that approve our stellar designs without revisions : )
The empty seat on the train/bus for that long commute home
Weekends!
Delicious food, that makes our mouths water and our bellies full
And much much more...

In all seriousness... we are very thankful to be able to do what we love most and on top of that, get paid for it! We hope that each one of you has a wonderful Thanksgiving with family, friends, and great food! Don't forget to show your support for all those people that help make Thanksgiving possible... our farmers! It's the farmers who work hard each day to provide us with an abundance of great produce, dairy, meat, vegetables, and other nutritious foods.

Help us show our thanks by sending out a tweet on Wednesday, November 25 at 10am CST with #thankafarmer.

Gobble Gobble!!

Designer Apparel

2009-11-18T10:00:00.001-06:00

OK - it's not quite Christmas yet, but if you have a designer on your list we have some great gift ideas. Everyone loves an inside joke and the art department is no exception. The following post is devoted to the graphically inclined who would love a witty new shirt or bag. I'm not sure why the word "KERN" on a zip-up makes me smile but remember designers are a strange breed. All entries are courtesy of behance.net (DADAD studio) and our friends at veer.com. Let us know if you have a favorite - my vote goes to the "Lorem Ipsum" t-shirt.

With a Little Help from Our Friends

2009-11-03T12:00:00.000-06:00

JB Chicago had a busy October... mainly because we launched the greatest Halloween promotion in SoNet history!

Through the creation of applications for Facebook, Twitter and the Web, we reached thousands and informed them of the benefits of Tetrapak cartons - "milk boxes" that are good for you and better for the environment. Moms loved the idea of passing out a healthy alternative this Halloween. And with each click within the apps, participants were donating to World Wildlife Foundation, making this a win-win across the board.

We have to give special thanks to all the bloggers who supported us during this campaign. With their help, we were are able to spread our message to a much wider audience. Please show some love and visit the following:

http://www.artfulcreativemama.blogspot.com/
http://www.centsible-sawyer.com
http://monaevedesignfarm.com
http://www.opentalkmom.com
http://www.savingdollarsandsense.com/
http://www.easyecotogo.com
http://www.mashupmom.com
http://www.greenlivingguy.com
http://www.got2begreen.com
http://www.nourishinteractive.com
http://www.greenscroll.org/blog/869

Blog Action Day: WWF Climate Change

2009-10-15T11:04:00.015-05:00

Today, in honor of Blog Action Day for climate change, our post will be dedicated to how World Wildlife Fund is acting now for our future. "WWF is participating in Blog Action Day today (15 October 2009). This is an annual event that unites the world's bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day on their own blogs with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. This year’s topic is conveniently climate change. Blog Action Day 2009 will be the largest-ever social change event on the web. One day. One issue. Thousands of voices."

Climate change has been a priority for WWF for over 20 years as climate disruption poses a fundamental threat to the vulnerable places, species and people WWF seeks to protect. To adequately slow climate change we urgently must reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. We are leveraging the power of WWF’s network of organizations around the world to build support for the new post-2012 global climate agreement at Copenhagen that is fair, effective and science-based.Read more here.

WWF has also used the power of design to fight climate change. Many of the campaigns that involve WWF contain strong graphics and messages that greatly affect their viewers. WWF has worked hard to promote their causes and grab the world's attention and through the use of many creative minds, they have succeeded. We have found some very effective WWF campaigns and wanted to share them with you today.

Remember that you can take action too!

• Check your lights

• Check your thermostats

• Check your water faucets/showers

• Turn off appliances you are not using

If you want to learn more about WWF and what they are doing please visit their website today.

* Make this Halloween healthy for both the kids and the environment while also helping WWF! Learn more at this blog.

October: The Best of the Breast!

2009-10-08T15:53:00.014-05:00

So we're 8 days into October and two things come to mind: Halloween and Breast Cancer Awareness. Our last blog post was dedicated to our Halloween campaign so we wanted to showcase Breast Cancer Awareness this week. It seems as though everywhere we look things are "going pink" for Breast Cancer Awareness month. From websites to advertisements, television, clothing, buildings and the NFL... Breast Cancer Awareness has made its mark. We think it's a wonderful campaign that has greatly evolved over time and allowed designers to put their talent to work for a good cause. We are now seeing social networking and the online world taking a big part in spreading the word to large masses (check out the pink for october campaign for example). Because these campaigns have used various medians to broadcast awareness, designers might find it difficult to "stand out" amongst the competition. Some of you may be thinking competition? Who is in competition when we are all fighting for the same cause? As designers we still want to create a piece that really jumps out at our viewer and grabs their attention right from the start. The goal of all campaigns is to raise awareness, but who can do it the best? We have researched some Breast Cancer campaigns/advertisements that we found to be very well thought out and executed. Take a look below and let us know if you have found others!

And because we have to give some Chitown love!

JB Chicago: Milkin' Halloween For All It's Worth!

2009-09-22T11:58:00.028-05:00

In our last post we talked about Microsites and how they have played a crucial role in today's marketing environment. Our company, JB Chicago, is a forerunner in the online realm and has made its mark in the Twittersphere. We have successfully created a niche in this ever-growing medium as the go-to company for launching successful online strategies. Our research shows that centering such launches on holidays is highly effective. Our latest project that we just launched was a Viral Marketing Halloween Campaign for "milk boxes" (learn more about the product at tetrapakusa.com). The campaign we created is fun, silly and for a good cause – every time you play we donate to World Wildlife Fund. Sound good? We’re just getting started!

The goal of this campaign is to show chocolate milk as a great alternative to candy, whether you’re giving it to kids during the holidays or simply as an after-school snack. By utilizing viral and social networking components we can achieve this in a fun, engaging way that allows the message to spread among moms. Hershey's and Organic Valley want to spread the word about milk in single serve, shelf stable cartons. To do so, we have created applications for them on Facebook, Twitter and the Web. On the social networking sites, you can choose whether your friends deserve to be treated or tricked – all the while supporting World Wildlife Fund. And on the Web, you can upload headshots of yourself and your friends, only to have them appear atop the dancing bodies of monsters, ready to trick or treat at your friends’ doors. These applications are easy to do and easy to become addicted to! It’s easy to get swept up in the Halloween spirit. So take part in this all-around great campaign and share it with your friends. Remember: while you’re sharing a laugh with your friends, you are also helping protect the future of nature with the World Wildlife Fund.

Look below to see how the JB Chicago designers stepped up to the plate to make sure this campaign didn't "scare" people away! From designing the twitter profiles and pages, the facebook application and fan pages, the twitter microburst, the blogs, and the flash piece we took Trick or Treating to a whole new level. Help us spread the word and make this Halloween a friendly one for both the kids and environment!

Twitter Microburst: Tweet out Tricks or Treats with this fun application and find out who is the "Scariest Twitterer" of your friends. Receive access to coupons for the products and a link to our blog.

Visit at http://budurl.com/C2PTW

Facebook Application: Send and receive Tricks or Treats to/from your friends and publish them to your wall, while also showing people the benefit of handing out chocolate milk instead of candy this spooky season!

Visit at http://budurl.com/C2PFBApp

Facebook Fan Page: Become a fan of the Trick or Treat page on Facebook and help spread the word about the application by posting photos, chatting in discussions, and posting your own thoughts!

Visit at http://budurl.com/C2PFBFan

Flash Piece: Have fun with your friends and create personalized Trick or Treats for your friends using uploaded photos.

Visit at http://budurl.com/C2PWebApp

Blog: Read up and comment on the latest news from Tetra Pak and receive coupons for the products.

Visit at http://budurl.com/C2PBlog

Mad for Micro-sites

2009-09-10T14:45:00.012-05:00

Brands are seeing some serious traffic online recently by creating micro-sites. They are hooking unique visitors with contests, coupons and content that can be spread easily through social networking and email.

Here are a couple examples of micro-sites in the food industry: Reynoldsrecycled.com, Taco Bell's bajablast.com, cicispizza.com, Hellmann's buildtheperfectsandwich.com. Notice how these sites entice visitors with fun graphics and special offers.

The last example for AXE was made by our team here at JB Chicago. Visitors were encouraged to create their own twist on "Kiss Me I'm Irish" and tweet on to their friends.

What's Bloggin' Got to do with it? (got to do with it...)

2009-08-03T14:27:00.016-05:00

Well we're on to about our 30th post and we figured we might as well take a step back and ask ourselves why exactly we decided to take part in this whole blogging phenomenon. Does blogging really do designers any good? You might be asking yourself this same question... so let's investigate. We realize that the design world has changed quite a bit over the years. We all get our inspiration for design somewhere: books, artists, friends, pictures, magazines, teachers, etc., but now more than ever inspiration can be found right at our fingertips via the web. Design blogs have become much more popular with new bloggers popping up each day lending out extra tips, tutorials, inspiration, and experience.

Design blogs have many different benefits. Here are just a few we have found:

• They allow us to gain exposure where maybe we wouldn't have had the chance to before.

• They keep our brains and creative minds churning at all times coming up with new posts and ideas to blog about.

• Blogging can be a challenge. Just like any other project that comes our way, we must be proud of what we put forth.

• Design is all about communication; visually communicating with your viewers. With blogging, we are able to embellish on those communication skills and learn new techniques.

• Creativeness. Of course as designers, we love to be creative and push things to the extreme and blogging allows us to do just that. We are our own clients! What we say goes!

Each of us decided to highlight one of our favorite blogs that we enjoy visiting from time to time to keep up with our fellow bloggers in the design industry. Enjoy!

First up is Jim's:

Sometimes designers need to look back in order to move forward. One of my favorite blogs is Grain Edit. They are focused on classic design work from the 1950s-1970s and contemporary designers that draw inspiration from that time period. Site content includes interviews, articles, designers’ libraries as well as examples of rare design annuals, type specimens, Ephemera, posters and vintage kids books.

Visit the blog: www.grainedit.com.

Next is Christina's:

Web Designer Wall, a wall of design ideas, web trends, and tutorials, is designed and maintained by Nick La, who also runs N.Design Studio and Best Web Gallery. He's been designing for several years and his work has been published on numbers of magazines. He loves to share ideas and design techniques. Web Designer Wall serves as his public blog where he posts design ideas, tutorials, and talk about modern web design trends. I like that his site is kind of a one-stop-shop; I can search through how-to tutorials, new inspiring trends and read up on some design news. Not to mention his blog is well designed. Thumbs up to Web Designer Wall!

Visit the blog: www.webdesignerwall.com.

Last is Megan's:

One of my favorite blogs to visit for inspiration is Bad Ass Ideas. The author, Samantha Warren, communicates well with her audience, while also giving it that extra edge that I love. She adds a personal touch to her blog, while also providing great resources for the beginner designer and the advanced designer. While her focus is on web design, she offers great inspiration for all designers. She calls herself a "people person," and in my book is one of my "people." Great job Samantha!

Visit the blog: www.badassideas.com.

Illustration Inspiration

2009-07-14T11:12:00.017-05:00

Illustration may be the best way to give any campaign a fresh look. Why settle for contrived stock images? Try a more artistic interpretation to distance yourself from the competitors. Here are some examples that may inspire you to reach for your own pen and paper! All images courtesy of www.behance.net.

Photoshoppin' around!

2009-07-07T10:41:00.007-05:00

Since our last posting caused a lot of controversy about things being photoshopped we decided to dedicate this next post to all things photoshopped! We decided to "shop around" and find some of the best pieces that used photoshop to its finest! Using photoshop can be very effective in some cases, and in others can go horribly wrong. Designers have mastered the way photoshop can be used in all aspects of their work. Even the everyday person can use photoshop to crop those family photos, brighten up the contrast, change the coloring, or even have fun with those filters that it offers (who wouldn't want to plastic wrap/lens flare/gaussian blur their dog?). Photoshop opens up new doors to the design world, but one must be careful to not get caught up in the craziness and go overboard. For these next pieces we will let you be the judge on whether the creators stayed on board or "jumped ship."

Keep Truckin'!

2009-07-02T10:46:00.005-05:00

This holiday weekend we know that many of you will be on the roads traveling. We decided to brighten up your travels with our next blog. We found these great truck advertising designs that definitely jazz up the roads. We have mentioned before that design can be seen everywhere you look, so why not on the side of a semi truck! These next designs may stop traffic, but they are totally worth it! The photos have all been found from a great blog called "Outlaw Design Blog". Visit their site to see more http://budurl.com/fb5a.

Let's Go Clubbin'

2009-06-19T10:16:00.008-05:00

We decided that it's time for us to showcase some of our own work. Over the years JB Chicago has done work for numerous bars and nightclubs in the Chicago land area. It was interesting for us to see how design styles have emerged within the nightclub division. These next pieces are all flyers or ads that were designed for our clients. This particular division allows for designers to elaborate on the skills they have been taught and venture into new areas. Each one of these flyers represents both the branding of the client and also the style of the designer. Even today we see amazing things happening in the nightclub world. As designers, it is exciting to see the new paths that design is taking and where it will lead to next. Hope you enjoy!

Going up?

2009-06-15T14:43:00.000-05:00

Sometimes great ads are all about placement and working with your surroundings. Designers must use the tools they are given in order to make something really work. What better way to get your idea across than to place it in a popular public place... an elevator. These next images show how designers have used elevators as the base of their advertisement and let the rest of the pieces fall into place. This is truly a new level of design. Enjoy the ride!

It's Friday... throw us a bone!

2009-06-05T10:57:00.001-05:00

Happy Friday to everyone out there! This next post goes out to all of the pet owners and pet lovers. Us designers at JB Chicago love all animals and we believe that even our pets deserve the best treatment possible when it comes to design. Some of the best advertisements out there pertain to animals and how they make us laugh and smile! It's our pets who help us out of our designer slump and give us that extra spark we need to get back in the game (OK, maybe not all of us have had that experience, but we think it's true!). These next advertisements that we have found are all about cats and dogs. Some are quite cleverly executed and may even force a smile out of those out there who claim to not like cats or dogs. So here's to a puurrrfect Friday and a doggone good weekend! Enjoy!

Dog in disguise!

Whiskas- tastes just like the real thing!

For growing cats!

The lives of cats.

Keep them lean and mean... feed them Pedigree...

Or keep them strong and feed them Pedigree!

Whatever happened to Pluto?

Poor dog.

Some people say you look like your dog... we'll let you be the judge!

Good dog... keep wiping!

Every dog has his day.

Clever mall ad to keep fleas off your dog.

Man's best friend.

Easy turtle... you'll never be as cool as the dog.

This just makes us laugh!

Nice Package!

2009-06-03T10:24:00.000-05:00

The product is all about the packaging! Good packaging design can definitely make or break a sale. Designers must think of clever ways to relate the packaging with the product itself, or simply use the product as a part of the packaging. In order to make the products stand out from other similar products on the shelves, designers must create only the best! Sometimes the cleaner and simpler, the better, but other times you must take extreme measures in order to grab the customer's attention. Packaging design also takes on new roles with designers. We are now thinking in the three dimensional world versus the flat printed pieces. How will the package look from all sides and angles? And how can we get the viewers to interact with the piece as a whole? These next pieces showcase some of the best package designs we have collected. Feel free to share some of your own! Knock, Knock... your package has arrived!

A Great Thanksgiving Wine!

You will definitely look tough with these band-aids.

Sick of people asking how you broke your arm? Let your sling do the talking.

Clever way to light up tea time!

Even Snow White can't resist the Mac!

Very clever design/name for a beer glass.

Spill your guts while you sleep!

Fresh new packaging.

Take that, rain!

One for the nailbiters.

Giving a boost to your next meal!

Clever and almost disturbing at the same time.

Clever packaging for syrup.

Vintage at its finest.

Sexy!

I see London, I see France, I see very cool underpants!

Taking shoe boxes to a new level.

Three generations of wine. Gets better with age!

Very cool prank! Reminding people about "take your kids to work day."

Package design for "Six Feet Under" Series.

Who says you can't keep clean and be classy at the same time?

Spunky, modern look to smoothies.

And you thought the Dentist would never find out??

Is this cider winking at me?

You can smell good design from here!

Honey, will you.... get me some coffee?

Singing in the shower and keeping clean!

Take your ticket before I eat it!

Starting your day out on a holy note.

These magnets will drive teachers crazy!

Don't mix these up with the real things!

Bathroom Humor!

2009-05-27T10:46:00.000-05:00

Everyone can always go for a little potty humor now and then right? Bathrooms can be a great place for people to showcase their designs and advertisements. The bathroom is the place where you have the viewer's full attention and can even catch them off guard if it is well thought out. Some may believe the first signs of bathroom entertainment are the writings we find on the walls about who hates who or who stole your best friend's boyfriend or maybe even the artistic sculptured toilet paper wads on the ceiling or we may go as far to say some people leave their runny art behind for all to view in the form of "spray paint" (if you follow our drift) . Whatever you may find as true art or just as pure disgusting, we all have had a great bathroom story to tell. These next pieces help make those bathroom experiences one step better. So sit back and enjoy the potty (party!).

Time for a Brazilian!

Nothing like a nice "clean" hand shake!

This takes recycling to a whole new level.

A very literal ad.

Chilled beer, check. Chilled toilet paper, check.

We thought employees used their hands to work?

Match made in heaven? No, just the bathroom!

Even the ads are getting action.

This advertisement literally puts the ad in your face!

The rules of the bathroom in Japan.

No ifs, ands, or butts about it! This paper does its job!

Playing a little futbol while peeing.

A clever little birthday cake.

Making men nervous every drop of the way!

It's all about control.

This makes us smile!

Sneaky little woman.

These sticky ads are naughty.

Flexibility is key in choosing the right toothbrush.

Believe it or not this ad is for treating sprains at an urgent care.

How did they know??

Yeah that's right, go back and wash your hands.

Who knew peeing could be such an adventure!

The scary truth. An ad for schizophrenia.

When mice start using your TP you have problems.

Another case for the flexibility of a toothbrush.

One of those ads that makes you go... awesome!

Shit does happen!

Do you even feel clean after using this?

A sign that truly knows how you feel!

Sex Sells

2009-05-22T11:35:00.000-05:00

Made you look! At least this blog won't get you fired from your job or give you horrible viruses that you're too embarrassed to bring in to get fixed. We are sure that everyone can pretty much agree that sex sells. This idea also pertains to the design field. We hate to admit it, but a pretty face on an ugly package might get that one customer to buy that shampoo. Designers try to sell the sexiness with how well the piece is laid out, the typographic treatment, the color pallet, the photo retouch and the overall thought that went into the piece. This does not always work and we have experienced many cases where some people may not care if you spent 2 hours choosing the perfect typeface and point size, but instead want to make sure both set of boobs are showing. These next images showcase just how sex can sell and how far people will go to get people to buy their products. Some are quite clever and funny, while others are just plain wrong. We're not sure that all of these pieces give us that "sexual healing," but we'll let you be the judge of that.

WOW is all we can say!

Even cartoons are feeling the sexual tension.

Nice and sturdy shelves.

Mmmmmm.....fries.

Make sure to keep them occupied even at an early age.

Ad reads: Never let their toys die. Long Lasting Battery with Energizer.

Don't be stupid is right.

Something nice to curl up to on your lonely pathetic nights.

You have a sick mind!

Nothing to explain.

Boob scarves! Buy a pair and get one free!

Viagra... keeping both the lights and you turned on!

The Hulk is Hung!.. oh wait pass me a beer.

Yeah... You wish.

Keeping Dad in check.

Play With Your Food!

2009-05-19T14:04:00.000-05:00

So we all know that our parents always told us "not to play with our food." Well we're all grown up now and as designers we decided to dig up our inner child and start playing! People may think that graphic design is all about print and computers, but they are wrong! Design can be found everywhere we turn, even in food. These next images display the many ways that food can be used in the design world. Some images show food in its most natural form, while others show food in a manner we may never have expected to witness. It's time to keep an open mind and an open appetite. Don't leave us on an empty stomach... get your fill!

This roll might be stale, but we would never tell it that!

The new wedding tradition: ham and hot dog cakes!

We tend to like our pillows in whole wheat.

This flavor kicks butt!

Just your typical meathead.

This croissant is purrrrfect.

Who needs chocolate and carmel when you have smoothies?

It's rude to stare!

Fish don't fly.

Thanksgiving turkey? or Whole Human? You pick.

Clever sushi to go advertisement!

Three scoops of gerbilness!

Taking sculpting to the next level!

The attack of the fork monster!

Nothing says clean teeth like the taste of bacon!

Now here's a game that is both fun and delicious!

Food with attitude!

We thought the cookie monster only ate cookies?

A plate that literally wants you to play with your food!

Heinz ketchup in its truest form.

What a good tasting bench.

This hot dog is way too cute to eat!

The All American (Designer) Apple Pie!

Shoeburger?

Martha is happy to see us!

This flavor is full of sh*t.

Tasty costume!

A very fragile couch!

Dirty Laundry!

2009-05-14T11:17:00.000-05:00

Spring is in the air and that can only mean one thing... spring cleaning! We decided to take some of our favorite shots of "bad clothing" and put them out with the dirty laundry. These next images represent only a small portion of both the cleverness and the badness that goes into the design of clothing. Take a look for yourself and let us know if you would ever be seen wearing any of these items. Remember to always separate the darks from the lights. Enjoy!

Nothing like boosting that ego of yours the minute you jump out of the shower!

Who needs directions when we all know mom does the laundry the best.

This dress is on a mission to "score" at Prom.

"You might be a redneck if..." you double up your underwear as a tank top.

Everyone loves new doodles by google, but this takes it a step further.

Hazardous gases below!

Designin' for a cause!

2009-05-11T15:08:00.000-05:00

Us designers just got back from a very fun weekend ending with a celebration to all mothers yesterday. With mothers in mind, we thought of no better way to show our true appreciation than to dedicate this next blog to a great cause, The Fight Against Breast Cancer. We all try to do our part in one way or another, but as designers we too can take part in the fight, putting our skills and talents to good use. These next few pieces are just some of our favorite Breast Cancer designs. Whether it be an advertisement, a t-shirt design, a coffee mug, a logo, a card, a baked good, or simply a photo, art takes on new meaning and brings hope to those fighting against the cause. We hope everyone had a great Mother's Day! Please feel free to share your own thoughts and designs. "Breast Wishes to all!"

Hell Yeah!

2009-05-08T13:12:00.000-05:00

So it's Friday and we're all ready for the weekend... and better yet great weather! This next image sparked that much needed enthusiasm that we were craving. This guy means business and would definitely be someone who knows how to party. He also shows a creative side, which us designers find oddly interesting. He chose to convey his own sense of art and use himself as the canvas. He is a walking, talking ad for "awesomeness!" With the touch of sunglasses and a mustache all he needs is a cold beverage. Enjoy your Friday and remember that the sun never sets on a badass!

Look Up!

2009-05-01T18:20:00.000-05:00

Creative inspiration is everywhere - why wait for the next design annual? Take a walk around the block and awaken your graphic muse. Watch for old signs, they create a unique history of any city. You can still find hand painted works that span entire buildings. And who can resist a brown bear chugging a beer (or is that honey)?

Hell No!

2009-04-28T15:51:00.000-05:00

With the recent craziness of the Swine Flu currently going on we decided it might be necessary to put our two cents in as well. This next ad created for a soap company really takes extreme to new measures. They chose to focus on the negative effects that take place when their product is not being used. This scare tactic can work very well in some cases, but in this one it just plain grosses us out. Who wants to see this kind of imagery? We have to give them some credit though, because this ad sure makes us want to wash our hands... let alone our whole bodies! When it comes to daily hygiene always remember to "hand"le with care!

Hell Yeah!

2009-04-22T15:12:00.000-05:00

So the winter weather is slowly disappearing in the Chicago land area... or so it seems. It's during those cold winter months that we really appreciate the small things. The streets of downtown Chicago are not always the friendliest. This next design piece done for the Weingart Homeless Project really draws attention to those who are less fortunate. We all at one time or another have been approached by the begging homeless, but are we always willing to help out? This project helps put people in the "shoes" of someone who may not be as fortunate as them in order to truly see what it means to be homeless. It's an attention grabber for sure, but also promotes a social cause. We enjoy seeing design being used for the better and as always design that makes us question who we are and what we believe in.

Maybe next time we may not be so fast as to turn away the homeless. After all... can't we all spare some change?

The Hell Yeahs and Hell Nos of Typography

2009-03-30T15:20:00.000-05:00

Typography, an often overlooked element of graphic design, is the subject of our latest post. By using just simple letter forms, one can add interest and clarity to any layout. Unfortunately, we see typography so often that we don’t realize it really is a skill and an art. First, lets look at an example of type being misused.

In this example, a poster advertising the services of a printer, the words are arranged without any concern for the reader. Without establishing a hierarchy, adjusting the leading or horizontal scaling, the words become unreadable. The message is lost and inspires a "hell no" from us.

Now, let's look at an example where type strengthens the layout's message. In this advertisement, for Sun-Rype Fruit Juice, type is cleverly formed by the fruit itself. The letters tell a story and become an art element itself. A font made of delicious bananas and strawberries - that's ripe for a "hell yeah".

Designers: Making a Difference

2009-02-26T16:22:00.001-06:00

In our blog we have shown both good and bad design, while providing our thoughts and opinions where we felt necessary. When we came across this next image we had to step back and ask ourselves, "Do we, as designers, have the power to make a difference?" The answer is, yes! We have control over who sees our work, what its message contains, and how it affects others. Ultimately, we must decide how we want our design to be portrayed.

The image below shows a billboard advertisement about preventing childhood obesity, while the billboard directly below is an advertisement for McDonald's, one of the leading causes of obesity in our world. Obviously, the placement of these billboards was not well-thought out, however, the advertisement for childhood obesity makes their case in point even stronger. McDonald's, along with many other fast-food chains, advertise their companies as cheap and fast. In today's economy both of those are great selling points, but shouldn't always be the answer.

We came across a great website (www.healthykidshealthyschools.org) that is taking a stand against Childhood Obesity. The Houston Independent School District in partnership with Houston Texans, the National Dairy Council, Dairy MAX, and many others convened on February 20th and 21st for the "Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools Summit." They went over the causes of childhood obesity and how, they as a community, can take action and stop the epidemic. This summit proposed to enhance wellness within the school districts and its students, creating a healthier generation to come. They believe it is time for all to participate and take part in the coming years.

We think it is great what Houston, Texas is proposing and we only hope to see it branch out to other cities soon! As designers, we believe that we can help out too. Be proud of what you do and stand behind your work. We always find it inspiring to work for a good cause. We realize times our tough now, but someone out there can always use your help.

Hell Yeah!

2009-02-20T16:14:00.001-06:00

So it's 4:15 on a Friday and we have one thing on our mind... the weekend! With that said, this next image is very appropriate.

Billboard designs have many tasks:

1. They must catch the viewer's attention

2. They must get the message across and get it across quickly

3. They must be easy to read

4. And lastly... they must be awesome! (well, that's not always the case, but it should be!)

This billboard is simple, but clever. The first thing that comes to mind when viewing this is, beer, of course! The hand protruding out of the sign reaching for the beer really makes this piece pop and ultimately is what makes this billboard stand out from the rest. Once again, this proves that simplicity can result in success if designed well.

Today's happy hour is dedicated to Heineken! Happy Friday everyone!

Hell Maybe!

2009-02-20T15:54:00.000-06:00

This next image that we found sparked many different feelings. At first we thought we had a "Hell No!" on our hands, but then at a second glance we thought we had a "Hell Yeah!". We decided to compromise and call this one "Hell Maybe!"

This invention of the pillow attached to the head gave us a good laugh. Who in their right mind would want to walk around with a pillow attached to their head? Whether you're in public or in the privacy of your own home there is no way this can be comfortable. That was our initial thought: this invention is ridiculous and if we encountered a person with a pillow bonnet on their head we would most likely point and laugh.

On the other hand... what a brilliant idea! We are hardworking designers who deserve a break every once and a while and what better way to indulge in a good nap than attaching a pillow to your head. The pure convenience of the bonnet pillow alone can prove it's case in point. One minute you're designing away at your desk and the next you're dreaming about the warm beaches of Mexico. As our boss said, "They're not messin' around! Bring back the siesta!"

So our question to you is this, "Should we kick this idea to the curb or do you have pillow on your mind?"

Social Networking: Where Do Designers Fit In?

2009-02-20T15:37:00.000-06:00

Our company has been on top of things when it comes to social networking. The marketing team here is the backbone of our social networking. They are promoting JB's name all over the place: facebook, myspace, twitter, linkedin, and believe it or not, blogspot! Just recently, us designers were called together to meet about this new kind of networking and see how it can fit into our field. At first, we thought design would have no place in the social networking world, but little did we know! All three of us are now more "social" than ever!

One of the main goals of any company is promotion. How can we promote our company and more importantly how can we do it efficiently? Yes, we have a website and a great list of clients, but how can we get others to learn about our company and to learn about it fast? This is where social networking ties in. As designers, we are able to promote not only ourselves, but also our designs and our company. Through our accounts at facebook, twitter, flickr, blogger, etc. we are able to broadcast our ideas, design work, and simple thoughts to a mass amount of people and in a short amount of time. Each time someone that we are "linked" with reads one of our postings or clicks on a link we provided, helps our company name grow.

We have only just begun on our journey through social networking, but already we are seeing great results. It is an exciting process and it will be very interesting to see how it will affect our company.

We must go now and be "social!"

Hell No!

2009-02-17T11:32:00.001-06:00

Since we have been on the topic of logo design, we decided to venture into the Olympic Logo Design field. We have to admit that we are biased, being from Chicago and all, but I think everyone will agree with us that the London Olympic Design is a complete disaster!

For such an important worldwide event as the Olympics, one would think that the logo design would be carefully scrutinized before being launched. Some call the design "too simplistic, too acidic, and ultimately too harsh in styling". We do admit that the design is very bold and eye-catching, but not in the way that a designer usually intends for their work. It will be hard to knock this image out of our brains. The logo gives off a very childish feeling, which can be seen as too immature for such a memorable event. In our opinion, the puzzle-piece style has been overdone and outdated.

Will this be a logo that the world can finally accept and take in or will the logo of the 2012 Olympics go down in history as the "gold medal" of Hell No?

When Logo Redesign Goes Wrong

2009-02-17T10:52:00.000-06:00

Creating a logo for a brand or company can be a very tough job. For a logo to be successful, it must not only be aesthetically pleasing and designed well, but also have longevity. We have seen many companies change or update their logos over the years and some have made good decisions and others have not done so well in the process. The most difficult task for a well-known company/brand to partake in is a redesign. When you have already established a "name" and style for yourself it can be very hard to change that and keep everyone happy. For example, we have noticed that many large corporations are experiencing these makeovers in order to keep up with the latest trends and styles. For some, this is a great change, a step in the right direction, but for others it can be a large step back.

The Animal Planet is a very popular channel, broadcasting in over 70 countries worldwide, and has made itself very well-known among millions of viewers. Their first logo was launched in June of 1996 and portrayed a picture of an elephant and a spinning globe, using mostly green and blue colors to establish an earthy and friendly feel. In February of 2008, Animal Planet decided to redefine itself and launched a new logo, sending many viewers into an uproar. What Animal Planet thought would symbolize an edgier and more energetic look, did just the opposite. The

new logo has been scrutinized by not only designers, but also everyday fans. Many people's first reaction was, "What were they thinking?"

The typographical treatment seems a bit off and one may question why they chose to "squish" some letters and stretch out others. Another question would be why they chose to emphasize the M and turn it on it's side? All in all, the new logo is frustrating and almost hides the message that Animal Planet wants to send out.

These are just some of the questions that first came to mind when comparing the new look with the old design. We definitely think a redesign could have taken place, but with little more attention to detail and good design. What are your thoughts?

Hell Yeah!

2009-02-12T15:32:00.000-06:00

It's that time again... the Hell Yeah! Post of the week. This next piece was a direct mailer done extremely well. We realize that designing direct mailers can be very difficult. Not only are we creating a piece that will be distributed to a large mass of people, but we also have to design something that will stand out from the other crowd of direct mailers that people receive everyday. We for one, know that many of the direct mail pieces people receive have about a "10 second life span" from the hands of the receiver directly to the garbage can. It is our jobs as both marketers and designers to change that.

Below you will find one clever idea for a direct mailer. Papa John's Pizza "delivered" these mailers door to door using people's peep holes as the vehicle of choice. Instead of opening up your stack of mail and finding just another oversized postcard promoting pizza, you are greeted with a surprise. We can just imagine the looks on people's faces when they look out their peep holes and see a delivery man!

Just looking at this would get anyone hungry! The only downfall, would be their vehicle they chose. Not everyone has a peep hole, but still a very effective marketing and design idea "delivered" well!

Designer Blues: Never Fully Satisfied

2009-02-12T15:02:00.000-06:00

On this gloomy Thursday afternoon we decided to embark on one of the many difficulties that designers experience throughout their careers, having that feeling of never being completely satisfied. One day we're working on a design and we believe we have this great thing going, but then you come back to it the next day and you hate it. This can be both a good thing and a bad thing.

Looking at it from a positive perspective we can see how we are constantly changing as designers and developing new styles and trends, while learning from our mistakes. We can almost guarantee that we each own a piece of work that we designed years back, but today we would look at the piece and say "what were we thinking?"

The negative perspective of this feeling of never being satisfied is exactly that... we are never satisfied! A job is never fully complete because changes can always be made to make something appear better, convey the message more clearly, or simply make us happier! As designers, we must realize that there has to come a time when we have to step back and say this is it!

If you have ever experienced this feeling of never being fully satisfied do not worry, you are not alone! This is simply the designer blues and the only cure is to keep designin'!

So when designing remember this:

Challenge yourself. Take risks. Ask for other designers' opinions. Keep learning new things. And mostly, be yourself because the hardest judge on your work out there is YOURSELF!

Design Trends

2009-02-11T15:04:00.000-06:00

As designers we have to constantly keep up to date with all of the different design trends being used in the business. Thankfully, we have many different sources that offer inspiration and ideas. Some of our favorite sites that we visit on a daily basis are used to fill our heads with creative information and to get our ideas flowing. One of the trends we have been seeing a lot of lately consists of mixing photography with illustration. If done correctly, this technique can be quite successful and exciting! I am sure if you browse around you will see many different variations of this new technique being put to use. We decided to take a stab at it. Posted below is a before and after shot using the technique.

This technique consists of using different vector elements, along with photoshop brushes. We started off with the black and white photo and ended up with a completely new design. The photo now contains a punch of energy and excitement, allowing for the model to interact with the different design elements. This is just one of the many new trends that have shown their face. We'll continue showing more...enjoy!

Hell No!

2009-02-06T15:44:00.001-06:00

As we previously mentioned... we will also show Hell No! Posts weekly. First up we have a direct mail piece that we found online for decreasing wrinkles in women.

The pictures themselves can basically sum everything up, but why take the fun out of nitpicking this design? We realize that many before and after pictures must be "doctored" to show those stunning results, but anyone who falls for this ad has got to be insane! Speaking of doctors, where is the credibility in "Voted Top 100 Doctors in America" and for three years? We have to give them credit for adding the "shock factor" into the piece, but other than that this is just one direct mailer gone horribly wrong! Good for a laugh that's for sure!

Hell Yeah!

2009-02-06T14:20:00.000-06:00

Our Hell Yeah! Posts of the week will display designs/ideas that we have seen that really stand out and scream genius. The first "Hell Yeah" is a business card done for Yoga One.

This design is awesome! Not only do they keep it simple and clean, but they add the extra twist of the two holes for the fingers. We are all about getting the viewer involved and this card does just that. The first time we viewed it we all got a good laugh! There are so many new ways to design business cards these days that it can be hard to stand out from the rest. Every designer is faced with the challenge of creating a unique card that also brands the company. This is definitely one of those cards where not only is the designer satisfied, but the employee who leaves behind the card knows that they have left a good impression. Great job!