Mike Lenhart

Let's Talk Generic

2010-08-02T15:12:53Z

We all go shopping. And most of us have specific brand names of items we like. Sometimes we'll purchase that favorite brand of ketchup or potato chips where nothing else will do. Still, many of us will only purchase anything... Remember the days when generic items first made their debut? They were usually packaged in white with simple black lettering. These products usually had simple words like "Soup" or "Beer" stuck on them.

Through the course of time, and some consumer demand, generic brands got more popular and actually met the tastes and preferences of many shoppers. After all, is there really a difference in coffee or hand soap brands? I know that I have personally made the switch to more generic brand buying than I used to.

The logos and packaging are getting better too. We don't have to settle for the black-and-white, bland package anymore. We can also save a little money in the process.

I think the future of generic brands, and branding, will only become more competitive. This will be a good thing for all consumers. Some may, indeed, consider all things generic kind of boring, but I think there is enough excitement around to keep us colorful.

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Art in the House

2010-07-21T15:59:50Z

British Prime Minister, David Cameron, recently visited the White House for his first-ever visit to President Obama. Although they talked about a lot of issues, one of the most interesting things to me was the exchange of art they gave to each...

It's All Black and White To Me

2010-07-16T16:20:38Z

Web site design has certainly come a long way since the '90s. Remember when it was all HTML? Later, we got into XHTML, Flash, CSS, and other types of scripting? Web designers have had to keep up with all the... I came across an article in the Huffington Post that highlighted some of the best, new black and white sites that are currently out there. Taking a look at them, you can see a limit of color and some very interesting designs. While the scripting and coding are still there, binary colors give them a contemporary-retro feel. It makes the hexidecimals easier to manage, to say the least.
Take a look at some of them that I like.

shytimes.com
tenandahalf.net
designbymusic.com
madebytim.com

You can see the entire article here
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/16/best-website-design-ideas_n_648736.html

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A Bite From The Apple

2010-07-16T16:15:58Z

It seems that Apple is doing some censoring in a few of their various apps. I just read a report that they've asserted some control over what they deem appropriate in their app store and iBookstore. Not only have they...

Don't Bite Your Nails!

2010-07-09T16:58:24Z

What with the Lindsay Lohan's controversial nail polish message during her recent court appearance, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the art/design of this practice. Not that all nail polishing habits have to contain the F-word,...]]> It seems that the one-color nail polish of old has made way to the multi-color and intricate images that folks now design. It looks like a lot of thought and detail go into some of this art. Some may be press-on nails, but the majority of them seems to be done by hand, just like a painting. Some even look like paintings, complete with faces and other images on them.

Some are extreme and some nails are pretty long. I don't know how some of these people work with them, but I guess they learn how do drive a car, type on a computer, and do "other things".

So girls, and guys, the next time you decide to paint the ends of your digits, think about the art involved and maybe give some portraiture a try. Just don't use the F-word like Lohan.

The Signs of Rural Life

2010-07-07T17:44:52Z

I've always loved signage and typography, well at least for a long time now. After spending some time in rural Ohio this summer, I've had the opportunity to see some interesting signs along the country highways and biways. It's interesting... As you can see, some of these signs had simple embellishments and treatments done to them, which only added to their charm. Though many of them are fading away, it is good to see how the art of sign painting has come along. Even corporate logos of long ago had a unique flair.

Although I didn't take all of these photos, I have found that, along the rural roads of America, there are many sites to see that don't entail paying entrance fees or waiting in lines.

On your summer travels, take some time to look at your environment and see all of the beauty that scenic signs have to offer. It may add some excitement to your summer driving.

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A Whole New Way To Stand - I Mean Fly

2010-07-06T16:47:47Z

The design of airliners and passenger seating has taken a new turn. As we all know, the business of commercial air travel has gone through great lengths recently to retain their passengers without pissing them off too much. It's no wonder,...]]> The new seating would be confined to the last few rows of the plane where standers would be strapped in for take-off and landing. Not only would this cause the design of these seats to change, and allow more passengers, it would redefine how planes are designed. Airlines could cram a lot more passengers on their flights, which would be good for their bottom line, but I'm not sure how the "bottom" line of those passengers would do.

This type of seating would be mainly for flights of an hour or so in duration so the standing passengers wouldn't be forced to stand too long. The seats would be extremely cheap, less than $20 (maybe even $10), and may appeal to business travelers who take day trips. I don't know, but I think it may cause more harm than good. After all, where would they put their peanuts and cocktail?

Whatever you think, this may be where the notion of air travel is going.

Revamped BP Logos Tell It Like It Is

2010-07-05T16:45:07Z

With the largest, man-made environmental disaster currently going on, I not only take pause to reflect on how sad it is that this is happening, I also have to think about the corporation(s) that are responsible. There's plenty of...]]> One organization, InHabitat.com, has sponsored a logo redesign contest for the BP mark to which many have made their contributions. This particular contest is probably over, but the messages the new logos represent will be around for a long time.

Whatever you think about these, they certainly are clever. Hats off to the designers who put their thought and creativity to work. It's great to see logo design that tells a message is alive and active.

If Your Picture Were in the Dictionary

2009-08-13T14:17:29Z

Remember looking through old encyclopedias or other reference books at the pictures and drawings that were contained? There were so many wonderful images to look at - and they were all very inspiring for young artists. Chronicle Books has come... This work features more than 1,500 images that origianlly were in the pages of 19th-century Webster's dictionaries. The book itself is a clunky weight of a book and looks like it would appear on the shelf of an 1800s library. The author, John M. Carrera, found a tattered 1898 Webster's International Dictionary in his grandmother's stone farmhouse and was amazed by the contents. There was a stunning array of odd and wonderful animals and machines printed by categories. Carrera found that the original engravings still existed and had been given to Yale. Carrera is a printer, bookbinder, and artist that was then secured permission to meticulously clean and restore the engravings. The result is a treat.

Pictorial Webster's is a record of all the wonderful natural discoveries and innovations of the time of the Industrial Revolution. It's great to see what children of two or three generations ago were looking at and what type of world existed.

As an exclusive offer, Chronicle Books is giving away one fine press edition (edition C of 26 lettered A-Z/value $4,500!). Any person or institution around the country is eligible to enter (except Chronicle employees). Chronicle launched the give away at the American Library Association Conference a few weeks ago and will announce the winners in mid-Nov.

Here is a link to enter (you should enter) and for more info:

http://www.chroniclebooks.com/index/main,book-info/store,gifts/products_id,8162/

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Chwast - What More Can You Say?

2009-07-22T13:33:12Z

There's a book that came out by Chronicle this summer called Seymour - The Obsessive Images of Seymour Chwast. It's about time, I must say. Many, if not all of us, know the icon that is Seymour Chwast and have... Also known for his great work as co-founder of Push Pin Studios, Chwast's work is known around the world. From illustrations in The New Yorker and Vanity Fair, to commissions for some of the largest corporations like IBM, General Foods, and Chrysler, Seymour is one of the greatest icons in the graphic design world. Yours truly even had the chance to meet him and get an autographed poster of his work. Yay!

Always with a sense of humor, the images and illustrations in this book are classic Chwast. There may be a thing or two in this publication that you might even learn about this man's talents. His takes on "Body Parts" to "Classic Cars" to "Around the World" will transmit the user to another time and feeling - smiling all the way.

Seymour is a must have for anyone in the graphic design profession or for anyone who loves great work from a great artist. The book also contains numerous work from his personal collection, like paintings and sculpture. An Introduction to the book is made by Stephen Heller and includes and Essay by Paul Scher. Classic!

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Pop Culture Like You've Never Seen

2009-07-22T13:22:30Z

This writer receives a LOT of books to read and review. Recently, I got a book that I am so happy about. Chronicle Books has done it again with a wonderful pictorial book by Isabel Samaras, the celebrated artist of... Anyone who grew up in front of a TV in the '60s and '70s will really appreciate this book. Samaras takes popular icons of the day, like Batman and Robin, and adds a sense of the contemporary. Taking liberties from some of the Masters, Samaras adds her own blend of saucy erotica and quirky humor. You MUST see her take on Samantha and Jeannie!

Isabel takes TV sitcoms, such as Gilligan's Island and the Munsters, and paints a picture of what REALLY may have been going on. It's fun, light, and good for a giggle or two. One current note is her painting of Michael Jackson, titled "King of Freaks", which displays what kind of tattoos Michael may have had on his body. Bawdy! And, her take on PeeWee Herman is a hoot!

In sum, I love On Tender Hooks! Isabel Samaras rocks and is quite a talented artist, by the way. This book is a must have for those of us who know the beloved shows of back then and those of us who may want to revisit them in the way we really thought it may have been. OTH is a book to get!

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Why Are We So Obsessive?

2009-06-17T16:30:19Z

As designers, we all know how obsessive we can be. How do we get our ideas and where do they come from? How does what we design shape the world and mark a place for us in the history of... Martin Bone and Kara Johnson, both of IDEO, have put together this work which shares their favorite objects and asks readers to get involved. For example, what will archaeologists 500 years from now say about our culture, our products, and our design?

These "experiments" are broken down into 3 sections: Aisthetika (senses); Punk Manufacturing; and Love and Fetish. They're all great sections and will give the reader pause and maybe bring about some reflection on what we do now.

I Miss My Pencil provokes new ways of thinking about the objects that make up and define our lives. Whether a pencil, a knife, a bottle or a cork, this book reminds us that each of these designs have a story. It's a great read for the intellectual in all of us.

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A Different Way to Tweet

2009-06-17T16:10:40Z

We all know how to tweet these days, right? Well, let's not forgot the origin of such an act - that of birds. Chronicle Books has recently published Birds, with pictures by Jeffrey Fisher and words by Christine Fisher. This... This book is a pure and beautiful look at many, if not all, of our feathered friends. From the Great Spotted Woodpecker to the Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo, there are great illustrations and explanations on all of them. Birds talks about the fowls' habitats, eating habits, and actions. The art is fantastic and the information is quick and digestible.

Even if you're not a birder, this compilation will have even the most non-watcher pulling out their binoculars to take a look.

Birds has many, many, well, birds, contained therein. I think this would be a great addition to a coffee table collection or as a nice gift to a young person.

The publication came out in May 2009.

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Tagging as an Artform

2009-04-24T15:50:09Z

Here is another review of a book from Chronicle Books that has to do with the "art" of tagging - or graffiti. For all of us who live in an urban area, or have ever visited one, we see this... Subway Art - 25th Anniversary Edition is a large-format book that shows, in vivid detail, the graffiti movement in NYC in the '70s and '80s. Photographers Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfont captured the early days of street art done by kids who invented it. There are over 150 full-color photographs in this book. Although focued on subway art, the graffiti movement on the streets of urban American has been adapted and refined since those early days. There's even a YouTube author interview that you can see here.

As a book about the art only, it's a good coffee table book. As a glorification of what basically amounts to the vandalism of public works, it causes me some concern. Don't get me wrong, I think there are some beautiful pieces on alleyway walls, but, can't this sort of thing be part of commissioned pieces and not simply vandalism? I feel it would give these talented artists some sort of direction and future in this realm.

Other than my rant on this sort of thing, Subway Art has some really beautiful images contained in it. If, like me, you can let go of the notion of urban blight, you'll really like this book.

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S'more Books to Read

2009-04-07T17:13:19Z

Here is an enstallment on some other books that were recently sent to me by Chronicle Books. I've been getting a lot of design and some architecture books that have been really interesting. It's just good that there are such... The first book I'd like to mention is from Laurence King Publishing and is called Sketchbooks: The Hidden Art of Designers, Illustrators & Creatives.

This book looks at the intimate sketchbooks that many of us carry around and use to put down our thoughts and ideas. Sketchbook looks at many different artists' books and is accompanied by interviews with the artists themselves. They talk about how they use their books and how what goes on around them influences what they do. There're some beautiful doodles and sketches in the book - much better than I could do after working at it for a long time. It's a good look and read.

Next, there's the book called Copywriting - Successful Writing for Design, Advertising and Marketing. This book does more than simply explain what good copy consists of and what to do about it, it also contains case studies exampling good and bad copy. Mark Shaw, the author, really explains things well in the book and can really help us write much better. This book is also put out by Laurence King.

Lastly, there's the little book called Micro - Very Small Buildings. This book is all about space - the space we need, but not that we can have. With the limited space happening all around us, Micro details small, and sometimes portable, shelters and structures that meet the need for creative architecture. Written by Ruth Slavid, an architectural writer and editor, she provides insight on the structures and what caused them to be. Another great and informational read.

Chronicle and Laurence King put out some great literature. The design of the books themselves look good on any bookshelf or coffee table. I believe there's something here for everyone.

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