A great quote …
“The best teachers are the most earnest seekers. Those are the ones to follow.”
Formulated by Grace Hw., initially stated by Claude Hu.
Using Google Earth as a base …


I started really exploring Google Earth outside of just “flying” around and looking at the 3D buildings in my neighborhood. Exploration with cause is usually much more beneficial.
Currently working on a somewhat “interactive” map of vineyards in Napa, I’ve been taking images from Google Earth as a base. Then work some magic in Photoshop. Its turning out nicely. Yes, it feels a bit barren, but it’s California.
New Studio Mate … Banks

Our newest addition to the studio … Banks. He’s one beautiful pit bull, no?
Bottled Exchange Student ?!??

Nestea has a new campaign … Liquid Awesomeness. The website is pretty sweet, but definitely weird. Doubtful it will have a long shelf-life.
Regardless … We’re walking down Broadway last night, look up and see the above poster. Without any context whatsoever, this ad just seems ridiculous. Stupid really! Maybe I’m getting old.
Maybe I’m not. As a designer and brand strategist myself, I always work to consider the environment in which the work exists. Context is so important. And without it, the point can be completely lost. We live in a world where individuals are exposed to a great deal of information … And not everyone is exposed to all the same stuff.
Or maybe I just need to start watching TV! Nahhh, don’t think so.
It seems that television is the “context” some automatically base expectations. But you’d think these days with DVR and the internet, that designers and agencies would realize that the collective public is beginning to gain personal control of their own context. This is changing the way brands must communicate to individuals.
While the base approach for this Nestea campaign is interesting, this approach is not for the general public at large. It should be used only for smaller niche audiences that make up the long tail … Where it resonates the strongest.
Unexpected finds …


Two things I wouldn’t expect to find in a flower shop in the flower district of NYC … A baseball and a very dirty iMac. Just thought I’d share!
Obey …

Apparently Ice T wants you to Obey Giant as well! Found this down in the Flower District over the weekend while Jenny was working on a friend’s upcoming wedding.
A bit of a stretch …

Truth in advertising … Does anyone actually consider Swedish Fish a food ?!!? I realize it may be fat free, but seriously … Food !!
I saw this packaging / POP display for Swedish Fish at the cafe downstairs, and I just couldn’t resist.
This is scary …

As I was walking home the other afternoon from the 1 train, I passed a corner bodega with tons of magazine hung in the window. These three stood out! A bit overboard, wouldn’t you say?
With so much of the publishing industry faltering, I wonder how long these pubs will hang on. Honestly, is there a large enough audience to keep all three of these magazines in business? How much value is there for the advertisers? It just seems that this would be such a small, niche audience that these magazines would have closed their doors long ago!
And on a side note … I wonder if its hard for these guys to tie their shoes!
One spring morning …

I just had to share this beautiful scene from a few mornings back. Gotta love it when the walk to the subway is so amazing.

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