I like this. It’s a business card for Japanese model kit manufacturer Tamiya by Creative Juice in Bangkok.

I think I’ve seen this idea a few times over the years, but not done as well as this, and it’s always been some graphic designer shoe-horning the idea into a project willy-nilly. This is the real deal, the perfect idea for the client. It’s won a gold Cannes Lion as well no less.

You can make things with it too:

I used to like making model kits like this when I was younger. In hindsight, the amazingly detailed exploded diagrams of the model construction process were one of the things which awakened my graphic design gene and set me on my chosen career path. They were possibly also responsible for my lack of a girlfriend for some considerable time…

…anyway, don’t worry about me – I’m married now so it all worked out fine.

The exploded digram thingy is also what’s behind these ads by the same company:

So, it wasn’t just me after all.

I can’t remember where I found this, but it claims to be Paul Rand’s business card.

I really hope it is.

I think I’m going to give up and get into another career. I just can’t compete with that.

American Psycho?

Thanks to Graham Linehan, via Twitter.

I’m getting a bit carried away with posts today, but I was reminded of the classic business card scene in American Psycho and thought I’d share. Funny how everything gets immediately more frightening when you preceed it with ‘American’. American Psycho, American Idol, American Airlines. I saw a programme called American Inventor last night and it terrified me to my very soul.

…the most frightening part of the business card clip though, was that I was most distressed by the fact that none of them measured 85x55mm…

There was an article in the Sunday Times today about the idea of allowing prison inmates to work while they’re inside and earn up to £10,000 a year to spend on porn mags and cigarettes. Oh, and they’re doing graphic design.

Yes, apparently the evil criminal mind is particularly suited to grasping the intricacies of kerning and layout, with serial bigamists displaying a penchant for logo creation and international money launderers finding that they are adept at matching to a Pantone swatch. There is a well-meaning graphic design company called Barbed which recruits prisoners as designers – After they’ve got their certificate from Shillington College of course:

Prisoners have all undergone an intensive four month training programme and will be taking apprenticeships and other work-related qualifications, so standards will be as high (if not higher) than work on the outside.

I didn’t realise they’d seen my portfolio. And the best part? Their income is tax free, not to mention the free room and board they’re getting. On the other hand doing the graphic design for KFC could be seen as a punishment in itself, client meetings are a bit awkward and they have to take an armed escort on press…

Ain’t that the truth!

Found here…

…and here…

…and doing the rounds on Flickr.