adam j. kurtz super serious work blog

I just found out today that SEB printed up hoodies for their...

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:54:00 -0500

I just found out today that SEB printed up hoodies for their current board members with the logo speechbubble treatment that I created while working for them. Here is current member Stefanie Mavronis, wearing hers.

UMBC Student Events Board Monthy Event Listings, Fall 2008

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:52:04 -0500

UMBC Student Events Board Monthy Event Listings, Fall 2008

An hour later, here’s the old resume design (left) and the...

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:49:06 -0500

An hour later, here’s the old resume design (left) and the revised one (right). It’s just a little less heavy, and the personal information (name, contact information) fits the column layout a little better.

I’m working on a resume design for a friend, and I sort of...

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:29:00 -0500

I’m working on a resume design for a friend, and I sort of thought it was done. I sent him the PDF then printed one for myself, so I could photograph it. Good thing I printed it, because it looks awful! Too big, lines are weird, not sure what I was thinking… I “finished” it, went to lunch, came back, and it’s all wrong.

Sometimes it helps to let something sit and come back to it. In this case, the 11pt type just looks gigantic, and the whole thing just feels bloated. One of my favorite professors, Peggy Re, would have us print all sorts of bits and pieces and really understand what we were looking at. I have to admit that I don’t always take her advice but I know I should.

UMBC GoldC 0 / M 25 / Y 100 / K 0 If anyone’s ever...

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:36:55 -0500

UMBC Gold
C 0 / M 25 / Y 100 / K 0

If anyone’s ever wondered why so much of my work is black and gold, it’s because those are UMBC’s school colours! (Don’t ask why the “UMBC” logotype is red though, I have no idea). I already really liked the combination of black and yellow/gold, and have used similar colour schemes in personal work and coursework, too. Just thought I’d mention this. Now that I’m leaving, maybe I’ll discover a whole new colour pallet!

UMBC Student Government Association’s 2010 Applications Poster

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:24:43 -0500

UMBC Student Government Association’s 2010 Applications Poster

Bits & Pieces for the UMBC Student Government...

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:21:00 -0500

Bits & Pieces for the UMBC Student Government Association’s 2010 Applications print materials. The SGA Election Board wanted to allude to President Obama’s own election campaign, and while this isn’t nearly as obvious as they had initially considered (like the infamous Shepard Fairey design), I still was sure to use Gotham, and all-caps for their “Yes You Can” slogan.

Office of Student Life Weekly Events for February 22nd-March...

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:15:00 -0500

Office of Student Life Weekly Events for February 22nd-March 1st, 2010

The poster includes sketches and student photos from the following projects:

UMBC Chess Week 2008
The Commons Arts Program Brochure (2008)
The Commons Recycling Initiative Brochure & Poster (2008)
Student Events Board Calendar (Fall 2008)
The Commons Service Hours (Fall 2008)
UMBC Homecoming 2008
UMBC Welcome Week 2008
commonvision Welcome Sign (2008)
Office of Student Life Weekly Events Poster for September 1st-8th, 2008
Resident Student Association “Midnight Breakfast” Poster & T-Shirt (2008)
Student Government Association “Halloween Fest” Poster & T-Shirt (2008)
commonvision Ad Campaign: “Half Of Our Job” Poster (2008)
Student Events Board “Every Freakin’ Friday” Type Treatment & T-Shirt (2008)
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi “Hanukkah Party” Flyer (2008)
UMBC Student Handbook 2009-2010 (2009)
Project Black And Gold: “Retrievers Ruff And Ready” Banner (2010)
and the UMBC mascot image, created from a photo of the actual statue, which has been used in countless projects: “UMBC Welcomes You” Banner (2009), “Student Life Continues Upstairs” Wall Decal (2009), Student Events Board Event Calendar - Fall 2009, Adam’s Awkward Awesome UMBC Title Credits (2008), and more.

My Art Week 2010 logo treatment in an INET digital advertisement...

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:57:00 -0500

My Art Week 2010 logo treatment in an INET digital advertisement designed by Jenna Ullrich.

My Art Week 2010 logo treatment in a poster designed by Jenna...

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:56:00 -0500

My Art Week 2010 logo treatment in a poster designed by Jenna Ullrich, on display with the other variants in the UMBC Fine Arts First Floor Hallway Gallery.

Since people have asked...

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:34:20 -0500

Yesterday I posted that next week is my last at my current job. It is! Of course, the obvious question is, “alright, well what next?!” and here is what I’ve got so far: NOTHING!

I’m just kidding (lols), but I am looking forward to taking a little time to myself. I’ve never not had school or work before, and I’m hoping to use the entire month of March for the following:

Reorganize my work and portfolio (including documenting a lot of work that I’ve never put online or photographed before) and of course change my resume and all that.
Create some zines! I have a few zine ideas floating around my head, including 2 that I already have the content for. I’d like to actually create these and maybe distribute them on a small scale. I have loose plans for two more, including one full of fun pieces that I would package up and maybe make available for sale/trade. I love collecting other people’s zines!
Visit Austin for the first time, for SXSW. My best friend and I are heading down for a week (and staying with my old “band”mate). Can’t wait! If you’re in the area / going to be, shoot me an email, we can hang out!
Sell some of my things, as I’ve accumulated a LOT of clothing and knickknacks and I’d like to downsize before I move. Expect me to get really familiar with eBay in the next little bit!
Begin to apply for jobs (towards the end of the month)
Teensy bit of freelance web design
Taking naps during the week!

now what?

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:21:58 -0500

now what?

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:21:05 -0500

now what?

best breakfast (via adamjk) This is not necessarily a formal...

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:20:08 -0500

best breakfast (via adamjk)

This is not necessarily a formal project, but I have been documenting my consumption of Bagels and Lox for a little while now via a set on flickr.

Check it out: BAGELS & LOX

now what?

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:17:43 -0500

now what?

Now What? animated gif Sometime in 2008, I realized I was...

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:17:02 -0500

Now What? animated gif

Sometime in 2008, I realized I was writing the phrase “now what?” on scraps of paper, in margins, and really on anything else. I also secretly put some bits and pieces up at adamjustkidding.com/nowwhat and literally never told anyone about it. Now what?

Speaking of Recyclemania, here’s the poster advertising...

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:06:07 -0500

Speaking of Recyclemania, here’s the poster advertising the free shirts from last year. I don’t know if they’re giving the shirts away in the same manner, but last year students had to bring in recyclable materials… a bunch of people cheated and emptied the recycling bins in the building so that they could get a free shirt! I believe all 300 were distributed that day.

UMBC Recycles t-shirt for Recyclemania 2010 These shirts have...

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:03:26 -0500

UMBC Recycles t-shirt for Recyclemania 2010

These shirts have been printed (though I haven’t seen them yet) and will be distributed at events at UMBC. Photos of the actual shirt will be posted when I get one!

Sketch for the banner design I did with one of the five winning...

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:57:00 -0500

Sketch for the banner design I did with one of the five winning slogans chosen via Project Black and Gold. By the time I did this one (at appropriate dimensions), I had already drawn a bunch of tiny bits and pieces on a file folder, so I knew what I wanted.

The final banner design is completed, and along with the other 4 slogans, is being printed and then will be installed on lightposts all along UMBC’s “Academic Row” and other locations, sometime before the end of the year. There will most likely also be a kick-off/unveiling event and some designs may be printed onto tshirts as well.

P.S.

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:20:48 -0500

I’m going to start posting more inspiration and bits and pieces, I swear! Anyone curious about anything in particular? What would you like to see more of?