While this question may be extremely difficult to answer, especially with our current economic meltdown, I’d like to think that we are still rocking the design world.
I find that a very insightful look into the state of our local design world, is best viewed through Springleap.com
If you want to see who the up and coming talent is in SA, look no further!
While on the negative side, we hear of designers flocking overseas for jobs that pay them what they truly deserve. However, we hear about just as many heading back to South Africa, when they realize things aren’t much better there. Springleap.com is an international t-shirt design competition, which not only features the best in upcoming South African design talent, but also the design might of international artists.
Springleap acts as a looking glass into the battle between local and international design…however, with a credo of fellowship and appreciation of art.
With the ever impending closure for submissions for the Ye-LOL-owtheme competition. I thought it would be a great idea to reach into the very fabric of what makes a happy t-shirt.
While you might be saying Ye-LOL-ow is as much about humour, as it is happiness…I think that the two are intimately connected.
When I say happy t-shirt, what springs to mind first??
Without doubt the first thing I think of when I hear the words “happy t-shirt”, is the very design we have used on our Ye-LOL-ow theme competition banner. The incomparable Smiley face.
The Smiley face itself has been used since our grandparents were mere whippersnappers.
I tried to check it origins on Wiki, but it seems influence is taken from a vast number of sources.
From what I can surmise the Smiley was “invented”, as the icon we know today, by Harvey Ball.
