Thursday, October 2, 2008

Magazine Cover

CMYK Magazine

CMYK Magazine always seem to choose the most interesting cover designs. As interesting as the covers are, the inside of the magazine is even more intriguing. Since it is a communications magazine, the designs inside are very creative. This magazine keeps me flipping through and waiting for the next issue.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Print Ads

Fanta

I think that this Fanta ad is very clever. Obviously, I'm not the only one because CMYK chose to use this ad for the cover of their magazine for the month of October. It's very clever and colorful which catches the audience's eyes.


Hot Wheels

In this advertisement, two enormous 18 wheelers are about to crash into each other. On the yellow warning sign it says, "Do not try this at home". I think it is a clever way to capture young children's attention as well as those adults who still enjoy playing with cars :)

Pow Wow Bar & Restaurant

At first glance, the viewer just looks in wonder of the huge mouth. But after reading the print, it becomes clear that this advertisement is for a burger restaurant. These burgers are not just usual burgers, they're enormous. I really like how the designers used humor to capture the audience and convey the large burgers.


Website Links

The makers of the Glaceau website did an amazing job. Glaceau is the maker of vitamin water, smart water and vitamin energy water. I love the way the products hover and move around when selected. The overall design is well balanced and enjoyable to explore.
http://glaceau.com/

The first website I chose was made for a friend of mine who is a photographer. I think the navigation and format of the website really mirrors how classy and original Jana's photography is. I love the music, smooth transition of pictures, and easy navigation. Click below to visit Jana Candler's site:
http://www.janacandlerphoto.com/index2.php?v=v1

The second website I chose is a simple one made for Nike women athletes. Like with the first website, it is easy to navigate. I like the smooth transition of the pop up sections for each of the categories. I also like the flower patters which carry into other areas of the website.

http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/?locale=en_us&l=events

I chose the Herbal Essence website mostly because of the bright feminine colors and gradients. I love how the designers combined photography and graphics on the home page. The website produces a cute and clean feel which makes me want to keep using their products.

http://www.herbalessences.com/default.jsp

I decided to add a designer's website into the mix. I really like the feel of antiquity of this website. Its simply designed which makes flipping through the designer's work easy and relaxed. I especially like the repetition of the pointing fingers throughout the website.
http://dogeareddesign.com/

Symbols

This symbol is well known throughout the world, hence the different language examples. You don't even have to know the language to understand the message. The little falling man is a quick reminder to everyone to be careful...although sometimes I for one still find myself slipping :)





The deer crossing symbol is another common symbol found everywhere. The bounding buck says it all: watch out because there's a possibility a deer may jump out, you may hit it, and either of you or both of you could be in extreme trouble.

Commercials



Coca Cola Commercial
At first I thought this Coca Cola commercial was a little weird. But after looking at it a couple of times, I realize that was the designers' intentions. The point was to make the action of simply buying a coke interesting and entertaining. The designers made the audience imagine that the process of making a coke was more than an ordinary task. Every time I see this commercial it makes me want to buy a cold coke even though I do not even drink soft drinks.


Target 2 Day Sale Commercial
I think this is the best Target commercial ever made. The animation is very well done and transitions smoothly from scene to scene. I also like the simplicity of the little man and cart forms. This commercial really gets the viewer to feel like they are "training" to go to target also. I could not put the clip directly on here, but here's the link so go check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZf7TjGbaHA



iPod Commercial
The colors and movement are what really attracted me to this commercial. I also like the triadic color schemes used in the scenes. The music is catchy and goes well with the theme. Overall, I think it's a very entertaining and effective commercial.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Motion Graphics



I really really really like this video. The typography used is great! It amazes me how everything in the video is type. I also like the music because it ties in with the type and enhances the message against pollution.

Book Jacket


Soul Cravings
by Erwin Raphael McManus

I absolutely love the book jacket for this book. Obviously the designer chose to use the power palette which captures the viewer. I love that it is so simple, but bold at the same time. The designer's use of asymmetry (obtained by using the fingerprint) really works well with the concept. Not only is the design great, but the book is also wonderful. Basically, it is about what everyone craves in life as well as answering the question of why we crave what we crave. Unfortunately I could not find a picture of the back cover of the book. It's incredible. It continues the red fingerprints but with the pointer through pinky fingers. Pick up a copy and check it out! For more great book covers by DogEaredDesign go to http://www.dogeareddesign.com/dogeared.html

CD Sleeve

"Absolution" by Muse










There's a lot I like about this CD sleeve. First, I love the rhythm created by the flying shadows of people. This carries from the front all the way to the back of the CD sleeve. I believe that these bodies flying over the people are imitating airplanes which reminds me of the beginnings of a war. I think it's good that the designers kept the typography and wording simple and let the images speak for themselves.

3 LOGOS

Caribou Coffee
This logo is used for coffee drinks, snack bars, and many other coffee products. I for one love coffee and enjoy all of Caribou Coffee's products. The logo is really inviting to me because of its naturalistic, earthy feel. The typography used also adds to this naturalistic design and gives it a light and fun personality.

DC Shoe Co. USA
If you live in the US, you're probably very familiar with this logo. Used especially by skateboarders, DC shoes have become quite popular in our generation. I personally do not own a pair of DC's but I have always loved this design. I think it's awesome how the designer made the D and C overlap and become almost symmetrical with the openings. I also like how the star is added to give even more uniqueness and style. It's somewhat simple but reaches a wide range of viewers.


Life is good.
Now I know that I am not the only one out there that loves this logo. Not only do I love the logo, but I own many of the products. What I like most about this logo is the typography used. The type is simple, playful, and inviting. I also like the animated characters used with the type (like the little man on this logo). Whether the character is a dog, person, boat, or flower, they are made to be unified with the type.




Monday, September 1, 2008

Top 5 Designers


Gerard Huerta
Gerard Huerta is one of my favorite graphic designers. His unique designs have made their marks on many well-known companies and businesses. Nabisco, Swiss Army, Spelling Entertainment Inc., and even Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey have all adopted Huerta's designs as their logos. He also created the title designs for Time Magazine, People Weekly, and PC Magazine which are easily recognized in today's society. I like his designs because they are very clean-cut and easily communicate the product or event being advertised. I also like that his designing capabilities are very broad. Huerta designs range from the Superbowl XXVIII to Clip Art.



Joe Finocchiaro
Another designer I like is Joe Finocchiaro. Finocchiaro has impacted the world of design quite significantly. Some of his works include symbols for Fraser Papers, Dodge, Samsung, American Heart Association, PBS, and Compaq. I particularly like the Fraser Papers Design. Although it is simple, the continuity and angle used to combine the two beginning letters, "F" and "P", is very creative. In fact, most of his designs are quite simple, but the creativity and craftsmanship involved makes a notable impact on viewers. His designs are so trusted that they even appear on the American Express Card. Joe Finocchiaro inspires me to become a great designer who creates interesting logos and symbols but also greatly considers craftsmanship.



Saul Bass
Saul Bass is also a great designer. Bass designed logos, movie posters, title sequences, and many other items. Some of his greatest accomplishments in the movie industry were designing the posters for "Vertigo", "The Man with the Golden Arm", and the "Two of us". He also created the title sequences for the movies "Cape Fear" and "Good Fellas". His most popular logos, or company identities, include United Airlines, AT&T, and Minolta. Although some of his creations may seem old, Saul Bass is seen as a legend. In a way, he helped open the door for the design industry. I really like how he created something new and interesting for that time period. I like his style in that many of his designs look like paper cutouts. Saul Bass passed away in 1996, but his work still lives on.



Paul Rand
When speaking of graphic design, of course Paul Rand's name is going to be brought up in the conversation. Paul Rand is responsible for designing logos for many of America's important institutions. These institutions include UPS, IBM, ABC, NeXT Computer, and Westinghouse. He also created many classic short videos. The way he used space and shapes has set an example for all graphic designers. I particularly like his designs for IBM. I love that he originally created the logo using an eye, bee,and "M". It later became the blue, striped IBM logo that we recognize today. This goes to show that our designs can always be changed, or updated without losing meaning or effect. Paul Rand also passed away in 1996, but he is still considered a legend.



Milton Glaser

Milton Glaser is also a well-known graphic designer. One his greatest accomplishments was the trademark "I love New York". I like that this design uses the power palette. This design has been used thousands of times and has been altered to fit other places as well. Although the design is simple and short, it remains timeless in America. Other design accomplishments of Glaser's are Barron's (a book publisher),Tomato Record Company, and ISIX. He also designed covers for Time Magazine, Fortune, New York Magazine, and Washington Post. Another thing I like about Glaser is that not only he a great designer, he is also a great artist. He drew pictures for the book "The Alphazeds" and a series based on Claude Monet.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Q & A

1. So why am I a design major?

I've decided to study design because I have always been involved in designing various things for school and church groups. Whether it be literary magazines, posters, drawings, paintings... I always enjoy creating something new and interesting.

2. Who's my favorite designer?

It's hard to say exactly which designer is my favorite...choices, choices... However, one designer I like is Micheal Parent. Most people commonly know him as the guy who created the new Starbucks logo. I like that he took the old logo (which is somewhat odd and unpleasant, just go look for yourself) and turned it into something that people were attracted to and still recognized.


3. If I could design the CD cover for any band, who would I choose?

I've thought about this question numerous times, as do most designers who love music. If I had to choose, I would choose Nickelcreek. Nickelcreek's music is a mixture of bluegrass, folk rock, and country. With so much variety, it would be interesting and difficult to try and incorporate all into one design, but I've always loved a challenge.