Merch! Get your graphic design in-joke gear here.
October 9, 2007
So, you know those great ideas that strike at 3a.m.? I had one, and I’m running with it. Check out my new store at cafepress.com. Tees, mugs and stickers with graphic design jokes that I, for one, find very funny (note: I wrote them).
It’s the first time I’ve tried Cafe Press, and I have to say, I’m very impressed. “CafePress.com is an online marketplace that offers sellers complete e-commerce services to independently create and sell a wide variety of products, and offers buyers unique merchandise across virtually every topic.” Which sounds like a lot of blah, blah but what a cool and easy to use interface, and a really great idea. From the time I came up with my shirt ideas (there are 6 witty versions to choose from) to the time that my online store was completely up, running, and stocked with shirts, stickers and mugs with my own designs on them was 3 hours. No kidding.
OK, I’m probably not the average web user (or at least I hope not. I’m supposed to know something, here!), but I do think that anyone could get their own store started relatively quickly. There are tons of customizable products to choose from, they take care of order fulfillment, billing and shipping, and it can be totally free to set up your store. I’m springing for the upgrade, which is less than $5 a month. You can also decide how much of a markup you want your products to have (the markup is the money you keep) and if you want your stuff sold in their general marketplace.
So, I’m gushing. But how often do you try something on the web and have it go perfectly? And be much, much better than you thought it would be? And now I have a new hobby to occupy me.
I have another idea, too… This is so much fun!
I don’t get most of the jokes, but I love that you’re cracking yourself up. I might have to buy one. And then you can explain it to me (is it about leading?).
I don’t know if you read Fussy, but her new t-shirt is making me snicker:
http://www.fussy.org
Comment by elizasmom — October 9, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
Good luck with the merchandise sales, and kudos for creating your own line. ;)
Ciao for now.
Comment by David Airey — October 11, 2007 @ 9:04 am
Thanks, David, and thanks for commenting. If anyone wants to check out a great design blog, take a look at his.
Elizasmom (and TT, who sent me an email on this subject) I’m glad you like the shirts. Now let me explain:
She was easy to find - Mrs. Eaves in a room of Gill Sans.
Mrs. Eaves and Gill Sans are both typefaces. The whole sentence is set in Gill Sans, except the words “Mrs. Eaves” which are set in
HelveticaMrs. Eaves.She dressed like a kid - t-shirt, sneakers, jeans as tight as 34/23.
34/23 (you say it “34 over 23″) is a way to say 34 point type with 23 point leading (space between the lines). It’s very tight — the type on the shirt is set in those specs.
Cool as an October night, classy as old style numbers, she was 38 years old in the summer of 1983 but looked no more than 25.
Old style numbers are set with varying heights and sometimes go below the baseline. The numbers on the shirt are all old style.
Sofia and Griffin were bound together in a ligature of dislike.
A ligature in typography is the combination of 2 letters into 1 (see a great article on this in iLT). The letters “fi” in Sofia and “ffi” in Griffin are ligatures.
His eyes were blue & cold, his breath was hot & rancid, he was mean & nasty - twisted as an ampersand.
I love ampersands (the “and” symbol). I love the word ampersand & I love the way they look.
Her eyes were as wide as 500 point tracking. It’s him, she gasped.
Tracking is space between sets of letters (to differentiate it from kerning, which is space between 2 letters).
OK, they’re not fall on the floor funny, but they’re not really supposed to be. I loved the idea that the quotes look like they’re taken from some longer text, and all type shirts really speak to me (ha! Pun intended.)
Comment by Leslie Tane Design — October 11, 2007 @ 11:07 am
Checking out your Blog. I was wondering myself what was up with the out of my league shirts. Now that you have explained it I am still not sure I get it. lolololol just kidding great blog and thanks for your help this summer.
Comment by PAt — October 18, 2007 @ 4:07 pm
Hi Pat!
Ah, the beauty of an in-joke — you feel so smart when you get it. However, these jokes may be a little too in. I think I’m the only one who thinks they’re funny. But I stand by them — they’re funny, damn it!
Comment by Leslie Tane Design — October 18, 2007 @ 5:15 pm
:-) . I thought that your users would like this post about funny graphic design jokes, humor, & parodies - http://allgraphicdesign.com/graphicsblog/2007/10/29/funny-graphic-design-jokes-humor-satires-parody-anecdotes/ - I hope you enjoy.
Rachel
Comment by Rachel Goldstein — November 20, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
There are some great links there, Rachel. Thanks!
Comment by Leslie Tane Design — November 20, 2007 @ 10:05 pm