Vicks VapoRub and Mucinex commercials

Pr*tty

I took Vicks to task a few months back for getting a little too real. But this little gem hits all the right notes, including the lovely motion graphics of the identity at the end.

Sh*tty

Considering the long running saga of the mucus family, these commercials must be successful in one way or another. Which is to say, people like them, I guess. I’d like to invite those people to clean the vomit off my floor. (No complaining now... it’s obvious you enjoy things that suck.)

*tty b*tty Pr*tty Sh*tty

Starting this week, I’m going to be posting less frequently than I usually do. Sorry about that. Sadly, I have a lot of other things going on right now and cannot be ceaselessly harvesting content from this great big city I live in, like I usually am.

I’ll keep at it the best I can. So please check back often. I definitely have some cool stuff in the works.

In the meantime, as always, feel free to send me stuff you think might work here. Thanks.

WTF Week: One crazy lobster

The real shame of the final entry in WTF Week is that it clearly took a lot of work... something akin to the Frankenstein Monster.

I think I just developed an allergy to shell fish.

WTF Week: Not rocket science, indeed

Today’s chapter in WTF Week leaves me wondering how many people looked at this before it was approved.

Maybe rocket science doesn’t require a basic understanding of perspective, but last I checked graphic design does. Whoever did this needs to head back to school... I suggest fifth grade art class. (Then we’ll talk Photoshop.)

WTF Week: Heartland Brewery's gun-toting squaw

Not being a Native American, nor a woman, I don’t have much to say about today’s entry for WTF Week, but I’m pretty sure it’s just wrong.

Is this company run by horny teenage pilgrims from the 15th Century? Honestly, who thought this was ok?

WTF Week: The Charmin bears have crossed the line

Continuing WTF Week, from the heart of Times Square:

Remember when these bears first appeared on TV, and they were ok and kind of cute because they never really said or did anything specific to sh*tting. They just alluded to it, and we all knew what was up without having to be reminded of the realities of it. But then, one commercial at a time, they started getting a little too comfortable—cocky, even—with breaking down the allegorical barriers.

And the next thing you know, a giant cartoon bear is sh*tting in a Broadway theater.

WTF Week: Follow Arrow

My collection of images that seem to defy any sort of comparison to other images has been steadily growing. Sometimes this happens when a particular category of design is always good or always bad, regardless of the particular companies behind them (the designs on the sides of fuel-oil trucks always seem to be incredible, for example). Other times, I know there’s something out there and I just have to wait to find it. And wait. And wait.

Then there’s other stuff that is so bizarre, or so wrong, or so ugly that it simply needs to stand alone so you can bask in its insanity. This week is devoted to that stuff. So without further ado, WTF Week kicks off with a doozy.

I saw this wonder of redundancy on a construction barricade in the city. The best part was, this sign must have been repeated about 8 times along that barricade. Do you think they put up regular instructionless arrows first, and then discovered they had to be more specific? Or maybe this is a message from the Cult of Arrow.

Nurse Jackie and Parenthood

Pr*tty

Clever, clever, clever. And that pharma-halo is a thing of beauty. And Edie Falco works that Aaron Eckhart hairdo remarkably well.

Sh*tty

All in all, this isn’t so badly done. Except for the part where it doesn’t look like an ad for a TV show.

I expect most people have walked past this and thought it really had something to do with good-parenting awareness. And maybe a few more observant people saw the celebrity hiding in the background and the NBC logo and figured it out.

Also, holy what the f*ck. Could that logo be any more needlessly quasi-ligatured? You know something’s wrong when your design for a multi-million dollar television show is no better than the one on the side of a garbage truck.

Metro PCS and T-Mobile

Pr*tty

This reminds me of this in all the best ways.

Sh*tty

How does something that says so little end up looking like too much? And how does something that looks like too much end up being so mundane? Apparently America asked to be bored to f*cking tears, and yes, they delivered.

Wednesday Waffler: One pink ribbon too many?

Yes, you’re seeing that correctly. It’s a breast cancer awareness garbage truck.

Sonia Rykiel at H&M and Anna Sui at Target

Pr*tty

A simple formula. Fun clothes; fun photo; staying on brand; and while it could be executed better, displaying the price point (to let people know they can afford it).

Sh*tty

This attempts a similar formula, but is somehow an ugly mess of a thing. Among it’s many crimes is that the designer’s name is cut off by the photo in the foreground. Granted I’m not in the target demographic, and those who are probably don’t have trouble reading the name. But I was pretty sure it read “Annalp Suiyrt” until I did my research.

Now for hire

So I hope you’ll all forgive the personal plug, but as of today...

I am officially a design gun for hire.

Anyone who is interested in hiring me should visit my website and/or drop me a line.

And since my time is now my own, if anyone is interested in bringing me in for speaking engagements, portfolio reviews, or guest teaching visits... please do.

Vacation Time

So I’ve taken off a few holidays here and there, but today is the start of the first real vacation I’ll be taking from Pr*tty Sh*tty since I started it six (!) months ago. But don’t fret, dear readers. I’ll be back at it first thing next week.

In the meantime, for those of you who missed it on Twitter, here’s one of the best things ever:

Mr. Peanut ain’t got nothin’ on this cephalopod.

Colman's and Trader Joe's Mustards

Pr*tty

How can you tell it’s mustard? It’s f*cking yellow! Oh right, and it has the word “mustard” on it.

Sh*tty

I have somehow been entirely immune to the rampant popularity of Trader Joe’s (seriously, what’s all the hubbub?), and stuff like this isn’t going to help them win me over. This looks like something a housewife makes in her spare time and sells at church fundraisers, which is fine... if you’re a housewife who makes mustard and sells it at church fundraisers.

As a side note to all this, since I’ve been thinking about mustard more than usual, and maybe in reaction to Sarah Palin’s latest crusade, I had an idea. I think from now on I’m going to abbreviate the word mustard to ’tard. Think about it. “Mmm, that’s some tangy ’tard!” Of course that might mean I have to start saying ’chup and ’naise, too.

Also, thanks to my good friend Laura Williams for responding to last week’s RFS with the Trader Joe’s Dijon ’Tard.

And also, a big boatload of best birthday wishes to my big brother Mike!

Sam Adams and MGD 64 commercials

Pr*tty

There’s nothing particularly incredible about the Sam Adams commercials. But their unwavering consistency, and simple, compelling messaging are admirable. It’s hard not to like these guys.

Sh*tty

The basic premise here is decent enough: show people what 64 calories of other alcoholic beverage options amounts to. But then they totally foul it up with the ridiculous cut-away glasses gimmick. And how about that snappy finish? They exchange a “cheers” so morose you’d think someone just served them freshly squeezed kitten juice. It’s just a weird wine glass you f*cking yuppies.