SpectroMagic

Welcome back to Designerland. Yes, I know...it's been ages since I've posted anything. Life does carry on and between my full time job, freelance clients and renovating a home there's not enough hours in the day for font finding and other fun stuff. Granted, I have enough shirt concepts in the wings to last me until next Christmas but I just can't keep posting that. I'm not a one trick pony, there's many tricks up this magician's sleeve.

Speaking of fonts, I just locked into snatching up a ton of new photos from Epcot and hope to continue our Designerland Typography Tour of Epcot Center come late this fall. In the mean time here's a new shirt concept based on one of my favorite parades, SpectroMagic.

The main logo of the parade along with the Mickey globe icon and original WDW Resort logo have all been treated with a vintage "Hamilton Type" letterpress like look. The color palette is a simple 2 color, over print method in aqua and carrot orange. I was channeling my inner Kevin and Jody when I picked this palette out.

 Well that does it for this installment. Tune in soon for more fun Designerland offerings.

Different Disney Strokes

Hope everyone had a swell weekend. Things have been crazy around here so alas no new font case studies...soon I hope.

Over the past weekend I did have some time to do a little jaunty treasure hunting at some antique stores around the area. If you follow me on twitter then you saw my finds!  For some reason I always find things in sets of threes. It's kind of become a game. Once we find one thing we know somewhere, somehow two more should follow....they usually do.

When I'm out and about looking for various vintage theme park merchandise I tend to always come across tons of non theme park Disney antiques. The one thing I find so interesting are the various different Walt Disney logos/signatures used on the packaging.

Most all of them have the look and feel of the free flowing, bubbly Walt script but some are vary unique in their brush stokes, weight and height.

I've started collecting photos of these various Walt scripts while out and about. Are any of them real? Are they all fake? Who knows, either way I love the feel and look of them.

One logo script I came across a few months back I recreated and changed into a new vintage (double entendre) logo for Walt Disney Imagineering.

Can anyone guess what type of product this original logo was used for?

Disney's Worlds of Oz

Welcome back to Designerland and a long-overdue post. By now you probably know that this upcoming Friday, Disney will release its second trip to the Wonderful World of Oz with their new major motion picture, Oz the Great and Powerful.  I'm truly excited to see how Disney handles it. I hope it fairs well as I love the mythos of Oz and would like to see a franchise with this property. 

I grew up with Disney's first Oz film, Return to Oz, which still remains one of my all-time favorite Disney films. To celebrate both the new and the old, I created a few shirt concepts. The first two are based on Return to Oz and the last is based on the new film. 

The first shirt is based on the Powder of Life and the three magical words spoken to activate it. The design plays heavily with ornate typography and flourishes that pay homage to both the time period and the movie.  For you extreme fans, take note of the typography used on the electro shock machine—the logo is brilliantly ornate. Also, the typography used for the Doctor's newspaper advertisement? The same font used for the home of 999 happy haunts. The back of the shirt has a small tag depicting the Gump.

The second shirt pays homage to my favorite character, Tic Toc. To this day, I love that one steampunk-like mechanical man is the sole army and protector of Oz. The shirt is based on the badge on his left chest. 

The last concept is based on the new movie logo and ornate typography combined with the new letterpress technique.

Well that does it for this week’s post. I apologize for my lack of posts as of late, but I'm juggling a few projects, and one in particular is rather big. I just recently purchased my first house and am in the midst of a complete renovation...so hunting down typography has been put on the back burner for now. I hope to find some time in the next two months to tackle a new Epcot Case Study. Thanks for stopping by and see you all real soon!

I almost forgot to mention, don't forget to order the LE Version 2 of the Tiki Pineapple Whip Tee. I'll be taking orders for another 3 weeks—after that, the design will be retired for good, so don't hesitate. 

The Living Seas

Welcome back to Designerland and our first case study of 2013. This year we'll be looking at the amazing fonts found throughout Epcot Center, with our first stop in Future World. Unlike the Magic Kingdom, when my family arrives at Epcot, we always begin our journey counter clockwise, so it only feels natural to dive in to the fonts of The Living Seas. I'll only cover the typography from the pre-Nemo era since this is the Living Seas we all remember and love.

One thing I appreciate about Epcot and especially Future World is the symbiotic branding of each pavilion, so we’ll see many of the same display fonts and classic typefaces over and over again. That's called hierarchy of design, but over time, we see that hierarchy broken as wackier, overly-themed display fonts sneak their way in.

In particular, when looking at the Living Seas, sans serifs fonts are the most prominent, which is fitting because sans serifs are generally used to convey a modern, futuristic feel. There are a few extremely futuristic display fonts scattered throughout Sea Base Alpha, but not too many. As I mentioned before, Disney fans weren't all too keen on photographing signage back in the heyday of the Living Seas, so tracking down fonts was somewhat difficult. Over time a few serif fonts such as that classic but overused Times New Roman made an appearance within the pavilion. In my research I found only one place this typeface was used—while I suspect this was just a quick fix type of situation, it still makes me cringe. 

The Living Seas was my all-time favorite pavilion within Future World, partly because of the powerful preshow with its amazing narration and partly because I have a fondness for water. This week, in addition to the type case study, I'm also showcasing a t-shirt concept honoring my favorite pavilion. 

The design is based on the vintage graphic illustration used on an early letterhead that promoted this new pavilion. The design is a simple three color gradient in shades of blue taken from the front facade of the building. This is set in front of a simple back print medallion with the Seas icon, typeset name and original Epcot Center logo.

Well that does it for this week’s case study. I hope you all have a great week and see you back here real soon. Thanks for stopping by.

The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Welcome back to a long-overdue Designerland Typography Case Study. This week we will look at the wonderful typefaces seen throughout the Grand Floridian Resort. Before we start, I'd like to give a BIG shout out to Cristy Greene for helping me with this post. Her photos helped me out in more ways than one. Thanks so much!

When looking at the typefaces used throughout the Grand Floridian, one thing can be certain: there are no frills or wacky display fonts. The font palette used for most of the signage and way-finding graphics use classic fonts to evoke a sense of tradition and elegance. When looking at type, the branding is very consistent with one main typeface used on most of the graphics. There are a few elegant yet classy display fonts, usually in the form of scripts used as well.

One font in particular was somewhat tough to track down since type foundries come and go. About a month ago, I stumbled across a fellow font aficionado whose mission is to track down typefaces from one particular foundry that was big in the 60s and 70s but is no longer. As I went through the collection, I noticed many fonts that Disney used in the early days of the park. In fact, one font that I had believed to be custom was included in the collection! Since this font appears on a graphic from a current project, I suspect Disney has the entire collection of this gone-but-not-forgotten foundry and are still using it today. Perhaps Disney acquired the rights to use these fonts when they were still developing Walt Disney World. 

While I have an appreciation for the fonts used within the Grand Floridian, they're not my favorite used within the parks. But my favorites will have to wait for another post, so tune in after Christmas when we head over to Epcot and begin our journey looking into the fonts and faces used to brand the 21st century. In the meantime, if there's an attraction or graphic that hasn't been covered within the Magic Kingdom thus far, let me know. I'd love to cover it between now and the holidays.

Well that does it for this week’s post. Tune in next week as I have a plethora of new Retro '71 and '55 shirt concepts just waiting to be released. Thanks for stopping by and have a swell week.

Trader Jack's

Welcome back to another Designerland post--I hope you all had a great weekend! This week, I'd like to share a thought. Now it’s nothing new or original, just once again dusting off the past for the fans of today! After last week’s Polynesian Resort type post, I received some emails from readers who really enjoyed the case study, so I decided to roll out this concept today for us Poly fans.

With the ever-growing popularity of Disneyland's Trader Sam's, I feel that TDO and WDI should seriously consider bringing something similar to the east coast, now that the Adventurers Club is gone. Some of you may recall that Disney World once had a tropical-themed dive located at the Polynesian Resort--Trader Jack's Grog Hut! I, for one, would love to see Disney roll out a similar, updated Tiki bar based on the long-forgotten Trader Jack's...new menu, new look, new gags but the same vibe.

Personally, I wish they would just bring Trader Jack's back to the Polynesian Resort. It could also fit in at Downtown Disney where there is more traffic passing through, but with the ever in-flux state of DTD and what once was Pleasure Island, I'm not sure how well it would work in that locale. Regardless of where it turns up, it could be the east coast’s version of Trader Sam's.

With that said, here are a few merchandise concepts I worked up for this hypothetical Tiki bar. One apparel concept displays a logo I came up with (in an off-set matchbook print look) that draws inspiration from the original Polynesian Village/Resort logo. The second apparel concept is just something whimsical and wacky, hence the display font.

Now no good Tiki bar is complete without the option to take home a Tiki mug, so I combined the two main Polynesian Tiki icons into one to create the Kapu Cup. If I could have only one Tiki mug in my collection, I would want something similar to this.

Well that's all for this week. Hope you enjoy the concepts and thanks for stopping by. Have a great week and see you all real soon!

Wedway Peoplemover

Welcome back to another edition of our vastly growing Retro '71 apparel line.

This week’s concept is based on the WED Transportation System’s branding from a 1982 marketing brochure. Once upon a time, Disney branded, marketed and packaged various park specialties such as the Monorail and the WEDWAY Peoplemover to outside cities and businesses. If you'd like to know more or see this jaunty brochure in action, jump on over to Progress City, U.S.A. by clicking here.

The design for this week is a simplistic black shirt with graphics based on the logo and various type from the brochure. The color palette was taken directly from the brochure and its branding. When printed, the white sections of the design would be discharge ink to give it even more of a vintage feel.

Well that does it for this week’s Designerland installation. Hope to see you back next week as we move on to the wonderful world of the Monorail typography. Have a great week and see you soon.

Main Street USA Part 3

Welcome back to Designerland's Typography Case Study. This weeks study is our conclusion of Main Street USA as I've had to break up the post into a three part series. So sit back and enjoy more of those fantastic fonts used by Disney designers.

As stated in the first Main Street Case Study, most of the fonts used on the thoroughfare are display fonts ranging in classifications such as Victorian, Script, Tuscan, Latin, Slab Serifs, Serifs, Edwardian, Ornamental, and so on, used for the various fictitious storefront shops.

Well that does it for the final installment. . .or does it? Main Street is ever evolving with the plussing of new signage and graphics. New fonts will be added yearly and I can't wait to track more down. In my research for this three part case study I was able to locate 68 fonts and just today I found a new one making it 69. I have over 100 reference photos of fonts I have yet to track down and will always be on the hunt. Look for updates. Well that about does it. Tune in next week as I spent the last three days working on some overdue offerings for Designerland. Until next time, have a great week. Thanks for stopping by.

Retro '71

Welcome back to Designerland and another fun-filled Retro '71 shirt concept. This week’s post is a special three-for-one that I hope you'll all enjoy.

When WED Enterprises started dreaming and scheming up the Walt Disney World Resort, Imagineers had dreamed of 5 home-away-from-home domiciles that surrounded the Kingdom: The Contemporary Resort, The Polynesian Village, The Asian Resort, The Venetian Resort and lastly, The Persian Resort. Sadly, the latter three never saw it past the model phase within the halls of 1401 Flower Street. Various sites have already documented the history of the "Resorts that Never Were" and if you'd like to find out more about these resorts, I suggest you take a look here, here and here.

Much like I did with the shirt series for the faux real estate companies that purchased the land for the Walt Disney World Resort, I decided I would try coming up with logos for these “lost” resorts. I'm sure somewhere in the halls of WDI, in some flat file, there may be some concept renderings of logos for the resorts. Seeing how I don't have access to that type of stuff I just decided to use my imagination...after all, imagination is the heart of all creation, right? I tried focusing on simple iconography mixed with display fonts that I felt carried the story of each resort. The real trick was trying to get them to stylistically flow with the Contemporary and Polynesian Village's original logos.

The shirt colors and ink colors are derived from color combinations that are true to the countries these resorts were themed around. An homage to ideas that never made it, but should have....

Well that does it for this week’s special post. Tune in next week for the final Main Street Type Case Study I've been promising you. Have a great week and see you all soon.

Main Street USA Part 2

Welcome back to Designerland's Typography Case Study. This weeks study is a continuation of Main Street USA as I've had to break up the post into a three part series. So sit back and enjoy more of those fantastic fonts used by Disney designers.

As stated in the first Main Street Case Study, most of the fonts used on the thoroughfare are display fonts ranging in classifications such as Victorian, Script, Tuscan, Latin, Slab Serifs, Serifs, Edwardian, Ornamental, and so on, used for the various fictitional storefront shops.

Well that does it for the second instalment. Tune in soon for part 3 as well as other fun Designerland offerings. With that said I've started a new project for Designerland that I'm so excited to be working on and I believe is long overdue. I hope you guys will enjoy it. Hold tight and tune in real soon. Until next time, have a great week. Thanks for stopping by.

The Rainbow Connection

Just a quick post to let everyone know another one of my shirt designs has been released in the parks.

I was asked to design a simplistic yet nostalgic rainbow shirt for both the Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort. Even though the content and design are minimal, I'm really proud of this shirt. I hope you guys enjoy it and be sure to pick one up!

Special thanks to Micechat and Denise Preskitt for snapping this photo and posting it. Thanks guys!

Future World

Welcome back to another edition of our Retro '71 apparel line. This week’s concept is based on art from a vintage Epcot Center Future World button.

Back in the early days of the Walt Disney World Resort, Disney designers created a series of montage collage-based illustrations that really captured the feel of the parks. These collage illustrations were used on paper bags, tin trays, buttons and various print materials. I've already created designs based on a few of these collages and this Epcot Future World button was the last in the series. I had meant to present it a few months back when a few people were discussing it on Twitter, but find myself just now getting around to it.

I created the design in a three color, off-set print look in the early branding color palette of Future World, as seen in the Epcot Center maps of the time. The design would be printed in water-based inks or plastisol ink run through a high mesh count so the ink would be soft to the touch. Finishing out the illustration is a distressed texture to set the vintage look and feel of the design.

Well that does it for this week’s concept. Tune in next week for part 2 of the Designerland's Typography Main Street U.S.A. Case Study. Hope you all have a wonderful week and see you soon. Thanks for stopping by!

Retro '71

Welcome back to another addition of our Retro '71 apparel line. This weeks concept is based on vintage Walt Disney World Resort merchandise. Over the past few weeks I've been out visiting the various antique and thrift shops Indianapolis has to offer. I've come across some amazing artifacts and now have officially become obsessed with vintage theme park merchandise. I know that I could easily acquire vintage merchandise via ebay but what's the fun in that? I do however use ebay as a reference before I begin hunting. 

During my research I came across a series of 4 mini glass plate coaster from the Magic Kingdom, simple in design and in colors of aqua blue, green, black and white depicting Adventureland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland and Main Street U.S.A. I knew right away that I must incorporate these designs into apparel for Retro '71 as well as find them for my collection.

I used the art directly from the plate, recreating it in Illustrator. The only changes I made were the main typeface for Adventureland (I reset it in a display font Disney used back in '71 for the branding of Adventureland), using the original Walt Disney World flag logo and adding the distressed textures.

I placed the design on a heathered green shirt. The printing technique would be waterbase inks or plastisol ran through an extremely high mesh count in order to get a soft hand.  The design would be printed without an underlay so that the print really looks vintage. 

There's a fine line when trying to make something look vintage when it comes to printing. Simply adding a texture to your art file only takes you so far. You need to find the happy medium with not only your art but with print production as well. Most if not all my shirts would be printed in similar fashion as Junk Food apparel. Fact: they have the best printers and printing techniques when it comes to authentic faux vintage looks. 

Well that does it for this weeks addition. Tune in next week for part 2 of our Main Street U.S.A. typography case study. Hope to see you back here soon and have a great week.

Main Street USA Part 1

Welcome back to a long-awaited Designerland Typography Case Study. As promised, this week we're looking at the amazing typography used on Main Street U.S.A. Main Street is a typographer’s paradise full of amazing vintage display fonts. In fact, Main Street is the one place within the Kingdom that is most saturated with typography—you could spend hours if not days trying to document all the fonts within this land. This is too much content for just one case study, so we’ll look at the typography through a three part series.

Most of the fonts used on Main Street are display fonts, which are decorative in nature and used for logo design. In this case, most appear in logos for the various storefront businesses that call Main Street U.S.A. home. These display fonts include Victorian, Script, Tuscan, Latin, Slab Serifs, Serifs, Edwardian, Ornamental, and so on, but you won't find any sans serif fonts in this section of the Magic Kingdom. Through the process of locating these fonts, I found that the display fonts, while vintage in nature, actually come from type foundries from the 1950s, and some even come from foundries from today. 

 

This large variety in typography is another layer that helps the thematic atmosphere, and Disney Designers do it well. As of late, designers have taken a keen interest in one particular type foundry, and this brand of ornate, vintage type not only appears on Main Street, but also in the new Fantasyland expansion. So the next time you stroll down the street on your way to the hub stop, this typography is sure to catch your eye. Well that about does it for this week’s post—tune in next week for a new Retro '71 shirt concept. Have a greet week and see you all soon.