OcularInvasion.com

Work in progress for a new display font.

What do y’all think?

E3 been over for almost a week now, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about my favorite things to have come out of the show. You see, I’m a big video game nerd and, as most of you know, a big design nerd (designerd) as well. So, my favorite things at E3 weren’t games (although there were quite a few that I’m excited for) but a couple of design pieces.

First up is the best logo of the show – the logo for Forza Motorsport 3.

Most video games logos are no more than type with a texture thrown over top so it’s great to finally see a logo that aspires for more. This logo for Forza Motorsport 3 is great on so many levels. Without know what it’s for, the logo really gives off the feeling of racing – the logo looks fast. That’s another thing, the M is serving triple duty in this logo. It’s an M, a tire, and a 3. Such a concise and clear design is not often seen in video game logos.

Probably everyone has seen this by now, but the Beatles:Rockband opening cinematic is effin’ mind-blowing (I would expect no less from Pete Candeland, director of the Gorillaz music videos).

Color design, character design, 2D, 3D, it’s all there and it’s all awesome. Watch it on the Beatles:Rockband site.

Did I miss any other cool design things from E3?

1. This American Life is an incredible show.
2. Not everything I create has to be the greatest piece I’ve ever made.

I know the two seem unrelated but check out this video with This American Life host Ira Glass in which he talks about creativity.

Not enough gets said about the importance of abandoning crap. – Ira Glass

Even before seeing this video, I put this mantra into practice with the Make Something Cool Everyday project. Before this project, I would make something and not be willing to let it go. If it wasn’t a hit, I would get depressed and think that I wasn’t good and then it was a while before I had the confidence to make something else. Now I realize that it’s not that I’m not good, it’s that I wasn’t able to trash the pieces that weren’t.

Many great examples of success coming from failure can be found on Threadless. Aled Lewis, aka Fatheed, has had 24 shirts printed and has earned over $56,000 through Threadless. Which seems unbelievable until you see how many designs he’s submitted – 72. Incredible! Fatheed fails almost twice before each success.

Granted, there are the Stanley Kubricks of the world who can succeed almost every time. But, unlike those Apollo 13 folks, for most of us, failure is an option.

You’ll notice a new ocularinvasion.com home page and logo. Both of which will see an official launch before the end of April.

“Adieu – French for TTYL” is my way of saying goodbye to Make Something Cool Everyday. My plate is full enough as it is without forcing this other thing on top of it all. Granted, MSCE was like the extra sugar on top of stuff french toast – Sound like a good idea, maybe even tastes like a good idea but, at the end of the day it’s just more stuff that you don’t really need. (Was that analogy forced or what? Jeez)

Also feel like I’ve short changed a lot of these designs by only working on them for one day.

I know I said I was going to stop at 30 but it’s just way too much fun. I won’t be making stuff everyday though. I’ll just post after every five like I’ve been doing.
Note: The sketches were made during my trip to Boston so there was no computer access.

These are the two best music videos that I’ve seen in a long time. The best thing about these videos is that I love both the music and the visuals.