Nike Skate Advertisements

Unique cars. Rad skateboarders. Awesome photoshoot. Way to go Nike.

Seattle Show 2009

The 11th Annual Seattle Show turned out to be quite the event. This small, design awards show was first organized in 1997 with the mission to highlight a lot of local talent and client work towards national recognition. Every year, more than 750 entries are judged and given awards based on design medium, individual skills, community involvement and the infamous ‘best of show’. While we at LeftRight can’t say we’ve received any of these awards (busy, busy), we are proud to say we’re part of a talented pool of designers, agencies and students all crossing paths in a collaborative manner to help combat the perils of ugliness.

Our friends at Creature have created ‘Reverse Memorials’ celebrating local youths’ achievement for local non-profit, The Service Board (sound familiar?). Instead of these memorials mourning a death, these reverse memorials celebrated the new and better lives these kids now have. Great job on getting a Gold, Creature.

University of Washington senior Francis Luu was tasked to rebrand the Port of Seattle, and was given a silver award for student work. A long time friend and colleague of LeftRight, we want to say we’re proud of you, Franko. You’ll always have a spot waiting for you at LR.

Click here to see who won.

Saks 5th Ave x Russian Constructivism x Sheppard Fairey

Doesn’t seem like these things have anything in common, but you’re in for a design and advertising mash-up.

Most of you may know of Sheppard Fairey through the infamous Obey – Worldwide Propaganda mission, or his Obama Poster that has caught the world by storm. Now, Saks 5th Avenue has commissioned Mr. Fairey to conjure up their latest advertising campaign in an effort to get people to, well, buy stuff.

Though intended to be tongue-in-cheek, this advertising campaign plays a lot off of bold graphics inspired by Russian Constructivism. The Saks slogan, “Want It!” is printed in lettering similar to the graphic designs of Rodchenko, the Russian graphic designer who was one of the founders of Constructivism. Even the black and white imagery, geometric shapes and flashes of red lend to some of the Soviet Union’s advertising in the 1920’s.

Many think this advertising effort has a lot to do with the economic sting. Sheppard Fairey thinks otherwise:

“Some people might think it could be making fun of what’s going on right now,” Mr. Fairey said. “But I think most people are sophisticated enough to realize it’s a way of grabbing attention. It’s commerce. I don’t think there is really any political statement embedded in this.”

imagery and minor snippets courtesy of The New York Times.

Insight

Aussie lifestyle brand Insight has awesome stuff. They also have one hell of an ad campaign running. This is really is the most innovative stuff going on in the surf/skate/snow industry right now. I mean really, check this:

my favorite^

pictures borrowed from photoshelter

Happy Father’s Day!

Just wanted to wish all the dads out there a Happy (Halmark) Father’s Day!

Note: What kind of “design blog” would we be without posting something designey? Here’s a clever Durex advertisement: