just received this really amazing print from the Davier Interactive studio titled Schmooze n’ Booze, a bi-monthly gathering in collaboration with the Fresno Advertising Federation for like-minded creatives to connect, shoot the shit, mingle and network to their hearts content.

What I really love about this print is its nostalgic appeal. Like something straight out of a classic 1960s children’s root beer ad. I seriously have a soft spot in my heart for this illustrative style. I especially love the choice of colors, and to top it off, the subtle Davier Interactive icon on the bottle. Very nice touch fellas.

Additionally, I spoke with my buddy Sebastian, (one of the designers and developers from Davier), about the possibility of them creating a t-shirt out of this design. I sincerely hope they do. This would make a killer shirt. I’d definitely sport it.

Be sure to check out more work from the Davier Interactive studio via Behance. They’ve got a great portfolio worth perusing.

A project exploring the possibility of one artist occupying another's space

Illustration for a poem in Umbigo Magazine

Alphabet Series: Letter E

Alphabet Series: Letter G

Daylight and the Sun series

Daylight and the Sun series

Daylight and the Sun series

Series: Less and Less

Series: Time

Series: Time

Series: There, for the last time

Series: There, for the last time

Series: Those are white words II

Series: Those are white words II

Series: Those are white words II

een loving the work of Cristiana Couceiro, a freelance designer living in Lisbon, Portugal. Her neutral backgrounds combined with vintage photography, typography, diagrams, and interesting geometric shapes feels familiar — maybe because I’ve seen her work in the New York Times and didn’t realize it until now, or maybe because it has a Mark Weaver-esque feel to it. Either way, she’s crafted a really warm and visually appealing style. She has worked with many marquee clients, including Audi, Condé Nast, New York Magazine, New York Times, and Wired Magazine, although my favorite work is her personal series — especially Daylight and the Sun — they’d be gorgeous book covers.

‘m sure like most people, I came to know of Dan McPharlin’s work through his meticulously crafted paper models of classic patch synths and reel-to-reel tape recorders. But what I never seem to hear anyone really talking about is his illustrative work. After being exposed to Dan’s illustrations via his flickr feed, I find myself drifting off on any number of nostalgic experiences of me as a kid, and my collection of classic Del Rey & Bantam book cover designs for Ray Bradbury & Jack McKinney publications. Seeing Dan’s work evokes such a timeless and familiar experience for me that I can’t help but wonder what his childhood was like as a kid, and what his inspirations were / are.

One of my personal favorites is his work for Pretty Lights – Making Up A Changing Mind (see top image). Thanks for your beautiful work, Dan. You’re definitely an inspiration.

tari is an international brand synonymous with the video game and electronics industry since its inception in 1972. No longer involved with making hardware, Atari now specializes mostly in one thing: distributing entertainment software. If you were lucky enough to be a kid in the 70s and 80s when the company was at its heyday, you probably have a lot of fond memories of Pong and the ubiquitous 2600 gaming console (wood veneer what!). And you might even remember that Atari wasn’t just a video game company; they also designed and manufactured home computers — super awesome ones. Their success in tapping the home computer market was short-lived, but their efforts shouldn’t go by unappreciated. This isn’t really a history lesson though; it’s more of a show & tell of an amazing find: During a late-night geek session, I happened to dig up these insanely rad concept sketches designed by former Atari industrial designer Regan Cheng (via the Atari Museum).

By 1981, Atari’s home computer division began looking into replacements for the aging 400/800 line of computers. Several types of systems were conceptualized and in the end it came down to two routes. One was called the A-300 project which involved a new series of Atari computers which would work as modules and plug together to form a complete computer system. The second was an evolution of the A-300 project that shed all of the expansion and modular design for a low profile, high tech computer system which became the Atari 1200XL Computer System.

I really love Cheng’s illustrative style. If these were sold as prints, I’d totally buy the whole lot. The modular concepts at the bottom get me more excited than I care to disclose.

Concept with slant-in top panel

Cooling Fins Concept

Very close to final design, with disk drive on top.

Very close to final design, with cooling fins on the rear

All white top concept, again with rear cooling fins

Various designs of the XL style of beveling

Side view of 1200 concept

A-300 Concept sketches

A-300 Concept One

A-300 Concept Two

Modular add-on System

Another variation, note the pre-1020 Plotter on the top right of console

Modular plug-in system

Bus Bar module connector

1981 Atari version of a "Mac"?

Two piece system

Bus Bar modular System

Atari 900 Concept

att Lyon is a UK-based graphic artist who designs under the moniker, c86. His inspirations range from “folk art, fine art and illustration. Current work explores line, colour, pattern and shape… often using reoccurring motifs…” Strangely enough, I discovered Matt’s designs while working on a client project sometime last year. I needed to flesh out a wireframe for an online shop, and temporarily fill it with sample products. Some of the sample products included t-shirts, and so I made my way over to Threadless.com for a bit of borrowing. The very first tee that caught my eye was called Castle Mama designed by someone whom I had neglected to reference. Nevertheless, Castle Mama was the faux featured product in my design, and I’m embarrassed to say that it was only several months later that I made the connection that the designer was c86 via haphazard perusal of his Flickr feed.

Matt’s work is fun and colorful. His art makes me happy, and debunks what Dr. Seuss said about adults being obsolete children, and the hell with them. Mr. Lyon is a cool adult with a youthful imagination, and it’s visually evident. His dedication to his craft results in prolific creations. Visit his Flickr feed to get an idea of what I mean; his sketches are absolutely wonderful. I had a few words with him in a brief interview which you’ll find after the jump. (A c86 factoid: he has excellent taste in electronica.) Many thanks to Matt for his time and for sharing his lovely work.

What does the name C86 represent?

Good question… I get asked this from time to time. When I started subbing to Threadless I went under a different name, but there came a time when I wanted to experiment with a new style so late one night chose the C86 moniker. It vaguely refers back to the NME album of the same name, released back in 1986, a year that marked a turning point in terms of my creative outlook of music, films, books, etc. The first C86 designs for Threadless were warmly received, and in retrospect formed the foundation of the work that I’m doing now.

What projects are you working on now that are most meaningful to you?

I’m quite busy at the moment, which is great for anyone working freelance. I’ve just completed a design to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of The Sims for EA that will be available to buy via Society6 at the beginning of February. I was chosen alongside 9 other artists and our work will be promoted by EA for sale as posters as well as laptop and iPhone skins. This week I finished a new t-shirt design for Nike that I’m really excited about, and I’m about to collaborate with Blik to design some new vinyl decals. I’m also involved with a couple of ongoing projects with Black Rock Collective, as well as some collaborations and personal work.

What is in your drawing arsenal?

I admit to having a slight fetish when it comes to art materials and stationary, especially pens and sketchbooks. Visits to both Japan and China over the past few years have only served to fuel this passion. In particular, some of the stationary shops I visited in Tokyo left me wanting to buy everything on display! For a long while, all of my work is first conceived in sketchbooks. I don’t have a favourite brand, though while in Japan I bought loads of spiral-bound sketchbooks in Tokyu Hands that I really like. I’ve also got a stock of concertina sketchbooks from China, fantastic for continuous or themed drawings. I finished one of these the other week themed around creating a bestiary entitled the ‘Book of Beasts’. As for pens, I’d be lost without my Pentel brush pens, Pilot V pens and Copic Multiliners.

Besides your work, what other things are you passionate about?

There are loads of other things I like to keep in touch with, many of which keep me inspired or else feed into my work. Films and music are probably most important to me, as well as reading when I can grab some quality time to get stuck in to a good novel. Creatively, I’m excited about following the work development of my friends and peers. The internet has been invaluable in terms of discovering the work of others and a context of where I fit in with those excited by the same interests. Aside from that, I have a keen interest in Japanese videogames, mostly retro / pre-PS2, and currently own 7 consoles (not including handhelds!). This Christmas I treated myself to a Neo Geo CD console and so am currently enjoying plenty of old-school coin-op classics.

You’ve mentioned that among many things, Electronica fuels your work. Which albums have been on rotation for you lately?

I’m so excited by electronic music! It allows for the invention of new possibilities of sound and composition that I find lacking in the majority of guitar-based bands. The likes of Warp Records, Rephlex and Planet Mu continue to release quality music from some of my favourite recording artists. Over the past year or so I’ve been listening to a lot of dubstep and drum ‘n’ bass, and more recently have discovered left-field hip hop and deconstructive beats from the likes of Flying Lotus and Hudson Mohawke. Even so, classic albums such as Squarepusher’s ‘Ultravistor’, Aphex Twin’s ‘Drukqs’ and a whole number of Autechre and Venetian Snares releases always crop up on my weekly playlist.

More on c86

• Website
• Flickr
• Twitter
• Blog
• Society6
• Facebook

ATTTENTION: In regards to anyone using this image online, to celebrate the 2009 New Year:

ecently, we’ve been bombarded with a plethora of requests, asking us for permission to use our 2009 print design for web, print, and packaging usage. As flattering as this is, unfortunately we cannot accommodate all of these requests. Reason being is that we are launching our own, proprietary online shop, and the 2009 print will be sold exclusively (and in limited numbers) through our shop.

So, if you’re going to use this image, it must only be used online with the following etiquette:  Linking back to our site would be nice, but isn’t  necessary. Giving credit to us, however, is necessary. Also, the image may only be used non-commercially. You may not associate this image with any type of hate, discriminatory, defamatory, lewd or sexually explicit content, or anything that may potentially degrade Colorcubic’s brand image. Please respect our work, our efforts, and our wishes, as this is what we do for a living.

Also, please contact us of where and how you plan to use this image online.

You can reach us at: studio@colorcubic.com

Thank you very much, and we hope all of you have a great New Year!

- Colorcubic™

Disclaimer: Colorcubic™ / Colorcubic LLC is not responsible, and cannot be held accountable for any and all unauthorized usage of our work, (digital / tangible media) in an inappropriate, hateful, discriminatory, defamatory, lewd, sexually explicit, and / or illegal fashion, that may lead to fines, jail time, or legal prosecution. In other words, don’t be stupid.

I apologize in advance if the title of this post comes off sounding arrogant in anyway. On the contrary, we’re just really excited about the coming of the new year. Although we’re a bit early, we’re always thinking about how we can improve Colorcubic. We’ve really been on each others cases about nailing down our design and development skills, and never getting comfortable with where we are as far as design goes in general. I guess what I’m trying to say is that we’re never really satisfied with the work we produce. Instead, we’re always trying to raise the bar in some way or another.

entro De Ensayos No Destructivos from the 1985 /86 Graphis Annual. The design was produced by Rubên Fontana, and was the cover of a brochure for a non-destructive test center. As a designer, and huge advocate of minimal design, I always try to find that balance between abstract details and surrealism, all while incorporating the Swiss & Bauhaus philosophy of minimalism. I find that approach especially useful when it comes to all forms of visual communication, specifically print, branding, web, and motion graphics. In my humble opinion, a “less is more” approach seems to do the trick, and ultimately eliminates any pretension. I suppose that’s what I love most about this piece. No pretension. Just a timeless aesthetic that is straight to the point.