Last night’s Fashion Group International panel discussion was insightful and informative, with Sheri L Koetting successfully leading the panelists through a wide range of Social Media topics. Much light was shed on innovative techniques the panel used for their clients using platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to turn strangers into fans, and fans into customers with a loyal following… and turning into sales.

Much like snowflakes, no two MSLK business cards are alike. The reason for this is simple: we use recycled paper as the base, and wrap pre-printed stickers around them. It’s all part of our firm’s environmental commitment, repurposing makereadies — the waste from offset printing — to use as business cards.

It’s an approach that caught the attention of Marc Praquin, designer, author, and publisher of the 288 page, full-color book, “MyOwnBusinessCard – VolumeOne”

MSLK put our party and chef hats on to host the 3rd annual Spark BBQ. Spark, an organization made up of independent designers, holds a summer and winter event open to everyone, allowing for networking opportunities in addition to its monthly events specifically geared for creative professionals.

While I manned the grill for the most part, it was great seeing Old Guard members mingling with new members, who mingled with printers, copywriters, and business coaches.

One of the things which made this event so successful was the idea of name tags which had a pre-printed “Ask me about…” to spark conversations. A perfect fit for an organization named Spark.

Favorites “Ask me abouts…” included

“my new book”
“environmental graphics”
“learning to surf”
“Elvis” (which turned-out to be work-related)

and…

“California”

Maybe you’ll drop by for a veggie dog (or two) next year?

Your chair is always there for you, day and night, 365 days a year. It never gives you any lip when you toss your coat over its back after a long day it without so much of a thanks. Think of all those times it’s supported you when you were feeling tired.

What about all the times you’ve strained it by forcing it to sit on its hind legs while you brag to your mom about how sweet your Facebook wall is looking these days? Nary a complaint from the stoic chair, the most loyal of  our four-legged friends.

So why do we make these poor things live out their days standing naked on a hardwood floor?

I just received a fresh copy of DesignEdge, a well-known Canadian publication about graphic design news and trends. We knew there would be an interview by Sheri about the benefits of Spark, the design organization we helped found, but were not expecting to make the cover!

It was especially nice to find out that she shared the same page as Ilise Benun of Marketing Mentor, our friend, colleague, Spark supporter, and guest lecturer (and all-around good peeps).

Click below to read the interview with Sheri…

Happy Earth Day, folks. Wondering what you can do today to contribute? Click “Read More” below for six ideas you can share with friends & family members, letting them know one small step you’d like to take towards becoming more green, as well as sharing important earth-friendly facts.

The best part? You can click on the images to generate an automatic email to send (which is like, totally green, too…)

Websites have become the most essential marketing tool for businesses. One click from a customer is a valuable opportunity that can make all the difference. If created properly, a Website should instinctively lead visitors where you want them to follow.

In spite of the known value a good Website can bring, take a moment and think about just how many poor Websites you encounter every day. While not every business needs their site to be a high-budget multimedia extravaganza, every site should be effective, and properly targeted to a company’s audience.

Too many times people rush into putting up a quick site, thinking this will hold them over until they get around to the big launch. This is a fallacy—it is almost always far more difficult to rebrand an existing Website than to start with a good one.

I’m not sure whether this adaptation of a Washington Mutual sign was intentional or serendipitous. Either way, I think it’s a perfect “transitional logo” for the company.

Two of my very good friends got married a couple weeks ago in Italy. When they asked me to design the invitations, I knew it had to be something unique. After meeting in architecture school, Barbara moved from Rome to Brooklyn a couple years ago to be with Ed. A classic American tattoo became the concept for the invitation. It symbolized both them as a couple (Ed, who has multiple  tattoos convinced Barbara to get her first shortly after they started dating), and their new life in Brooklyn. I worked with a local tattoo artist on the illustration, which was a very classic design incorporating both an Italian and American flag. Each invitation was mailed with a temporary tattoo attached to the RSVP card.

Last week we attended the Cooper Hewitt National Design Awards. While all the attention was justifiably on the recipients, (my former boss, Michael Bierut of Pentagram received the Design Mind award and our friend, colleague, and recent Spark host, Scott Stowell, received this year’s Graphic Design award), I found myself enamored with a bunch of seat cushions gradating in color, stacked, and arched between 2 chairs, suspend from the ceiling. A rainbow in the sky.

The event design and concept was created by the fabulous team at David Stark Designs in conjunction with 2 high school students from the Cooper-Hewitt’s Lehman Scholar program. And while the overall look and feeling in the tent was an explosion of Dr. Suess colors-meets-Alice and Wonderland whimsy, the theme was actually “simply green.”

Recently, Viximo, a cutting-edge start up company, invited MSLK to participate in a unique think-tank format which gathered what the organizers described as visual “rock stars” and “Digital DaVincis“: prominent designers, animators, programmers, and artists.

The W Hotel in San Francisco set the tone for a funky sophistication as we gathered in the plush surroundings of the meeting hall. The purpose was to brainstorm new ideas for “virtual goods,” an emerging, very lucrative market which the hosts sought to capitalize on.

Clearly, there’s an emerging trend of companies who see the value of looking outside for fresh ideas to spur innovation from within, and finding new ways to do it.

Heading into their 8th season, my softball team the Pigeons are still going strong. It was certainly a love of my hometown baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals that inspired me to throw the name, The Pigeons into the ring eight years ago. It was certainly the Cardinals classic logo of the two birds perched upon a bat that inspired Aaron Meshon to illustrate our logo with five soft and cushy looking birds roosting together as if taking a nap.

Of the many known, reliable economic indicators (New Residential Construction, GDP, Quarterly Services Survey to name a few…) one stands out as the clearest: Gray’s Papaya Hot Dog Index.

Despite the extreme caution our governing officials exercise when it comes to stating whether we are or are not in a recession… at least someone is being frank with us.

Two years ago on my birthday, The Roxy (nightclub and Wednesday night roller rink) closed for back taxes. My girlfriends and I stood at the doors bounded up by chains and mourned the end of an era. Since then, there has been no roller rinks in NYC. Chelsea Piers, Empire, The Roxy, and Skate Key all closed down. Roller skating is apparently passé and worse yet, an insurance liability.

Luckily for me I have secret benefactor with the name of Lola Staar. Lola too felt the loss of the Roxy and dreamed of a place where disco skating like everyday is 1979 could live on forever. Through dreaming and fund raising Lola unveiled the new Dreamland roller rink for NYC on the Coney Island Boardwalk.

Who could argue with a deal like this? (Thanks to JJ for pointing this out…)

I’m just back from a week away at one of my favorite places in the world: Block Island, RI. For those of you who don’t know about “BI,” here are some facts: It’s a tiny island in the Atlantic about 12 miles off the coast from Rhode Island, and accessible only by ferry and prop planes. Its 17 miles of beaches are exquisite, and most people opt for mopeds and bicycles as their primary mode transport. Save for a lone Starbucks, it’s amazingly free from chains.

Being such a small place, people hold it dear in their hearts—be it day-trippers, snowbirds, or the residents themselves. The island’s 900 year-rounder’s are an especially hardy bunch, battling the rough New England elements in near solitude. (Last year’s high school class had 4 proud graduates.)

If you’re not a fan of quaint cottages, easygoing attitudes, happy families, and small town charm you need not apply.

One of the most charming—and ubiquitous—images is that of the island itself. The iconic shape is omnipresent, emblazoned in clothing, knick-knacks, signage, cars, and even food. I tried my best to document the amazing display of local pride, which often was done in earnest, although a large portion bordered on kitsch…

The 90’s heat-activated trend is back. Touch a green shirt you will leave yellow fingerprint; blow on a purple shirt you will see pink marks. The fabric dyed with a special pigment that makes it heat-sensitive. LA fashion designers, Anzevino and Florence, took this trends to the next level and not only making T-shirts but also dresses and scarfs (clothing pictured above). Other fashion and sportswear companies like American Apparel and Puma have hopped on the hypercolor trend with everything from t-shirts to sneakers.

The fabric is washable in cold water, but iron it, bleach it or dry it in a steaming-hot machine and your shirt won’t last the 15 minutes this trend is destined for. Read more to see more color actions.

Last weekend, we went to a birthday party for our Russian friend, Andrey, at the Tatiana Restaurant on Brighton Beach’s boardwalk. I’ve been to Coney Island before, but this was my first experience at Little Odessa, and it was quite memorable. If you’re looking for a great summer weekend trip to Brighton Beach: lunch or dinner at Tatiana is highly recommended. Even better, if you have something to celebrate…

Why do you choose to torture the graphic designers of New York with the crazy “O”s in the signage on your N/W trains? Do you think this is funny? Are you laughing in the face of a system many have heralded as a design masterpiece? Did you simply replace the carefully chosen Helvetica Bold “O”s with something more standard (Arial, per se)? Or did you go a step further and rotate each letter so it sits on its side? We demand (properly typeset) answers!

Frustratingly Yours,

The Designers of New York City

Here is another posting about my parent’s amazing trip to Barcelona. After spending a few hours looking through their photos, it was clear to see that there was a trend: the city has a love affair going on with the color red. Is there really any better color to fall for?

My dad noted its prevalence and provided an edit for your viewing pleasure…