To Trains, originally uploaded by Mista Gargoyle
So I admit that I’m a bit of a font geek – typography, like fashion, interests me because not only because of its’ variety but also my fascination with the process of creation; which, even to someone schooled in design, is quite perplexing and mysterious.
I’ve linked to this before, but anyone interested in the fonts used and designed by Disney, must check out Mickey Avenue – Disney Fonts. Regardless of what you think of Disney from its’ abuse of copyright to Disney’s shell city in Florida to whatever ill you accuse Disney of perpetrating, you cannot ignore its’ influence on design and culture (for good and bad). That is why sites like Mickey Avenue and the accompanying photos of typography are so cool to go through.
For example, check out two examples of Coca-Cola advertisements, one in Tomorrow Land and the other in Animal Kingdom:
Tomorrowland Coke, photo by Mista Gargoyle
Animal Kingdom Coke, photo by Mista Gargoyle
The commitment to design which Disney adheres to is amazing. I realize that there is an incentive for advertising to adjust to the theme of whichever Disney Kingdom it is located, but Disney applies this same level of design throughout their theme parks. (Now, if their movie division could do the same…)
Sometimes design can leave an attraction, or a whole kingdom in a state of limbo. EPCOT Center is curiously stuck between aged retro and futuristic glee, all due to the design of the park. When I visited Disney World in 2003, EPCOT was the one park which was clearly dated. This is perhaps due to the type choice – World Bold – which the rounded sans serif vacillates between Buck Rogers and some unseen future. Place this type in the context of large exuberant buildings clad in glass and aluminum (the material of the future!) and concrete, and you get a Tomorrowland which you know is based in Yesterdayland. It is quite disturbing actually; once inside the Disney Reality Distortion Field, this jarring, bleak urban landscape destroys any suspension of disbelief.
But enough of the EPCOT critique. Anyone interested in what a single, hive-mind can accomplish through design, you must check out Disney.
For more Disney stuff, check out this Retro Disney Resort Logos, more photos of Disney Signage, and a Hi-Resolution Aerial Photo of Disneyland.
EPCOT Center Concept Painting, originally uploaded by scrubbles
IMG_0381, originally uploaded by emily geoff
My friends Emily & Geoff are in China right now and are uploading a great deal of interesting photos. Take a look at the Beijing Water Cube photos, or the Bird’s Nest photos, and the obligatory CCTV tower photos.
Check out the Whole China Set.
If you have time, you should really check out how your city spends your tax money by looking at the NYC Department of Design and Construction website, which lists open bids for government capital construction. For instance, the New York City Police Department’s is tendering out a proposal for the 121st Street Precinct house in Staten Island. The tender is for a Construction Management/Build firm for the new freestanding 97,000 square feet Precinct House by Rafael Vinoly Architects. The estimated construction budget from the city is $36,309,908, or $374 psf. The new police station will be open in three years.
More renderings from Rafael Vinoly Architects below.
sydney opera house, originally uploaded by plemeljr
Sorry for the light lack of posting anything here; getting back on an airplane soon and going back to the States.
Happy Easter!
Posted without note, or mocking.
In New Haven today, so here are some links:
Library Stacks, originally uploaded by plemeljr
Today I am day-tripping to New Haven. Hoping to get some time with the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library (in all of its limestone glory), designed by Gordon Bunshaft, of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. More importantly I will try to eat at Louis’ Lunch, by far the best hamburger in Connecticut and perhaps in the Northeast.
For now, check out my previous Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library photos (thumbnails below) and the Beinecke Flickr tag.
