Banksy

Banksy is an amazing street artist and I consider him a graphic designer. I love the way he uses a medium as simple as spray paint to illustrate heavy social and political topics in an interesting way. Also, I should warn that the first time I saw Banksy's art it blew my mind like crazy so beware. Here are a few really cool designs by him:

 Wow. Just look at that last one a good long time and tell me you don't start to question life's meaning.

Album Covers

Here are a few more album covers I really love. This time I'm going to pick out of records I have here at the house.

Awesome band from right here in C-U. Great watercolor and typography.

There will always be a (large) place in my heart for Willie Nelson. What a great album, and the use of mixed media (I think it's a photo with paint or ink on some parts) is crazy looking up close.

I don't know why I love this album cover so much. It's simply beautiful beyond words to me.

Ok, so this is technically a photo, but I love the design that the organic moss stuff creates out of its own texture. Really weird album.

Who cares if you flat out steal an idea from the King of Rock and Roll as long as you pull it off? The Clash one upped the heck out of him on this one. It's PERFECT.

THE COLORS!!!!!!!!!!!! So awesome. Sure it's not a perfect design, but the beauty here lies in its imperfection and sheer attitude.

Quite possibly the greatest album art of all time. Andy Warhol's graphic designs were ingenious. The end.

Shoes

Here are some really cool shoe logos I've found throughout my many years as a lover of foot apparel.

Such a classic design... This one is just about perfect in my eyes. Mmmmm.

Doesn't this just make you wanna go to the beach? Something about the colors and type always give me a good vibe.

Obviously I had to choose one of the greatest logos of all time for this little list.

Last but not least is the Chuck Taylor All Star logo. Classic.

Hatch Show Print

I really love the designs that come as a result of the printing process used by Hatch Show Print in Nashville, Tennessee. I went there myself a few years ago and it was awesome to think of how many amazing posters have come from one small shop. This company has been in business for a long time and still makes posters for modern clients. They reprint a lot of their old stuff using the same process, and so you can purchase what is essentially the exact same poster you would have had in the 50s.

Here is a print I have in my room:

Wow...... so great. Ok moving on, here's an example of Hatch Show Print's ability to make designs that span a wide range of musical styles and time, featuring two of my favorite artists:

Also, I think the sign itself has some really cool old school (it is old) typography as well: