A Childress Special!

Here's a sneak peek at the first website finished at Switch that I designed and Justin developed!

We've also updated the Switch website with a few images from the menus I designed for Maximo.

Half Price Books Loot

Its been awhile since we've searched through the endless aisles of the giant Half Price Books in Dallas. Found some great old stuff.

Hoffice Wedding Buttons

I made these buttons for a wedding-themed party that Switch+NarrowSearch is throwing in celebration of our partnership with each other and as a follow-up to our engagement party that was in November. We had a very official meeting of the Committee for Planning Committees (to plan committees, for party planning purposes) so I made a button for everyone and the committee they're in.
Check it out on my flickr to see which committee each button represents.

Orla Kiely for Target!

I was SO excited last weekend when I saw the tell-tale Orla Kiely brand pattern on some fabric storage boxes at Target, I can't believe its taken me so long to blog about it. I was even MORE excited to find Orla Kiely housewares when I searched on Target's website! For some reason the fabric boxes aren't online, but I definitely saw them in the store, so you might want to go check it out for yourself. Maybe there are even MORE Orla Kiely products! (No, I have no affiliation with Orla Kiely, I just reaaaallly really love these products and I've never been able to afford them before!) All of these images are products available at Target.

National Student Show Blog

Check out the official DSVC National Student Show & Conference blog! Add it to your RSS feed to be first to get updates on the Show & Conference and inspirational design tips & resources.

Neiman Marcus video

Larry is the DSVC Student Show chairman this year. He's an art director at Neiman Marcus, who just released this fun little fashion video for Neiman's spring dress collection.

On the Table

Pure fun from Italian design group On the Table.

DSVC National Student Show & Conference Website

For the last six months or so I've been working with a lot of other great folks volunteering their time to the DSVC National Student Show & Conference committee to put on the 5th Annual National Show & Conference. Our website (which has been the piece I've been working on, based on the super fun collateral designed by Jeff Barfoot) is finally up and running thanks to the awesome web extraordinaires at Old State.

Some exciting developments in the conference are underway, including a workshop and panel discussion called The Practice Sessions by Antonio Carusone, Frank Chimero, Duane King and Matt Owens. Duane King is the man behind The Practice Sessions and thinkingforaliving.org, a design blog that grew out of a breakout session at the conference a couple of years ago.

Hey its a post about Obama

Yes this blog is mostly for design, but my friend Anton posted a link to this set of pictures from Obama's campaign trail (taken by TIME photographer Callie Shell) from the last two years and I am very moved by them. This one most of all:

These two boys waited as a long line of adults greeted Senator Obama before a rally on Martin Luther King Day in Columbia, S.C. They never took their eyes off of him. Their grandmother told me, "Our young men have waited a long time to have someone to look up to, to make them believe Dr. King's words can be true for them." Jan. 21, 2008.

I also felt an emotional connection with these images. Looking through the full set, it felt like if Obama is president, that we will have a real president again. Someone we can respect and admire.
I loved that he cleaned up after himself before leaving an ice cream shop in Wapello, Iowa. He didn't have to. The event was over and the press had left. He is used to taking care of things himself and I think this is one of the qualities that makes Obama different from so many other political candidates I've encountered. Nov. 7, 2007.

It was primary morning in New Hampshire. Barack and Michelle Obama had been campaigning separately all week. In the first few months of 2008 their private time seemed to consist of a few crossover moments in back hallways before rallies. This moment was rare and you could tell they just loved being able to sit together. Jan. 8, 2008.

Every week I feel like I move either closer or further away from feeling good about voting for Obama. (Just to clarify, I have never considered voting for McCain, especially not after Palin entered the picture. ESPECIALLY.)

There are some issues that I disagree with Obama on, but I think that most of my wariness to come out and say "Yes, I'm voting for Obama" has more to do with a general distrust of government. We have so little assurance that what any political figure tells us is true that I find it hard to trust anyone, even Obama, who I would like to trust.

Without going too much into issues, I am going to post a link to a couple of pdfs that you can download from his official site that outlines some of his plans for education in America. Of anything that I've heard the candidates promise, this makes the most sense to me and gives me a lot of hope.

College Affordability Plan
Pre-K thru 12 Plan
Education Reform Plan

There isn't much time left before the election. I think my mind is almost made up. And just to keep with the general content of my blog, here's some design-related Obama stuff.

SpellingChange


poster by cody hudson


And even if Obama isn't elected, he will go down in history as the candidate with the BEST designed campaign ever. That, no matter which side you're on, cannot be argued.




Oh,and here's a little bit of non-partisan, patriotic (because we ALL are) design. I just bought this limited edition USA pin designed by Michael Bierut.

More Etsy Baby Gift Goodness!

i had so much fun looking for baby things that i decided to post a few more pictures of some handmade and vintage items that would make fantastic baby gifts AND support individuals rather than corporations! hurrah!

under $50

i love typography AND animals, so you can be sure my future children will have something like this beautiful letterpress print in their nurseries. this wonderful print is from seller sycamorestreetpress



look at this super cute long-sleeved onesie from seller orangerhinokids. (if you're freaked out about the price, it's because it's on american apparel)



under $25

and how freakin cute is this little guy from seller LullaLoo?



and this beautiful alphabet print (prints for every letter!)from seller lindsayart



under $10

sometimes these toys look kind of creepy, but i think this one from seller kennywonderful is pretty cute



under $5

this adorable knit cap with ear flaps from seller warmandfuzzybaby will keep baby nice and warm.

Vintage Baby Gifts!

i'm getting to design the birth announcement for a family friend's new baby girl, Camille so i decided to check out Etsy's vintage baby items and found these adorable cards that i just couldn't pass up. so now i have some design ideas AND a unique present for the new little one!

i LOVE buying gifts on Etsy. for christmas this year i'd really like to take the handmade pledge and i encourage you to think about it too!