MLB Logo turns 40
The Major League Baseball Logo, which has adorned zillions of licensed sportswear, television graphics, and more turns 40. Jerry Dior, who worked for Sandgren & Murtha at the time, created it to commemorate the 100th anniversary of of the league back in 1968. It was unveiled in the fall of 1968, and appeared on uniforms during the 1969 baseball season. What it also signified was that the league was going into a new direction of mass merchandising as well and needed a “face” and a logo.
Dior never received royalties for the design, as his work was property of the firm. He later left and spent the rest of his career designing commercial packaging. Now 1976, Dior is not bitter. He states that the logo “belongs to baseball.” However, Dior has petitioned just for acknowledgement.
(Note: as far as we know, Jerry Dior is no relation to Christian Dior.)
fashion history | Comments (2)How to Break in to Doing what you Love
When I came out of college, sketch book in hand, things were a lot different than they were now. If you had dreams of being hired as an illustrator for a publishing house, whether on creative projects or for the less expressive task of drawing diagrams, there were only several ways to get in. Knowing someone obviously was one way, but it was no guarantee. It just opened the possibility to lug a large portfolio downtown just for a chance to be seen. If you didn’t know anyone and were stabbing in the dark, there were large, coffee table sized books that you needed to get in to. It cost several thousand, I believe, to do so. These books featured maybe a page or maybe two representing your work. It had information on how to contact you or your agent. When someone was looking to hire for a project, they would go to the directory of illustration.
Though the internet was of course alive and popping during that time, but the modem speeds and graphic cards just didn’t express someone’s work in a viable way. Now that technology has changed so rapidly, the internet is a viable way to present yourself before the industry.
DesignHide, at www.designhide.com, in particular is a site that makes that possible. It is not a photo storage site. On the contrary, just like its slogan, it is “creative people seeking creative people.”
Designers can upload their work in a completely safe way for view by strictly other industry professionals. There are many different styles represented, so whether your style is very retro or a throwback to another time, realistic, or streamlined and modern, there is a place here for you.
The site has interviews and tips by those in the industry to give hopefuls a leg up as well. It is definitely worth checking out if you are looking to hire or be hired.
Someone Needs to Buy These
Here and there for the past few days, I have been rolling out an encore of “Joe Famolare and the Platform Shoe,” which is a summary of a workshop that was conducted several years ago. As I was surfing around, I came across a pair of Famolare skates with the iconic bicycle label. I did not know about the existence of skates before. I have not seen them in any older ads, nor do I remember them.
These are not for men, but for a ladies size 8, so ladies, you might want to snap these up right away. I don’t know when I will ever see another pair like them. They are available on Etsy from the VinnyandVernelle’s. CLICK HERE to grab them before they are gone!
1970s, famolare shoes | Comments (4)
