New location

Here is my work's new home:

http://www.markbolek.com/

New stuff

Happy 2010 Everyone. Got a new job as an in-house graphic designer at a large local bookstore so I've been busy settling. I am wearing many hats in this job and its been a bit harder to get really inspired. Here is some work I kicked out anyway:

Never see the light of day

A lot of good projects go into the abyss of not being chosen by the client this is an example of one. This 2-color piece is a 9x12 envelope/container for a local furniture distributor whose logo I removed to remain anonymous. Perhaps it was too modern for their liking, or they could not think beyond full color photography.

The taste of restraint is rarely know in these time of excess…

“Trendiness is seductive, especially to the young and inexperienced, for the principal reason that it offers no restraints, is lots of ‘fun’, permits unlimited possibilities for ‘self-expression,’ and doesn’t require conforming to the dictates of reason or aesthetics.”

“Coping with the problems relating to the understanding of design in business, depends a great deal on how well informed, genuinely interested, and experienced a businessman is. Managers responsible for design are chosen, not for their aesthetic judgments, nor for their impeccable taste, but for their administrative skills. Few, if any, understand the intricacies of design, or even the role, beyond the obvious, that design and designers play.

Most see the designer as a set of hands — a supplier — not as a strategic part of a business. Their background is primarily that of marketers, purchasing agents, or advertising specialists, not of connoisseurs of design. It is their uninformed, unfocused preferences or prejudices, their likes or dislikes that too often determine the look of things. Yet, much of the time, they are not even discriminating enough to distinguish between good and bad, between trendy and original, nor can they always recognize talent or specialized skills. In the field of design theirs is the dichotomy of being privileged but not necessarily being qualified — after all, design is not their business.”

–Paul Rand

Holding posters seems to be a fad these days. I wonder how long it will last?

Joe for dinner… cause I can.

Tough time for design…

Long time no post. Well I will refer to Veer to get me back on Track. Here is a cool scarf made out of the the epic font Helvetica that is laser-cut. Let me know what you think.

I am 30 and Apple is screwed

Everything seems to go wrong. The Economy, the war, Starbucks, and the iphone. Yes even the new 3G iphone has fallen short.

Like me Apple got caught up in everything big and failed releasing key software properly. They missed the little details. I think Apple is feeling, like me, the fact of turning 30 even though they are 33 (same age Jesus was crucified).Both Apple Inc. and I were born in July by the way. I also was born the same day as John Calvin. Scary I know.

Regardless life still remains good in many ways even through our personal blunders. Our failed good intentions somehow work out right and only God knows why. Even though I haven't been posting lately, the world still turns and God is good.

The design of this world is bittersweet and I choose to focus on the sweet.

Some wallpaper

If you know me, you'll know I dislike wallpaper, physical glue it on the wall, wallpaper. But I do like creating images for electronic wallpaper—for the simple fact it is easy to take down when you are sick of looking at it. Now it might not be to size but you will have to do some work make it fit your screen. Have fun!

Facebook vs. MySpace

Okay it has been a while. And a major battle between good design and bad design has been brewing for quite some time now. I have held back to think about this subject and now am more than ready to speak up on Facebook vs. MySpace. Now to some this may seem a silly thing to call it a battle. But in short I believe it to be one of the greatest battles over web design correctness (and design as a whole) that we will see in our lifetime. I think it can be compared to the battle between Yahoo and Google.

Now when speaking on the differences of Facebook and Myspace some may say they are very similar, when that is really not the case. One has a design that has loads of crap flopped all over the place like a teenager's room and the other has thought about the 2D screen space and has carefully crafted an environment which is clean, easy-to-navigate and pleasing to the eye (minus the annoying apps added by and programed simpletons with no taste)and has kept the integrity of its look throughout.


Facebook must win out, I really don't see any other way. Though it may also prove to be like Mac vs. PC, which has gone on for years but anyone who has EVER used both computers must come to the fact that Macs are better by far in taste and overall functionality.

But, there in lies the hitch. Humanity. Humans love stupid awful things–things that are bad not only for us but for those around us. From the forbidden fruit of Adam and Eve to menthol cigarettes of the lower-middle class (no offense), humanity has continued down the path of ignorant choices. Really, is the choice of being on MySpace any different?

If I wanted to hear your music I would order it up on LastFM or any other music sampling website at my leisure. but no you force it upon me instantly when I want to see pictures on you myspace page. This and many other freak backgrounds and gianormus ads speak volumes to the respect you have to the viewer of your site myspace and myspace users.

Give me and everyone else break.

Don't get me wrong freedom of speech and choices is a very good thing, only you just have to live with the outcome of those choices. So choose wisely. Choose Facebook.

Thank you.

Fun tee shirts

Just came across an old favorite: http://www.bustedtees.com/

Check out the "Mac daddy" one. Yeah that one is so me.

A little more civil disobiedience

Came across a Bob Dylan cover while listening to Cowboy Junkies. The lyrics still speak true to our present political situation. Notice the women on the block could be many of us asking about change. We need to act. Get involved. Please.

"License To Kill" –Bob Dylan

Man thinks 'cause he rules the earth

He can do with it as he please

And if things don't change soon, he will

Oh, man has invented his doom

First step was touching the moon

Now there's a woman on my block

She just sit there as the night grow still

She say who gonna take away his license to kill

Now, they take him and they teach him

And they groom him for life

And they set him on a path where he's bound to get ill

Then they bury him with stars

Sell his body like they do used cars

Now there's a woman on my block

She just sit there facin' the hill

She say who gonna take away his license to kill

Now, he's hell bent for destruction

He's afraid and confused

And his brain has been mismanaged with great skill

All he believes are his eyes

And his eyes they just tell him lies

But there's a woman on my block

Sitting there in a cold chill

She say who gonna take away his license to kill

May be noisemaker, spirit maker

Heartbreaker, backbreaker

Leave no stone unturned

May be an actor in a plot

That might be all that you got

Till your error you clearly learn

Now he worships at an altar of a stagnant pool

And when he sees his reflection he's fulfilled

Oh, man is opposed to fair play

He wants it all and he wants it his way

Now, there's a woman on my block

She just sit there as the night grow still

She say who gonna take away his license to kill

With this ticket I thee wed…

I have wanted to post this 2006 wedding invitation piece for some time. Please check back on this post, since I will be updating its description in the next passing weeks. I consider this piece one of my best works. To give you some history on it, this invite was for a couple to whom I am related to the bride. The groom owns his own movie production company and we have become very good friends as well as business associates. The couple chose to get married in a great old movie theater. Perfect setting, perfect concept to jump off from…

the cover

This is an actual shot of the happy couple staring at lights outside my house. I cut and layered them into a photo of an old theater. I redrew the text and movie sign itself carefully in Adobe Illustrator and brought it together in Photoshop with some other modifications.

main interior page

The piece opens upwards revealing the main interior page. This page's image was achieved by photographing the couple sitting on my couch and bringing in theater chairs from stock. I added a screen texture for the background and used a light drop-shadow to blur the text a bit to create a look of old movie credits.

map insert

I originally wanted this to be in an unachieved third fold—unfortunatley this was restricted by the printer. The map carries through the look of an early movie theater.

the RSVP

Arguably the part that turned out best. This RSVP ticket was a tear-off mailable piece. Already stamped on the reverse side, this ticket postcard achieved a +90% attending rate.


Fonts used in this piece:

Berthold Akzidenz Grotesk BE
Rosewood
Snell Roundhand (modified)

A question…

Great indie movie about segways. Don't ask.

Good snapshot of America. Click here: 10 MPH to check it out.

So I'm Busy

Praying for freedom.














So Its been a while… If you have been wondering where the heck I've been, I must confess its been a lot of Facebook, new job and Ron Paul. By the way GOOGLE RON PAUL!!!! NOW!!

Anyways I hope to get back to posting new work soon, so please don't give up on me! I have an ipod touch which helps me get my design content down into electronic form. Regardless I must say I NEED to promote Ron Paul until the presidential race is over. If you've Googled him like I asked you, you will understand.

Honestly our internet will have taxes on it soon, we will have national ID cards WAKE UP!!! Our government will soon control us from cradle to the grave and we are moving towards a Communistic society everyday. Ron Paul believes in our preserving and reestablishing personal freedoms and privacy. Like getting rid of the the IRS… Thats right! Our framers of this great country never intended for the U.S. government to be able to access info on how much you make. The far tax lays in only a sales tax—equality for the rich and poor. No special interest groups. But we need to fight. Support Ron Paul today!

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/

I got a job!!!!

I got a job at an ad agency. I will let you know how it goes!

Time to speak

The vote is coming. A great way to speak out on issues that are getting under your skin is to use your first amendment afforded to you by your constitution. You remember what that is right?

Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Listen, I voted for Bush in 2001 and now I need to rectify my actions. I was wrong.

If you like check out my shop
for this artwork on clothing to make a statement yourself. Don't stay silent!

New Blog Design

Hey Blue Bikers! I had some to to redesign and wanted to know what you thought. Be cruel you know I can handle it. Especially you CVH!