Here’s a great little interview with the father of our new Brandiose script, Ken Barber of House Industries. Ken was amazing to collaborate with. Every conversation we had during the process was this cerebral, poetic experience. Really fun. Ken’s the best at what he does, lets all take a minute to learn a little from the best!

House Industries: Interview with Ken Barber from Gestalten on Vimeo.

Wanna see why Reading Pennsylvania is one of the greatest places in the World? Check out what their Home Run Derby is going to look like at this year’s Eastern League All-Star Game.

Jason and I were present for the birth of this idea. I can’t wait to see it come to life. We might just have to be there in person. Scott Hunsicker is one of our best buddies and this is how he is when you are having a beer with him. Exactly like this.

We get a steady stream of emails from young designers asking for tips on starting a design firm and it’s always flattering. There are tons of tips and tricks that we’ve learned over our 12 years and most of them are pretty standard fare, things you could learn from most books or magazines. We love to learn new pearls of wisdom. Even the smallest tip can have a huge impact. Here’s one that I came up with.

Patience is one of the best tools in your toolbox when your starting something like a new company. P.R. people will have you believe that everyone just happened upon their success. That achievements are stumbled upon like an unpicked-up dog turd at a park. This is rarely true.

Things take time. Doing things correctly takes time. Getting work, building an audience, creating a reputation, it all takes time. Now, I don’t think I’m a naturally patient person so that’s why I keep citrus trees in my house. Not only do they look great and give fruit, but they are a great clock for life. Let me explain. Every couple days you have to water it. You have to clean, fertilize, and groom it every few months. And maybe, if your lucky, once a year you’ll get fruit. The next year, you’ll get a few more. And so on. Each time a new lime blossom starts to bud it reminds me of all the work I’ve put into that tree to get to that lime. Whenever I’m feeling like things are taking too long to wrap-up or get started at work, I’m reminded to be patient by this little lime tree.

This is a Kaffir Lime tree that I acquired a little over a year ago and it’s already given us a few limes. It’s our third citrus tree. We also have a Meyer lemon and a Key Lime. Man, there’s nothing like cracking open a beer and squeezing a lime into it that you’ve grown. Is a fruit tree a cheesy metaphor for life? Sure. But it works!

I’m pretty sure 2012 is going to be a great year for Brandiose and Clink. We’ve been watering a caring for a lot of trees and they’re about to bud. We can’t wait to share that stuff with you.

Next week we launch another cap! Kick this weekend’s ass everyone!

We haven’t done a good book recomendation in a while and have I got a good one for you. Charley Harper his a master of illustration. His stylized animal illustrations, United States National Park Service posters, and numerous other projects make this book “Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life” a must have for any designer. A quick google search and you’ll find some spectacular mosaic murals, including one for the Cincinnati Federal Building.

Mr. Harper’s work is profound for a few reasons. His sense of negative space makes him the granddaddy of our beloved Shadow League designs. The way he contorts and simplifies his subjects simultaneously animates and gives them iconic shape. But what I find most impressive is his ability to simplify. But not just simplicity for the sake of simplicity. His simplicity becomes a tool for storytelling. Check out that turtle on the cover of the book. No head, no tail, no legs, a square composition, removing those things that would terrify the average designer. But Charley turns it into a story, the turtle infused with life and a personality. Amazing. Get the book and be amazed. My New Year’s resolution? Think more like Charley Harper.

Thanks to Miki for the Book. Thanks to Sam for prodding me to do the post.

Jason and I started our company nearly 12 years ago. In those 12 years we’ve been in the same physical location for a combined total of 6 months. How we’ve accomplished that, how we’ve built our company, is with Apple Computers. Sure, we could have done it on PCs. But Apple and Steve Jobs has made our experience elegant, fun, and intuitive. Upon reflection on the passing of Mr. Jobs, Apple has played a larger part in nurturing my friendship and partnership with Jason as well as the growing of my business than I had originally understood. I’m grateful for what he has created. Thank you for your beautiful work Steve Jobs.

Someone do me a favor and get me a Shadow League entry of a guy, wait for it, on a buffalo. Do it in the style of the University of Wyoming Cowboy’s logo. I need that hat. I’m not saying you’ll be a guaranteed winner but I might be saying that.

This is my next thing to look forward to sharing with my son. He’s only 1 year old, but I’m already counting down the days. What do you guys think is the right age to show him “A New Hope”? 5 years old? 4? 3? 2? Tonight? You know how parents have to toil with the “When will we have the sex conversation” with their kids? I’m already toiling with how to keep Star Wars Part 1-3 away from him.

How to Make it in America: Mishka Edition! Check these great interviews with the Mishka guys. Jason and I are proud to be a super small part of the Mishka family. The video is a great portrait of what they’ve got going on over there. A bunch of fun, interesting, humble guys grindin’.

More awesome inspiration for the Shadow League. Watch this beautifully designed an animated short by Michel Gagné. Go check out all the other great stuff Michel has to offer.

Thanks Ryan!

Need some inspiration for your next Shadow League entry? Check out this great little feature, “Tokyo’s Top 10 Mythical Beasts” via CNBC. Need convincing? A Kirin is not just a mascot for a beer company but a badass dragon/horse. Need I say more?