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Artist Series: Q+A with Mike Joyce, Graphic Designer and Creator of Swissted

Macully Clayton — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 05:07:08 +0000

We’re big fans of excellent design here at Mogo and have been working closely with a group of talented designers to bring you over 30 Mogo Card designs. In this blog series, we’ll profile some of the designers we’ve been working with, his or her latest project and showcase the limited edition Mogo Card design(s) created exclusively for the Mogo community.

The Mogo Card Artist Series

This spring, we’re thrilled to release the Mogo Card Artist Series with the first cards by world renowned artist, Mike Joyce. Joyce is best known for his graphic design work in the music and entertainment industry. He’s designed album covers for musicians like Iggy Pop, Katy Perry, Aretha Franklin and more. His latest creation is Swissted – a personal project recently turned into a 200-page book.

In Swissted: Vintage Rock Posters Remixed and Reimagined (Quirk Books, $28) Joyce redesigns show flyers for legendary punk, new wave and indie rock concerts in international typographic style. Every single one of these shows actually happened and each design is set in lowercase berthold akzidenz-grotesk – not helvetica, as noted on his website. I’m partial to his design for Iggy Pop with the Ramones at the Palladium in 1977. But the Dead Kennedys in DC in ’85 poster is really great, too.

Contest

Have a look for yourself at Swissted.com and post a comment below with the name of your favourite poster. We’ll select five random winners to receive a copy of Joyce’s new book. The draw will take place May 1st, 2013.

Q+A with Mike Joyce

In the interview below Joyce talks to us about the Swissted project, doing what he loves and collaborating with us on the Mogo Card Artist Series (being released this spring!).

Mogo: How did you get started as a designer?

Joyce: I was always into art and design for as long as I could remember. When I was a young boy I would constantly be drawing and painting. And even though I had no idea what graphic design was back then, I was really inspired by iconic things around me like the Mobil Pegasus, the Michelin Man, and the IBM logo. My friends and I were into skateboarding in the mid-to-late ‘80s, and even though I loved skating, I was actually more into sanding my board down and painting my own original graphics on it. I would also design records, posters, and t-shirts for some of the local bands around town—even tattoos. So I always knew I would do something in the visual arts for a living and when the time came to go to college I went to art school at the School of Art and Design at Alfred University. My instructor there was a man named Fred Troller, and Fred was a brilliant Swiss graphic designer who helped popularize Swiss modernism in the U.S. Back in the ‘60s and 70s. Fred was a huge inspiration to me. After graduation in 1994, I moved to New York City and have been a working graphic designer ever since.

Mogo: Your new book is ‘Swissted: Vintage Rock Posters Remixed and Reimagined.’ Where did you get the idea for the project?

Joyce: Basically punk rock and typography are my two favourite things. I grew up completely inspired by punk, new wave, and indie-rock and would later find that same inspiration in Swiss graphic design—more specifically the International Typographic Style. I always liked that these two movements seemed at odds with one another in that punk has an anti-establishment ethos and Swiss modernism is very structured. And at the same time there’s a common thread between the two—the Swiss modernists purged extraneous decoration to create clear communication, while punk rock took on self-indulgent rock and roll and stripped it to its core. So I thought it would be an interesting study to combine the two and see what happens. I really like how both art forms contrast and complement each other.

Mogo: You’ve designed hundreds of Swissted posters. Which are your favourites?

Joyce: It’s always tough for me to single out just a few because there are a lot of elements throughout each poster that I like, but if I had to choose based on the design, I guess I’d pick the poster I did for the British punk band 999. I really like the illusion of movement that the multiple overlays create and how it forges one unfocused nine out of three. And the three hulking numbers give the poster a lot of presence. I also think it’s a good example of what you can do with the limitations of black and white. And then there are others that I love for their incredible lineups like The Runaways and Suicide opening up for the Ramones at the Palladium in 1978, or the Minutemen and Descendents opening up for Black Flag at the Cuckoo’s Nest back in ‘81—three of my all-time favourite bands under the same roof of a legendary punk rock venue.

Mogo: What appeals to you about Swiss modernism?

Joyce: It’s funny — I have a bunch of Swiss posters hanging in my apartment from the greats like Josef Muller-Brockmann, Armin Hofmann, and Emil Ruder and I could stare at these things forever where that might bore the hell out of someone else. I think it’s how minimal yet effective they are. They somehow achieve perfect communication through abstraction. It’s kind of the opposite of how things are done today.

Mogo: What inspired the Mogo Card designs you created for mogo.ca?

Joyce: I love that Mogo seeks out designers and artists to create original work for their cards and that they see the value in design for their product. So right off the bat I was inspired to do something that wouldn’t normally be seen on a Visa card. I thought it would be interesting to do something in the vein of modern art—abstract, geometric, and minimal—very similar to what I was doing with Swissted. But in this case, modern design would be carried in your wallet and I really like that idea.

Mogo: Any words for the aspiring designers out there?

Joyce: Yeah, I would just say do what you love. If you’re working on projects that aren’t creatively fulfilling, then come up with your own personal projects to fill that void. Or seek out clients, studios, agencies and people who are doing the kind of work that you want to be doing. Designers tend to get typecast in this industry so I always say it’s best to be pigeonholed into something you love and are proud of.

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Love the Swissted posters as much as we do? Leave us a comment below with the name of your favourite poster and we’ll select five random winners to receive a copy of Swissted: Vintage Rock Posters Remixed and Reimagined by Mike Joyce. Winners will be chosen May 1, 2013.

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Brad Pitt is the new face of Chanel No 5

Nikki — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 12:00:47 +0000

Chanel N°5’s new perfume commercial aired to much anticipation as fans eagerly awaited Brad Pitt’s debut as the first male face to the Chanel fragrance house. Since airing earlier this month, however, the 30-second commercial has been creating quite a stink.

Directed by Joe Wright (more famous for offerings such as “Anna Karenina”), the new Chanel commercial has a smouldering Pitt delivering a serious monologue. At first, viewers think he is talking about a woman before they realize he is, in fact, referring to the perfume.

Chanel N°5 is 91 years old this year, and an iconic scent in its own right. Movie stars like Marilyn Monroe and Nicole Kidman have endorsed the fragrance in the past, but Pitt is the first male superstar to be the face of Chanel N°5.

Chanel president Andrea d’Avack explained the choice; “to keep a legend fresh, you always have to change its point of view. … We think very much that the perfume is a seduction between a man, a woman and the perfume.”

The script which has everyone scratching their heads runs as follows: “It’s not a journey. Every journey ends, but we go on,” Pitt muses in the commercial. “The world turns, and we turn with it. Plans disappear, dreams take over. But wherever I go, there you are. My luck. My fate. My fortune. Chanel N°5. Inevitable.”

Pitt is said to have cashed in a cool $7 million for the ad which has become an instant internet sensation despite the confusion. “N°5 has always been the most iconic women’s fragrance,” Pitt said. “That’s what I see being the appeal of this campaign; it goes beyond the abstract of emotion or beauty to evoke what is timeless: a woman’s spirit.”

If you want to judge for yourself, take a peek at the advert here:

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Sexing Up Canadian History

Sean Yu — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 12:00:36 +0000

I read this great National Post story the other day that got me thinking about depictions of Canadian history in popular culture. The notion that Canada’s past is “boring” is one that, like article suggests, is based on years of that fact being drilled into our heads in school and beyond. I do wish the article had touched on more of the reasons why we’ve taught it that way—it mentions the darker parts of history, like Japanese internment camps and drunk Prime Ministers as being a reason—but nonetheless it’s a good read.

I started thinking about how much things could change if we had a better historical film industry in Canada. A lot of the sexiness in US history comes from the fact that their history has been immortalized on film in so many different ways and with such drama (and a lot of Tom Hanks…think about it). We have only had a few historical movies come out of Canada, and only one—Passchendaele—with the kind of big-budget style that can inspire a Nation.

There’s also an opportunity in books. As the article mentions, the great Chester Brown book on Louis Riel is a big help (my mom, a high school teacher, uses it in her Social Studies classroom when teaching the Metis Rebellion). And there is an effort by the government to create the kind of museum spaces that would attract engaged, passionate visitors. It’s all a little high-hopes, but it’s a good thought.

One other thing the article failed to mention is that history is always a little bit boring. Older people are always going to be more attracted to historical stuff than young people are, but a few awesome movies about our history wouldn’t hurt. How about something about the conquering of the west? The War of 1812 (we burned down the Whitehouse, you guys!)? Explorers? Early natives? I’d go see these films—would you?

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The Man’s Man Book Club

Sean Yu — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 12:00:02 +0000

As I get older, a night out with the guys is not what it used to be. Oh sure, we can hit the clubs and do all that stuff we used to do, but then we pay for it big time the next day. The last time a bunch of us met up for dinner, however, we started talking and the topic of books we’d recently read came up. From there, it was decided that we should start a book club. Nothing super official, but just something where we could get together every once in awhile to talk about. Partly as a joke, one of my buddies mentioned that it should be a “manly” book club—not in a sexist way, but moreso that all of us there could use some help being better dudes. It kind of stuck, so we’re now taking suggestions for manly books to read.

After some initial back and forth, it was decided that the first selection would be the 2007 John Krakauer book Into the Wild. None of us had read it, and all of us had said we should. That was a good starting point. We’ve had our first meeting, a few chapters in, and it was a pretty solid start—the hardest part so far is just getting everyone together to talk about it.

The other aspect of this is we’ve decided to take turns hosting the night at our respective houses. And we’re operating things more like a sports event as opposed to a book club—beer, snacks, etc. We even started a pool related to the events of the book, and we’re betting on it. Seriously. One of the bets actually relates to the probability that one of us will cave and watch the movie version before we finish the book. We’re all betting on my buddy Steve for that one, because he used to do that in college a lot.

So far, it’s been an awesome experience, helped in my case by the fact that I’m a recent Kindle adopter and getting copies of books is therefore cheap, quick and easy. In fact, one of the other dudes in the group just bought a Kindle on my suggestion, and he’s loving it, too. There might be multiple Kindle users before too long. I might add that bet to the pool, actually.

Here are some other manly books I’m thinking about getting the guys to read. Any thoughts? More suggestions?

Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
The Dubliners by James Joyce
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger
Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston (the guy and book 127 Hours was based on)
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

We’re planning on one a month, so I’ll probably be checking back in with our progress. Wish us luck—manly luck.

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Heart warm of the week: Henry Thomas’ “ET” Audition Tape

Jill Duke — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 12:00:52 +0000

ET: The Extra Terrestrial just got a 30^th anniversary re-mastering and re-release, with lots of bonus features and additional scenes. I love this movie, and I was researching the new edition when I stumbled upon this amazing clip of Henry Thomas—aka Elliott—in his original audition for the part. Be warned—unless your heart is made of stone, you will probably tear up a bit!

watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HzUZheS7cXY

There is something so magical about this little boy, it’s no wonder Spielberg couldn’t help but cast him in the role. I’d love to be a fly on the wall in the room, just to see and feel that moment in the flesh. Auditioning can be scary (says former high school actress moi!) and this kid is totally self-possessed, totally in the moment, and totally focused on what is happening in the room then. It’s amazing!

Another thing I like about this clip: Child actors are often made fun of after the fact, especially when they get grosser and uglier than their precocious kid versions (which of us out here isn’t grosser and uglier than our kid versions?? I ask you!). It’s nice to see a clip that celebrates the magic of that kid in that moment. It also made me hunt for Henry Thomas online, and I found out that he can now be found in Texas, where he’s married and plays in bands—and occasionally acts. He was very good in Legend of the Fall. He didn’t get sucked into the weird Hollywood abyss, in other words, which is incredible in and of itself. The intelligence in his eyes in the clip kind of hints that he wasn’t destined for that kind of life, anyway. Good for you, Henry Thomas!

BTW, the new edition is awesome. Thanks, Spielberg!

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The Origin of Oktoberfest

Jill Duke — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 15:30:18 +0000

While I was sipping a delicious pumpkin beer last week (thanks to fellow Mogoer Sean Yu for the awesome recommendations), I ran smack dab into an Oktoberfest celebration at my local pub. Besides the awesome beer discount and delicious sausages that that implies, it also got me thinking about the reasons behind the Oktoberfest. Why do Germans and friends of Germans get their own week of beer drinking and oom pah pah-ing? I didn’t know! So I looked into it. You’re welcome.

Oktoberfest is over 200 years old, for starters, and it began with the marriage of the Bavarian King Max Joseph, later King Ludwig I, to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen (try saying that one three times fast). The celebration took place in what is now Munich, and became a national holiday thereafter, gradually adding in an agricultural fair, games and beer pubs (ay! There’s the rub!). The traditional costuming of lederhosen, for men, and drindls, the lady version, came shortly thereafter, and the celebration grew longer and more involved in the decades hence. In Munich, several different parties—hosted by the seven major breweries—would gather together around a central meeting place, which is where our notion of beer gardens comes from today. Things were very merry, with lots of music and dancing (polka!) and celebrations lasted into the night. There was also a religious aspect, in that the party often coincided with fall harvest and was thus tied to some of the then common pagan celebrations at the time.

Things quieted down considerably in the mid- to late-1930s, mostly because a certain Nazi party leader thought things were far too jolly and we should all be focusing on more important things, like taking over the world and destroying capitalism. But in recent years German pride has swelled once again, and Oktoberfest celebrations have become prominent, both in Germany and Austria, and in places abroad where larger German populations live (like, for example, near me).

So there you have it—basically, fun and beer. The motto of Oktoberfest then, as now!

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Toronto’s best comic book stores (and maybe Canada’s)

Nikki — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 12:00:32 +0000

The evergreen comic book has managed to thrive thanks to the subculture of enthusiasts who carry from one generation to another the urban mythology of Gotham city or spawn fantastical new heroes and villains. Toronto has always been a haven for the comically minded, made even more popular by the exploits of Scott Pilgrim. Tucked in inconspicuous nooks and crannies, the comic book stores of Toronto are some of the best in the world.

The Beguiling Books and Art: This magical store is owned by Peter Birkemoe whose personal touch is what makes it so special. The large range of unusual titles is one of The Beguiling’s most attractive features. The store is clean and well-appointed and the staff are knowledgeable and friendly. You can find The Beguiling at 601 Markham Street.

The Silver Snail: This is a centrally located store which is more mainstream than its eclectic sidekicks. The Silver Snail has an impressive selection including action figures and manga. You can find the Silver Snail at 321 Yonge Street.

Excalibur Comics: was established in 1987 and is tucked away in its original location near the old Kingsway Cinema. The founder Robert Chin still rocks the counter in the expanded store at 3030 Bloor Street West.

Paradise Comics: This store prides itself as being one of the largest purveyors of graphic novels and comics the city has to offer. Its labyrinthine interior carries everything from popular titles to the more obscure. It was at Paradise Comics that Toronto Comic Con was born and it still plays a large role in fan-based events. Become a member to avail yourself of their member discounts.

The Comic Book Lounge and Gallery: This interesting concept store not only has a smashing selection of comics and graphic novels; it also provides a haven for the comic book fan. Reading rooms, animation workshops and a café seek to create a community of fans and artists. Owners Sean Menard and Kevin Boyd aim to bring comic books back and hope their cosy store will help promote and inspire local talent.

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Books worth reading – Fall 2012

Sean Yu — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 12:00:12 +0000

It’s fireside season, which means it’s also book season. The wife and I just got a Kindle, but she’s already hoarding it, so I guess it’s back to analogue books for me. Or waiting until she falls asleep. But regardless, there are always awesome books out in the fall, and this fall is no exception. Here are four I’m excited about.

Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon

One of my favourite writers returns with a novel about a record store in San Francisco and the two men who work there. Also, there’s a scene starring a 2004 Barack Obama. Neat!

Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan

One of my favourite British writers returns with a spy novel (what?! Yes!) just in time for the 50^th anniversary of James bond. This one takes place in Cambridge in the 70s. Enough said.

The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling

Harry Potter writer Rowling sets her sights on a small town and its politics for a book that is—get ready—for grown ups. I’m just curious how her writing might be different when there are no wizards involved. Aren’t you?

A Nation Worth Ranting About by Rick Mercer

Yes, I know, no Canadians on this list so far. That’s kinda crappy, but it just so happens I’m not that excited about Canadian books right now. It doesn’t mean there aren’t good ones, it’s just what I’m into right now. And I’m into Mercer, whose weekly rants are the best thing about his show. Here, they’re collected along with photos from the Rick Mercer Report. Fun times!

What books are you looking forward to reading this fall? Let us know in the comments.

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Five Fall Movies to Look Forward To

Sean Yu — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:00:26 +0000

Like my pal, Jill Duke, I’m pretty excited for some of the film offerings coming down the pipe this fall. Her list was spot on, in fact, but there’s enough good stuff coming up that I was able to put together a list all on my own (with a little bit of overlap for one special entry).

The Master, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson – Coming Soon

Anything that PTA touches has a hugely profound effect on me. I still think about Magnolia on a regular basis. This one, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Joaquin Phoenix looks to be right up there, and its about L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology to boot. I’ll be there.

Lincoln, directed by Steven Spielberg – November 16

Okay, so this one might be a little more Winter than fall, but I’m pretty excited about a film that stars Daniel Day Lewis as the best American president, directed by the best American director (argue with me on this one, I dare you). Lots of buzz, but not even a trailer yet, I don’t think. Man oh man.

Cloud Atlas, directed by the Wachowskis – October 26

An epic novel that had a great effect on me when I first read it, made into a film by the team behind the Matrix and Run Lola Run. It would be very easy to screw this complex and amazing story up, but if the trailer is any indication, they didn’t. I’m beyond excited for this one.

Life of Pi, directed by Ang Lee – December 21

Definitely more winter than fall, but I am as excited about this one—anotehr epic tale from another epic novel—as I am about Cloud Atlas. The first trailer looks incredible, and Ang Lee seems like the perfect director to handle Yann Martel’s awesome book.

Looper, directed by Rian Johnson – September 28

Yep, this is the one. Like Jill said, the premise is a great one, and the stars are two of the best actors working today. But I’m moreso excited to see a time travel movie that is both mainstream and dystopic without being silly or overly sci-fi. Hope it delivers!

What films are you looking forward to this fall? Tell us in the comments.

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The Five Best New Fall Movies

Jill Duke — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:00:17 +0000

As with music, the fall is usually a movie lover’s paradise, and this fall is no exception. This fall, in particular, there’s seems to be a really impressive crop of dramas. It was actually pretty difficult to narrow my choices down to five, but here they are:

Lawless, directed by John Hillcoat – Out Now

Maybe this shows my age, but I remember when Shia LaBeouf was a little, shiny faced boy traipsing around the Disney Channel. Now he’s a man, and kinda handsome at that! In Lawless, he plays one of the brothers in a family of famous bootleggers keeping hold of the Virginia Territory during prohibition. It’s based on a book, and the cast is deadly good (aside from Shia, there’s Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hardy, Jessica Chastain, Guy Pearce, and Gary Oldman). Enough said.

For a Good Time, Call, directed by Jamie Travis – Out Now

The one comedy on my list this fall is a doozy—written by Lauren Miller (comedian and Seth Rogen’s wife), and starring Miller and the awesome Ari Graynor, it’s about two female roommates who decide to start a sex phone line in their apartment to pay the rent. Great premise, and early reports say this one’s very funny.

Anna Karenina, directed by Joe Wright – November 16

One of the world’s best novels, adapted for screen by playwright Tom Stoppard, starring the luminous Keira Knightley and directed by the impressive Wright (Atonement, Hanna, Pride and Prejudice). If you’re resistant the to the classics on film, and the same old same old in this regard, may I just suggest you watch the trailer?

Looper, directed by Rian Johnson – September 28

Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a young Bruce Willis who has to try to kill his older self in this dystopic time travel epic? Directed by the genius Johnson, also of Brick? I’m in.

Argo, directed by Ben Affleck – October 12

Remember when people made fun of Ben Affleck for his J-Lo loving, Gigli making ways? Remember when he redeemed himself totally and became a rather accomplished director and solid actor again? Apparently so! Oh, and Argo is about the 1979 Iran hostage crisis (!!), and the true story of the fake film the US government pretended to make to get hostages out (!!). Is he the new Clooney? Maybe!?!

Which films are you excited about this fall? Tell us in the comments.

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