TYPOGRAPHER-ENVY

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A little while back, while in the midst of a serious drawing phase, I took aim at creating my own alphabet. An alphabet of my own, based on my artistic style. An alphabet, not a typeface per se. I got through the "O" and ran out of paper, I believe. These things happen.

Designing type and the letterform – especially on the level of Hoefler & Frere-Jones or House Industries – is serious, disciplined and challenging business. Like any design nerd, I am in awe of a beautiful font. After all, without great typography, true design is incomplete. And even if I never finish my alphabet or formally design a typeface, typography will continue to – and always will – play a major role in my professional life.

Acme Color Chip Bulletin

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I recently happened upon an antique Acme Color Chip Bulletin #29 binder from 1961. Unlike Pantone binders today, these colors were created exclusively for one product; the great American automobile. Featuring fully detailed information regarding the Lacquers, Color Names, Enamels and Car Manufacturer's Color Codes – the Detroit-based Acme Quality Paints, Inc. offered every dealer and shop in the country the tools to match any paint on the market. From makers like DeSoto and Edsel to Buick and Cadillac, from colors like Mojave Yellow and Desert Sage to Beaumont Beige and Argyle Blue Metallic, Acme was at the forefront of all that was America's true explosion of color in design.

If You Could You'd Sleep the Days Away…

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Connected by a mutual friend, The Shape of the Earth & I have a shared vision of the arts. Every so often, you work with people who truly are in sync with each other – and that is most definitely the case between us.

With that said, I introduce you to the cover for their soon-to-be-released digital release, The Romantics EP. Previously I worked with the guys on their Do I Dare Disturb the Universe EP and, by gosh, we already have their next full-length album cover done and in the can (so to speak). It's simply a matter of when they're ready to roll with that, of course (2011, perhaps?). In the meantime, stop on by their MySpace page and get a preview of the EP with the lovely title track, "Romantics."

Note: The color scheme for the EP cover was inspired by the Helen Super Market in Detroit (below). I recently visited and photographed the city and you can view the images from that trip here.

Cass Tech Graphic Arts Club

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Upon a recent photographic exploration road trip to Detroit, I discovered the Graphic Arts wing of the former Cass Tech High School building. While Cass Tech was built a new, modern home across the street, it's the old school materials in its former building that excited me. I could have spent all day in the design, photography and graphics wing, of course – but could not. Lead type, wood type, California Job boxes, graphic arts literature from the 50s to the 90s, etc. – it was all here. In other words, a time capsule of the process of graphic design in the latter half of the 20th century.

"Until 1977, Cass was Detroit's only magnet school and the only non-neighborhood enrollment school in Detroit. Today, Cass is one of four magnet schools in Detroit. Entrance to Cass is based on test scores and middle school grades. Students are required to choose a curriculum path—roughly equivalent to a college "major"—in the ninth grade. Areas of study include, but are not limited to, architecture, music, graphic arts, business, human services, and chemical/biological sciences." [Wikipedia]

Famous alumni include Oscar-winning actress Ellen Burstyn, musician Donald Byrd, automotive legend John Delorean, actor David Alan Grier, singer Diana Ross, comedian Lily Tomlin, musician Jack White and more.

A Fantastic Thrift Store Find: Venture

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VENTURE: The Traveler’s World Magazine. Bi-monthly and subsequently monthly (1960’s-1970’s) publication of Cowles Communications, Inc. October 1964 issue.

As found at the Salvation Army, I recommend anyone interested in classic American design and advertising to pick any issue of Venture up if you see them. Every time I view an ad in these pages, and there are many, I ask myself: "What would Don Draper do?"

A Complex Visionary & Salesman

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As many of you know by now, Malcolm McLaren passed away on April 8th at the age of 64. The famed and oft-hated hype-machine, marketing (and apparent royalty) swindler and ego maniac was the stuff of legend. Co-founder of the 1971 London fashion shop, Let It Rock (which changed its name to "Sex" in 1975), with fashion icon Vivienne Westwood, McLaren also notably managed the Sex Pistols, New York Dolls and Bow Wow Wow. Alongside Vivienne and artist Jamie Reid, McLaren created a look that will always be synonymous with punk rock.

“For me Malc was always entertaining, and I hope you remember that. Above all else he was an entertainer and I will miss him, and so should you.” — John Lydon

CM20: The Official Press Release

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Century Media Records’ North American Office Celebrates Its 20 Year Anniversary, Releases New Compilation Series

"Century Media Records is recognized around the globe as a dominating force and premier label for metal, hard rock and hardcore. The label is extremely proud to celebrate 20 years of metal excellence this year and have put together a special series of compilations that will highlight their 1st 20 years in North America. Four double discs will be released over the coming months, each representing a five year span to provide more focus and in-depth flashback coverage. The tracks for each reissue were meticulously chosen by previous Century Media President, Marco Barbieri, and are housed on 2 CDs in a beautifully crafted and designed digipack. Former Century Media A&R, Tom Bejgrowicz handled all the art direction and coordination, from designing the cover art, to choosing 100% recycled materials for the packaging. Each release will contain liner notes from Century Media employees, past and present.

"Volume one of this series hits shelves on May 18th. The remaining discs will be released throughout the year culminating with a massive box set at the end of the year."

Production Design, In Full Detail

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I've been doing more production work for EMI over the past month, including turning blank templates (above, center) into full-fledged layouts (above, right & left) for sale at Best Buy. The challenge is to take pre-existing design from the CD package and introduce it, warp it, adjust it and do whatever it takes to make it work in this new format.

In most cases, I have the most fun coming up with spines that both compliment the package and feature graphics not used in the same way within the original designs. Case in point, the Slash package has some killer spines utilizing artwork from the booklet's interior itself. I like the idea that, regardless of what side you're looking at – Slash is checking you out!

These projects are a lot to sort out; new barcodes, ICPN numbers, adjusted legal copy, native files created by someone else (who doesn't always know what they're doing), etc. but in the end I put it all together in a way that acknowledges the original but offers up something unique as well.

With Photography Like This…

• Johnny Cash, San Quentin Prison, 1969
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…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.