Alphabet Arm Design News

It’s time for another contest. Typophiles, this one is for you. Take a good close look at the freshly released “Alphabetical” t-shirt and do your best to identify the typeface used on all of the numerals. The first blog reader to identify it wins a free shirt. Leave your answer in the comments and be as specific as possible. (Those of you reading this on The Facebook or The Twitter, make sure you enter your answers on our blog).

Previous Contest winners, as well as employees of the Province of Saskatchewan, Sherby Lou’s FroYo, bands who insist on stretching (or squishing) typefaces, representatives of DJ Cry Baby LTD, Pumpkin Bandage Co. and their respective affiliates and members of the immediate families of any employees of those organizations are not eligible to enter or win the Contest. This Contest is void where prohibited by law. Former interns: don’t even think about it.

We’re type geeks. Seriously, we’re not even ashamed of it. We’ve been waiting since we named the studio to design a shirt that would express our undying devotion to the alphabet (especially of the distressed, weathered variety). The perfect opportunity arose after one of our designers attended a recent antiques fair and stumbled across a veritable treasure chest of assorted vintage wood block type. After blowing all the funds from the studio’s petty cash drawer on the type, we were inspired to design this shirt. This time we had them printed on v-neck and standard crew neck American Apparel t-shirts. Grab yours at our store.

You may have noticed that we have a new shirt design, dubbed “Music Connects Us”. We’re pretty psyched about it, so we want to give one away to a lucky blog reader. All you have to do is answer this simple trivia question:

Over the years, we’ve done a lot of work for great bands. Still, there are a bunch of bands that we haven’t worked with (yet). Which of these bands have we worked with?

A. The Pixies
B. NOFX
C. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
D. Flogging Molly
E. Less Than Jake

Easy as pie (which Donovan hates). Just leave us the answer in the comments, first one to get it right wins.

Previous Contest winners, employees of the State of Nebraska, White Sauce Inc., Dr. Pancakes 24-HR Diner, Drive-Through Hoagies, Babies With Sunglasses Games, and their respective affiliates and members of the immediate families of any employees of those organizations are not eligible to enter or win the Contest. This Contest is void where prohibited by law. Former interns: don’t even think about it.

It should come as no surprise to anybody reading this that we’re huge music fans. It’s is a common topic of discussion here in the studio, we love working on music-related design projects and having some tunes playing is always a major creativity catalyst. Some of us are even musicians and veterans of local band scene. Our new shirt design pays tribute to the role music has in our lives. It’s aptly called, “Music Connects Us” and you can pick it up at our store now.

We’ll keep this contest simple, answer the following question. How many of our logos have been tattood on clients? Now take that number and add it to the number of Alphabet Arm’rs who have tattoos themselves. Show your work for credit. One lucky winner will be the owner of a new “Communication is Key” shirt.

Previous winners, employees of the State of Ohio, Contest sponsors, Digimondo, Baby Kitty Advertising, Telepathic USA, and Mediocre Lakes Publishing, and their respective affiliates and members of the immediate families of any employees of those organizations are not eligible to enter or win the Contest. This Contest is void where prohibited by law.

Mobile phones, land lines, fax machines, computer cameras, secret notes, the interwebs, we all need to communicate, we suggest going old school and busting out some sweet walkie talkies.

Being designers by trade, our goal is successful visual communication, one way you could do the same is by proudly wearing this t-shirt we apply named “Communication is Key.” This lovely set of walkie talkies was left in Aaron’s basement when he moved in and he’s been waiting years for the right opportunity to use them. Now you can too. There are lots of adventurous new American Apparel colors too choose from!

T-shirt and jeans happen to be the required dress code here at the Alphabet Arm studio. Which raises the question, what do we do when formal attire is more appropriate? Well, this here tux-ee-dough t-shirt is our answer to the question. Great for proms, weddings or impressing that special someone. It’s like saying, “I want to be formal, but I’m here to party too.” You can order your very own at our online store. Sorry, no rentals.

When we got the call to develop merch designs and a potential logo to brand a musical, we were rather excited. Then we heard the name, The American Soul & Rock & Roll Choir. Naturally, we asked, “you don’t have anything a little longer?” Kidding aside, that’s what we do here at Alphabet Arm, solve visual problems creatively. Given the classic collection of songs, we opted to develop some designs that felt visually complimentary. For one of the treatments we developed a type treatment honoring old broadway marquee signs and lovingly weathered it. We opted to go clean and roadster emblem-like for another direction. Ultimately, both were approved!

We just finished up these merch treatments for Taylor Hicks. We have to say working for an American Idol winner is a bit out of our comfort zone—but we like to think we are up for any challenge. His management was on a tight deadline so we were only able to develop 4 designs, fortunately (for everyone) they approved them all.

Have a hard time deciding what to wear while you practice your Flying Bulldog or Spinning Cobra Clutch? Have no fear, we’ve got your answer. This tough-as-nails luchador has found his way into several Alphabet Arm promo pieces in the past and we’ve finally decided to feature him on a t-shirt in all of his mexican grappling glory. Order your very own here.