Jason Solarek

New York City subway game

2010-10-26T13:58:00.004-04:00

The New York Times printed a story showing the MTA's NYC subway map re-interpreted by some notable artists. They then invited readers to submit their design. My design is above. A special shout out to Greg Schmitt who helped.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/10/21/nyregion/subway-map-creator.html?hp

Freight Crane Home by Solarek

2010-09-10T11:40:00.003-04:00

Bracelets inspired by club wrist-bands

2010-08-01T21:14:00.009-04:00

Inspiration:
Inspired by night life around the world, these VIP bracelets carry the energy of the night into the day and wardrobe.
Borrowing from what is a universal item – the wrist brand used to designate the lucky at the velvet rope – these bracelets imbue luck with a twist of the wrist. What was once ephemeral becomes an item of beauty.

Creation:
Aluminum party bracelets with global party hot spots.

Design choices:
Paris. NYC. Barcelona. Buenos Aires. Ibiza. London. Los Angeles. Mexico City. Tokyo.

Color choices:
Le Bain Orange, 10 June Blue, Griffin Green, Pink Elephant Pink (pink not shown)

Materials:
Aluminum / Paint / Paper.

Sizing:
Fits most female wrists and male wrists medium or smaller. 6" in total length.

Manufacturing:
Hand painted.

Customization available:
Yes. Please send us your custom city name, and we'll print it on the bracelet.

Price:
TBD

Virgin Airlines' Australian inflight magazine writes about my product Air Wear

2010-07-13T17:21:00.003-04:00

View my Air Wear designs and products

Wine labels

2010-05-13T17:26:00.000-04:00

While in Brooklyn eating lunch, I sketched out some ideas for wine labels. Then mocked them up.

When I stage a White House version of Hamlet, maybe it can be staged here...

2010-02-09T19:39:00.005-05:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/theater/09shakespeare.html?scp=2&sq=shakespeare&st=cse

Some life goals on a napkin

2009-08-17T13:19:00.002-04:00

Wrote these down the other night at a bar...a friend did the same, then we compared napkins...

Cool picture of zeppelin in Germany in the 1930's

2009-06-17T19:48:00.001-04:00

Temperature Reading for NYC

2009-05-12T16:29:00.004-04:00

We watch the stock market as an indicator of our economy's health. What if NYC.gov kept a 'live' ticker on its home page listing factors that determine the city's health? In sum, these may include: # of estimated jobs, # of cars, # of bicycles, # of murders, # of unemployed. keep the list at 10 factors. The goal: have the good numbers go up, have the bad numbers go down. This data could even be output on a screen in front of City Hall, and/or in different mediums around the city. It would be a live temperature reading of us.

Doing some work while a handyman stands on my desk

2009-04-24T12:55:00.001-04:00

Lunch with the new Yorker magazine on the Bowery

2009-04-13T16:17:00.003-04:00

2009-04-09T17:30:00.001-04:00

Kennys castaway karaoke on Sundays

2009-04-05T21:35:00.001-04:00

Quote i liked...

2009-03-29T18:00:00.002-04:00

"Why try to be something to everyone when you can be everything to somebody?"

Dinner is served

2009-03-27T17:05:00.001-04:00

Trees representing metal

2009-03-05T12:13:00.003-05:00

Subway mural inspiration

2009-03-05T12:13:00.001-05:00

A few blogs write about our Apartment for Rent t-shirts

2009-03-04T19:17:00.007-05:00

I was happy to see these 3 blogs write about our Apartment Apparel t-shirts and buttons. The article is below.
The products can be found here:
http://newyorkcityapartments.spreadshirt.com/us/US/Shop/

The posts:
http://ny.therealdeal.com/articles/wear-your-home-hunt-on-your-sleeve
http://cityfile.com/dailyfile/4701
http://curbed.com/archives/2009/03/04/renty_to_wear.php#reader_comments

March, 04, 2009
Wear your home hunt on your sleeve
By Jovana Rizzo
The Real Deal

In addition to listing your apartment with brokers or on Craigslist, you can now advertise your real estate search on your chest.
East Village graphic designer Jason Solarek has created T-shirts and buttons with the phrases "I need an apartment to rent" and "I have an apartment for rent," giving people an opportunity to facilitate real estate transactions during an ordinary day.
Solarek, the creative director of advertising agency Solarek Studios, came up with the idea for the shirts because he kept running into people who were talking about trying to find, or get rid of, apartments. He launched the shirts on his Web site last week.
"A lot of people are always asking friends [about apartments], or mention things in passing. There are a lot of missed opportunities to be able to exchange information," Solarek said, adding that his T-shirts could inspire conversation between people in real estate limbo.
The shirts come in male, female and v-neck versions, and are priced at $25 to $27. Whether people wear the shirts for fashion or to actually advertise their apartments remains to be seen.
Paul Purcell, co-founder of Charles Rutenberg in New York, said sellers obviously still need a broker's services to sell homes, but "it forces us to think in different ways," whether it's advertising on a T-shirt or on Facebook. In November, one man took selling his apartment into his own hands by walking around the city with a cardboard ad, yelling "apartment for sale!"
And even if the shirts don't help someone find an apartment, Solarek says they are appropriate for the city's obsession with real estate.
"In New York, the first thing people say to each other is 'Hi, nice to meet you, how much do you pay for your apartment? Or do you have an apartment for rent? Or I have an apartment for rent," Solarek said. "I think that the shirt is apropos for the time and a tongue in cheek representation of our New York real estate mindset."

White house internship days

2009-03-02T12:46:00.002-05:00

I'm the dork in the right side of the picture....second up from the base of the stairs. Bill shook my hand, and complimented me on my tie. I didn't realize it's protocol to give the president a tie if he compliments it. Ironically, it had elephants on it.

For nyc subwar door hangar map

2009-02-27T16:15:00.001-05:00

This cologne will get u a...

2009-02-27T16:05:00.001-05:00

2009-02-21T12:23:00.001-05:00

Hidden subway at Houston and Crosby under construction

2009-02-20T15:35:00.003-05:00

2009-02-20T15:30:00.001-05:00

New work city wall map

2009-02-19T18:49:00.002-05:00

this is a concept for a large wall map.
points:
- when put together from 8.5 x 11 paper sheets, it forms a wall mural of nyc that is 5' x 10'. (that is about 8 sheets heigh, and 16 wide).
- one can print out different sheets according to date, and type. aka: a section of the map from how that part of nyc was in 1624, or in 2009. one can also print out that part of the city in 2009 to show mass transit or restaurants.
- the 'panels' sit over each other, in clear holders.
- one could have all the panels showing 1624 street views, or 2009 aerial views, or a mix them up.
- by having the panels be 8.5 x 11, this allows anyone to print the map at home...and therefore, the product could be sold online only....a nice version could be boxed for instore sales.
- this could be done for any large city...

Mauri Povich set

2009-02-19T18:46:00.002-05:00

Jordan and erik at the newly wed game

2009-02-19T17:11:00.001-05:00

Apartment for Rent / Need Apartment to Rent T-shirts

2009-02-17T13:33:00.004-05:00

Apartment for Rent T-shirts
Need Apartment to Rent T-shirts
This is a concept for a t-shirt line to help people find rental apartments, or rent what they have. In markets like NYC, it can be very challenging. Ideally, one could rent to someone they meet, or at least have something in common with. If one is out at the same bar, in the same neighborhood as someone with this t-shirt, it may just be the spark that puts things in motion.
I wonder if one wore this out, how many inquiries they'd get. ..maybe it depends more on how hot the wearer is vs. the market. ; )

Please view the Apartment T-shirts shop by clicking here

2009-02-14T15:55:00.001-05:00

2009-02-13T23:31:00.001-05:00

2009-02-07T12:06:00.001-05:00

9 story snowboarding ramp in NYC

2009-02-04T15:19:00.003-05:00

Refrig on 9th at

2009-02-03T23:10:00.001-05:00

Carnegie hall Tibet house concert

2009-02-03T23:09:00.001-05:00

The National at Carnegie hall

2009-02-03T21:09:00.002-05:00

The National at Carnegie hall

2009-02-03T21:03:00.002-05:00

Kidjo at Carnegie Hall

2009-02-03T20:15:00.002-05:00

Grandmother in New York State Bowling League Championship in 1963

2009-02-02T21:40:00.005-05:00

Grandma is second from the right side.

When I was 7 yrs old

2009-02-02T21:38:00.003-05:00

Great Grandfather's bar in Salamanca, New York in the early 20th century

2009-02-02T21:21:00.002-05:00

New York City Acronym T-shirt by Solarek Studio / Wordsworth

2009-02-02T18:04:00.004-05:00

View and buy New York City t-shirts here http://wordsworth.spreadshirt.com/

Obama's a Leo

2009-01-31T22:40:00.002-05:00

me, too
; )

Barbie's Glass Ceiling

2009-01-31T16:22:00.003-05:00

I couldn't help but think of the term "glass ceiling' when I was at the Barbie center at F.A.O Schwartz...boys are building robots in one corner of the store, and girls are admiring high-heels in another.

Wordsworth Dubai t-shirt by Solarek Studio

2009-01-30T13:15:00.007-05:00

View and buy Dubai t-shirts here http://wordsworth.spreadshirt.com/

2009-01-28T20:24:00.001-05:00

2009-01-28T20:23:00.001-05:00

2009-01-28T20:21:00.001-05:00

NYC 1609 vs. 2009

2009-01-26T18:21:00.001-05:00

This composite image splits Manhattan into two visions; how it looked in 1609, left; its more vertical profile today, right.

I'd love to see this blown up huge, and placed in Times Square. This is from an article in today's Times about the exploration of NYC. A quick excerpt before you get to whatever else you were doing:

Mr. Sanderson writes Mannahatta had more ecological diversity than Yellowstone, more native plant species than Yosemite, more species of birds than the Great Smoky Mountains.

“If Mannahatta existed today as it did then, it would be a national park,” Mr. Sanderson writes. “It would be the crowning glory of American national parks.”

Full article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/25/nyregion/25manhattan.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=henry%20hudson&st=cse

Quote that i liked...

2009-01-01T20:47:00.002-05:00

Only after the last tree has been cut down. Only after the last fish has been caught. Only after the last river has been poisoned. Only then wiil you realize that money cannot be eaten.

This appeared in 'Here' magazine.

South Carolina Santas

2009-01-01T17:36:00.002-05:00

Ad agencies selling their own products? We're one of them

2008-12-31T16:37:00.005-05:00

The following letter was sent to New York Times writer Claire Cain Miller in response to her article in today's Times. In the article (click here to read it), she describes agencies that are developing their own products.

........................

Dear Claire,

I enjoyed your article today about advertising agencies launching their own products. I agree that agencies stand to gain a lot by developing their own products and services. In this tough economy, this will put their feet to the fire in terms of seeing how much it costs to launch and maintain a product and/or service. Often, agencies want to spend, spend, spend on building a brand, while the client has to explain market forces and the economy to the agency. With the agency's money directly on the line, they stand to learn what it's like to be a client. Due to this, even if an agency doesn't want to offer its own product or service, it should do so. By becoming the 'client,' the agency can ironically become a better agency.

I have an advertising firm. We have worked with Newsweek, Tony n' Tina's Wedding, and home goods retailers, and I recently launched a travel product company named Air Wear. We've seen from our Air Wear dealings issues that mirror our advertising clients' issues. We can better relate to our clients because we are our own client. And then their are the perks of being the 'client.' When National Geographic Traveler magazine featured our products this past summer, our name wasn't buried like it is when our work is published for clients. Our name was right out front in the article. Overall, we are benefiting in many ways when we become agency and client.

Thank you.

Jason Solarek
Creative Director and Founder
Solarek Studio / Air Wear
http://www.solarek.com
http://www.solarek.com/airwear/

339 East 9th Street
New York, NY 10003
Office: 212-254-9654
Mobile: 917-519-1776
___________________
Solarek Studio
Every Product Has a Story to Sell

An appearance in the Friends of the High Line video

2008-12-30T10:46:00.005-05:00

Friends of the High Line is a group dedicated to preserving an elevated railway for conversion into a promenade. I've loved this project since I heard about it first on NPR in 1999, when I moved to NYC from Buenos Aires. The park's first section will open in the spring of 2009. Wow. 10 years has gone by fast....or slow...or maybe fast. Either way, a success. Congrats FHL!

Watch the video:
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy4LcvWoIEg&feature=related

(I'm at time stamp 3:05)

2008-12-27T18:41:00.001-05:00

2008-12-25T10:48:00.001-05:00

Xmas day on the beach

2008-12-25T10:42:00.001-05:00

Cool story about two blokes and a lion

2008-12-21T19:48:00.003-05:00

I love this true story about two guys that raised a lion:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adYbFQFXG0U

Protestors at Waverly Inn in NYC

2008-12-17T20:25:00.002-05:00

2008-12-14T20:46:00.001-05:00

2008-12-13T02:19:00.001-05:00

Today's Idea

2008-11-30T18:37:00.002-05:00

TiVo can let you order PIzza from Domino's. How about letting people buy local theater tickets? Potential partners:TicketMaster or TheaterMania.com

Family in scotia new york

2008-11-29T16:52:00.001-05:00

Back in nyc

2008-11-28T16:53:00.001-05:00

2008-11-27T00:08:00.001-05:00

Museum of Natural History Skating Rink

2008-11-26T16:46:00.002-05:00

Times square

2008-11-26T15:46:00.001-05:00

Aircraft carrier size compared to Chrysler building

2008-11-26T12:52:00.002-05:00

Intrepid

2008-11-26T12:17:00.001-05:00

Neighbor Billy, me, and dad

2008-11-25T19:01:00.002-05:00

Bliss

2008-11-20T22:58:00.001-05:00

2008-11-20T14:53:00.001-05:00

Bryan bday

2008-11-19T23:42:00.001-05:00

Just voted

2008-11-04T09:49:00.001-05:00

2008-11-03T15:16:00.001-05:00

Mike, ashley, and brother greg on halloween

2008-11-03T12:04:00.002-05:00

Barry b benson pumpkin

2008-10-31T18:15:00.001-04:00

Boston

2008-10-30T15:20:00.001-04:00

Why setting is important...

2008-10-27T08:53:00.001-04:00

Nestle owns the bottled water market

2008-10-26T22:05:00.001-04:00

Nestle brands that rank among the top 10 bottled waters: 7

Starbucks locations

2008-10-26T22:04:00.000-04:00

Locations in 2007: 11,000 (approx.)
in 1987: 11

Ikan grocery barcode scanner

2008-10-26T20:46:00.005-04:00

A recent article in Wired talked about a scientist initially assigning barcodes to moths. Below is a system to organize your shopping list. Barcodes are a quick and standardized way to categorize items, and combining this info with the Web offers many opportunities. What if I scanned the pens I bought at Staples and was given a web page listing the pen, their history (Wiki style), and then was shown prices for it in neighboring stores. The page can also show other similar products. Amazon.com meets Wikipedia meets a barcode scanner. There must be a quicker way to call up info about items I'm holding in my hand. Barcodes seem like an answer, in tandem with a tool like the one I describe above.

David Pogue's article about Ikan can be found here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/19/technology/personaltech/19pogue.html?_r=1&8dpc&oref=slogin

Deforestation accounts for 20% of all carbon emissions

2008-10-24T20:25:00.002-04:00

I found this in a Conversation International advertisement: "Deforestation accounts for 20% of all carbon emissions, which is twice the amount that all cars, trucks, and planes in the world emit, combined."

How do we approach that? Drive less, or drive as much and just make people in South America, Russia, and Indonesia not cut down their trees? We tend (unfairly) to do the latter.

Air wear airport code travel bag in national geographic traveler magazine

2008-10-15T00:07:00.001-04:00

Santa Fe

2008-10-10T21:07:00.001-04:00

Santa Fe Friday Night

2008-10-09T19:59:00.002-04:00

2008-10-09T15:23:00.000-04:00

2008-10-08T15:16:00.001-04:00

It's the Economy, Smarty

2008-10-06T16:34:00.005-04:00

Everyone is running around saying the sky is falling. Want to better understand the economic trouble we're in? Check out this informative and funny episode from this American Life (from NPR):

http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=365

2008-10-06T15:45:00.001-04:00

Snack dragon

2008-10-03T20:56:00.001-04:00

Old Nbc building in meatpacking district

2008-10-02T13:19:00.001-04:00

New bike racks in new york city

2008-10-01T10:02:00.001-04:00

2008-09-27T00:00:00.001-04:00

2008-09-25T21:28:00.001-04:00

2008-09-23T23:02:00.001-04:00

2008-09-23T21:50:00.001-04:00

Bike and Walking 'Beach' Alongside Flatiron Building in New York City

2008-09-15T19:07:00.004-04:00

Target bodega new york

2008-09-15T13:30:00.001-04:00

Bus on St. Marks Place in East Village

2008-09-14T16:29:00.002-04:00

Standing on Cortland St. looking West to East on Canal St.

2008-09-13T14:31:00.002-04:00

Guggenheim Museum

2008-09-13T14:29:00.005-04:00