MYFONTS.COM: DECEMBER'S FONTS - GREAT STUFF

Just passing along some new font designs displayed by MYFONTS.COM. I love the art of font design. I have designed fonts for campaigns and it's a lot of work. Unfortunately I really didn't take the time with the etiquette and respect for the art form needed. They were crude in design and execution, but I had fun doing it anyways.

There are some great fonts demonstrated in this months news from myfonts.com. I enjoy their monthly newsletter - hope you feel the same when viewing fonts such as Horst, Delikat and the others.

Thanks

Paul JM 

PAUL JM PLAYS OUT: BIRDSALL HOUSE DEC 2-2010

A non-design related post. I have been involved with graphic design for over 15 years. I have been involved with music for most (close to all) of my life; drums, guitars, writing; playing in bands and solo.

Well I have worked up a few sets of music consisting of my originals and other songwriter's originals. Some people call other people's originals 'covers', but I like to call them 'originals by others'. Anyway, I am taking my Fender Telecaster (or 1983 Fender Bullet), my Fender Blues Jr amp and Fender Passport PA system (I should see about an endorsement) out on the road to perform at one of the coolest bars in Westchester County: The Birdsall House in Peekskill, NY.

The photo of me was taken by my good friend Emmanuel Faure... brilliant, eh? I am using this for all my solo performance promotional needs. It works.

The set list consists of Please Lingering, Garden Us Beautiful and NOW, written by me as well as some Beatles, Catch The Wind (Donovan), Mysteries Of Love (David Lynch/Angelo Badalamenti) and Bridge Over Troubled Waters (Simon/Garfunkel).

Looking forward to it all. Birdsall House - Thursday, Dec 2 - 10pm

Thanks

E-BLAST: AMEDIA CYMBALS

I may have mentioned I have the pleasure and challenge to create a brand and promotional materials for the USA division of AMEDIA CYMBALS. And me, being a drummer... I mean what else could be more cool(er)?

Amedia, an old school cymbal manufacturer in Istanbul, Turkey, is just over a year old in the states but are definitely getting noticed. The sounds (am I repeating myself from a previous post) that spring out from a drumstick tap are some of the most musical sounds I have heard. I am not alone on this.

Anyway, I recently developed this e-blast with the US Sales rep, Dominick and the response was overwhelming. This went out to drummers and drum shops across the country. We had replies on how nice the ad was and are getting some shops to take in Amedia for retail. Does the idea for the image look familiar?

There is still a lot of work and designing to do and it's going to be a great road to travel.

Thanks

HIGHLIGHT FONT MAN: JONATHAN BARNBROOK OF VIRUS FOUNDRY

This just in. Apart from me (hmmm) Jonathan Barnbrook is  the definitive creator of the coolest fonts and typography. He has worked in close collaboration with renowned artists such as David Bowie and Damien Hirst.

Check out the interview here

NEW ART GALLERY WEBSITE: IT'S ALIVE

Celebrate the online presence of a new gallery downtown Peekskill: INNOVATIVE ARTS. 

Visit the site to get a feel what is happening there in the way of up coming gallery shows and art classes. Then you must take a ride to Peekskill, go to 1 South Division St to the second floor and say hello to the owners Steve and Judith at INNOVATIVE ARTS.

3D: PROGRESS WITH ELECTRIC RAIN SWIFT 3D

So, it goes something like this: I have had Swift 3D for a few years enabling me to create vector based animations for Flash. So far I've used the software at the most basic level and recently decided to dive in with tutorials and really learning how to model. The graphics to the left are a few results of this.

I am not a fan of using standard 'in the box' images so I created everything on my own. That would include bump maps, extrusions as well as the eye ball illustrated on the 3D sphere.

I am getting a bit faster and making fewer mistakes but still have a ways to go. My objective is to create environments with depth to utilize in my Flash websites. I am not looking for a graphic that shouts 3D!!!, just something subtle enough for a nice organic look and feel. Me. Me. Me.

POWERFUL TYPE - MEANINGFUL TYPE: TYPOGRAPHY

I am a lover of type and how a logo, or even a single word can tell a story when using the right font for the job. I came across this collection of invites online. Truly beautiful and adventurous. http://www.bloggs74.com/inspiration/25-inspiring-birthday-card-invitation-typography/

On the other hand, font FF-Milo was created to go almost unnoticed but yet carry strong attributes which lend itself to magazines and newsprint. Check out the font designed by Mike Abbink.

http://fontfeed.com/archives/ff-milo-becomes-super-family/

As well as other font by him:

http://www.fontshop.com/fonts/designer/michael_abbink

LOGOS NOT USED - OR - USED ON SECONDARY PROJECTS

Of course I like to promote the successful designs, but there are some graphics I really like that didn't quite make it... or they're used for secondary projects by the client. It's all good. 

So I want to show off a few that didn't go further than client meetings or discussions.

Thanks

JOKE BOOK BY FIONA JONES

Now for something completely different: FIONA JOKES - A JOKE BOOK FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES!

A couple of years ago my daughter, Fiona Jones, wrote a few jokes... then a few more until she got up to about 15 of them. We picked the best 12 and decided to self-publish a joke book.

Here it is and its fully illustrated by Robert Mag.

Where do snakes get their snacks?

What did Miss Star ask her class after a lesson?

Find out here on Amazon.

LOGO AND WEBSITE: 812 GUITARS

This is cool. Being a guitar player I was so excited to Meet luthier Chris Matos and design his logo and website for his guitar shop. Chris does set ups to hot rodding to total custom designed axes known as The Cornet (left).

His website, 812guitars.com is sort of down and dirty but has character - I think... and so does he. But anyway, not only did I have the opportunity to design his brand, I also helped design the body of The Cornet - something I am very proud of.

The guitar is in between prototype and production state. I have taken them to gigs and believe me they get noticed. It won't be long 'til there's another cool guitar on the block to reckon with.

BRANDING, SIGNAGE AND WEBSITE: AMEDIA CYMBALS USA

AMEDIA CYMBALS USA - These are handmade cymbals from Turkey - the real deal - old school. Every cymbal is signed on the back by the head cymbal smith, Ahmet. I cannot say enough great things about this product - in fact calling it a product is almost an insult.

it all started a little over a year ago when I was playing a drum kit at a jam and the Hi Hats were so brilliant and warm sounding. I asked the drummer what are Amedia cymbals and where did you get them? He mentioned he was in Turkey and got them from the factory. I went to the Amedia website (Turkey) as soon as I could and sent an e-mail about 'how do I purchase them?' I soon rec'd an e-mail from the USA dealer, Dominick Gagliano in New Jersey. I ordered the same hats as I played and as our conversations got more in depth I began designing for him in March of this year.

Since then I am now a factory rep for Amedia USA and the designer for all US promotions and marketing. I now play a complete set of Amedias - hand picked from the NJ warehouse. DRUMMERS - LOOK THEM UP! Amedia Cymbals.com

WEBSITE: COTSWOLD CABINETRY

Cotswold Cabinetry hit the on-line status as of November 2009. The client understood how powerful design can be when elegance and focus take priority. 

In fact I dictated the website design based on the styling of their furniture and custom cabinetry. It's bold and demands attention when viewing the individual pieces, but as the perfect special fx or score in a film, it's organic to the room it occupies; there's no other way for this room to exist. And it makes everything else in the room look better.


I used this concept when designing the site. In both cosmetics and functionality. You can't see but I am patting myself on the back big time. Please visit when you get a chance: Cotswold Cabinetry

THE RE-BRANDING OF STUTTERDOT

I have re-branded Stutterdot Design. There is a modern yet wacky feel about the new look and I really like it. hmm... do you?

Unfortunately I was recently laid off from a full time position as Creative Director at American Int;l Lifestyles, LLC due to budget cuts. Yes I damn this economy. Right after the layoff I began reconstructing the SD website. it took about 2 months for designing and the input of all the new work containing poster design, flash animations for promotion and marketing and logo design. I had to work fast to get my new look out there. 

I fell short in extensive planning and just dug in; making it up as I went along. I am very pleased with the outcome. I purposely left the website design very open without a lot of bells and whistles. It's the work inside I want people to focus on. However, I hope that the ease and intuitiveness of getting the around the site means something; that is what I focused my design efforts on: functionality. It has to work efficiently.

Feel free to write if you have any comments on the site. www.stutterdot.com

Thanks

STUTTERDOT DESIGN IS BACK

The Stutterdot Design Blog has been on hiatus so I will update you with the projects of 2010. Also please please please check out the new website here. It is a new and greatly improved Stutterdot Design with new clients and contracts such as: Vanguard Creative (Diesel, Armani), Amedia Cymbals USA, Bobbi Brown, 812 Guitars and Cotswold Cabinetry.

Looking forward to moving forward

Paul JM