Valentine Makhouleen — interactive art director
+1-416-857-2834
val@new-media.ca

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This is a scrapbook of ideas. One can hardly call it a blog, but I maintain it to file away things I find interesting, like shiny pebbles.
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1970s vintage logo set

Check out this vintage logo set on Flickr. Anyone recognize the Beats by Dre logo in the upper right corner (3157)?

Vintage logos

Via Denis Lirette

February 2010

Logorama

Part 1

Part 2

December 2009

The Peeing Archangel

Update: I had a chance to visit St. Michael’s Hospital in an emergency situation, and it’s a pretty decent hospital, despite the logo.

University of Toronto made a pretty poor design decision by fading out St. Michael’s lower extremities in the hospital logo. To me it looks like he’s taking a leak. To others it might look like something else, not so uncommon amongst sexual deviants in Toronto downtown parks. Here is my artistic rendition of what I see every time I pass by the hospital:

The Peeing ArchangelThere is also a massive billboard adoring the wall of the hospital – in this one steamy clouds are rising as St. Michael is taking a satisfying urban leak on our great city of Toronto. “$5 if you can hit the CN Tower!”

St. Michael's Urban Angel

Below is what the original statue in the lobby of St. Michael’s looks like. This photo was taken by a Flickr user jp1958. If you have the time, you can  read a brief touching story about the statue and it’s importance to the hospital on St. Michael’s website.

St. Michael The Archangel by jp1958

Now, traditionally, St. Michael is portrayed treading on Satan or a serpent, carrying a banner, scales, and sword. A good example is a painting by Guido Reni.

St. Michael by Guido Reni

Why did the University of Toronto and the hospital make this poor choice? Who knows, but it makes me wonder how many sets of eyes have seen what I see. And how many hospital admins thought this was a great rendition of the logo and rubber-stamped it all the way to the billboard.

Disclaimer: I have no doubt that St. Michael’s Hospital is a fantastic teaching hospital that does a lot of great work. I would not hesitate to be treated there in case of a medical mishap. Unfortunately, it does not reflect in their logo. It does not do their symbol great justice. Instead it opens up it’s interpretation to various wondering, perverted minds, like mine.

June 2009

50 ways to get inspired on a Friday afternoon

Get Inspired

Educate Yourself, Fool

Dig Through Archives

 

 

 

Identity Crisis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interior, Craft & Industrial Inspiration

 

    • This Ain’t No Disco – Interior design of creative agencies from around the world.
    • Core77 All things industrial.
    • Instructables Build your own hammock stand or a solar-powered hair dryer.
    • EtsyBeautiful crafts and unique gifts.

 

 

Take a Picture

 

 

 

Eye Candy

 

    • ShareSomeCandy – Designer, illustrator, photographer and typographer porn.
    • We Heart It – Same as above.
    • FFFFound!– Same as above, but more “exclusive” and snobby.

 

 

Visual Culture, Inspiration

 

 

 

    • NEW Industry Arts – Interesting fashion and design feature magazine online.
    • SpaceCollective Futurism, social interaction and art. Really insightful and beautifully laid out.
    • FAIRspot General creative inspiration.
    • Design and Design Daily design feature.
    • FormFityFive – Design inspiration blog.
    • PSFK – News, ideas and trends.
    • io9 – Futurism and cutting edge technology blog.

 

 

Get Some Fine Art & Illustration Inspiration

 

    • bluecanvas – Inspiration for fine art aficionados.
    • illyPads Illustrator inspiration and tutorials.
    • ArtDaily – Fine and experimental art. All the time.

 

 

For Book, Print & Packaging Nerds

 

 

 

Portfolios

 

    • Carbonmade – Portfolio hosting service and creative network.
    • Behance– Another portfolio hosting service and creative network.

 

 

Advertising Inspiration

 

 

 

Web & Interactive Stuff

 

 

 

 

Flash, Motion

 

 

 

 

May 2009

The Fifty Dollar Logo Experiment

cheeses

I launched an experiment that lasted throughout much of 2008. Among my many online ventures lies CheesesOfNazareth.info, a URL purchased on my behalf by one of our aforementioned talented designers as a Secret Santa gift in 2007. From what I understand, all hangers-on in the agency business are ceremoniously slaughtered by interns on the day before their 40th birthday, which is why I’m making plans to have my online cheese and cheese product empire up, running, and thriving well before that day comes. But the first step was to get a logo for the cover of my business plan.

I turned to the cleverly named 50DollarLogo.com, a site based in Sri Lanka or somewhere promising six logo designs, unlimited revisions, and a 1-3 day turnaround. Who needs messy things like research, insight, or even a modicum of information about my business, when I can have unlimited revisions? I quickly gave them my information, credit card number, social security number, and bank account routing number, and we were off to the races.

Read more at 160 over 90

February 2009