The University of the Arts Design Posters Revived

Between 1990 and 1992, a series of posters was created to announce lectures by famous designers and creative thinkers including Dan Friedman, M&Co., Matthew Carter, and Muriel Cooper. These simple diazo-process posters were never meant to last more than a week or so. Recently, we opened our archive and resurrected the series, or the ones we could find, rebuilding them in high-resolution.

We don’t have any plans to reissue these but we’ll keep that in mind if there’s interest. But for now, enjoy this blast from the past.

Muriel Cooper: Computers and Design
Victor Margolin: The Russian Revolution
Matthew Carter: Type and Technology
Tibor Kalman: M&Co.
Dan Friedman
Robert Koehl: Greek Myths
Doug Scott: Graphic Design in America

NYC Swim Dives in to Social Media

NYC Swim Twitter Page Customization by Lee Willett / Studio 23

NYCswim_twitter2_550NYC Swim, an organization that raises money by organizing swims in the waters around Manhattan, wanted a way to communicate with participants quickly and easily to promote their events and to give them updated information about swims. While they already had a Twitter account, it was underutilized and bore no resemblance to the organization’s yearly promotional campaign graphics.

Studio23 created a fresh look for their Twitter page based on the established graphics that were to be introduced for the upcoming season. With this idea in mind, the page was conceived to change annually and, during the off season, would be replaced with photos of the previous year’s events.

Since launch, the number of followers has steadily increased, but more importantly, it has allowed our client to create a dialog with their users quickly, easily and effectively. And in case you’re in Manhattan in the summer and see a group of swimmers in the water, one of them might be from Studio 23.

Studio 23 Wins Core77 Poster Contest

Conservation Poster by Lee Willett / Studio 23

ConservePosterStudio 23 is proud to announce its poster submission to Core77.com’s Sustainable Refrainables competition has been awarded a jury prize by the Core77 design community. Over 400 entries were submitted and ours was voted fourth most popular meaning the poster will be produced as transit shelters that will be displayed in San Francisco for one week prior and during Design Week in San Francisco, June 13-19, 2011. If you’re in the city in mid June, keep an eye out for our poster.

Project
Create a poster with the phrases that move people toward sustainable design and business solutions.

Background Info
Core77 collaborated with the San Francisco chapter of AIGA to support their fourth biennial Compostmodern conference. The conference, dedicated to promoting and inspiring sustainable design solutions, is geared to established design firms and advertising agencies, emerging designers, design students and strategists who are interested in cultivating sustainable design by becoming catalysts for cultural, social and ecological transformation. Compostmodern 2011 will explore the current and future potential for ecologically sustainable growth and responsible design, focusing on real world solutions and practical applications of design thinking.

Task Definition
“Sustainable Refrainables” is a poster design competition celebrating words of persuasion. Designers tell stories. We use those stories to convey complex ideas in an engaging and meaningful way. One of those most complex ideas we deal with is about sustainable design—how to do it creatively, and how to garner support from our clients to do it effectively. Frameworks can get dry very quickly. Case studies can only take you so far. Often times, what we really need is a powerful opening salvo to jumpstart the dialogue.

The Compostmodern Core77 Design Competition invites designers to share those mantric phrases they find most powerful in communicating positive action. Maybe the phrase is something as simple as “I never use the word ‘sustainability.'” or “The first rule is listen. The second rule is to ignore what you heard and do it better.” or “There is no silver bullet, just silver buckshot.” Whatever your magic phrase, design it up in poster form, upload it to the competition site, and comment on your favorites. We’re looking for your most graphic, persuasive quotables!

All five winners will have their posters produced as transit shelters that will be displayed in San Francisco for one week prior and during Design Week in San Francisco, June 13-19, 2011. Posters will also be produced and awarded to the winning designers.

Studio 23 Launches Disfluency.com

Disfluency Web Magazine Design by Lee Willett / Studio 23
DisfluencyToday, Studio 23 launched a new site called Disfluency.com which contains bits and pieces of design postings from around the web loosely tied together on the theme of disfluency—the art of making things difficult. Disfluency is a break or interruption in a visual flow of elements. It implies a disjointed nature of elements which can lead to effective or disastrous communications as a result. On the one hand, creating messages that challenge the reader can make those messages more effective and memorable. However, too little structure leads to chaos and anarchy. The right balance is the goal of any good designer. Stay tuned.

A New Mark for Lewisboro Library

Lewisboro Library Identity

LewisboroLibraryThe Lewisboro Library is perceived as a local resource by the community it serves. The Library, in fact, is a vibrant hub of activity offering programs, internet connection, books, videos and music from any of the libraries in the Westchester Library System. In addition, the Library was embarking on a new fundraising campaign and wanted a fresh identity to communicate a sense of tradition and a preparedness for the future.

Studio 23 created a logo that combines traditional and electronic elements to convey both a sense of past and future.

Simbiosis Multicultural Marketing

Simbiosis Website Design by Lee Willett / Studio 23

How do you connect with potential clients when your business is all about making connections? You hire Studio 23 to design and build a website that’s simple, clean, and allows you to update it and make changes easily.

The startup company Simbiosis serves as a bridge to foster new business connections between companies and agencies in the Latino and multicultural markets. As such, they needed a site where potential clients could learn more about the company, serving as a lead generator. Tony Dagnery, Simbiosis’s President, knew what he needed but because he was starting up, was afraid his costs would be prohibitive. Fortunately, he is also very hands-on and once the website site was set up, he was able to make changes as necessary, thus saving time and money.

And how is Simbiosis today? It’s making connections.

Bitforms Gallery

Bitforms Gallery Website Design by Lee Willett / Studio 23

bitforms2_pageBitforms gallery asked Studio23 to update the design of their website by adding a host of new features, including videos and podcasts, without changing the simple, clean look of the site. Furthermore, while the content management system needed some upgrades, they didn’t want to have to learn a new management system.

Our solution? Create a new front-end that better shows the diverse work of their artists while upgrading their back-end system to allow for better management of new media files. The new system allows the administrator to upload and manage not only still graphics but video files that stream quickly—an important addition for a gallery whose artists’ work is often kinetic.

How does the system come together? See for yourself at bitforms.com.

A Stylish New Look

Styleworks of Union Square Branding and Identity by Lee Willett / Studio 23

StyleWorks1Styleworks of Union Square asked Studio23 to create a new identity, stationery system and website as professional and stylish as themselves. Studio23 rose to the challenge and created a simple and elegant identity that is changeable for various audiences and uses. The business cards, shown below, took the form of an apparel tag—a perfect metaphor for a company that helps clients look their best. The website explains the various services of the company and helps to generate new clients.

And how does the client like the new identity? Let’s just say, it’s a perfect fit.

A Site That’s Out of This World for AMNH

American Museum of Natural History Le Perigord restaurant website design by Lee Willett / Studio 23

AMNH_Saturn1The American Museum of Natural History asked Studio23 to design a website to accompany it’s on-site exhibition of images from the Cassini-Huygens probe orbiting Saturn. The installation included a wealth of high-resolution images and text explaining the mission, the planet, it’s moons and space photography. We at Studio23 were excited to create a site that displays the photos and the information simply and beautifully.

How was the site received? Well, we’ve heard that some think it is out of this world.

Dinosaurs Alive!

Dinosaurs Alive Website Design by Lee Willett / Studio 23
Dinosalive_homeFor the IMAX film Dinosaurs Alive, the American Museum of Natural History and Giant Screen Films chose Studio 23 to create a site as a gateway to a global adventure of science and discovery. Visitors can learn about he film, view the trailer and even send dinosaur e-cards to friends. The site uses images from the film and computer-generated dinosaurs to give the user an experience that brings dinosaurs back to life.