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Posted by Mike Jackson in Misc

This week we printed a shirt with a simple design. It had a graphic of two hands signing with words below saying, “keep calm accept and move on”. Has anyone else noticed the abundance of shirts and posters of this type? They always say “keep calm” followed by a command of some sort. I have always wondered what this was a reference to and what all the hubbub was about. I figured that maybe it was from a television show or something. Turns out the original saying is “Keep Calm and Carry On”. This was the 3rd in a series … Continue reading →

Posted by John Sieczkowski in Design, Misc

With advances in technology and computer software, art and design is becoming more and more digital. I would venture to guess that even the average “painter” today often does not use a physical brush, but rather makes brush strokes with an incorporeal “brush” on a graphics tablet. This progress is not in itself a bad thing. As I have mentioned in my last post, I have also taken advantage of these technological advances with my purchase of a graphics tablet. However, if everyone decides to go down the exclusively digital road, we will have lost something important: namely, the craftsman. … Continue reading →

Posted by Mike Jackson in Design, Misc

As a designer, the tools you add to your artist tool box can be important in streamlining your workflow. Last week I purchased a wacom Intuos 5 touch (medium) tablet in an attempt to improve my own personal workflow as an illustrator. I will give you a quick synopsis of what this tablet does and my thoughts on it in the short time I’ve had it. In Wacom’s own words, the Intuos5 touch Medium pen tablet “combines Wacom’s most advanced pen technology with multi-touch functionality. Natural and intuitive to use, the tablet lets you alternate between using multi-touch gestures to … Continue reading →

Posted by Mike Jackson in Misc

I usually try not to endorse particular products in this blog. As a graphic designer, I believe I can make an exception with the Adobe design products. In my opinion, Adobe is the clear standard for design tools and anyone serious about graphic design will want Adobe software at their disposal. When I found out what the Adobe Cloud was, I became very excited. Adobe Cloud provides the Adobe software on a subscription basis. You can subscribe to one app, such as Photoshop, for $20/month. The other cloud option is to subscribe to an annual membership, which costs $50/month. This … Continue reading →

Posted by Mike Jackson in Design, Misc

Growing up as an aspiring comic book artist, it was always my goal to make amazing illustrations that were high in detail and accomplished a certain level of realism. I still haven’t quite accomplished this goal but I digress. It seemed impossible that a drawing that looked like it was done by children could be a good illustration. If you asked me if I could make a good illustration with stick figures I would have thought it about as possible as making a square circle. But I am wrong. Today the “child’s” illustration is incorporated everywhere in designs and they … Continue reading →

Posted by Mike Jackson in Uncategorized

Illustration and design is something that I oddly feel compelled to do. I use the word “compelled” not because I am trying to portray myself as “the artist” that is moved romantically toward his craft. Nothing that deep. I am simply saying I don’t do art and design only because it is fun. It is a struggle sometimes. And yet, when I am home, I often feel like I am wasting the evening by entertaining myself with tv and video games. Art is an endeavor in which I feel like I am accomplishing something a bit more constructive. Why do … Continue reading →

Posted by Mike Jackson in Design, Misc

I have always been a geek of sorts. I have also had a tendency to like things that are very cheesy. It pains me to admit that in seventh grade I loved the song “I Swear” by the boy band All For One. I thought it was really cool then and after a while I realized it was super cheesy. Some songs go from being awesome, to super cheesy, and then back to awesome again in an ironic sort of way. I think the song “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice can be put in this rare category. This same … Continue reading →

Posted by Mike Jackson in Apparel, Misc

You’ve probably heard it said that doing artwork under certain restrictions can actually be a freeing task. In the case of t-shirt design I would have to agree. For example, when designing for a screen printed t-shirt, the main restriction that I run into is the number of colors I can use (ie. create a cool design of this certain image with only two colors). I find that this restriction actually helps me focus on the problem that needs solved and get work down. If I had an endless number colors in my repertoire, I would spend a lot more … Continue reading →

Posted by John Sieczkowski in Misc

With all the talk about Google Fiber here in Kansas City and the recent announcement that Olathe, KS is now on the list of next cities to get Google Fiber, I keep wishing I would get something faster soon. You see, I don’t live in town, Lenexa, Overland Park, Leawood, Shawnee, etc. I live out in the country. The best I can get is some really slow DSL but then I need to purchase a land line phone service too. So instead, we have high speed satellite internet. We have had it for 2 years and while it sounds great … Continue reading →

Posted by Mike Jackson in Design

When you are driving on a highway and you see a billboard, how many words do you take the time to read? If you try to read more than a sentence, please let me know which highways you frequent and when so I can avoid them. I don’t think it’s safe to try to read much more than a few words when driving by, so why make a sign with more words than we should read? When working with your client or designer, be careful not to say too much. This simple approach to design should not be limited to … Continue reading →