50 Free Tickets

2009 June 17
by miracletwentyone


(Click on the image to register.)

We are giving away FREE admission to the Insight Design Conference on a first come first serve basis. Register now to take advantage of FREE admission to one of the most anticipated events of this summer.

Join us July 31, 2009 at Faith Church in Dyer, IN for a day filled with informative breakout sessions, networking opportunities, portfolio review, vendors area and much more. The graphic and web design communities of NWI and the business communities will be in attendance for an event the region will be talking about for months after.

Visit www.insightdesignconference.com to register and for more information about this event.

IDC: Speard the Word Contest

2009 June 8
by miracletwentyone

Twitter_Spread the word

Let others know about the Insight Design Conference and 3 people each week can WIN FREE ADMISSION to the conference.

Let others know what you already know and help spread the word about the Insight Design Conference taking place July 31, 2009 at Faith Church in Dyer, IN. It’s easy and it only takes a few clicks plus a moment of your time.

Here is how to participate:
Step 1
Follow us on Twitter – @InSightConfNWI
(You’ll need to create an account if you already don’t have one: sign up here).
Step 2
Post a link to the IDC website along with a brief description on a/your blog, as a tweet, in a chat room, on a discussion board, or any other social media network.
Step 3
Direct message @InSightConfNWI on Twitter with a link to the posting.

That’s it!! Spread the word and each week (Monday-Friday – ends 11:59 pm Friday night).

The top 3 people that spreads the word the most will win FREE admission to the IDC.

Rules
1. The most you can post to the same site, is (3) three times per day.

2. In the event of a tie both people will be winners. Meaning if the third and fourth place people both posted 25 times over the week, then they will both win free admission.

Watch OUT!!!

2009 May 29
by miracletwentyone

IMG_0384

It’s not often that I get an opportunity to customize objects for people, so when my brother-in-law Tommy asked me to customize his bike helmet I was thrilled. The thing is Tommy has had some bad luck on his bike he’s been hit by a car twice and most recently this past summer where he was side swiped by a car and hit the ground so hard he cracked his helmet as well as totaled his bike. So with these thoughts in mind I came up with imagery and messages that fit his personality and past situations. The whole thing took about 30 hours to complete and I used a black marker and colored pencil to create the illustrations. I liked it so much I didn’t want to part ways with it.

IMG_0379

IMG_0380

IMG_0381If you don’t ride a bike I think you can still appreciate the people that do. They are doing their part for taking care of our environment in more ways than one and the health benefits or riding go with out saying.

OMG It Even Has a Watermark (Again)

2009 May 26
by miracletwentyone

it even has a watermark

 

I love checking out where I get traffic to and from my site and OMG It Even Has A Watermark is at the top of the list this week. Thanks to the showcase of my new cards on their site. OMG is a great resource of inspiration just for business cards. There are many blogs out there that have card showcases but this site is focused just on that subject. Browse through the cards by the cards color or by features/characteristics. One thing has changed since the last time my other cards were featured on the site and that’s the amount of advertising that is on the site. It’s not to bad but noticeable. I don’t believe in sites like this – where the content is made up by its’ users – but this one is an exception to me. Its done well and the quality of showcases are all top notch and above the standards. Check out the site and leave a comment and let people know that they are doing a good job.

The Early Bird Gets the Worm

2009 May 20
by miracletwentyone

35 pricing 

The Insight Design Conference has an early bird special going on now. Save an extra $10 off the already mind blowing low price of this event. Don’t wait to long becuase this deal won’t last, offer is good until June 15.

Help spread the word out about the conference and take advantage of this new rate. Register now at www.insightdesignconference.com. Hope to see you there.

The Beatitudes

2009 May 20
by miracletwentyone

close

It’s a good thing to step away from the computer now and then and create something with your hands. Faith Church is displaying another series of artwork based off of Matthew 5:3-10 (see below). The new piece is based off of the word “blessed”.  See some more images below.

I’ll be posting a bike helmet that I’ve customized for my brother-in-law. Check back soon.

fullpic

close2

kids

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Keeping it All in Order

2009 May 15
by miracletwentyone

m21folder

Being organized is one of the many key of keeping it all together. I tend to write everything down and keep a list. (My wife wishes I’d do that with my house work). But professionally keeping it all in one place helps me prioritize my projects and time. As I get older and wiser my time has become one of the most valuable things to me. Time with my kids, time sleeping or lack of, time it takes me to write this post, all of it is accounted for and nothing is more important (at times) then time.

With so many on-line communities and social networks who has the time to put into them? I’ve been trying to devote a bit more time to these bandwagon forms of communication but it’s just not catching on. Most feel redundant as silly at best. For example buttons and bummer stickers on facebook. Between updating profiles, sending messages, reading tweets, finding friends it’s all a bit exhausting. So I’m going to clean house and get rid of the madness.

Over then next month or so I’m going to put in a decent amount of effort to make the most of these sites, and after that time I’m going to keep two networks and keep them separate. One for friends and one for business contacts/networking. 

Here is what I’m working with:

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/miracle21

Friends find me on Facebook: here

I’ve left MySpacebut have a whirl: http://www.myspace.com/miralce21

If your cool enough, connect with me on Behance: http://www.behance.net/miracletwentyone

Creatives crave DesignRelated: http://www.designrelated.com/profile/jad_gonzalez

Link up with me on LinkedInhttp://www.linkedin.com/in/miracletwentyone

I also frequent, youtube, allmightys and craigslist and hulu.

I’ve altered the above icon original by Jonas Rask Design:

 

 http://www.jonasraskdesign.com

Design Related: Featured Member

2009 April 28
by miracletwentyone

dr

Currently a featured member on Design:Related which is super cool. I’ve had a huge number of portfolio views and profile views because of it and a great big thanks goes to D:R for showing me some love. If you are not a member then get your a** on over there and sign up. I’ve been a member for quite some time and its a growing community and a valuable resource for inspiration and information for any creative professional.

Check them out at www.designrelated.com.

Unless we remember, we can understand

2009 April 28
by miracletwentyone

M21 2009 cards

Making a memorable first impression is key to anything in life. It could be meeting a person for the first time or releasing your first single. Unless we remember, we can’t understand…that phrase speaks volumes. Which helped me fight through the process of my new business cards. Settling on one card design is like picking your favorite piece of candy at the candy store, it just impossible. If you are like me…then you want it all. I’ve designed 10 different backs for my new cards, giving me a variety to choose from, what might be right to hand to a potential client may not be right to hand to another designer. This randoness also reflects my philospy that design should submit to the message it trying to convey, it shouldn’t overpower.

These cards were printed by Largus Printing in Munster, IN on 130# double cover stock with a metallic ink. The edges are gilded with neon yellow. The one color design is simple, memorable and “won’t hold a cress.”

Guilded edge

Want a good laugh check this out…

Sponsor Lisa at March for Babies!

2009 April 7
by miracletwentyone
A message from Lisa:
 

Family and Friends–
As you all know premature babies have had a very instrumental role in our lives. Both personally and professionally. Having a baby in the NICU is something that I would do anything to have someone else avoid and by walking we are taking a few small “steps” to fine the cause.
We are lucky because Meryck and Greyson are both fighters and did extroardinarily well after making such an early arrival, but many people aren’t that lucky. There are so many causes near and dear to my heart, but baby’s have a special way to pull at your heart strings.
Help me to meet my goal and help the March of Dimes…donate or walk with me!
I am very excited to be a part of March for Babies, please support my participation by making a donation.
Why March for Babies? Because the March of Dimes champions the needs of moms and babies in our community and across the nation. The money we raise for March for Babies will help:
- support all-important research offering preventions and solutions for babies born too soon or with birth defects
- educate women on things they can do to increase their chances of having a healthy baby
- provide comfort and information to families with a newborn in intensive care
- push for newborn screening and health insurance for all pregnant women and children
Won’t you please help me in this worthy cause? Contributing to my walk online is fast, easy and secure. You can donate directly from my personal webpage with a credit card or PayPal.

Drift this way

2009 April 7
by miracletwentyone

drifter

My friend Kevin is doing it big. Drifter Threads is alive and kicking, kicking some serious butt. These tee’s are custom made with stencils and a bottle of bleach. The bleach is sprayed over the stencil to create the artwork, making each shirt a one of a kind piece of art. Design goodness to cover your back. A passion for design and a steady hand, it took Kevin 8 hours to cut the stencil for the shirt Power lines (see below). Order yours now while the price is right. You might have to pay $50 for one of these one off beauties one day.

Check them out at http://www.drifterthreads.blogspot.com/ 

untitled-1

Cut It Out!

2009 April 7
by miracletwentyone

Competitor screens, some good some bad

 

This past Saturday  the guys and I went up to the Cut and Paste  event in Chicago at the Congress Theatre. I actually auditioned for the event but didn’t make the “cut”. The night was filled with good times, good friends and some good fun. The “concept” of Cut and Paste is pretty unique, competitors design something based off a topic and have 15 minutes to complete their design. Check out the event site. They even had an audience competition sponsored by DSL55, where attendees had a chance to experience the event from the hot seat. The task was to design a t-shirt for DSL55 in 15 minutes. Adam, Chase and myself each took a crack at it. After a few beers I had fun laughing at myself then designing. But overall the event was pretty cool. Hanging out with some good guys and learning the meaning of “fold it” was well worth the trip. lol. Plus we even helped some folks get out of a parking spot and meet a lady with some pink flamingo boots (only in Chicago).
 
{left to right} Justin Wolf, Chase Talon, Joe Gonzalez, Adam Groom

{left to right} Justin Wolf, Chase Talon, Joe Gonzalez, Adam Groom

Everyone has a movie star name except for me. lol.
Check us out here:
Justin Wolf: www.mdiactrl.com
Chase Talon: www.chasetalon.com
Adam Groom: www.atomgroom.com
Chase and Adam are also speakers at the upcoming Insight Design Conference.
Check out Cut and Paste below:

Insight Design Conference: Design and Business

2009 April 7
by miracletwentyone
Insight Design Conference: Register NOW!!

Insight Design Conference: Register NOW!!

We are under way…the Insight Design Conference will be taking place July 31, 2009 at Faith Church in Dyer, In from 9am-5pm. The conference mission is to inspire, educate and transform the both the design and business communities.

This conference will include:

  • Design/Business focused breakout sessions
  • Opportunities for designers and businesses to network
  • Day-long portfolio review with top professionals
  • A Vendor’s Row
  • Live music, live painting, give-aways and more

Sponsoring the event so far is Faith Church, Allema and Atom Groom. Check the site often for more other sponsors.

Register Now! $30 for students $45 for professionals. Registrations is limited so sign up early seats are filling fast. For more information visit, www.insightdesignconference.com.

Here is a video of this past January event (thanks to Open Fire Media)

FAMSQUADILLIANA

2009 March 13
by miracletwentyone
Oscar Maddox one third of FamSquad
Oscar Maddox one third of FamSquadilliana

Photo by Phashii PaulinaFadrowska – Designed by Miracletwentyone

 

I usually don’t promote bands or acts on my blog but I’m making an exception. I was on Facebook a couple weeks ago when my friend Mike messaged me that he was talking to an old friend of ours and that he was a rapper now and doing music with this group FamSquad. My first thoughts was “yea yea, another wannabe rapper doing beats in their basement – small time!” So a few minutes later I got a message from Oscar Maddox and we messaged back and forth for an hour or so and to my surprise, he was the real deal, his group the FamSquad was really good. He sent me some links and I listened to a couple of songs and I was impressed. The Oscar I knew was a great ball player with long arms that used to dunk on me. (Not really, but he was highly capable, lol). So today I got there first album in the mail – The Rebirth. I remember the couple songs that I heard and was hoping that the cd had the same vibe, it was like when you go to the movies and see the preview for a new movie and then only show you the good parts…well I had some thoughts like that running through my head. The first track Where do we goreally sets the stage to what you’re going to get from this disc, soulful, classic, real hip-hop. The trio brings it, from first track to last its nothing but good music, great production, and masterful arrangement. The track Sugah is a classic radio hit for the ladies, something in the same vein as 50 cent’s or Fabulousalbum. Classic samples mixed with insane high hats and sick beats live all over this album. The Famsquad Anthem, is exactly what it says it is – an ANTHEM, this track is will make you move with it’s soulful course it’ll stick in your head all day. Famsquadis doing Chicago and Indiana proud, unlike most rap acts in these two areas, these guys got it right, a platinum selling main stream sound with an underground soul. One of the highlights of the album is the hidden or bonus tracks, Sacrifice will really make you think with the course asking: Would you sacrifice your life? To save a loved ones life, give up your light so theirs could shine bright? Followed by Fix her, with it’s Swiss Beats styled horns this track is another head sticker.

Check them out and pick up an album of your own. www.myspace.com/famsquadilliana

Production notes: Produced by Mikey rocks from the cool kids, Tony Baines, DJ Neumonic, Freekshow, Gats the Great, Kritikal and Cekin

Featuring  keever komplex, lototya singer, royce, d bluggs and chad steele

UP and RUNNING!!

2009 February 11
by miracletwentyone

taste

My site is finally updated. I’m still a big fan of the one pager and I believe people come to my site to see my work. So the one page design fits my needs the best. Plus I don’t know how to program so its a better option for me. I also have a new logo which I am pretty pumped about. The letter forms create a interesting mountain/fish form which I could probaly come up with some artistic meanings for but that’s corny. I’ll keep this for awhile but I know I’ll eventally get bord with it. Until then please let me know what you think.

Check it out: www.miracletwentyone.org