New Hero Website, New Hero Blog

So the time has FINALLY come, we have a new website up!! Check it out at www.heroandsound.com. It's still a work in progress, but the god awful, seriously outdated portfolio that we had up, is finally gone!!!!

We are still adding stuff to the new portfolio and we have to tweak our existing web store a bit to properly sync up with the new site, but it is there! We also have a new blog, which we are very excited about, so please change your bookmarks and update your feed links. We will no longer be updating this blog and we'll be posting in the new blog on the website the way we always did with this one. We hope you enjoy the new format as much as we do. It is more organized, so if you are only interested in new things at the Boutique or events we have coming up, it should hopefully be easier navigate.

The second phase of the new Hero website involves a brand new, revamped web store that will be more organized, and much easier to search for things, we are super excited for that, so keep an eye out for it later this year.

We owe a big thanks to our friend Mike Literman, who helped us with customizing the code to make this work exactly how we wanted it to, and for helping us fix the site every time we broke it and sent emails with lots of curse words as the subject line.

The Winter Blues Mystery Tube Sale

The Winter Blues Mystery Tube Sale


Have you got a case of the winter blues? Personally we're over this yucky cold, blowy and snowy weather! We're hoping this mystery tube sale will cheer you up.

Each tube will be filled with the following randomly* chosen screenprinted items:

2 - gigposters
2 - large artprints
1 - 8"x10" artprint
1 - greeting card

ONLY $50

New Test Prints listed in our Etsy Shop

Over the last few weeks, we finally took some time to scan and photograph some more of our one-of-a-kind 8" x 10" Owl Test Prints and full size Test Prints that we had in a put aside here at the studio and they are available now in our Etsy Shop. We plan on scanning and photographing a bunch more of our other 8" x 10" and full size test prints this week and next, so look for those.

These are all available in our Etsy Shop and at the Hero Boutique. We are loving making test prints these days and even though we always have them available at the Hero Boutique and the different shows we attend, we are working really hard on making more available online.

"What's a test print?" you ask.

A test print is a magical one-of-a-kind print created from layers of different prints we've made over time. We use them to get colors right, fix a mistake when screenprinting, and for lots of other reasons. Sometimes the layers just come together in such a beautiful way that a strange piece of paper with lots of stuff is turned into a finished print.

Be sure to look through all of our listings for different test print designs, we have loads and we are always adding more.

We're going on tour.

We are very excited to announce that we will be on the road for two whole weeks this March.

Our first stop will be in Baltimore where we were hired by the University of Maryland for a 2-day feature during Design Week. The first day we are going to be guest lecturing a group of design students and the second day will be running a day-long print workshop. We will be posting more info about this soon.

From Baltimore we're back on the road and driving to Bowling Green, KY to hang and print with our good friends Connie and Jim of Print Mafia. We are producing a Hero/Print Mafia collab art print that will debut the following week at Flatstock 24 at SXSW in Austin, Texas.

Then back in the car with our pal Ron from Madpixel in Louisville, who is joining the tour in his wheels, for the long drive to Austin for Flatstock and SXSW. Flatstock runs Thursday 3/18, Friday 3/19 and Saturday 3/20 in the Austin Convention Center.

We are also very excited to announce that Hero was asked to be a featured speaker on a panel at SXSW's Music Festival this year. Mark will be one of just a few featured speakers on a panel called, "It's So Big! Packaging Design from CDs to Vinyl to Merchandise." We will be posting more about this panel soon, but, if you are headed to SXSW this year, plan on attending, the panels are free to attend with your badge and this one promises to be an exciting, thought provoking and informative discussion.

Lastly, we will be releasing a new poster at Flatstock for a movie that is debuting at SXSW's Film Festival. We are super excited about the film and this project and we can't wait to share more about it with you.

So there you have it, we will be escaping the last few weeks of the miserable weather in Buffalo, missing our pets like crazy and packing up the Element for the first BIG road trip of the year. We are stoked!

Hero was at the Grammys with Ringo Starr

Last night Ringo Starr sported a tee designed by Hero, to the Grammys. It was a shirt we designed for Electric Fetus, an amazing independently owned record store in Minneapolis. We might be geeking out just a tad bit today!!

Here's a close up of the graphic!

Photo credits from top: 1) Michael Caulfield / WireImage.com 2) Getty Images

The latest Jordan Buckley vs. Hero Collab ETID Tour Poster

Every Time I Die 2010 Australian Tour Poster

This is the latest Jordan Buckley vs Hero Design Studio collaborative ETID tour poster. This print is the fourth in a series where the illustration line work is done by Jordan and handed over to us where we handle all the color, typography, the layout and any additional illustration, and of course the screen printing.

This poster sold out while they are on tour in Australia and we have a very limited supply for sale now.

We also still have a few (only about 5) of the last poster for their European Tour available for sale, once both of these posters are sold out they will never be made again.

Pulled to the Limit - Hero Design Studio Retrospective Exhibition

Hero Design Studio Retrospective Exhibition at WNY Book Arts Center
Wednesday, January 13- Saturday, February 20, 2010

Artist Reception Friday January 29 6-9 PM
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In a relatively short time, Hero Design Studio has become a fixture in the Buffalo music and design scene. Their limited edition silk screened poster and design work for bands and special events has appeared internationally and has been featured in Spin, Print and How magazines and in such books as Gig Posters: Rock Show Art of the 21st Century alongside the most renowned practitioners of this art form, which has enjoyed a national renaissance in the last few years. Hero is husband and wife team, Beth Manos and Mark Brickey. The screen printing, illustration and design duo have created hundreds of hand printed posters and art prints since starting as Hero in 2003 and expanded their presence via their Allentown studio/shop. Silkscreen printing (also known as serigraphy) is a method of print making in which the negative of an image is blocked out of a screen of fine mesh, and ink is pulled through the open areas of the mesh onto the printing surface.

Pulled to the Limit at the Western New York Book Arts Center's gallery will feature the most comprehensive exhibit of Hero's silkscreened works to date. Along with limited edition prints and posters, the exhibit will feature one-of-a-kind prints, experimental work and works-in-progress that will help explain the creative and production process.

An artists' reception will be held mid-Exhibit on Friday, January 29, 2010 for a meet and greet, a special live printing demonstration with a commemorative poster for the exhibit being made on the spot, refreshments and more.

An additional Demo day, free and open to the public will be presented February 17th 6-8pm that guides participants through the specifics of how screen printing is done . This event is free and open to the public but pre-registration is required.


Western NY Book Arts Center
468 Washington St. at Mohawk
Buffalo NY 14203

716 348-1430

Every Time I Die - 2009 European Tour Poster

The newest Every Time I Die poster for their Fall/Winter 2009 European Tour is on sale now! Number three in the series of Jordan Buckley -vs- Hero collaborations. The 10" x 24" three color silkscreen is printed on Accent Opaque Smooth White 100# cover stock, the bottom copy is printed in a super shiny metallic silver ink.

Each print is signed and numbered edition of 150. The majority of the posters were sold on the tour, so we have a very limited amount available and they will go fast. Illustration by Jordan Buckley, design, layout and printing by Hero Design Studio.

Look for more Hero / Jordan collabs in the coming months.

This week's Great Ten Dollar Poster...

We have a limited supply available at this special price so get yours fast. Offer valid from Monday December 14 at 12 pm EST until Monday December 21 at 11:59 am EST, or while supplies last. Each and every poster in the Great Ten Dollar Poster Sale is available online and at the Hero Boutique in Buffalo, NY.

Last Minute Panic Holiday Marketplace.

Still have some last minute gift buying to do? Looking for something unique and handmade? Don't panic....

Today and tomorrow you can do some shopping at the Last Minute Panic Holiday Marketplace.

At the main gallery, 1st floor of the Western New York Book Arts Center 468 Washington St at Mohawk in Downtown Buffalo

Friday Dec 11, 4-8pm & Saturday Dec 12 12-6pm

Free admission and open to the public

Artists, craftspeople, printers, & other handmade/self published/locally produced items. Perfect gifts for giving or hoarding.

Stop by the Hero booth, we'll have some brand new goodies that aren't even available in the Hero Boutique yet, and check out the full list of vendors here

This week's Great Ten Dollar Poster...

We have a very limited supply available at this special price so get yours fast. Offer valid from Monday December 7 at 12 pm EST until Monday December 14 at 11:59 am EST, or while supplies last. Each and every poster in the Great Ten Dollar Poster Sale is available online and at the Hero Boutique in Buffalo, NY.

This week's Great Ten Dollar Poster...

We have a very limited supply available at this special price so get yours fast. Offer valid from Monday November 30 at 12 pm EST until Monday December 7 at 11:59 am EST, or while supplies last. Each and every poster in the Great Ten Dollar Poster Sale is available online and at the Hero Boutique in Buffalo, NY.

The 29 Tubes of Christmas - Hero's Online Scratch + Dent Sale

The 29 Tubes of Christmas are available now! This is the first time we have EVER offered our discounted Scratch + Dent posters to our online shoppers. It's a great way to grab some super cheap posters you've been eyeing up and maybe even some holiday gifts! If you have any questions contact us at hero.design {at} mac {dot} com

This week's Great Ten Dollar Poster...

We just reprinted our popular owly in a brand new colorway and we are releasing it today! We only have 10 prints available at this very low price of $10 (thats 50% off), then the price will go up to $20. It’s the perfect price for a holiday gift.

We have a very limited supply available at this special price so get yours fast. Offer valid from Monday November 23 at 12 pm EST until Monday November 30 at 11:59 am EST, or while supplies last. Each and every poster in the Great Ten Dollar Poster Sale is available online and at the Hero Boutique in Buffalo, NY.

New Poster: The Swell Season in Mesa, AZ

Our poster for The Swell Season's show in Mesa, AZ last night, is available now. This 18" x 24" four color silkscreen poster was printed on Accent Opaque Smooth White 100# cover stock. It is a signed and numbered edition of 200. The majority of the edition was available from the band last night at the show, so we only have a small amount available for sale.

If you get a chance to see The Swell Season on this tour, definitely do. Their new album, Strict Joy, is great and they are one of the best live shows I have ever been to. I suppose while I am plugging and sounding like a super fan, if you haven't seen the movie Once yet, rent it ASAP. Part of the inspiration for this movie, was the result of soundtrack The Swell Season created for Jan Hrebejk's movie, Beauty In Trouble. 'Once', is a low-budget Irish indie film that turned out to be one of the most successful independent features of 2007. The pair not only wrote the songs for the movie but they both starred in it as well.

This week's Great Ten Dollar Poster...

We have a very limited supply available at this special price so get yours fast. Offer valid from Monday November 16 at 12 pm EST until Monday November 23 at 11:59 am EST, or while supplies last.

Even More Framed Hero Mini Test Prints - Available Now

We just put a whole new batch of mini framed test prints up in our etsy store. Check out all of em here and keep checking back, we'll be adding more soon. And come by the Hero Boutique to get some too, a whole different batch are on display and available in store.

"What's a test print?" you ask.

A test print is a magical one-of-a-kind print created from layers of different prints we've made over time. We use them to get colors right, fix a mistake when screenprinting, and for lots of other reasons. Sometimes the layers just come together in such a beautiful and accidental way, that a strange piece of paper with lots of stuff is turned into a finished print.

We've recently gone through our stacks of test prints and cut some down into 5" x 7" prints and framed them. Each print is available in an unfinished pine frame. If you are interested in purchasing more than one, contact via message on etsy or email and we can offer a discount depending on how many.

Buff Monster 8" Dunny tomorrow at Hero

Indulge your sweet tooth with the 8-inch Buff Monster Dunny. Topped with the artist’s trademark heavy metal-inspired, ice cream art and limited to 1,000 pieces worldwide, this vinyl confection is only available at select retailers, get it at Hero tomorrow at 12pm!

The Great Ten Dollar Poster Sale Starts Today at Hero

To learn more about the Great Ten Dollar Poster Sale and to purchase this week's poster go here!

Hero Greeting Cards on Etsy

Now you can browse all of our hand printed silkscreen greeting card designs in one place online - start shopping for greeting cards in our etsy store now. You can also purchase a set of 4 greeting cards here or 8 greeting cards here (mix and match however you'd like).