Attention Philadelphia! If your penchant for brotherly love has recently morphed into a desire for designer-ly delights; don’t despair, you’re still in the right city. A sterling opportunity to quench that fresh thirst, although briefly, has presented itself in the form of a wondrous pop up shop courtesy of the fine folks (and our friends) at Oh Joy! and URBN. Indulge yourself in a fine array of precious paper and print goods that are sure to be a compliment to even the shoddiest of penmanship. The whole shebang kicks off tomorrow, July 9th, at 11:30 at URBN Building 543 on 5000 S. Broad Street on the Urban Outfitter’s campus and lasts a scant three hours ’til the clock strikes 2:30. Plan accordingly and don’t miss out, because shops don’t just pop-up out of the ground like this too often.

A longtime source of design whim and wonder, Oh Joy! has frequently supplied us with delightful morsels of innovation and adorableness that are simply to die for. With the dawn of a new season, comes the dawn of a new day for this top notch site and home base for Joy Deeangdeelert Cho. The mastermind behind the Oh Joy! (formerly Nantaka Joy) line of stationery and driving force behind her widely read design blog of the same name, has a newly relaunched site encompassing all that you know and love from before, placed inside a bright and shiny new package. Check it out for yourself.  Congrats Joy!

If you had to compile a list of the top body parts that we human beings tend to listen to, the first two slots on that list would undoubtedly belong to our heads and our hearts with our bladders and stomachs rounding out the third and fourth spot. The folks behind the Baileys Irish Cream brand are hoping their new ad campaign will allow “your lips” to ease into one of those top spots. To show off how they might just change the order of organs we so trust, Baileys invited us along to get an exclusive look at the filming of their new spots helmed by Icelandic director Borkur, in London last week.

The “Listen To Your Lips” campaign created in concert with JWT’s London Office is an attempt to change the way the public views the Bailey's brand. According to JWT's Creative Director Hugh Todd, current drinkers have long thought of the tasty liqueur in terms of both Christmas-time or coffee-time, rather than an enjoyable anytime beverage for the of age. While not an attempt to change the culture of their drink altogether, the idea behind their new set of adverts is to encourage flavorful alcohol enthusiasts that it's okay to get an urge for Bailey's even when there's no java or Douglas fir around.

So just how did they attempt to get that point across? Well, the miracle of the pop hook plays a big role. The three ads bring us to the three distinct settings of a bar, an apartment, and a rooftop. Each situation is beautifully paired with it's own impossibly infectious tune getting the sing-along treatment from a sufficiently sexy set of smackers. The idea ultimately equates the sudden thought of drinking a Bailey's Irish Cream with the undeniable impulse one gets to sing along with the chorus of their favorite ditty. The idea of drinking a Bailey's on ice or in any form becomes catchy rather than seasonal. The campaign also eschews the traditional sense of narrative to allow the viewer to fill in their own blanks and figure out how the spots relate to them instead of forcing a situation where
they find little to no common ground.

Judging by the action we surveyed on set with close ups on luscious lips karaoke-ing in unison with incredibly addictive tunes, JWT and commercials on their hands. We expect that they'll soon have lips around the world humming their tune and drinking their kool-aid…or Irish Cream. The ads in question are set to start making waves internationally in late July. Hopefully, we’ll be able give you an exclusive sneak peak before that to whet your appetite. If you’re interested check out some more pictures after the jump…

READ MORE…

Hoards of people are currently using Twitter to say nothing, so it isn’t surprising there are more than a few who are anti-tweet. One of my favorite visual Twitter kiss-offs comes from Josh Holland via JoyEngine. Josh “cannot wait until Twitter goes the way of the slap bracelet and they’re talking about it on VH1’s I Love the 2000s.” (I’d say, “oh snap!” if I didn’t think that would get me on VH1 too.) If you share the sentiment, you can download the graphic above. Meanwhile Cypher13, aka the JoyEngine crew, set up an experimental micro-site for their own micro-blogging (in macro-font). But, there are some good uses for the technology. Like Shaq.

Editors Note: I don’t dislike twitter– in fact, I find it to be quite a powerful tool. You just need to fine tune it to hear the signal, not the noise. And I definitely don’t think it will go the way of the slap bracelet, we just thought it was a funny post. From time to time we like to open up a bit of a debate here, jump in and enjoy.

Blackberry Storm: Buy It ($199)
We love the touchscreen functionality of the iPhone, but we’re still not floored by its usability when it comes to email or texting. Blackberry’s newest phone gives us that ability to get tactile with our phone but also features a haptic keyboard that makes sending coherent texts that much easier.

T-Mobile G1: Buy It ($179)
Google’s first phone is geared for those who are pathologically undecided. The phone – which comes in bronze, black, and white and runs on Google’s open-source Android system – features both a touchscreen and a full QWERTY keyboard (a touchscreen keyboard is coming early next year) that slides out. As a result, it’s just a glorified Sidekick that’s still kind of glorious.

Foof Cases: Read JS Review | Buy It ($13)
These cases come in a variety of gorgeous fabrics and protect your phone by holding it snug and wrapping it in satin. We’re totally jealous of our phone. They’re also available for your other portable Mac items.

Speck Cases: Read JS Review | Buy It ($30)
They offer a wide range of designs, but their newest are so preppy they make us want to rename ourselves Muffy and go play some croquet — in a totally non-judgmental way.

Jawbone Bluetooth Accessory: Read JS Review | Buy It ($130)
You may be a Bluetool, but you don’t have to look like one all the time — at least not with the sleek device that’s also incredible at eliminating background noise. Ok, so you still look like a tool, but if it’s between sounding good and looking good…

Incase x Parra iPhone Case: Read JS Review | Buy It ($60)
Stay protected, stay sexy, and grab a colorful — but expensive — hardshell case produced by Dutch artist Parra for reliable manufacturer Incase. Our phone gets to stay safe and we get to enjoy the acid flashbacks.

Hulger Handsets: Read JS Review | Buy It ($40 – $190)
Sometimes we long for those good old days of ginormous handsets. Hulger captures our nostalgia by wirelessly connecting or plugging a nice chunky receiver into our cellphone or our PC to chat via Skype.

Brian Eno x Bloom iPhone App: Read JS Review | Buy It ($4)
Coutesy of Brian Eno, Bloom lets you create sounds and images just by touching your screen. It also features nine mood settings — though we don’t think holiday stress is one of them.

Roku Netflix Player: Read JS Review | Buy It ($100)
If waiting two days for the next film in your queue to arrive by snail mail is unacceptable, now you can take a deep breath and stream Waiting To Exhale without ever opening an envelope.

Secret Book Camera: Read JS Review | Buy It ($55)
For that ex-spy in your life who misses explosive chewing gum. It’s a book! No, it’s a camera. It’s a camera, indeed.

Blackbird, Fly TLR Camera: Read JS Review | Buy It (About $126)
Anyone who doesn’t need to resort to secrecy to snap photos and enjoys the medium of film should take to this wonder of lomography.

Peanut Butter Machine: Read JS Review | Buy It ($50)
Really you haven’t lived until you’ve made your own peanut butter … cashew butter … and walnut butter. Anything we’re leaving out?

Magneat: Read JS Review | Buy It ($10)
Even if you’re not overly clumsy, chances are your flailing arms send your iPod headphones flying out of your ears every once in awhile. Well, not on Magneat’s watch.

LED Rainbow Keyboard: Read JS Review | Buy It ($35 – $200)
There are so many colors in the rainbow and oh so many keys on your keyboard.  Why shouldn’t there be some sort of decorative correlation?  For good measure you can film yourself making a finger version of Michael Jackson’s famous “Billie Jean” video.

Vizio Java HDTV: Read JS Review | Buy It ($730)
While Green, Red, and Blue are most certainly the most festive holiday colors the Java-hue of this sleek piece of equipment is certainly the sexiest.

The Sanctuary: Read JS Review | Buy It ($130)
There’s no need to fumble around making sure you’ve got all the right power cords on hand anymore.  This electronics organizer contains a variety of chargers that are compatible with over 1500 devices.

Ardica PDA Warmers: Read JS Review | Buy It ($145)
Ardica PDA Warmers make sure trekkers don’t get left out in the cold when they’re out for days in frosty conditions. While it’s a plus that it keeps bodies warm, it’s really the ability to hold 11 cell phone charges and 20 iPod charges, as well as keep a precious GPS or PDA working, that puts this as a must-have on our holiday list.

Nappak Sleeping Cube: Read JS Review | Buy It
If you like taking naps anywhere you please but don’t think air mattresses afford you enough privacy, the Nappak allows you to avoid at least one side of the room. For total privacy, wedge it against the wall!

The first time I met Ray Young Chu he talked a lot of shit about my eyebrows.

This threw me initially, but once the topic of conversation turned to ice cream, then back to eyebrows (a friend's this time), then to PBR, I figured that Chu wasn't really talking shit, he was just full of shit — the really, really weird kind that helps people make amazing art.

It's been just over a year since Ray slammed my facial features, but in that short time he's made some serious headway. Read on as Ray slows down long enough for us to catch up.

READ MORE…

With summer blockbusters now an afterthought, and Christopher Nolan’s masterful $500 million plus Dark Knight film slowly fading from memory, it’s time to hit the refresher button on one of our favorite superheroes. Batman has existed in many incarnations, perhaps one of the most unsung is Batman:The Animated Series, which enjoyed a fruitful after school run in the early to mid-1990’s. The magic of this embodiment of the Caped Crusader was apparent to many a comic book and cartoon fan, including Philly-based MC, producer, and percussionist Blame The Kid. Blame (a.k.a our very own Abdullah Saeed) was recently so inspired by this version of Gotham city goings on that he decided to turn his childhood muse into some rather dope music. Pooling melodic samples and dialogue from the show and combining with his own talents for programming, beat culting, and playing, he’s concocted quite the musical mashup. A love letter, if you will, with Batman: The Animated Album. Faster than a speeding bullet, able to leap buildings in a single bound…oh wait, that’s the other guy. Just download the album, take a listen and enjoy the ride.

To briefly recap our progress with the Veuve Clicquot recipe this week, we added one part design on Tuesday, one part ambiance on Wednesday, and one part expertise on Thursday. Today, there’s one last ingredient to add, and we’re going to be pouring a little bit more of this one into the mix than usual. The reason the recipe calls for two parts family is that the Veuve Clicquot family is the glue that holds the rest of the dish together.

The strength of the VC family not only serves to keep the internal workings of the brand humming along, but it’s also a strong, effective, and natural customer draw — I think it’s the authenticity people perceive when they feel a strong sense of family associated with a brand. It was certainly what made me feel relaxed, welcomed, and inspired during my days in France — a refreshing, tradition-bound experience amongst the hoards of Johnny-come-lately brands out there these days.

And as a special bonus today, I’ve put together this photo/video montage of my Veuve Clicquot experience. In all honesty, it was inspired by my new, adopted family. I hope you all enjoy watching. (I recommend viewing the montage in high quality on youtube )

And what “family” post would be complete with out a few family photos? You'll find several after the jump…

READ MORE…

The favorite emerging food trend of the summer is one you should expect to see only more of. Frozen Tart Yogurt — if you haven't seen it or tried it in your town, it's on its way. You've probably heard of the L.A. based Pinkberry, or the Korean sensation Red Mango that is making waves in the USA, but an emerging favorite with the superior designed space and product is Tartini. Everything about Tartini has been done with a specific purpose and the result is an astounding modern, approachable and high quality product.

Read after the jump for more about Tartini design.
READ MORE…

If we can trust what Wikipedia has to say on the matter, people born in the Chinese Year of the Monkey have it made. They are smart, quick witted, inventive problem-solvers, and they come with a side of sharp-shooting, horribly unfair skills– like the ability to absorb conversations happening around them, even while they themselves are heavily engaged in another.

Eric Chan, also known as eepmon, is a young, Ontario-based new media artist with enough experience under his belt to make much more seasoned designers quiver. He is also an enthusiastic member of that lucky Zodiac sign– and from what we can tell, should be, as he fills in its outlines to an intimidating degree.

Read up as we talk with Eric about his bright future, his studious (and very recent) past, and the exciting things that have been bridging his path from day to day.

READ MORE…

From an organizational perspective — even a musically inclined one — the odds of finding three beautiful girls, all long-locked, well-worded, and in possession of keyboards, seem slim. The odds of them finding each other — that seems near impossible. However, on the off chance that that sort of thing might happen, it makes sense that it would happen in Brooklyn. And on the off chance that that sort of thing did happen, it goes to follow that the three beautiful girls would see something serendipitous in their similarities, nurture them, then do what all good Brooklynites with instruments do: form a band.

They call themselves Au Revoir Simone, and they call each other Erika, Heather and Annie. We call them ethereal, because we've been having trouble turning their music down since we first laid ears on the sweetly layered, abstractly energetic, and quaintly composed melodies. They all sing, write, and play each of the instruments their music requires. But most importantly, they fit together perfectly. Oh, and they make a killer batch of cookies.

READ MORE…

As promised, here are the winning entries for our Tokidoki Mimobot contest:

Winner, Timothy Nakayama

This is my story, about what happened to my friends and I, the day when our island sunk into the realm of dreams and almost disappeared from reality.

This is my story, written by me, Pirate Nero.

READ MORE…

Matt W. Moore knows the remedy to day job doldrums. An ex-agency man turned big-time web designer, Matt has never renounced his personal creative pursuits for his job – a sacrifice that today's creative types find themselves depressingly prone to.

From his early days in advertising to his current responsibilities (keeping the Burton website sparkly fresh), Matt has been filling his downtime with personal side projects that feed his soul as much as his bank account. His versatile career experiences — as gallery artist, pre-press designer, editorial illustrator, art director, and curator, to name a few — have given him the experience he needs for side projects like Wallspankers, a sticky extension of Matt's graffiti past, and the B/W Bangers, Matt's very own saving grace.

So what is the remedy? It's one part introspection; one part creativity; one part confidence –- and a little dose of self–publishing.

Joshspear.com: For a period you lived the increasingly common double life of an ad man by day/artist by night. What finally inspired you to start MWM Graphics?

Matt W. Moore: I actually started MWM Graphics while I was in college. I would side hustle logos, concert posters, editorial illustrations, anything that I thought would be exciting and help me grow as a designer. I caught an awesome break during my last year of school and started to work at an agency in Portland, Maine called The VIA Group. I later moved into an Art Director position there and worked on some fun accounts, all the while doing personal work and freelance in my free time. Now I work as a web designer at Burton Snowboards, and stay busy with all sorts of personal projects. The “double life” has been my style all along. I hope to one day break away and devote all of my time and energy towards my studio and making art. READ MORE…

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and since your relationship dodged quite a bullet last year when you waited until the last minute so the sweet shop only had leftover Hannukah gelt, it would probably be a good idea to plan ahead this time around. First things first, you need a unique card to express the ultimate sentiment to your sweetie so she doesn't dump you like yesterday's trash. Luckily, we've got just the thing. San Francisco-based procurers of paper, cloth and home goodies,Chewing the Cud have created a set of adorable cards with witty puns for the lucky loved one who caught your eye the moment you were struck by cupid's arrow. What are you waiting for? Head over to Chewing the Cud's Etsy Shop and get your lucky love a card before it's too late…or maybe you should just consider buying your relationship a bulletproof vest.

Via Oh Joy!