Back by popular demand!

The votes are in and Concept D of the new Tiki Pineapple Whip tee is the fan favorite! Thanks to all who voted. To celebrate I'm now taking presale orders on the new tee!

Since the end of the last tiki whip sale two years ago, I've received daily emails asking for the reprint of the original. I never knew that 2 years later people would still be asking for the shirt. Now is your time to act because I don't know if I'll revisit the design again...maybe in another two years I'll be singing a different tune. LOL!

I recommend ordering a few. Think of friends, family, holidays and birthdays because once I'm done with presales I won't be taking any additional orders.

You have from now until March 24th (sale ends at Midnight EST) to order, if you have any questions please contact me at my gmail account.

You can CLICK HERE to order or simply click on the side banner over to the RIGHT.

Mahalo and thanks again for the support! Look for new Designerland content coming soon.

Cast your vote now!

I told myself I would never do a rerun of the original tiki whip shirt I created two years ago and I still stand behind that...but I never said anything about a new take on the graphic, new ink color ways and new apparel! So cast your vote now, who knows what I may do with the information!?!

Out Now!

Hey guys justa quick post to let you all know that I have two new shirt I did along with Casey Jones and the amazing team at the Disney Design Group.

Check 'em out at a park near you!

I'm really proud of the reto Mickey/type shirt it was a surprise that the DDG released it. Thanks guys!

Matterhorn Bobsleds

Welcome back to another fun-filled edition of our Retro '55 apparel line. This week’s concept is based on one of my favorite Disneyland attractions, the Matterhorn Bobsleds.

The design of the shirt combines "fast moving" typography with an appropriated bobsled graphic. Changes to typography and the color palette give this old idea a fresh new look. Some of you (midwesterns) may catch the subtle reference not-so-hidden in the shirt!

The Matterhorn Bobsleds opened at Disneyland in 1959, but this design evokes more of an early 80's feel. I have it visualized as a four color design on a heather ringed shirt, but in all actuality, I would like the design be a full color, shiny and slick heat press graphic without the texture. Alas, those details are difficult to convey through Illustrator and Photoshop.

Well that does it for this week’s post. I will be taking a jolly holiday for the next few weeks, and my posts will be far and few between until I begin the Epcot series at the beginning of the new year. Be sure to check back from time to time as I have over 50 apparel designs sitting in the wings and a few jaunty ideas for special Christmas time posts. So until next time, thanks for stopping in and have a good 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!

In the Wild

A big Mahalo goes out to Maureen for snapping this awesome photo of her husband Dan sporting the tiki pineapple whip tee while on their vacation. Maureen tells me that while entering the park they also spotted another vacationeer sporting the shirt as well! It IS a small world after all.

Thanks guys for the support and sending this my way and next time be careful not to hit your head on the Aloha Isle sign (Dan stands a towering 6' 11") while enjoying the whip.

New Orleans Mint Julep

Greetings folks! Welcome back to another edition of our Retro '55 apparel line.

This week’s concept is based on the fan favorite, the Mint Julep. The idea for a Mint Julep t-shirt has been in the works since I was designing the original Tiki Pineapple Whip tee here at Designerland. I hadn't tried this delicious drink until last year while at the Disneyland Resort and I instantly fell in love. I believe I had about 15 of them over the span of a week, and when I came home, I set to work trying to pinpoint the recipe. 

The Mint Julep Bar is located in New Orleans Square and is one offering that I feel helps sell the story of that particular land. I hear that Walt Disney World offers the same jaunty brew over at Port Orleans, but there's just something about New Orleans Square and the Mint Julep that go hand in hand.

Instead of designing some fun character holding the beverage or turning the plastic cup itself into a cute character, I decided to create a shirt that had more of a vintage label look to it, as if the Mint Julep was actually manufactured at a nearby plantation and exported as a fine southern beverage. The design itself has the New Orleans Square logo above the Blue Bayou, which was recreated by scanning one of the original New Orleans Square souvenir bags. Typeset below that is the beverage title set in the same font seen in the parks, along with some added storytelling copy that helps complete the look of the label. I also put the established date when New Orleans Square opened at Disneyland, flanked by an art nouveau whiplash curl.

Well that does it for this week’s concept—hope you all have a swell week. Thanks for stopping by.

In the Wild 2012

This week two fellow followers and supporters of Designerland sent in photos of them sporting the classic Tiki Pineapple Whip Shirt!

Cori sent this in and said this is how a true fan gets ready for school . . .

Dan D. also sent this jaunty picture of him in the shirt at the parks....

Thanks for sending this in guys and for the support! In other news a Jungle Cruise skipper reported seeing a family of four in the parks yesterday all wearing the shirts! Glad to hear you guys are still enjoying the shirt. Be sure to check in tomorrow for an all new Retro '55 Disneyland Shirt Concept.

Retro '71

Welcome back to another edition of Retro '71. This week’s design is my second homage to the lakes and lagoons of the Walt Disney World Resort. The last concept I designed honored the Seven Seas Lagoon so for this week’s concept, I honor Bay Lake.

The concept behind the design is a tongue-in-cheek, retro-inspired shirt for a fictitious boating club to which the Walt Disney World Resort offered membership in the early 70's. Using retro-style art and fonts that evoke both sailing and typography from the 70's, paired with a color palette that plays off the first design, the shirt is a perfect tribute to leisure activities the resort offered.

Well that does if for this week’s concept. I'm still working on the Orange Bird feltie patterns and the second installment of our Main Street USA typography case study. Tune in soon for those fun posts and I hope all of you have a great week.

Retro '71

 

Welcome back to another edition of our vintage vacation wear with a retro flair. For this weeks shirt I had the idea of honoring one of the unsung heroes of the Walt Disney World Resort; The Seven Seas Lagoon. I come from a time when I can remember spending ours playing on the sandy white beaches and taking a quick dip in the Lagoon to cool off from those humid Orlando afternoons. What better way to pay homage than with it's very own Retro '71 shirt.

I wanted to design a more masculine concept that played upon the notion of a fictitious activity guests partook in while vacationing at the resort while also bordering on tongue in cheek humor. I came up with the idea of using a scuba diving team. . .basically for a slight play on alliteration. I can image the daily activity being one of the Polynesian Village perks and guests diving down into the clean, crystal depths of the Lagoon to discover sunken Spanish Galleons (designed by WED Enterprises) and various undersea life.

Since we all know what today's Seven Seas Lagoon is like, I wanted to also spark the imagination of people who don't remember it in all its glory of what it might have been. The typography palette plays upon display fonts that were used heavily in the 70's along side a retro illustration of a diver. Finishing the design is our worn out, distressed texture. 

What do you guys think? Wait to you see what I have in the vaults for Bay Lake! Well that does it for this edition of Retro '71. I'm happy to report that next Sunday will by our first in a series of three Main Street USA typography case studies. I also have a new, exciting and special segment I'm currently working on for Designerland that I think you will love. Check back soon for more updates and thanks for stopping by. Have a swell week and see ya 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!

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.

In the Wild

Allison sent me this picture from her most recent trip to Walt Disney World. Thanks for sending this my way and for sporting the ever popular tiki pineapple whip shirt.

In the Wild

The Crossman Family sent a new photo of them sporting their tiki pineapple whip shirts, this time the family photo comes from the Walt Disney World Resort. They're the first family to sport their shirts at both parks and send in photos for us here at Designerland. I want to send out a BIG thank you once again for being such a great support to me, my blog and my crazy designs/ideas. Thanks guys!

In the Wild

Cory tweeted me this pic of himself enjoying a tasty pineapple float so I thought I'd share it with you all.  Thanks for shooting it my way and for the support. 

I still get about 5 emails a week in regards to if I'm ever going to do another run of the shirts...it's getting to the point that I might just consider it. ;)  I have ideas for some new shirts that would be able to buy come this spring. Stay tuned and see you tomorrow evening for a new Designerland Attraction Typography Case Study!!!!

In the Wild

I'd like to thank the Disney duo Ian and Ian (aka The Ian's) for snapping this picture for me while at Disneyland! The Ian's were Walt Disney Imagineer's ImagiNations Design Contest winner's and personal close friends of mine. Probably two of the coolest Canadian's I know. Thanks for snapping the picture guys and shooting it my way and of course for the support! Hope we can tackle the parks again soon!

In the Wild

Here's a jaunty photo of Chris sporting his tiki pineapple whip shirt in the parks during this past holiday season. Chris told me that his first order of business was to grab a whip and snap a pic...he said a few minutes later he ran into someone else sporting the popular Designerland shirt. Thanks for shooting this my way and for the support! Mahalo!

 

Remember folks to keep sending in your pics for your chance to be featured here on Designerland!