Mind Over MAVe

Breakfast of Champions

2008-10-19T10:58:00.000-07:00

I was finally able to enjoy an entire weekend off [which has been a rarity as of late], so the obvious choice for this morning was a trip to Moose and Sadies for breakfast. If you live in MPLS, are traveling to MPLS or are even dreaming of MPLS...do yourself a favor and go to Moose and Sadies. While you're there, make sure and order a scone.

NDSU Football

2008-08-25T14:21:00.000-07:00

Yet another tango with Flint Communications. This time I worked with a team of graphic and audio designers to produce a spot for NDSU Football Season tickets.

NDSU Impact

2008-08-25T14:07:00.000-07:00

This spot was also done with Flint Communications, this time for North Dakota State University. It was one of three spots done for a new campaign NDSU was launching.

Nodak Auto

2008-08-25T13:31:00.000-07:00

I did this spot in conjunction with Flint Communications, an Ad Firm in Fargo, ND. It's a :30 spot advertising Nodak Mutual Insurance.

Passport

2008-08-23T12:33:00.000-07:00

I redesigned the US Passport for a class I recently finished.

The design still needed to give a nod to the fact that it was from the United States of America, but after that, it was up to the designer to make it functional.

I chose to keep the design minimal [contradictory to the current design that is sprayed with nostalgic photos]. I gained most of my inspiration from a jet setter's luggage [most specifically Louis Vuitton and Pan Am Airways]. I also redesigned the binding method, going with a single grommet, giving the piece a contemporary form of usability.

Morning Observation

2008-08-23T11:42:00.001-07:00

If you're one of those people who tends to stare into space on a daily basis, you're not alone. I find myself gazing at inanimate objects everyday. I was just like every kid who gazed out the back window of the family car, imagining the clouds as buildings, dragons, lions and the like.

The fascination is far from gone.

I have to share my most recent discovery, not only because it resides in my apartment, but because I wake up to it every morning. The result of our apartment's compact feature is that my view from bed is the front door.

I think it's great, that even though I live in the city, I wake up every morning to my own rooster. Maybe it's the countless bowls of Corn Flakes consumed as a child, but that dead bolt's look had to have been inspired by the chicken family.

Weekend Wanderings 07.19.08

2008-07-19T10:26:00.000-07:00

A trip to the public library presents all types of great textures and reflections, along with the realization that my shoes might not be rain proof anymore.

Weekend Wanderings 07.13.08

2008-07-13T20:24:00.000-07:00

A few inspirations from the weekend

Colors of the City

2008-06-25T18:52:00.001-07:00

As I'm sure you've noticed from the last few posts...I was recently in New York, had an amazing time and grew my on-going obsession with that city in general. One of the things I realized, when I got home and sifted through my photos, was that New York projects a rainbow of colors, and in some unfamiliar places.

I thought the window display at Louis Vuitton on 5th Avenue was gorgeous, as was the the equally artistic street grate in front of the store. I also loved the different mediums color was presented at MoMA, ranging from exhibits, hallways and the lobby floor.

Pop Burger

2008-06-20T04:16:00.001-07:00

So...I was lucky in enough to stumble into Pop Burger this week, while I was in NYC. I had read about it, and really wanted to check it out. I think their first location is in Chelsea, but I found this one on the East side, just off 5th Ave. [across the street from the Mac store that looks like an ice cube].

As you can see, I was obsessed with the way they did the backlit cutouts on the walls. Along with the great design, the food was delicious. I had the burgers [you get two small burgers], fries and a black and white shake. If I can make a recommendation, it would be to take your food and enjoy it in Central Park [only about 2 block away].

The Pod

2008-06-17T12:19:00.000-07:00

I am staying at the Pod Hotel on the East side of Manhattan. I can't recommend this place enough. The next time you're in NYC, and want a unique lodging experience, look no further than the pod. Great rooms, amazing lobby and breath-taking rooftop.

NYC

2008-06-16T21:37:00.000-07:00

I arrived in NYC this weekend, and will be spending the week here, talking with other designers, watching demos and enjoying the city. Plenty of pictures are on there way.

Takin' It To The Streets

2008-06-08T09:54:00.000-07:00

It is finally that time of year in MPLS where you can actually walk through the city without getting hit by some sort of arctic front. Needless to say, you're crazy not to take advantage of the summer months here.

My wife and I recently moved from the Warehouse District to Elliot Park, so I am gaining new perspectives on buildings I've walked by hundreds of times. I am also discovering some of the great MPLS architecture, like this church in my neighborhood.

Mark

2008-06-04T20:53:00.000-07:00

So...I am enrolled in an Applied Projects class at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design [MCAD], and our professor played the Chemical Brothers "Star Guitar" music video, and wanted us to react to it with a design. I designed this mark, based on the concept of synchronization, which I felt was an underlying theme to the video.

NYC Brochure

2008-06-04T18:18:00.000-07:00

This is a travel brochure I designed for the city of New York. The imagery conveys the fast paced lifestyle of the city and is accompanied by certain highlights the city provides.

May Day

2008-05-05T17:37:00.000-07:00

I just made my first trip to the MPLS May Day parade, and it was a spectacle. It was so great to see the diverse group of people in and watching the parade. Not to mention the guy next to me was playing a delightful little mix from his iPod, channeled through his shoulder slung radio.

Electrolux

2008-04-28T09:46:00.000-07:00

This is some disc art I did for a project I worked on with Best Buy, advertising their roll out of Electrolux kitchen appliances.

Happy Holidays

2008-04-27T20:37:00.000-07:00

This is holiday mailer I designed for HDMG last year. It was an actual air freshener, so we went with the abstract tree shape and accommodating copy.

Four Letter Poster

2008-04-27T13:14:00.000-07:00

This poster design was based on an etymological study of the word snap.

Map System

2008-04-27T07:58:00.000-07:00

This was a project were I had to design a map system that depicted my life in same way. I figured I'm a guy with a big appetite, so I decided to symbolize my time in MPLS by way of the burger joints I've been to and how they tie together my life's loose ends.

Book Jackets

2008-04-27T06:22:00.001-07:00

So...I've decided to finally put up some of the designs I have recently worked on. For those who don't know, I am a motion graphics designer and animator, working at HDMG, a MPLS post-production studio. I am also a student at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, studying Graphic Design in their post-baccalaureate program.

These are five book jackets I designed for an Applied Typography class. The aim of the project was to read the synopsis of chosen books (by other students) and redesign the jacket according to those summaries.

Chank

2008-04-26T12:30:00.001-07:00

I had the privilege of meeting with Chank Diesel, and MPLS font designer, this morning. He is an amazing designer, whose fonts have been used on everything from diaper packaging to pizza boxes.

I would highly recommend everyone to check out his site (chank.com) and check out his fonts and things he's tinkering with.

RollerGirls

2008-04-13T07:24:00.002-07:00

We just attended the rousing championship bout for the Minnesota RollerGirls last night. It was an amazing night of black eyes, skates to the face and a performance by ELNo, the self-proclaimed 2nd best ELO cover band in the Twin Cities. I think Nikki is looking for spot on next year's Dagger Dolls team.

Yum!

2008-04-12T14:38:00.001-07:00

Just had an amazing lunch with Nikki at this great little Bakery/Restaurant called Yum. I always knew they had amazing baked goods (especially cupcakes) but I had no idea they had such great food. I know Nikki enjoyed it...look at all the delightful smiles.

Tank Goodness

2008-04-11T18:10:00.000-07:00

Ahh...Tank Goodness //

These are the best chocolate chip cookies I have ever eaten. The cookies are baked and delivered by a husband wife combo sharing the last name Tank (clever little couple, aren't they). The cookies are delivered fresh from the oven and come with cold milk. They also have some killer cinnamon rolls. If you live in the Minneapolis area, do yourself a favor and look up Tank Goodness.