- 4/5/2013 10:50:53 AM

symbols are interesting because they mean things based on their design and imagery, so in my eyes, all symbols should be able to be used in whatever context you want as long as that symbol relates to the subject and context. it's interesting that symbols can "belong" to cultures or groups even if something generic like a simple shape (swastika). it's a rad shape. i wish i could use it. but nooooooo. hitler had to ruin a cool shape for everyone. don't get me wrong, we should be careful, i'm just saying in a perfect corey world, we could use whatever we want and people would get it.

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DavidGaddy - 3/18/2013 4:51:13 PM

Late to the party, but oh well. I'll just say that eye like the design. :) I didn't really relate the eyeball to anything evil. I also have to agree a little about taking symbols back. While the swastika might be a little hard to reclaim because of how embedded it now is in nazism, the eye is still subtle enough to not immediately reference evil to everyone. As long as the message on the shirt is obviously Christian, I think it is fine. At some point someone decided to include the pagan symbols for fertility in the Christian celebration of Passover. Probably because new pagan converts were already celebrating their holiday with those symbols at the time. It was adopted into a single Christian holiday we now call Easter. And although eggs and rabbits are a bit weird, no one truly recognizes it as the worship of the goddess Eostre anymore. Instead the resurrection of Christ is celebrated (albeit with a weird egg hunt thrown in for a bit of fun). Christianity stole those symbols from that false goddess. I may be unique in this view, but I don't make a big deal about Easter eggs being in there, because Eostre is defeated. She is now just a part of Teutonic history and no one is worshipping her. I still get to celebrate my Savior's resurrection and the arbitrary symbols are just a reminder of her defeat by the only real God. So I say, take back the eye while we can. Before it becomes a swastika.

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Zack J Krzyzanski - 3/18/2013 2:03:29 PM

There's that texture again! About the symbol discussion...Seems to be plaguing your submissions. With the recent string of celebrity satanism (beyonce, jay-z etc..) the eye has been a common discussion. I wouldn't have made the relation myself, because it just doesn't look that much like it. If you submit it on a secular site as an "All Seeing Eye' design, people would say it doesn't look like it. Anyways, welcome to the community, and I look forward to your next submission.

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COOP - 3/14/2013 6:11:38 PM

Hey Corey, thanks for the kind words, I really appreciate it. I see what you are saying about the whole "" vs. "you" thing. The reason I went with the "U" is, I like how it filled the space and how it made a nice platform for "he is calling".

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- 3/14/2013 2:34:11 PM

i'm on your side with this one coop.... an eye is an eye. the whole all seeing eye thing is only that when in certain contexts. otherwise, it's just an eye. this design is pretty cool. the one thing i'm seeing that bugs me is the use of "U". the whole vibe is vintage typography, so "U" kinda sticks out to me. i see why you used it, i just don't think it was the best solution. i would have stuck with "you".

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Sevenlives - 3/7/2013 3:12:46 PM

Thank you brother! You are as well talented and I'm pleased to hear we're cool! :) Joshua if you read one of my posts in the forum you'll find the following quote "..I'm eager to do some awesome work and have them pick it up so others can wear them and be conversation starters for God. (that's my goal) " We definitely share a vision!! May God bless you, let's do this to the very best potential and pray God takes us places for his cause. :) Take it easy bro!

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COOP - 3/7/2013 7:00:01 AM

I'm totally not upset with you. We are just having a discussion. I guess I'm just a little frustrated with Christian t-shirts/ clothing in general. Most of it is just parody or something that only a believer would get or understand. Now I know that is not always the case, but hear me out. I think these shirts should be used as a witnessing tool, something to get the conversation started. That is why when the eye was pointed out as something shouldn't be on there, I seriously rolled my eyes(come on it's just an eye and it's not even at the top of a pyramid). Also, my other shirt has a zombie hand on it and I know a lot of people aren't happy about that. I know there are lines and I'm guilty crossing them, but I'm going to continue to take it to the edge in the pursuit of sharing the gospel with people, who would otherwise turn a cold shoulder to another lame parody. All you parody designers don't hear me wrong, there is a market for that and some of them are actually well done, but It's not for me. Thanks Sevenlines! By the way your portfolio is outstanding, you are very blessed!

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Sevenlives - 3/7/2013 5:27:55 AM

Please don't misunderstand my intentions, I pray you don't. My goal isn't to embarrass or demoralize you in anyway, as I've said I'm guilty of the same things (and worse). I think you may have inadvertently proven what I was trying to explain, Coop. The swatsika started out as a symbol not associated with the Nazis or anything evil. It literally translates "to be good". The nazis tainted it. However I could be justified in using it in the design I explained earlier, however it would upset the faith of many...or the weaker brother as it were. (Things do apply here) By your response coop, I can tell you'd disapprove of the idea of designing something about Christ with a swastika...I would as well. But by the logic you've used, I could fight to regain it back from what has tainted it...but my argument would be..why bother, It's just a symbol...As a Christian, I could edit it differently if it won't upset the faith of my brothers weaker in the faith. You see the weaker brother is a more strict brother. My original intent was to show that we should be watchful over them in all that we do. But all this is pointless on the bigger scale of things if we aren't good with each other Coop...I think you're talented and well meaning and my intentions aren't to agitate you in anyway brother. So the bigger question would be, are we cool? I wouldn't want you upset with me. :( Truly I am sorry if I've upset you.

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COOP - 3/5/2013 7:15:35 PM

A Nazi swastika was made for evil, it's symbol that cannot be redeemed. Not a good example. I get what your saying about the weaker brother but that doesn't really apply here. You guys are totally missing the point. One question, would you guys use a rainbow on a shirt?

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Sevenlives - 3/5/2013 7:09:57 PM

Oh and Joshua, I've been guilty of the very same in some of my designs. I feel is important for me to state this that you know I would not talk down to you, I would not dare judge you brother. Keep designing for God, and doing good. ;) God bless!

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Sevenlives - 3/5/2013 5:57:26 PM

Hey Coop, Firstly my apologies as I didn't mean to start anything really. It's a nice design truly. :) Secondly, if truly what you say is how you feel, then I'm sure you're justified before God. I would just kindly ask that you'd consider what Paul said in Corinthians 8:13 "Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble." I believe as Christians we ought to think of others before ourselves. If there's something done that may cause your brother to stumble, or weaken his faith..then it's best to abstain from it. For you being the stronger brother, can do as such. =) For example Coop, I can take the phrase "Jesus is Good!" and design it with a Nazi swastika...knowing what the symbol stands for I'm fully justified in my faith before God, but what might it do to my weaker brother's faith? I totally understand your stance on taking these symbols back once tainted, but after the battle is won...was it really worth it? :) Again, with a loving heart, I totally understand you. That was my only point. I won't touch more on the subject for respect to you Coop and your cool design. :) I just wanted to shed some light of caution for the weaker brother. God bless you!! =)

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COOP - 3/5/2013 9:01:34 AM

Hey Troy, it's not texting, it's typography. Secondly, symbols are not easily redeemed because it's seems no one has the testicular fortitude to redeem them. I don't associate an eye with the occult, I associate it with seeing.

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TROY - 3/4/2013 10:53:20 AM

I didn't even see the eye at first. I tend to agree with SevenLives, that you could include two eyes instead, if at all. But, a symbol known to be used in the occult is not as readily redeemed as you may think. It has a history that many associate with it. Maybe the eye could be removed and bump the whole design up? When I first saw this design, I only saw the "U" in place of the word "You." And that's probably the old school in me that says write it out. I understand the days we're living in where texting has taken it's toll on the English language. If it sounds right, text it. Sure, use numbers for words while you're at it... Otherwise, Joshua, I like the layout and the type work here. Also, your texture is nice, even though less than you intended shows up here.

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COOP - 3/3/2013 6:56:21 AM

Hey Sevenlines thanks for the comment! I totally get what your saying and respect the knowledge you have. However I don't agree with you. It's just an eye, and on this shirt it's a symbol to represent Bartimaeus' eyes being opened. I think as Christians we need to try and take back symbols that other groups and religions have claimed as evil and use them once again for good. God is sovereign and the creator of all! Thanks again man!

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Sevenlives - 3/2/2013 9:24:22 PM

Coop I like it. You're showing a play with typography here, nice work. My only critique would be to be careful with certain symbols. The single eye above with rays emitting from it is very similar to the all seeing eye of Ra/Horus. It's an occultic symbol glorifying false deity (Sun God, Satan, etc.) (Refer to the dollar bill in your wallet with the pyramid eye...in latin, you can clearly read "Annuit Copetis Novus ordo seclorum" Which translates to "Announcing the Ne World Order" I don't mean to nit pick, but as Christians we ought to watch for things like these, as I'm sure it probably just escaped ya. May I suggest doing two eyes? Thoughts? Again, I mean this with the utmost respect. :)

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COOP - 3/2/2013 7:15:54 PM

Thanks Gamal!

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Gamal - 3/2/2013 1:10:01 PM

I like it. I think the texture would show more on a lighter color shirt. Very cool design.

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COOP - 3/1/2013 7:46:56 AM

Thank you Kathy!!!

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Kathy - 3/1/2013 7:22:39 AM

I absolutely love it...sure is BOLD & makes people want to read it :)

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COOP - 2/27/2013 6:31:49 PM

Thanks man! I'm not really sure why it looks like that??? The texture looks great in my final high res version.

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Tremayne - 2/27/2013 6:12:42 PM

Cool design, man! I think may have lost some of texture quality though. Maybe you scaled it up? If you could either fix that or eliminate it although this would be much better.

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