Lack of posts

Sorry folks for the lack of posts last week and this week. I'm currently swamped here: full time job, teaching college typography night classes, freelance work and then my home life. Posts from here on out will be not so structured as before. I hope to start back up here soon. Stay tuned and thanks for visiting as always.

Retro '71

Welcome back to another edition of the Retro '71 Apparel Line. This week we'll continue our Journey around the World Showcase with our emphasis on France.

We know we're approaching France when we catch sight of the Eiffel Tower, the typical kiosk in the park bordering the canal, and the colorful umbrellas that announce the sidewalk café.  Investigate the boulevard, "La Promenade," with its handsome fountain, gardens, ironwork and elegant belle époque shops. Note the ironwork at each end of the Arcade—it's fashioned after the famed entrances to Paris's Metro. Around the corner, we find ourselves on a rural street where the shops are provincial.  At the Palais du Cinema, we can treat ourselves to a grand tour via an exciting motion picture, Impressions de France. By the way, the musical score of this film is based on the works of some of the greatest French composers, among them Debussy, Dukas, Saint-Saens, Satie, and Ravel. 

Following suit, this week’s design incorporates the France logo in a similar fashion as the previous shirts. The colors are inspired by the flag of France. Finishing the design is some slight wear and tear with a textured finish, which ties it into the branding and overall vision of the Retro '71 apparel line. 

Well that does it for this week’s edition of the World Showcase shirts. I want to thank everyone who has contacted me in regards to the line thus far. Your comments have been such great motivation. Hope to see you back on Friday as we dissect more fonts used for classic Disney Park attractions. Hope all of you have a great week and see you back soon.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant

For this week’s case study we find ourselves back in Fantasyland, looking at one of the most popular attractions within the Disney theme parks, Dumbo the Flying Elephant.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant is a simplistic carousel-like attraction, where guests can board one of 16 pachyderms on an aerial adventure. Each elephant "gondola" vehicle has its own joystick that allows guests to control how high or how low they want to go. As guests whisk through the air to jovial circus music led by Timothy Mouse, they can catch spectacular views of Cinderella Castle and the rest of Fantasyland.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant will soon be moving as we all know by now. Its new location will be Fantasyland Forest, which is a part of the new Fantasyland expansion. Dumbo's new home will come with various upgrades and enhancements. I look forward to seeing it in its new surroundings with all the wonderful thematics and atmospherics, and of course, the type treatments those Imagineers are plussing into this time-honored classic.

From a typography standpoint, Dumbo’s pickings are slim. Not much signage or pathfinding is used around the attraction, so most of my research comes from attraction posters and what little signage there is. It comes as no surprise that Dumbo the Flying Elephant is branded heavily with circus-looking display fonts, also classified as Tuscan display fonts. Other prevalent classifications are Woodblock, Western, and Slab Serif, and let's not forget some of those classic medieval fonts used to brand Fantasyland, which also make guest appearances. All of the display fonts and typefaces are crisp and clean compared to the look of the fonts used on the billing for Storybook Circus. I'm excited to see which look will win out once the new land opens.

Well that does it for Dumbo. Tune in on Monday as we continue our Epcot Center World Showcase Retro '71 shirts. Until then, have a great weekend.

Technical difficulties

Sorry folks but the attraction case study for this week: Dumbo the Flying Elephant is currently being refurbished for your enjoyment. Please check back later this evening. I apologize for any inconvenience, in the mean time please visit other Designerland posts. Thanks for you understanding and patience.

Retro '71

This week’s Retro '71 shirt concept continues the Epcot Center World Showcase series.

When our walk along the World Showcase Promenade weaves into a cobblestoned square with charming shops, gabled rooftops, and a warm and inviting waterside pub, you know we've arrived at the United Kingdom.  On Tudor Lane, don't be surprised if you meet a strolling troubadour with his lute, or the Pearly Kings and Queens whose comedy style is as bright as the pearly buttons adorning their costumes. A bounty of fine products from Her Majesty's realm can be found here in the many smart shops. Britannia Square affords the cool greenery of a formal English city park where you can enjoy music and theatrics performed in the handsome gazebo.

For this week’s design, I used the United Kingdom logo and icon in a similar fashion as the main shirt for the Canada pavilion. The colors are inspired by the Union Jack. Finishing the design is some slight wear and tear with a textured finish, which ties it into the branding and overall vision of the Retro '71 apparel line.

That does it for today's post. Hope to see you back on Friday as we dissect the fun fonts used for classic Disney Park attractions. Hope all of you have a great week and see you back soon.

A new color palette has been added to the DisneyDesignerland Kuler account! Before you jump on over to check it out can you guess where this color palette is used?

Give up??? Find out the answer over at Disneydesignerland's Kuler page found here.

Check back for more random updates to Wonderful World of Kuler.

Splash Mountain

Welcome back to another edition of Designerland's attraction typography case studies. This week we'll head to our laughing place as we look at the various specimens used for the popular Critter Country/Frontierland attraction, Splash Mountain.

Guests board a hollowed-out log and drift along with Br'er Rabbit in his search for a little more adventure, all set to classic tunes from the 1964 Disney full-length feature, Songs of the South. Splash Mountain opened at Disneyland in 1989 and became an instant hit. Shortly after, the Walt Disney World Resort would have its own version, followed by Tokyo Disneyland.

Splash Mountain uses a wide array of decorative display fonts in its signage and place finding. The typography falls into several categories, with the four main classifications being Western, Woodblock, Antique and Victorian. Also featured are some comic-like fonts that help set the tone of the attraction and its storyline, which is based on cute, animated woodland creatures. Perhaps the most impressive type treatment was used for the attraction’s main logo. The original font used for the logo is nearly impossible to track down because it is so heavily modified with flourished terminals and curly serifs, all finished off with a rugged distressed edge. What's even more interesting about the logo is that Disney designers have used two different logos to brand the attraction on the signage throughout the area. One logo is more flourished and flowing, whereas the second logo is more Western, vertical and stiff. Next time you're in the parks, see if you can spot the two different logos.

That concludes this week's attraction typography case study. Tune in on Monday for another Retro '71 World Showcase t-shirt concept. Until next time, thanks for stopping by and have a swell weekend.