Eli No! Children’s Book

Found this over at Grain Edit. A wonderful children's book featuring two of my favorite things, dogs and super great illustrations!!!

Eli No! tells the story of a trouble-making dog and the one word that isn't far behind. The book was designed and illustrated by Katie Kirk & Nathan Strandberg of Eighthourday. The illustrations are so beautiful and the layout is superb all the way through. Apparently as of now the book is unpublished, but I would be one of the firsts to buy it if it was.

See more images from the book here.

Hero is closed today!

Due to the loverly weather that hammered the mid west and north east yesterday, we got stuck in Kentucky an extra day and we are traveling back to New York today. So, Hero will be closed again today.

We will resume normal hours tomorrow, 12-6pm. We apologize for any inconvenience.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Ye Olde English UK Dunny Series Release and Trading Party

Happy Inauguration Day, America!

What a spectacular and historic day today is!!
Our eyes were full of tears and our hearts are full of pride and hope. Not much else to say.

“The question we ask today is not whether our government
is too big or too small, but whether it works.”

- Barack Hussein Obama, the 44th president of the United States

Image via the NY Times

More Matchbox Art

Wow, I am a sucker for all these beautiful vintage matchbox labels and covers. Found this great set on Flickr.
It is just so amazing how such small images can communicate in such a large way.

Check out some of the other posts we've put up in this blog, with more of these vintage goodies.

Here's a small sample of some of the gems found in that Flickr group:

Hero is trying to forget the past.

Like so many people, we are trying to forget where we came from! We get sick of looking at our old work, and just wish it would go away. So we are trying to move some stuff.

For a limited time and while supplies last, get select posters (shown below) from our first 2 years of printmaking at stupid cheap prices!


Choose any 3 posters for $25. Choose any 7 posters for $50. or Choose any 15 posters for $100.

Click here to see what posters are included in this sale and to start shopping. Available online only.

Neko Case’s “PEOPLE GOT A LOTTA NERVE” - Blog it for a Worthwhile Cause

So this couldn't be anymore amazing for both Neko Case and animal lovers, alike!


ANTI announced on January 13th that for every blog and/or iLike user that reposts the song “People Got A Lotta Nerve,” the first single from Neko Case’s forthcoming album Middle Cyclone (out March 3), Neko Case and ANTI- will make a cash donation to Best Friends Animal Society . The promotion will run from January 13 to February 3, 2009. Five dollars will be donated for every blog post and one dollar for every user of iLike that adds the song to his/her profile. Details and instructions below.



Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009, Best Friends Animal Society is one of America’s foremost animal rescue organizations. Founded in 1984, Best Friends advances nationwide animal welfare initiatives by working with shelter and rescue groups around the country. On any given day Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the nation’s largest facility for abused, abandoned and special needs companion animals located in southwestern Utah, is home to approximately 2,000 dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, birds, and other animals. The society also publishes Best Friends magazine, the nation’s largest general interest, pet-related magazine with approximately 300,000 subscribers. For more information, visit www.bestfriends.org.

Download “People Got A Lotta Nerve” now

And for instructions on how you and your blog can help, go here. It’s easy and it's the least you can do! Read more about this wonderful gift by Neko Case and ANTI- here.

Snow Ghosts

Came across this on Flickr and it really made me smile...

created by Beau Bergeron.

Murphy's graphic design laws

Murphy's graphic design laws.

Here's a few of my favs:

• If you have two versions of a photo, you will send the wrong one to the printer.
• If three designs are shown to a client, your least favorite will be chosen.
• Your best idea is already copyrighted.

[via]

So many new goodies available in store at Hero.

Pantone/Gap NYC Pop -Up Store

Found this over at Buffawhat's Blog (Hero's best customer) and what a good find it is.

Pantone-mania has gone to a whole new level, and this design geek couldn't be happier about it!! I have posted about rad Pantone goodies many times on this blog, but this one might take the cake. Ironically, I was going to post today about Pantone's color of the year for 2009, Mimosa, since I have been obsessed with that shade of yellow since early fall!! This post is even better though.

This past weekend Gap and Pantone opened up a pop-up shop on 5th Ave in the company’s ‘concept store’ space. The shop will sell t-shirts in a range of Pantone hues. Pantone recently unveiled its pick for the 2009 color of the year called Mimosa (14-0848) Pantone describes the color as having seven characteristics, optimistic, hopeful, reassuring, warm, cheerful, radiant, and versatile which they feel are the most relevant to the next twelve months. Gap has issued a Mimosa hued shirt that is only available at the store on 5th. Sounds like the rest of the line will show up for sale on the company’s website and other stores.

Gap/Pantone
Adjacent to the New York City Gap flagship store at 54th and 5th Avenue

The shop is open now thru February 8th.

(Quoted text and images via PSFK)

Hero is speaking at RIT Tonight

Hero will be at the Rochester Institute of Technology today speaking to their AIGA club in building #76 in the Carlson Auditorium from 5:30 - 7pm.

If you are a student at RIT stop by and join us. We'll be chatting about design, business, screen printing, Hero's history, what size shoes we wear, whatever.

Matisyahu Tour Series Available Now!

From Matisyahu's Fall 2008 Tour - the full poster series is available now in the Hero webstore!!

Start shopping here.

100 Design Book Covers

Finishing off the week of book related posts...Found this over at Montague Projects (Our pal from Buffalo, Julian Montague's blog). A rad posting of 100 Design book covers on the blog Visual Evasion.

Obama Riding a Unicorn!

I couldn't think of a better shirt to wear while toasting the inauguration of President Elect Barack Obama.

BARACK OBAMA RIDING A UNICORN T-SHIRT
It's an historic shirt designed by Washington DC-based artist and adventurer Chris Bishop!

How amazing is this shirt? Really, I think I need to buy this.

{via}

52 Books for 2009.

One more book post....



Penguin presents 52 of its top titles to get you excited about reading all throughout the year. Whether you want to exercise that grey matter, attain the body beautiful or be swept up in romance - we've got the book for you. Read on for the definitive guide to Penguin's top titles and make 2009 your best-read yet!

The Designer's Review of Books

So, I am on a little bit of a book kick this week. 1) because I love great book design 2) because I really really need to read more this year and 3) design books are the best of all of these things.

Here is another website about book design, The Designer's Review of Books "a single place online where you can get constant updates and reviews of new (and sometimes old) design books".

Gigposters.com Book

We are so proud to announce and even prouder to be published in the first ever Gigposters.com book by Clay Hayes, the founder of Gigposters.com




Includes 101 perforated and ready-to-hang posters along with hundreds of other poster images and designer biographies. Packaged in an oversized 11-by-14-inch paperback, Gig Posters Volume I is a spectacular compilation of rock show art (and a great way to decorate a dorm room or apartment).

Designers:
3d Glasses, Adam Turman, Aesthetic Apparatus, Alan Forbes, Allen Jaeger, Amy Jo, Andrio Abero, Andy Vastagh, Beyond The Pale, Billy Perkins, Bobby Dixon, Bongout, Brad Klausen, Brian Ewing, Budai, Burlesque of North America, Casey Burns, Cricket Press, Crosshair, Dale Flattum, Dan Grzeca, Dan McCarthy, Dan Stiles, Daniel Danger, Delicious, Denny Schmickle, Diana Sudyka, Dirk Fowler, Drew Millward, Drowning Creek Studio, DWITT, Eleanor Grosch, Emek, Engine House 13, FarmBarn Art Co., Firehouse, Furturtle Printworks, Gary Houston, Gregg Gordon, Guy Burwell, Hero Design Studio, Invisible Creature, Ironforgepress, James Rheem Davis, Jamie Ward, Jared Connor, Jason Goad, Jay Ryan, Jay Vollmar, Jeph, Jermaine Rogers, Joanna Wecht, Johnny Crap, Jon Smith, Josh Rickun, Judge, Justin Hampton, Justin Kamerer, Largemammal Print, Leia Bell, Lil Tuffy, Little Jacket, Lonny Hurley, Lonny Unitus, Luke Drozd, Lure Design, Malleus, Mark Pedini, Mat Daly, Methane Studios, Micah Smith, Michael Michael Motorcycle, Mig Kokinda, Mike King, Nate Duval, Patent Pending, Powerhouse Factories, Powerslide Design Co., Print Mafia, Rob Jones, Ron Liberti, Ryan Nole, Sasha Barr, Scrojo, Seripop, Squad 19, Stainboy, Steve Walters, Strawberryluna, Tanxxx, Tara McPherson, The Decoder Ring Design Concern, The Heads Of State, The Little Friends Of Printmaking, The Small Stakes, Thomas Scott, Tim Gough, Todd Slater, Vahalla Studios, Zach Hobbs, Zeloot

BONUS ART PRINTS:
Pre-order now from GigPosters.com and receive an exclusive limited edition screenprinted art print by Jay Ryan! Jay will be creating 3 different 10"x13" art prints for the book release. The first 1200 pre-orders get free art prints! (400 of each)
*Order the 3-pack to assure you get one of each art print!* (Jay Ryan subscribers will automatically receive copies of the art prints in their subscriptions)

ONLY $40 USD Each + Shipping! PRE-ORDER HERE

**Once available these books will be for sale at Hero as well**

Book Cover Archive

An Archive of over 800+ book covers and 180+ book cover designers? So much WOW!!!
BookCoverArchive.com I love love love book cover design, so this website is gonna be like crack to me!

Yes as usual I am posting something I found over at swissmiss (I can't help it though, she just finds sooo many great things, I don't know how she does it).

New at Hero this week

Super Mini Keychain - Series 4 - 1.5-Inch

Doctor? Astronaut? Fireman? Punk rocker?
Kidrobot toys around with the idea of growing up in the 4th installment of our Kidrobot Super Mini Keychain Series. Get ready for 17 blind boxed, quasi-professionals and 2 loafing chases, one of which is an insanely rare Huck Gee. Attach these 1.5-inchers to your keys, but be warned, these workaholics have a tendency to become an occupational hazard...


We're paying homage to our icon's punk rock roots with 3 rad-ass versions of Kidrobot 16: Kidpunk.
Ears pierced and Mohawks high, each 8-inch figure in this evolutionary trifecta rocks a band tee and its favorite vinyl record from that year. Available in 1977, 1980 and 1984 editions.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Postcard Sets

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Postcard Sets are available now at Hero for only $19.99. A limited edition of only 100 sets of these were released in December through BRMC, the sets are comprised of all the poster designs from the April/May North American tour.

There are 16 different full color 5" x 7" postcards in the set featuring each of the posters Hero designed for their 2008 Spring Tour. We don't have many so hurry in.

Available in store ONLY, right now.

The Stooges' Ron Asheton - 1948-2009

2009 has just barely begun and there is already a terrible music loss. Guitarist and founding member of American punk pioneers the Stooges, Ron Asheton was found dead in his home yesterday (Jan. 6) by police. Police discovered the body of the guitarist in his bed after being let into his Ann Arbor, Mich. home by his personal assistant. Media reports indicate there was no initial signs of violence or drug use at the scene, where authorities estimate Asheton passed away Dec. 31 or Jan. 1. Asheton was 60.

“I am in shock,” said Stooges singer Iggy Pop. “He was my best friend.”

Geometric Book

I am obsessed with both the simplicity of geometric shapes and the complexity and intricacy of patterns, so this book is a MUST HAVE on my list now, since it's a little bit of both.

Kapitza, an independent Design company based in East London, recently published their new book entitled, Geometric.

"Geometric is a unique pattern resource book featuring an exciting collection of 264 colourful and monochrome pattern illustrations. Get inspired by Kapitza’s pattern art, all created with the 100 Geometric pattern fonts included on the CD for Mac and Windows. Now designing your own patterns is as easy as typing – but with much more exciting results."

Vintage Coasters and Beermats

Found over at Delicious Industries

"Sell! Sell! have posted up more of their fabulous vintage coasters and beermats. Check out their Flickr group to see the full collection."

So many goodies in there!

Robots are my jam!!

So apparently swissmiss (like me) has a love for robots, she posted about this great website, General Robots, dedicated entirely to robots!! :heart:

Geeky goodies.

Veer always has the best stuff for us graphic design geeks. Here are a couple super rad new things that they have available now. I am soooo in love with Kernie.

Kernie Plush Pal

Ampersand Faux Cufflinks

The Seed

So beautiful and simple. Love this.
To promote their new version of software, Adobe CS4, John Kelly was given free reign to create The Seed : an animated journey through the life of an apple seed.

Procrastination from TutoxNet on Vimeo.

So cute you'll wanna eat it...

Well, go ahead. These marzipan treats are from Belguim’s Eugene and Louise Bakery, where things are so cute that you just wanna bite them, and you can!! They look like little vinyl toys, don't they.