The Blog of Designer Andy Mangold | Andy Mangold

I’m a Player.

I have officially joined the ranks of Dribbble (big ups to my boy, Ed Nacional), a community for designers to show and tell what they are working on with small screenshots. I was a bit hesitant at first, but the more I use Dribbble the more I like it, and I plan on utilizing it from here out. There is a strong sense of community (dominated by web designers it seems) and it has already proven itself a valuable venue for feedback on in progress work. Bottom line, if you are interested in seeing all the nitty gritty stuff that I am working on day in and day out, you can follow me on Dribbble if you have an account, or subscribe to the RSS feed of my shots if you don’t.

Added bonus: Dribbble seems to be a breeding ground for the trendiest of the trendy trends in web and graphic design, so I also use it as a system of checks & balances for myself in my never ending sisyphusian battle to speak with a unique voice through my work.

It has also been valuable for me to thoroughly examine and use a web based service that serves the creative crowd, as I am also currently designing one.

One last thought: it seems that successful services have been very intentionally limiting the size or magnitude of their submitted content and using it as a marketing point, Dribbble and Twitter are the two best examples. This seems to me to be related to the idea that limiting oneself in art or design is one of the best ways to get inspired. “Make something beautiful” is much harder than “make a beautiful black and white flyer for a local punk show using only a photocopier”.

Thursday, November 4, 2010
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Design
News
Process
Social Networking
Web Design

Announcing Crowdstorms

Senior year is in full swing and I have a lot of pots on the stove. The time has finally come to start publicizing one of the most exciting projects I have in the works, which is a comprehensive and (hopefully) unique web service that I will be building with my good friend, Josh.

The name of the project is Crowdstorms, and it will be a tool that helps designers, illustrators, writers, and other creatives form and develop ideas. It will use the power of words and people’s unique associations with them to fuel the creative process and encourage unconventional solutions to visual problems. Details are still fuzzy, but the site will allow users to create “topics” and then ask the community to populate them. It will carefully track all of the relationships different people form between words and ideas, building an associative reference tool unlike anything currently available.

I will keep this blog updated with the major news concerning Crowdstorms, but for all the behind the scenes action, check out the development blog Josh and I are maintaining. If you are interested in the private beta, sign up to be notified when it is available.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010
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Inspiration
Interactive Media
News
Process
Web Design

Social Design & Design by Committee

I had the opportunity to watch (a couple of times, actually) the documentary Citizen Architect almost a month ago. I have been stewing over the film, as well as social design in general, ever since, and I wanted to share some of my thoughts and perhaps start one of them fancy internet discussion things.

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Thursday, October 7, 2010
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Design
Documentaries
Movie Reviews
Movies
Philosophy
Social Design
Thinking

Never Pick a Fight…

“Never pick a fight with a man who buys ink by the barrel.”

Mark Twain (via Best Made Projects)

Monday, October 4, 2010
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Philosophy
Printmaking
Quotes

Making Connections

I have always been captivated by the culture and community of Craigslist. I am glad to announce a new ongoing project of mine, which takes advantage of the infamous “missed connections” section on the popular classifieds website.

For those of you uninitiated to the splendor that is “Missed Connections,” it is a section of the personal ads that is dedicated to the little connections we make with strangers on the street everyday. Say you see an attractive person everyday on your commute to work, or buy coffee from some hottie at your local cafe, but don’t have the nerve to say something. Missed Connections is a place where you can post these interests, in the hopes that the person you are talking about somehow finds your posting, feels the same way, and gets in contact with you: a romantic shot in the dark, an amorous hail-mary. I have decided to try my best to drastically increase the chances that these people actually get connected with each other by extending the message from a mere online posting in a niche section of Craigslist to a series of small, targeted print campaigns.

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Sunday, October 3, 2010
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Baltimore
Craigslist
Design
Illustration
Making Connections
News
Posters
Social Design

The Power of a Brand

I came across this video, with a few degrees of separation, through the talented and exceptional Becky Slogeris, and I think it’s really fascinating and powerful. The effect recognizable imagery has on the decision making of these children is staggering, and adults are certainly not immune from these influences. As we get older we simply drown out the impulsive kid inside of us with logic; I don’t think one can ever silence that voice completely. This may account for the “gut” feeling that we often make our less logical decisions by.

This video, in many ways, shows why I am so attracted to branding: I think a good brand can often times touch an emotional part of a person that no other design can really reach. The versatility and diversity of delivery vehicles makes the message more impactful. A single publication or poster cannot have the same impact that a full suite of vehicles (printed materials, engineered products, video, etc.) can have, especially when all of the aforementioned vehicles are speaking with the same voice. People have authentic and dynamic relationships with brands. I want to create something that people can have a nourishing and valuable relationship with.

I also love kids, especially the way they communicate. They are pure and unadulterated by silly things like shame and self-esteem, or lack-there-of, and often times provide the simple insights that I want my work to communicate. Thesis beginnings? #cliffhanger

Thursday, September 30, 2010
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Branding
Design
Kids
Research

My Favorite Subway Let Me Down

I have a favorite Subway sandwich shop. Though I have eaten at franchises all over Philadelphia and Baltimore, as well as up and down the east coast and a few select locations in the mid-west, none can compare to this one location in Charles Village near both of my current employers. I have eaten there on a regular basis since the beginning of 2009, so when I was asked by a school assignment to tell the story of a person I have regular interaction with, but know nothing about, the friendly sandwich-smiths at this Subway naturally came to mind. I came in for my usual five-dollar-footlong (BLT of course) and briefly explained my assignment to the nice gentleman behind the counter. As it was during the lunch rush, I also pre-wrote a little note explaining the project and asking if he/she would be willing to participate, providing all of my contact information. Although he gestured that he would be glad to help me out, I never heard from anyone at my favorite Subway, and was forced to move on to the next casual encounter on my list. The social aspect of Social Design often pushes the designer out of his or her comfort zone, quite intentionally, and it is hard not to take the would-be-collaborator with you sometimes.

I’d be lying if I said I won’t be a little embarrassed next time I visit my favorite Subway; and I don’t get shy very often.

UPDATE

As it turns out, my favorite Subway did not in fact let me down, they merely lost the piece of paper I gave them before they were able to even read it. I shall continue patronizing their franchise, and we have been brought closer through this whole ordeal.

Thursday, September 23, 2010
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Baltimore
Design Coalition
Food
MICA
News
Social Design

Harry Caul, Jazz Performer Sketches

Some posters for my boy Harry Caul. These will help him further deceive his booty call.
This is one part of a pretty extensive branding system that is currently in progress, but I thought I would share these.

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Tuesday, September 21, 2010
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Design
Film
Illustration
Posters
Process
Sketches

Cycling Culture Branding: Logos

I have a very exciting new branding project on deck right now, and it has permitted me to pretend that all of my looking at pictures of bicycles online is research, and not merely pornography. To provide the best possible service to my client, I aim to become an expert on bicycle branding, and I am bringing you all along for the ride. Special thanks to Boutique Cycles for a nice starting point for this search. This is part one of a series on the branding of cycling, and I will be showcasing some logos:

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Tuesday, September 14, 2010
6 Comments

Bicycles
Bikes
Branding
Design
Inspiration
Logos
Research

Thrift Store Sign Delivered!

I have some good news! I have finally delivered my large painted sign to the owners of the thrift store that suffered severe fire damage this past spring. They were very grateful to have the sign and are hoping to reopen their doors soon, though they’re not sure exactly when. Hopefully, they’ll get things up and running this fall.

Monday, September 13, 2010
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Baltimore
Lettering
News
Sign Painting
Signage

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