tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18322216832487809412024-02-18T22:53:36.560-06:00The MVA: Ideas. Objects. Images.the mva studio blogJNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189245188485301011noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832221683248780941.post-5762488912619043832010-01-28T23:54:00.003-06:002010-01-29T00:20:28.233-06:00Following directionsA lot of designers don’t like being given direction at the start of a project. The party line is that you want to start every project with an objective or goal but a totally blank slate to work from. The idea is that you should be given free reign to come up with every aspect of the visual/conceptual direction. This is the way that design is typically taught and its the ideal state of practice for most designers.<br /><br />We’ve started working on a new project with a friend whose got pretty clear direction and is quite opinionated. He knows what it is he’s looking for and what the end results should be. That’s totally fine by us. He and I were talking today about web stuff and looking at some sites while he shared his thoughts on basic navigation and architecture issues when he interrupted to say “Well, you guys are the designers and I trust you to do what you think is right.” I appreciated the acknowledgment of our talents but I ended up telling him that he has specific opinions and that unless we disagree with him about the direction we don’t see a need to get in the way. We’ve come to the conclusion that graphic design or making beautiful things isn’t really the point or the main thing we want to do. What we’re after is to work on and contribute to great projects in any way that we can. In this instance, the projects is an illustrator whose been out of the game for a minute and is re-starting his career<br />and needs our assistance to execute his vision. As long as we’re on the same page and share a similar opinion as to what good design is then who cares about creative vision? If he can take the work we do for him and get some new clients then we’re happy.<br /><br />_<br /><br /><script src="http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=c9b10dbb-ccd6-413a-b2af-971385b90bcc&type=website&embeds=true" type="text/javascript"></script><br />_JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05289370212779079429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832221683248780941.post-83517502548822804462009-07-28T00:44:00.004-05:002009-12-15T00:22:47.920-06:00DIY Album Art: book talk teaser<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="viddler_themva_1" height="370" width="437"><param name="movie" value="http://www.viddler.com/player/35bcea27/"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.viddler.com/player/35bcea27/" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" name="viddler_themva_1" height="370" width="437"></embed></object><br />_<br /><br />We just got this from our homie Isaac Gale at <a href="http://wearempls.com/" target="_blank">We Are Mpls</a>. Its the teaser for our series of videos where Namdev gives some background and context on the record labels featured in <span style="font-weight: bold;">"DIY Album Art: Paper Bags and Office Supplies"</span>. Enjoy!<br /><br />_<br /><br /><script src="http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=c9b10dbb-ccd6-413a-b2af-971385b90bcc&type=website&embeds=true" type="text/javascript"></script><br />_JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05289370212779079429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832221683248780941.post-56919020621533408172009-07-08T14:35:00.003-05:002009-12-15T00:23:07.379-06:00Cut It Out exhibition_<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/midwestvisualagency/3701961878/" target="_blank" title="CamoFlesh #001 by midwest visual agency, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3491/3701961878_3b3ba8ec02_o.jpg" alt="CamoFlesh #001" width="475" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">CamoFlesh #001</span><br />_<br /><br />Last year, I was invited to create some work for <a href="http://www.openspacebeacon.com/cut_it_out/index.html" target="_blank">Cut it Out</a>, an exhibition of 2D art that was cut, ripped, glued, etc. I produced 2 pieces (shown below) for the show. "CamoFlesh #001" is the first of a series I have been planning to do for awhile. I'd actually made 2 but wasn't feeling the 2nd one, but I had this creepy left-over piece of Lance Armstrong so I put him on a black background and, voila, art. The show was curated by our homie <a href="http://www.mikeperrystudio.com/" target="_blank">Mike Perry</a> and featured a ton of great artists including Justin Fines, Dan Funderburgh, Anna Wolf and our friends <a href="http://landland.net/" target="_blank">Dan Black</a> and <a href="http://hardlandheartland.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Hardland/Heartland</a><br />_<br /><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2667/3701961920_71bf6ffea6_o.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2667/3701961920_71bf6ffea6_o.jpg" alt="Lance" width="475" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Lance</span><br /><br />_<br /><br /><script src="http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=c9b10dbb-ccd6-413a-b2af-971385b90bcc&type=website&embeds=true" type="text/javascript"></script><br />_JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189245188485301011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832221683248780941.post-71106096656530894892009-07-03T15:06:00.004-05:002009-12-15T00:23:21.889-06:00Library Volume 3_<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/midwestvisualagency/sets/72157620912709122/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2640/3684861001_4ab32deb03_o.jpg" alt="Library" height="450" width="450" /></a><br />_<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Library Volume 2</span>, an on-going feature here at The MVA. Once a week or so, we'll posting highlights from our bookshelves, focusing on the obscure, beautiful books we've accumulated over the years.<br /><br />This week: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/midwestvisualagency/sets/72157620912709122/" target="_blank">"Planning for Industry, Art & Education"</a> a monograph by the criminally unknown dutch designer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieter_Brattinga" target="_blank">Pieter Brattinga</a> (1931-2004).<br /><br />_<br /><br /><script src="http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=c9b10dbb-ccd6-413a-b2af-971385b90bcc&type=website&embeds=true" type="text/javascript"></script><br />_JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189245188485301011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832221683248780941.post-86055897265378057282009-06-26T17:33:00.004-05:002009-12-15T00:23:36.586-06:00Library Volume 2_<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/midwestvisualagency/sets/72157620607580716/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2610/3663942646_2297b4928c_o.jpg" alt="Library" height="450" width="450" /></a><br />_<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Library Volume 2</span>, an on-going feature here at The MVA. Once a week or so, we'll posting highlights from our bookshelves, focusing on the obscure, beautiful books we've accumulated over the years.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/midwestvisualagency/sets/72157620607580716/" target="_blank">This is a quick one</a>.<br /><br />_<br /><br /><script src="http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=c9b10dbb-ccd6-413a-b2af-971385b90bcc&type=website&embeds=true" type="text/javascript"></script><br />_JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189245188485301011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832221683248780941.post-41259526656455079792009-06-24T11:55:00.005-05:002009-12-15T00:24:00.461-06:00Kimberlee Whaley: Drift_<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/midwestvisualagency/sets/72157601941813465/show/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3542/3657686702_ca5602fdec_o.jpg" alt="Drift_SLIDE" width="450" /></a><br />_<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/midwestvisualagency/sets/72157601941813465/show/" target="_blank">Drift</a>, a project by MVA partner Kimberlee Whaley. To share this project on your website or blog, click the "share" button in the upper-right corner of the Flickr slideshow.<br /><br />Links: <a href="http://kimberleewhaley.com/" target="_blank">kimberleewhaley.com</a>; <a href="http://www.artificialhorizons.net/" target="_blank">Photo Blog</a>; <a href="http://twitter.com/kimberleewhaley" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.<br /><br />_<br /><br /><script src="http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=c9b10dbb-ccd6-413a-b2af-971385b90bcc&type=website&embeds=true" type="text/javascript"></script><br />_JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189245188485301011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832221683248780941.post-88269793168989197022009-06-24T11:10:00.005-05:002009-12-15T00:26:28.475-06:00DIY Album Art cover_<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/midwestvisualagency/3656780817/" title="DIY Album Art—final dummy by midwest visual agency, on Flickr" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3579/3656780817_22009de2e9.jpg" alt="DIY Album Art—final dummy" width="450" /></a><br />_<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DIY Album Art: Paper Bags and Office Supplies</span> is coming! Christopher at <a href="http://markbatty.com/" target="_blank">Mark Batty</a> just sent us this paper dummy that they've been showing at the publishing expos. The interior is blank but the cover looks sick: embossed book board, tipped-in credits and a foil-stamped sleeve. Aw yeah.<br /><br />The book drops for real next month. We'll have a pretty awesome pre-order deal up shortly, plus some related goodies.<br />_<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/midwestvisualagency/3657575586/" title="DIY Album Art—final dummy by midwest visual agency, on Flickr" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3627/3657575586_3a46233cc7.jpg" alt="DIY Album Art—final dummy" width="450" /></a><br /><br /><br />_<br /><br /><script src="http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=c9b10dbb-ccd6-413a-b2af-971385b90bcc&type=website&embeds=true" type="text/javascript"></script><br />_JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189245188485301011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832221683248780941.post-79556518341941821292009-06-17T15:32:00.007-05:002009-12-15T00:24:15.689-06:00Library Volume 1_<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/midwestvisualagency/sets/72157619881082064/" title="Library by midwest visual agency, on Flickr" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2427/3636827860_456dd5b245_o.jpg" alt="Library" height="450" width="450" /></a><br />_<br /><br />We're pleased to announce Library, an on-going feature here at The MVA. Once a week or so, we'll posting highlights from our bookshelves, focusing on the obscure, beautiful books we've accumulated over the years.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/midwestvisualagency/sets/72157619881082064/" target="_blank">Enjoy</a>.<br /><br /><br />_<br /><br /><script src="http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=c9b10dbb-ccd6-413a-b2af-971385b90bcc&type=website&embeds=true" type="text/javascript"></script><br />_JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189245188485301011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832221683248780941.post-79093937877227044362009-06-08T15:14:00.010-05:002009-12-15T00:24:33.526-06:00Best of Both Hoods_<br /><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/3551481757_87f9b6fe66_o.jpg" alt="Best of Both Hoods zine" width="475" /><br />_<br /><br />16-page collaborative zine of drawings, lettering, type and photography by The MVA and Mike Perry/Midwestisbest. Completed in 2007, published as an edition of 500 2-color offset zines.<br /><br /><a href="http://the-mva.blogspot.com/2009/02/best-of-both-hoods.html" target="_blank">View</a><br /><a href="http://issuu.com/the-mva/docs/mva_bestofbothhoods" target="_blank">Download</a><br /><br />_<br /><br /><script src="http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=c9b10dbb-ccd6-413a-b2af-971385b90bcc&type=website&embeds=true" type="text/javascript"></script><br />_JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189245188485301011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832221683248780941.post-520056366683122222009-06-05T20:29:00.001-05:002009-08-05T20:30:04.654-05:00ContactWe welcome your inquiries about our work, art or otherwise. Feel free to call or email.<br />_<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">email:</span><br />jnh //at// the-mva.com<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">phone:</span><br />612-308-2279 (J. Namdev Hardisty) or 612-308-2010 (Kimberlee Whaley)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">studio:</span><br />2205 California St NE, Suite 207B, Minneapolis MN 55418<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189245188485301011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832221683248780941.post-43724185968165907712009-06-04T15:15:00.020-05:002009-12-15T00:24:55.635-06:00Kimberlee Whaley: MonoWood_<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/midwestvisualagency/sets/72157601949022638/show/" title="MonoWood, you dig" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3350/3596333506_d47075e132_o.jpg" alt="MONOWOOD_SLIDE" height="373" width="450" /></a><br />_<br /><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/midwestvisualagency/sets/72157601949022638/show/" target="_blank">MonoWood</a>, a project by MVA partner Kimberlee Whaley. Please leave a comment here or at Flickr if you dig this work. To share this project on your website or blog, click the "share" button in the upper-right corner of the Flickr slideshow.<br /><br />Kimberlee Whaley's new personal site is in development now, should launch within a month. You can see another selection of work at <a href="http://kimberleewhaley.com/" target="_blank">kimberleewhaley.com</a>, check her blog at <a href="http://www.artificialhorizons.net/" target="_blank">ArtificialHorizons.net</a> or follow her on <a href="http://twitter.com/kimberleewhaley" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.<br /></p><p></p><br />_JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189245188485301011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832221683248780941.post-80629626723686801312009-06-02T16:17:00.009-05:002009-12-15T00:25:10.219-06:00The Penrose Annual_<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/insect54/485241706/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/196/485241706_8b211fd723_o.jpg" width="425" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The Penrose Annual 1964. Uploaded by Insect54</span><br /><br />_<br /><p>One of my student's came in last night with 7 or 8 issues of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Penrose_Annual">The Penrose Annual </a>from the MCAD Library. I had never seen one in real life and they are absolutely stunning. From 1964 on, they were edited by Herbert Spencer (who designed the one above) and they show his influence. Essentially a printers' annual, they included full-size reproductions of maps, newspapers, advertising, plus amazing uses of spot colors. A lot of generous souls have documented them on Flickr:<br /></p><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uppercaseyyc/sets/72157612416406180/">Penrose Annual 1958</a> (Courtesy Uppercasyyc)<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uniteditions/sets/72157618730577077/">Penrose Annual 1972</a> (Courtesy Unit Editions)<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uniteditions/sets/72157618107535099/">Penrose Annual 1974</a> (Courtesy Unit Editions)</p><p>For more pictures try your <a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=penrose%20annual&w=all">luck</a>. (Attention Flickr users: put your stuff in Sets, ok?).<br /></p><p>More reading: <a href="http://www.eyemagazine.com/feature.php?id=131&fid=578">For Printers By Printers</a><br />_<br /><br /><a href="http://mva.bigcartel.com/"><br /></a></p>JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05289370212779079429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832221683248780941.post-29181413111735033172009-06-01T16:03:00.010-05:002009-12-15T00:25:28.680-06:00New Skateboard Graphics updates_<br /><br /><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3395/3552289438_873d3a8272_o.jpg" width="450" /><br /><br />_<br /><p>We did 2 big updates related to New Skateboard Graphics last week.<br />We uploaded a ton of new photography to Flickr, so you can see the book for real here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/midwestvisualagency/sets/72157619025501985/">New Skateboard Graphics on Flickr</a>. While you're there, there's also a new set "<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/midwestvisualagency/sets/72157601928407783/">Selected Work</a>" containing our favorite pieces re-photographed.<br /><br />And then a big update to <a href="http://newskateboardgraphics.com/">newskateboardgraphics.com</a> including:<br />1. <a href="http://newskateboardgraphics.com/book/press/">Recent reviews</a><br />2. <a href="http://newskateboardgraphics.com/book/pages/">40 sample spreads</a><br />3. Interviews with <a href="http://newskateboardgraphics.com/book/interviews/#/14-questions-with-kelly-d-williams">Kelly D. Williams</a> and <a href="http://newskateboardgraphics.com/book/interviews/#/14-questions-with-ben-horton">Ben Horton</a>.<br /><br />We'll have more artist interviews coming soon, too!<br />_<br /><a href="http://stackpaper.bigcartel.com/"><br /></a></p>JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189245188485301011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832221683248780941.post-85936694880784286322009-04-05T20:39:00.000-05:002009-08-05T20:39:48.671-05:00About J. Namdev HardistyNamdev has been practicing graphic design in some form since the age of 15, when he was making punk zines by hand or on borrowed computer time.<br /><br />In the 16 years following, he received a BFA in Graphic Design from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design, where his work was awarded with two merit scholarships and recognized by the AIGA, and gained experience working in a variety of settings: chief designer at Intermedia Arts, a non-profit art center in Minneapolis; in-house designer on Target’s brand team; and working with ad agencies.<br /><br />In addition, he continues to produce art works and products that use the language and methodology of graphic design as their means.<br /><br />He recently began teaching in the Continuing Studies department at MCAD and hopes to continue to teach and conduct workshops.<br />_<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Press/Publications:</span><br />Namdev’s hand-made typography and patterns have been featured in the books “Hand Job: A Catalog of Type”, which he also contributed an essay to, and “Over and Over: A Catalog of Hand-drawn Patterns”, both from our friends Mike Perry and Princeton Architectural Press.JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189245188485301011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832221683248780941.post-27222402263167568272009-04-05T20:37:00.000-05:002009-08-05T20:38:37.379-05:00About Kimberlee WhaleyKimberlee received her BFA in Photography from MCAD in 2003 and has since followed a path that encompasses fine art, commercial photography and more. She was awarded a Jerome Travel Grant to travel to her hometown of New Bedford, Massachusetts and continue her final year project, “Fragments” and this year Kim received a State Arts Board grant to work on her winter landscape project “Plateau”.<br /><br />Images from “Plateau”, as well as her projects “MonoWood” and “Drift” were exhibited in a number of group shows this year.<br /><br />In addition to her work at The MVA, Kim works with food photography and shoots lifestyle and wedding photography when the opportunities are interesting.<br />_<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Press/Publications:</span><br />Kimberlee contributed photographs to Mike Perry’s book “Hand Job: A Catalog of Type”.<br /><br />Under the art direction of Deb Littlejohn (Design Institute and TWO), Kim created a photographic taxonomy of mapping techniques and strategies for the book “If/Then: Mapping”, edited by Janet Abrams and Peter Hall, and published by the now defunct University of Minnesota Design Institute.JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189245188485301011noreply@blogger.com0