¶ When I first discovered Jennifer Daniel's work I was struck by the concise wit and fantastic diversity of her portfolio which ranges from icons to illustration and information graphics. Then when our letterpress printing shop was recently called upon by Jennifer to print her new business cards my delight could hardly be contained to find out that Ms Daniel had diversified her business even further to now offering professional unicorn grooming services.
¶ Getting along with others is not easy. Relationships require all that commitment of personal time, attention and effort, even when not particularly in the mood. But it’s the price you must pay if you want a bridge foursome.
Online social networking is just as difficult. The searching, writing, posting, commenting, uploading, tweeting, retweeting and even retweeting damn retweets is as labor intensive as hand-setting 12 point lead type.
This recently completed letterpress project for Shadow Works depicts the big search and social networking websites as clunky old apparatus. Having plodded along for a while now with twitter, facebook and the like, I appreciate the comparison. Even though it’s made on a computer, the best social networking feels hand crafted by an actual person who cares.
Continue reading to see the whole Shadow Works series and a list of this old letterpress printer’s feeble attempts at social networking.
~ 52nd Annual Exhibition ~
Cranky Pressman is pleased as Punch to have our piece included in the current Society of Illustrators "Annual Exhibition: Illustrators 52". The work we call 'Old Creative Juices' was created by our old friend the talented and witty David Flaherty. Cheers Dave and congratulations!
Founded in 1901, The Society is a creative industry and New York institution. The annual show celebrates outstanding illustrative works in three categories; Sequential and Uncommissioned, Book and Editorial, as well as an Advertising and Institutional exhibit where our letterpress print is featured. Opening reception for the Ad category is tonight, March 5, 2010 at the museum’s galleries in New York City’s Upper East Side.
Production notes and copywriting for the piece after jump.
¶ Not ones to complain... Oh wait, I suppose we are. In that case it has to be said, 2009 was a year of epic awfulness that everyone, except the fat cat bankers, is happy to see the backside of. About the only good thing I see coming out of the mess will be stories of the Great Recession that will bore kids to tears for generations to come.
In all honesty, Cranky Pressman did okay but things could have been better. It was quite clear that budgets were tight, designers were pushing for work but clients were holding back. Not surprising. On the bright side we produced some fabulous work for our customers and appreciate every single piece.
So in a rare moment of positive thinking we present our second annual self-promotional calendar. If ever there was a time to put the past behind and prepare for the work ahead it is now. We hope everyone has a great and prosperous new year. We also are interested in your thoughts on 2009 and outlook for 2010 so will send a free letterpress calendar, like the one pictured above, to the first 50 people who comment on this post. Details after the break.
¶ We were proud to help designer Nathan Freeman with his identity project for International Justice Mission (IJM) a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. The piece illustrates how letterpress print is not just for lighthearted work but is also very effective for bringing a feel of sophistication, importance and professionalism to institutional or business communications.
