The Old State - Blog

A Behanding | In Spokane

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:10:24 GMT

I flew out to NYC this weekend to visit my good friend Jeff Rogers (who is an amazing illustrator and designer and will have a few items in our General Store shortly). Jeff works for Spotco and designs posters for Broadway shows. He hooked us up with some free tickets to opening night of A Behanding in Spokane with Christopher Walken and Sam Rockwell.%26nbsp;

The show was absolutely hilarious! Walken was in classic form and the rest of the cast was incredible as well. If you're going to be in NY between now and June 6th, I highly recommend it.

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Ok, now it's time to namedrop a few of the celebrities we encountered there! Hugh Jackman was sitting down the row from us. I brushed past David Hyde Pierce, Peter Dinklage, and Jason Sudeikis. Ricky Bobby's wife Leslie Bibb was there as well.

Badass | Blog

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:58:11 GMT

If you ever find yourself bored on a Friday head over to one of my favorite blogs on the web: Badass Of The Week. Every week there is a new post about a historical person who has done something worthy of the moniker "Badass". The writing is absolutely hilarious and the stories are genuinely interesting.

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The author, Ben Thompson (who incidentally has degrees in History and Political Science), just published his first book, entitled Badass (imagine that). I highly recommend it if you are into history and crass humor...like me.

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A warning from Ben Thompson:

"You should probably also be aware that this site features an unnecessarily copious amount of profanity, so if you're easily offended by that sort of thing then this would be a good time for you to turn off your computer and go join a convent."

The Beauty of CSS

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 04:24:12 GMT

It's been a while since I've designed websites as a freelancer now that I'm working at The Old State because my position involves the business side of running a web firm. And I love it, I love my job and I love working with our clients. But when I am busy running to meetings, managing projects and QAing all the sites our team has built, I often overlook the amazing workmanship behind it all. And one of the most important elements to a great site, which I always forget to appreciate, is CSS.

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Cascading Style Sheets...what the heck are Cascading Style Sheets? Simply put, it is a markup language defining the structure of the site and the possibilities are endless. For instance, you can define the font, the colors, the background, the columns, the positioning of objects and so much more. What's great about CSS is you can use a single sheet to define hundreds and thousands of pages and change the entire look and structure of the site by going back and redefining that one sheet. I am no expert, believe me, but the mark of a great website built with CSS is how the site looks when the aesthetics are stripped away.

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Why is it so important to use CSS? For starters, it's HTML friendly, which is music to our ears. And with that being said, it's also compatible with all browsers, meaning the rare 2% of consumers who use let's say Opera can see the site without it being broken (of course there can be slight variances here and there). CSS is also SEO friendly, loads faster and above all, super customizable while maintaining consistency.

One of my favorite sites that celebrates CSS is CSS Zen Garden. It invites designers and developers to take the current site, download the HTML and CSS and redesign the whole site without touching the HTML codes, only manipulating CSS. It's quite challenging, but the site exhibits just how wonderful CSS can be. Here's the original site and below are a few of my favorite entries. They all look different, but the content and the HTML codes are identical. Marvelous, isn't it?

Designer Profile-|Milton Glaser

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:20:09 GMT

A while back, I wrote about Saul Bass, one of my all-time favorite designers and a real inspiration to me. I'd like to continue on that path and write about another of my design heroes: Milton Glaser.
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The scope and diversity of this man's work astounds me. He's done everything from poster design to branding to environmental design to magazine publishing. Here are a few of his accomplishments:
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%26#8226; In 1954 he founded the highly influential Push Pin Studio with Semour Chwast, Reynold Ruffins and Edward Sorel.
%26#8226; In 1968 he and Clay Felker founded New York Magazine, a publication that continues to lead the way in both the print and web media.
%26#8226; In 1974 he founded Milton Glaser, Inc. where he produced the iconic "I Love NY" logo.
%26#8226; In 1983 he founded WBMG, a company which has designed more than 50 magazines, newspapers and peridoicals around the world.
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The thing that impresses me about Milton Glaser perhaps even more than his astounding accomplishments is his resolve to adhere to his personal code of ethics. For example, he once refused to create an ad aimed at children for a cereal that had no nutritional value and a high sugar content. For more on this subject, read his article titled Ambiguity %26amp; Truth.
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*source: Design Boom

Young | Entrepreneur Program

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 04:13:36 GMT

The Old State ~ House of Design %26amp; Development is holding a contest to encourage youth 18 and younger to submit new web-based business ideas, with the winner becoming a partner in the subsequently executed idea in partnership with The Old State, LLC. The company believes it's time to quit complaining about the economy, directionless youth and lost jobs in favor of action-based strategies to help improve all of the above, one idea at a time. The winner who submits the best idea in 500 words or less by Monday, April 1, 2010 will receive a $2,500 cash prize, with an additional $2,500 going to their school in their honor....for whatever beneficial purpose the winner wishes for their school. We will then implement the winning idea and the winner will be a partner in the subsequent online enterprise, which The Old State will launch through the creation of a new website. The winner will be announced on this site on Monday, May 3, 2010.%26nbsp;

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Go to http://www.theoldstate.com/contest.aspx to submit your idea!

TOS| Video Interview

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:08:00 GMT

The folks at unmatchedstyle.com were kind enough to recently feature The Old State's redesigned website. You can check out the review here.

We also had the pleasure of sitting down with Gene Crawford for an interview via Skype. We talked about the redesign and some of the background behind our brand. Check out the interview on unmatchedstyle.com.

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Form vs. Function| Why Not Both?

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:31:22 GMT

I have an overwhelming obsession with the web these days. I will surf the web for hours just looking at sites that are absolutely amazing visually. I am constantly looking for new innovative ways to make a site more attractive and fun to use. So what is more important when designing a website...form or function? My answer to this question is simple...BOTH!

As designers, we tend to be too creative and forget about the user experience when designing a website. There is absolutely nothing wrong with great design and creativity but it has to go hand in hand with the way the site functions. At The Old State, we go through a very tedious planning phase where we figure out the way we want the site to function before we even think about designing it. This ensures that all the functionality is thoroughly planned out before we lay the skin over the top of it.

Great user interface is definitely an eye-catcher, so the importance of design is definitely a priority when designing a website. Things to always keep in mind are transitions, rollovers, and the general interaction of the site with the user. Let's make the web a better place to shop, pay bills, read, research, and network with other people. Here are some great sites that are doing both...

The Avett Brothers Live | At Granada Theater

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 05:48:42 GMT

Travis and I recently had the pleasure of seeing one of our favorite bands, The Avett Brothers, live at the Granada Theater in Dallas. The place was packed tight with screaming Avett fans and the band put on an unbelievable show! I recommend that you see these guys if you get a chance!

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On another note...Scott Avett (the smaller guy playing the banjo below) is an unbelievable painter and printmaker. Check out his stuff here.

PC vs.| Mac

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 09:18:13 GMT

PC vs Mac Parody

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This video from funnyordie.com really epitomizes the absurdity of the PC versus Mac war. I truly believe that PCs and Macs are both equally qualified, but serve different purposes. I used to be a die hard Windows user and even leisurely built PCs back when Windows XP was a hit. Then when I had to purchase a laptop for college I shallowly and impulsively purchased an iBook because it looked so sleek. From then on, I never went back to using a PC only because I found Macs to be more practical for my career goal. But what really distinguishes the two systems?

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I'm sitting here trying to weigh the pros and cons I have experienced with both systems. Personally, I can't stand the countless viruses, pop-up ads and erroneous security messages when I use a PC. The last thing I need is for a Teeth Whitening Secret ad to pop up while meticulously photoshopping. When I think about what I do not like about my iMac, I really can't think of anything except for the fact that it cost me an arm and a leg to get it.

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Let's not forget all the hoopla about Windows Vista. Everyone was so excited for its release, until they experienced a string of unwarranted issues that came with the system. Boy was that a setback for Microsoft. But now that Windows 7 is all the hype, who knows, maybe my next investment will be in a PC. It will certainly cost a third of what I paid for my iMac.

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At the end of the day, it boils down to your personal preference. I believe both systems are equally practical, fast and perform similarly. After all, they often share the same hardware including processors and hard drives. If you are curious as to which of the two performs better, objectively, check out this link Mac vs PC. Experienced individuals and folks who have lived in caves for the past decade and have never used a computer tested out comparable desktops and laptops and offered their opinions. The site also shows statistical differences such as start up and shut down speeds and whatnot.

Our New Site | and Updated Blog

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:24:41 GMT

So for the New Year we launched a new version of our site and an update to our blog. We are excited to get some of our latest work out there and hope to hear some of your thoughts on the new site. Let's see what has changed.

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The New Site ~ TheOldState.com New Features

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%26#183; New HD Video Testimonials

%26#183; Brand Spankin%26#8217; New News Page

%26#183; What We Do and How We Do It

%26#183; New Portfolio Section with Web, Branding, and Print Sections.

%26#183; Products Page and Detail Pages for Governor, Claim, HearYe, and Shoppe

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The Updated Blog ~ The Statement

%26#183; Larger Format and Larger Pictures

%26#183; New Black on White version Toggle Button

%26#183; Small, Medium, Large Text Toggle

%26#183; Share Linking on Blog Posts

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Anyway, we hope you like the new stuff and please return often as we will be updated frequently! Also please subscribe to the newsletter at the bottom of every page on the main site. Love to hear your feed back!

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Thanks,

The Old State Team

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User Interface| Design

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:23:45 GMT

I love to describe my job as a user interface specialist. I deal mostly with web design from a day to day basis but I do not meddle with all the html and css coding. My job is to create a beautiful interactive experience for the user and make sure that it is easy to use. I love what I do and I am learning more and more everyday because the web is constantly changing. I look everything up on the web from businesses to online shopping and my final decision to buy or give my business to a certain company revolves around how good their website has been designed. I believe that a company with a good web presence and strong user interface design is worthy of my business. Just this past week I was looking for a doctor and I picked the one with the nicest website. People may say that I just do this because I am a designer but I have caught quite a few people I know making these same decisions based on the overall website design.

Strange Web -| Morbid Anatomy

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:16:52 GMT

As long as I can remember, I have had a fascination with all things strange/macabre/creepy.%26nbsp; There is nothing better than walking through the dusty corners of an antique store or off-the-beaten-path museum.%26nbsp; So naturally I am intrigued by people and sites that take that mystery and wonder and translate it to the web.

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One of my favorite sites is a blog called Morbid Anatomy.%26nbsp; I like to think of it as a unique tour guide of all the strange and twisted places and things to see and do across the world.%26nbsp; There are posts from everything from the latest artist exhibit that makes use of taxidermied animals to the widely forgotten "Anatomical Venuses" of the 19th century.%26nbsp; I could, and have, spent countless hours sifting through the extensive archive.%26nbsp;%26nbsp; For me, it is an endless source of inspiration for both web and print design.

Luis Nieto -| "Perversionist" Artist

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:16:13 GMT

It was about two years ago when I crossed paths with this artist. I met him while I was interning for the Tribeca Film Center at the time and spent a week during the summer setting up an event called The Creators Series. It was an exhibition showcasing interactive installations, fine arts, films and photography by new artists who embraced technology. The most distinct artist who caught my attention was Luis Nieto, a young artist who was born in Columbia and resided in France. There is very little information floating around about him and I have a feeling he prefers it that way, to not be mainstream.

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If I recall correctly, besides stating his name, he didn't quite formally introduce himself. He went straight into his act, which consisted of a vivarium in a little black box with a camera hooked up to his computer. He explained that we'd see what was going on in this little black box on the projector, real-time. He picked up a real live hamster, named Carlito, and dropped it in the black box. He proceeded to perform the most bizarre procedures to the hamster, which looked real and fake at the same time. He would slice the hamster in half with glass (PETA was not thrilled about this), blew him up with a straw, and actually blew him up with a small bomb. Of course none of this was real, but his precision in timing his hand motions to what we were seeing on the projector was surreal. Watch it here at carlitopolis.com.

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So why did this artist capture my attention? Because he truly embraced interactivity and art and combined the two forms to create the most perverse and creative work.%26nbsp; He calls himself a "Perversionist" artist and his art speaks for itself. His paintings gave me an uncomfortable feeling, but I couldn't help but stare. One of his series comprised of several small paintings of diseased folks. Gross indeed, but He is a highly regarded art producer for advertisements and has created some of the most creative television commercials for Nike, Playstation, Heineken, Ford and Peugot to name a few. If you're curious, go to his website and take a look for yourself. The website itself will intrigue you. luisnieto.com

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%26nbsp;"paquito"

Screen Print |Madness!

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:59:39 GMT

I am a sucker for a good screen print. Over the years, I've acquired a pretty extensive collection of gig posters from some of my favorite designers out there. I was even lucky enough to have one of these extremely talented individuals (Dirk Fowler of F2 Design) as a teacher in college.

Below are a few of my favorite screen printers. Enjoy!

F2 Design
33rpm
Aesthetic Apparatus
Methane Studios
The Heads of State
The Bird Machine
The Small Stakes

New Website Launch:| The Park Dallas

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:53:24 GMT

I
n case you did not know Dallas is getting a truly unique "central park" like upgrade right in the heart of the downtown area. Formally known as Woodall Rodgers Park this 5.2-acre public park being constructed in downtown Dallas, Texas, is truly a unique endeavor. The Old State was chosen over 4 other firms to create a new website to reflect this unique and ambitious endeavor. Phase one of the site just launched and phase 2 including live web cameras and many other features will follow very soon.

Construction of the newly renamed "The Park" began in January 2009 with a ground-making ceremony held on September 14, 2009. The park is expected to open in 2011 with amenities completed in 2012.The Park will be built directly over the existing Woodall Rodgers Freeway between Pearl and St. Paul streets. This new green space will literally bridge the gap between downtown and uptown. It will provide connectivity to the citys flourishing Arts District, bring cultural offerings together and serve as a central gathering space for Dallas and its visitors to enjoy.

In addition to a restaurant and performance pavilion, plans for the park include jogging trails, a dog park, a childrens playground, a water sculpture, an area for games and much more.

Congratulations to all the staff and board members for all the hard work and we can't wait to see this incredible addition to the Dallas area take shape!

The Parks new website
http://theparkdallas.org/

A Little Local| Flavor

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:10:00 GMT

I love live music! And I love to support local bands. A couple of weeks ago I went to a little show down in Deep Ellum that the Dallas Observer puts on every week at a place called SPACE. The show is called DC9 in SPACE and it features a different local artist or band every Wednesday night. They play a few songs, answer some questions and the whole thing is filmed in HD and featured on the Observer's blog.

The show I had the pleasure of seeing was The Beaten Sea...just a couple of guys with a banjo and a guitar playing some wonderfully written tunes. You can read the blog here.

A couple of other notables that have been featured on the DC9 blog are The Fox %26 The Bird and Smile Smile, featuring The Old State's very own Jencey Hirunrusme! We are ever so proud of her!!!

So, if you find yourself with nothing to do on a Wednesday night, head down to Deep Ellum and SPACE Studio to support some great local talent!

The Opening of| PHOSPHATE

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:42:00 GMT

I am proud to announce my solo artist debut, Phosphate. I will have twelve of my finest prints on display at the RISING Gallery from August 7th - August 28th. The artist reception will be Friday August 7th from 6-9:30pm. I am a printmaker as well as a graphic designer at The Old State.

I specialize in lithography, woodcuts, and etchings and I absolutely love the process of creating prints.

Printmaking has really pushed my drawing skills to another level and I look forward to creating more beautiful work in the future. Mark it in your calendars and I hope to see you there. You can see some more of my work at www.PhosphatePrints.com. Enjoy.

Take Me Out to the| Ball Game!!!

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 06:19:00 GMT

fter a sleepless week of work, Curtis and I decided to head out to The Ballpark to see the Red Sox of Boston take on the Rangers of Texas. I have not been out to the The Ballpark in about 15 years so I was definitely due for a ballgame. Curtis is an avid Red Sox fan and I really don't have a favorite team so I just cheered for everything.

It was a perfect night with a cool breeze in the air and cold beer and hot dogs flowing endlessly. There are quite a few Red Sox fans in Texas so the game was pretty full.

The Rangers went ahead early 2-0 but the Red Sox rallied late in the game to bring it within a run. The final score was 4-2 in favor of the home team so Curtis was definitely bummed out but we had a good time. I look forward to seeing more games in the future...as long as it is not blistering hot outside!

Shepard Fairey| In Boston

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:39:00 GMT

couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of seeing the Shepard Fairey exhibit at the ICA in Boston...a fantastic experience. The ICA is housed in an absolutely beautiful building on the Boston waterfront. They have a great permanent collection, but the reason I was there was to see Fairey's exhibit.

His work is really something you have to see in person to truly appreciate. The amount of detail in his pattern and collage work is astounding, and the precision of his screen printing is incredible. Of course I had seen his more commercial work (the Obey Giant stuff that is everywhere), but was really impressed by his other work. A couple of the pieces were massive...around 12 ft x 20 ft or larger...and were so full of smaller pattern and details that I could have spent all day looking at them and still not catch every detail. Custom patterns layered on top of newspaper clippings, even custom fake money that he printed. The common thread throughout all of his work is the iconic Obey logo of Andre the Giant. His branding is so thorough that it reminded me of the Nazi Party's use of the swastika (not in ideology, of course...just in it's complete permeation of the culture that Fairey has created).

One thing that kind of baffles me, though, is the conflicting nature of Fairey's work and his varying business ventures. On the one hand, you have his work, which is politically charged and very anti-establishment and anti-commercialism. On the other hand, Fairey owns his own clothing line (on which he plasters his anti-establishment artwork), and sells books, stickers, prints, and all kinds of trinkets on his website. It seems to me like this underground movement has become the very thing against which it preaches.
Then again, maybe it is an intentional thing that Fairey is doing to show the contrast of commercialism and his artwork?

I don't know!

Note: Unfortunately, the ICA does not allow photography (a rule that they pretty strictly enforce), so I had to pull some photos from various places on the web. If any of these are your images, I apologize and please feel free to add your credits in the comments below.

Linkers Beware!| Good vs. Bad

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:01:00 GMT

Here is a quick view of how to stay out of the Bad Link Neighborhood. Good Link Neighborhoods are trusted sites with relevant content...and the Bad Neighborhoods...well you know who they are. Link Farms, Spam sites and more! Enjoy!