It seems like I always wait until the very peak of a design trend before I make something in that vein for my mom. Be it spraypainted stencils, shirts or shoes, I always wait till I am perfectly confident with my output before I attempt to make something for my dear mother. I love these shoes and the only regret I have after designing them is not including a little Mario jumping from hill to hill amidst the clouds.
These shoes are inspired by UNT, the North Texas University that my lovely sister attends. I wanted to keep the color scheme straightforward, simple and reminiscent of the colors you would proudly see on display of her campus and closet. I think the resulting pair of KEDs achieve this artistic direction while also allowing room for my free form doodles to breath.
It is a new year and fantastic exciting things are happening all around. I feel like the best way to celebrate the rebirth of a new year is to of course, to delve in nostalgia. Check out these shoes that I painted for friends and family. This is part 1 in a series, first off: The shoes of the Isaboob
Here are a few examples of icons that I made for a document project. A fun little exercise that let me stretch my gridded vector muscles and geometry ligaments.
I just wrapped up a project/competition sponsored by Herman Miller. The competition required the designer to design and decorate a plastic molded Eames chair. These would be judged and later put up for auction to sponsor local charities. The winner of the judging gets to take home a Eames lounger as a prize. Yes. That Eames Longer.
Though I think I turned in a strong entry, after viewing the other entries I feel that I may have been trumped by one entry in particular. A local artist punctured her chair with multiple wrought iron nails, lending the surface of the chair a flowing field of points and poles. It really is terrific and I will be happy to see her take home an amazing prize.
Here are a couple of bookmarks that I made for my grandparents. I bought them books for their dual birthdays, only 4 days apart. Guess which one went to the Papa Joe, and which one went to the Auntie Grandma!
So much is going on and it is so fun
Me and my accomplice in just submitted a fun piece for a competition hosted by the Austin Parks Foundation. If we win we get tons of perks, including the sight of our submission printed ad nauseum on everything at ACL this year. Good times to be stared down by a grackle. Download a macbook friendly background image for your comp here.
On a shirt
So much going on and so much to be done
I am working on something fun.
and
also
I bought a muthafucking Wacom! Yes, I have arrived.
Another year, another Gorilla Run. I was in charge of all the graphics from the last run, and now that I have a much larger window to make these graphics again, I have decided to start anew. This is my attempt at translating my version of the logo from last year into a symbol that works and looks better. I have been using a bunch of inspiration from sports teams logos, and this iteration is almost where I would like it to be
does this look better in monotone?The problem is that something is just a little off and I am attempting to figure out what to edit or tweak. Any suggestions are more than welcome.
the original logo from last year
Here is another gift, another project. This pair was done as a late Christmas/Birthday present for my roommate. I got these done on a deadline, as the recipient was headed to Alaska for the summer. I have not heard from the guy in a few weeks now, so I can only assume that he has been eaten by a bear. I just hope that the grizzly has decided to wear these shoes after eating my friend.
It has been way too long coming. In the process of getting a Wordpress blog up and running, I have neglected the sad lost Blogger platform. I have actually been quite busy lately and I have a slew of work to post, but am stuck in a transitional state. I have decided to pull out this old soap box out of retirement in order to share some choice examples of my work from this past Spring.
This is actually the second pair of shoes that I have completed for my lovely sister. The first pair was unluckily ruined due to my poor advice in using Scotch Guard to protect the shoes from use. Unluckily I was poorly informed and had to conjure up a new pair in order to replace the previous pair. Luckily the second edition turned out much stronger the the first. I learned a ton more about painting on this curious canvas choice and finally introduced acrylic and, god forbid, color.
Check it out I finally got my lazy designer ass to make some business cards. I now see why so many people online state that designers have a horrible time designing and identity for themselves. It is like a doctor treating himself, confident in his ability but doubtful of the results.
I do think these turned out pretty well. Check out Moo Prints as they did a remarkable job translating my design into print. Much props. Bump into me sometime if you would like your very own copy of these babies. Limited Supplies! Act quickly!
Re-posted from the BIG 4401
If you cannot tell by the name of this article I have a sort of love/hate relationship with everyone's favorite temporary adhesive: Velcro (restricted damnit). I promise I will try to find a way to bend this little rant back into the design sphere.
So recently I decided to purchase a new messenger bag. My current bag and I have a long relationship that began in a fluorescent lit big-box store. It was a long and adventurous relationship that lasted many long hours at the coffee shop, multiple trips across the states, and even a bike accident which resulted in egg yolks and flour forming a pie like shell in the basin of my burlap bag.
But alas, like all good relationships that one must come to an end. The strap is beginning to remove itself from the bag, and fearing the threat of my macbook dropping off my shoulder during a bike ride, I decided to buy a new bag.
Thus the rant begins.
I decided to get a Crumplr bag and though I think their designs are good (as well as the website) I have to say I am dissapointed in the end product. Let me be clear about this review, I do not think the end product is bad, it is fairly good quality, balances well on the bike and is fairly distinctive in design. BUT, what is the deal with all the damn velcro? I have seen this trend in using velcro in many different products and I honestly don't understand it. If someone gets a thrill out of the nerve-wrenching sound that comes from ripping two pieces asunder, then please let me know.
I view velcro in product design like the use of hot-glue in crafting. Somehow velcro transcends its role as a craft making assistant, but the amateur (and dangerous) hot glue must be content with bejewling and making toothpick bridges. Why is the one adhesive that screams tacky and poor craft used in the market while the other waits patiently in the craft drawer?
There really is no need for the little fuzzy squares of hooks and loops. With good design you can insure that the individual compartments in your bag keep their contents safe and secure. Why is the extra lock essential? Do we have velcro for our jean pockets? Is their a lock on your shower curtains? Do you like to sign in a code every time you use your iPhone? Why do we need extra barriers between us and what we need?
Upon reconsideration I really wish that I had bought a badass Chrome bag, or even modified a cheap Rothco model. But now I am stuck with this crackly, inaccessible bag that will soon be modified. I have already made a list of all the things that will be removed and/or replaced. I think the end result will turn out well as the function increases and the frustration decreases.
So can I get some opinions on this subject. A bag is a very personal and unique extension of your personality and design perspective. What do you look for in a bag?
Here are a few choice selections from my current ongoing project: The Art House Sketchbook Project. Please follow the link to find more information on this sweet project. I have been getting everyone I know on board with this thing, but considering the already significant advertisement campaign, I do not think the Art House needs my marketing help.
The theme that was randomly chosen for my book is Dirigibles and Submersibles. So I have set to corral my random doodles into a form reminiscent of flying or swimming vehicles.
More information as I finish this project and we approach this event. To say the least, it will be plenty of drunken gorillas in the ATX.
Another attempt to wrangle in my doodling style to architectural specificity.
So the title of this post is a semi-lie. Though I am posting this sketch in September, this bad boy was conceived in July. I will see if I can maintain the stamina, but I will try to add a new sketch or piece everyday. So though these posts may not be hot-off-the-presses fresh, they will be new. So while we wait patiently for what is in store for the rest of this month, let us gaze upon this weird little amalgamation.
After several, many, different iterations I have finally finished this damn project. It is wonderful how strict a critic you can be when you are creating your own identity. But this nitpicky nightmare is finally finished which means I can now whore out this baby to attract all of those clients buzzing about. Please, please go check out my work at justinkyle.net
As a project for my lovely little sister I illustrated this cute pair of Keds. The them came from a doodle on my mouse pad that held my attention long enough to end up on a shoe. I do really like these characters, and using them as avatars for elements seems intriguing. More to follow. Please check out the other photos of this project at my Flickr page
