With Photography Like This…

• Johnny Cash, San Quentin Prison, 1969
(click image to enlarge)

…how could you go wrong with an album cover?

Jim Marshall
February 3, 1936—March 24, 2010

As someone who's designed album covers utilizing classic, editorial photography – I know how much of a difference it makes to have something iconic to work with. Jim Marshall, and his photography, made life easy for many designers and inspired the legend of many classic rock musicians in music history.

I had the pleasure of viewing much of Jim's work in person at the Morrison Hotel Gallery on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood during my second stint living in the City of Angels. Awe-inspiring and legacy-worthy, to say the least. His work will live on forever. For more, go here.


• John Coltrane, Queens, NY, 1963


• Miles Davis, New York City


• Grace Slick & Janis Joplin, San Francisco, 1967


• Rolling Stones, Los Angeles, 1972 "Exile…" sessions


• Jimi Hendrix, Monterey Pop, 1967

Nerd Out On Design, Online!

While I like to design utilizing my own creativity, every artist desires some immediate visual stimulation now and again – especially between projects or on an uninspired day. You're probably saying to yourself; "Tom, that's so true – but where, oh where do I find such stimulation?" Fear not, friends, here's four of my favorites to nerd out on…

• The Book Cover Archive
Is there a more creative outlet than book design?

• Design Observer
An ultra high-end design site covering a world of possibilities.

• We Love Typography
This site inspires all things typography, both past and present.

• I Love Typography
A fantastic blog that spotlights the world of typography.

Something big is in the works…

(click image to enlarge)

A series of projects I'm designing will (literally and figuratively) unfold throughout the summer, culminating in a box set for the 2010 holiday season. A killer project, great music and an even better client. Yeah, I'm pretty excited about it, to say the least. More soon…

When Worlds Collide

(click image to enlarge)

Throughout the year, typically on a bi-weekly basis, I explore and photograph abandoned architecture throughout the Northeast. I've amassed quite the archive of images including, but not limited to, former mental hospitals, schools, factories, homes, hotels and power plants.

The one thing missing in my design portfolio, however, is a package design utilizing this photography as its visual concept. With that said, out of curiosity – while between projects, I employed a photo from Pilgrim State Hospital that I shot this past January as the subject for a design. In the end, I enjoy its clean, editorial feel and lack of computer effects.

With that said, I'm feeling more confident than ever that I can take this design, or any other, featuring my photography and create something viable for a client. It's all simply a matter of finding the right circumstance for it, of course.

24 Hour Designathon

(click image to enlarge)

The 24 hour Designathon takes place once a year at PCA&D and is organized by the college's AIGA student chapter. The event offers non-profit organizations the ability to receive professional-quality design services, free of charge. Beginning at 6PM on Friday night, the design teams meet with their non-profit to discuss their project needs. After that, it's 24 hours of non-stop design mayhem in order to conceptualize, design and evolve the best ideas into a piece that's pitched to the client at 6PM on Saturday night.

Acting as a faculty team leader, I worked with three fantastic students – Vanessa Leddy, Adam Delmarcelle & Josh Spence – to design a playbill, DVD cover, and 15 second bumper for Michael Hoober & the Rumschpringe Short Film Festival. Many other great students who I taught last year took part, including: Sarah Solak, Nicole Weaver, Sara Warfel, Jason Getz, Amanda Wolfe & Paul Sullivan. Andrew Herzog, a current (and most excellent) student of mine, is the lone sophomore participant this year.

For more, check out the Podcast for the event that I was part of here, along with photos from said Podcast here.

The Evolution of an Icon

(click images to enlarge)

Artist: Peter Saville & Chris Mathan
Client: Joy Division
Year: 1979

The front cover image comes from an edition of the Cambridge Encyclopedia of Astronomy, and was originally drawn with black lines on a white background. It presents successive pulses from the first pulsar discovered, PSR B1919+21—often referred to in the context of this album by its older name, CP 1919.

PSR B1919+21 is a pulsar with a period of 1.3373 seconds and a pulse width of 0.04 second. It is notable for being the first radio pulsar ever discovered (in July 1967 by Jocelyn Bell Burnell). Its original designation was CP 1919 and it is also known as PSR J1921+2153. It is located in the constellation of Vulpecula. – (various sources)

For more from Mr. Saville, view below and go here.


Unknown Pleasures
Iris print, 2003
89 x 118cm


Unknown Pleasure
Chemical wood, polyurethane paint, 2003
32 x 32 x 14cm


Unknown Pleasure, Telegrey
Chemical wood, polyurethane paint, 2003
32 x 32 x 14cm


Unknown Pleasure, Hot Pink
Chemical wood, polyurethane paint, 2006
32 x 32 x 14cm

In Appreciation of the Stylists of America (video)

(click image above to link to video)

"As a Tribute to Men and Women Who Design" (Pt. 1 of 3)

Produced in the 1950s by Handy (Jam) Organization (and sponsored by the Chevrolet division of General Motors), this Populuxe film documents automotive, industrial, interior and architectural design from the last truly great era of American design.

Links: Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3

This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

The Cost Of (Bad) Client Relations.

In response to my "The (Up-Front) Cost Of Design" post on January 20th, Jeff King wrote: "I think it would be interesting to see a follow-up on the net value of your skills and gear if you're unable to create and sustain good relationships with your clients under real-world conditions. I've worked with designers who do incredible work, but I will not hire them anymore because they are consistently unable to meet agreed-upon deadlines."

The reasons for being successful in your chosen field are many-fold but there's only one way to achieve success year after year, project after project, and client after client; remain focused on your client's needs, day in and day out. If you cannot manage to produce the most basic of tasks including, but not limited to, being communicative throughout the process and meeting deadlines, you'll lose clients – regardless of your talent level. And the last time I checked, losing clients doesn't do much for one's net value.

In an era riddled with laziness, apathy and self-entitlement – courtesy, logic and common sense are sadly taking a back seat. This is not merely a symptom of the graphic design vocation, of course, this is society as a whole. Simply because that is the case, however, we need not join the sheep at the trough of irresponsibility. Instead, we need to sustain good relationships with clients via a responsible, courteous and conscientious path based in respect for the other person's stake in the relationship.

That sounds simple and basic, I know, but we humans have a slew of basic, inherent defects – and not caring as much for others as we do ourselves is most definitely one of them.

Country By The Grace Of Design

(click image to enlarge)

Coming out this Tuesday, February 9th is the first "greatest hits" collection by Chris Cagle, aptly titled Best Of Chris Cagle. Featured here is the final, selected cover as well as a sampling of textural details from the package design itself. The package features loads of texture and vintage effects that Art & Creative Directors Susan Lavoie & Tom Reccion encouraged me to push to the limits. Now… pick yourself up a copy, ya' hear?

Wood, Jerry. Wood.

(click image to enlarge)

Here's a postcard design I whipped up for my long-time friend, Joe Pinter. He has a one-man show coming together in Reading, PA at The Goggleworks. Without further ado, full details on the artist, the upcoming show and artist reception are below.

Hello, I’m Joseph Pinter
Pennsylvania-born Joseph Pinter’s work delights the eye even while it remains fully and ingeniously practical. Whether he’s creating cherished heirlooms from traditional woods, or producing exquisite woodturnings from more exotic varieties, Pinter reveals a truly unique vision that finds the extraordinary in what seems self-evident.

The GoggleWorks
201 Washington Street
Reading, PA 19601
610.374.4600 ph.
goggleworks.org

Opening Reception,
Meet Artist Joseph Pinter:
Thursday, February 4th
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm