Remembering Our Superman

Christopher D’Olier Reeve (September 25, 1952 – October 10, 2004) was an American actor, film director, author, activist, and best friend to Robin Williams. The dynamic duo were first roommates at Juilliard which led to their lifelong friendship. In 1978 Reeve starred in Superman: The Movie, while that same year Robin Williams landed in his egg-shaped spaceship as Mork from Ork on Happy Days in “My Favorite Orkan.” In the fall of that same year Robin Williams and Pam Dawber arrived in our living rooms across America in Mork and Mindy. Today we remember and celebrate Christopher’s legacy. He will always be our Superman. I was quite fortunate to see both of my childhood heroes years later as an adult, Christopher at BDA Promax and Robin at The Fox Theatre.

Christopher Reeve gave a talk one year in the late nineties at the Broadcast Designers Awards. He embodied a spirit unmatched. He truly was a super hero and super human. When my daughter was quite young she gave us tickets (via her mommy) to see Robin in Atlanta. Every moment was so fresh and new. He didn’t recycle any of his material from previous comedy tours. Both of these super folk will forever be in our hearts for they gave us the recipe to truly fly and follow our dreams. I haven’t worked a day in my life. Every day is just another chance to dream and play on my own stage, and every now and then, fly as I did when I was a child gliding, swimming through the air down the hallway while my family slept.

“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, they then seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.”

— Christopher Reeve

Albrecht Dürer: Exploring Symbolism in Knight, Death and the Devil

During the summer of 1995 while hiking through the Tuscany hills in Cortona, Italy, I was fortunate to stumble upon the vast portfolio of Albrecht Dürer’s life’s work on display just outside the Uffizi Museum in Florence. Dürer, master painter, printmaker, and theorist, was well known for his detailed depictions of both everyday and divinely inspired scenes deeply rooted among natural settings. Through his exploration of depicting nature he sought to discover his life’s purpose. While peeking into his world through the works displayed in Florence, I recognized familiar faces, places, and locales, but there were many works I’d never seen before in print.

I was familiar with Saint Jerome in His Study and The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, but one piece in particular caught my attention. His 1513 work Knight, Death and the Devil (at bottom of post) immediately drew me in. In order to fully appreciate it one must not only immerse themselves in the ultrafine, multidirectional, crosshatched strokes rendered but also at the iconic significance in the human, animal, and otherworldly subjects themselves. Not known to be subtle in his use of symbolism each element’s purpose lends greater depth to the intertwined narrative captured in each intentional stroke of his intricate, artistic genius.

Dürer’s original title for Knight, Death and the Devil was simply The Rider. During the time surrounding his creation of this piece his mother was in his care as she was very ill. She passed into the afterlife in 1514. During this period, he immersed himself in producing copperplate engravings of such explicit, exquisite detail that significantly stand apart from his other works. Knight, Death and the Devil took three immersive months to complete. This piece and two others formed his collective set of three master engravings. Knight, Death and Devil, Saint Jerome in His Study, and Melencolia I are known as the Meisterstiche, Master Engravings. So let’s see what clues the artist has left us to discover.

First and foremost the Rider’s stance is casual, his progress through the frame quite relaxed, as he gallops along the path. This path could be divine as the knight has exercised a Christian inspired life. However, I’m not convinced there is any relation to Christianity in this piece. The Rider displays there is no threat within the scene as his helm’s visor up, not down signaling a fighting position thus protecting his face from attack. He looks ahead devotedly stoic yet relaxed knowing he has led a fulfilled life of bravery and devotion. The Rider is possibly just moments from certain death. He knows full well that he lived a good life as he slowly gallops into the afterlife just around the next bend along his shared path.

The Rider looks ahead, not distracted to the side or behind with regrets in his past. He lives in the here and now experiencing practiced mindfulness. He doesn’t dwell on the past or future. He breathes gently while his trusted companions, his faithful horse and dog, lead him with fierce love and admiration for their master. The Rider’s horse is adorned with oak leaves, to some referencing Christ. These leaves could also reference growth or fertility, but in this depiction, they reference the never-ending cycle of life and death and then life again in another terrestrial or heavenly realm.

The dog signifies loyalty, love, and protection for his master, is in a running pose rather than walking casually like his master. The dog sees what lies ahead, and the Rider trusts his faithful companion with his life and well-being. The fox tail on the Rider’s lance which he holds lightly over his shoulder references good luck or protection. Some feel it references lies and deceit. I wholeheartedly disagree with that analysis. This knight is noble, not an evildoer.

The village in the background pictured above the primary scene is placed above the head of the Rider as if he’s thinking of home. Is he a king in disguise? It’s juxtaposition serves as a thought bubble or daydream. He calls this home, but not his true home, in the beyond, it is only his earthly home. The village, high above, distant, could be referring to the afterlife or Heaven itself.

“Dürer thought: ‘The new art must be based upon science — in particular, upon mathematics, as the most exact, logical, and graphically constructive of the sciences.’”
— Albrecht Dürer

Lofty aspirations for the Rider, will he be king of this village in the sky? Although it is in the distance, it can be seen plainly. Perhaps this is symbolic of either the beginning or end or both of the knight’s quest. Maybe it also signifies his familial roots run deep, but now they are exposed quite literally in the framing of the woods between the village and the foreground menagerie. This motley crew of travelers are tied together as destiny unfolds within the narrative.

Knight, Death and the Devil, 1513, engraving. Albrecht Dürer (German, Nuremberg 1471–1528 Nuremberg)
Dimensions: Sheet: 9 13/16 x 7 11/16 in. (25 x 19.6 cm)
Plate: 9 9/16 x 7 3/8 in. (24.3 x 18.8 cm)

The woods are dead, leafless, lifeless, in decay with visible roots trickling along the framing around the Devil. The roots are exposed and these trees and brush will not survive the winter. These roots could signify the uprooting of one’s own life through sin, perhaps. Or do they signify veins holding the lifeblood of our motley crew. Their inclusion gives further insight of the artist’s beliefs surrounding nature itself. We are all both beautifully and wonderfully made creatures living in a world of the same account. Nothing natural is truly ugly in the sense of human perception. Everything in nature is perfect by design and honed to mathematical precision.

The Devil is grotesque with a pig’s snout, three horns, a snakelike tail, has a spear hoisted over its shoulder casually, a visible clawed hand, and two hooved feet, one visible just behind the dog’s framing. The large horn on top of the Devil’s head looks like a Grim Reaper-styled scythe ready to cut down the Rider. It’s very presence initially proves intimidating to the viewer, however to the Rider he sees beyond this mask. He knows the Devil is rather a joke, a ridiculous being, more appropriate as a sideshow freakish attraction rather than the dreaded Prince of Darkness.

There is a bell around the neck of Death’s horse that may signify the tolling bell of inescapable death. However that bell may be for Death so he doesn’t lose his own horse. There is a slight sense of lightness to the entire scene. These characters have known one another for a lifetime. This scene doesn’t spell impending doom for The Rider. These fiends are truly the knight’s friends. I didn’t really see that coming either, but now it makes good sense.

The Devil as well as Death are companions, not the knight’s adversaries. The Rider understands full well that the meaning of a fragile life is certain death at any moment. One must live in the present, not past or future, to survive, and eventually arrive at the gates of lofty places on high, divine or not. Death holds an hourglass adorned with a sun dial attempting to shake the Rider into a race rather than his gentle gallop. The knight’s stance reinforces that Death is just another friend along life’s pathway. The two opposing snakes look left and right whose gaze aren’t fixed on the knight. They are just another distraction, a reference to both the Garden of Eden’s devilish snake and possibly a reference to the Greek Medusa mythos. These snakes are just along for the ride. Just two more of the journey’s companions. Now what’s going on with the other figures here?

Death’s horse is weary, weak and looks downward in its frailty. One ear up, the other level, leaning down to the ground below. It looks downward to the jawless skull in the bottom left corner of the composition where the artist’s signature resides. The skull, a bit askew, gazes directly at the “AD” logomark. The skull sits on an oak stump that many believe is another biblical reference. This stump may also represent a grounding ability and connection to one’s ancestral wisdom or put more plainly, family tree.

The lizard-like creature between the back two foreground horse’s hooves is scurrying in the opposite direction of the Rider. An iguana or possibly even a chameleon which makes more sense as it can change color camouflaging into its surroundings. Always on the defensive it’s led a life hiding from the truth that lies ahead. It heads into the past, unable to witness the present. Some believe this is an ill omen, however I disagree. It may symbolize the Rider’s own past skill of adaptability in adverse situations. Now through wisdom it scurries away from the hero. He doesn’t follow this defensive status anymore. He looks ahead, rather calmly, with his faithful companions, including Death and the dastardly Devil itself.

The Knight’s smirk resets the mood.

Some final observations are that Death and the Devil both adorn crowns and the Rider appears to be smiling. Death’s crown is quite sharp and standard fare while the Devil’s crown is organic resembling a symmetrical flame. It may even be another horn-like protrusion from its silly head. Upon closer inspection the Rider appears to have a half smile, even a slight grin. Notice his dimple. This one last clue holds the key to the entire piece. Rather than a serious, divinely-driven work, the artist is toying with his audience providing a tongue in cheek scene meant to not take itself too seriously. Will the art history experts agree? Possibly. Get The Life and Art of Albrecht Dürer from Princeton University Press here. Use coupon code EXH30 for 30% off your order.

“The artist is chosen by God to fulfill his commands and must never be overwhelmed by public opinion.”
— Albrecht Dürer

Radium: the 88th Element

Incredibly radioactive, radium is an alkaline earth metal (symbol Ra). It’s silvery-white in pure form and is found in quite minute, trace amounts within uranium ore. What is “88 MPH?” Eighty-eight refers to radium’s place on the Periodic Table of Elements. Maybe “MPH” refers to the metallurgical power of hydrogen. Not reality, yet, but that’s what my incarnation stands for. Just a little fiction sprinkled into the mix.

Most folks thought I was just talking about an obvious reference to Back to the Future and time travel. Ya’ll were partially correct, but there’s far more to it than that assumption. As it turns out in my lab experiments radium is needed to send objects from our reality to alternate planes of existence. As we delve deeper we’re on the precipice of quantum teleportation but tweaked just a tad. Teleportation? Isn’t that a stretch? No, not really. Scientists have successfully transported data using this very method. Wait, isn’t this all just jargon mixed together to sound scientific? Yes, of course it’s just false, exaggerated fiction.

Do you ever wonder where they got the idea for 88 MPH (or 39.33 meters per second) as the exact speed needed to produce enough velocity to allow a metallic object with organic passengers to time travel at the movies? Was there any truth or was it just artistic expression? According to the experts there’s absolutely no connection.

Some folks think it’s rather simple in that an eight on its side is the infinity symbol. So, two eights could be infinity in both directions, past and future. That’s partially why my 88 MPH graphic has a skid mark in both directions. Infinity to the past and future. I have a better theory now. What did Doc Brown need to power his time-travelling car? Uranium. What is found inside uranium ore? Radium.

Remember radium is also the 88th element on the Periodic Table. Just a theory as I have not researched this. But yeah, I have a sneaky suspicion that’s the case. Otherwise, this is just a neat coincidence. Either way, I’ve got to get back to my “Metallurgical Power of Hydrogen” experiments attempting to unlock the power of pure radium. Things are cooking along nicely in the lab, and the first hypothesis has been proven partially correct. Only .0027%, but got a nibble nonetheless. At the atomic level everything is connected just as Leonardo da Vinci mused. He was right all along. To deny everything’s connectedness is to deny our very existence.

27 strikes again! If you’ve been following my Angel Number 27 rants, you’ll understand why 39.33 (3x3x3 or 9x3=27) meters per second is so amazing to me as I see 27 everywhere. Don’t worry I’m not glowing…yet. Well, maybe a little. That’s just my heart light.

“Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe.”

— Frank Zappa, composer and guitarist, filmmaker and actor, comedian and satirist, and freedom of speech advocate and activist

M.C. Escher: Synthesizing Illusions with Mathematics and Graphic Arts

ABOVE: HIS MOST AMBITIOUS WORK SMALLER AND SMALLER — M.C. ESCHER. IMAGE COPYRIGHT M.C. ESCHER. IMAGE USED FOR EDITORIAL PURPOSES ONLY.

M.C. Escher was the absolute master of synthesizing illusions with mathematics and the graphic arts. From his multi-faceted perspective he redefined reality. What was up was also down. He weaved imaginary worlds governed by this duality. To call Escher a genius would be an understatement. The sheer volumes of detail was astonishing to behold in person. Escher’s dizzying array of works led me to later discover decades later some of his studies which were tied together with his enigmatic system of mathematical guidance in producing these visually stunning pieces. His works totaled 448 prints over the course of a sixty year career. Although he produced a small volume per year, his works were vastly complex. One cannot deny his genius as well as his sense of humor while poking fun at himself for the absolute absurdity found in one of his most well known woodcuts and wood engravings.

His ability to teleport us to imaginary worlds where infinity loops abound became his hallmark signature. His work Smaller and Smaller is known as his most ambitious work. The continuously infinite details are incredible. We are transported into a world where infinity in both directions goes on for as he put it “ad absurdum.” This Latin term refers to something that has gone beyond the point of absurdity. Happily poking fun at his own craftsmanship Escher’s fascination with mathematics cannot be denied. He clearly relies on mathematical principles in order to break and redefine them while defying gravity, even planar existence in each of his works. Reality as he portrayed it possessed as having no bounds.

“The halving of the figures is continued ad absurdum. The smallest animal still possessing a head, a tail and four legs is about two millimeters long.”

— M.C. Escher

Bipolar Coordinates Title Design Update

The title design for my first book, Bipolar Coordinates, is now complete. After fourteen years journaling my bipolar experiences, I’ve arrived at the notion that anything is possible. It’s all about mindset. Once I found the equilibrium within my physical, mental, and spiritual faculties I arrived at true homeostasis.

I am releasing this book as historical fiction as some topics may appear a bit out there (aka X-Files). I’ll leave it up to the reader to gleam the truth for themselves. Angel Number 27, Men in Black, God’s iPhone? There’s no telling what I’ve been up to. I can guarantee I’ll leave you speechless once or twice. Coming in the spring of 2024.

The Last Supper and Angel Number 27

At 3:33 (3x3x3=27) pm on the 27th of August I was researching the hidden clues that have been discovered within one of the most famous and mysterious works in all of art history. I can only attribute the timing of my researching Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper to the concept of the Divine Comedy of Dante which contains three sections: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. Each one consisting of thirty-three cantos or the division within this long work of poetic prose (so that’s three 3s, or 27, again). I’m not referring to a literal translation, rather a wink at the time of day when I glanced at my clock and noted the time was 3:33 pm.

All I’m saying is that God has a sense of humor as do all gods within every culture. Also curious is that today is August 27th (3x3x3=27), my Angel Number. This number is considered by many to be the most spiritual of numbers as it is constructed of three 3s. It is three to the third power and the numbers add up to 9 which is 3+3+3. The number 27 speaks to me, guiding me with markers that always lead to something else just around the corner. I discuss the power of 27 in my life further on the eyes:/only page. For a thorough explanation of the hidden messages found within The Last Supper go here.

LEONARDO DA VINCI’S DEPICTION OF FOUR GROUPS OF THREE WITH ONE IN THE CENTER POINT SOME TO LAMENTATIONS 3:31-33 (BELOW). DA VINCI ALSO PORTRAYED ALL THIRTEEN CHARACTERS WITHOUT HALOS, THUS REVEALING THAT LEONARDO MAY HAVE BELIEVED THAT ALL, INCLUDING CHRIST, WERE ORDINARY MEN AND NOT DIVINELY INSPIRED. CHRIST IS CLEARLY SHAPED AS A TRIANGLE WITH THREE WINDOWS IN THE BACKGROUND. BOTH OF THESE ELEMENTS OF THREES ARE POSSIBLY A DIRECT NOD TO THE HOLY TRINITY. THE PORTRAYL OF JOHN “THE BELOVED” IS THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL CHARACTER HERE. TO THE RIGHT OF JESUS SOME BELIEVE, INCLUDING ME, JOHN IS ACTUALLY MARY MAGDALENE, THE WIFE OF JESUS. THE NEGATIVE SPACE BETWEEN CHRIST AND MARY IS IN THE SHAPE OF THE FEMALE WOMB OR THE HOLY GRAIL.

Lamentations 3:31-33 NIV (New International Version):

31 “For no one is cast off by the Lord forever.”

32 “Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.”

33 “For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.”

Say Hello to the Future of Vinson Design

After spending the past fourteen years journaling my accounts of my manic depressive battle I’ve finally arrived at a state of homeostasis. For the first time in my life my mental, physical, and spiritual faculties are in equilibrium through consistency fueling my own longevity.

I’m aiming for the springtime of 2024 for the release of my first book Bipolar Coordinates: Navigating Vibrations and Undercurrents. The book will be published by eyes:/only (SM), the newly formed publishing division of Vinson Design. {intelligence, declassified}

Force Fact or Fiction?

I’ve been approached on occasion from folks asking me point blank: “so what’s all this nonsense about metaphysical language, extra sensory perception, and mind melding which you drone on about on your website?! Are these just fictional accounts or do you believe these events actually occurred?! Are you insane?!” I simply reply: “call what I’m writing historical fact or fiction from your perspective as the reader for your own interpretation is just that, your own.”

Keep in mind that they are mere stories, embellished or not, that I’ve been set to recall for inclusion in my book Bipolar Coordinates: Navigating Vibrations and Undercurrents. They will be penned down in my own historical accounts of my personal myths and legends. Once again, they’re just stories. True or not I’ve been asked to share them. Your response, ridicule or not, is also your own as it bears no weight in sharing my life experiences with others who may benefit.

Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker practicing his lightsaber exercises against a remote while aboard the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, 1977.

Han Solo delivers a similar sentiment not unlike my naysayers and those who doubt my truths regarding the Force to Luke while aboard the Millennium Falcon back in the late seventies:

“Kid, I’ve flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. I’ve seen a lot of strange stuff, but I’ve never seen anything to make me believe there’s one all-powerful Force controlling everything. There’s no mystical energy field that controls my destiny. It’s all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense.”

— Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, 1977

However, thirty-eight years later in The Force Awakens, 2015, Solo changed his tune, a complete 180 on the subject during a conversation with Rey and Finn aboard the Falcon:

Rey asked quizzically: “The Jedi were real?” Solo answered, “I used to wonder that myself. Thought it was a bunch of mumbo-jumbo-magical power holding together good, evil, the dark side and the light. Crazy thing is, it’s true. The Force, the Jedi, all of it. It’s all true.”

— Harrison Ford (Han Solo) & Daisy Ridley (Rey), The Force Awakens, 2015

Back In The Saddle

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827). He was 56 years old when he died (5+6=11). Also the sum of the numbers in his lifespan equals 33.

Yesterday morning after leaving my therapist’s office I noticed that the license plate in front of me ended in 227. The one to my right ended in 272. Then within just a couple of seconds Piano Sonata No. 27 by Ludwig van Beethoven began playing on the car radio on NPR.

Coincidence? I think not.

I took a nap and awoke at 2:27. That’s three sums of eleven intertwined with the number 27, but wait, there’s more. There’s always more, especially when I’m not looking.

The Universe is reaching out, guiding me to finish writing my book Bipolar Coordinates: Navigating Vibrations and Undercurrents. This series of happenings captured as short stories chronicle my life of mayhem and madness.

Making sure I was still paying attention, the Universe knocked on my chamber door for a fourth and fifth instance of eleven. The clock read 2:56 (2 x 5+6=11). Time to get back in the saddle.

If you’re interested in more little-known facts about Ludwig van Beethoven click here.

“Don’t only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets; art deserves that, for it and knowledge can raise man to the Divine.”

— Ludwig van Beethoven

Remembering Robin

Robin Williams forever changed our world and further redefined the boundaries of comic reality when we first met Mork in 1978. He starred as Mork from Ork in “My Favorite Orkan” on the TV sitcom Happy Days. After that successful episode Mork & Mindy was born. “NA-NUU, NA-NUU. Shazbot! Mork, calling Orsen. Come in, Orsen.” One of my favorite performances were his fabulously faceted roles as Genie in Aladdin, 1992, from Disney. I was fortunate enough to experience Robin live in Atlanta on October 16, 2009 at the Fox Theatre.

He blew our minds especially in that all of his material was new and fresh. His charisma and infectious, passionate nature will never be matched. Robin was such an incredible humanitarian. He requested that each of the production studios include and employ a minimum of ten homeless people in each production. Throughout his career he assisted nearly 1520 homeless people though these outreach efforts. It’s been nine years on this day since his death. Robin is never forgotten and always in our hearts. He was proof that joy could exist in physical form.

Enjoy some of Robin’s most cherished moments as the many faces of Genie from Aladdin, 1992, from Disney.

Dementia Robs Godfathers of Industry

Three of my fathers, one being my own, have built such rich neural networks in their lifetimes. All deeply rooted by absolute genius they stunned their competitors. They were unstoppable. Their instantaneous recall exhibited beyond having higher I.Q.’s than that of the entire planet’s population. They could see trends coming before anyone else. Always on the precipice of knowledge. Always leading by example. Never giving in, or let alone giving up, on anything.

Some divinely inspired, bordering on precognition. Everything was possible. Always. Then something changed. Almost imperceptible at first, but the storm was just beginning. Brewing in their minds unable to overcome what appeared just a momentary lapse of reason. This lapse in brain synapse, behavior unknown. Then one day things weren’t clear anymore. First a haze, then a fog, and finally a white out. Please support Dementia research.

Ligatures, Weights, and Measures

Paul Rand’s ABC logo is one of his most iconic explorations. While the inner circles are absolutely geometric, the outer circles that define the outer white edges of the letterforms are not. The vertexes on the “a” and “b” are subtly waisted as they curve around finishing the letterforms. This intentional decision allows for greater legibility at smaller sizes. Legibility fuels longevity which, in turn, makes a mark unforgettable. It’s too bad that we are now in a landscape of mediocrity.

The newly designed, thicker letterforms on the right rendition are perfect circles both inside and out. The negative space that cuts into the “c” almost completely plugs up forcing it to appear more like an “o” at smaller sizes. KIA’s decision to embrace a new identity caused so much confusion that thousands of Google searches for “KN car” ran rampant. Their attempt at utilizing ligatures backfired and rendered the “IA” as a backwards “N.” Gambling with legibility, the public called their bluff.

The third offender is rather personal for me as I was working full time at Turner Broadcasting within the Turner Sports NBA TV Design group when it occurred. During at least three rounds of firings which helped redirect the corporate budget toward building a new, state of the art food court we witnessed quite a solution to Turner’s needs. Keep in mind these needs were all fueled by the sheer fact that AT&T was courting to buy the entire enchilada. The redirected funds paid Troika big bucks for a logo redesign chock full of new brand design, too. Guess what happened? No one could read the logo. No one. We were all left perplexed. How could have this abomination been approved?

Everyone kept saying “is Turner changing it’s name to Tuinei?” The branding campaign that was plastered all over the Turner campus was black and blue both literally and figuratively as we felt that whoever was behind this new “brand” had it out for Ted Turner. The black and blue hidden meaning being black eyes for Ted and his legacy. Nobody messes with Ted. Yes you all know I have bipolar, and Ted does too. When I discovered that Ted also suffers from Lewy Body Dementia, which pushed Robin Williams to suicide, I was stunned to my core. So many folks considered the highest performing levels of genius have terrible mental health challenges their entire lives. My own struggles with bipolar 1 have gotten worse over the years so I can personally attest to this.

Am I being overly critical, almost bordering on cynical? Nope. It all boils down to the fact that these brands are failing the cardinal rule of brand design: communication. Period. It is the art to communicate which is the art itself. It’s all in the details. When the details are doing what they’re designed to do no one will even notice. It just works. On the other hand when there’s this failure to communicate it’s always obvious to everyone, but some remain blinded.

The art of designing a well thought out ligature between two characters is dying. The most basic ligatures such as ff, fl, and fi are usually left out, just as I left them out when I typed this sentence. Don’t get me started on seeing inch marks instead of quotes, hyphens instead of em or en dashes, or bullet points so bold all they do is get in the way of communication. The KIA logo has created the opposite connection in its choice of using ligatures joining all three letters into one illegible design. Google Analytics has documented thousands of users searching for “KN” automobiles. If the “I” and “A” didn’t look like a backwards “N” the solution may have worked much better. I experiment with ligatures quite a bit in my personal typographic explorations in Titles.

There’s also a trend in logo design that there should only be one logo with no varying weights depending on usage across platforms of print and digital. I learned about different font weights depending on display size back in Graphic Design 101 in the mid-90s. The smaller versions always require additional breathing room for legibility.

It appears current design schools have forgotten to preach their roots and are more concerned about teaching software when it’s really the hardware, our eyes and brains, that need upgrading. Science has documented that young children have an innate gift for creating a flawless composition. I’ve spent a lifetime of daily observation learning to “see” as clearly as I did when I was a child.

Two logos exhibit these design sins, and both were released in 2021. I’ve waitied a couple of years to not only see what the public thinks, but I really wanted to see if I would change my mind and eventually be swayed by their design eccentricities disguised cleverly as design-speak jargon. I’m still not convinced that these design upgrades were introduced with a perfection of design prose as to seemingly make excuses disguised as the very reasons they decided to use poor judgement. I guess they didn’t think other graphic designers would notice. It appears that these two logos are apparently offensive, and illegible, to the masses, not just design masters, of which I am not.

I am schooled in design dating back many decades, but I am so thankful that I was taught the principles of design before we ever even opened Photoshop or Illustrator which back in those times there were no layers in Photoshop and I think Illustrator was version 5. Am I a dinosaur? To some, but wisdom comes, if we’re lucky, not only through study, but also by making plenty of the same mistakes myself time and again until my eyes can finally “see” allowing me to create a solution that produces what all graphic design aspires to: to communicate above all else.

Illegibility has become a trend. Why? These designers haven’t made enough mistakes and learned to really “see” the correct solution when it naturally presents itself. Also so many logo “refreshes” are boiled down to two easy ways to make a buck: 1) change the logo back to the version from 40 years ago, changing nothing but the color by a suble hue shift, and 2) tweak one or two curves in Illustrator and show how masterfully the logo has been “released” from its own internal design flaw. Yes, they play the hero, but that’s really not the point. So much corporate level design jargon gets thrown around distilling the language down so much that it sounds like a bad “Mad Libs.”

Why am I discussing this here? What agenda am I conspiring? None, really. I just hope all of us try to remember our roots the next time we’re attempting to “refresh” another brand. Design foundation study will always be the most crucial part of the process. Wielding flowery, over-hyped design language doesn’t give an agency the right to attempt a rebrand to begin with. The entire point of brand design lies in the clear art of communication. If the very language breaks down there is no point in the design itself. It falls flat like so many other sanitized brands dumbed down to the tune of another focus group. Instead of “why not?” we need to ask ourselves who, what, when, where, why, and most importantly, how. Cicero would most wholeheartedly agree.

“Paul Rand observed that: ‘Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that’s why it is so complicated.’”

MGM’s “Art for Art’s Sake” Reveal By Baked Studios

I’m not sure how I missed this, but after a bit of research I discovered that the all-CGI MGM film reveal was initially planned to be revealed in theatres at the beginning of No Time To Die in 2019, but due to the pandemic that never happened. I got a chance to see the latest incarnation this afternoon while watching, you guessed it, No Time To Die on streaming in 4K. It’s nearly perfect, matching the lion in particular frame by frame. However there are so many golden touches through the reveal that areas missing that same level of attention to detail fall a bit short. The 3D modeling, materials, and lighting is stunning, but some of the fades aren’t filmic. The highlights turn gray during the transitions rather than generating that gorgeous blooming effect of pure white-hot blends. Mimicking optical compositing is key where light always wins out never introducing these grays to begin with.

This observation spells truth to 16 bit compositing compared to 32 bit. Baked Studios should really give it a few tweaks in the correct compositing color depth to truly let it shine. The light rays are a bit too unnatural and feel quite digital. Adding some subtle smoke and variation in length as they interact with the logo reveal would give it just another little bit of subtle detailing. The lion is flawless albeit there’s something odd about the motion blur. Seeing the English translation of “Art for Art’s Sake” before transitioning into the Latin “Ars Gratia Artis” was a nice touch. All in all I’d still rate this work as a 95/100. It truly is the most historic update that MGM, or possibly any studio, has ever produced. I also caught a glimpse of an additional MGM lead-in where we get to see the lion from profile view. It’s quite unique. For an abbreviated MGM logo history click here.

This beast has so many subtle beauties that it’s a joy to experience. In 2021 Metro Goldwyn Mayer released an all-CGI version of their famous film intro designed by Baked Studios. Baked Studios has offices in Los Angeles and New York and has a highly proven track record of producing eye-catching content fueled by epic storytelling.

Gazing Into The Past

“The James Webb Space Telescope (sometimes called JWST or Webb) is an orbiting infrared observatory that will complement and extend the discoveries of the Hubble Space Telescope, with longer wavelength coverage and greatly improved sensitivity.

The longer wavelengths enable Webb to look much closer to the beginning of time and to hunt for the unobserved formation of the first galaxies, as well as to look inside dust clouds where stars and planetary systems are forming today.” — NASA

“Webb, an orbiting infrared observatory, will complement and extend the discoveries of the Hubble Space Telescope, with longer wavelength coverage and greatly improved sensitivity.”

— James Webb Space Telescope, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA

“Luck Is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity”

According to Seneca, the Roman philosopher who coined the above observation, we manifest our own luck. Luck does not happen to us. If we’re prepared luck naturally manifests itself in our lives. So show up.

What is perceived as luck is actually a direct result of our own practice and preparedness prior to the opportunity that arises and presents itself to us with little to no additional effort. Longevity lies in consistency.

“Man who catch fly with chopstick accomplish anything.”

— Noriyuki “Pat” Morita as Mr. Miyagi as Ralph Macchio as Daniel Laruso looks on in The Karate Kid, 1984. The film was written by Robert Mark Kamen and directed by John G. Avildsen.

“What We Do In Life, Echoes In Eternity”

Never forget. Never give in. Never give up.

Maximus: “Three weeks from now I will be harvesting my crops. Imagine where you will be, and it will be so. Hold the line. Stay with me. If you find yourself alone, riding in green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled; for you are in Elysium, and you’re already dead!

[The soldiers laugh]

Maximus: “Brothers, what we do in life, echoes in eternity.”

— Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius in Ridley Scott’s 2000 epic film Gladiator

THE GREAT RICHARD HARRIS AS THE ICONIC MARCUS AURELIUS IN RIDLEY SCOTT’S GLADIATOR, 2000. HE PLAYED KING ARTHUR IN CAMELOT ON SCREEN AND WAS A TRUE KNIGHT IN REALITY BEING KNIGHTED BY THE QUEEN OF DENMARK IN 1985.

Marcus Aurelius: “When a man sees his end... he wants to know there was some purpose to his life. How will the world speak my name in years to come? Will I be known as the philosopher? The warrior? The tyrant...? Or will I be the emperor who gave Rome back her true self? There was once a dream that was Rome. You could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish... it was so fragile. And I fear that it will not survive the winter. Maximus, let us whisper now, together, you and I. You have a son. Tell me about your home.”

Maximus: “My house is in the hills above Trujillo. A very simple place. Pinkstones that warm in the sun. A kitchen garden that smells of herbs in the day, jasmine in the evening. Through the gate is a giant poplar. Figs, apples, pears. The soil, Marcus- black. Black like my wife’s hair. Grapes on the south slopes, olives on the north. Wild ponies play near my house. They tease my son. He wants to be one of them.”

Marcus Aurelius: “Remember the last time you were home?”

Maximus: “Two years, 264 days, and this morning.”

Marcus Aurelius: “I envy you, Maximus. It’s a good home. Worth fighting for. There is one more duty that I ask of you before you go home.”

Maximus: “What would you have me do, Caesar?”

Marcus Aurelius: “I want you to become the protector of Rome after I die. I will empower you to one end alone: To give power back to the people of Rome, and end the corruption that has crippled it. Will you accept this great honor I have offered you?”

Maximus: “With all my heart, no.”

Marcus Aurelius: “Maximus, that is why it must be you.”

“How will the world speak my name in years to come? Will I be known as the philosopher? The warrior? The tyrant...? Or will I be the emperor who gave Rome back her true self?”

— Richard Harris as Marcus Aurelius in Gladiator, 2000

Steven Soderbergh on Steven Spielberg: The Master of Blocking

Celebrating Spielberg through a “Raiders” Soderbergh case study by Danny Boyd of CinemaStix.

This inspiring video posted by Danny Boyd of CinemaStix thoroughly explores Steven Spielberg’s master strokes of blocking, staging, and other key directorial techniques as presented in Steven Soderbergh’s unique presentation celebrating the iconic director.

Through isolating the essence of the film Raiders of the Lost Ark by removing color, dialogue, and replacing the music with tracks from The Social Network and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Soderbergh celebrates Spielberg’s genius.

Extinction? No. Mach 10+? Yes!

Hammer: [going through Maverick’s service record] “Maverick. Thirty-plus years of service. Combat medals. Citations. Only man to shoot down three enemy planes in the last 40 years. Distinguished. Distinguished. Distinguished. Yet you can’t get a promotion, you won’t retire, and despite your best efforts, you refuse to die. You should be at least a two-star Admiral by now, if not a Senator. Yet here you are...Captain. Why is that?”

Maverick: “It’s one of life’s mysteries, sir.”

Hammer: “This isn’t a joke. I asked you a question.”

Maverick: “I’m where I belong, sir.”

Hammer: “Well, the Navy doesn't see it that way. Not anymore. Those planes you’ve been testing, Captain... one day sooner than later they won't need pilots at all. Pilots that need to eat, sleep, take a piss. [glares at Maverick] Pilots that disobey orders. All you did was buy some time for those men out there.

The future is coming, and you’re not in it. [to the Masters-at-Arms] Escort this man off the base. Take him to his quarters. Wait with him while he packs his gear. I want him on the road to North Island within the hour.”

Maverick: “North Island, sir?”

Hammer: “Call came in with impeccable timing just as I was driving here to ground your ass once and for all. It galls me to say it, but...for reasons known only to the Almighty and your guardian angel...you've been called back to Top Gun.”

Maverick: [in disbelief] “Sir?”

Hammer: “You are dismissed, Captain. [calling after Maverick as he goes to leave] The end is inevitable, Maverick. Your kind is headed for extinction.”

Maverick: “Maybe so, sir. But not today.”

“The end is inevitable, Maverick. Your kind is headed for extinction.”

— Ed Harris, Rear Admiral “Hammer” Cain addressing Tom Cruise, Captain “Maverick” Mitchell, Top Gun: Maverick