Sunday, June 17

got the t-shirt

Before starting landscape architecture school in the fall, I thought it would be a nice change of pace to coach sailing in Chicago this summer.

IMG_0960.JPGBelmont Harbor.

Even though the whole plan was to avoid design work for a few months, I couldn't help but get excited when my boss offered $100 to the instructor that designed the best sailing school t-shirt.

Living in Chicago for the first time in 7 years, I've found that the Hancock Center has supplanted the Sears Tower as the city's favorite skyscraper. I decided to incorporate the tapered tower into my t-shirt design.

IMG_1288.JPGThe Hancock Tower.

Pondering the iconic building's distinctive cross-bracing, I couldn't help but think of one of my favorite sights in sailing: two boats crossing tacks upwind. After some online searching, I was able to find a great piece of graphic design from the 1987 America's Cup.

Duel, by Keith Reynolds. (From AllPosters)

Initially, I thought that the graphic would be a bit sparse with only one tower, so I decided to incorporate two other iconic Chicago buildings.

The Sears Tower. (From LensImpressions)

The Smurfit-Stone Building. (From ChicagoSage)

When I finished the design, however, I thought it was a bit busy.

cyc shirt_7d.jpg

I took out the Sears Tower and the Smurfit-Stone, but I'm not sure it's better. Which one do you like?

cyc shirt_7c.jpg

We'll see what the other instructors come up with...

19 comments:

Brendan Crain said...

I am a fan of the second one, myself. Less is more, right? ;-)

Also: welcome back to Chicago.

JD @ run-thru-life.blogspot.com said...

I am also a fan of the second one. What about throwing a seagull up there somewhere??

Axel Foley said...

I'm a fan of the second one as well. Is there a way you could incorporate the Dan Ryan in there? Sorry, I just like saying "the Dan Ryan."

Jessica Schessler said...

I think the first is a bit busy, but the second also looks a bit sparse. I'm with jd.. how about a seagull?

Thomas / @5ifthproject said...

Your images are out of this world, they're great.

Anthony

Kye Sangha said...

I prefer the second~ the first kinda looks as though there is an earthquake happening...someone else mentioned a seagull; you might try putting three (an odd number) in a cluster where one of the side buildings would have been (think *movement*). Good luck--I know it will be beautiful.

GoomMarston said...

KISS = "Keep It Simple, Stanley" clearly it is the second simpler one.

Anonymous said...

How about mod'ing the first one so the buildings are along a straight line, (i.e. getting rid of the curve to avoid the 'earthquake' effect) That way you get more of a Chicago skyline effect.

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Anonymous said...

iltxcD actually, that's brilliant. Thank you. I'm going to pass that on to a couple of people.

Anonymous said...

Please write anything else!