In honor of March Madness kicking off, I thought I’d have a post covering some of my favorite designs in college basketball. The ESPN U logos. Each U is designed to represent a different university. Usually it incorporates the school’s mascot, but also utilizes other elements like landscape – see Hawaii, and fashion – note the hounds-tooth fedora on the elephant trunk. The best part about them is that they animate! See below for the 120 or so logos that have been designed for the schools. And if you’re more interested on how this idea came to be, here’s a great article about them.

I could stare at this for a while.
via thisiscolossal

I love the music they chose, and visually they’re so striking. Super bright contrast as it should be if what you’re featuring is all black and white.

Check em out:

ceft and company new york: white house black market TV commercial, coco rocha + johan renck (FULL VERSION) from ceft and company on Vimeo.

ceft and company: white house black market commercial 3 coco rocha + ellen von unwerth (UNCUT) from ceft and company on Vimeo.

Meow.

I even broke down yesterday and bought a pair of hightop sneakers. Red ones. And they may or may not (they do) have a wedge heel in them. Anyway, where am I going with this? Well I was inspired by this resurrection of my childhood fashion and thought why not make a birthday card from this -specifically for us children of the 80? The inspiration is endless, but I chose a few of my favorite things from the decade including Dukes of Hazzard, crimped side ponytails, Madonna, and all things neon.

Here’s my card surrounded by actual items being sold today. See what I mean? Straight up 80s. And if you like any of them, they’re all from Urban Outfitters. Shocking I know.

If you have a friend born in the 80s who has an upcoming birthday, do check out my card on Etsy. At least check it out to see the little surprise on the back.

Sources: Kiki’s List and Pinterest

Fool a loved on this holiday with one of these hand-painted fake designer boxes.  Your choice of “Not Chanel,” “Tiphoney,” or “Bvllshit.” Just visit our Facebook page and find out how to win one!

So now that NBA season is in full swing, I’ve noticed the new and improved basketball team, the Brooklyn Nets. Not necessarily for their basketball skillz or lack thereof (I really have no idea), but more so because I’m obsessed with their new logo design and outfits, er uniforms.

They are partially owned by Jay-Z who played a large role in designing the logo. Here is what he said about the new look and feel:

“I wanted to make it really classic and strong, a throwback to Brooklyn and what we’re about. It’s real gritty and we’re not about flash — well, sometimes. Just the roots of Brooklyn as this very bold, strong, simple logo,” he said. “It was really a take off the old subway signs, if you look at the old subway signs they were in black and white. It was that strong, beautiful, iconic black and white. I wanted to pick something that would stand the test of time and be here forever.”

Evidently some people are not fans because of its super stark look, but as a designer, I LOVE simplicity as well as all things black and white. You can’t go wrong. And frankly, anything Jay-Z touches turns to gold, so I’m sure the haters will come around. Read even more about the brand’s redesign here.