Mevis and Van Deursen//

Here are some hand outs I designed for a presentation my group did on Mevis and Van Deursen.





The amazing Dutch duo have become a great source of inspiration for me.

Barry Deck + Ellen Lupton + Ed Fella + Kali Nikitas.

Today I was fortunate enough to meet some of my design/type heroes in one sitting. ...Kind of.
Barry Deck was having a lecture at Otis, and attendance was mandatory. Not going to lie, my initial thought was "UGHHH". (But who isn't, when you're in class from 8AM~7PM, and it's the last day of the week for you?) But needless to say, I absolutely enjoyed his lecture, and am definitely more inspired than I was at 15:33 when I was furiously consuming my chocolate+custard crepe.

This is partially because I am now taking an identity + systems design class, taught by the amazing Maja... A truly challenging, work-loaded, makes-me-want-to-rip-my-hair-out, but challenges me to be the best image maker I can class. Barry's insight on creating a visual identity system for a client (may it be a giant corporation like Coca Cola, or a smaller local business) has sparked some thoughts and ideas for me. What hit me most was his idea of "Sometimes less is more". I am definitely going to apply this idea in my upcoming week.

For now, here are some examples of the images I've made in class...

Work from week 1, where our assignment was to create a symbol/logo for a partner we worked with.

Me + Illustrator = No Bueno.

I was in for another treat when I found out that Ellen Lupton was going to be having a lecture at CalArts. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only graphic design student out there whose life got saved with her "Thinking with Type" book. Her lecture was equally inspiring for me as Barry's was, and her perspective on the future of publication/books was quite interesting. It's quite sad that people are going crazy over "digital books" (as Ellen puts it, you are probably a "slut") and the future of print seems bleak. But the whole D.I.Y movement of the creation of publication has more hope than anything, and I find it interesting how as much as the future of print is
questioned and worried about, the idea of a "book" has become something of a frenzied social activity. I myself am a great fan of the efforts put into a book, as well as the physical experience of holding a book in your hand, flipping through it, reading it (or not) and being inspired by it.

Oh, and the night couldn't possibly get better when I bumped into Ed Fella. I think I had a small heart attack. And I could never be happier that Kali is our chair, and she kindly introduced me to him. AH!!! ...But I have to say one of the best parts of the night was getting to know some graphic peeps from CalArts. I can't wait to see them again soon!

Which leads to my current assignment in progress...

I'm really excited about this project, even though it's still in its baby-steps. We'll see how you turn out, child!!

::Spring 2011!::

So my last semester as a junior at Otis has finally begun. The first week was a hassle for me to get back into THE GAME (as John put it during my "advising"...), and I suffered from the "Oh I have enough time I'll do it later" syndrome; which, interestingly enough, was something I thought I overcame after IB. Not. But strangely enough, I'm scribbling TO-DO-TO-BE-DONE-WILL-DO lists down every where, so I'm pretty sure I'll be fine from now on.

COMMUNICATION STUDIO::

For the first time ever, I was in a crit taking place on... the lawn. As much as it was a good change to leave the classroom and venture out, LA sun rays are (still) not my best friend.

{l to r:: Montana (lump), yours truthfully, Mikey, Vicky + Kendra}

{my manifesto poster rough.}

I have some interesting plans for the poster, and can't wait to manifest them onto paper. This project is truly exciting for me, since I get to dabble in words, and stir those words up with visuals.

EXPERIMENTAL TYPOGRAPHY::

Experimental type is becoming a great place for... experiments.

I chuckled at Erin's quote of "wearing lab coats and messing around with type"... but yes, sans lab coat, that is what I'm doing. With the help of Sean's comment, I had a myth-busters moment for M/M Paris's look. My love for hand-done typography is going on full blast in this class, and I can't wait to start working on more assignments.

But for now...... sleep. (//while you can get it)

COMM III FINAL VIDEO!

done. done. done!

::VeNOMOUS MiLK::

I'm finally back in LA. I was only in Tokyo for a week, but it surely felt way longer than that... Probably because everything was so jam-packed, and I was on a constant hustle hustle. I'm going back in a month and a bit, and I can't wait for that.

::SCHOOL::

Same old. Same old. Being a week away from Otis is truly disorientating, and now I have to do everything to pick up where I left off... Which, at a glance didn't seem too bad. That is, as long as I can conquer my big bad type book. Making a run to Kelly Paper tomorrow, as well as binding my book...

My video is close to completion though, which is one thing I can feel relieved about.

I can't wait till I can relax and take a breather... That is, for a little while.

::museum, poster, tshirts...::

The past week has been another yet busy+eventful+fun+drastic one!

MUSEUM::

{l to r: remains from my dinner, Montana}

{beautiful pink-toed tarantula<3>

{I'm a sentimental little bastard!!}

Our second museum-visit of the semester was to the Natural History Museum. I've never been there (after living in LA for 2 years...) It's definitely a spot I want to visit again when I have more time for a good sitting down+sketching... As much as I love being in graphic design, I do miss the time+capacity I had to sit down and doodle for long periods of time... I need to pick up my sketchbook more often!

IL FAIR::

{l to r:: Vanesa, future-NGB member?, Gigi and Patty}

I offered to help out the IL fair for NEIGHBOR GAP BRIDGE, my integrated learning studio class. As much as I don't enjoy waking up early and having class 8~11 on Friday mornings, I've started to love my class, especially because I get to mingle with people that aren't from the 6th floor, haha. Free breakfasts are always a plus too.

{Hazel making t shirts}

Hazel taught me how to do spray-paint tie-dye! So easy and fun! I got my stockings + shoes blasted with paint, but who cares? I need to make more of these!

{l to r: Mr. Minature Pony and I}

Only at Otis IL fairs. Animals galore. However this semester, there was only 1 goat, and no llama. Sadness.

::POSTER::

{l to r: scandalous posters and the scandalous mind behind it}

My posters for the FILM FESTIVAL assignment are now on display on the sixth floor. How I miss the days in high school when my work got censored...

ZINES::

To take a break from my hectic work schedule, I made some zines, limited to five copies, and distributed them to people I like, and people who would understand (+ accept) my crude sense of humor. More zines are to come in the near future!

::Weekend-->SchoolWe{a}ek::

So... The past week has been hectic, as usual. But also productive and packed with fun, so I have nothing to complain about!!

THURSDAY::

{The birthday man Mr.Mossay observing my posters}

{posters, b/w and tiled.}

The first phase of THE FILM FESTIVAL assignment for Comm. III is winding down, and I handed in my pre-pre-final editions of the posters last week. The "Fuck it, Imma do what I feel like doing" attitude worked pretty swell for me, and quite honestly, these might be my most favorite project I've worked on since entering Comm. Arts. They were revised, and will be printed out in color/tiled for next week... Exciting, exciting!

{Series! poster}

My beautiful roommate Lacey was dragged into my poster (I love victimizing my friends for my work, don't I!) and the wonderful Whitley shot some amazing shots for me. However, these shots are also encouraging me to get into better shape. Oh noeees!

FRIDAY::

{vertical action}

THAT happened, thanks to the wonderful work of James at Body Electric Tattoo and Piercing on Melrose.

SATURDAY::

{art makes me happy, especially when it's by JT!}

I purchased a piece for the ever amazing JT Steiny from his ever amazing show I STARTED A WAR at the New Puppy Gallery, and was delighted to receive my piece in the mail! JT was gushing about the romantic-aspect of the USPS (or rather, receiving things via snail-mail rather than other ways...) and now I feel as if I can sympathize with that. Time to write letters! ...But again, I don't know a lot of friends' addresses...

{when racial stereotyping goes right}

I offered some help for Lane's poster project, thinking that it would be something fun. I get a text, run over, and am greeted with a stack of origami papers, and requested to fold paper cranes. Just to make things clear, I may be Japanese, but I am the WORST person in Japan when it comes to origami. And paper cranes? Those things are pretty hard core. I had to fold a bunch when I was in high school because our school went on a trip to Hiroshima, and thus, every student was required to fold paper cranes to donate to one of the memorials... I cried. With a little internet research (yes, I had to look it up), I managed to fold some cranes...

BONUS::

{Me and Bill Murray}

::Life at the big O!::

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