Its official this will be our first Creative Session pumpkin carving party. Best of show wins Creative Session swag, let the games begin. May the odds ever be in your favor hahaha. Also we are celebrating our Animation/Video guru's birthday. Chris Rivera
Man, last Friday was so eventful and fun. Started our day early with some beers and dodge ball against the Bay Area's best design firm, Fuse Projects took 1st place this year but we will be back next year with vengeance. Following the dodge ball tournament HUGE design held an after party. I swear I got drunk sobered up and got drunk again about four times. Immediately after HUGE's party we had a hotel party- and after the hotel party we went to Oktoberfest at pier 48. Click on the photos to check out the album:
Dodge Ball Album
HUGE party album
A few weeks back Sergio and Freya of "All the Way Live" reached out to us about designing the trophy for this years "Urban Dance Festival". They both wanted to finesse every detail from the location, venue, fliers, shirts and trophy.
The idea is to create a holistic experience that will carry on in the years to come. This is exciting because it' should set an expectation for each new year.
In the past the trophies where usually generic off the shelf poly-urethane cups but this year we wanted to integrate design thinking in designing the trophy but dancing characteristics as well.
Check our process video:
"We are as committed to creating this as you are to winning this"-- Creative Session
2012 URBAN DANCE FESTIVAL TROPHY - ATWL X CS from Creative Session on Vimeo.
Here are random photos taken from Iphone throughout the process:
I'm spending 5 days in Shanghai working at one of factories following a device I designed for Amazon. While here I usually spend a big chunk of my time at the factory and get back to my hotel quite late, therefore the day time hour available to play tourist is little to none.
I was lucky enough to overlap a weekend trip. Landing Saturday I head straight to work and didn't get home until 845 pm. On top of working late the awesome phenomenon we call "Jet Lag" wasn't playing in my favor.
Sunday I didn't have to come into the office until the afternoon so I walked to the near by shopping strip by the hotel. The area was jammed packed with shoppers and hustlers, the hustlers are super funny approaching you with brochures for fake; watches, hand bags, sneakers, clothing and sex. Any whom this is a whole other conversation on it's own.
From a far I spotted a Nike store, I religiously visit Nike stores in different cities because I really appreciate their interior design. This particular store had a huge photo wall, frames upon frames of athletes tiled along the wall from the first floor to the fourth floor. Visually this is a compelling sight.
The thing that really drew me in was not the tiled photos but the black rubber material masking the whole wall. If you look closely these black pieces are cropped patterns taken from the soles of popular Nike shoes. There is the Air Force Ones, Waffles and possibly a Jordan. This is an awesome alternative to painting but I thought it would be super fun as a tack board. I could use this wall in our office to pin up our work or inspirations. Check it OUT.
Happy Monday folks, last week was gruesome and painful at the lab we combo'd our day jobs with CS work and it quickly became overwhelming so we took a little break. San Diego and Fishing. These micro trips are good to reset our perspective on life and design. Sometimes we get so wrapped up around our design life that we forget the joy and beauty of regular life. There is so much more out there beyond our computer screens and yes, we blame our work ethic and ambition possibly? or maybe our "love of design"-- but nature is so inspiring and to spend a few days outdoors was necessary. This blog posting is a digital note in reminding us to take a moment to and breath in fresh air.
This past weekend I checked my spambox because often emails get lost in the spam filter and I fail to reply to emails whom needs immediate response. To my surprise I was hit with an email from a giant beauty/health appliance company inquiring about my design the "Comet" (click here to see comet)
As of right now I'm not sure what to expect, I'm curious as to what the conversation with this gentleman will be about & what it should lead to. Its really exciting and hopefully it'll lead into an opportunity to have this design produced.
To be continued...
You've been warned. One post down we've added details about the new show August 3rd at the Forthrite Print Shop. Come party, drink, chat with us and check out the work.
With the success of Keith's last show he's working even harder towards the next. This one is titled "Lunch Time" and will be presented at the Forthrite Print Shop (5857 San Pablo Avenue Oakland CA 94608)
Continuing his vision that: “Bread is not just a food but also a symbol of status. Contemporary slang elevates the meaning of bread from something that is essential to sustain life, to a word that is used as a benchmark of success
During my trip back home to Portland I accompanied a good friend to an 8am Cross Fit session after a long night of boozing. The place is called "Mt Tabor Cross Fit" the owner a extremely fit, fun, energetic women name Alex whom was friendly enough to offer up a class for me to try out that day. I gracefully declined and thanked her for her generosity but I was way too hung over to do anything extreme. Especially when it's been awhile since I've done anything physically strenuous.
I had my canon with me so I offered to snap some photos as they work out. The 14mm fish was great for capturing the space and everyone in it. Told Alex i'd share the photos with her and hopefully the photos will be a good way to promote the gym. We talked a bit about my interest in photography and I told her my real interest was actually in design, the photo/video stuff was something I recently got into because it's been an effective tool to promote Creative Session. Anyhow Alex mentioned there was an upcoming competition the gym was going to attend and have been in the market for a logo to represent the gym. I suggested for an events like this a graphic T would be more interesting and the benefit of this is that you can change it each year- yes, i offered up my services to take a stab at the design.
Here are the results of this years 2012 Mt.Tabor Cross Fit graphics. Unfortunately the project was a quick project therefore i did not document my process, hopefully the next time ill be able to show our process better.
FOR THE FULL ALBUM CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. HERE
Last years Adidas party the "Do Over" has gotten me fiend'n for more. The traveling party hits many cities such as New York, LA and just happen to be in Portland on my last summer when I was up north.
Last week while in Portland for a wedding the "Do Over" was in town again I guess our reunion was inevitable. My day started out great the sun was warm in the high 80's, I went to Nike to pick up gear at an employee rate of 50% off - the perks you receive having connections! Following the shopping spree I met up with some good friends for Pomegranate Momosa and brunch. Then the Do Over.
Unfortunately due to popular demands the line wrapped around the block, mind you I came 30 minutes before the venue opened. My good friend Paul Vu was there an hour before so I slipped right in front of him in line. After 2 hours of waiting under the hot sun and people cutting one another like crabs in a bucket I bounced! I manage to take photos but not very many.
Some of you may know us personally, others may vicariously live through the fun/boring things we do. Both Anh and I have design jobs by day and batman by night. Congrats to my partner and brother on working on the Nike Fuel Band at his awesome day job with ASTRO STUDIOS (www.astrostudios.com)- Such a successful awesome products this is only the beginning we've got a long design career ahead of us- the goal is pointed towards the clouds. We'll write a detailed posting about this later tonight.
"Bread is not just a food but also a symbol of status. Contemporary slang elevates the meaning of bread from something that is essential to sustain life, to a word that is used as a benchmark of success." - Keith Magruder
If you have been following our blog we've posted about Keith Magruder's solo show called "We Need Bread" and invited you all to come out to check out Keith's work.
Yes, Keith is a talented CAT. Not only does he design for CS he makes time to paint and work on his own line called "Bread" follow him via instagram @bakersson
The show took place first Friday so you know it's already going to CRACK. We can already guarantee it'll be a full house just from the amount of friends and family Keith has, but the "Art Walk" going on in Oakland added to the excitement.
The turn out was great! Keith would like to personally thank everybody whom showed up.
Before entering the space you're drawn in by the massive chalk board wall with the words "We Need Bread" hand written repeatedly.
Centering the wall a desk and bread shaped chair designed by Keith sits facing a piece if work foreshadowing the show. Here is a synopsis of the show:
This body of work is a study of bread. It deconstructs bread as it applies to history, race, culture, and social class. Bread is not just a food but also a symbol of status. Contemporary slang elevates the meaning of bread from something that is essential to sustain life, to a word that is used as a benchmark of success. Because bread is universal, we look past the common meaning of bread to identify with other interpretations.
** MORE PHOTOS COMING SOON **
How many many folks have been out for Friday events in Oakland? Well this Friday June 1st should be your first experience or if you have been come hang out and support Keith's SOLO show: "We Need Bread" 2930 Telegraph Ave Oakland CA
(taken from Wikipedia)
So I've touched down in Shanghai China, I'm staying in the city of PuDong it is on the east side of Huangpu River. I can't wait to explore it after work. During the daytime I spend most of my time at the factories that are building our designs. Its such a rewarding experience and I think everyone has to experience traveling over seas to see your design be made. I will keep everyone posted about my trip when i get back. I'm taking lots of photos.
Tonight at ASTRO STUDIOS - who is coming?
So it has been decided tickets are placed I'm headed straight to Hong Kong (shenzhen) then Shanghai for work. The last time I was there met up with my good friend ED NG. We didn't get to' kick it for long but for the most part we made good memories ! Here's a photo we took a few months back when we had a few beers at my hotel. The stair case was gnarly! Literally felt like a Vegas hotel. CHECK OUT ED's "Here&Now" Tumblr
