It’s that time of year again… but this time, my good friend Richard will be turning the big 2-5, so naturally that calls for big celebration. I whipped up this invite this week for the par-tay and I can’t wait to be in So Cal in two weeks to dance to some good ole’ Elvis Crespo and see everyone. Yay, road trip!

My good friend Richard, who is practically family, asked me to develop an identity for his new event planning company, RVG Events. So I started with the logo and then created the business card. Next on the list is a website, but I’ll update again when the site is live!

He explained that the logo should be: “Clean. Classy. Elegant. Fun… you know, like me!” You got it, dude. Here’s what I came up with…

Inspiration for the logo came not only from our email conversations about what he wanted, but also from the modern, sleek look of hip hop branding these days. I took a lot of cues from Richard’s personal style which is very urban, but incredibly tailored and classy. Cristal all around, baby. I wanted his branding to exude confidence, class and swagger.

With the design of his business card, even moreso than merely the logo, I wanted to establish the visual identity of RVG Events that I’ll eventually use when designing the website. Richard wanted me to use blue, but I feel like in the future for various events we can change the color as needed. It kind of serves the purpose of a condiment to the meat and potatoes that is the logo. A pop color that will change based on the event they’re working on, or the advertising they’re doing.

I’m sure the identity will evolve, as most do. I feel like this is a very strong and timeless look for RVG Events, and I’m really excited to see where they take their business. For more information about RVG Events, check out their facebook page.

“I am not your Elizabeth. I am no man’s Elizabeth. And if you think to rule, you are mistaken.” (Elizabeth, 1998)

Last night Jane and I made a trip out to the IKEA in Emeryville so I could get some much needed items for my apartment. After shopping, sushi, froyo (yay TuttiMelon!) and then assembling all of my stuff whilst watching my Yeah Yeah Yeahs concert DVD, I was still wide awake by midnight. I spent an hour or so perusing the vast world of Etsy. I often forget about Etsy when I’m looking for new things for my place, or pieces to add to my wardrobe. These roundups will be a way to keep Etsy fresh in my mind, and hopefully will inspire and encourage you to buy handmade goods as well!

I give you the Queen Elizabeth I roundup:

Your Queen Elizabeth I collection cannot be complete without her siggy, or, autograph, if you will. You know you liked all of the commas in that sentence. Anyway, according to this Etsy seller, From an early age, Elizabeth Tudor was praised for her literacy and artistic penmanship. Like her father King Henry VIII she signed her name succeeded with an “R”. The R stood for Rex, which means “King” in Latin.

Tyra Banks seems to have made the term “regal” hip and cool, along with the concept of smiling with your eyes. Adopt the regal look, literally, with this costume pattern.

I’m not sure if Queen Elizabeth I would be caught wearing a ring made of resin, but she was all about purity, right? White, purity, it works. Plus, this ring is cute.

And there you have it! I’m off to work on a dress project. Will post it when it’s complete. Happy Saturday!

I’m not the biggest typophile, but I do appreciate a good font when I see one. I religiously read I Love Typography and today they highlighted their fave fonts of 2009. Scrolling through I could not get past Memoriam when I saw it… it just, kinda blew me away. Breathtaking. Take a looksy.

Beautiful, classy and funky with a hint of retro flare. This is a great display font… sized any smaller than 48 point and a lot of information is lost. So delicate! I’m tempted to purchase and play. It’s fascinating how a font can be so inspiring. Ah, the possibilities for Memoriam!

Photo Credit: Evening Standard/Getty Images

When I think of The Haight, my mind goes to a place where I’m sure many others’ minds go as well. A place where acid trips and nudity go hand in hand with co-operative living situations and free love. I’m sure these things still occur here, and probably all over our lovely city, but on this particular day, on this particular stroll down Haight street, I got the impression that this neighborhood, although its rich history is palpable, has gone through some changes. Times change, as they say, and that change has left us with a living ghost town of sorts of a time that most of us wish we could have lived through. But since we have not yet invented time machines, we can just visit these places where significance took place and imagine what once was.

Once upon a time there was a lady of the night named Chartreuse. She would walk up and down Haight street searching, not only for customers, but for her true love. She never found him, but she did find her bottom half stuck in a window one morning after too many mint juleps and special truffles. She struggled and cried out for someone to bring her butter or vaseline so she could shimmy out of this predicament. She was unlucky in her endeavors and was stuck… forever. Historians have preserved her bottom half, and if you walk down Haight street, you can say hello to Chartreuse’s well preserved vag.

This sign is pretty sweet. I would get a tattoo here. Their sign is beautiful, it’s probably a good indication that their work is beautiful as well.

I’m not one of those girls who goes gaga over lingerie shops. Under garments are a necessity, not much more to me. But the sign for Dollhouse Bettie was so adorable, I had to stop and admire the sign and the shop as a result. So cute.

I have never been to Earthsong but this sign is gorgeous, elegant, detailed and attractive.

This was my favorite sign in the Haight. I don’t think you can ever go wrong referencing a Russian graphic designer. (Alexander Rodchenko to be exact). Mexican and Russian design aesthetics collide. A perfect combination if I do say so myself.

Oftentimes when designing for a business or individual, we designers are given guidelines, or specifications to work off of. In this case, I was asked to design a business card for someone who had decided to begin promoting her consultation services. It was what I like to call an “anything goes” project because I was given zero specifications. I was unaware of which colors she liked or the styles she was attracted to… nada. All I was given was her contact information, and that she wanted to list her specialties somewhere, perhaps like a watermark. This was quite the challenge, but it was very rewarding in the end… for both of us!

I made a total of 3 business card designs for her to choose from. Each had a very different style and color palette. She replied saying that she was most drawn to the above card. It was the last one I thought she’d pick! It was the most fun out of the three, and I think it works well for her. We made a few edits and tweaks and voila, the business card was complete. After I had sent her an email notifying her of when her cards should be delivered to her house, she replied, “I now have to live up to such a great card!” Aw shucks, I’m blushing!

I have not been living in the San Francisco for very long so most of my notions about particular neighborhoods are preconceived and derive from my more SF-native friends.

The Marina is one of those neighborhoods I have heard both negative and positive things about. From the alleged abundance of “frat boys” and conservative “douche bags” to the beauty and elegance that the Marina affords its residents and visitors – it seems like everyone takes something different away from this place. To me, the Marina at times reminded me of Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and Long Beach. All places I am very familiar with.

One thing that confused me in the Marina, and confuses me in any area of the city, is when something is called, for example “Presidio” or “Cow Hollow” when it is not in those areas. We encountered this quite a bit yesterday while strolling through the Marina. Luckily my roommate has lots of patience for my newbie questions.

The signage for this photo shop just made me really happy.

The sign and logo for Marina Meats is pretty simple, but I think it’s well done. The striped awnings paired with the vintage looking burgundy and beige logo and san serif font work is absolutely perfect. It evokes the feeling that you are indeed by the ocean, and in a luxurious part of town.

I thought this poster was clever and hilarious. They had several up, another with a piece of toast that said “We do it with the crust on.” Kudos, Whole Foods.

Alas, this virtual tour of the Marina cannot be complete without some visuals of the amazing houses. This solar-powered house in particular stuck out like a sore thumb amongst the century old structures that surround it.

This place was breathtaking. Snuggled on the corner of two streets I can’t remember the names of, this house, or building, or mansion… whatever it is, was in my opinion the prettiest in the Marina.

And there you have it. I Saw the Sign: Marina Edition was a fun adventure. I apologize for the gloomy photos. It was really overcast that day. Also, I didn’t capture as many signs as I should have because I was tired of walking. You try going on a walking tour of the Castro in the morning and then taking a mile plus stroll of the Marina for fun! Needless to say, my lesson was learned. These boots were made for walkin, but my feet are moody. Maybe next time I’ll try one of those Mr. Toad Tours. They seem cheesy, but potentially really fun.

]]> http://artsblog.tatianajimenez.com/graphic-art/i-saw-the-sign-marina-edition/feed/ 2 http://artsblog.tatianajimenez.com/graphic-art/i-saw-the-sign-noe-valley-edition/ http://artsblog.tatianajimenez.com/graphic-art/i-saw-the-sign-noe-valley-edition/#comments Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:15:13 +0000 tatiana http://artsblog.tatianajimenez.com/?p=793

The first thing that I realized I loved about the city of San Francisco was the many many unique store front signs. There is a significantly smaller number of chain stores and franchises in the city (versus the suburbs of Southern California), so it is quite the treat for we design folk who really appreciate good branding or just refreshing imagery in our surroundings. Ahhhh. Take a nice big breath of the fresh Noe Valley air and let’s explore the signage (and really pretty architecture!) in my neighborhood. It’s the signage that you meet, when you’re walkin’ down the street… ok, I’ll stop now.

Our tour begins with the signage for Qoio. I have no clue what this store sells, or if they have more than one location, but what I do know is that (according to me) this is the quintessential style of Noe Valley. The decorative ironwork mixed with the bright orange gives us a feeling of modernity mixing with the traditional architecture and history of the neighborhood. Plus, for whatever reason, I really love that they have a period at the end of their business name.

Many call Noe Valley “A Village within a City,” and this is a good example why. Pretty, adorable and friendly… adjectives I never usually associate with visits to the dentist.

I pass by this building every day when coming off of the J train. It ALWAYS captures my attention, and I love the cityscape with the Bay and Golden Gate bridges.

Ahhh, James Lick Middle School. Mostly known for being the Middle School that Carlos Santana attended.

Someday I will check out Shoe Blitz, for now I just admire the signage from afar. Great type work.

Our tour ends with some really great buildings I wanted to share. Above is the Noe Valley branch of the SF Public Library. Small, quaint, and situated between residencies. Beautiful, detailed design work on the exterior.

I can’t remember exactly when this house was built, but I believe it has been around since the late 1800s.

This is probably the one of the coolest things I’ve spotted in my neighborhood. How rad is this? I have a thing for argyle. Love love it.

And that concludes I Saw The Sign: Noe Valley Edition! I shall be exploring more neighborhoods and sharing my findings with you lovely folk.

]]> http://artsblog.tatianajimenez.com/graphic-art/i-saw-the-sign-noe-valley-edition/feed/ 9 http://artsblog.tatianajimenez.com/music/to-see-something-in-me-is-to-fall-in-love-with-a-b-film/ http://artsblog.tatianajimenez.com/music/to-see-something-in-me-is-to-fall-in-love-with-a-b-film/#comments Thu, 21 May 2009 18:37:29 +0000 tatiana http://artsblog.tatianajimenez.com/?p=367 One of my favorite bands lately has been Faded Paper Figures. Lil Miss Cathy told me about them a handful of months ago and I have been in audio bliss ever since. The vocals, sound mixing, and dynamics are all so amazing and heavenly. The lyrics are clever as hell, and take me back to my college days studying film theory.

Anyway, we heard that they were playing a show at Slidebar in Fullerton, so of course we went. I had never been to Slidebar before and read some horrible reviews on yelp, so I was expecting to hate the place. My impression of the venue was quite the contrary! Perhaps it had to do with the lineup last night? The crowd was not at all “bros and hos” as reviewers described it to be. The bouncers were fine, the crowd was cool. Everything was A-OK.

Moving on, when we arrived, a young lady by the name of Stacy Clark was playing. It was just her vocals and guitar but we were instantly fans. Her lyrics were relatable and her voice was very original (slightly reminiscent of Sherri DuPree of Eisley). Cathy and I talked to her a bit after the show and purchased her album Apples and Oranges. That was $5 well spent! I think it’s available on iTunes as well. I listened to it on the way to work this morning, and so far my favorite track is Hello Again. It’s one of those songs that makes you feel like it was written about you, or, I guess, about me. I recommend this album. And check out the cover art! So beautifully done.

Next up was our beloved Faded Paper Figures, except the announcer called them “Faded Paper Fingers.” I thought that was funny.

John of Faded Paper Figures posing for the camera!

The band played an amazing set. It’s always a great experience finally seeing a band live that you listen to almost everyday either at work or on the road. It’s like finally meeting a friend you’ve been getting to know online. It’s a nice feeling.

North by North from Tatiana Jimenez on Vimeo.

They played a great show and I hope that they continue making great music and playing together. Also! I recommend their album Dynamo. Available on iTunes (I currently have it on my iPhone. I loooovveee it.)

Aside from the well designed/organized environment, I shall explain why we left pretty early:

1. I’m old, and need my beauty sleep. I overheard someone from the Jakes say to some guy “We’re going on at 9:30,” to which I said to myself “Oh hell no, it’s Tuesday, that’s late.“
2. I felt like I was in an episode of Laguna Beach. I was surrounded by blonde, tanned, and Hurley-clad teens and started getting flashbacks of awkward high school moments. To add to this, these kids were obnoxious. I’m all for young people coming out to support local artists/musicians, but I was sleepy and not having it.
3. There was a teen couple grinding next to me… like… really? Control your hormones, this is not the Boogie, or whatever club the kids are going to these days.
4. The opening band Dolphin City was projecting video onto the wall behind them. That’s cool. I can appreciate that. Except for when the video is of a woman having intercourse, and the camera is focused on her face the whole time. That was a little disturbing and distracting. I had to situate myself so this tall guy’s head could block the sight of her face.

And there you have it.  Oh! But I did get my breakfast burrito, and BELIEVE THE HYPE. It was excellent.

In other news, a few weeks ago I googled “Project Runway” to see if Lifetime has updated it’s site with new contestant information for the Season 6 premiere on August 20th. To my dismay, they had not. A Lifetime site didn’t even show up in the search results (I looked through page 5), until today. Their SEO department needs to get on top of optimizing Project Runway… as of today, the Lifetime site shows up on the 3rd page of the google results. No bueno, Lifetime. BravoTV still comes up at the number one spot.  Blogging Project Runway wrote a nice memo a month ago regarding some issues that they had, which is a good read, and they make some excellent points. I know, as a HUGE fan of the show, I like to read some show teasers before the new season airs. So far, they don’t have much to offer. Although, their site is nice to look at…

AND I’m excited about Models of the Runway, a show that will air at 11pm right after our beloved PR, giving the viewers a glimpse into the world of the PR models. Unfortunately, there is no link where I can read more about this on their site. Lame! I guess I will just have to be patient. Hopefully Lifetime understands how important this show is to its fans and will be either equally or more awesome than Bravo. Only time will tell…