Tag: Dallas

The Oval and a happy father

June 9th, 2024

It holds a personal memory for me; for, back in the 1970s, my father took me to see my first ever test match there. I loved everything about it: the excitement of the day out, the presence of a crowd gathering with rising expectation, all intent on one thing: the match itself, with the lightning excitement of each ball played, set within the longer and more leisurely rhythm of overs and innings. But what I most remember, looking back, what set the day apart, was that for the entire day I saw my father completely happy.

– Malcom Guite, on the Oval

Seeing your father completely happy is a rare thing. One that should always be documented.

Perfect timing from Malcom’s Poet’s Corner with the US upsetting Pakistan in the Cricket T20 World Cup.

Guite, Malcolm. “Poet’s Corner.” Church Times, 31 May 2024, https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2024/31-may/comment/columnists/malcolm-guite-poet-s-corner. Accessed 9 June 2024.
Graphic Design In the Wild – Day 28: Whataburger

September 6th, 2021

Not Wheezer. Not Wonder Woman. Whataburger!

On August 8, 1950, in Corpus Christi, Texas, a legend was born. Harmon Dobson opened the first Whataburger burger stand.

An ambitious man, Harmon sought out work opportunities from a young age. He worked as a used car salesman, a diamond courier, an aspiring oil entrepreneur, and a bush pilot.

These work experiences weren’t lost on him when it came time to market his burger stand. Whataburger’s color scheme originated from Harmon’s bush pilot career. To help pilots avoid crashing, radio towers were often painted in alternating bands of International orange and plain white. This color scheme allowed pilots to spot the hazardous radio towers from miles away. And if International orange could catch a pilot’s attention from distance, surely it could catch Dad’s attention while speeding down a Texas overpass.

The iconic flying “W” logo appeared in 1972. Like previous logos we’ve explored in this series, the designer is unknown. We do know the wings on the “W” are an homage to Dobson’s bush-pilot roots. It’s a versatile logo that scales well to fit on caps, webpages, and signage. The sharp diagonal lines of the “W” compliment Whataburger’s A-frame entries.

It can be easy to think of logos only in terms of shapes and typefaces. But a logo’s color shouldn’t be taken for granted. In keeping the International orange and plain white, the “W” logo unifies the whole Whataburger brand.

Harmon’s piloting inspired color choice 71 years ago has proven a graphic design and branding masterstroke.

Sources:

The History of and Story Behind Whataburger Logo, Money Inc.com, Lily Wordsmith, December 2020.

The Whataburger Story, whataburger.com.

Whatalife: Harmon Dobson, the Founder of Whataburger, stmuscholars.org, Courtney Pena, October 2, 2019.

Whatabusiness!, texasmonthly.com, Mark Mazzetti, July 2000.
Graphic Design In the Wild – Day 27: EatZi’s

June 11th, 2021

Founded by Phil Romano in 1996, Eatzi’s is not your typical grocer. Eatzi’s are only located in the DFW area. They’re designed to bring a European market atmosphere to the grocery experience. The hanging cured meats, the fresh selection of cheeses and wines, and yes, the graphic design all contribute to theme.

The color palette of red and white is simple, but eye-catching. The original logo incorporated yellow and green to capture Phil Romano’s Italian heritage.

So with two shapes and two colors, how does the designer grab our attention?

Contrast.

First, note the combination of serif and sans-serif fonts. Then the blend of capital and lower case letters. Interesting design choice here, the lower case serif-font dominates, while the all caps san-serif font supports the main text above.

Alright, one more bit of contrast that I noticed late, the kerning. The main text’s kerning is tight, but balanced, as it spreads across the oval. The support text kerning is wider, giving an elegant feel to the sans-serif font. This is my interpretation of course. A graphic design uber-expert may disagree.

With limited resources a graphic designer must pull from all their tools – form, typography, content and concept. Whoever designed the Eatzi’s logo, mission accomplished.
Ode to Wes Anderson

February 12th, 2020

Truffaut’s acolyte.

Stop motion bottle rocket.

Lone visionary.
City Witness

October 17th, 2019

Around January of this year I started noticing Jehovah’s Witnesses appear downtown.

They set up on street corners and DART stations. Their plastic magazine racks filled with Watchtowers. Some copies in English. Some copies in Spanish.

I thought they’d be there for a week or two and then disappear.

But instead they kept showing up.

EVERYDAY.

At first I walked past, head down, avoiding eye contact.

But after a month or so I realized they weren’t stopping anyone.

They weren’t trying to stop anyone.

They stand and wave hello and smile. No matter the circumstances or conditions.

They stand in the middle of July, sweat bleeding through their white oxfords.

They stand shivering in October, their cotton skirts sweeping below their kneecaps.

Everyday they stand for something.

Everyday they show up, peacefully, and stand in public for their faith.

I respect that.
Patterns and Murals at Twisted Trompo

October 12th, 2019
Welcome to Twisted Trompo.

The food is bite after bite scrumptious. But visually, the Twisted Trompo is fun to look at too.

The paisley patterned tiles give the bar a flourish.

The painted cement between the cinder blocks light the walls. How did they get the color to come out so vivid?

And the mural above the bar had me staring and searching for new techniques.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get the artist’s name. But shoutout, whoever you are.

I dig the thick, strong lines around each subject. It’s part comic book panel, part fine painting. Question though – What’s the top’s significance?

Twisted Trompo is a reminder that what surrounds you while you eat – friends, strangers, staff and art, is as important as the food.

Menu recommendation: If you’re a carnivore, order the Torta Cubana. It’s a meat theme park you’ll never forget.
The Thunderbird Rink Logo Caws out

August 28th, 2019

47 years of Plano skating madness.

Of referees skating backwards.

Of youth group events and birthday parties.

Of Roller Derbys and makeout sessions.

But most of all, it’s 47 years of that irresistible, hand painted, 8-bit Atari graphics Thunderbird logo.

Endangered Species

It’s street art at it’s best. It’s street art SMT:

Simple. Memorable. Timeless.

Ok. SMT is not a thing, but since the moment I drove past it, the Thunderbird logo nested into my memory.

It’s piece of Plano, nigh Dallas history.

Read up on the Thunderbird Roller Rink in this Plano Magazine piece by Kaci Lahpor
Light and Power

August 21st, 2019

When’s the last time you learned something new?

But not from the internet. And not from your mama. Or your PHD sister. Or your boss. And not even from a book.

I can’t remember either.

But yesterday I was schooled by a building. By the old Dallas Power & Light Building.

Textbook

What facts did it share?

– The design inspiration came from the Art Deco movement.

– The sharp angular motifs are Zig Zag Moderne, similar to the Chrysler Building in New York.

– And that when completed, the Dallas Power & Light building was the largest welded steel framed structure in the south.

Dope.

I’m all set for Art Deco Dallas trivia night.

But then the questions poured in like wet concrete.

Questions like:

What’s art deco?

Who’s Lang and Witchell?

What’s the Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs?

And that’s when I knew I’d learned something.

Because in my view, learning is more than collecting facts. It’s about being compelled to ask meaningful questions.

Light and power baby…
Lifted

August 18th, 2019

I was transfixed.

I’m always on the hunt for street art, but I wasn’t expecting any pieces at the polished Shops At Legacy. But then I turned the corner.

My senses were lifted. Kelsey’s lines and paints transformed a drab garage door into an explosive, 2D winged flower bed.

I’d never heard of Kelsey Montague before. My experience is most street artists don’t leave their name behind for all to see.

But I’m glad she did. My eyes keep focusing on the two blue flowers towards the bottom center. The red starfish stigmas and the pink splattered petals won’t let me turn my gaze.

My only hope is closing firefox.

Discover more about Kelsey and her work at: Kelsey Montague Art

@KelseyMontagueArt

#WhatLiftsYou

#TheShopsAtLegacy
Urban Totem Pole

August 9th, 2019

This piece felt like half cave painting, half totem pole.

But when I did a quick look-up of totem poles, I was reminded they were intricate carvings.

Test your first assumptions.