Before the internet, even before desktop publishing, gang members who wanted calling cards headed to a printer with their idea. The results are collected in Brandon Johnson's
Thee Almighty & Insane: Chicago Gang Business Cards from the 1970s & 1980s.
Via Lucy Bourton:
These small cards display nuggets of historical artefacts, both in their design and context. Created years before the ease of mass-produced business cards, Brandon recognised their aesthetically cultural worth. “The hand-drawn graphics, the ‘Old English’ typefaces, the outlandish names and clever slogans,” he explains are elements that time stamp the activity and attitude of Chicago’s gang culture. “For example, an upside-down symbol or name is a sign of disrespect. Acronyms ending with the letter ‘K’ mean ‘killer’ – so ’S.D.K’ is short for ‘Satan’s Disciples Killer’.
These guys loved grocer's apostrophes and Chicago's own Playboy logo. The one below has a deceased member's name crossed out:
One of my fave names is the Almighty Gaylords, a hardcore southside gang that used a lot of racist prison gang iconography.
All in all, a fascinating design artifact of a subculture.
• Graphic design gems: Chicago gang business cards from the 1970s and 80s (It's Nice That)
Machinist/sculptor Chris Bathgate (previously) is taking a break from small fidget toys and has returned to large format work with the BU 622411311751, which has a distinctly cthuloid/tentacly aspect.
Slovenian designer and web developer Sašo Krajnc, aka Cvern, says he has always been amazed by string art. He creates large pieces in round frames that depict eyes, faces, animals, and patterns.
Artist Kathleen Darby takes viewers through her step-by-step process of drawing a colorful bird on black paper. Start at the beginning for more details. It’s interesting as well as relaxing, as there are some important differences when starting from negative space.
The web is an invaluable tool for connecting small businesses with their target audiences. However, when it comes to building a website and marketing online, the learning curve can be steep if you’re doing it on your own. The WordPress Essentials Lifetime Bundle can help you out by getting you up to speed with the platform […]
Most of us understand that when we visit a website, we’re subjecting ourselves to surveillance by trackers. And, while these tools are usually used for innocuous purposes, like determining which ads to show you, they can be leveraged for much more nefarious goals, and they have the potential to tank your browsing speed as well as […]
Learning how to code is a great way to improve your hiring potential and open the door to more lucrative careers, but getting the ball rolling can be a bit daunting considering the number of languages out there and steep price associated with training. However, the Pay What You Want: Learn to Code 2018 Bundle is […]
