When I first heard that I was selected as a contestant for the first-ever graphic designer reality show at an AIGA conference, I thought my life was going to be different forever. Two years later, it turns out I was right.
Hello all, my name is Kelly Dorsey and I was a contestant in the first ever Command X competition.
The clue to what distinguishes Uppercase Magazine lies in its motto “A magazine for the creative and curious” It’s the “curious” – It accounts for the joyful, inclusive sense of collaboration and sharing that pervades the whole shebang. The magazine reads like a conversation between like-minded folk riffing on the impossibly cool thing they’ve drawn, thought, photographed, collected, discovered, etc. No lofty curatorial snobbishness or hipster veneration of the mindlessly shocking or willfully ugly for these cats – just a democratic spirit and a celebration of beautiful things.
Another thing – the magazine, as a project and physical object, is the very embodiment of what it celebrates. It works on a collaborative publishing model, and is designed and produced with great care and craft. Feels great in the hand. The three covers so far are stunning in their graphic impact. Folks seem keen on it too. The first two issues are sold out and subscriptions now begin with the third. The whole Uppercase venture, gallery, books, blog etc… seem of all of a piece. Well worth it. Explore here.
(Oh, and – given my affinity for the venture, I’m proud to say they’ve found room for my own contribution. For issue three I wrote an article exploring the radio documentaries of the classical pianist Glenn Gould, not only in terms of his own career but as a manifesto for the insatiable cultural omnivore. As you can see from the preview above, they were kind enough to include an accompanying illustration, which was a great excuse to paint one of Gould’s pop cultural obsessions, the fetching Petula Clark. via shepelavy.com)
Don’t miss out on your chance to bid on one of the limited-edition De’Longhi Artistas. The Artista series, a line of laser-etched Perfecta espresso machines, features the designs of ten internationally recognized artists and designers including fashion designer Nicole Miller, jewelry designer John Hardy, interior designer Kelly Hoppen and illustrator Mike Perry.
The collection of espresso machines are now available to the public through ebay giving works. Proceeds benefit Oxfam America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the fight against poverty and social injustice.
We have taken the “Who Wore it Best” to a whole new level here at the agency.
Thanks to Ryan Brown and Jon Fruman we now have a healthy competition that will continue throughout the month.
The rules:
• A tie must be worn every work day in the month of October
• The same tie cannot be worn more than once
• Contestant must wear a shirt with some sort of collar. (can’t pair a t-shirt and a tie, etc.)
• Ties cannot be removed during the work day, regardless of work activities (e.g., ping pong, rough day, jazzercise)
The Loser is the first person to break any of the above rules or whomever receives the lower number of total votes in the month-long “who wore it best?” competition.
The WINNER is the other guy.
The Punishment:
The Winner will be able to choose a full outfit of attire to be worn by The Loser on the day of The Winner’s choosing.
And the Loser has to go tanning wearing only a tie and undies – so that every time they look at their self naked in the mirror they may be reminded that they should have tried just a little bit harder.
Cast your vote daily for “Who Wore it Best: The Tie Addition” at http://www.tieordie.com
Enjoy!
The leaves are quickly falling, and your shorts are going into hibernation, Yup, it’s that time of year again to layer up. For some men, sporting a cool stache is a hip(ster) way to keep your face nice and warm. For those, like I, who cannot grow a mustache or beard of any sort due to my Asian heritage, I like to sport the Screen Stache. It’s fun and open to men and women! These gentlemen will protect your computer, Mac or PC, and will keep your office/home environment nice and toasty, ready for the chilly weather.
Download this screensaver after the jump…