I deliberately waited till the end of the workday to post a link to the awesomest collection of  “horror, sci-fi, exploitation, trash, B-movie posters” you’re likely to find in one place. (The Hammer Film Productions page alone is worth a look-see.) Why did I wait? So you won’t blame me when your productivity drops to nil. Say goodbye to the rest of your afternoon…

posted by: Aaron Bragg  |  category: the design life  |  make a comment

“As a young man, I harbored the populist idea of writing for the public. I learned that the public didn’t care. So I decided to write for myself. Since then, people have gotten interested.”

Elliott Carter

posted by: Aaron Bragg  |  category: random thoughts  |  make a comment

If you ever want to join me for a little fun on wheels after work, grab some skates (quads only) and come on down to The Pit behind Krunch Skate Shop. You may even get to hip-check me – if you’re lucky.

posted by: Shirlee Roberts-Downey  |  category: random thoughts  |  make a comment

It is my very last week here as an intern, and it has been the most refreshing 173 hours spent. It all started when my professor shared to me that helveticka was thinking about opening a spot for an intern.

I was very lucky to have this opportunity. Lucky in a way that it presented itself to me, but not in a way that it was handed to me. You know when you worked hard, is when you feel like you aren’t going to achieve that goal. That is how it always happens to me. I work extremely hard for something, feel like I am failing…and then “BAM” I achieve that goal. That was the feeling I got when I was trying to get this internship. When I made that facebook campaign, I told myself, “You are insane, you are not going to get this internship” right before making it live. Well, here I am today, writing my goodbye post on helveticka’s very own blog.

The main thing I have learned on this journey is solidifying that I am in the best industry and that I am unbelievably excited to become a part of it in the near future. Working at helveticka has been only a blessing which makes it even harder to leave.

“It is those who are successful, in other words, who are most likely to be given the kinds of special opportunities that lead to further success.”
― Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers: The Story of Success

…you haven’t seen the last of me, helveticka. Just you wait.

posted by: melanie hoff  |  category: the design life  |  make a comment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTpb37WY0eA

Really, I’m not sure exactly where to begin. Is it condescending and obnoxious? Or is it just embarrassing? Or is it even more insidious: the natural progression of an American pop culture that elevates attitude and posturing over art? Or am I taking this way too seriously?

Apart from some commentary online about the possibility of the video being racist—don’t want to go there—there seems to be very little push-back. Which means that I’m probably just a cranky old man.

The true test, I suppose, is whether it succeeds in driving customers to Kmart. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.

posted by: Aaron Bragg  |  category: random thoughts  |  make a comment

Since my desk is placed between Shirlee and Aaron, I have had a good time just experiencing the two of them. And since they have done this silly thing by trusting me to post on the blog, I decided to give you an inside scoop on these two hardworking individuals.

Aaron listens to either some kind of “hippie indie” tunes, or “I am going to stab you with a knife” music. Seriously though, I am at a hookah lounge or a crazy rock concert; it’s always a surprise. His area is extremely neat and he is usually here first, typing away on his computer. One thing I find hilarious is he will randomly laugh to himself a couple times a day. Is he reading an email? Copy a client gave him? Searching weird images? I have no idea; and I think I will just leave it at that. That’s what you get for constantly wanting to haze me as the intern, Aaron!

Shirlee listens to music I would listen to in high school, which is usually punk bands with funny and somewhat edgy lyrics. I enjoy the time travel! Shirlee and Aaron are almost complete opposites, which is really entertaining. Aaron will laugh to himself, while Shirlee will laugh loudly and share what she just came across to everyone. Her desk is full of pictures and random objects, including an old Mac desktop containing a large spider; honestly, just think of anything you probably wouldn’t put on your desk and she most likely has it.

They are usually talking about what files need to be sent to who, making fun of each other, venting, or making jokes about wrapping me in plastic wrap and shipping me away. Fun times.

posted by: melanie hoff  |  category: random thoughts  |  make a comment

No other city in America can take credit for helping our favorite font become a household name. It was in the 1960s that Madison Avenue first put Helvetica on the map—and not only by using it for major brand identities (Crate&Barrel, Knoll, AmericanAirlines, et al.), but also quite literally, when the New York City subway system adopted the Swiss-born typeface. Today, the Big Apple continues to use Helvetica in ways that underscore its ability to communicate clearly as well as its incredible versatility. It’s “the perfume of the city,” according to graphic designer and publisher Lars Müller. “It is just something we don’t notice usually but we would miss very much if it wouldn’t be there.”

posted by: CK Anderson  |  category: staff  |  make a comment