Last week at Actual Size was an exciting and productive one! (Word on the street is it was so awesome because of a certain new intern...just repeating what I've heard.) In addition to meetings with clients, phone booth production (more on that later!), and delicious bagel breakfasts, James created a great new typeface for upcoming Pittsburgh Steelers projects. Let's just say that this typeface is so good that it too should have six Superbowl rings.

But don't just take my word for it: see for yourself! It's actually a pretty exciting process - who knew spray painting was involved!? Nice work, Dude!

Here at the Actual Size office, we appreciate the modern phenomenon of social networking. But you know what we dig even more?

Our version of the Wall: a so-called "analog Facebook" that features the beautiful, shining faces (err, cartoon versions, that is) of the Actual Sizers as well as speech bubbles so that we always know what's on everyones' minds. Plus, the dry erase markers offer a way for us to try out new looks (sunglasses, mustaches, and more). Not everyone has made it onto the Wall yet, but those who haven't are holding out hope or, if they're like Steve, finding creative ways to get there.

Does anyone else actually have a real (as opposed to virtual) Facebook Wall? Do you wish you did? (Yeah. Admit it. You do. You're completely jealous.)

The Spring 2010 issue of Penn State's College of Arts and Architecture News is hot off the presses, and it has some pretty exciting news. The magazine published a list of internship hot spots, and Actual Size Creative made it! Also noted for hiring Graphic Design alumni post-graduation, ASC is very excited to be included on this list.

And - as the headline of this post points out - we're not only on the list, but we're at the very top, amidst competition from nationally recognized companies such as GQ, Martha Stewart Living, Rolling Stone, and Saks Fifth Avenue, among others. 

Okay. You've got me. The list is in alphabetical order. But still, this is pretty awesome.

My two cents? As an intern currently working here, I've got to tell you - I think Penn State got it right.

In a sort of follow up to my very first post, I'm happy to announce that the ASC Facebook and Twitter updates have begun! Now, I'm glad to keep writing, but I would be even more pumped if we could get even more people reading. That being  said, please encourage your friends to "like" the Actual Size Creative page on Facebook and to follow us on Twitter @ActualSizers.

Most importantly, I'd like to give a big thank you to those of you that already keep up with all the ASC news - I'll keep it coming!

You know what we love here at Actual Size Creative? We love it when two things come together to make something even better. You can think of the classic combinations as easily as you can think of your own name. Peanut butter and jelly. Macaroni and cheese. Ketchup (Heinz, of course) and French fries. (Man, I must be hungry!) Well, this past weekend, two of our favorite things came together: the Three Rivers Arts Festival and Maurice, ASC's super cool web developer (and also one of the people who helped me to figure out how to use the bus!). I had a chat with Maurice about one of his bands, The Bureau of Nonstandards - here's what they're all about.

It all started in 2004, when Maurice met Kevin while they were both recording Glenn Branca's Symphony No. 13 (it called for 100 electric guitar players, can you believe that!?). They got to talking about Pittsburgh and their mutual friends there, so when Kevin moved back to the 'burgh in 2006, he gave Maurice a call. The rest, as they say, is history. The Bureau of Nonstandards currently has one release and plays local gigs. They use circuit bent toys - such as Furbies, which Maurice jokingly refers to as the "little divas" of the whole production - as well as keyboards to creative a cool, improvisational brand of music that ranges from "ambient machine noise" to "everything breaking down at once." Maurice says that it fits in with the other work he's done before - you can check that out here: http://onezeromusic.com - and notes, "Every event is a unique challenge - you can't rehearse. The results are generally surprising to everyone."

To hear more from The Bureau of Nonstandards, check out their full-length release (http://nonstandards.bandcamp.com). Enjoy!

Greetings, Actual Size Blog Readers! We haven't been properly introduced. I'm Katie, and I'll be following the gang here for the next few months as I work as an intern for Actual Size Creative.

Like some of you who might be reading this blog, I don't know much about design. Luckily, I'm going to be learning from the best - and I'll be writing about it so you can learn too! And not just on this blog - I'll also be posting on the ASC Facebook and Twitter pages. I'll be on the lookout for cool design links and distracting fun games and videos that I have a feeling you're going to enjoy. As you know, Actual Size is all about four things: print, web, motion, and world domination. While everyone else is hard at work on those first three, I'll be working on world domination.

Make sure to check back with me later for exciting updates on everything from what we're working on to what we're eating for lunch. If you have any questions you want answered or investigations you want me to undertake, give me a shout out and I'll do my best. As Bogart once said: I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.