WHISKERINO

The beard growing phenomenon called Whiskerino starts NOVEMBER 1st, 2009. This year I will be growing and showing for the first time after watching from the sidelines in 2007. This year designers JR, Brandon and myself will be challenging our creativity and teaming up to create a photograph documentary of our 4 months of beard growing. In order to participate in Whiskerino one must sign up on the first day of November and upload a photo several times a week as proof of the progress. Below are some photos I took of JAR from Whiskerino 2007.







Look for my photos on Whiskerino and check back often as I will be posting some of the photos here.

MIKEY B AND HIS LETTERPRESS

The work of Mikey Burton is fantastic and beautiful. A friend of mine sent me this article about his thesis and it has a similar look of a project I am currently working on. I hope that is a good thing and I will share the project shortly. Below is a short video of Mikey B. making posters for the 08 election.

Letterpress Poster Printing from Joshua Gerken on Vimeo.

You can follow him on Twitter.

FALLINGWATER

I went on vacation last week to visit my parents in Ohio and other relatives near Pittsburgh. While there we drove down to Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater. The house built for the Kauffman's in 1934 has been on my list of places to visit for a long time and it was exciting to finally see. Below are a few photos I took of the outside.

Click on the images to view larger.














More photos on Flickr

QUOTE

I JUST ATE THIS

Click to view larger. Trust me, you will want to.

Every Friday is Chef's Choice (fellow designers Brandon and Jr call it Chef's Mess) at the Top of the House. The menu consists of everything they have served on the menu through the last week or two. As always, it looks tasty!

I really like ordering wraps and sandwiches so this week for $3.50US this is what I ordered and after being asked, "Are you serious?" was served for lunch. I call it the New York City Sewer Sammich.

Just in case you would like to add this to your favorite recipe list or order this sammich for yourself here are the ingredients. Very simple.

Ingredients:

2 slices of Pumpernickel bread
1 serving of Manicotti with meat sauce
1 fillet of Salmon with lemon sauce
1 giant hot dog
1 heaping spoonful of sour cream
2 any size spoonfuls of grated cheese

This goes well with a side of Baked! Cheddar & Sour Cream Ruffles and hot chocolate.

If you are thinking, "No way, did he eat that!" I did.


Photos by Brandon Hill

Happy Friday!

CLOSED

Some good stuff from designer Stefan Sagmeister about the power of time off.

BENEFITS OF A BICYCLE

I don't have credit of who did this or where it came from this little info graphic is awesome.

THE MARATHON AND WINTER REMINDER

This past weekend I ran in the Abby's Run for the heart and would have set a new world record if it wasn't for the kids sprinting, stopping and trying to tackle me. I only tripped 3 times. Of, course I am kidding. 1,500 of us in our hats and gloves ran a really flat and easy 5k for research into sudden cardiac death in children. It was a balmy 33 degrees. I found myself below.


Photo by Susan Pfannmuller

As we get close to winter its time for that last run of the year, the Waddell & Reed Kansas City Marathon this coming Saturday, October 17th. According to twitter, the marathon, half marathon and 5k are expecting a combined 10,000 runners this year. There is still time to register.

This year the running and cycling hit full stride by the end of March and beginning of April. This is a quick look back. The first run I did with our running club, The Lone Rangers, was the Brew to Brew 44 mile relay at the beginning of April. For the third year in a row, it was a great start to the running year.



After the first run it was more about Pearl (my bike) and cycling than running this summer. Living in the city there are a lot of roads to travel and lots of places to see. The riding began. I rode from Missouri to Kansas, from north of Weston to central Missouri, the Tour of Missouri Stage 7 route and to work and back many times. I also took an exciting cycling trip through Missouri's wine country near Hermann, MO. Below is a picture of a training ride with some friends we took mid summer through the central and southern part of Kansas City. The total mileage was over 1,500 miles for the summer.



Last month, however, ended the cycling season (unless there is a warm day or two) with the Bike MS ride. The ride was 180 miles over two days to bring awareness and fight MS. A total of 11 hours of cycling was slowed on the second day by a 20-30 mph headwind. Below is my friend Ryan and I setting the pace on day one.



As the running and cycling come to an end for the season a new season full of mountains and woods are waiting to give me new challenges. The picture below is me this year skiing in Colorado. Because the trees like to sneak up on me, this winter, a ski helmet will be warn.



Even with all the fad diets and p90x's out there nothing beats a good ol' get together to run or workout with friends. Keep it up this winter. Stay fit america, get out and play!

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THE WORST MAGAZINE EVER

The same day I wrote about the best magazine ever I opened my mail box and received another issue of the worst magazine ever.

There it was in my stack of mail, the Marc Ecko Complex Magazine. This is my least favorite magazine and I know what you are thinking. "Why do you get it?" Good question but I have asked myself the same question many times. The truth is, I have no idea how it even started appearing in my mail box to begin with. The first time I saw it in my mail I thought the postman put it in the wrong mailbox. It wouldn't be the first time that has happened.

Nope, it was in the right mailbox. It was addressed to me.

I have been receiving it for several months without ever reading it. Each issue has just been laying around taking up space. Part of the reason I never tried to read it is that it's busy and full of junk filling every page to every edge. The design and photography is mostly mediocre. Ok, I have seen some cool stuff.

Yes, its target market might be the 20-30 urban male that likes style but I guess I am a different kind of urban male with a different style. You would think that a magazine that has young beautiful women gracing the covers would appeal more to me but sadly this magazine makes me sick to even look at it let alone try to read it.

A month or two ago I went to the magazine website to unsubscribe to this magazine I was getting for free. There was no unsubscribe anywhere (if there is, let me know). I decided I would write Mr. Marc Ecko or at least Complex and tell them I no longer wanted their magazine.

I wrote:

Please remove me from your mailing list as I would no longer like to receive your ultimate buyer's guide for men (or something like that).

I hit send. Never heard anything from Marc or Complex.

And what did I find in my mailbox just the other day. The October/November issue.

Since I have another magazine I don't want I weighed my options. Instead of just tossing it out, I could either try to send it back with a lovely message or I could give it away to someone that appreciates urban style, hip hop, and magazines with no leading or negative space.

What do you think? Send it back or give it away?

If you or someone you know wants/needs a FREE magazine about urban men's style leave a comment or send me an email.

Will make a great white elephant gift.

THE BEST MAGAZINE EVER

During a time when many magazines are slowly breathing there last breath and the teary-eyed final good-byes of the contributors are sent out to the final few readers, comes the best magazine ever.

That is right, I said it. The best magazine ever is the latest issue of GOOD Magazine. I have read every page and that never happens. The latest issue of the magazine is a collection of the 100 "most important, exciting and innovative people, ideas and projects making our world better." This magazine is full of exciting info, graphs and paper art about things that matter.

It doesn't stop with just one magazine issue though. GOOD is the integrated media platform for people who want to live well and do good. It also consists of a website, videos, events, and blogs. It is a collaboration of individuals, businesses, and nonprofits pushing the world forward.

Think I am wrong about the GOOD 100 issue or want to see for yourself? The fall 2009 issue can be found on newsstands everywhere until the beginning of the year. If you haven't already, pick one up.

If you would like to join GOOD, its simple and 100% of all fees go to a non-profit of your choice. With a name like GOOD, how could it be bad?

QUOTE

BIRDS

Paintings by Frank Gonzales

DESIGN FOR NON-PROFITS

It's true, the identity of non-profits are changing and so must the face of the cause. More and more non profits are hiring professional designers to create new websites, brochures, ad campaigns and branding. People are tired of the status quo and fed up with the established ways of how things have been done. Just like commercial business some of the old ways of advertising and fundraising just don't work anymore.

The stories are not just written stories anymore, they have been changed from telethons to new approaches using logos, websites, and video. So how are non-profits standing out in a growing crowd? The are not only concerned about the story but more so about the marketing and design.

The The Girl Effect is a great example of how one non-profit uses type to illustrate its story. I can't stop watching it. Watch it below.



Below are just a few more samples of other non-profits and their websites that have used design and branding to carry their message with an impact.

Charity: Water


ONE


Creative Capital


Book Trust


The Designers Accord


The National Parks


Take the Walk


The amount of individuals and businesses donating is growing and the amount of opportunity to get involved is greater than ever with sites like Serve.gov and Changing the Present. Non-profits must stand out and they are.

Is it time to change?

Time to evolve?

Time to hire a designer?

What non-profits are you attracted to and which ones use good design?

If you are a non-profit and looking for a designer, contact me.