Posted by
admin – April 16, 2009
I’m sitting here at my desk after a busy day and I’ve finally got the chance to relax. How do I unwind after a day full of physical activity and movement? By grabbing a stack of magazines and bike catalogs and flipping through them, analyzing, critiquing and being inspired by the design I see between the covers of each of the publications.
I’ve always been one to appreciate creativity and out-of-the-box thinking as far back as I can remember. I think one of the things that pushed me into graphic design as a profession was the design and creativity behind magazines I would read and bike catalogs that I would anxiously collect and save each year as companies would show off their new offerings to the public, their next, newest and best technologies and designs. Seeing each company’s approach to information design, photography and layout opened my eyes to what was possible in the world of print design.
One of the companies that’s always been held in high regard in my eyes is Odyssey BMX, based out of Cerritos, CA. Always looking to push the envelope in terms of their design and advertising, Creative Director Jim Bauer has succeeded in creating a brand that people look up to. Whether it is the new product catalog with products put into unique situations, their website, their clothing or their office space, Odyssey is a brand that has always stayed relevant and their success is, in my opinion, at least partly due to their knowledge and implementation of good design.
I had the chance to meet and speak with Jim a year ago on a trip down to Los Angeles and it was great to talk design with him. Often times the subtle things that only some people will pick up on – for example, the spot varnish on the cover of the numbers of the 2003 catalog – are the ones that end up being the lasting bits that people remember. By not using stock photography, clip art and free fonts in all their marketing, Odyssey proves they care about design and its effectiveness.
It is companies like Odyssey, Burton, Wired, Color, and Monster Children that keep me inspired on a daily basis.
Posted by
admin – April 8, 2009
Business cards for VNDRL are finally in! After running out of cards that I made for the 2007 MacEwan Design Studies Grad Show, I had to get a new set made up that included the website name. Simple was the name of the game. No glaring 4 colour photos, no extraneous spot varnishes or rounded corners, just something to show that I exist.
Ask for one next time you see me. I have lots.
Posted by
admin – April 4, 2009
In preparation for the upcoming spring and summer months, I decided to check out some local shops in the hope of finding a new bag for my bike trips around Edmonton. I had a few requirements for the ideal candidate:
- Must be comfortable.
- Easy to put on and take off.
- Sufficient room for a camera, extra lens(es), bike lock, a magazine or two, and some odds and ends.
- Something that does not cover my entire back. After hours of riding, a full backpack causes my back to sweat like crazy, soaking my shirt and earning me the occasional strange look when I stop somewhere for a break and my clothes are almost dripping.
- It’s gotta look good.
I ended up at Easy Rider trying to find a Dakine Messenger LG bag that I had read about online. When I asked John at the front desk, he showed me what they had in stock (not much) but told me he could bring in a bunch the next day to let me test out. Very nice guy. Easy Rider has a great atmosphere.
I went back the next day and he had five bags set aside for me to check out. Two colourways of the Burton Mess Pack, a Burton DJ Bag, the Burton Promoter and one other one. After trying on the Burton Mess Pack, I knew right away it’s what I was going to leave with. With a leather and cotton construction, beefy metal/plastic buckles, a thick padded strap, and all the bells and whistles I was looking for, it met every criteria on my checklist.
Features include:
- Brown and Tan colour combination. Classy yet casual.
- Integrated iPod jack in the strap
- Ratchet snowboard binding on strap allows for easy adjustment and quick release
- Secondary cross strap for stability
- Laptop compartment, large storage compartment, and two other pockets
I’ve tried this pack out on a few walking trips and it has met my expectations. Even when loaded down with 15lbs of camera gear, magazines, iPod, wallet and other stuff, it doesn’t get uncomfortable.
VNDRL Rating: 6/7
Posted by
admin – April 2, 2009
This is a post copied from my previous blog at Blogspot that I felt was relevant enough to me to post again on this new page.
“Just returned from a week-long trip to Pasadena, California and the surrounding area. It was a bit of a family trip, meeting my sister and brother-in-law, my parents, and my youngest brother down there to enjoy some sun, beaches and In-N-Out burgers.
One thing that I realized while down there is the fact that I seem to associate myself a little bit with surf culture. Never having surfed before in my life, I find this a bit odd. I’ve got a lot of surf-inspired clothing, enjoy reading surf/skateboard magazines for the layouts and photo stylings, stuff like that. The clothing styles, the design, the attitude, the social consciousness, all seem to strike a chord with me. I guess I associate this with my inherent need for a new and exciting lifestyle. Not content to just sit back and live in an office, I’ve tried to seek out random experiences, new life options, traveling and other cultures.
I took some shots of the surf lifestyle down there that I really enjoy. Check my Flickr page to see them.”
Posted by
admin – April 2, 2009
Well, as you can see, things have changed slightly here at vndrl.com. Attempting to break out of my safe world of print design, I’ve decided to explore web design a bit in hopes of expanding my skillset and what I can offer potential clients.
I’m hoping that as I become more comfortable and knowledgable with the web interface, updates will become more frequent. If you have suggestions or comments, please let me know what I can do to make this a better experience for you, the reader.
Updates to follow…
For more recent photos, check out vndrl on Flickr