First off, let’s talk about the packaging structure, which is the most simple / green / perfect solution for packaging these bags. It’s literally just a paper band that holds the roll closed for shipping–that’s it–and that’s all it really needs to be!

I’ve become very conscious of overpackaging lately while shopping and instead of looking at price or at the pretty colors of the packages to determine which product I buy, it’s been more ‘What will this look like when I’m done with the product?’ Will it be a styrofoam hunk in my garbage can? A huge glossy cardboard box in my recycling bin? Or a little sliver of paper in my recycling bin? I will undoubtedly go with the small sliver of paper.

This packaging is not only efficient in its waste, but also in its shipping. Look at this product next to the other garbage bags on the shelf–there’s a ton of these Kroger Value Rolls that are likely displayed in the box that they were shipped in. By not packaging them individually, there is a much more efficient use of space.

Now the label design. This label is extremely simple–no flash at all. It absolutely conveys that the product you’re getting is the most inexpensive and basic product of its kind that you can buy here. It’s clearly not competing on the same level as the surrounding  boxes with their bright orange colors, slick gradients and product images.

Bottom line is that this is a system. Everything throughout this entire setup was well thought-out with cost in mind on both the producer and the consumer level, and it worked out beautifully.

I’m going to say first and foremost, I buy Field Notes because they’re honest, beautiful, made in the USA using amazing paper and inks, and they’re all letterpressed. Still I get a lot of flack from my friends because of the sheer multitude of said notebooks I own. So here’s a blanket response as to why I (and you) should have a whole bunch of Field Notes.

I firmly believe that surrounding yourself with well crafted and well thought-out objects will make your life better. The thing is, when you have nice stuff like that, you don’t want to mess it up! You want to keep it perfect and pristine. However, in the case of Field Notes, they’d be completely worthless if you didn’t use them. The entire reason they exist is to be a real-world workhorse–if you didn’t use them, they would completely lose their meaning as an object and would die a painful and drawn-out shelf death. They must be used; therefore, if you’d still like to have untouched, clean objects, you have to get a whole bunch of them!

Now that I’ve convinced myself to disturb the pages of the books, there is the issue of content angst. When you’re writing in a consumable masterpiece, there’s a lot of pressure to only write things that are brain gold–equally brilliant masterpieces that are worthy of placement between French paper letterpressed Futura covers. However, this will also cause your Field Notes to lose meaning, seeing that they were meant for anything and everything (i.e., hit lists, bored scribbling, general graphomania, etc.).  I don’t buy Moleskines for a reason; I’m not Hemingway–I’d rather stay in the vein of the hardworking farmer.

In conclusion, in order to use Field Notes as they are intended to be used, I get a lot of them so I can always have some clean ones to look at as well as have one in my pocket to scribble on at all times.

MOUTON (French for sheep I believe) is a new restaurant opening in the Short North, and I’m doing their identity! Here in the window you see MOUTON in a custom designed typeface! More to come.

Field Notes Timeline

I’m extremely happy that I found Field Notes about a year and a half ago, I’d say they’re a life changer. I have a place to write anything down including my schedule- directions- lists- scripts to youtube videos that will never be seen- ANYTHING AT ALL! But that’s only where it starts, a friend pointed out the other day that I’ve been carrying these things around for over a year and it’s probably just a good record of my life. I immediately went to my surviving filed notes books (a couple didnt make it, I have a habit of jumping or falling into water when they’re in my pocket) and noted the start and end date accurately marked in each in addition to having specific seasonal field notes which very accurately documented everything I did in this summer in Switzerland, my fall colors one which of course documented the fall.. these full books really mean a lot to me and have become a very accurate document of pretty much everything I have done since I’ve started carrying them.

If you want some Field Notes for yourself their website is here. I suggest getting a standard brown 3-pack and getting on their email list so you know when the seasonal COLORS come out so you can snag those while you can!

blue business card

I finally got some new business cards! These are my greenest (and cheapest) business cards yet, they’re made from reUSED cardboard and printed with a rubber stamp.

all of my new cards

I flipped over the one on the far right to show you the cool (and random/funny) backs of a lot of my business cards, that one in particular was part of a rejection card that I received after being really close to getting this job. But hey, at least I got  a card out of it!

stamp and field notes testing page

After I cut out my last batch I realized every business card I’ve ever had I cut out myself with a #2 Exacto blade.

EMAIL ME with your address if you want one!

I really wish I could get em to agree to this one!

but at least imgur is cool enough to let me post it here!!

Naoto Fukasawa’s interview in ‘Objectified’ the documentary by Gary Hustwit.

A B C D E F

more process screen shots here.