How was your week? I spent most of mine sitting at my desk working on freelance (luckily, my office is pretty cool; see above!) and when I wasn’t doing that, my brother and I were painting our dining room floor white and buying a super mod couch. I’m one of those people that always has a camera in my purse, no matter what. See the rest of the evidence of my week below….

These quick snapshots do this amazing necklace no justice but I just had to show it off. It’s part of Amelia Arsenic’s upcoming jewelry collection and I picked it up at her show in Portland a few weeks back. If I ever have to attend a red carpet event, this will be my ‘fancy’ jewelry to pair with a gown!

At Nemo last Friday, there was a cat figurine…did I mention that the cat was on a cell phone and standing next to a mysterious substance? The poor cat got knocked over and its leg snapped off. We searched high and low to find it to no avail. Cell phone cat will never be the same; I think we all collectively shed a tear. The accompanying conversation is here.

I finished off the night by hanging out with my dad at Edgefield but stayed out way too late. By the time Halloween rolled around on Saturday, I was exhausted. Though I dressed up as a nurse, I ended up staying in and inviting over one of my best friends. Without the Nemo Halloween party this year, things just weren’t the same.

When I was downtown the other day, I passed by Union Station which was built in the 1890s. Definitely a Portland landmark.

Whenever I am spending time at an ad agency, this is a pretty typical conversation.

Earlier in the week, I spent the day with the Big Giant crew and it was finished off with chocolate cake and Def Leppard. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Can you believe this?! Sooooo awesome. Too bad I don’t need a dresser and already have a set of night stands. Still, I am considering…this furniture would be the perfect finishing touch to my black bedroom!

Apologies in advance if posting here slows down over the next week. I am off to Florida tomorrow to visit Disney World for the first time in 15 years! The weather in Portland just turned totally rainy and gloomy so I’m more than ready to make my escape…

I was recently cleaning off my computer and came across a folder of collages I made back in 2007 as an experiment for Black & White Graphic Insight. Working with your hands opens up your mind to think about design in a completely different way. After sitting in front of the computer for the majority of this year, I am itching to get back into collaging to break up my routine in 2010.

• Smashing Magazine shares 50 beautiful and creative blog designs.

• Everyone’s new favorite blog obsession: The Photodiarist captures amazingly soulful New York City moments photographed in mostly black and white.

• Luxury might be dying off in the U.S. market, but it will survive by migrating to India and China.

• I stay caught up on all the East Village happenings (my favorite neighborhood to stay when I’m in Manhattan) through the blog EV Grieve. It covers everything from shootings to new condos to store vacancies.

• Freelance Switch teaches you how to leverage your blog to promote your services.

• Only Luxirare can make food preparation look downright sexy.

• How I Survived China: One man’s tale of the pollution he encountered is a huge wake-up call.

• Gala Darling looks adorable with blonde locks. In her latest outfit photos, she reminds us that we can layer up our Summer basics to make them work through the Fall and Winter months.

• Anthropologie has launched a new site called The Anthropologist and I love the spare, minimal design. How refreshing!

What are your favorite links of the week?

This vintage issue of Avant Garde magazine features a collection of Picasso’s engravings but I find the use of type throughout much more compelling. You can view all of The Typofiles on Flickr here.

Do you have a reliable arsenal of wardrobe basics that you depend upon, day after day? I know that I do. I started thinking of the tried and true pieces that are necessities in my wardrobe and compiled a list. Some have been in my possession for as little as two weeks and some as long as nine years but they are all equally important. The watch, the jacket, the bag, the shoes and belts that all play a part in my overall look are listed below. It’s never too late to build your own collection of style essentials!

Studded Belts. A few weeks ago, I bought two super skinny belts with mini rows of studs at Forever 21 and have been wearing them nonstop ever since. Besides the one shown, I have a solid black studded version as well. To me, they add a dash of hard-edged glamour to any outfit and work equally well with dresses and pants.

A Great Wallet.

For four years, I carried around a cheap vinyl wallet that I had bought at a mall somewhere in California. Finally in February, I was sitting in Hawaii on vacation and realized that every time I opened that old wallet, it reminded me of my past. It was time to never look back. So, I walked into the YSL boutique and bought this black beauty on the spot. Think of how many times you open your wallet in a day; isn’t it worth it to have one that you love? As a side note, that really is Yves Saint Laurent’s handwriting on the front! How cool is that?!

Non-Black Shoes. Of course we need black shoes in our lives, but a more neutral option should be close by as well. I dislike brown so I usually settle for grays for neutals. These Dries Van Noten wedges from Fall 2007 are my absolute favorites. Besides being nearly indestructible, they’re pretty comfortable as well (thanks in part to a hidden platform).

An Oversized Bag. Admit it; sometimes you really do need to lug around everything but the kitchen sink. There are some days when I need to pack a lunch, a book, camera, sweater and god knows what else. This bag saves me from having to carry around a tote. All-in-one and worth every penny! I bought this back in April and have used it nearly every day since.

Everyday Black Shoes With a Twist. We all need black shoes but that doesn’t mean that they need to be boring! My Camilla Skovgaard ankle boots work well with skinny black pants and leggings, add some major height and the treads are perfect for rainy Portland winters. The extreme wedges do take some getting used to but by my third day of wearing them, it was like second nature. Invest in good shoes! Always!

A Reliable, Basic Watch. I absolutely swear by the Nixon Chalet. It’s solid, simple, tough and sleek all at once. And, it goes with everything.

A Shockingly Bright Burst of Color. We should all make room for the occasional ridiculously over the top accessory to liven things up. I love wearing these Dries Van Noten heels with an all black ensemble for an unexpected burst of color.

Basic Black Jacket. This Halogen zipper jacket is like my security blanket. My mom bought it for me during my first semester of college back in 2000 and it’s made it through major moves, travels and career changes without getting lost. The sleeves and bottom half (not shown) zip off. I’ve owned dozens of other coats since but nothing has quite captured my heart in the same way.

Readers: What are your style essentials?

Another crazy busy week bites the dust! I’ve been keeping the Nemo crew company, visiting friends old and new and trying to figure out what to do for Halloween here in Portland. Any ideas?

Fat & Tasty. Auntie Nubs and her friend whisked me away for breakfast on Monday morning at a quaint café called…Fat Albert’s. I said yes to whipped cream on the top of my hot chocolate. Yum!

Stacked. I had the realization that the three notebooks I carry daily (Helvetica Moleskine, Moleskine limited edition daily planner and Miquelrius notebook) are a happy and well-matched little family.

Heart. A cute coffee shop just opened up in Portland called Heart. The Nemo boys took me over to check it out yesterday and it was like entering the very sophisticated lab of a mad scientist. Black walls, minimal decor and tons of mysterious equipment for coffee making filled the space. Perfection.

Mystery Rock. Last night I went to a bar with my friend Hugh and there was a rock in my way….that wouldn’t budge. It was attached to the counter. No elbow resting allowed, obviously. Haha.

Nuumbers. The day before I left for New York back in August, my brother surprised me with a stack of vintage gas station signs. This number seven resides in my matte black bedroom. Pretty sweet.

Readers: What are your Halloween plans? What are you going as? I’ll probably be a nurse (for the millionth time) since I already have everything I need!

• Offline Inspiration: How to find it and get the most out of it.

• A quirky and intriguing mix of 25 retro styled website designs.

• Jane of Sea of Shoes shares snapshots from some of her favorite places in Austin, Texas.

• Do you ever feel like an extra in your own life?

• Do you want to write badly? Find out how to do it really well.

10 pre-press tips for perfect print publishing.

• You think your life is bad? You have nothing on Hulk Hogan! Find out why he almost killed himself.

Cami Walker founded 29 Gifts to encourage the spirit of giving. In her words, “I was awake all night feeling angry and sorry for myself during a difficult flare up of my Multiple Sclerosis. When insomnia hits, I often go through old journals and read them. I found a note that I’d made during a phone session with one of my spiritual teachers, Mbali Creazzo, two months before. The note said, “Give something away each day for 29 days.” It was 3 a.m. and I decided in that moment to take the suggestion.” And, it changed her life forever.

• Branding 101: How to promote your blog like the big guys do.

• Attention, freelancers! Do you need a business plan?

• The power of being personal on your blog.

• Find out what internet speeds and costs average around the world.

What are your favorite links of the week?

I’ve been re-reading one of my favorite books of all time, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and in the second chapter on desire, there is a method called Six Ways to Turn Desires into Gold. As I was reading, I realized that replacing the word money with success made a compelling plan to achieve the goals you set forth. See for yourself:

Fix in your mind the exact amount of success you desire. It is not sufficient merely to say “I want plenty of success.” Be definite as to the amount.

Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the success you desire. (There is no such reality as “something for nothing.”)

Establish a definite date when you intend to possess the success you desire.

Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire, and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action.

Write out a clear, concise statement of the amount of success you intend to acquire, name the time limit for its acquisition, state what you intend to give in return for the success, and describe clearly the plan through which you intend to accumulate it.

Read your written statement aloud, twice daily, once before retiring at night, and once after arising in the morning. As you read – see and feel and believe yourself already in the possession of the success.

These steps are so basic and really are the basis for achieving any goal. Yet, we so often make excuses and claim that we are too busy. Today is the day to define the path that you’d like to take and outline a concrete plan to make it happen.

I found this 15 on some Comme des Garcons promotional materials in New York and decided that the big, bold use of Helvetica was too beautiful to throw away. You can view all of The Typofiles on Flickr here.

I am currently in the beginning stages of formulating the look of my 2010 Identity. I’ve decided to drop Helvetica and switch to DIN for a sans serif typeface. And for a serif, I’m considering Bodoni Ultra. The black and white palette will most likely shift to a series of grays. Some older elements like the Kors Firebird wedges that have been featured in my blog header and business cards will return on some pieces, as will the portrait from my 2009 media kit.

The look I settle on will carry across my blog, media kit, portfolio, presentation decks and promotional materials. More to come as the look progresses!

I just remembered this collage that I made in 2007; sometimes I can’t believe how much different my life was back then. Looking at that stub, I still remember my first trip to LA quite clearly. My brother and I had booked the tickets less than 24 hours in advance and during our first and only night there, we hung out with both Star and Jeffree Star, had a run-in with Suge Knight at Pinkberry, went to a Courtney Love concert where Paris Hilton danced across from us…and just like that, we were back on the plane and returned to Portland the next day.

Magical moments like these stick with you forever. And, after re-reading The Alchemist, I can again feel my life shifting. Each day brings something new and unexpected. I’m learning to take the ups with the downs and fighting hard for what I want. To-do lists have fallen by the wayside over the last few weeks, but those are slowly making a comeback as well. Once you know what your purpose is in life, everything else slowly but surely falls into place.

Portland. I used to never go out much, instead choosing to stay inside and work on projects. The running joke was that I’d rather be home designing a business card than out at a party. At 28, I am realizing that there’s a lot of unexplored territory in my hometown and the last few weeks of accepting invites, going to meetings and visiting friends has been really refreshing.

The Big 4-0. My friend Brent just turned 40 so Katie and I took him out to breakfast in North Portland earlier in the week. Brent and I met at a shoe store in the mall back in 2003 and the rest is history. We’ve gone to art shows, watched Miami Vice re-runs and taken off on day trips to the beach; he’s always up for a spontaneous adventure. Happy birthday, Brent!

Window Displays. Seriously, how eye catching and cool is this?!

MAC Loves Type. Another reason I love MAC makeup? Their promotional materials are always super spot-on; I love this use of Memoriam Pro.

Matte Black. I kept noticing the matte nail polish trend everywhere I looked and finally gave in. It is pretty amazing, to be honest. I found a brand called L.A. Girl and it works surprisingly well.

Grandma. I love my grandparents! We went to a traditional English pub called the Horse Brass in S.E. Portland a few nights back. Even at 80, they can drink me under the table, love to gamble, don’t use walkers and are full of life. How refreshing!

Rainy Mornings. I spent the night in the suburbs, sleeping on the floor of my dad’s living room which brought back all the memories from the six week tour I went on in 2004 (we mostly slept on floors). As I was driving home this morning, I was reminded of how life is constantly shifting and changing, but we still have the memories from our past close by.

Readers: How was your week?

• Should you quit your job? Lee Stranahan writes:

Back in March, I blogged here about quitting my job. I was betting that I’d do better without a job in the current cutthroat corporate climate. For the past seven months, I’ve probably been the only HuffPost blogger living in a hotel with their family. That’s four people and two cats living in a very small space for over half the year. I’ve occasionally referred to it as being ‘homeless’ but of course that’s not accurate. Real homelessness doesn’t include maid service once a week and free HBO. It was cramped and crowded but I always considered us very lucky. This week, though, it all paid off…

• How to brand and name your blog.

• A three year old’s view of the New York City subway is super cute.

• Vintage 70s Russian posters are pretty awesome.

• Find out how increased productivity can actually hurt you.

• This is a golden lesson we all need to learn: How to respond effectively to design criticism.

• The history of web browsers.

• Problogger shares five ways to know if your blog is on the right track.

• Penguin consistently comes out with the best book covers.

• At the ripe old age of 70, Charles Bukowski started using a computer and never went back to a typewriter.

• Frigidaire has done away with their classic logo in favor of something much, much more modern. What’s your opinion of the outcome?

What are your favorite links of the week?

Many years ago, I received The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho as a gift. Admittedly, I was aprehensive about reading it since I am not a fan of fiction. Usually, I much prefer titles that revolve around the topics of business and self help that I can directly apply to improving myself and my career.

Yet, I picked up The Alchemist and began reading. And, I realized that there was magic locked inside the pages, just waiting to get out. If you’re struggling with your life’s purpose and holding onto a safety net instead of following the signs that have been set out before you, this book can help you break free.

In the introduction of The Alchemist, Coelho states that “We who fight for our dream suffer far more when it doesn’t work out, because we cannot fall back on the old excuse: “Oh well, I really didn’t want it anyway.” We do want it and know that we have staked everything on it and that the path of personal calling is no easier than any other path, except that our whole heart is in this journey. Then, we warriors of light must be prepared to have patience in difficult times and to know that that the Universe is conspiring in our favor, even though we may not understand how.” Coelho continues on and asks aloud:

You may be wondering, as Coelho does why it is so important to live out our personal calling if we are going to suffer more than other people. He explains that “Because, once we have overcome the defeats – and we always do – we are filled with a greater sense of euphoria and confidence. In the silence of our hearts, we are proving ourselves worthy of the miracle of life. Each day, each hour is part of the good fight. We start to live with enthusiasm and pleasure. Intense, unexpected suffering passes more quickly than suffering that is apparently bearable.”

Santiago, a young shepherd boy has everything he needs; a loyal herd of sheep along with enough food and water. And, he has a fairly consistent existence. But, he feels like there is more out there to discover; there is more to explore in the world. He keeps having a recurring dream of finding treasure near the pyramids but right before finding the exact location, he always wakes up.

So begins a journey full of chance encounters, omens, and meetings with a king, gypsy, monk, an alchemist and more as he tries to uncover a deeper purpose and meaning in his life; his Personal Legend. These signs from the universe come often and he always listens. And, by listening, he sometimes loses everything he owns but quickly gains back more than he started with. He gets robbed, works in a crystal shop, crosses the desert, discovers the love of his life in an oasis and nearly loses his life multiple times but his life is so much richer than the predictable existence he had before.

As he crosses the desert, the boy strikes up a conversation with one of the camel drivers. He relays that “People need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want. We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it’s our life or our possessions and property. But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand.”

Sometimes in our lives, we get signs; things happen that we cannot explain. We can choose to listen or to ignore them. In the last few weeks, I have received many signs and instead of brushing them off as I normally would, I am keeping myself open. Events have happened that I cannot fully explain and by accepting them, I am searching for clarity and a deeper meaning.

In life, we are faced with many obstacles and road blocks but one thing I’ve learned is to never shut yourself off. Keep an open mind and an open heart. Have hope even when everything seems hopeless. The power of positive thought can do amazing things.

Allow yourself to find your purpose. Along the way, the journey you will encounter will remind you of why you’re alive in the first place. As the Alchemist says, “If a person is living out his Personal Legend, he knows everything he needs to know. There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”

We all have a Personal Legend that is waiting to be discovered. Paulo Coelho, the author of The Alchemist didn’t write his first book until the age of 38. Hold on, have faith and see where life takes you.

Readers: Have you received signs in the past and followed them? What was the outcome?

I’ll never tire of the beautiful typography that graced the pages of Blueprint magazine. You can view all of The Typofiles on Flickr here.

These wedge ankle booties truly are my dream shoes come to life. And even better, they remind me of something a female version of Marilyn Manson would wear. Black, lug soled, wedged to the extreme and fairly comfortable considering the height, I doubt that I will be taking these off any time soon.

Readers: What are your current favorite shoes?

My friend Jay at Nemo HQ made these two awesome Nubby spreads and I thought I’d share. I love seeing how other designers interpret my work. Thanks to Jay’s mad design skills and hard partying ways, there is never a dull moment at the office.

Fall is in the air. When two shirts, a sweater, jacket, two pairs of socks, boots and a scarf just isn’t enough, you know it’s getting cold. In reality, it probably is close to average for this time of year, but considering that it reached 106 degrees in Portland this summer, the adjustment is hard!

Amelia Arsenic. On Tuesday night, I took my friend Tyler to the KMFDM show where Angelspit opened. I feel like Amelia Arsenic is a kindred spirit. We are the same height and shoe size, share a love of the red cross, heraldry, red, black and white, typography and design. I had such a good time backstage with her and Zoog talking about their tour and experiences so far in the U.S. And, she made me that amazing dripping lips necklace; close-ups coming soon!

Do You Know What Day It Is? I never know the date so when I spotted this tiny vintage desktop calendar for a dollar at an estate sale this weekend, I was sold.

Thrifting Insanity. My brother is a thrifting addict and on the way through Portland last weekend, he spotted a run down building with a sale sign in the front yard. When we walked in, this is what we found. He was in heaven, but with my OCD virgo tendencies, I was obviously in hell.

Coffee and Friends. Over the past few weeks, I’ve had nonstop meetings and nights out with friends. It’s been a welcome distraction from stressful times and I’m so happy to be reconnecting with people I haven’t seen in ages. I have such a diverse, amazing group of friends including Star’s BFF, Myrrh who met me for coffee yesterday.

Capes and Cardboard Alphabets. Late nights at Nemo call for donning a cape to throw paint and cut out cardboard letters. In reality, I was wearing the cape to keep my dirndl paint-free, but still. I believe that it does possess magical powers.

Keep America Beautiful. And, keep Portland weird.

Keeping it short and sweet this week!

• The value of taking time off: Every seven years, Stefan Sagmeister closes his design studio and takes a year-long sabbatical (via kottke).

• You vs. The Cubicle is one of the best pieces Steve Pavlina has ever written. If you’re spending your days in corporate hell and see no end in sight, read this inspirational piece.

• Airlines are nickel and diming themselves to death: The airlines that added the most fees (for food and checking in bags) in the past few months saw their revenues decline the most.

• Darren Rowse of Problogger shares the #1 reason his blogging grew into a full time business. Listen up and learn from the best!

• Kate Lanphear always looks good, even when dressed down. One of the highlights during my New York stay was spotting her at Ruff Club.

• Smashing Magazine teaches us how to identify and deal with different type of clients.

• Negative space in logo design will help you think about design in a fresh way.

What are your favorite links of the week?

As creatives, this is something that we all ponder. It is scary putting your work on a platform that can be instantly viewed and accessed by the entire world. It takes a level of trust and confidence in yourself and your work as well because not everyone is going to like or to appreciate what you do. To contrast this, a few people will like your work so much that they will want to steal it.

But remember that you aren’t doing yourself any favors by staying hidden in the shadows. Consistent exposure will help people remember who you are and what you do the next time they’re in the market for a designer. My motto has always been “It doesn’t matter how good you are if nobody knows how to find you.” At some point, you have to let go of the reigns and show the world what you’re all about.

It all of this makes you highly uncomfortable, that’s okay. Aim for an agency, in-house or print shop job instead and stay away from the internet.

I have a unique stance on sharing work on the internet because as a freelancer, I am very much dependent on showing what I do with the hopes of gaining new clients. My client list, reputation and portfolio are all important factors that weigh heavily with me earning their trust. Potential clients need visual proof that I am proficient in the areas that I claim to be. The only way to get this point across is through openly sharing my work. And, the more new work I do, the more I have to share. The more I share, the stronger my portfolio and reputation become. The stronger my portfolio and reputation become, the more clients I gain. Staying positive and focused on creation really does pay off.

To me, there are very few negatives associated with sharing my work online. Sure, people may want to steal my work. But, I am constantly working on new projects (though many have yet to be be seen because they are client-sensitive or in production). The bottom line is this; only share what you personally feel comfortable with. If you are confident with what you do, having people pilfer your work from years ago seems downright laughable because you’re always moving forward. You’re onto bigger and better things, refusing to live off your past successes alone.

Sharing is almost always positive. We all learn new things from viewing others’ work. Embrace it and chances are, great things will transpire.

Readers: What is your view on sharing your work online? Have you had your work stolen?

Last month in New York, I came across these MAC Makeup posters that were pasted up around the city for Fashion Week. MAC has always been pretty hip and the use of this ampersand is no exception. You can view all of The Typofiles on Flickr here.

This is probably the strangest post that I have ever made but please bear with me. I have fallen in love with a llama. Yes, I said a llama. I have never been an ‘animal person.’ In my 28 years, I have never had a pet of any kind (not even a goldfish). But, an encounter I had two weeks ago has shifted my perceptions dramatically. I now want a pet…but not just any pet will do. I want a llama.

Back in March, I got word that a llama named Nigel was coming to town. He was supposed to be standing in front of the R.E.I. store in Portland’s Pearl District for a presentation about packing gear. I’d never seen a llama up close, so I was unsure of what to expect. The second I laid eyes on Nigel though, I was sold. Statuesque and all black, he seemed to be constantly smiling. In the middle of a bustling city on a downtown sidewalk, he was totally calm. His black fur was freshly brushed and very soft. I swear that he even winked at me. This llama was a total charmer.

Normally I am intimidated by animals that are larger than me, but I happened to be wearing my trusty Dries Van Noten wedges that night so we were at eye level. I was intrigued by this animal; there was something special about him.

I took a brochure for Wallowa Llamas which is where Nigel lives but over the next six months, life became hectic as I began taking on more freelance, bought a house and traveled often. The dream of meeting back up with Nigel got pushed to the back burner.

Then, a few weeks ago I was surprised with a late birthday present; a meeting with his royal blackness, Mr. Nigel himself. The drive from Portland was very long, clocking in at close to seven hours. Once we reached Halfway, Oregon (near the Idaho border) the scenery became quite idyllic. A bustling small town with farms and horses and greenery and quaint storefronts, Halfway has a storybook quality. Finding Wallowa Llamas proved slightly difficult; it was quite far from the highway, down a series of gravel side roads.

As we pulled up, one of the owners of Wallowa, Raz came out to greet us. Normally, they are accustomed to doing hiking trips that are multiple days in length and bringing the llamas along for the purpose of packing gear but made special arrangements for a shorter day trip instead. Raz took us over to a side plot of land where Nigel was hanging out. I spotted him from 50 feet away; even among other llamas, he stands out. As Raz was prepping the gear, he let us take Nigel into the orchard and spend some quality time together. Nigel ripped into one of the fruit trees and loaded up on leaves. Llamas chew funny, in a circle–8 motion just like camels.

Once the supplies were ready, Nigel was loaded into the back of a pickup truck with tall, enclosed sides and we drove a few miles to a secluded trail. As we hopped out of the truck, Nigel seemed confused; he is used to packing quite a bit of equipment but was free of the usual load that day. I spent most of the time pulling Nigel up along the path and we made a stunning pair, both in all black. He trotted right along, never stalling or tripping (unlike me)!

We took a few short breaks and Nigel chowed down on plants while we sat down, enjoyed the view and drank water. During one break, we heard some rustling and turned around to see Nigel rolling around, taking a dust bath! His fur became coated in dirt and full of debris but he seemed quite proud of himself.

On the way down, the trail was pretty steep and Nigel was going faster than me. He kept getting a little too close, breathing over my shoulder and making high pitched noises. I thought something was wrong, but I was told that it’s really just a sound he makes when he knows he’s getting ‘close to home’ (the truck). Pretty cute if you ask me!

Nigel was on absolutely perfect behavior the entire journey but when he was being loaded back into the truck, he did get a little grumpy, ducking his head down. It was pretty funny to watch!

When we returned back to Wallowa, we were taken on a brief tour to meet the girl llamas and then the boys (they are kept separate to keep inbreeding from taking place). The girls really do look like girls! My favorite female llama was Mary Priscilla (I’m pretty sure that was her name. A fancy name for a fancy llama)! Her fur looked dip-dyed. She subtly faded into a beautiful spectrum of colors. The girls seemed inquisitive and simply stared at us, quietly taking in the situation.

In contrast, the boy llamas were much more rowdy and aggressive. They enjoy chasing each other around and occasionally fighting. Obviously, Nigel is much too evolved and refined to participate in this type of behavior and chooses to spend much his time away from the pack.

After the tour, we said a sad goodbye to Nigel and vowed to return next year.

I know this sounds crazy, but I’d like to skip the whole dog and cat phase altogether and move on straight to a llama. They are very quiet, go to the bathroom in relatively neat piles and don’t eat an absurd amount of food. Michael Jackson used to talk about taking his Llama named Louie on walks near his parent’s mansion and how he would stop traffic; I want to do the same!

Find out more about llamas and guided trips at Wallowa Llamas.

Oh, I almost forgot. My favorite part of Nigel, besides that adorable face? These handsome little feet.

Readers: What was your first ever pet?
If you had an unlimited budget and space, what would your dream pet be?

I would tell you why I was laughing, but the story is highly inappropriate. HIGHLY. Thanks, Auntie Nubs!

My brother took me on an insane estate sale voyage for most of yesterday. I’ve never seen such treasures! Six hours later, the back of his car was full as we headed back home. One of the things I found was this little Oregon Centennial ribbon which makes me feel like some strange war veteran. It’s from 1959; my aunt saw it this morning and said that she was at the centennial back then at age four. Pretty awesome.

My weekend has been pretty low key so far. I’ve spent some much needed time with family and friends, did a bit of freelance and washed dishes. What about you?

Oregon Centennial ribbon, vintage
Ripped black jeans, Forever 21
Jacket, Forever 21
lace-up heels, Zinda
Walk The Line blouse, Modcloth
Watch, Nixon
Headband, Forever 21

This is the first Week in Pictures that I have gotten around to doing in October. Wait, did I just say October? Where has this year gone?!! Over the last two weeks, I have spent time at two agencies, done two rush jobs, accepted two new clients and though it feels great to be busy, sometimes blogging inevitably slows down in the process.

One of the first things I noticed when I returned from New York was that my brother had been on a major taxidermy binge. When I walked into our house, I was totally freaked out by the stillborn baby deer that had taken up residence on our fireplace mantle! Additionally, a white (goat? ram?) creature has also moved in. I’ve told him that enough is enough, but he’s on a roll…and there’s no stopping him! We have at least four deer and a bear head as well.

My brother loves frequenting estate sales and I decided to join him to see what the big deal was about. In the process, I found a box of tiny vintage keys for a few dollars. I am still not sure what I am going to do with these, but either way, I love the variety of shapes.

This is the future. I have been mixing distressed clothing items with extreme silhouettes of shoes (these Chloes from the side are very hoof-like); I am interested in how the fashion landscape is now compared to the way we thought the future would be. To me, it is all very post-apocalyptic and un-polished…and I love that.

I grabbed this Comme des Garcons postcard at one of their temporary outposts when I was in New York; I love the simplicity of the design. As you can guess, the store was very very black.

Two weeks ago, I went on a belated birthday trip to visit some llamas. Stop by on Monday for the full story! One of my favorites was this multicolored beauty; I think her name is Mary Patricia.

I have so much that I want to share with you but it’s time to get back to work! I’ve been hanging out with the Nemo boys this week and there’s much more to do. Readers: Do you have any big weekend plans?

• Find out what fashion designers of the 1930s predicted that people would be wearing in 2000. Interestingly enough, Fashion Magazine points out that the predictions were very much on target.

• Molly Crabapple, a world class illustrator and the founder of Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School just received a multi-page write-up in the New York Times! Even better, we’ve joined forces for a top-secret project that I have very high hopes for. This girl is unstoppable!

• Five ways to get your blog indexed by Google in 24 hours.

• Design Observer remembers American photography legend Irving Penn, who died on October 7th at age 92.

• Dani of Hope Springs Internal just posted a little interview I did last week.

• Mara Zepeda has perhaps the most beautiful calligraphy ever!

• Smashing Magazine shares beautiful examples of kinetic photography. Of the process, it says “When you hear the word kinetic for the first time, probably the first thing that comes to your mind is motion. Kinetic Photography, also known as camera tossing, is a technique of shooting photos with the actual physical movement of the camera. However, it does not necessarily involve tossing of the camera — you can also shake, bounce, swing or spin it.”

• Movie posters for minimalists.

• Over at Condé Nast, the layoffs have begun.

• Did you know that Barack Obama’s smile is amazingly consistent?

• Why do women lie about their dress size? This has always confused me; isn’t life too short to waste time dwelling on these things? Accept yourself as you are and move on (via already pretty)!

• Odd but amazing: a collection of vintage hotel door hangers (via draplin).

What are your favorite links of the week?

This is my favorite door in New York. I took these photos last month; a total typographical goldmine! You can view all of The Typofiles on Flickr here.

Note: Posting has slowed down a bit here over the last two weeks due to a busy freelancing schedule. I’ve been spending the week working on projects with my pals at Nemo HQ and hope to be back on track with regular posting very soon.

One of my favorite freelance projects over the last few months has been the development of a logo and blog for Zoetica Ebb. This girl is one of the multi-talented co-editors of Coilhouse Magazine and a consummate perfectionist. We finished back in mid-September but with the rush of other projects that flooded in, I am now just getting around to posting the outcome. Better late than never, right?

Provided with Zo’s keywords of minimal and elegant with hints of baroque and a dash of futuristic, I immediately dove into the logo development. Since Zo had an upcoming television appearance and wanted her rebranding to be complete before then, we did new rounds every few days until the logo was complete.

Born in Russia and a self-proclaimed painter, pencil pusher, model, photographer & cosmonomad, Zo wanted a logo that was strong enough to anchor the header on her blog. Every curve and swirl needed to flow, to have a reason for being included. The term baroque can have overdone, gaudy connotations, so we balanced the elegant script with minimal Helvetica-based type.

Once the logo was completed, we immediately dove into the web design. It took about a week to solidify the visual direction and another to develop the layouts of all of the individual pages. Zo smartly requested that the blog theme and color scheme be kept on the clean and minimal side so that it didn’t compete with her enormous of body work that includes photography, modeling, and art.

Once we’d settled on the layouts and accompanying elements, coding whiz Star took over and added in some fantastic functionalities (Note: Star and I previously teamed up for Gala Darling’s blog overhaul earlier in the year.) In Star’s words, “The things I’m most proud of on this site are invisible- the way the sidebars update with recent posts and generate thumbnails on the fly, and the galleries automatically integrate new content when it is added – without a need for further coding.”

Besides the web design component, Zo also wanted custom headers to accompany each of her main categories. Since many of us now get our daily blog fix through readers and it’s becoming increasingly rare to click into each blog that we read, Zo wanted her columns to be immediately distinguishable as people scrolled through.

The logo and the blog design are just the beginning of Zoetica Ebb’s media empire. In the future, we plan on teaming up to develop a media kit, invoices and oh so much more. In the meantime, check out Zo’s compelling and darkly humorous blog at Biorequiem.com.

And, if you have a project in mind, you can always reach me at nubby @ nubbytwiglet.com!

Over the weekend, I was digging through a box in my basement and found two pieces of art from 2007 that were never listed in my online store. Here’s your chance to own a one of a kind piece of artwork for a great price! The backsides of both are labeled, signed, and dated.

Broken & Bionic is 17 x 11 inches and features collage, ink and resin on wood. It is wired, ready to hang and was featured in the Black & White Graphic Insight series. It is available for purchase here.

Mouth With Psychedelic Pill is 17 x 11 inches and features collage, ink and resin on wood. It is wired, ready to hang and was created for a New York-based show in 2007. It is also available for purchase here.

If you have any questions or need more detailed images, please email me at nubby @ nubbytwiglet.com.

Last month, I headed over to the Lower East Side for the last ever Ruff Club which was mobbed by the coolest kids in town. At around 2 am, the sea of kids (mostly swathed in layers of black avant garde clothing) parted when a mysterious pink truck complete with hearts and unicorns on its side pulled up.

What was this vision of pink and why was it there? I walked up and peeked inside to see an assortment of toys, candy from around the world and a mind blowing selection of gourmet ice creams. Heaven on wheels.

Now her dream is a successful business venture with Heartschallenger visiting events and parties worldwide. And, New Yorkers with a sweet tooth, you’re now in luck because Heartschallenger trucks can be found daily in Soho and Nolita! To keep up on the current locations and events, follow Heartschallenger on Twitter.

I just rediscovered an old copy of Dansk magazine and I am really enjoying the type treatments that they used throughout the issue. The simple serif type is offset with unexpected wires weaving through the titles yet the composition is anchored with a simple black and white color scheme.

You can view all of The Typofiles on Flickr here.

Yesterday, I spent some time away from the city…and it was magical.

Jeans, Forever 21
Jacket, Forever 21
Boots, Sam Edelman
Watch, Nixon
Headband, Forever 21

On September 14th, I caught a cab to the West Village for a meeting that I had been excitedly anticipating for months. Jordan Crane, a Creative Director at the legendary agency Wolff Olins had agreed to let me interview him for my blog. As I made my way into their New York headquarters on Varrick Street, I was immediately drawn to the simplicity of their workspace. Modern and white-walled, the office projects a feeling of accessibility and utilitarianism.

Wolff Olins was founded in London in 1965 by designer Michael Wolff and advertising executive Wally Olins and is responsible for many of the most recognizable branding efforts around the world. One of the company’s first assignments was developing the brand that became Apple Corps, the Beatles’ record label. You may also recognize the work that they recently did for up&up, Target’s new private label brand. They also created the NYC branding campaign and the London 2012 Olympics logo.

In preparation for our meeting, I had written up a set questions for Jordan to answer (many of which were based on your suggestions). What I immediately liked about Jordan is that even at his level, he is extremely approachable and candid. We began our meeting by talking about how he got his start in the design industry and amazingly enough, his initial answer was, “It just happened.”

Jordan has always been into art and screen printing and often, friends would ask him to design posters for shows. He carved out his path as a designer along the way without a master plan in mind. Instead, he crisscrossed the country, working at a multitude of agencies in big cities and making connections along the way.

I was really curious about Jordan’s opinion about going to school for design since many of us have wondered if it is really necessary. Though he knows many successful self-taught designers, Jordan relayed the sound advice that if you can afford college, you should go for it. A chance to be educated and to better ourselves should never be turned down if the opportunity arises.

As designers, isn’t the ultimate goal to change the world in some way with our designs? Jordan feels that the most rewarding part of working at an agency as well-known as Wolff Olins is knowing what you design matters. When you think about it, seeing the NYC logo zoom past you on the side of a cab or walking into Target and picking a product off the shelf that you designed the packaging for must feel pretty surreal.

I asked Jordan what the biggest pitfall he sees new designers make and was surprised by his answer. He said that they’re too quick to turn on a computer to solve a problem and turning to technology isn’t always the immediate solution. There are so many other ways to do so and we need to learn to work with our hands, to take walks, to flip through books and magazines and to take a fresh approach to problem solving.

With the abundance of software and information that designers now encounter, I (along with many of you) often contemplate whether it’s valuable to be a jack of all trades versus specializing in a particular area. Jordan’s answer once again was very simple yet poignant: “There’s no point in going to work every day if you’re not happy.” When you think about it, if you loathe coding or branding or packaging design, why would you force yourself to go through the motions? Not only does this mindset make you unhappy but it affects everyone around you.

Working in an agency setting can be intense and stressful when you’re up against deadlines and the last thing you want to encounter is a grumpy, dissatisfied coworker. What you choose to learn should be completely dependent on you as a person. Passion shows. Don’t go through the process just to please those around you. Make yourself happy first and the positive mindset will trickle down.

Many of you wondered what qualities an agency looks for in new hires. Jordan looks for people with a sense of excitement, a passion for exploration and a great personality. There’s a balance between having the best portfolio and skill set versus being a likable person. In Jordan’s eyes, “Great designers that are great people” are ideal candidates.

Finally, I wanted to dig a little deeper into Jordan’s story. With the amount of talented designers in the world, it’s not easy to reach the level of a creative director at a top agency. I wanted to know what steps he took over the years to get to where he is. There was no simple answer but rather a unique combination of ingredients that brought him to his current position.

First and foremost, it was a process of making friends and networking within the agencies he worked at. Jordan worked all over the country and in 1999, he made a website for a deejay. A lady who saw it gave him a call and they became fast friends. She then ended up working alongside him at various agencies. Over the next few years, Jordan built a solid portfolio and began freelancing at Wolff Olins. After a few months, he was hired as a senior designer and began his ascent to the creative director position.

Having the chance to interview Jordan was amazing because there are so many questions that we have as designers; very rarely do we get to go straight to the top and get them answered.

When I was still in school, working at an agency felt so far out of reach. The established agencies in New York seemed like a lifetime away; I imagined them as being completely untouchable. Now that I’ve seen the inside of Wolff Olins and met some of their employees, everything feels much more accessible. When you think about it, nobody sets limits on what we can do but ourselves.

The biggest lesson I took away from our meeting is that is doesn’t matter where you start out as a designer. It’s up to you to carve your own path and to build a career that is satisfying. You are the only person that can make yourself happy. And, shouldn’t that be your goal at the end of the day?

Hideouts. I visited Battery Park with Bianca two weekends ago, stared off at the Statue of Liberty in the distance, ran into a turkey (!!!) and climbed into these little window areas which I now call ‘nubby cubbies.’

The Ruff Club. I’d began to wonder where all the sleekly dressed, beautiful people had disappeared to in Manhattan; seems it was the Ruff Club. I walked to the Lower East Side and went to the very last party ever (sadness!) but all good things must come to an end. I finally met my match with regards to paleness, miss Nikki Moose. If you haven’t been reading her blog, you really should. If you like black and spikes and fashion and the future, she is your girl! We spent most of the time outside since the club was beyond overflowing and chatted with a bunch of friends, both old and new. Then, we spotted Kate Lanphear. As far as stylists go, she is G O D. She makes U.S. Elle worth reading every month (and her taste in shoes and jewelry is impeccable).

28. I had a tiny little birthday gathering at Ella in the East Village with some friends including Bianca, Gilda, Timothy and Jeffrey. The place had striped walls, massive chandeliers and dashes of red. And, they dug out pieces of real watermelon to make drinks with. Love. Timothy and Jeffrey (above) entertained me with stories of a fat white cat named Oprah and the hoarding of Chanel bags.

I’d spent the first half of my birthday in a traffic jam, trying to get to the West Village to interview a creative director at one of my favorite agencies. The cab driver let me out a few blocks early and told me to walk. I thought it was odd, but kept on moving. I soon realized that I couldn’t even cross the street because everything was barricaded off. Still confused, I noticed that a crowd had been gathering quite rapidly. Just then, Obama’s motorcade moved through and he waved at us. A pretty awesome birthday surprise, huh?

Jetplanes. I love the feeling of flying.

Dunes. Sand? Cloth? Nope, plaster. Shape shifting. The only thing constant is change.

Visitors. My friend Antwan came to town. He was off the plane for less than twelve hours when my brother lured him over to do a photo shoot. He was a good sport about putting on Michael Jackson-themed garb. And the ‘Westside’ sign? That’s because we were playing Tupac in the background! He’s a magician from Florida and spent the night teaching us all sorts of card tricks and illusions.

Paul. A few days later, Antwan took me to meet his friend Paul, an 80 year old photographer. Paul likes to make collages of his black and white photos that span multiple decades. He handed us stacks of prints from locales around the world and we excitedly flipped through them.

Flames. Later that night, I went out to the Doug Fir with Antwan and his brother, who’s a comedian. If you’re going to the bar with a magician and a comedian, expect impromptu routines, drunken hipsters nearly catching on fire and smashed martini glasses.

Up, up and away. Why does the bridge always have to lift when you’re in a hurry to get somewhere?!

Another year. Bianca took this photo of me in Battery Park the day before I turned 28. Contrary to the grumpy nubs face, I was actually quite happy! We walked along the piers, passed up massive statues on Wall Street, strolled through Century 21 (I tried on a stack of Gardem and Rick Owens pieces but walked out empty-handed) and finally made it to Sephora.

Now I am a year older with a fresh perspective and new goals. Life never slows down and I really prefer it this way.

Readers: How was your week?

• Did you know that you are never more than 145 miles away from a McDonald’s by car in the United States? Neither did I.

• 40 Excellent Illustrator Tutorials is full of overwhelmingly cool stuff. So much to learn, so little time!

• 10 common typography mistakes.

• The Identity Forum has just compiled a list of the world’s top ten identity firms (via identity 72).

• Zo knows hair (hers is always perfect) and is sharing all of her tips and tricks with us mere mortals!

• The Wall Street Journal has an enlightening article about girls and dieting. 100 fourth-grade girls were interviewed back in 1986 and 75% admitted to being on a diet of some kind. Now many of those girls have just been re-interviewed and talk about their experiences as well as today’s societal pressure (via already pretty).

• I don’t drink Coke, but I would buy it if they introduced this can.

• Steve Pavlina dives in an explains how free speech works online.

• Freelance Switch explains how to decide what you should include in your portfolio.

• Arial vs. Helvetica is a diagram that points out the differences between the two typefaces.

What are your favorite links of the week?

I fell in love with the stunning typography on this Absolut Vodka advertisement that was pasted up around New York City a few weeks ago. I like how the type forms the shape of the bottle; it’s simple yet effective. You can view all of The Typofiles scans on Flickr here.

Striped cardigan, Modcloth
Dress, Forever 21 (borrowed from Gala)
Atacoma wedges, Acne
Neckace, Thisisstar.com Jewelry
Watch, Nixon
Headband, Forever 21

Two weekends ago, Bianca took some photos of me in Battery Park. The super amazing crew at Modcloth sent me the Get Out of Jail Free Cardigan that is the thinnest, softest cotton. It can be worn in a number of ways and even has a hood. Sadly, it has since sold out. With their site, you have to check back often because they add new items every day!

I just received a copy of Super Identity, an amazing new book of branding concepts. Published by All Rights Reserved out of Hong Kong, it features nearly 300 pages jam-packed with the branding of top companies including American Apparel, Saks Fifth Avenue, Maison Martin Margiela, House of Holland and Uniqlo. It’s no secret that I am a bit obsessed with corporate identity and branding and own many books on the subjects. Super Identity is the best that I’ve found to date because the authors have left the writing to a minimum while letting the work speak for itself.

To make things even more exciting, the corporate identity that I created for my business, Nubbytwiglet.com is featured in a two page spread. This is the first time that my design work has been included in a book and I am flattered that it is in such good company (Saks Fifth Avenue is featured directly after my spread!)

Some other spreads that I found to be particularly compelling are below:

More information about the publisher of Super Identity can be found here.

Over the years, I’ve made ten separate trips to New York but I’m embarrassed to say that until this most recent stay, I had never set foot inside of a Dean & DeLuca store. I’d heard people constantly praising the New York locations as if they were a sacred place where one would make a religious pilgrimage in search of treats. Truth be told, I’m not a foodie so I kept on wondering what the big deal was. Why were these stores so different from typical supermarkets?

Two weeks ago, I was walking through Soho with Gala and we decided to stop into the flagship location that started it all back in 1977. Once we entered, I immediately understood what the hype was all about.

Upon entering, the first thing I noticed about Dean and DeLuca was the overwhelming variety and impeccable service. The employees all wore perfectly pressed white uniforms with little name tags. This couldn’t be America!

Dean and DeLuca reminded me of a quaint neighborhood shop but slightly bigger and much, much better. Just the bakery alone could give you heart palpitations. Cookies, cakes, tarts, and confections beyond description lined the perfect little glass cases. My senses were overloaded so I settled on some small heart-shaped cookies.

Even though the store is quite compact compared to the typical American supermarket, they somehow showcase more items than one could ever hope to encounter in one place, perfectly arranged like a museum for food.

The produce section was also a sight to behold. Perfectly stacked rows of fruits and vegetables glistened under the lights.

And, as if the arrangements of fruits and vegetables weren’t enough, a small selection of flowers were also available.

If I were a rich and famous chef, I’m pretty certain that I would do all of my shopping here.

Meats, cheeses and jugs of old fashioned milk also made an appearance. The mass chain grocery stores dotting the U.S. need to take note of the atmosphere, ambience and old school charm that this place evokes.

Exotic varieties of fresh baked bread were proudly showcased.

Gourmet chocolates including gold-flecked edible buddhas, colorful animals and small squares infused with otherworldly flavors all competed for attention. How could you choose just one?

Silver canisters of spices with minimal packaging were perfectly aligned on trays. Magical potions? Perhaps.

It should be noted that Dean & DeLuca is pricey. This isn’t a place that you frequent if you’re purchasing a month’s worth or groceries (Trader Joe’s is much more appropriate).

Instead, Dean & DeLuca is about the visual experience. It is a place that is ripe with new discoveries and culinary delights that cannot be found anywhere else. Dean & DeLuca will make your tastebuds sing and your wallet hurt. But isn’t that how the best things in life usually are?

It’s impossible to do a legend proper justice. True icons make everything look easy because they have such an abundance of raw talent. I’m not a dancer or a singer, just a graphic designer. I can at the very least interpret the style of those I admire and give it my own spin. All good things must come to an end and it’s never easy to say goodbye. But, it is possible for a legacy to live on forever.

Photos by Bianca Alexis.

Fall is in the air (and so is mercury retrograde). Between birthday celebrations, rooftop gatherings, performances in the Thompkins Square Park, dinner at german pubs and Brooklyn diners, freelancing in midtown, midnight photo shoots (with an abundance of sparkles and sequins) and attending Fashion’s Night Out, it’s been an eclectic mix of events this week.

Follow the arrow. I love this sign! I just noticed it a few days ago on Ave. A near my friend’s apartment and supposedly the document proclaiming the sale of Manhattan was signed in the bar below.

Fall fashion. Last night I visited the Miu Miu boutique and fell in love with a white coat and black flats with gold toe caps. The cooler weather is here and strolling through Soho at night while peaking into boutique windows is a nice way to pass the time.

Midtown. I spent a few days working at a marketing agency this week and it was fun getting dressed up for a change and taking the train up to Grand Central Station. I love mixing things up routine-wise and get a thrill trying out new settings.

Speaking the truth. During a visit to Williamsburg, I noticed this poster. One of my favorite things about New York is the abundance of homemade street art.

Fashion’s Night Out. Bianca and I hit Fashion’s Night Out last night and my favorite experience by far was visiting the Phi boutique. The staff was super nice, the entire collection was impeccable and the ad campaign covering the walls was pretty flawless.

Turning 26. Bianca turned 26 a few nights ago and had a birthday bash complete with red velvet cake on Wall Street. We met back when she was 20 and its nice having a friend that you can grow up with and always depend on no matter what. It’s funny how the social circles in New York are actually really small; I’ve ran into Timothy and Jeffrey (on the right) on at least three occasions in the last two weeks! Adore them.

Strange posters. Can you believe that this is a Converse ad? It stopped me dead in my tracks because it was so weird. Those crafty marketers!

Head Shots. This week I finished my first legit magazine writing gig and realized that I didn’t have any basic head shots to accompany it. I called Bianca and by that night, the problem was solved! What can I say? Virgos are super punctual and organized. This is my trademark ‘scholarly look’….which is really quite far from reality!

My birthday is swiftly approaching; I’ll be 28 on September 14th! It’s been a roller coaster of a year but change is good, right?

Readers: How was your week?

• Six fonts that piss people off.

• If you’re new to web design, Smashing Magazine just posted a really helpful article about navigation menus including current trends, patterns and the best practices.

• Have you ever wondered what film posters in Ghana look like? Here’s your chance! My personal favorite is Cujo The Killer Dog. Priceless.

• Rick Owns is one of my favorite fashion designers and as the NY Times observes, he is having a major fashion moment. His aesthetics have become so popular that other designers are trying to copy and cash in on his looks as well.

• The question everyone is curious about: Why did you start blogging?

• Find out how to create a better online portfolio.

• In LUXIRARE’S world, a bento box is not simply a bento box. Jello shots, handmade sushi rolls, tiny labeled jars of sauces…this girl’s talent is so beyond words.

• Gardi Amit wonders, How should we define design?

• If you’re self employed and need a little cheering up, 10 Reasons Why Freelancing is the Best Job Security is the article for you!

• If I ate hamburgers, I would visit Larkburger just based on its branding alone.

• If you’re a designer and obsessed with Twitter, Helvetwitter is definitely for you.

What are your favorite links of the week?

Don’t stop till you get enough! Another collaboration with Bianca, we shot these out on her deck near Wall Street last week. This set of photos was a little test for a much bigger production that we have staged for tonight. Stay tuned!

I Wore:

Vest, Target Go International
Fedora, H&M
Shorts, Forever 21
Studded belt, Forever 21
Watch, Nixon
Socks, H&M
Zoe Boots, Sam Edelman

This typographic composition was created by using woodblock letters. Interestingly enough, it was adopted as the company’s identity even though it doesn’t actually give its name. Instead, the company’s contact information is printed below in a sans serif type.

You can view all of The Typofiles scans on Flickr here.

2XL, Skullcandy’s secondary line of headphones has been out on the market for a few months now. With their trendy, youth-centric graphics and wallet friendly prices (averaging from $10.00 to $40.00), they’re bound to be a huge hit.

For a big chunk of last year, I worked closely with the Nemo HQ team on the development of the 2XL line of headphones, packaging, stickers, catalog and trade show booth.

2XL was the first job that I’ve worked on of this size and it was interesting seeing how product development unfolds from researching and creating graphics to applying them to 3-D mockups, then to mechanicals and finally receiving prototypes from the factory over a period of many months.

The line features 14 color ways with five separate styles for each:

Brickyard: DJ-style headphone with over-ear design, comfort headband suspension and full dynamic acoustic range.

Grid: Headphone featuring super comfort on-ear design, headband suspension and dynamic acoustic range.

Groove: Adjustable headphone with active grip hanger ear buds.

Ratio: Ear buds with soft silicone wrap and dynamic acoustic range.

Spoke: In-ear bud featuring noise isolating, in-ear acoustics and changeable gels for comfort fit.

I prefer larger, DJ style headphones so my personal favorite is the Brickyard model.

2XL has smartly made a PDF version of their entire catalog downloadable from their website. Below are a few examples of what the line looks like:

The full product line can be seen on these pages:

If you’re a fan of Skullcandy but on a budget, 2XL is a viable option. These are fantastic for everyday use and you don’t have to stress about breaking or losing them because of the low price point. For a complete catalog, a list of dealers and more, please visit the 2XL website.

Earlier in the week, Bianca and I made a few stops along Astor Place for some photos. We can never play it safe; she is usually shooting me in the middle of the street while dodging cars. Astor Place has a pretty iconic covered subway stop so we took some shots there as well. I’ve known Bianca since 2002 and she just keeps getting better. It pays to count a professional photographer and retoucher as one of your best friends!

I Wore:

Burnout tank, Forever 21
Black tank, Vera Wang for Kohl’s
Sequin leggings, H&M (Gala has these too)
Watch, Nixon
Necklace, Star
Boots, Sam Edelman Zoe

To say that a lot happened this week is the understatement of the century. On top of the normal curve balls that life sometimes throws, I attended rainy rooftop parties in penthouse apartments, visited the Highline, did some design work for the Wall Street Journal, made a massively long trek by foot to the Financial District, said goodbye to Gala (sadness!), tried on designer shoes, visited old friends, turned down social invitations to sleep instead, realized I know my way around this city much better than I thought I did, spent hours on the phone talking to loved ones and felt sad that I am totally missing my mom’s visit to Portland right now! That’s life for you.

Hi, George. I am still soaking up the history that’s saturated in the Financial District. George’s pants are a wee bit tight, but hey, there weren’t fashion blogs in the 1700s so I’ll give him a break.

Making adjustments. Booking a week of freelance, catching up with old friends, missing my family, trying to plan when uncertainty creeps up on you. It’s best to take life one day at a time. I love the photos that Bianca takes; she has a knack for capturing certain moods and moments.

Manifestos. YSL can do no wrong.

The Jane Hotel. I visited The Jane with my friend Eliza and though the bar area was too dim to get any good photos, it can be best described as a turn of the century safari-themed lodge with baroque couches, lots of velvet, high ceilings, oil portraits of unknown dictators and a healthy dose of taxidermy. Fellow Virgo Zana was there as well celebrating her birthday and it was awesome briefly meeting her in person.

Visits. I love getting invited over to my friends’ apartments complete with tours of their buildings; they all have pretty impeccable taste. I entered this lobby and felt like I was in a glamorous spa and that isn’t a bad way to live!

Goodbyes. Gala left me the other day for Vegas, was back for a few hours and then jetted off to New Zealand. I miss her so much but the cute notes she leaves behind definitely help me feel better.

Rooftop parties. Even when it’s pitch black and raining, the parties must go on. Good friends, amazing views of the city and a glimpse of the Hudson can’t be beat.

The Highline. This is one of the places that you absolutely have to see if you are in town. The Highline recently opened to the public and a once desolate and grungy set of train tracks above the city have been transformed into a serene piece of urban utopia. Walking along the path, there are benches and wild grasses as far as the eye can see. Vendors sell organic juices and fair trade coffee. Everyone is happy.

The West Side. I spend most of my time in the East Village, but a change of scenery can do wonders. My friend Seze drug me across town and made me realize what I’ve been missing out on. We walked through parts of Chelsea, the Meatpacking District and the West Village and I can’t get enough of the cobblestone streets and quaint European influences.

Oh, Chloe.These boots reminded me of glamorous strawberries and fit like a glove. Though I gave them a try, I did not buy. How’s that for self control?

Readers: How was your week? Good? Bad? Mind altering? Life changing?

• The New York Times’ T Magazine often comissions artists to create their own interpretations of its logo and is sharing some of the standouts of 2009.

• Font War: IKEA fans are fuming over the iconic furniture chain’s switch from a customized version of Futura to the homogenized Verdana typeface.

• 50 logos using Helvetica (via LoveHelvetica).

• New Amsterdam Village: To commemorate the 400th anniversary of Hudson’s arrival in New York Harbor in 1609, the Dutch are building a replica colonial village at Bowling Green. It consists of 12 traditional Dutch canal houses and even includes a windmill!

• In case you were curious, here is a collection of Michael Jackson shirts recently worn by fans to a birthday tribute party hosted by Spike Lee.

• I really do wish that spraypaint came in Pantone colors.

• 9 things to do to make sure your blog post is read by more than your mom.

• Wow. People of Walmart is a blog that’s dedicated to the amazing assortment of people that shop at Walmart. Click at your own risk!

• Dolce and Gabbana’s new collection is inspired by Marilyn Monroe and features her face printed across most of the items. I love the pop aspect. They managed to keep it classy, unlike the usual cheesy tribute shirts people wear with their favorite celebrities emblazoned across the front.

• Signature 9 just compiled a list of the 99 most influential style blogs.

What are your favorite links of the week?

Usually, we only see the final outcome of a designer’s work. We’ve been taught to show the end result in our portfolios, glistening in its perfection. Often, viewers don’t see the in-between stages, the multiple rounds of work, the blood, sweat, tears and sleepless nights that went into getting a piece to its final state. And because they don’t, they sometimes come to the conclusion that the designer is gifted…or perhaps it’s just magic.

It’s not anyone’s fault for thinking that a project leaped out of a designer’s mind, hit the page and quickly configured itself. Think about it: really good art and design tends to look effortless. How is an audience supposed to know better if we don’t provide an overview of how the work was created?

Designers tend to develop very specific processes when producing work. Research and years of acquired knowledge are mixed with personal experiences to produce unique results. The process of creation is a designer’s livelihood and the way they make their livings so it’s understandable that they are highly secretive about their methods. If they shared all of their techniques, resources, archives and research with the world, they’d be left feeling naked. The point is to not overshare but rather to give the outside world glimpses of the creative process.

An easy way to share the backstory of a project is to create a process book. Essentially, a process book is a compiled guide that allows a viewer to see progression of a project from the beginning to end through research, rough sketches, screen shots, scans, photos, and multiple rounds of work.

Why should you create a process book? If a client has little or no design knowledge, it can be difficult for them to understand how long a project will realistically take.

If you tell a client that their corporate identity will take a full month to complete but they want it in two weeks, they wonder why you can’t just work faster. They wonder why you can’t just speed up the process if you’re really good at what you do. If you have a process book of a similar project to show them, it will be much easier for them to grasp what the project entails.

Another compelling reason to create a process book is to have a visual guide that accompanies a project that took multiple steps and mediums to complete. I can only wish that I had documented the process of creating CD packaging for Virgin Records. Each of the 12 pages in the booklet featured hand-done collages that I created from scans and magazine clippings.

After printing out the pages of material that had been collected, I spent the next week on my floor, piecing together the panels one by one on white tagboard with a glue stick and scissors. After that process was completed, I scanned in each panel to my computer and set the song lyrics over the images. My floor was covered in scraps, multiples of each panel were created and an advance copy of the album was on constant rotation during this time. If I’d taken the time to shoot photos, snap screen shots of the in-between stages and to record the disarray my colorful, scrap-covered floor, I feel that the final outcome would be much more engaging.

The benefit of sharing. It’s okay to let go. It’s okay to share only what you’re comfortable with. Just share something. Chances are that people are genuinely curious about what you have to offer.

In reality, we need to learn to open up, to share and to help people understand that design really is hard work. They aren’t mind readers. Just like any other profession, it’s important to be made aware of the process.

Design isn’t magic. As with any other profession, design takes serious dedication and perserverance. I’ve sat next to extremely talented designers that I was in awe of in studio environments and I can vouch that they still spent many late nights working and having meetings with art directors, took walks to get away from the work, faced multiple setbacks and finally had a moment of clarity that pushed the project to its absolute best. And, once a project reaches its pinnacle, it’s easy to forget how it got there.

For 2010, I’ve set a new goal of creating my first process book. It takes the right type of project to really work but as soon as one comes about, I won’t be afraid to hold back. No detail will be too minute this time around.

Designers: Have you ever made a process book? What was your experience like?

Here are some more of my favorite pages from the now shuttered Blueprint Magazine. In every issue they’d do a themed spread in a classifieds section style and I thought that these two pages were particularly good.

You can view all of The Typofiles scans on Flickr here.

Last week, Gala and I met up with Susan, the founder of the hugely successful indie fashion retailer ModCloth. She also brought along two of the buyers from her team and we spent the muggy summer evening in the East Village learning more about their buying processes, how ModCloth got started, what the trade shows are like (hours upon hours of walking up and down a maze of never ending aisles!) and how to deal with getting recognized in the street. Though, it should be noted that at points talking became quite difficult when the bar’s piano player began rocking out and singing at the top of his lungs (which amused the other patrons to the point that they began to join in)!

ModCloth is very hands-on and I think that this is partly why they’ve been so successful. Besides keeping a blog, they allow customers to rate each item and write reviews. With this approach, it’s easy to see why customers feel a personal connection to ModCloth and its offerings.

ModCloth recently sent me a very cute blouse known as the Walk The Line Top. I picked it out specifically because I liked the interchangeable bow ties (there are both a black and a striped version included). My friend Bianca shot me in Soho yesterday wearing it:

I felt like I was wearing a fancy version of a restaurant uniform as I walked through the cobblestone streets. Enjoy your weekend! It’s supposed to be super rainy here so I’ll be hiding indoors.

With New York, things are never easy. The way I see it, you have to work twice as hard but the payoff is usually twice as big. It’s been a long, interesting week spent with close friends and surprises galore. But, that’s what keeps life interesting. Optimism is so underrated.

Over the weekend Gala and I headed out to Williamsburg in our sequined mouse ears. Gourmet pizza, country music, huge crowds and journal buying made for an enjoyable afternoon.

Discovering secret staircases in Soho with Gilda: intriguing.

I totally love the taxidermy I’ve been spotting in New York; it reminds me of Portland and my brother’s vast collection.

I finally got to spend some more time near Wall Street and I really really like it. The gravestones from the 1600s and 1700s are so cute and charming.

The necessities: a new notebook, business cards for my gym and favorite coffee shop and fancy false eyelashes courtesy of Gala.

Good times with good friends: Bianca and Gala are two of the best girls I know; they’re both dependable Virgos that I can always count on, no matter what. I love them both dearly.

Gala took me out to Max Brenner’s where we proceeded to completely overdose on chocolate concoctions. Not a bad way to spend a Thursday afternoon!

Random brightly painted doors: cheerful.

Another week bites the dust. How was yours?

• Read up on The Best of Wikipedia. According to kottke, some recent entries include Lawsuits Against God, Missing White Woman Syndrome and Dead Cat Bounce.

• There’s a nice little write-up about me over on SeanWard.net.

• The Etsy Wars: Artisans’ Backlash Against the Craft Site. Only a select few of Etsy’s sellers actually make major money.

• 20 Fascinating Ancient Maps includes the Island of California! Haha.

• Silence is a Rhythm Too is one of my favorite music blogs.

• Have you ever wondered how people live on the other side of the world? In City One Minutes, “life in each city is divided into 24 one minute portraits, each depicting one hour of the day. Every film is a personal impression of the city in which the artist lives or in which he is staying.”

• I really like this color chart bag.

• Vital Tips For Effective Logo Design is extremely comprehensive. Deciding what to charge a client for the process is also covered.

• Typedia is a new website that classifies typefaces and educates people about them. It’s like a mix between IMDb and Wikipedia, but just for type. (via swiss miss)

• GQ ranks America’s 25 most douchiest colleges. Did your school make the cut? Do you agree with the list?

• The worlds first cocaine bar is located in Bolivia. According to the article, “The waiter arrives at the table, lowers the tray and places an empty black CD case in the middle of the table. Next to the CD case are two straws and two little black packets. He is so casual he might as well be delivering a sandwich and fries.” (via kottke)

• Furniture never looked so stylish: View an original IKEA catalog, circa 1965.

• For Print Only has just compiled a list of books about getting things printed, knowing what to print them on and how they look when they are printed. What a life saver!

What are your favorite links of the week?

Jaime De Albarracin is is an extremely talented graphic designer and calligrapher from Peru. This is some of his work that was recently featured in IdN Magazine. You can view all of The Typofiles scans on Flickr here.

Last night I spent some time near Wall Street, hanging out in front of the New York Stock Exchange and on the steps of the building where the U.S. Constitution was signed. While shooting these photos, my friend Bianca gave me a mini tour of the area and I realized just how cool it was.

I Wore:

Dress, Forever 21
Bow headband, Forever 21
Belt, Forever21
Watch, Nixon
Necklace, Star
Shoes, Acne

If you know me personally, you’re probably aware that I dread working out. I hate the thought of exercising so much that I just don’t do it. No sports teams, yoga class or jogging around the block for me. The thought of getting sweaty and wearing practical footwear has always repulsed me. Until now.

I had a religious experience. An epiphany. And, it all happened while walking down the street in New York last week. I was with Gala near Astor Place when we noticed some peculiar skeleton chairs in the window of a building, complete with very a gothic & baroque vibe throughout. Was it a boutique? A showroom? A bizarre home decor store? We weren’t really sure so we went in to ask.

Get this….the place turned out to be a GYM. The one place I despise more than anything. And, it was cool. Hands down, it was one of the most fashionable places I’ve ever stepped into. My perceptions of what a gym was supposed to be began to shift.

We requested a tour and the first thing I noticed was the lighting. No fluorescent, unflattering lighting here. Instead, it was a deep pink that resembled a high end night club. We walked past buff guys lifting weights and towards a massive disco ball shaped deejay booth. The disco ball was salvaged from Studio 54. Instead of the usual concrete or formica, the floors were done in beautiful distressed wood.

The space contains multiple levels and on one, we were shown the yoga studio. I’ve never tried yoga, but based on the atmosphere, I’d give it a shot. Why? The very dimly lit room featured an entire wall of candles. Glass doors closed it off from the rest of the gym. It felt like an extremely glamorous cave. I was sold.

The machines throughout looked pristine. No sweat covered handles and sticky seats here. I’d heard horror stories about my friends’ gym experiences in the past but this place seemed nothing like that. I actually felt….relaxed.

The guide took us down a massive white baroque staircase where we were met by bold damask print wallpaper and a naked male statue. I thought it was the perfect mix of glamour and humor.

We then walked into the women’s locker rooms which were basking in neon light and woodgrain lockers. The benches were large pieces of polished wood. Was this really a place for changing clothes? Or, was it a backdrop for a surreal and futuristic photo shoot?

During the tour, we were introduced to the man who owns this gym, along with six other locations, David Barton. He was extremely welcoming and actually in the middle of working out. I love it when the owners of companies are actively involved in the use of their own products.

So, you may still be thinking that a gym is just a gym, no matter what the atmosphere is. But there was one final factor that got me hooked, I promised you: All of the signs, business cards and schedules were done in Helvetica. Seriously. And there’s no denying that I am a sucker for both great interior design and typography.

Find out more about David Barton gyms here. Sweating has never seemed so glamorous!

* Photos courtesy of David Barton Gym