The Wednesday Waffler: Gleem toothpaste

Happy Wednesday dear readers. Today I’ll be starting a new weekly feature called The Wednesday Waffler. More and more I’m finding things I can’t quite make up my mind about. So I figured, why decide myself.

Today’s Waffler is this bizarre toothpaste packaging. I love its almost-naive simplicity and its retro styling. If the box were (really) dusty, one could think it had been on the shelf for decades. But those colors are so unappetizing, that I have to wonder if I’m just wrong for liking it. And let’s face it, that typography isn’t so hot either.

What say you readers, Pr*tty or Sh*tty?

Logo of the Day

I want to thank the blog Logo of the Day for featuring Pr*tty Sh*tty’s logo as Sunday’s choice.

I’m honored. Truly.

The Byron and The Future

Given the money behind most New York real estate, any design associated with it tends to be, if not great, at least passable. But sometimes not so much.

Pr*tty

This building is less than gorgeous—downright boring actually—but even so, this sign (maybe due in large part to it’s patina) is really great.

Sh*tty

Across the street... The Future. Now that we know, we can change it. It’s not too late for this crisis to be averted, right?

Dexter, The Good Wife, and Cougar Town

Pr*tty

There’s no doubt about it, Jill Greenberg is one hell of a photographer. It’s difficult to describe what gives her photos that surreal (or is it hyper-real?) quality, but it’s good stuff. (And this ad is just great.)

Sh*tty

These images strike me as attempts to do the Greenberg “thing”, but miss the mark. The misguided decision to over-expose and air-brush only succeeds in looking like an obvious (and lamentable) attempt at making the actresses look younger. (The “sexy” type on Cougar Town is also irking me.)

Rabbit Movers and Moishe's Moving

Pr*tty

If I had nice stuff (I said if), I might want movers such as this to move that stuff. Sure, it’s precious. But my (theoretical) nice stuff is precious, too. Know what I’m sayin’?

Sh*tty

They may have a charming name, but these guys ain’t allowed to touch my stuff. Just go back to lifting red and silver globes you green-washing, no-i-dot-having happy people.

Rabbit Movers image submitted by P*S* reader Zelda Devon. What a mensch.

The People's Design Award

I’ve been nominated for the Cooper Hewitt’s annual People’s Design Award.

If you’re so inclined, please vote for me now. 

Voting closes October 20.

The Informant and I Can Do Bad All By Myself

Both of these posters use some heavy handed hue adjustments on the photography. I can’t put my finger on why, but it helps the first and hurts the second.

Pr*tty

Singular, undeniable dork-appeal.

Sh*tty

Sure, Taraji Henson looks pretty foxy, but knowing this is the latest installment in Tyler Perry’s seemingly endless Madea franchise, you have to wonder what you’re supposed to glean from this poster. And the floating heads around her remind me of something... maybe this?(wait for it).

I won’t even bother trashing the two other posters for this movie. The Straw Dogs homage makes even less sense than this one.

Bolt Bus and Megabus

Pr*tty

Who in their right mind wouldn’t want to ride this bus? Doing so will clearly make you 47% more awesome.

Sh*tty

It may be true that in the world of bus graphics this isn’t so bad. But I have to give huge demerits for that creepy, gnomish bus driver guy. That pink son of a b*tch is reading my mind!

Bolt bus image submitted by P*S* reader Janel Ganceña. Nice going.

Mr. Pickle and Cartridge World

Sometimes the most obvious solution is the best one. And at the other end of the spectrum is the stuff that induces a confused puppy look.

Pr*tty

Sure, he’s just a barrel-cured cousin of Mr. Peanut, but I think he’s just dandy.

Sh*tty

See what I mean about the confused puppy look. Without the name I would think they sold revolving heptagrams.

Pr*tty Sh*tty Tw*tty

Starting today I’ll be tweeting links to my daily posts.

I might also occasionally tweet interesting stuff I find that I otherwise wouldn’t share here.

And maybe I’ll tweet an occasional call out for missing counterparts in the P*S* pairings I’m working on. RFP*s and RFS*s, I guess you could call them.

So, fellow tweeters, follow me.  And please feel free to RT* me.

*That’s Twitter speak for “re-tweet” for the uninitiated out there.

In the Loop and Chevy Equinox

There’s often a fine line between an homage and a blatant rip off.

Pr*tty

Clearly this is an homage. And quite clever at that.

Sh*tty

The design of this ad isn’t so sh*tty I suppose, but am I wrong in thinking this is just a cheap, pandering rip off of Fresh Direct ads?

Bartunek and Tamberelli

Sometimes it’s best to stick with a certain vernacular typography to help communicate what your business is.

Pr*tty

I’m not going to tell you what Bartunek is, but I bet you can guess.

Sh*tty

Tamberelli on the other hand, not a chance. (No cheating now.)

Latin CT Semi Wide and Brush Script

Pr*tty

Ever notice how when you see something you like, you start to see it everywhere? I never would have expected to love this typeface, but I keep seeing it, and it just keeps looking awesome.

Sh*tty

I suppose the same could be said of seeing something you don’t like, too. Unfortunately, Brush Script is all too common and all too heinous, which makes it’s use in a major ad campaign for a world class institution such as the Bronx Zoo all the more egregious. I happen to know Deutsch is responsible for this, so let’s all wag our fingers in their direction.

Extra credit to anyone who can spot the other typographic crimes committed in the Zoo image. By the way, it’s a screen grab from this video.

Item Four: Spread the word

Ok. I know I said there were only three items, but I’ve arrived at a fourth. I hope you’ll forgive the intrusion in your daily intake of P*S*.

I’ll keep this brief: If you enjoy this blog and want other people to enjoy it too, then please help me spread the word.

At the bottom of each post you’ll find a couple buttons. The Share button gives you multiple options, and Undrln is a social bookmarking site specifically for design. (The Undrln button was reacting badly to the asterisks in the name of this site, so I’ve removed it from the posts until there’s a fix. It’s still in the sidebar though.) You can also use those same buttons in the sidebar to the right, if you’d rather share the whole blog and not just an individual post.

Much appreciated.

Function Drinks and Arizona Hypotonic

Pr*tty

A good example of the “less is more” philosophy.

Check out the actual site.

Sh*tty

A good example of the “more is less” reality. 

Check out the actual site, but turn your volume down first.

Function Drinks suggested by P*S* reader M. Alec Lomas. Well played.

Monroe College Redux

Pr*tty

I’m sure some of you still wouldn’t agree, but these Monroe College ads are really quite good.

Sh*tty

By way of contrast, here are four different ads from four different schools (including NYU!). And I could easily show four new ones each day this week. Such is the landscape of advertising for schools in the metropolitan area.

New York Lottery

Pr*tty

It’s hard to believe this is from the same organization that does stuff like this...

Sh*tty

... and this isn’t even that bad compared to the NY Lottery’s usual vulgar contributions to the visual landscape. (At least the headline hits the nail on the head.)

W Hotel and American Greetings

Pr*tty

An amazingly simple (and affordable) way to make a sign very cool.

Sh*tty

An amazingly simple (and affordable) way to keep birds off your sign. And look monumentally stupid as a result. (Insert joke about every rose having thorns here.)

Twinings and General Foods Int'l.

Pr*tty

I like to think that even if a person couldn’t read a single word on this tin, they would still know what’s inside.

Sh*tty

I suppose the same could be said of this package, but only because it’s the design equivalent of explaining what a baseball bat is by hitting a person in the head with it.

Both images submitted by P*S* reader Steve Juras. Cheers.

Speaking to your audience.

One of the most effective ways to get people’s attention is to write a headline that basically says, “This ad is about you.”

Pr*tty

Bold color, good clean type, and a very identifiable scenario.

Sh*tty

Yes, I am tired of getting sick and wasting money. But no, heroin isn’t a problem for me (at least in the sense of a personal addiction). The design of this ad, on the other hand? Big problem. Huge.

Rite Way and IESI

Pr*tty

Rite Way. Indeed.

Sh*tty

That pine tree pisses me off almost as much as the stupid typography.