design | the mehallo blog. beta.

Vena Cava

‘A surreal commercial for Viva Vena. A collaboration between LT and Co and the broadcast design studio Gretel. Music by Copilot.’

Found via Ashley Simko

Tags: cool finds, design by steve
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Gap reality

From Australia: Gap by Tom Bryan.

Tags: design, fashion, photography by steve
1 comment . . .

Minding the Gap: One more

A Gap logo suggestion from Great Britain by designer Guy Mayger.

Found via Steve Matteson

Tags: cool finds, design, fashion by steve
1 comment . . .

Gap inspires new symbol for recycling

Before and after

I was thinking.

The recycle symbol we’ve been using all these years could use an update. Something simpler, more modern, earth-friendly and all that.

And what better way to update than looking to the most legible of the legibles, Helvetica. With all the Gap hoohaw this past week, I’d noticed that the G actually has an arrow in it. Not a perfect arrow, but redrawing Helvetica – that would take too much time. No one’s gonna notice an arrow that’s a bit off, right?

G is for garbage, of course. Turning it backwards means sending things back. For recycling. And the gradiated avocado green box, it just says green better than anything else can say green.

Because people really like avocados.

Tags: design, thoughts by steve
5 comments . . .

Hansen’s Natural: Bottom of the pile

Before and after

This hit last year, redesign of soda cans for Hansen’s Natural Sodas by Deutsch Design Works.

The look just seems very . . . techno to me.

Garbage: I’m Really Into Techno, B-side from Shut Your Mouth 3

Photos found via BevReview

Tags: culinary, design, music, thoughts by steve
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New Gap logo: One more for the pile

Before and after

Another company’s gone and done it.

Desperate times call for . . . logo changes. If a company’s not doing well, they have to do something. Forget the pressure of product marketing, pricing, supply and demand – all too tough to deal with. Instead: Let’s change the logo.

K-Mart has done it a few times.

Not quite getting to the root of things. But changing a logo to solve a major problem is like saying, I have cancer, so – I’m going to go get my hair done.

When exactly did this become the rule of the day? Is a logo change what it takes to shore up a failing brand? Gap seems to think so and if that’s how they’re managing things right now, they probably should fail. [Read more →]

Tags: design, design history, fashion, thoughts by steve
7 comments . . .

Bowie fashion, 2008

In 2008, punk rocker turned fashion designer Keenan Duffty did his own interpretation of David Bowie – for Target – leading to an incredible, understated, sophisticated line.

Starting with Bowie’s Thin White Duke persona, Duffty’s collection featured tuxedo jackets, thin ties, skinny jeans, shirts with lyrics and lightening bolts, pea coats and more. Peppered throughout were tiny details, hidden buttons and subtle edging that amped things up a bit (see video below). It all were complemented with some alpaca clothing accessories, which by the way you can get for you at that link.

Target’s rollout was a bit spotty – not all stores carried the complete line. Tho this did give things an exclusive edge. And unfortunately, final construction wasn’t always great (it appeared to be the same tailors as Target’s Merona line) – but for 25 bucks for a well designed shirt, one should be willing to sew a few buttons back on.

An interesting follow up happened the next year, as Duffty came up with additional looks as part of his already established Target England’s Dreaming brand. It was cool to watch Duffty go from worn punk to a whole other level in a short amount of time.

I still have (and wear) clothes from the collection (I also love blacks and grays). David Bowie was always about good fashion just outside the mainstream – with Duffty the musician/designer – it was a great mix.