Ramblings | Lucky Creative
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Ramblings

Hot dogs + Bacon = Yes. Milk + Orange Juice = Not so much. There are quite a few different food options at Fast Eddie’s that could trigger a gag reflex but I’m pretty certain that is what they are aiming to do. The cook (Eddie) and the waiter (Ed) pull together menu items with what they have on hand. You might get lettuce soup, banana ice cream or tacos and asparagus. It’s a complete and total crap shoot which is why I can’t stop going back.

I’ve interviewed Ed about the hours of operation many times but he is very reluctant to nail anything down. From what I can tell they are open on Thursday – Saturday from 10am to 4pm, except during nap time. Those hours are subject to change at a moment’s notice. The one staple of stability would be their menu, logo and branding elements are all on point. Whoever designed their corporate identity package did a great job of collecting the fragmented menu into cohesive communications.

If you’re in a daring mood, I would highly encourage a trip to Fast Eddie’s. If it is open, you will have a dining experience that you will not forget. 5/5 stars

There are a few hot button topics when it comes to dealing with designers. If you have the privilege of working directly with one of these fragile creatures there are a few precautions you should take. For instance, if you ask for anything to be done in Microsoft Word be prepared for a backlash and possible tirade about the entire Microsoft Office suite. Do you have an hour to deal with this nitpickery? No? Then I would suggest reading 10 Things You Should Never Ask Designers.

The new year brings about all kinds of reflection and retrospective. 2016 was a different year than most and justly deserved the internet’s wrath. I would say this photo is the best way for me to capture how I feel about the year that has passed. Mildly chaotic, childish, plenty of cracks and – of course – there’s a dinosaur in the mix.

There is always a dinosaur.

I make a lot of iTunes playlists through the year and there is one that got me through the firestorm that was 2016. When I needed to dust off the boots and kick some ass the playlist I call Dandy got the job done.

  1. Good as Hell – Lizzo
  2. Me Too – Meghan Trainor
  3. U-Turn – Teegan & Sara
  4. Go! – M83
  5. Can’t Stop the Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
  6. Collect my Love – The Knocks
  7. For What It’s Worth – Kygo
  8. Demons – Fatboy Slim
  9. Wow – Beck
  10. Weathered – Jack Garratt
  11. Love Will Find You – Kris Allen
  12. Trippin on Your Love – Primal Scream
  13. Money – Foxes
  14. Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I can Say) – Lady Gaga
  15. Move Your Body – Sia
  16. Boom! – Simple Plan
  17. Don’t Let Me Down – The Chainsmokers
  18. Help Me Run Away – St. Lucia
  19. Johnson Blvd. – Amos Lee
  20. Here I Am – Andreas Kummert
  21. Roman Holiday – Halsey
  22. We Sink – Chvrches
  23. Heard the World – O.A.R.
  24. Not a Bad Thing – Justin Timberlake
  25. Oh No! – Marina and the Diamonds
  26. Slow It Down – The Dream

What’s that boot-shaped thing?
It’s the outline of Minnesota – the new home of Lucky Creative as of one week from today. As you may already know, the family and I are making our way to Chaska, Minnesota. Located in the southwest corner of the Minneapolis ‘burbs, Chaska is “the best small town in Minnesota.” We hope that it can live up to such a billing.
Lucky Creative will not be undergoing any changes outside of the different location. I will continue to offer the same services as always but with a new billing address. If you would like to update your contact information for me, this will be the new addy:
Lucky Creative
112006 Warner Circle
Chaska, MN, 55318
Thanks for your support, as always. I’m looking forward to our next project together!
– Clint, Molly, Malone, Everett & LeBron

It’s funny how much we naturally want to assimilate. Blame your subconscious if you want, but deep down in the back of your mind you want to be just like everybody else. Designers are supposed to innovate and come up with creative solutions but still fulfill that need to be accepted. Which is part of the reason that every website looks the same, and that’s ok. Website design is moving in a direction that is more homogenous but the end user is the one that reaps the rewards.

(more…)

Grantland has a great article on the toils and troubles of Kit Harrington in keeping secrets during a digital age. It’s not easy being a heartthrob with a massive following who has to pretend his character from Game of Thrones is dead while parading around the same area where filming takes place. It’s exhausting, I’m sure. Well, the jig is up according to an interview with the Belgian magazine Humo and the GoT Truthers are vindicated.

More importantly, we can all go back to saying ‘Jaaahn Snuuuuww’ every time he appears in the next season. A new reason to celebrate Sundays after the football season has ended, thank you HBO.

Photo illustration by Crustulum

Nothing says summer like a great playlist bumping in the background as you drive across the great Americana with the windows rolled down. Are you tired of listening to the Dazed and Confused Soundtrack while you daydream about the days gone by? I’ve got the cure for what ails you.

Slummertime 2015 Track List:

  1. New Americana – Halsey
  2. Dreams – Beck
  3. Can’t Feel My Face – The Weeknd
  4. Waves – Miguel
  5. Lifted Up (1985) – Passion Pit
  6. Killing It – Cher Lloyd
  7. Over & Over – Smallpools
  8. Reflections – Misterwives
  9. Hallelujah – The Rubens
  10. Collide – James Bay
  11. The Moment – Tame Impala
  12. Sisters Brothers – Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors
  13. Early Morning Riser – The Weepies
  14. Climb Out Your Window – Walk Off the Earth
  15. Best I Can Do – Misterwives
  16. Whistle (While You Work It) – Katy Tiz
  17. Lean On – Major Lazer
  18. My House – Flo Rida
  19. Headlights – Robin Schulz Feat. Ilsey
  20. Just Imagine It – MKTO
  21. How to be a Heartbreaker – Marina and the Diamonds
  22. The Arc – The Arcs

The goal with the Slummer playlists is to fit on a CD so you can rock it old school on your driving adventure. If I get find a pile of unforeseen time in the near future I will take the playlist into the next century with a Spotify playlist for your listening pleasure.

I get some really obscure requests while running the gamut of design. Sometimes they really make me laugh, which is why I must share this request for a simple icon design:

An icon with a magnifying glass with people – all races, if possible

Would you be upset if I didn’t have room for the Turks and the Gypsies in the icon? It’s only 32 x 32 pixels.

Let’s get rambling. There’s something about design and travel that go in hand in hand for me. As a designer, you’re always looking for fresh solutions or new ideas and the best prescription is travel. Having your eyes opened to a new way of living and seeing the world around you differently is a lesson that should be learned on the regular.

Plus, traveling is incredibly fun. You don’t believe me? Well…

 

The downside is that you don’t update your blog regularly. I can live with that.

It looks like someone was watching the movie Her and thought ‘there should be an app for that.’ Invisible Boyfriend will be your perfect man for $24.99 a month – calls included – and will confirm that our love lives and virtual lives are become more and more intertwined.

From their website:

“Create your own boyfriend. You’ll give him a name, choose his age and photo and create his personality.”

Like a page out of Weird Science. It’s pretty easy to pass judgement on this particular product because it smells of deception and desperation but they have a defense for that aspect. The app “creates a safe space for you to practice texting with a real human if you’re out of practice.” Hmmmm, well I guess you do have to take a few practice swings in the batting cages before it’s time to play ball.

For a hearty laugh, check out Karissa Bell’s experience with the service as she immediately tries to pick a fight with her new man.

invisible-bf-app

I have to admit, since having a second child that my movie watching has hit an all-time low but there were some serious gems in the year that was 2014. Although any time that Wes Anderson releases a new film I probably call it a good year. I’m very excited to watch the Fantastic Mr. Fox with my sons in the near future if my wife could stomach it for 2 hours. What the cuss!?

So instead of pretending that I have a great list of must watch movies I’ll refer to the people’s choices via Letterboxd. Since The Grand Budapest Hotel (currently available on HBO Go) was the most popular pick on Letterboxd I will gladly hand out a ringing endorsement. The website has a delightful design so you won’t regret taking a moment to enjoy it.

It’s always a good night for a movie night.

Screen Shot 2015-01-16 at 11.35.30 AM

 

It’s time for a sandwich. Not just any sandwich, but one that is dripping with attention to detail and classic deli style. I hope that is not literal.

Making a ‘classic’ logo is pretty damn fun since I got to rummage through the internet for historical designs and found some absolute gems. In particular I found the Deli Garage which has a great collection of packaging design, especially the Kraftstoff flasks. If anyone was thinking of giving me a Christmas present please add these to the list.

 

Stalzy’s pulls from vintage delicatessen style, which is why I especially enjoy the avant garde font choices and the use of a star to break up the syllables for a phonetic spelling. Classic with class.