Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam launched a visually striking campaign to announce the arrival of Klabu, a non-profit that is building sports clubs in refugee camps and settlements. Klabu’s mission is to empower young refugees by providing facilities, equipment, and clothing. 100% of proceeds go towards the foundation, with the ultimate goal of recreating this simple and sustainable concept in other refugee settings around the globe.
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Elena Parasco Celebrates the Inspirational & Communal Act of Trading Your Heroes
For the New York-based Director, heroes are not simply for idolizing alone but for exchanging with others; such a transaction can be more valuable than the exchange of ideas. A proactive celebration of heroes can guarantee an endless reserve of fresh inspiration as well as deep connections with those around you.
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"Watching the World Cup" Captures the Full Spectrum of Human Emotion
London-based Photographer Jane Stockdale has created a work that documents heaven, hell, and purgatory, all reflected on the human face. It's not life or death. It's both. Watching the World Cup is a 64-page photo essay documenting the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Read MoreBeer Mats Toasting Weird World Cup Moments for Charity
Twenty leading designers, illustrators, and creatives celebrated their favourite hilarious, weird, & wonderful moments from previous World Cups. The resulting pieces have been printed onto limited edition beer mats & are being ‘exhibited’ in pubs around London right in time for the World Cup.
Read MoreProfiles of the Week: Sports!
Profiles of the Week: Sports!
The start of the NFL, NBA, and NHL seasons. The MLB Playoffs. There's no better time than fall for professional sports in the U.S. Which means there's also no better time to catch some of our members' immortalized creative contributions to professional leagues, teams, and athletes. Scroll down to see some of the WNW creatives elevating art and athletics on the big stage.
Darrin Crescenzi, Designer. New York.
Justin Thomas Kay, Designer. New York.
Simi Mahtani, Art Director. New York.
Elias Stein, Illustrator. Decatur.
Molly Erdmann, Designer. New York.
Discover more creative talent and projects like this on Working Not Working. Head here to subscribe to full weekly curated lists like "SPORTS!" If you don't have a Pro plan, sign up here first.
If you're a WNW Member with new work, exhibits, products, or news to share, email us.
11 World Championships as Head Coach earned Phil Jackson the nickname "Zen Master"
The Infinity League: GIFs That Never End for Legacies That Never Die
The Infinity League: GIFs That Never End for Legacies That Never Die
WORKING NOT WORKING
With a lot of action going on now in every major sport, there's no better time to pay respect to the sports greats. WNW Members and creative partners Dan Koo and Matt Garcia linked up while working at 72andSunny in LA. Their immediate connection was due in part to a mutual respect of each other's work, but also thanks to an unending love of sports. Their latest project, The Infinity League, seems like the perfect avenue to showcase their creative skills and passion for sports. As they tell us in the interview below, "The Infinity League was born from a desire to create a bad-ass tribute for the sports legends we grew up with. The idea we landed on was to make GIFs that never end for legends that never die through infinite loop animations." Some of the legends include Mia Hamm forever sliding in celebration, to a butterfly morphing into Muhammad Ali, to Jim Brown breaking the tackles of Mars Attack! martians.
Tell us a little bit about your creative backgrounds. Who are Dan Koo and Matt Garcia and how did they get here?
Dan: I grew up in Los Angeles and loved to draw ever since I was little. I’d draw superheroes, dinosaurs, and Pokemon for kids at my school and they would pay with their lunch money. That was my first taste of art meeting commerce. I went to school at Art Center in Pasadena and my first job was at CP+B LA. Several years later I started freelancing at 72andSunny LA where I met Matt. Safe to say we hit it off.
Since moving to the east coast a few months ago, I’ve been freelancing around New York for agencies like Mother NY and Translation. It gives me time to keep working on The Infinity League.
Matt: I’m originally from Kansas where I spent summers working with my grandpa on the family farm. Going into college I had no real idea what I wanted to do, but fell into advertising after realizing news writing wasn’t for me. I applied and got accepted into Brandcenter in the copywriting track where I spent two years not just learning how to make ads, but learning how to think. Since then I’ve gone on to work at GSD&M and have been at 72andSunny LA for over a year now.
What was it about the other’s creative style that lead you to partner up with them?
What brought us together other than our sports background was our drive to make good work. We’re both very passionate about what we do and challenge each other to be better.
You recently launched a project called Infinity League. What’s it all about?
The Infinity League was born from a desire to create a bad-ass tribute for the sports legends we grew up with. The idea we landed on was to make GIFs that never end for legends that never die through infinite loop animations. Together we concept each GIF idea, then Dan illustrates and animates while Matt comes up with the words. At the moment we have 11 GIFs that span across 6 sports and we’re in the process of adding more.
What have been some of the challenges and breakthroughs of bringing the project to life?
We definitely went into this a bit naive as to how much work a project like this would demand. I think if we knew what we were getting ourselves into, we may have second guessed it. We’re glad we didn’t. We found our stride after the first few GIFs and haven’t looked back.
What’s next for the Infinity League?
We’d like to keep adding to the list. It just gets better the more legends we have.
What are the guidelines for getting drafted into the Infinity League? Unrivaled stats? Unbelievable stories?
Unrivaled stats definitely, but we also look at what makes their story different from everybody else in the game.
Who do you want to see win the NBA Finals? And who do you think will win the NBA Finals?
Dan: Clippers, they’re my team. Unfortunately, they lost Game 7 this weekend so I’d say Golden State is looking pretty stacked.
Matt: Rockets, but I’m confident Golden State will win.
Who and what are your biggest creative influences?
Dan: Paul Caiozzo, he was my teacher at Art Center and a big creative influence for me. He pushed me creatively beyond what I thought was capable and taught me to break the rules. Nick Loftus is another big creative influence in my life, he was my ACD at CP+B. I learned work ethic and how to be a proper Art Director from him.
Matt: Mark Fenske, a professor at Brandcenter, and Ryan Carroll, a GCD at GSD&M, have had the biggest impact on me creatively. They both pushed my thinking and writing to a level I wouldn’t have been able to reach on my own.
What would be your dream project in the creative world of sports?
Creating work for an NBA player would be a dream, Giannis would be great to work with.
Who are some other WNW Members whose work you admire, and why?
Brock Kirby, killer writer and love everything he does. From his Atlantic work to the Ripple spot, it’s a wonderful mix of smart, inspiring and fun work.
Dave Canning & Dan Treichel, an amazing team and two guys who do very funny and smart work.
David Povill created some of our favorite Old Spice work ever with Smellcome to Manhood.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Thanks again for featuring us. We really appreciate the support.
Are you a WNW Member with new work, exhibits, products, or news to share? Email us!
WNW MEMBER ANDREW JANIK SERVES UP A GRAPHIC HISTORY OF SPORT
WNW MEMBER ANDREW JANIK SERVES UP "A GRAPHIC
HISTORY OF SPORT"
WNW Member Andrew Janik has combined his two favorite things, sports and illustration, with his new book A Graphic History of Sport, which serves up illustrative renderings from the world of athletic competition. It hits shelves today. Below, we talk to Andrew who tells us how the project got started: "I started the [Instagram] feed @lessonsinsport. An Art Director I had worked with showed it to a friend of his, Jay Sacher, who would become my Editor at Penguin Random House. Jay’s first email basically said, 'Hey, you want to make a book?' A little over two years later, here we are."
We also talk to Andrew about his favorite sports stories and what the biggest creative challenge was of bringing this project to life: "I wrote the text for the book as well, and I think the last thing I had seriously written was a term paper in college, so dusting off those skills was definitely a challenge."
Tell us a little bit about your creative background. Who is Andrew and how did he get here?
Hey WNW. I’m originally from the great state of Michigan and moved to New York a few months after graduating from school. It was supposed to only be for a 3-month internship, but one thing led to another. I’ve been living here over 10 years. Over that time I’ve been lucky enough to work with a lot of really talented people on all sorts of different projects, but I’ve been honing in on illustration over the past few years.
How would you describe your creative style? Do you recognize a signature style that links all of your projects, or do you try to excuse yourself and approach each project as its own entity?
It definitely depends on the project, but I like to bring a simplistic, colorful feel to most things I do. One of my favorite quotes is from Milton Glaser who said, “Just enough is more.”
You have a book coming out called The Graphic History of Sport. When did you come up with the idea, and how did it evolve over time?
I had been wanting to combine the two things I like most in life: sports and illustration. I had been kicking around some ideas about the best way to do it and started posting the illustrations on Tumblr. After people started responding to them, I felt I could reach more via Instagram, so I started the feed @lessonsinsport. An Art Director I had worked with showed it to a friend of his, Jay Sacher, who would become my Editor at Penguin Random House. Jay’s first email basically said, “Hey, you want to make a book?” A little over two years later, here we are.
Can you share some of the creative challenges and breakthroughs that came with this undertaking?
I wrote the text for the book as well, and I think the last thing I had seriously written was a term paper in college, so dusting off those skills was definitely a challenge. It was also interesting being the client for once, as the in-house team at Penguin Random House did the layout design (Shout out to Ian and Danielle. Sorry for all my emails.)
Which of the featured tales of sports history is your favorite of the collection?
I learned a lot researching and writing about a lot of these folks, but the one that stuck out to me most was Maurice “Rocket” Richard, the famous Montreal Canadian. He was a hero and a pioneer to many French Canadians and so beloved that there was a riot when he was suspended for a game one year. He personally went on the radio to calm everyone down, and it worked. That’s pretty rad.
Which of your accompanying illustrations are you proudest of and why?
There is something about the boxing pieces that I really enjoy. Boxing has such a weird, awesome, craziness to it, which added to the enjoyment of researching and creating them. I like how boxers can essentially pick their own uniforms, and say to the world, “This is who I am."
Who and what are your biggest creative influences?
That’s always tough. I’m going to say the 1960s and New York City.
What do you do when Not Working? Are you an athlete or an avid fan of any teams?
I still play on a basketball team (BASE TAN boyz for life) and also grew up golfing, which I still try to do as much as I can though it’s not the easiest while living in the city.
Who are some WNW Members whose work you admire and why?
Matthew Hollister - Matthew does a lot of sports-related work too. He has a great style and I love his portraits.
Wade + Leta - So colorful and wonderfully weird. I hope if there’s any sort of afterlife, they’re the creative directors... Wade and I also play basketball together. He got game.
Anything else you’d like to add?
The book is out February 28th! Thanks for the chat!
Are you a WNW Member with new work, exhibits, products, or news to share? Email us!
If You Let Us Write Above Sports
Do you remember that great Nike ad that started with “If you let me play sports?” by Janet Champ and Rachel Nelson? The one that talked about how a girl will be less likely to get into all sorts of trouble, and more likely to have all kinds of confidence, if you let her play sports?
Read MoreILLUSTRATOR BRIAN HURST PUTS HIS STAMP ON #RIO2016
ILLUSTRATOR BRIAN HURST PUTS HIS STAMP ON #RIO2016
WNW Member Brian Hurst has been knocking out stamp after stamp on his Instagram channel in his free time like a champ. We didn't know you could fit that much clever conceit, fresh design, and timeless look in an inch by an inch. Take notice, USPS and people who like cool stuff.
Are you a WNW Member with new work, exhibits, products, or news to share? Email us!
What Happens When You Give Lebron James His Own Typeface
What Happens When You Give Lebron James His Own Typeface
Athletes and celebrities are more and more becoming their own brand, separate from the films they work on and the teams they play for. They're even getting their own typefaces, thanks in part to WNW Member #6953 Sawdust Design (aka Jonathan Quainton and Rob Gonzalez.) The London-based duo is receiving lots of love on the internet for their unique typeface for the one and only Lebron "King" James. Having already assisted Nike with the brands of Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant, Sawdust has now given Lebron an original typeface that embodies his bold style on and off the court.
Are you a WNW Member with new work, exhibits, products, or news to share? Email us!
Discover more creative talent and projects like this on Working Not Working.
WORK: CAPTURING THE OLYMPICS
WORK: CAPTURING THE OLYMPICS
Photographer and brand new WNW Member #2994 Mike Powell has photographed 13 Olympics, both the Summer and Winter Games, and has the scars to prove it. Mike was generous enough to let us in on some of the unforgettable experiences he and his camera have shared over the years.
How did you get into sports photography?
I started shooting local running events, mostly x-country races when I was about 13. Then started working as a darkroom and photo library apprentice at the age of 16 with Allsport photography in the UK (much later to become Getty Images Sport). I had followed sports photography for a long time mainly because my brother Steve had started as a photojournalist then sports photographer himself. Despite his pleas for me not to enter the biz, I went for it anyway.
What was your first Olympics and how did you get that break?
At the age of 19 I went to work at a new Allsport office in Los Angeles the year after the LA Olympics. I was part of a small team that built that business up and as such was shooting a lot of prime events at a very young age. Calgary was my first Games in 1988; I was 23 yrs old. Being affiliated with Allsport was the key. We had a very good relationship with Olympic sports and the IOC and became their photo agency shortly after that period.
What's your typical day shooting at the Olympics?
Winter Games can be the grinders if you are covering Alpine ski racing and want to shoot anything else. Course freeze for photogs can be up to 90mins prior to the race start. So if you want to scout the course that means waking up at 5'ish for breakie and commute, being on the hill 3hrs prior to race, skiing the course a couple of times and then getting in position, shooting the race then hustling down the mountain and editing or delivering cards to an editor. Then off to an afternoon event within striking range and probably finishing with an evening event like speed or figure skating around 10.30. Just in time for dinner and beers at the hotel before doing it all again the next day.
There are so many great photo opportunities at a Games that you feel like you are missing something important if you don't have an event in front of you and a camera in hand. I usually hit a wall around Friday of the first week, have a little lie in then push through to the end, although the walls seem to becoming a bit harder and more often these days!
What's your set up?
I really like large files and prime lenses so I shoot a lot with 2 x Nikon D800's. 24mm f1.4, 35 f1.4, 50mm f1.4, 200mm f2, 400mm f2.8. 14-24 f2.8 zoom and 70-200mm f2.8. I'll use a couple of Nikon D4's when I need a fast motor drive and quick follow focus.
A lot of guys love remote cameras and get some very good pics from them but I honestly never enjoyed that aspect of sports photography. If I didn't have the camera in my hand it didn't feel right. But that's just me, maybe I'm lazy and didn't want to deal with all the engineering.
Are there any unique challenges shooting the Olympics vs. other sporting events?
Lots, quite often you are showing up at a stadium you've never worked in before and have arrived late from another event. You have to figure it all out and find a spot to work that hasn't already been taken by photogs that are only covering that event throughout the Olympics. Sometimes you need to get there very early to request a place to work or get a limited amount of tickets that are assigned. A great assistant or office in the MPC (main press centre) can really help.
Sleep or lack thereof, trying to get yourself motivated and focused on doing your best work in the second week when coffee no longer works can be really hard. Being tired all the time is a drag. It takes me weeks to fully recover from an Olympics.
What's the most challenging event to shoot?
I still think the men’s downhill is one of the hardest. It's the blue ribbon event of the Winters and these guys are busting 80+mph down a course where the best pics usually require a very long lens and shooting a low ridge line angle that means you don't see them coming. Even the modern cameras still struggle with this and it can come down to shooting a single frame. And just to make it more exciting the winner usually takes a slightly different angle than everyone else. I'd be lying if I said I always nail it.
What are some of the most memorable events/individuals you've photographed over the years?
My first Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea was a good one, the first one always is. That was when we shot film and pulled focus, remember that? At the men's 100m final I shot it on a Nikon 200mm f2 with an F3 body I think. When Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis hit the line I started shooting hammering the shutter and pulling focus. I popped the film out and figured I either got then all sharp or all unsharp. Well 10 out 13 frames wasn't bad back in those days. Come the closing ceremony I was an emotional wreck, could hardly shoot a frame, I just wanted it to go on forever.
The L'Alpe D'Huez stage on my first Tour de France in 1995, can't remember any of the pics but the scale of that day is immense. Following the Tour into Paris on a motorbike and going up the Champs Elysee on the final day, very emotional for the riders and the photogs.
Mike Powell (my name sake) breaking the oldest record in Track & Field. He set the new WR for the long jump at the 1991 Tokyo World champs and my pic of him doing it was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. It then became a Jeopardy question, so yes I really am famous.... :-)
The athletes I've met and had more than a passing relationship have been great: Michael Johnson (Olympic & World champ 200/400m), Picabo Street (Alpine ski racer, Oly and World Champ), Mike Powell ( World Long jump record holder) and more recently I've been to Jamaica to shoot Usain Bolt the worlds fastest man (Oly and World Champ + WR holder), very genuine bloke and fun to work with.
What's your favorite Olympic image you've taken?
I really don't have a favourite picture or favourite sport to shoot. I'm more into the body of work. View Mike's full Olympic gallery.
Being there live has got to be an incredible experience. What's one thing about the Olympics we could never get by watching them on TV?
I don't often cry at a sporting event, but when I do it's because I'm at the Olympics.....for all kinds of reasons.
Do you prefer shooting the Winter or Summer Games?
I love being up in the mountains for the Winter Games but I think there are always more opportunities for different and interesting work from the Summers.
Do you ever get caught up in the emotion of the moment?
Yep, see above. It's got to be pretty special these days to get me pumped, I think I burnt my adrenal glands out a long while back but I love when I get carried away by it all. I just have to try and stay present to shoot the pics.
What are your thoughts on the Sochi games?
Well for only the second time since I started shooting the Olympics I'm at home watching it on TV with my family. I've enjoyed the sport but haven't seen any iconic images yet. Sometimes they are just not there but it's early days yet and a lot of talented photographers are working their asses off to try and make one.
See you in Rio!
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MEET #1483 DANIEL NYARI
MEET #1483 DANIEL NYARI
Illustrator • New York City
WNW Member #1483 Daniel Nyari moved from communist Romania to Austria before ultimately taking his illustrative talents to New York City. We talked to Daniel about finding an identity amidst familial and cultural pressures, while striking a balance between working and not working.
1. How long have you been freelancing?
I've been attempting freelancing since 2004 and only successfully so since late 2012.
2. Is there a time or place that you feel most creative/have the best ideas?
Like most freelancers I feel more productive in the evening and there's a reason for that. When I worked full-time I got used to working after 5 or 6pm into the night. When I started freelancing fully it just carried over. Nonetheless when I wake up, my brain tends to still remain somewhat in hybernation so I created a system where I do a lot of the repetitive stuff that doesn't necessarily require me to be "creative" and as the day progresses and I have enough cups of coffee I tend to move on to projects that require a little more creative attention. When ideas hit me tends to be random. I can sit, lay down in bed, I can be out shopping for groceries, I can even be in the bathroom but ideas come clearest to me when I am most relaxed and not burdened with numerous deadlines and related concerns.
3. What's your ideal Working:Not Working ratio?
This depends entirely on how much money I can get from a specific amount of work. If I am working on one or two projects a week that don't require me to seek out more work I am comfortable allowing myself free time to do personal projects. The ideal scenario is a 50/50 Working/Not Working ratio with the working client section financially secure. The reality is that on average it's been 90/10 Working/Not Working for me. I'm also a workaholic and like the challenge of pushing myself with multiple projects.
4. Do your parents understand what you do?
No. I can try explaining it to them and they will just understand that I draw images and some of them end up in magazines and some on websites. They don't understand the industry or the concept of freelancing to a full extent. They are old school former soviet-satellite traditionalists coming from completely working class backgrounds. Most creatives seem to have parents who were into the arts or have some kind of background that allowed them to guide their children towards the profession. I never had that luxury. Nor did my parents ever really encourage me to pursue the arts or rather they were entirely indifferent as long as I would bring money to the family. As a result; whatever progression I've made came as a direct desire to be completely opposite of what my parents represent or have known growing up.
5. What scene from a movie makes you laugh just thinking about it?
The Bobby Peru/Lula Hotel Room Scene from Wild At Heart.
6. If you were stranded on a desert island, with your computer, what 3 websites would you take with you?
Only one. theonion.com so I can get all my world news.
7. What do you do when Not Working?
Usually working on personal projects. My personal projects list is enormous and always growing. While I'm a commercial illustrator, I don't like the idea of being one most of the time so I try to find comfort in the illusion of being a real artist who has complete control over his content and style.
8. Do you have a hidden talent?
I'm a football (soccer) fan and have been since I was five so I have an extensive knowledge of the sport and its tactical philosophies.
9. Any tips or advice for fellow freelancers?
If you're starting out, make sure you develop a style that is distinctly you and you in every decision you make throughout the creative process. Do and treat personal projects with the same importance as paid projects. And do what you love or tackle subjects that interest you and if they are good you will attract clients who will want to pay you for something similar.
Learn to pace yourself and more importantly how to predict the time you will need for particular projects and the more efficient work management will become.
Also, don't underestimate the power of social media.
10. What's your favorite thing on the internet this week?
My favorite thing on the internet this week are over 14,000 images of the French Revolution finally released online. http://frda-stage.stanford.edu/en/images
