Retro '71

 

Welcome back to another edition of Retro '71, the shirts we all want but can't have. 

This weeks post came about when I was talking to one of my friends about the vintage Mickey Mouse shirt that's currently floating around the parks. I was sad to find out that the DDG only offered it in a female cut.  My friend and I talked about the vintage shirt sold back in the day that incorporated the retro Mickey face, the classic WDW logo and the castle icon. I knew I had to recreate it for Designerland. 

What's even more interesting is that JUST today someone tweeted me asking if I could recreate the design for them. I told them to check the blog tonight. I hope I did it justice!?!?!?

I decided to offer up two versions of the design because I didn't feel right just recreating it..it only took 30 minutes to do so I had to challenge myself with a second concept where I slightly changed the colors and added some outer strokes and placed it on a new ground color. Let's face it, white tees are sometimes just blah (even if the design is amazing). I also added some vintage washing texture to complete the Retro '71 look. Personally I'd go with the original design, on a white tee with either red or black accenting neck and arm rings.

Well that does it for this weeks post. I have so many fun and interesting things in the works that I just can't find the time to get to those blasted typography case studies. Keep your fingers crossed and send some good vibes my way in hopes that a project I'm working on with a creative counter part get's the green light. Okay until next week, thanks for stopping by and see you soon!

WOW!!!!

Hey guys check this out:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/03/finally-the-dole-whip-shirt-has-arrived-at-disney-parks/

Be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think of the designs!

Retro '71

 

Welcome back to another fun filled Retro '71 apparel concept. This weeks post ushers in a new series/set of shirts based on the vintage park ticket books. Instead of rolling the concepts out one at a time (since showcasing a new design each week is somewhat pointless because we ALL know what these look like) I decided to just give you the entire set. Begin drooling now!!!! I know I am.

When I started to see the new merch rolling out for the 40th, I hoped a series ticket art shirts would be released...I waited and waited and sadly nothing. I took maters into my own hands. I recreated the lovely display fonts from various images of the tickets I found online...shout out to The Disney Experience site and their nice large size wallpapers! 

I imagine that the parks would never go for an entire series and that most fans would just want the E ticket shirt, but if cleverly packaged in a collectors box and sold as a limited edition set, the fans would willing (I know I would) drop the cash for these shirts. Could you imagine sporting a new ticket shirt each day of the week...talk about a Disney wardrobe dream!?!?!?

I placed the design in the lower left of each shirt, mimicking the placement found on each ticket. Since the design is somewhat abstract to non Disney folk I created a back tag that calls out the WHERE and the WHAT. Finishing the design off is our favorite wear and tear texture giving the shirts that vintage touch.

So what do you guys think? Okay well that does it for this weeks post. I have tons more shirt waiting in the wings (enough to take us into November) and those lovely Main Street Typography Case studies which I hope to get out soon. Once again thanks stopping by and have a swell week!

Retro '71

 

Welcome back to Designerland and a new Retro '71 concept. It seems out of the ordinary that I post a shirt concept during the week but today's special. Why is it special? Well one of my followers on twitter challenged me. They simply asked if I would come up with a shirt that celebrated the Sunshine Tree Terrace's Citrus Twist (which was just recently brought back to the vacation kingdom of the 

world after popular demand).

I decided to incorporate both the Orange Bird and this tropical twisted dessert in one design along with the original Walt Disney World Resort logo and the Sunshine Tree Terrace sign. I was happy that I got to do a bit of font finding for the display font seen in the Terrace's sign. Finishing the design off is our loved (not overused) vintage distressing. 

So what do you guys think? Well have a good rest of your week, it's almost over and I'll see you back real soon. Thanks for stopping by!

Retro '71

Welcome back to another edition of Retro '71. Can you believe since I started Designerland this concept makes the 44th tee shirt design to be showcased. That's a lot of shirts. Needless to say I have about another 30 that are already done and waiting in the wings. I'm really excited to showcase some of my other concepts I have floating around in my head.

For this weeks design I was inspired by vintage Disney vinyl. To be more specific Walt Disney World's Electrical Water Pageant album art. There's nothing mind blowing about this weeks design in terms of concept. I simply recreated the album art as close to the original. . .one of the display fonts was either hand created or lost in time because I couldn't track it down and had to swap it out for a House Industries font. I feel the House Industries font comes pretty close in style.

Finishing the design off I used some new textures I made that have an old ink/block print look to them.

In the end it only took 3 hours (hey, I had to do bit of font hunting) and I'm really pleased with how it turned out. Yet another shirt that I'd be more than happy to drop 30 bucks on if I saw it in the parks. So what do you guys think? Well tune in next week, I promise those Main Street Typography Case Studies will be happening soon, just have to finish up some other fun projects outside Designerland.
As always thanks for stopping by and see you soon!

So Friendlyable

A few months back Casey Jones of the Disney Design Group illustrated these adorably cute park mascot characters. He then asked for my take on a tee shirt using his illustrations. After really studying the style and feel of the characters, it was simple. Casey's illustrations reminded me of the vintage Disneyland ads, so I re-imagined those printed park adverts, incorporating his new characters. It was amazing working with him again and I felt honored he let me take his illustrations and just run with them.  There are a few versions out there and YES this shirt design is available in both parks, of course with appropriate park logo.

The shirts are now in the parks. So get 'em now before they fly off the shelves.

You asked for it, Part 2!!!

So it was brought to my attention (a few hours ago) that my second shirt design I did along with the Casey Jones of the Disney Design Group has been released in the parks!!! The DDG contacted me and asked if I would create a new version on the Dole Whip shirt and this is what I came up with:

For those of you who miss out on the Designerland version here's your chance to get your hands on a tee celebrating this theme park staple and yes it will be available in both parks. Thanks to Matthew Gottula for snapping this shot and posting it on twitter. Hope you guys like this new take, it's both retro and refreshing all in one tropical flavor!!!

Retro '71

Welcome back to another Retro '71 shirt concept. This weeks design was to be showcased later on down the road but after some twitter activity I decided to go a head and release it.

The shirt design takes artwork created for a tie-in add from Nestle Quik sponsoring both the newly opened Walt Disney World Resort and the world premiere of Disney's Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

The illustration montage is simply stunning and I knew would look brilliant on a shirt. The bright "groovy" color palette was inspired by a photo montage from an early Walt Disney World Resort souvenir booklet. I weighted the illustration with the retro Walt Disney World logo a la waving Florida banner. Finishing the design out is some new created (by yours truly) distressed textures.

Well that does it for this installment of our Retro '71. Lots of fun an interesting things in the works so I'm not sure if next week we will be getting to a new case study...but look forward to some new Kuler palettes and the next Retro '71 shirt...which will have you seeing spots or should I say dots. Thanks for stopping by and have a good week.

In the Wild

So how did everyone celebrate leap day? I know how Troy Johnsonbaugh celebrated....enjoying the parks in the limited edition look! Thanks for the support and shooting over this picture.