Inspiration of the week

The awesome graphic artist duo FAILE had a show of their work in Venice Beach. They started as street artists in NYC-- very cool look.

for all the coolness you can handle go to

http://www.faile.net/site/

my favorite thing about LA

I have to say, I really enjoy driving around LA and checking out the over the top key art all over the place. Here's a few buildings from my last trip.

This is one of my favorite bus wraps I've seen in a while. Sorry, had to take it in three shots.

SummerSlam 2011

Just got back from SummerSlam and SS Axxess at LA Live. So happy with how all the banners and key art looked this year. Steve Speeg art directed the fan access event signage. Here's a snap shot.

The key art looked good on billboards, street pole banners and standees.

SummerSlamin'

As I get ready for my annual trip to LA to take in all of the Summer Slam weekend festivities I'd like to take a little look back. We rebranded Summer Slam in 2009 with a cool-retro-old fight poster feel.

oh... no NOT that RETRO. Ouch!

more like this...

I really loved that one. The look translated well to everything like the set design...

and the chairs of course

The following year, we kept the retro look but bounced it up a decade, and really cranked up the orange. Which was a big departure for WWE.

the merch came out really cool. Who doesn't want a white fedora!

...and that brings us to this year. Kinda felt the retro thing was played out and was in the mood for some super hero-esque action. We shot the roster with that in mind-- and used a trampoline for the first time. Cool results- check out Eve Torres.

Now that we were locked and loaded with some aggressive photography we attacked the key art. Dan Bellon who spent three grueling days with me in Florida shooting, art directed the poster. Nina worked her magic on the finishing and retouching. Hells yeah...

Relentless.

The best part about working at WWE is getting to work with these guys! WWE Creative Services. Pic: March 2010.

What I do...

Yup, I've got the coolest job in the world. I've been working at WWE for over four years now, not only do I get to get travel all over the place but I get to work on some of the most diverse amount of projects you can ever imagine. I will do my best to show some, and give a little background.

Here's a sneak peak. We are working on the key art for Wrestle Mania 28-- photo shoot with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in New Orleans, August 4th. Per Bernal was shooting and Joe Giorno was my art director on set. (Dinner afterwards at NOLA.)

What I See...

I know, I know... another f'n design blog-- I can't imagine the world really needs another. But, for the first time in years I feel inspired to do it. After a recent trip to ComicCon I realized that I am a huge fan... not of comics or any of the fan boy culture per say, but of all things visual. In particular PRINT. Love it... big, small, old, new, on a shirt or on a wall, just love the smell of ink on paper. I stuffed my bag full of everything I could find, posters, brochures, cards, buttons, stickers! When I got back to the hotel room and dumped everything on the floor I realized I'm a junkie-- I'm addicted to graphic design.

I design every day, have done so since the mid 80's and I have a strong opinion. I get paid for my opinion, and for that I consider myself lucky. More about what I do later....

It all started with this. Circa 1976, third grade and my career path was laid out in front of me. I was either going to be rock star or the guy who paints the album covers....