Biscuits & Gravy T-Shirts

Westies

As the annual initiation rite of passage descends upon the halls of West, it comes to my attention that there is now a Facebook group dedicated to the oft-maligned band of merry pranksters known as Westies.

Equal parts misunderstood and misguided, a West man is ever mindful of capturing the big moment. Some images of big moments in West lore have already been added to this page. I am hoping that other Westies will follow suit and add images and stories to the growing database.

West is nothing without a large gathering of West-men. We have a start, but it is not nearly enough.

My goal is to summon a network of every single Westie who has ever heard of the information superhighway. I want to create a place where Westies can share stories, pictures and talk trash all in plain view of the rest of us.

West never died, despite all the efforts to dilute and kill its spirit. The tradition lives on.

West lives.

And now, I cry throughout the halls of the information super highway... 'HOUSE MEETING!'

Midnight Madness

The hoops court at the heart of Wieden + Kennedy saw an intense series of Bump games last Saturday at midnight.

The victories were spread around pretty well. And when you sprinkle in some cursing and a few dejected ball punts, you have yourself a classic evening of the schoolyard classic.

Special props are in order for Chris 'Triples' Gibson on his first ever Bump championship. (the rest of us must have been pretty damn tired for a thing like that to happen...)

I jest, for the man quickly mastered the his technique and effectively utilized the 'bump technology' in his favor, to the dismay of many a flailing competitor.

Retro-Future Product Design

I want to see companies start recreating classic and seemingly bygone products like the typewriter again.

Imagine if a company like Apple, with its flawless product design aesthetic came out with a fully functional, and supremely designed typewriter. Recreate a product category. Give it the modern Apple look, and have it function in a mechanically seamless way. It would be a joy to operate, and it would serve as sophisticated functional art when the muse was put on hold.

Or what about bringing back the 1970's/80's style boombox? Sure, the boombox has evolved into all sorts of rounded and easily portable devices. But, hey, I liked the look of the early 80's ghettoblaster, with its clunkish, blocky perfection. Give it the technology to hold a trillion jams, and make it shock proof, sure. But bring it back to the future baby! You can't tell me they wouldn't sell, so you better have another excuse why the 80's funkbox hasn't been digitally remastered and re-released into the wild!

I Love/Hate Helvetica

Gary Hustwit stopped by W+K to screen his award-winning documentary 'Helvetica.'

I never knew a movie about the most overly used font in design history could be so enthralling. I now see what all the fuss is about. It was beautifully shot and provided a nice range of expert opinion.

They passed out two types of buttons, both set in Helvetica.

One said 'I hate Helvetica'

The other said 'I love Helvetica'

I took one of each and am currently wearing them both proudly.

The Rickster

Ricky Powell aka the Rickster aka 'the fourth Beastie Boy' dropped by Wieden + Kennedy last week to give a colorfully impromptu narration of his pocket full of slides. He had some iconic shots of early DMC, LL Cool J and the Beastie Boys, amongst other NYC legends and characters.

The guy has always carried a camera around, and like Forrest Gump, has wound up in the right place at the right time over and over.

It was inspiring work and makes me want to go take a lot more pictures.

Thanks Rickster!

Believe in the Homerun, Again.

the ice cube