to arms
I've always had a soft spot for design from the constructivist era (which may not be saying much - I'm not sure if any designer couldn't say the same thing). The latest use of it that is already making a splash is the upcoming spring campaign from Saks Fifth Avenue. Yup - a design style known for its use in socialist propaganda is being used for as blatant a capitalist purpose as there is. You can't help but find that amusing. This campaign is connected to LA artist Shepard Fairey, whose popularity exploded last year with the portrait he did of Barack Obama. (That portrait, by the way, has been bought by the Smithsonian and is taking its place in the museum on the 20th.) Though Fairey was previously best known for his street art (Obey/Giant, etc), his agency, Studio Number One, has long done commercial work for clients ranging from Honda to Virgin Megastores to Dewars. The Sax campaign is primarily the work of Studio Number One's Cleon Peterson. There are those that complain about street art being used so commercially, but their web site propbably puts it best: "...art does not just belong in museums and galleries, it should also be an integral part of the visual landscape."