Rockets!
My older brother Steve was really into rockets as a kid. He built them, painted them, loaded them with cartridges, and shot them into the air. Now that he has a two-year-old, it’s the perfect time to relive those launches. Check out what we did last weekend at the family farm in Michigan. I used his Canon and shot on the sports setting to capture the rockets in air.
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Intelligentsia: a tour
Last week was Chicago Design Week and I bought a ticket to attend a tour of Intelligentsia Coffee, given by the in-house designer there, Matt Riddle. Being a fan of coffee I looked forward to the event and dreamed about the potential of walking away with armfuls of free coffee. Upon my arrival to their roasting facility in the Fulton Market district, I was ushered to a small room and relieved to see a barista waiting with hot and cold options. It was about 85 degrees at 7:45 in the morning, so I chose the iced. It came in a very small glass and I had two refills in five minutes before the tour started. Matt first took us to a small tasting room where he explained a bit of coffee basics and showed us beans in four stages.
The roasters above are testing roasters that simulate the roasting process of Intelligentsia’s large roasters on a much smaller scale. The above versions are used by baristas who taste all potential coffees before the coffee is purchased.
In the above image in order from left to right there are coffee beans with the fruit still on it, coffee beans that have been dried with the papery skin still on it (kind of like peanuts), coffee that has been separated and is ready to ship for processing, and finally, the bad coffee that has been removed from the good by hand (it is discolored or bruised.)
Below are some of my other photos from the tour.
Intelligentsia participates in direct trade coffee. Instead of purchasing coffee from a third party they go directly to the source, the coffee growers themselves, they meet them and taste their coffee. They pay them fair wages. This is different than fair trade coffee which still involves an intermediary.
I asked if there was a story behind the logo. The Intelligentsia logo is a coffee cup that sometimes looks like an eye looking upward surrounded by wings. Matt explained that Intelligentsia is constantly changing and looking upward to what’s next.
Likable Logo
This is one of my favorite logos in the city. If you can’t guess, (and you should be able to guess, that’s the point), it’s a knitting store. Check them out at http://www.ninachicago.com/. I don’t know how to knit but I appreciate knitting. I love this logo. I see that designer Erik Kraft of Restless Bee did their website. Not sure if he also did the logo. Will look into it. The store is located on Division St. in Wicker Park, near Ashland.
The reason why this logo rocks is its simplicity. It communicates the product quickly and instantly in black and white. Not to mention, it’s legible and beautiful.
Hubbard St. Murals
I’ve been working in the meat packing district in the West Loop for the last couple months. In addition to the surplus of metra trains flying by, delivery trucks with their meats, and fish smell wafting through the air (along with the chocolate it’s a classic combination), there’s also some other interesting and notable characteristics of the neighborhood. One thing I love is there is a constant view of the sears (willis) tower and skyline, lurking in the distance. There’s also a lot of public art. There’s also a wall of murals on Hubbard Street I was not aware of before working in the neighborhood. It’s called the Hubbart Street Mural Project, and the picture above was taken on my regular walk into work. Some of the murals are faded and could use an update, according to the website a group got into that a couple years ago, not sure what came of it. But as you can see in the above photo, there are still some murals alive and well. Viva Chicago!
The source of that fabulous chocolate smell drifting through the Chicago air
I haven’t written for a while, partly because I started a new position at Webb DeVlam, a brand strategy and packaging design firm located in the West Loop. Each day has been an incredible experience and I’m working with a great group of people. The firm is located in the meat packing district, so each morning I am often met with the hectic process of food being delivered in large trucks, food including fish and it smells so delightful. Ok, maybe not so delightful. However, I am sometimes hit with a whiff of chocolate as well. Yes, chocolate. I took classes last year in River North, not too far from this same area, where I also smelled chocolate every once in a while, so I knew there was a chocolate factory nearby, but I didn’t know exactly where, or the name of it, I didn’t know much about it at all. Until last week. Last week I decided to investigate the source of this lovely scent that brightened a few of my walks. I discovered that the factory is called Blommer, named after the three Blommer brothers who founded it in Chicago in 1939. It’s located at 600 West Kinzie St. if you’d like to stop in. They have a small shop open to the public where you can purchase their chocolates. I bought a small gold gift box for a gift, it was exactly what I was looking for. I also bought some chocolates for myself and my co-workers that were wrapped simply in resealable red bags and priced extremely well. There were many chocolates to choose from. Cremes, nuts covered in chocolate, fruits covered in chocolate, liquor filled chocolates, white chocolates, dark chocolates, milk chocolates. They also carry gummy candies as well. I ended up choosing some plain dark chocolate chunks that are very satisfying when you get a craving, but small enough that you don’t feel guilty eating them, as well as some blackberry brandy filled chocolates. They are filled with liquid that releases into your mouth when you bite. Overall I’d say, don’t go out of your way, but if you’re in the area, follow your nose over for an affordable and local treat.
Inspiration Station: grain edit
One of my favorite sites that I visit for draw design and illustration inspiration is grain edit. From the about page of their website:
“Grain edit is focused on classic design work from the 1950s-1970s and contemporary designers that draw inspiration from that time period. Site content includes interviews, articles, designers’ libraries as well as examples of rare design annuals, type specimens, Ephemera, posters and vintage kids books from our bookshelves.”
Today grain edit posted about an awesome project called 50 and 50, which is a curated design project where designers from all 50 states are designing the state motto in a muted red, white and blue palette. One piece is posted every week day. I can’t wait to see Michigan’s motto!
If you’re into patriotic stuff or the shape of the US States and what fits in them, definitely check out Frank Chimero’s “The States” project, an awesome and inspiring personal illustration project he has going on.
Gaga’s Grammy Shoulder
In case you missed it, here’s a photo of Lady Gaga sitting in the audience at the Grammy Awards last night. Everyone’s talking about how she arrived to the awards inside of an egg that was carried by her entourage, however, I think this is MUCH more interesting. She’s sporting a prosthetic shoulder!!!
Naturally, this incident prompted me to investigate who she uses as her stylist. Who is the mind behind all of her out-there outfits? In case you were also wondering, the man’s name is Nicola Formichetti.
Reportedly Mr. Formichetti is Gaga’s best friend as well as stylist, he was born in Japan, and he grew up in both Japan and Italy. He currently works as Creative Director for Mugler and he blogs.
All I have left to say is thanks for the shock factor, Nicola!
