During this political season it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll be relying on various media sources for your up to the minute election coverage. If you’re looking at online periodicals and sites run by certain 24-hour news networks, the likelihood that all of your information will be ‘fair and balanced’ is slim to none. Most gatekeepers have an agenda that might not always be obvious to those who look to them for commentary. Thankfully, if you have trouble cutting through the biased sheepdip, interactive agency Sarkissian Mason has launched The Contrarian, an independent online fact-checking site that seeks to empower the masses to demand truth in media. The site doesn’t undermine your favorite news source, but rather enriches it by allowing readers cull key points on an issue from several “contrary” sources in order to develop a more focused opinion on world matters.

Though is nothing funny about going hungry, the World Food Programme hosted a competition calling for creatives to shoot videos related to the topic. The one that receives the most views by October 16th — World Food Day — will get to document one of the WFP’s relief operations in Asia, Africa, or Latin America. The five finalist videos, all a minute or less long, range from light to intense in tone, and all deliver important messages on the topic. And, if you think solving the world’s hunger problem is too costly consider this: according to Jimena Gamio’s video, solving the world’s hunger problem would cost $3 billion. This morning Congress signed a bailout bill for $700 billion.

Josh Kenyon and Colby Nichols have been on our radar (as well as each other’s) for quite some time now. While it’s often said that familiarity breeds
contempt, their familiarity has bred nothing but appreciation of the other’s awesome design work. The two talented artists, who have both contributed to some of the same projects, are now a team. As art directors of the Portland and Chicago offices of Tangible Worldwide, Nichols and Kenyon  have teamed up for their first project, a limited run poster promoting Tangible Chicago. To sneaka closer peak at the work being done at the burgeoning interdisciplinary design agency check out their new site and then stop by their online shop to snag yourself a poster before they’re all gone.

What’s more fun, Mortal Kombat or politics? If you guessed combining both into one amazing web game you are correct. Now is the time for Kung-Fu Election where you can pick your candidate of choice and battle MK style to the presidency. Representing the Democrats is Obama, Michelle and Biden versus McCain, Cindy and Palin. Each fight is to the death and no one “respects anyone’s service to America.” Sadly there aren’t any fishing moves but there are combos. The game is actually put together pretty well and kind of hard. One word of advice: don’t under estimate Palin. She does this roll on the ground thing and sneaks right by with a hockey stick stab. Totally killed me even though I have tons of experience with Moral Kombat from years ago. The game was developed by the awesome programmers at Starvingeyes Advergaming and sponsored by Adom.

One of JS’s favorite design masters Brian Jaramillo (beejay) finally has a site up that showcases his work for various brands, as well as some killer personal work in design, typography and lettering. Another new collab featuring beejay is Letter Cult, his blog with Ray Frenden. The new site dedicated to the custom letter holds it down, featuring great modern innovators that push the boundaries of the field.

When Sarah Palin was announced as the Republican Vice Presidential candidate, the term MILF was suddenly thrown into the political arena. Rather than focus on the real issues, sex appeal was suddenly playing more of a pronounced role in the election as voters were drawn to the former pageant runner up/mayor/governor’s charisma. In an effort to address the idea that natural attraction and instinct often plays more of a role in our decision making, Ji Lee and Cory Forsyth have ran with this idea of glamour fascination to ask voters and non-voters alike, “Which One Would You Do?” The seemingly simple sexiness poll pitts former Democratic favorite Hillary Clinton and the current Republican VP against both first lady candidates, with the current results relaying a not-so-shocking similarity to present poll numbers. What can I say, I voted for Obama.

You’d think that if a president is proclaimed to be the “leader of the free world”, the free world might have some say. But, as was proven in 2000, American citizens can’t even speak up when the fix is in. If only there was some way to take the pulse of global politics and show, once and for all, that a presidential candidate has the mandate from the international community.

You Can’t Fix This, just launched by the Tokyo arm of strategic planning company Naked, needs your help to hold the world election. As you can see, there’s no “United States” category … we’ll have the privilege in about 34 days. Which leaves our overseas readers to fill in the gaps. Yes, it’s completely unscientific (as are the majority of polls), but from those initial numbers, we think we know who the planet is hoping for.

Since last autumn the work of MWM (Matt W. Moore) has been the frequent subject of our praise and the object of our design affections here at JoshSpear.com. So it should come as no surprise that we’re absolutely percolating with excitement over the news of the art and design studio’s recently redesigned website. The latest incarnation of the online home of MWM Graphics is chock full of impressive new works that run the gamut of design disciplines created for an vast array of clients such as Nike, Zune, and Burton. If you’re in the mood for a visual feast, head on over to the new site and maybe get a bib for your eyes.

Clive, the mascot for the urban magazine Format, has mad style. Decked out in his baby blue hoodie and sweet sneaks, he’s ready to kick it wherever you go. The plush toy was designed in collaboration with Monster Factory, a company that pumps out, lovable monster stuffies. Once he goes on sale, make sure to save a spot for him on the couch because you’ll finally have someone who won’t judge you when you’re on your third 40.

via FormatMag

Ridiculous design rules: If you design, you probably have some, and they’re likely as laughable as the ways our grandmothers told us we could get pregnant (kissing; freeze tag). I don’t design, I’m a copywriter, but it may be fair game to suggest that anyone who depends on their right brain for a living has their own weird mix of regulations. Good thing we now have a safe place to keep them — because man it feels great to know that you’re not the only one basing your decisions on batshit superstitions.

Ridiculous Design Rules — the site — is the safe place I’m taking about, and if you feel the need to whisper some confessions into the ears of the Intertubes, this is the place to do it. Or, you could use the site to rant about someone else’s ridiculous design rules — like the ones that wind up holding your best work from the light of of day (”Too much white space…”) — and let the other users rank it to aid in your justification. Either way, it’s cathartic, and God knows I need some of that to get ready for the amount of toxicity I plan on wallowing in this weekend.

Here at JoshSpear.com we follow the lyrical example in Michael Jackson’s 1991 Song “Heal The World,” by attempting to “heal the world, make it a better place, for you and for me and the entire human race.” It’s this dedication that has led to our being on Home Rejuvenation’s second annual list of potential winners for Ten Most Influential Design Bloggers co-sponsored by Wallpaper*. Whether we lock up a privileged spot is entirely up to you. We beg you to head on over to their site and rock the vote by sending in a maximum of five choices before the October 16th deadline. Doing so makes you eligible to receive a free year of the print version of Wallpaper*.

It’s an honor just to be nominated.

While Qoob TV fills my musical void and helps me keep up on the tunes making it in the Northern Hemisphere, there’s still a whole wide world of music that I wouldn’t have any access to if it weren’t for The Pop Manifesto. Designed as an online magazine with the occasional accompanying music clip paired with a story, The Pop Manifesto profiles the type of artists you’d likely only get on a mix from your jet-setting Swedish friend: Delorean, The Tough Alliance, Sally Shapiro. The design is easy, the photos are fresh and to mix it up a little they’ve thrown in features on clothing brands as well as a sexy fashion spread. Call it coincidence, but the new issue does highlight a few hotties from the Scandinavian country. Maybe this time it will be you who who introduces a few new artists to your friend.

PatchTogether is an almost year-old community project for character designers and toy collectors. Initially based on the model of several T-shirt websites, PatchTogether presents a space to submit toy designs and have them critiqued, voted on and possibly put into production. Winning designs are selected based on member participation such as voting, comments and the number of hits for the page. They are then manufactured in PatchTogether’s factory in China. The site’s founder, Miller Song, refers to this way of making toys as “prosumer product.” A handful of designs, including the popular Yeti Guy and Timmy the Toxic Slimeball, have been chosen as winners and are currently available for pre-order. Last month, PatchTogether launched a new On-Demand service. When pre-order demand meets a set run number, production of the toy begins. With the On-Demand service, designers don’t have to win PatchTogether’s competition to have their toys produced. Currently, PatchTogether makes toys in vinyl and resin, with metal, wood and plush as options for smaller runs.

As of today, the results count for a search on “tee shirts” is 8,090,000. Make that search more specific — say, for “glow-in-the-dark tee shirts” — and the numbers narrow to 682,000. Make it really specific — “neon pterodactyl Christmas tee shirt” — and it shrinks to around 200. In other words, if you have five days to find the perfect tee, then don’t worry, you’ll find it.

Early this month, a site launched that hopes to consolidate, organize and energize that process, and with the team behind it, there’s a good chance that it will.

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Recently launched Causecast “brings together nonprofits, community leaders, activists, celebrities and brands, with the goal of making a positive impact on the world.” Working with hand-selected charities and non-profits, Causecast is giving some much-deserved internet exposure to organizations who may be struggling in that arena. Users of the site can upload content, connect with like-minded individuals and stay up-to-date on a variety of causes.

Educating yourself is the first step in making a difference, and it seems like this will be a great educational resource and conduit for good. Design props to Bobby Solomon from Kitsune Noir as well, who headed up the prettiness of it all. Looking forward to seeing the progress to be made!