New card game called “Type Trumps” just released by Face37. This is going on my Christmas list!

Creative Review:

Rick Banks, has created a set of Top Trumps style cards where classic typefaces are the subject matter - hence the name, Type Trumps. Each card is designed to make the most of the particular font it features, and typophiles will happily find such faces as Frankfurter, Times, Helvetica, Johnston Underground and Neu Alphabet in the pack. Type Trumps players can battle it out using such statistics as year of design, the amount of weights, cost etc to win their opponent’s cards. Banks has given each typeface a ‘rating’ score, a ‘legibility’ score and even a ’special power’.

(via Swiss Legacy)

If you haven’t seen the documentary on Helvetica yet, you’re missing out. Last year I was able to attend a screening of the film and a Q&A session with the director Gary Hustwit and famous type designer Matthew Carter.

The documentary takes an in depth look at the evolution of the typeface, but it also includes interviews with top designers from around the world and their opinions about the role of typography and design for today’s society. It was interesting to hear both sides of the debate about Helvetica, why some people love it and some people hate it. The film is a must-see if you are a designer or are just interested in learning more about design and typography.

Typography is a huge part of my life as a designer. Studying type has completely changed the way I look at and interact with design. It is one of the foundational elements of all graphic design, and it is something that should not be underestimated or overlooked. Many times type becomes an afterthought to a design and is just tacked on at the end, but I believe type should be one of the first things to consider when starting a design.

One of my main ideas behind starting Ugmonk was to merge my love for typography and my passion for t-shirt design. This idea is not necessarily something new and has certainly been done before, but I wanted to bring a fresh approach to the industry and create a unique style that integrates these two elements. I hope to explore many new ways of combining the exciting t-shirt medium and the delicate art of typography.

Although I focus mainly in graphic design, I have always enjoyed industrial design and feel that they two are very closely related. Fresh Home wrote a post featuring the most unique and creative sofa designs. The one that really intrigued me was the Flexible Love designed by Chishen Chiu. Rather than trying to explain how innovative it is, you can see for yourself in the video below.

Pentagram, one of the leading design studios in the world, recently redesigned the graphic identity for the Museum of Art and Design. Formerly known as the American Craft Museum, The Museum of Arts and Design got a new look, new building, and a new location now located at 2 Columbus Circle in NYC.

I really like the logo mark that Pentagram has developed for MAD as it is simple, bold, and versatile. They have done an excellent job carrying the new identity throughout all of the advertising and environmental graphics as you can see in the photos below. You can read more about the new identity on the Pentagram blog.

If you have been in tune with the t-shirt design industry recently you have likely come across the work of AJ Dimarucot a.k.a Collision Theory. Recently, he has taken the t-shirt world by storm, winning the 10K contest at Design By Humans as well as several other wins at Threadless and DBH. I have followed his work closely for quite some time and have learned a lot from him at emptees.

AJ has been a huge inspiration to me as a designer and has really taken t-shirt design to new levels. His bold, colorful oversized prints really break the mold of traditional t-shirt design style and have helped me to think outside the box when designing shirts. Though our styles differ quite a bit, I really admire how he has refined his own unique style, something I hope to establish with Ugmonk.