Arrgghhh

My back is now really causing problems. I'm bed bound today under orders from the missus. I need to go to the post office so I'll have to sneak out!

I can now do better than show you past work from the illustrators I'm working with as I have initial ideas/roughs in. I've also been contacted by another illustrator who was taking ages to get back to me. He's just released an album and was a bit snowed under, see what I did there (it's snowing in London). So there will now be three artist tees in the first collection plus one or maybe two logo/type based tees.

The first design is by Mr Gauky www.mrgauky.com



The second design is by Nate Holmes Trapnell www.thesouthpaw.com.au



More on the third design and illustrator when the roughs are in.

It's an interesting process commissioning illustration and works differently depending on the artist you're working with. As you can see above Mr Gauky has delivered a finished idea that just needs the finishing touches whereas Nate has given three options (the one above being the one we're going for but minus the skulls).

The process of picking which illustrators to work with started by collecting a load of website links to artists I like and thought would fit the brand. This is a mixture of people I was already aware of and people I've found recently.

Having decided I wanted to have three artist tees I picked the three illustrators/designers I wanted to work with. One never replied, one was too busy and the third was Mr Gauky. Only having one illustrator on board I had to start from scratch, looking at my list and picking another two who would work well with Gauky's style while keeping things diverse. Luckily the next two people I contacted were both free and able.

All going to plan I should have the finished designs in on December 10th, ready to go to print for samples.

With my back being so bad, needing money and my deadlines slipping as I struggle to work I need the DJ work I've been chasing to pay-off. I knew this would never be easy; I suppose that's half the fun!

Logo progression

My back is still bad and has made sitting at my desk and concentrating difficult. I've booked an appointment to see a Craniosacral Therapist which has in the past worked wonders. One advantage of working for yourself is definitely being able to work around other commitments.

I've now commissioned two illustrators; I'll give you a sneak peak of some of their past work later in the week.

I'm getting there with some solid ideas for the logo, plenty more to go though. One of these is likely to spring up on the twitter and facebook pages soon. Any feedback is always welcome.

Logo

Below is the typeface I will be using for the logo which is called Mircrogramma. It was designed by Aldo Novarese and Alessandro Butti for the type foundry Nebiolo in 1952. My inspiration for using it comes from various album covers and Sound City guitar amps.

I'm working on an icon to go with the type today. Various ideas came up including, a spade, trowel, treasure chest and metal detector but gem stones seem to make the best icon, get the message across and aren't too obvious. What do you think?

While working on this project ideas evolve and change and something I've never wanted to do is be too specific or obvious with the inspiration for the brand. The name 'The Diggers' comes from 'Digging' the act of hunting for records. I assume this name comes from the action of flicking through records in a box which looks like digging with your hands. This idea of digging can be applied to all the inspirations for the brand whether it's hunting for new skate spots or a fresh wall to paint.

The gem stone idea works for me because they are undoubtedly the most precious thing you can dig for.

Bloody backs

I've just done my back in, laying down. Of all the stupid ways to hurt yourself this has to be the dumbest.

I've got a meeting with Leroy at NatWest Hackney about setting up a business bank account in a bit and I think I'm going to struggle getting down the road. I was also planning on going into central London tomorrow on a research trip but that might have to wait.

I found the picture below while hunting for skateparks in London to photograph for The Diggers website. Ingenious.

Look what I just found

In one of the books I'm looking at for design inspiration; Street Jewellery, A History Of Enamel Advertising Signs. A sign for the same company as the one in a shed window while on holiday.