Cars and Information graphics go hand-in-hand

I've been a car nut for as long as I can remember. So it was no question that I was going to offer some insight on the relationship between cars and information graphics. Information graphics and cars go together like pancakes and maple syrup. When seeking details and comparisons of any given vehicle and its performance or features, there is a ton of information that goes into such details. However, unless you're reading a brochure on a brand new Audi, the automotive industry has had its history of poor graphics in terms of visual information design. I think its ironic how some companies can design beautiful performance parts and built state of the art machines, but they can't give us some visually pleasing information about the muffler I just bought. If you ever try reading an after market auto manual, you'll know what I'm talking about.

The illustration above is a graph based on a before and after performance details of an after market exhaust system. Magnaflow, one of the leading manufacturers in after market exhaust system and automotive performance parts, is depicting in the illustration above, the performance details of a Corvette ZO6. Now the thing about the automotive industry is that they sell everything assuming that the average consumer knows what "hp" and "lb. ft" mean and that they build engines from scratch on their spare time. I bet some folks are looking at this and don't know what they're staring at because they have no idea what some of the information means. Of course, that is the first thing thats wrong with this chart.

Chart junk is also relevant in many information graphics in the automotive industry, and did I mention the horrible typography? In terms of the illustration above, there are few more rounds of development that it can undergo. Do you all have any suggestions?

Here are some examples of my hand painted work on sneakers. Footwear design has always been a topic I follow and a profession I soon hope to accomplish. Using my rendering and painting skills and utilizing blank footwear as a medium for designs is something I've been practicing for about 2 years now. I hope you enjoy viewing the footwear and please comment, constructive criticism is a must.

I came across an idea to write on when shopping around for a new pair of shoes. I wanted to write on the topic of lettering and typography on sneaker trends. Its no longer a new idea as it has been done before and because it is also quite impossible to get Nikes in every color. The sneaker trend is taking a much more subtle approach with slimmed down low tops and fancy dressed down color palettes with the exception of your occasional patented leather hi-tops. However, I thought this topic was interesting to write about because I haven’t yet come across a really good example of typography on sneakers. I’ve seen typography on sneakers no doubt, but none really that have wowed me. Looking at the examples above, these two designs have been compared in their typographic approach.


The Nike running shoe above is ok, but not what I would expect from the company as a sneaker enthusiast or a designer. The color palette is boring with just using grays and too much black and white. The only exception here is the multicolor Air Stab logo, which has been a favorite of mine for a while. The type itself has no definite meaning other than the title of the shoe (Alphabet Edition), which sort of gave a boring impression. Of course, athletic shoes aren’t as painfully examined by the fashion police as much as a pair of Gucci loafers, but I truly expected more out of it since they are limited addition. I would doubt someone would blow $200 on an $80 pair of shoes for cross training. It is a nice shoe, but when I saw them at the store, I hesitated buying them because they could have been so much better.


Now, I’m not an expert on high heels. However, the shoes above with the newspaper print on them bring a much better approach to the idea of typography on footwear. It seems women’s shoes designers bring an added touch to design. Rather than these platforms having type scattered across the entire shoe, the designer chose a specific area where the type can be emphasized and examined. Not only that, but the type actually conveys an idea: handbag. Of course, for many fashion-conscious women out there, no outfit is complete without a matching handbag. The shoes emphasize that and spell it out loud and clear. The best part about it is that although the shoe is stylish, the idea it conveys is screaming and advertising the fact that there has to be a matching purse for this particular shoe. This was a very smart (and sort of sneaky) idea. Next topic: typography on handbags and accessories.

Supermarket for the Young and Hip

I'm sure some of you may have heard about Fresh and Easy. I'm not here to pitch a sale for them, but rather to talk about their branding. Although the store caries many of the world's most recognizable brands, the business focuses more on their own products as the key sales for their stores. As more and more people are startng to follow the fresh and healthy trends, Fresh and Easy seems to be working well with folks all over the country. In these tough economic times the brand is actually carrying itself well with new stores opening all over the country (including the one in Alhambra, CA. I am personally excited about). The companie's branding is definitely the main reason here.

At this point in time, the young, hip, modern generation is dominating the market in design branding as it is not only working with a certain demographic. It seems to be catching everyone by storm. The branding in Fresh and Easy is a perfect example. They may not be the first to use such branding elements as rounded corners, fresh, organic color pallettes and spunky punch lines, but these graphics are certainly working for them. Their branding is simple, ultra modern, and very... fresh(pun not intended). One would think that this store is somewhere along the lines of Gelson's and Whole Foods (upscale, expensive, snotty), but the environment is actually no where near any of the ones mentioned. The stores actually carry a certain corner mart or bodega-like atmosphere. I love the fact that they can mix some of these trendy traits and actaully make it feel like a local neighborhood market (like Liborio Market on 9th and Vermont in Downtown L.A. without the LAPD ha ha ha!).