Recently in Graphic Design Category

Designer Moist Towelettes

By
Max Univers
on June 27, 2008 7:04 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
On Thursday, I spent the better portion of the day at a training session. As anyone who knows me is aware, I struggle to sit still for that long without doing SOMETHING to stay awake. I'm a hands-on guy; watching someone else demonstrate best practices bores me to the verge of sleep. I needed something, anything, to get my mind rolling at 100 MPH. Lucky for me, there was lunch, because inside the plastic tray was a moist toilette.

Now I know what you're saying. You shouldn't use a moist toilette on your face because the chemicals will make you blind, no matter how refreshing it might seem. Well, don't worry, you. I'm talking about the packaging, specifically, the art deco wrapper.

Before you say it out loud and disturb everyone around you with your musings about how I've lost my mind, I'll say it (or type it) for you...
Continue reading Designer Moist Towelettes.

I Give Up

By
Max Univers
on May 9, 2008 12:46 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
Another post in the "Randomly Occurring Periodic Post About Something Design Related" series.

I got an email from my mom this week, and she thought I'd be amused by a font case study. Guess what: not amused!

This is from the list serve for our programs--it references a document that we have to sign with all of the places where we place volunteers. Some programs are having a problem getting non-profit agencies to sign them--I thought you'd get a kick out the latest posting.

Oh, I got a kick out of it. As a matter of fact, you will too. After the jump...the post.
Continue reading I Give Up.

Shopko Logo Makes Me Violently Ill

By
Max Univers
on March 27, 2008 11:02 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Another post in the "Randomly Occurring Periodic Post About Something Design Related" series, because although I wasn't asked to participate in the Grand Finale Series on a certain website, that doesn't mean I don't have things I'd like to write.

One day last week, I was out running errands over my lunch hour, and I needed some general consumable household items. Paper towels, toothpaste, garbage bags -- real exciting stuff, let me tell you. I happened to be on 140th and Center here in Omaha, so I decided to swing by Shop-Ko because it was the closest store.

I've always held a certain kind of fondness for Shop-Ko, because its always reminded me of Target before Target was TARGET, if you know what I mean. A cleaner, friendlier discount department store than Wal-Mart. Everything from the layout of the stores to the price signs on the shelves typeset in black Helvetica Bold on plain white stock reminded me of Target: 1990. They weren't trying to be hip, cool or trendy, just a nice, clean store. They were what they were, and I respected that.

But as I pulled into the parking lot, I metaphorically dropped my chalupa on the floor of my car. Not literally, because chalupas are too tasty to actually drop no matter how shocked you may be by an event. But metaphorically, sure, I dropped it. And it was a metaphorical mess, just like this story. Shut up.

Continue reading Shopko Logo Makes Me Violently Ill.

Max Univers Guest Stars, Discusses Super Bowl Ads

By
Max Univers
on February 8, 2008 10:25 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Quite a while ago, I helped to launch a podcast with my good buddies Cliff Glypha and Dick Herculanum. After the first season, I departed, but have occasionally lent my rather insignificant talents to the show since then. For this week's show, they asked me to come on as a guest -- and to host their annual Super Bowl Extravaganza. I agreed, with one caveat:

I get to run the show, and do whatever I want. They said "sure", and this is what the result wound up being. It turned into a broadcasted frat party, the result of which is hilarious...and probably makes Cliff and Dick happy I only get to wreak such havoc on their show once a year!

Continue reading Max Univers Guest Stars, Discusses Super Bowl Ads.

QB #15 Approves Of This Shirt

By
Max Univers
on December 13, 2007 4:14 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
Another post in the "Randomly Occurring Periodic Post About Something Design Related" series, to fulfill my Monthly Quota.



At first glance, this looks like a perfectly ordinary t-shirt, no? I mean, if you can get past the deuchebaggery of wearing a shirt that says "My team's player won the Heisman!", that is. I have a lot of sports-themed clothing, and I can't imagine owning, or even wearing, a shirt exclaiming a player on one of my teams won an award. You don't see me wearing a Johan Santana "Cy Young" t-shirt. Or an Adrian Peterson "I rushed for 297 yards" shirt. And I never would, even if such lame things existed.

But anyway, that's not the point. Look closer at this shirt; it doesn't say "Tim Tebow: 2007 Heisman Trophy Winner"...it says "Florida Quarterback". Nice.

QB Eagles approves of this (warning: gratuitous Tecmo Bowl reference). Omaha Blogger also approves of this. My question is, does this mean Brandon Fraizer, the backup QB for the Gators, could wear this shirt and tell people he won the Heisman? He is technically "Florida Quarterback"...just not THE Florida Quarterback.

All kidding aside, this ridiculous shirt is made possible by the NCAA, which prohibits players from marketing their names or likenesses, but allows schools to put their name and logo on anything, anywhere. It makes for a pretty ridiculous design, and out of all the hilarious things about it, my favorite is probably that the word "Quarterback" is so small...almost like it was tacked into the design at the last minute.

Wouldn't it be hysterical if this principle of generic naming was a regular occurrence in other walks of life?

Instead of Random Guy At Burger King, we'll call him "Steven Smith", it might be "Cashier BK". Instead of Cliff Glypha, it might be "Host BADCast". Instead of Jay Leno, it might be "Unfunny". You bet. The possibilities are endless, really.

What a ridiculous shirt. SG Bulls approves.

The NFL's New Logo is Crappeous...Or Not

By
Max Univers
on September 11, 2007 10:46 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
Another post in the "Randomly Occurring Periodic Post About Something Design Related" series, to fulfill my Monthly Quota.



Well, well well. The latest company to needlessly burn their cherished brand identity is the last one you'd expect. Or maybe the first. I don't even know anymore. As you might guess from the title, its the National Football League.

I'm supposed to hate it. If you've ever read anything online written by a graphic designer, EVERY NEW LOGO SUCKS! ANYTHING MORE THAN 20 YEARS OLD IS UNTOUCHABLE! SHUT YOUR MOUTH WHILE I'M SHOUTING!
Continue reading The NFL's New Logo is Crappeous...Or Not.

Use Design For Good, Not Evil [Part II]

By
Max Univers
on September 7, 2007 10:42 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
Another post in the "Randomly Occurring Periodic Post About Something Design Related" series, to fulfill my Monthly Quota.

I'm about three weeks late in bringing this up, but you'll have to excuse me, for its just been brought to my attention.

We're all following the exploits of Van Halen as they prepare to embark on their sham reunion tour sans Michael Anthony. Some of us are even taking side bets as to how many shows they make it through before Eddie and Dave decide enough is enough and cancel the rest (My money's on 31). Some of us might just be happy they're back touring with Diamond Dave. And some of you frankly might not give a damn about Van Halen at all.

Regardless of where you fall in that spectrum, this story is awfully shitty. After unceremoniously kicking Anthony out of the band, a fact he found out by reading the internet story, not from the band (stay classy, Eddie), they went a step further and engaged in some revisionist history.
Continue reading Use Design For Good, Not Evil [Part II].

Use Design For Good, Not Evil [Part I]

By
Max Univers
on September 7, 2007 10:40 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
Another post in the "Randomly Occurring Periodic Post About Something Design Related" series, to fulfill my Monthly Quota.

New Natty Light cans?


Budweiser has turned the cheapest beer that is still drinkable from a classy silver-and-dark-blue design into the Detroit Lions Football Helmet of beers. Seriously, is that a Lions helmet, or is a can of beer? I can't tell. All I know is I hold this beer and I feel like I want to retire from drinking many years before my career should be over, even though I could break every drinking record on the books.

Hey, if your head coach was Wayne Fontes, you'd quit too. What's that, I'm not the Barry Sanders of drinking? Whew, that's a relief. I take back all that retirement talk. But this new design still stinks.

You bet.

Its Preseason for ESPN Too

By
Max Univers
on August 21, 2007 11:00 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
Another post in the "Randomly Occurring Periodic Post About Something Design Related" series, to fulfill my Monthly Quota.

During last week's Denver-San Francisco preseason game on Monday Night, Dick Herculanum and I went out to the bar to watch the game. He's a big Broncos fan. Anyway, during the first half, I noticed the following graphic come up on-screen:



Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce to you the newest running back for the San Francisco 49ers, Number Double-Zero, Name Lastname! Weighing a robust 000 pounds, the veteran of X seasons was the 1997 Rookie of the Year. But despite the notoriety that comes with winning such a prestigious award, no photo of him exists. In fact, Name Lastname is such a mysterious fella that he not only has a Question Mark Face, the Niners refuse to allow their logo to be associated with him. Instead, he uses a player-specific logotype which is typeset in -- you guessed it -- Rosewood. With a drop-shadow to boot!

All kidding aside, this is clearly just laziness on the part of the graphics guys and gals in ESPN's truck -- or someone with an itchy trigger finger who hit ENTER before the graphic was complete. Either way, its hilarious, because you never see these type of mistakes in a big budget nationally-produced television program.

Incidentally, if you're wondering why I waited until a week later to post this, I just got around to Bluetoothing the photo off of my cell phone.

You bet.

Stop! Hammertime

By
Max Univers
on July 17, 2007 10:30 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
Another post in the "Randomly Occurring Periodic Post About Something Design Related" series, to fulfill my Monthly Quota.

This might very well be the dopest Stop sign in the world. It has to be dominant for me to pull over and take a picture while on the highway -- because doing so cost me precious minutes off my self-competitive time. Truthfully, I'd spied this gem the previous trip and didn't pull over for that very reason, but this time I had no choice. Its just too good.

So I pulled over and it was only then I realized I didn't have my camera, because I'd loaned it to Mr. Continental Frutiger for his weekend trip to NYC. We were originally going to trade camera-for-camera, with him taking my pocket-sized Elph and me taking his giant-sized Rebel. Canon. Goulet. A big camera is great for big-camera things, while a pocket-sized camera is great for everything else, if that makes any sense. It doesn't? OK then, lets just move on.

We were going to trade one-for-one, but then the Fireman's Girlfriend took his camera instead, because she erroneously believed the status of a fancy digital Rebel would make her look more awesome at her high school reunion over the weekend. Well, I let her borrow Continental's because it would have been absurd for her to spend $700 for a camera just to show off. I can see Cliff Glypha rolling his eyes right now as he reads this, and it is hilarious. 

She had CF's blessing, don't get me wrong. And I didn't figure I would need the camera, or any camera for that matter. I didn't figure on encountering Hammertime.
Continue reading Stop! Hammertime.
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