Watchman's Note

This is a journey to the best designs in the world of Zazzle.com. Handpicked and presented (along with my own artwork) by yours truly, the driving force behind Surreality designs. We'll discover great artists and special products -mostly with a taste for the eccentric. But let us not confine ourselves in specific genres: the possibilities are endless and so is the great art one can find at Zazzle.
Showing posts with label graphic design. Show all posts
Showing posts with label graphic design. Show all posts

6/24/2011

Bare bones t-shirt


This t-shirt features a minimal, intriguing design that looks almost like a riddle. I love the contrast between the soft colored circle and the strength of the hip bone image.
The designer is Rory Wilson, and he came up with one of the best (and strangest) concepts I've seen in a quite some time!

4/04/2011

You are The New Black


It's time to present with the latest of my typography projects, the New Black design. What is the new black? According to trendsetters it's something new every season -then again, nothing ever becomes the "new" black, the... old one is doing fine, thank you very much!


According to me, it's a way to be sarcastic to the trendies and/or to signify that you (meaning: each individual) make personal choices that may well be the exact opposite of a new fad. Every one of us is the "new black" and none of us is, because we are not a herd and our tastes are diverse.


I put that in text, in bold lettering combined with thin drawn lines -unfortunately they can't be seen in the small previews- in what I believe to be a striking but simple design. You can see the stuff it's applied to in the New Black section of Surreality store. Enjoy, and do tell me your opinion.

3/30/2011

Toons surreal


This may be the best black t-shirt I've seen in quite a while! It's so deceptively simple it makes you think you could design it yourself. Well... you couldn't! It's one of the tricks the talented Jason Freeny of Moist Production pulls on people: he makes it look easy. The fact is that it takes a crazy genius to design these surreal cartoons with Jason's clean and minimal style.


Humor, strange concepts and good graphic design are the key elements of his work. Oh, and this elusive simplicity, of course... This is a real case of "you'll miss if you don't check this out" store.

3/24/2011

Deconstructing architecture


I have featured dadaist artwork but I think this is the first one that relies more on solid graphic design than conceptual art. And the design is great: the typography and the deconstructed architectural elements manage to please the eye and challenge the mind too!
This is a great  poster by DeVico, a store that doesn't rely on quantity but presents us with quite a few pleasant surprises.

2/19/2011

Enter the octagon


A traditional Japanese octagonal element gets revamped and becomes the latest my Retropop series -Nihon is the casual term for Japan.


A strong, bold black and white symbol surrounded by pink. Somehow, it reminds me of something from a martial arts movie: the color and the floral element inside don't seem to water down the power radiated from the octagon.


A balanced, beautiful design, offered on many products in the Octagon Nihon line.

2/17/2011

Certified weirdo

Weirdo multi t shirt shirt
Weirdo multi t shirt by andi_bird
Shop Zazzle for another t shirt.Zazzle

Some of us have no trouble communicating our unusual personalities to the world! So, for all you weirdos out there, this is the ultimate t-shirt! This crazy cartoon/bird/unidentifiable creature hugs the word weirdo -while sporting an amiable hat, I might add.
Great design by Andi Bird, a graphic designer from California. Kudos for making a shirt that suits my mood!

2/02/2011

A saint's graceful dance


This is my latest vector-based design, the silhouette of a saint with the grace of a dancer and a bird perching on his hand. I hope it conveys an easy, fluid feeling. The kind I would expect someone who has achieved a unique level of balance and stability to radiate.


As for me, I'm rather proud of the balance of the design -it didn't come easy. I was thinking of a relaxed kind of power, as opposed to the destructive kind we are used to. I'm not sure this is religious. It could be, in a subtle, non-dogmatic sort of way.
As always, it is for sale on a great variety of products under the Saints Dancing category of my zazzle store.

1/24/2011

Woodoo hoodoo


This cartoon totemic character is the creation of Exitman, a French artist whose style is a powerful mixture of voodoo imagery, graffiti stylization, urban edge and ethnic elements. Mysticism and cool design combined in a monkey "voodoo child".

This one pictures a Black Magic Rabbit, in a colorful explosion in red that many apparel designers would envy. There are amazing t-shirts in this store and I'm sure I'll be coming back for more!

1/19/2011

The hype

Hype shirt
Hype by bbqsource
Use Zazzle's shirt designer

It should be obvious, but somehow it isn't: Don't believe the hype. It probably has to do with something engraved deep in the mammalian brain, the need to conform, to do what the flock does, to be aligned with the trends of the masses. Well, this t-shirt reminds you that there are machinations you shouldn't fall victim to.
The pleasant colors and good typography of this design, created by BBQ Source, help to get the message through!

1/04/2011

Cheesy iPhone


Can you believe this? The camp value of this Swiss cheese iPhone case is so extreme that I'm getting jealous! A brilliant idea that'll make your iPhone the craziest gizmo in sight.
Created by graphic designer Ron Sumners, it shows his unique talent in using photography in unexpected ways.

11/26/2010

The light of lights

Soul Light shirt
Soul Light by alprod
Browse zazzle for a different shirtzazzle

This chocolate brown shirt gives a unique glimpse in our inner self via a light bulb deep in our chest. The light bulb symbolizes the heart and -in a way- our very soul, and gives AL (the designer) the opportunity to showcase some great shadow play with the human ribcage! It's a really amazing design based on an interesting concept and it's just a small sample of the beautiful graphic design that can be found in Alkrea.

11/11/2010

Going quack to my roots

I consider my roots to be graphic design with an unexpected, somehow surreal, touch. That's exactly where I am with this newest creation, the Quack design. Based on an old optometry drawing of an eye, it transforms this to duck's head.
In most cases, it's available in both transparent (the medium's material shows through) or a cardboard-textured background. I do believe that each has it's own charm.
For more of my work you can always peruse Surreality or my Surrealitee Design webpage.

11/08/2010

Classical lust

This a perfect t-shirt for lovers of classical music. Actually, it's a fantastic t-shirt for everybody, but classical music aficionados may appreciate a little bit more the coolness of this design. It parts ways with the vintage look that most artists use for visually suggesting the Classical era , it's fresh, humorous and utterly interesting. I found it at Urban Cowboy's store, alongside many interesting things (I particularly admire his magnificent digital collages: this t-shirt is just the top of the iceberg!).

Talking about classical music, check WCPE for an exquisite online classical radio experience. It may even get you horny...

10/08/2010

Dualities

Good vs. Evil 1st print
Good vs. Evil 1st by diftype
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I admire the beauty and elegance of this print from Diftype store. It's rich in details and textures yet minimalistic. The artist is Niklas Lundberg, a graphic designer from Sweden. He is a very talented guy who excels in abstracts.
1-2 Another print
1-2 Another by diftype
Shop other art at zazzle.com

I find his way of balancing and deconstructing circles particularly interesting. I also enjoy his philosophical inspirations and his effort on giving form to abstract thought. Beautiful artwork, indeed!
For a full taste of his abilities have a look at his fine personal website.

9/23/2010

Graffitecture

Nihonjin 2.0 shirt
Nihonjin 2.0 by resolute74
Browse zazzle for a different shirt zazzle
What attracts me to this t-shirt is the balance of the design between graffiti and architecture. The artist, CODAC, walks a fine line by mixing the grittiness of street art with a structured, minimalistic sense of space. His talent makes it look easy but it's not. Such a graceful piece of art!

9/08/2010

Redesigning the webs

404 error print
404 error by retrofuturs
See other poster designs on zazzle.com
I felt the need for some solid and inventive graphic design, something that could balance neat typography and clean looks with gritty, biting passion.I found it in retrofuturs, a store with splendid posters and t-shirts. The first thing that caught my eye is this 404 error design. I'm interested in visualizing internet standards and error codes (some of you may remember my own endeavors on Real Error 403) and this one is a true work of art!

Then I saw those great web service designs and I got hooked. Great ideas, weird imagery and craftsmanship characterize all retrofuturs work.

I you'd like to taste more of this beautiful, organized madness go the store (and, please, get me this semicolon print while you're at it, OK?) and then visit the remarkable retrofuturs website.

7/21/2010

Mighty collage

There are awesome things to be found at Joe Castro's shop, but his collage work is absolutely stunning. His ideas and inventiveness know no boundaries! I love this milk collage but you really should see all his great designs. BTW, his non-collage work is great too, as that clever t-shirt below comes to prove:
Joe is a man of many talents (artist, musician, designer and filmmaker) and operates out of Philadelphia. You can find more about him in his website.

7/08/2010

Dinamo Futurista

Youth, speed, technology, power, change and violence were the key words of Futurism, an artistic and social movement that swept Italy in the beginning of the 20th century. It's founder and powertrain was the writer Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, whose influence is celebrated in this magnificent print by artist and designer Simone Poletti. You'll find it in his DINAMO store, alongside many great designs (mostly futuristic-inspired).
Strong work, full of dynamism, that gives a modern look an the style that sculpted the work of such diverse people as Sant'Elia, Mayakovsky, Malevitch and Tsukamoto (not to mention the cyberpunk movement!).

[Many Italian futurists, including Marinetti himself, were supporters of fascism. This stance, however, did not characterize the whole movement and it certainly doesn't apply to non-Italian Futurists. The irony was that Fascism finally decided -just like Russian Communism did- that modern art was degenerate, and the life and work of all kinds of futurists and modern artists would come to suffer.]

6/24/2010

The bird and the mummy

This t-shirt by Amrendra (created by Saksham, an artist from India) feels like a breath of fresh air. It's imaginative and tender -in a strange sort of way! I particularly like the origami birds offered by the silhouetted vendor. This store offers many unusual designs.
Another favorite is this sexy mummy. Unique and inventive in just one color. Great t-shirts for people with good taste!

5/04/2010

Damn good shoes!

There are many fine designs and products in Dizzy Debbie's store, but I fell in love with these canvas shoes since the first time I saw them. You can customize laces, soles or binding but, please, don't. They are gorgeous just as she made them, in this soft, grungy, plaid pattern. Surreality approved and endorsed!
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