See You In Court

Some good advice on contracts for designers from coroflot.com

Don't get jerked

Italia Vogue: The Black Issue

2 months later I'm trying to find the now famous Black issue of Italian Vogue (July 2008). It featuring some of my favorite Black models, especially voluptuous Toccara.

More from the blog Glossed Over

Italian Vogue's "Black Issue" Goes Into Reprints



As 10,000 freshly printed copies of the July edition are shipped to newsstands, Italian Vogue editor Franca Sozzani talked to Reuters about the magazine’s incredibly successful “Black Issue.” This quote, in particular, struck me:

“America ... is ready for a black president, so why are we not ready for a black model?”

Aren’t we ready, though? This issue is the first in Condé Nast’s history to be reprinted to satisfy demand. Ad sales were up 30 percent for this issue, even though many of those same advertisers stuck with white models in their ads. Photographer Steven Meisel, who shot the cover story, says,

“I’ve asked my advertising clients so many times, ‘Can we use a black girl?’ They say no. Advertisers say black models don’t sell.”

Right. They don’t sell advertising, which is why these same advertisers snapped up pages in this edition. They don’t sell consumer goods, and it has nothing to do with the product or the ad concept. They don’t sell at the newsstand, but it was Gwyneth Paltrow on the cover of the year’s worst selling issue.

So where does the problem really lie? Looks like America is certainly ready for more diverse models, but are magazines?

Old School + Vinyl

Something about having album art in a big 12 inch square I just like

NicoStarr Billboard

Well, here it is!



I think we did a great job. Its nice to see the photos we took in the final stage

Visit Nicostarr.com and see if there's a shirt for you!

NicoStarr T-Shirt Shoot

Trying to catch up on my recent events, I shot some pictures for Nikki and Darius at Nicostarr, and her t shirt company.

I hooked up with them and Nikki's friend Katie on South Street. Seeing your boy as a model is always a funny thing (Zoolander always comes to mind) but I think we did a pretty good job.



Nikki's shirts have that quirky graphics and unusual lines from her favorite movies and other things of interest.



I can't wait to see the ads Nikki designs for the bus stop.

Free Music For Free, No really...

A few weeks ago I found out that one of my favorite music artists, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, has released an online-only album for download called the slip.



Not throwaway songs, no freestyles, but an actual studio produced quality album for free

In this new era of sagging record sales, fluffy pop stars, and ringtone beat rappers, how could he possibly put an album out completely for free? No videos, no magazine promotion and yet everyone knew about it.

On top of that, he was releasing a "limited edition" physical version with a dvd of performances. I think I missed the boat because I can't find it.

Though I downloaded it for free, and love it almost as much as With_Teeth, I still want to buy the actual CD so I can have the artwork from the inside jacket.



Whoever designs for him is lucky; NIN CD packages are usually so out there.

His past albums and remix albums have had an organic, rusted metal feel to go along with the industrial sound. Later albums have a digital-pixeled feel as he seemed to get more into a synthetic piano, instrumental sound.

With_Teeth


Year Zero


I'm getting more an more hype the more I talk about it!! Check out the song 1,000,000 Every time I hear this song I feel like I'm in a Nike commercial running 100 miles an hour.

Feel free to rock out with me!!!!



I'm kicking myself for not going to the concert...