yoga straw
A clever yoga center straw.

penn and teller
This image for Penn & Teller is a nifty representation of the duo. The ampersand, usually a throw away character, becomes the star here with elements that match the performers’ personalities. The fat, curvy, loud part of it evokes Penn perfectly while the quiet little extender fits Teller to a tee.

(Aside: Where does the phrase “fit to a tee” come from? A couple of theories.)

If you dig this sort of witty design, check out the book A Smile in the Mind. It’s a neat resource for playful, creative design.

This book explores witty thinking — the most entertaining area of graphic design. Witty thinking is playfulness with ideas, words playing against images, unexpected connections prompting new insights. It is clever thinking, not funny drawing.