A new poster illustrated by Paul for our client, IBEX Puppetry. Panther and Crane examines the complexities of life through dance, puppetry, animation, high flying kites and music; it is an hour long environmental stage spectacle that touches the heart and challenges the meaning of man and nature and the cycle of life. It is basically the story behind the crane and its possible extinction due to human encroachment. Panther and Crane received a 2010 UNIMA Citation for Excellence and is scheduled to tour across the US.

4-color screenprint on chipboard

Here’s a look at the new Lure identity. The idea behind this type-centric design was to create something contemporary but a bit retro at the same time. The complex blocks of information are carefully designed to bring the most important information forward. Those type blocks are printed in black over a big fluorescent LURE on bright white stock. For the business cards, we each designed our own card within the parameters of the typographic concept. On the cards, the black plate was letterpressed by our friends at Mama’s Sauce.

That’s not clapping. That’s a little high fivin’ goin’ on around here. We’re excited to see our other venture, L2 Design Collective, included in the July/August issue of Communication Arts Magazine. The article, titled ‘Enterprising Designers,’ features six studios that are creating and selling their own products. We are honored to be included with the likes of Yee Haw Industries and Bill Grant.

For those of you who don’t know, L2 Design Collective creates hand screen printed note cards, journals and other ephemera. It’s been five years of hard work, squeezed between what we refer to as ‘real jobs’ from our Lure clients, that has kept L2 growing. It’s a labor of love. And it’s paying off.

Some big thanks go to: Kim Fox, who pushed this idea along and continues to be L2’s manager, operating from Pittsburgh; Sarah Blacksher, who, on top of her workload for Lure, designs great stuff  for L2 and manages the print production for L2; and all our interns who’ve pulled thousands of prints.

Put on by a few local colleagues trying to keep the culture alive in O-town, Neon Forest, (and I’m not talking about Iggy Pop), ushered in the summer along with a few thunderstorms for their gallery opening on Saturday. Though the rain was epic, it didn’t stop a slew of guests from streaming in the doors to see what this modern/contemporary art gallery located in Sodo was all about. Perusing around, the work was visually distinctive, leaning towards street and urban art, and quite inspirational. We got jiggy with it to the DJ, laughed with friends, and enjoyed the bar…(maybe a little too much!) As an added bonus, we were pleased to see our L2 products displayed in the merch area, thanks to our friend Sean Hartman! The Forest shows a great bit of promise. The talent is fresh and raw-and it will be exciting to see what’s next. If you missed this past weekend, “The Official Fuck the Rain Grand Re-Opening Party!” will take place this Saturday 7 – 11 pm!

Epic rain.

Mural by Brandon McLean

Nifty sign designed and cut out of wood by Scott Donald

DJ Y-not in the search of the perfect beat

Brandon McLean

L2 represent!

Glen Bowman + Sean Hartman get the goofiest face award

Dustin Orlando + Jason Dwarzski keepin' it real