THEM THANGS

Image: Courtesy THEM THANGS

I’ve been strangely obsessed with LA recently. For some reason, I cannot get out of my mind that laid-back, sunny day, west coast lifestyle. Saturated with sun, music, cars, women, guns, drugs–all plasticized and buffed out with a nice grimey sheen.  Due to this bizarre fixation, I’ve been more and more attracted to it’s imagery. THEM THANGS is a blog run by a designer in LA, and I see it as a representation of the LA cultural zeitgeist at large (in fact, I’ve recently started saying “It’s SO LA”).  THEM THANGS is a genius collection of curated items. Enjoy! Note: There is nudity on this site so tell the kids to go play in the pool.

New Work, PM, Metamaterials

Illustrations: ©Bradley R Hughes

New work; a set of icons for the September issue (Techwatch section) of Popular Mechanics. These illustrations display different consumer and scientific categories of use for a new super material that is made from scratch by scientists in a lab.

Love, Summer Of

Photo: ©Bradley R Hughes

My former roommates and good friends Meg Shoemaker and Phil Pinto are making these totes to raise funds for a short film they are starting later this year. They are made from organic, sustainable cotton and are HUGE in comparison to the one you got at that free vodka-sponsored party in the LES. Not to mention, typographically delicious. They’re selling like hot-cakes! Get yours here.

Polaroids, NYT, Lens

Image: Courtesy Testpattern (Flickr)

I was recently having a conversation with my friend Nichole about Polaroid film. We were commiserating about it’s demise and rejoicing about it’s ability to provide a medium that makes our lives a little more beautiful and at the same time simpler. Truely a camera where form and function meet in the middle. She had just bought a Fuji Instax from Japan, and I commented on how vivid the colors were. Embracing the thought of a possible future for my SX70; supercharged on a newer, fresher film. I’ve been energized by photography lately and look forward to continue using film for a long time to come.

She also mentioned this site that is dedicated to saving the Polaroid as a medium. Check out The Impossible Project for more information, and perhaps donate to the cause by purchasing a little neon colored t-shirt to cover your bony, white hipster-body (I already did).

And in the meantime, Lens (The New York Times’ new photo blog) made an interesting effort of their own to save the Polaroid. Hundreds of people submitted their images to an online gallery (ironic isn’t it?) in efforts to bring awareness. Enjoy.

Sunday

Typography: ©Bradley R Hughes

Cool Find #4

Image: Courtesy THEM THANGS

If you are from the Pacific Northwest you know exactly where this was taken.

Cool Find #3

A remnant from the holiday's festivities.

This one didn’t quite fit into the Hazard Illustration category, so I’ll post it under Cool Find. Very instructional, super nerdy.

New Work, PM, Bird Bots

Image: ©Popular Mechanics

New Work; an illustration in the July issue of Popular Mechanics. I illustrated the environment of the mechanical female Sage Grouse and the live males as seen during mating season. I also illustrated the three icons of additional robotic animals. Click on image for larger view.

New Work, PM, Space

Image: ©Popular Mechanics

New Work; an illustration in the July issue of Popular Mechanics. This diagram shows the varying defined limits of outer space in relation to our planet. Click on image for larger view.

Works in Progress #7

This one's a little rough. Typography: ©Bradley R Hughes