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LOGOLAND May 2 2012
Lately I’ve been immersing myself in logos. Not designing them (my Adobe Creative Suite skills are not up to par), but researching, studying, dissecting them. I’ve mentioned it a couple times here on the blog, on my Twitter, and even on my Instagram, but I’m about to start a new online gig under the Backside umbrella. It will be completely different than what I’m doing with CA; I’m only a co-editor and nearly everything will be interview based. I do, however, get to oversee the entire scope of the project. That’s start to finish. That’s aesthetics to content. Cue the logo.
I’ve always been enamored with logos. The idea that a company, an individual, a brand, can encompass their entire being into one single icon is pretty profound. I had to reference my own endeavors - CA as a clothing brand, CA as blog, Rick & Ray as a company - to get the ball rolling.
When I made t-shirts under Chicharon Adventures in 2007, the logo was a pig. It was simple, almost like line art, with a distinct “X” on its face. If I couldn’t work that pig into a design, then it was on the tag. I branded it further with stickers and it was a big part of the banner that went across my first website.
When t-shirts and sweatshirts didn’t do as well as I hoped, I focused primarily on the blog, and started to identify CA with another image. It was a vectorized handwritten CA, and it symbolized the personal. After all, blogging is personal. It’s meant to engage audiences in my day-to-day (shout out to all the readers who still find me interesting), to make you as much of a part of the experience as possible. On the current website, the banner rotates the two Chicharon logos on refresh. You get the pig and you get the handwritten one, reminding me and you of where the brand has been and where its going.
The Rick & Ray logo. It’s an “R”, an ampersand, and another “R” connected. Obviously, it’s the initials of the company. But dig deeper. The reason why the company is named that is because of a story that had to do with my late brother and his wish to meet a radio personality. It’s a chasing dreams kind of story, and that’s what the company aims to do. It helps people go after their passion through a managerial relationship. The connection of Rick and Ray in the logo is the kind of connection that the staff has with the collective.
The three of them are basic. And I’ve come to realize after all the research and references, that the more simplistic the logo is, the more significant the impact. So here I am, left with the task to conceptualize the type or the icon that is reflective of two best buds, of the feminine and the street, of the Tastemakers in the industry. Wish me luck.
Let me leave you with this, though. CA is no longer a clothing brand, and I don’t get many inquiries about how to start a brand anymore, but if you’re in that boat and you’re trying to create the perfect logo, remember this: live and die by your decision, and be secure enough with your identity to follow your vision. Oh, and don’t rely on freefonts.com (or whatever that site is)!
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TWELVE BAR May 1 2012
One of our sponsors for this past LiFESWELL was the clothing brand, Twelve Bar. I went to the offices along Fairfax to meet with Nick Jackson (co-owner) and pick up some giveaways for the night. A quick meeting turned into an hour and a half conversation.
References, inspirations, vision board, Hennessy, Star Wars, skateboards. Looks like my office.
Twelve Bar’s slogan is “It’s All Love”. On social networks, it’s #IAL.
Nick and I vibed over gambling stories, Pilipino food, music (he got me hip to Iman Omari), the Fairfax culture (what’s hot, what’s not, the significance of geography), Cee Lo, and the youth. Nick is very passionate about youth involvement, especially when it relates to the advancement of the Twelve Bar brand. It’s important to cosign the kids that are making noise. Lace them up, let them know that you believe in what they do, because they shape the future.
He had to head over to Beverly Hills for an engagement and I had to head over to Culver City to see a photo show. But that’s not the end of this relationship; I got an email the next morning from Nick about another meeting. Steel sharpens steel.
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MOPLA SHOW April 30 2012
Last Thursday, Smashbox Studios and MOPLA (Month of Photography Los Angeles) came together to host the opening reception of a group photography show. Simply put, photographers submit their work for consideration, MOPLA then chooses the best of the best, and then exhibits the chosen pieces for everyone to see. I hadn’t been to a show like this in a long time - where different perspectives and methods in photography are highlighted. There wasn’t a theme to it, just carefully selected, well done photos. It was refreshing.
I was surprised to see Thurz’ mug on the wall (photo by Ed Canas).
Here was my favorite. Photo by Diana King, makeup by Shelly Samia (Rick & Ray). This photo is part of a project that went up on We Are Handsome. No bias here; I honestly believe that everything about this shot is perfect.
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LIFESWELL SNAPS April 27 2012
Peace to Twelve Bar, Red Stripe, Everybody’s Rival, the regulars, T&A Showroom, Oishi Media, Jalapeno Brothers, and our DJs - MTRLSTC, EROK, and Gravity One. Always a good time.
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SLANTED DOOR April 26 2012
I’ve been eating very well lately…
We all had dinner at Slanted Door last weekend in San Francisco. It’s the swank Vietnamese joint in the Ferry Building that offers an amazing view of the Bay Bridge. Remember I said that once in while you have to enjoy the fruits of your labor and splurge a bit on good food? That’s what happened here. We damn near ordered every appetizer and every entree. #YOLO
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