The American Adventure

 

Welcome back to another edition of the Retro '71 Apparel Line. This week we'll continue our Journey around the World Showcase with our next stop being The American Adventure.

Stately Georgian architecture welcomes us to The American Adventure, which is proudly presented as "host" to the nations of World Showcase.

Inside, you'll find paintings portraying the Spirits of American, and in the main theater, a Disney theatrical production that tells the inspiring story of America. Here, on stage of sweeping dimensions, we can witness the pivotal events and meet the "dreamers and doers" who helped shape the American nation. Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain - two of America's most eloquent spokesmen - lead a cast of more than 30 historic figures "brought to life" to recount America's hard-won achievements and preview her boundless future.

Following suit, this week’s design incorporates The American Adventure logo in a similar fashion as the previous shirts. The colors are inspired by the United States flag . 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'm glad to be back, even if it's only for a few short hours! Looking forward to seeing you back here soon for more fun Designerland posts. Thanks for visiting and have a swell week.

In the wild...continued

Here are a few more fellow Designerland followers sporting their amazing Tiki Pineapple Whip shirts.
Thanks for the support and sending these fun photos my way! Mahalo!

 

Back for a bit

Well guys I'm back for a short bit. I want to thank all of you've personally contacted me to see if I was okay since I hadn't been posting regularly. Things are good on my end, busy. . . but good.  You may be asking yourselves what's been taking up so much of my time? Well I can tell you all good things.

For starters I have been freelancing for the Design Design Group down in Orlando working on some killer new park merchandise that will soon be hitting shelves. It's been a blast. Don't ask what it is...you just have to wait. I've also been asked to join the amazing group of artists at the KC Sanders art gallery in developing new art pieces for both Disney and DreamWorks Animation properties. So hold tight you may end up seeing some of your favorite Designerland designs available to buy here in the near future. I've also been working a bit with the Disney Studios on a few side projects. Other than that, teaching typography and working my full time job.

I'm actually under the weather and took the day off and found myself having a bit of time to give you an update and a new Retro '71 shirt concept. I have a few more typography case studies left for the Magic Kingdom but not sure when we'll get back to those since they do take more time in researching, designing and writing about.

Thanks again for sticking with me!

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 Japan. 

A stately vermilion torii gateway rises out of the waters of the World Showcase Lagoon bids us "good luck" as we enter Japan. As we amble through the serene bonsai gardens of the five story pagoda - it's modeled after the 8th century Horyuji Temple near Nara - we contemplate the artfully places rocks, the lanterns, and the ponds with their brightly colored koi. Across the way is the great Shishinden Hall, home of Mitsukoshi, the internationally famous Japanese department store. Within the massive feudal castle, we view worldly Japanese art and treasures. Perhaps we'll be fortunate enough to happen upon the Candyman, a dream fantasy maker, who sings and dances about while fashioning herons, fish and other fanciful designs from rice toffee. 

Following suit, this week’s design incorporates the Japan logo in a similar fashion as the previous shirts. The colors are inspired by the flag Japan . 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. Check back soon as we dissect more fonts used for classic Disney Park attractions. Hope all of you have a great week and see you back soon.

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.