Finished, almost

My posters are printing as I type. Last night (and the last week) was a late night. Fonstruct is not my friend. After several failed attempts at a typeface, I built one in Illustrator. This assignment gives me a new respect for typeface designers. And now its time to go home and take my dog on a nice long run.

It has been a great semester, thank you for all of the insightful input along the way. See you in class tonight!

revisions

Hey guys...

I revised my images to make them all 3d and did a lot of blood work. I still have to create my font which is going to be the movie titles. The type i used for the quotes is not mine, but i think it's almost perfect. What do you guys think about it so far...???

Finally...

Posters are printed, mounted, and trimmed. Trimming was a bitch...especially at 1:30 AM, but I wanted it done, so it's done. Big shout out to Bobby G. I saw him at the lab and whilst he dealt with his printing debacle he gave me some much needed insight on the various tools in Photoshop and Illustrator. Thanks for your patience dude, much appreciated. My final images are halftones, and not exactly alike between the pieces, but I like them enough to be satisfied. I received great feedback also from Tess and Meg earlier in the week. I considered distressing my self-created text per Tess and Bobby, but I think distressing that in addition to using the halftones is overkill. I like the contrast between the smooth typeface and halftone images, for better or worse. "The Making of a Killer" stays in...a direct reference to the migration of each of the movie's main characters from an innocent to a killer...and a play on words...ie. Stone made a movie about a killer. I fought myself about the grammar here, but it's quirky and fits with Stone's persona...so again, it stays. Wanna see them?...sorry, you'll have to wait! (sorry Tess!)

THANKS TO EVERYONE for a great semester. Although I have alot of of growing yet to do as a designer, I feel like I've grown immensely over these past few months. The critique is invaluable and the blog has been a tremendous resource. It's amazing how much you can grow personally from a class like this. It certainly doesn't hurt to have great people in your class either.

C y'all Thursday.

On my way…

It is 1:56 PM on Tuesday, I'm about to head to school to print out my posters, they will be mounted tonight and I will be done with many hours to spare. Good luck, mates. I think I'll take my crew on a long walk too.

Neenah paper app

Hey guys Neenah paper has this neat app for iphones. NEENAH THINKINK You can create custom color palettes base on photos on your iphone then share upload, etc...

Whataya think?

I'm feeling pretty good about it right now. I had U-Turn in the middle, but since the "the Making of a Killer text is bumped over more to the right due to the shears image, it made the group look uneven. The only thing I see now is that the images are causing a slight slope upwards to the right when viewed as a whole, but that's because of the double point on the open shears.

Where's my bourbon?...

2 of my 3 rough posters

thoughts welcome...not yet done the U-Turn poster, but will have the same treatment. I simplified the treatment of the images. The only thing that initailly bothered me was that the bayonet and sword don't point to the same spot on the movie titles, but I don't think I can make that work without compromising the angle, and I want the angles to be the same here. The typeface I created is the movie titles and "The Making of a Killer". It's my handwriting. I eliminated ligatures and all the letters are repeated.

Project 3 revised again

Thanks for all the great crit, this was one of those projects that I needed to walk away from, have some new eyes on it and go back to, refreshed. Let me know what you think. Thanks again.

We all can't be Meg

So Adobe makes things like Kuler for the rest of us. Adobe’s Kuler is a community driven web app that lets you browse color palettes created by others. You can also create your own by using the color wheel, harmony rules, and color sliders.

when I grow up I want to design something like this

Designed by Martin Kann Design | Country: Sweden

“The Swedish rock band Bob Hund released their single Fantastiskt (fantastic) as a one copy vinyl record that only allows 30 playings. The record was placed on a turntable with the lyrics etched on the turntable lid. It sold on eBay for US $3,650 and became the most expensive record ever sold in Sweden.”

SiteGrinder

This plug-in for Photoshop allows you to take your site mock-ups from PS & "effortlessly convert your Photoshop designs into standards compliant, CSS-rich webpages. All within Photoshop, and all with no coding required." No joke, I'm using it now and life just got much better. The more CSS & code you know, the more you can tweak and edit your site, but for beginners, you don't gotta know shit to make it happen. I have a 15% off code for the regular & a $50 off code for the pro, I got the pro, if you want either discount code, just ask & if I like you, I'll give it.

They have comprehensive tutorials and support files, however they could use a lesson in good design, but that is another review for another time.

I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow when I make the site I created today LIVE! I'm so psyched about this!

Posters- Project 3

I'm still working and adding details in the 3 posters but I'm giving you guys the first pick. I hope you can see this before tonight class, so maybe the list of feedback tonight can be really helpful. The idea on each poster comes from:
1.- Amélie is a more romantic film. This story is about a woman who takes pleasure in doing good deeds but cannot find love herself.
2.-The City of Lost Children (1995), a dark, multi-layered fantasy film with a twisting plot about a mad scientist who kidnaps children in order to steal their dreams thus preventing him from aging prematurely.
3.-Delicatessen (1991), a black comedy set in a famine-plagued post-apocalyptic world, in which a block of flats above a delicatessen is ruled by a butcher who kills people in order to feed his tenants.

See you tonight!!

better? worse? the same?

I've made some improvements on my last set of roughs. Some thoughts:

1. my new self-created font is the headline "OLIVER STONE". I like this much better..more modern and says "Stone" me because it's edgy.
2. I'm using an ultrathin Bernhard font for the subtitle and movie title. I like it for the subtitle, but it's getting lost on the movie title. Maybe I need a different font, or possibly convert to outlines and raise the stroke size.
3. I changed the gun in the Platoon poster and took out the sunlight effect. The color is altered slightly here, and I'm thinking I may need to lighten the orange to more of a white to get it in line with the other posters.
4. The U-Turn poster is totally redone, save for the concept. The background color was changed to more of a sandy color. The move takes place in the desert. The black in my old rough was just too strong and overpowered the other posters. I also change the image and bumped down the size to match the other posters. I was hesitant to use a closed pair of shears, but it's consistent with the other images...ie. the gun isn't being fired and the sword isn't being wielded. I added a different effect to this image as well...oh and that "sto.." is the Istock watermark, not me being clever with my director's name. i have not purchased this image yet.
5. Obviously I need to add the AFI logo yet, etc.

Sorry to ramble, time for your thoughts...

Project 3 revised

This includes my custom-made font, thank you fontstruct. All the copy is now included, strong, interesting images that offer lots of texture and create interest. Clear and interesting typographic treatment. Please, tell me what you think.

New Project 3 Concept

I came up with a new concept for my posters. My theme is "the disintegration of a family," each film features a family or families that are slowly falling apart. These posters are really rough, but I would like to know if you think my concept is working. The first image is an allusion to the Tenenbaum's house on Archer Ave. and the bricks are falling out. The second image is an Indian cloth that is unraveling. In The Darjeeling Limited, three brothers travel across India to track down their mother. I still have a lot of work to do on this image, but do you think the theme is coming across? Do you think the cloth looks like it is from India? For my final poster I am going to make a tree consisting of a grassy texture, an allusion to the "lawn wranglers," a landscaping crew featured in Bottle Rockets. I also still need to make a typeface.

Typekit

This may be the answer to using fonts on your web site. I'm very interested in this.

Project 3

How about some feedback for your friend bob?

the 3 images are as follows: elephant man is a desaturated sepia, straight story is desaturated full color, eraserhead is black & white–homage to the style the movies were shot in.

i have created a custom typeface that resembles the type the movie titles are in, haven't been able to download it from fontstruct yet.

i am also still adding the details like show times, dates, etc. I am also going with a different treatment for lynch's name, but that is the place holder.

AFI Logo

You're welcome.

http://www.vector-logos.com/

http://www.vector-logos.com/logo-en-1902.html

or

http://www.brandsoftheworld.com/

http://www.brandsoftheworld.com/search/114491126/48481.html

Rough Posters

Hey Gang,
Okay feedback from last class was to keep it simple, show the actual weapons, and don't make my audience work too much. My movies are Alexander, U-Turn, and Platoon. The samples here are real rough...layouts are in progress and I need to get a yay or nay on my "Oliver Stone" fonts... likes, dislikes, etc are welcome on those.

While keeping it simple, I still need to convey Oliver Stone's film style. I did this by showing the weapons using the prominent movie effects/shots he uses in each movie.

In Alexander, (by the way this is his sword on the poster) there is a sequence towards the end of the movie where Alexander gets stabbed in battle and Stone applies a red filter to everything. Everything also becomes posterized and appears in slo mo. The poster also has a red filter and posterization applied. I had to be careful with the red filter because it turns the white blade pink if I apply it too much, and I don't want that...actually, come to think of it...and I'm just thinking of this now....Alexander was bisexual in the movie, so maybe the pink would work...

In U-Turn, the garden shears were used to cut off two of the lead character's fingers for money he owed to a bookee in Vegas. He winds up killing later in the movie to get money to repay the bookee so he doesn't lose his other fingers. Stone uses alot of close-ups in the movie...so I'm using a close-up here and applied some effects similar to what Stone uses.

In Platoon, Stone doesn't use a ton of his classic film effects, but he still uses plenty of symbolism, and sunlight through the trees is prominent. One of the main themes of Platoon focuses on the lead character (Charlie Sheen) losing his innocence. At first I wanted to show sunlight coming from behind the gun, but once I started playing with the sunlight effect I liked how it could shine through the gun...like the warm light was becoming one with the deadly weapon.

At any rate, like I said, these are rough, but time is of the essence and I would love some feedback early. Oh yeah, and does anyone have this AFI vector logo? My understanding was that this needed to be in the poster.

Thanks,
Chris

Brainstorm Club

I have been thinking of starting some sort of club at school, I just haven't been able to nail down a concept that would get participation, be fun and perhaps continue long after I am gone. I think I have it, thanks to Tom Kelley of IDEO. I want to start a Brainstorming Club and I encourage you guys to give me some feedback and ideas for it that would make you want to join and meet weekly, or more.

I envision a weekly meeting at school, brown craft paper, markers, pencils, crayons & M&M's covering the tables and a topic that we really explore for about an hour or so. NO BS, no structure, just creative minds working on exploration, innovation and creativity. To have fun would be the only rule, meeting new colleagues & learning would be the hope.

The topics can be discussed over the week on a blog until we decide on one or we can help on another out and brainstorm project/portfolio/thesis ideas. Maybe even invite guest to participate from local firms & agencies. I foresee something positive here for everyone in the local design community.

What do you think?

Gorilla Photography

I have been very interested, but semi active in a form of photography called gorilla photography. I have been getting more active in it since I want to shoot my own images for the final poster project. In the two days that it didn't rain last week I went out and got some cool shots, a huge adrenaline rush and thoroughly creeped out. Some of these places would make exceptional locations for shooting horror flicks, no joke. Above are a couple shots I got this week.

I discovered something today while I was editing some of the pics and sharing them on the web, it appears I have been calling it GP for a while now and it seems I am the only one. I'm not sure where I got the name from, but I always thought that is what it was called. So, I'm not sure if this form of photography, which is a favorite of David Lynch, my director for the project, and very common in the Soviet Union, Detroit & other rust belt cities (unlimited subject matter in those places), even has a name. So, from this point on I am declaring that it is called gorilla photography. Sounds pretty cool, doesn't it?

Hopefully, I get the perfect shot for this project soon, anyone want to shoot some gorilla photography with me?

brilliant new TV ad

One of the great things about the holidays is the release of new commercials. My wife was watching A White Christmas before bed and I happened to sit down for a few minutes before turning in. This fantastic American Express commercial came on which was segmented in two parts: the first part showed frowns in normal everyday items...for example a simple crease in a chair coupled with the riveted buttons on the back cushion. Nothing was altered. The second part, where they spoke of what kind of benefits AMEX can bring, showed smiley faces in everyday items...the one that stood out at the end was the front of a prop airplane. Again, nothing was altered to force the smiley face images.

I just thought this commercial was very clever. I believe I called it "brilliant" last night. I just searched it on YouTube and it wasn't out there yet, but I'd be interested to see if anyone else has seen this and what they thought of it.

Santa

What's the deal with the fat, jolly SOB in the red suit, huge beard and leather boots? Funny how a good concept and strong design can change the world. The Coke Santa.

Design Hell Comic

Maybe it's just me, but I can really relate to this freelance experience: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/design_hell

66.6 percenters

2 down, 1 to go!

Poster work

I have rough scaled-down posters tonight for class that include movie images but I'm seriously leaning towards not using movie images at all. After the Caddyshack debacle, and spending countless hours searching for print-worthy images, I want to have more fun with this in terms of creativity and not relying on photos from the movies. I sketched some thumbnails last night that I hope to put into rough-print for tonight.

ONE OTHER NOTE...
I know Bobby sent the link to brands of the world for the AFI vector logo, but a search for "AFI" only pulls up the band AFI, and a more detailed search doesn't bring up anything. Has anyone found this?
Chris

Progress

Sounds like everyone's been making progress on their projects over the break. I would have liked to get more done on Project 3, but there's still two more weeks left, right? Anyway... I've been distracted by my thesis ideas and have started to explore some ideas with Amy and Julie Simon. I am curious to get some outside opinions. So I thought I would post my ideas here. To start my plan is to do a documentary, and I am shooting for either a half hour or a full hour depending on which idea I choose to go with. They are:

The Comics Code:
The Comics Code, established in 1954, came out of congressional hearings on Juvenile Delinquency, which focused much of its attention on comic books and their affects on children. The hearings were initiated in large part based on the research of Fredric Wertham. In his book Seduction of the Innocent, Wertham claimed that comics were linked to juvenile crime and sexual deviancy. The code was a concession made by the Comics Magazine Association of America to self-police the content of comic books. Through interviews with publishers and creators, I would like to discuss the affect the Comics Code and Wertham’s research had on the comic book industry. My sense is that the Code and public outcry against comics as a result of Seduction of the Innocent stigmatized the medium for nearly forty years. Traditional superhero comics were sanitized so they only appealed to children, and the industry was so stifled by the extent of the Code’s censorship that creating literary work was nearly impossible. Comics that did not conform to the Code were pushed underground and became even more subversive and received very limited distribution. Since the late eighties, the Code’s influence has waned particularly with the success of literary works geared toward more adult audiences (including the work of Alan Moore, Art Spiegelman, and Frank Miller). The industry is beginning to put the legacy of the Code behind it, finally gaining legitimacy with the national media, community libraries, and educators.

Or the Big Boyz Bail Bonds Brand:
A few years ago Baltimore-based Big Boyz Bail Bonds began a brand campaign focused solely on ad specialties, most notably their now ubiquitous pink and yellow pens. Nearly half a million pens are distributed throughout the city to bars, restaurants, and convenience stores. The pens have become an instantly recognizable icon of Baltimore life. I would like to document this phenomenon, recount the history of the company as well as the pens, and explore the validity of this as a marketing strategy. I am also interested in expanding the discussion to what this icon says about Baltimore. My hypothesis being that Baltimore has come to accept and even embrace its bad boy image, which has been affirmed by its portrayal in film and television, and the novelty of the Big Boyz pens is just further evidence of that.

Tweaking Away

I spent most of the Thanksgiving holiday working on Project Two and I think it is finally coming together. My pepper spread has come full circle, from peppers to major peppers and back again. I have also worked and re-worked my second spread, which is about dinning out in Manhattan's West Village. Let me know what you think and if there is any way to improve it. Thanks!

Network

As the semester winds down and we may never have the pleasure of each others company on a weekly bases again, I suggest you to socially network online with me. Some of you already have joined me on LinkedIn or Twitter, but there is great benefit to networking on these things and you should be a part of the madness. Besides, on sites like LinkedIn, you get to control what people find about you on the magical interwebs. (Make sure you keep your Facebook or Myspace on private so no pictures of you beer bonging Natty Light last weekend show up when the hiring manager searches for you). You can also make a free profile & portfolio on Coroflot that can be linked to from your LinkedIn profile. You can also write & receive references on LinkedIn, which could really help in your job search (once people start hiring again).

If you would like:

Twitter: youknowbobbyg
LinedIn: Robert Gillespie

You should also join your local AIGA chapter. I have met great contacts and have landed some great freelance work via AIGA & the events they sponsor. Almost every design firm & agency hires people by recommendation or by already knowing you, get out there and make yourself known. You will at least know me if you go to the Baltimore events.

SO DONE...

Okay, so I feel like I've had Caddyshack close to done but I have not procrastinated during the break. My initial plan was to have Caddyshack printed and built this weekend, but between me not being pleased with all of these low-res images and household duties abound, that kind of fell through.

Today, I take the day off from work to get Caddyshack done and off my plate....HAHAHAHA, yeah right. I slept in until 8:30 (that's sleeping in right?) and then by 9:00 I'm working on the Caddyshack pieces in hopes of printing one final time at the lab. Fast-forward to the UB lab...it's 1:00. I print. Images SUCK. I go onto Istock.com and after 2 hours of heming and hawing over which images best suit my layouts, and changing the font colors about 30 times, I print again. Images don't suck as bad, but still not to my liking. It's 3:30...I go home and tweak some things and go to Kinko's. It's 6:30...Printing again. I get home and realize some things are out of place. DAMMIT. I tweak further and go back to Kinko's (it's 8:30). Sitting at the Kinko's computer and realize I didn't save the right file to my flash drive. Back home. Back to Kinko's (9:10). Print again (Okay, I lost count). Still not overly pleased but at this point it's as good as it's gonna get. For my sanity and the safety of those around me, I'm done...save for printing one final thing tomorrow...this golf green still looks like stucco when printed and I'm giving it one final try.

Oh yeah...totally forgot my DVD label debacle over the last two days as well. I purchased the Avery DVD labels, downloaded the software, printed a label which wasn't exactly to my liking (the letters were too close to the edge). I got to print again and teh Avery program crashes. Now, every time I browse for the jpg and upload to the Avery program, the image is smooshed and un-adjustable. I installed the Avery software again and tried and retried to print this damn thing and it's not working. EXPLETIVE!!

One day I'll look back and laugh at this. All I know is, this bourbon sure tastes good.

Here is a little taste on my progress...

bring your daughter to work day

I was wondering if you guys mind if i bring a guest to class on Thursday. He is my assistant at Coppin and is interested in the program at UB, so i wanted him to see what we do and how our ideas are generated. I try to share with him what ever i learn in all my classes. But i thought an in-person experience can hold him off until he signs up. (. . . Ok, Ok, so i don't have a daughter . . .)

The Visual Dictionary

A dictionary is a reference book containing an alphabetical list of words with information about them, but what about a Visual Dictionary? This site is a collection of visual words in the real world; Photographs of signage, graffiti, advertising, tattoos, you name it, and they are trying to catalogue it. The project started in February 2006, and have over 7500 images of over 4000 words.

They are accepting entries, as the Dictionary should continue growing forever, If you found a nice visual word, sign up and contribute images.

Andrea's Story: A Happy Ending?

Designer: "For school, I've designed things around your business."

(potential) Client: "Oh really? I'd like to see your work."

Designer: "Sure! I'll bring it in next weekend"

...a week later...

Designer: "I've brought a sample. Do you have a moment to view it?"

(potential) Client: "No, how about you send a pdf to my email"

Designer: "Ok."

...later that night...

Designer's thoughts: I'm elated that he's interested in viewing my work! But, what if he steals my idea? Even if I showed samples in person, I'd be hesitant to let him keep it. Even still, I strongly doubt keeping it under lock and key is right either. Should I have him sign something first? This has become a messy situation. Perhaps I should have talked about signing a 'I won't steal your stuff' agreements when we first spoke? ...but who wants a casual conversation to turn into signing below the fine print? Wait! I've got a brilliant idea! I will...

...add "Copyright © Andrea Rainey 2009" in tiny, unobtrusive, but still legible type at the bottom of the page—just as I would do if I created a professional website to showcase my student work. Chances are, this potential client is asking in good faith to see my sample and doesn't mean any harm, and this could be a good opportunity for me. Stilll, gotta look out for number 1. Adding some fine print might give me a legal leg to stand on in case the client does try something shady. At the very least, it communicates the message that I consider my work to be my intellectual property.

Andrea, I don't actually know whether this would give you any legal recourse if you did have problems. It was the first thing that came to mind, though. I will check with my employer's copyright & permissions person and see if she has any additional advice to offer.

saving work in small files

Hey Everyone,

Any tricks to exporting docs to jpg small enough to place on the blog here? I've made some updates to Caddyshack I'd like to put out here, but not successful yet on saving to a jpg that's smaller than 20 jpg.

Thanks, and everyone have Safe and Happy Thanksgiving.
CB

Hot off the presses, get yours today!

Urban Dumpster...

By Robert Gillespie

Book Preview

Story Time! What's your ending??

Designer: "For school, I've designed things around your business"

(potential) Client: "Oh really? I'd like to see your work."

Designer: "Sure! I'll bring it in next weekend"

...a week later...

Designer: "I've brought a sample. Do you have a moment to view it?"

(potential) Client: "No, how about you send a pdf to my email"

Designer: "Ok."

...later that night...

Designer's thoughts: I'm elated that he's interested in viewing my work! But, what if he steals my idea? Even if I showed samples in person, I'd be hesitant to let him keep it. Even still, I strongly doubt keeping it under lock and key is right either. Should I have him sign something first? This has become a messy situation. Perhaps I should have talked about signing a 'I won't steal your stuff' agreements when we first spoke? ...but who wants a casual conversation to turn into signing below the fine print? Wait! I've got a brilliant idea! I will.........

Finish this story with your own happy ending. Or it can end in tragedy to prove your point if you're the shakespeare type. (I'm trying an interactive post today. Have fun!)

National Lampoon Yearbook

Find it and buy it. P.J. O'Rourke's masterpiece. Stuff like this is never ending inspiration for projects. Mariana could get some ideas for the traper-keeper in these pages. I'll bring mine in next time. Happy T-day!

Book

A book I recommend everyone getting is called Lettering & Type. It is a great reference and a collection of very interesting facts and a bit of history about both lettering and type design. I just finished reading it last week. You may keep it on your desk next to your dictionary, thesaurus, Thinking with Type (by Ellen Lupton) & your writers reference.

Uppercase Inspiration

I was checking out Uppercase Magazine's blog today and found this: http://uppercasemagazine.tumblr.com/archive, the digital scrapbook for Uppercase. Thought it was pretty cool and really goes to show you that you can find inspiration in anything, as long as you keep your eyes open.

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

K, I'm back.

Fuck it, I like blogging here & you guys made me feel like I should continue. So, I will.

ugh! I am totally guilty of being a delinquent poster. My apologies. I think it's just that time in the semester as well as the nearness of pumpkin pie.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has any advice on showing a portfolio during an interview. I was planning on showing everything on a lap top, but they would also like to see writing samples... I don't know how great it's going to be to read even a short article on a monitor.

Any suggestions?

Project 2 & 3

It feels great to have project 1 finished, one down, two more to go. I agree, it has been a very tough week, and I have jury duty to look forward to tomorrow. In the meantime, I have been trying to crank out project 2 and bogged down in lots of photoshopping. Like Bob, I decided to create many of my own illustrations for project two. I can't wait to hear everyone's opinion about them tonight.

Here is an interesting web site about magazine and newspaper styled web designs that could help with the web component of project 2.

See you tonight!

Illustration in web design: 30 examples

I was looking in the internet how to do my second project, the web presence more creative and I found this examples. If you are looking for some website’s design ideas maybe integrating some illustrations can work.

The following websites are good examples of great illustration in web design.

I'm done

I'm not posting any longer. This blog is a ghost town.
Later.

Brushes

I found this site today, and it appears the Brush King rules.

poster thoughts

Hey Gang,
I'm back to an old unexplored idea for my posters and I'm now convinced it will work. unfortunately I haven't been able to develop it enough to show a great deal of it in class, but I'll have enough to show the direction. I'm having OLIVER STONE in very large obese letters, turned on it's side so it reads up the poster. In each letter will be an image which contributes to the overall theme. When you look at the poster as presented, OLIVER STONE takes up the full page top to bottom, but only takes up about 3/4 of the page when reading left to right due to the letter-height. This should give me enough free space to have the additional text and logo (movie title, theme, AFI logo)in that free space. This addt'l text would NOT be turned on it's side. Anyway, still working some things out. At the very least I hope to have enough to show the outlines of what I'm doing and discuss the direction.

Looking fwd to showing Caddyshack.
CB

Fried and pissed

Worked on Caddyshack the majority of tonight...it's now 12:28 and I have to get up at 5:15. I go to copy the files to my flashdrive and it's telling me I don't have enough free space. Funny, because I have plenty of space. I delete additional files from the flashdrive and it's still not freeing up any space. Is this flashdrive corrupt or what the hell is going on here??

project response

Great post Bobby! I really needed that crit the other night for projects 2 and 3, but now I'm back to square 1.5 with project 3 again. I've brainstormed some and done some thumbnails, but I don't feel I've come up with the "it" solution yet. I scribbled out a typographical solution, but I'm not sure that avoids being to obvious, and still holds true to the common theme. My issue all along has been to find an object from each movie that symbolizes the theme. I'm kind of "ehh" on using images from the movies and I want to avoid using a collage because that got me into trouble in my first rough. I still would like to illustrate this myself, but I need to look at some books or something to spark some innovative thought.

As far as project 2, alot of tweaking necessary, but I think I can get that accomplished by the due date.

Project 1 will go into the portfolio...actually, more to the point it will be in the group of projects for review when I take Portfolio class next semester. If I had to put a portfolio together tomorrow it would go in by default until I could revise some older projects and get them up to speed. I am pleased with the colors, and overall satisfied with the layouts.

Project 3 & Project 2 & Project 1

I've decided that I am going to learn some new techniques in Ps to create my movie poster. It has been a while since I messed with some tutorials, I'm looking forward to learning new stuff.

I am also going to shoot my own photography and create all the illustrations I use myself. Since we are creating a custom typeface, might as well go total DIY on this.

By the way, feels good to be 1/3 the the way done with these assignments, right? I'm finishing project 2 this week as originally planned. I feel like the extra time is an invitation to procrastinate which could mean the last project isn't a winner for me. I want it to be, I want some posters in my portfolio that aren't political, the few I have in the rotation are very political. These should be cool & fun. Thankfully I have been working on 1 & 2 all along. Good luck to you guys.

Also, does everyone feel like the project 1 they turned in was portfolio quality? Why or why not? I think some of mine could be in my portfolio, not permanent, but alternative pieces that I would use depending on the interview. I like what I have done, it meets all of my requirements for the client: minimize cost, create a clear, distinguishable mark, easy to reproduce, appropriate, minimizes waste and up-front investments, creates a very distinct identity, etc. I also think the stamp and sticker ideas make a very unusual and successful solution to re-branding BBW. Thanks everyone for helping me discover that. What about you?

Wanna trade?

I bought brand new DVD cases for this project, it came as a ten pack, but I don't need that many. So, I would like to share them with you if you would like one. If interested, let me know and I'll bring one for you, but you must trade me for it. I don't want money. So bring something that you think is worth trading for one of these. (FYI I think I paid like 20 bucks for all of them).

Christmas List

Great topic, I love the holidays. My ultimate wish list includes:

• Final Cut Pro (been doing a lot of editing this semester)
• 80GB Portable Hardrive
• This Means This, This Means That: A User's Guide to Semiotics
• 30" HD cinema display monitor, I love big monitors

Christmas List - hold on now

While I respect your opinion and agree on the cheesy XMas commercials and whitebread families, some of us (okay, ME) love the holidays. Maybe it's the way I was raised, or maybe because I've got kids and can see their eyes light up on Xmas morning, or whatever, but these XMas traditions/things still make me warm inside:
-the specialty food my family makes...the wife's macaroons or my mom's cheese danish bread on Xmas morning.
-houses lit up with XMas lights on cold snowy nights
-A roaring fire in the fireplace and curled up with a loved one while watching A Christmas Carol starring Allistaire Simm (B&W - the best version, hands down)
-Old christmas music (Bing Crosby, etc)...and I'll concede their are some good "current" songs by Harry Connick Jr., Sarah McLachlan & Bare Naked Ladies, etc
-Cutting down a XMas tree and bringing it home.
-Church on XMas Eve.
...I could go on but you get the point. This is one area I'm a huge traditionalist....and yes, I have to be amongst the dysfunctional family during the holidays and eat and drink until my heart's content too.

My list for this Xmas includes all the books we've discussed in class. Once I actually get a job designing, I'll ask for some more technical gifts.

This Means This, This Means That: A User's Guide to Semiotics
Sagmeister: Made You Look
Fingerprint: The Art of Using Handmade Elements in Graphic Design (hardcover)
Meggs' History of Graphic Design
U&lc: Influencing Design & Typography
The Designer's Guide to Global Color Combinations
The Designer's Guide to Color Combinations
Stylepedia: A Guide to Graphic Design Mannerisms, Quirks, and Conceits
Things I have learned in my life so far
Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
Graphic Design School, Third Edition
Graphic Design Essentials: Skills, Software and Creative Solutions
Graphic Design Basics

My Christmas List

Thanks for starting this topic, Bob. I love it. Somethings I am asking Santa for:

Typographic Design: Form and Communication
by Rob Carter, Ben Day, Philip B. Meggs

Objectified
directed by Gary Hustwit

McSweeney's Subscription

2010 By The Numbers
A Typographic Wall Calendar by Post Typography

How To Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul
by Adrian Shaughnessy

Oh! and Canon Vixia video camera.

Apparently I'm under the impression I was very very good this year. I hope that's the case!

The Designers Xmas List

I am inspired to write this by a Tweet I read this morning.

The holidays are quickly upon us again. Horribly annoying Walmart commercials flood TV programming with generic white-bread families smiling maniacally while engaged in all-American activities. I hate that shit. We all know the holidays usually are pretty crappy, sans a few fleeting moments of alcohol induced euphoria and the roller coaster ride of gift giving. Blah, I'll have another bloody-mary and when is my next ten-thousand-calorie meal ready, mom?

But, there is one part of this season that I truly do enjoy—the christmas list. I love thinking of all the shit I didn't buy myself already, gauging how much I want, researching which is the best and dolling out my demands upon my loving loved ones. There is something empowering and sinister about this process/tradition. So I am starting to think of mine now, which isn't odd for me, I add stuff to me Amazon Q all year to remind me what I want people to buy for ME. (I bought myself a new MBP last year with CS4, so that isn't on my list, besides, no one would buy that for me anyway).

Here is my expanded designer Xmas list, 2009:

1. Wacom Medium Tablet (seriously, I'm not sure how I never splurged for one yet, but this might be the only thing I want this year).

2. Meggs' History of Graphic Design

3. Emigre No. 70 the Look Back Issue: Selections from Emigre Magazine 1-69. Celebrating 25 Years of Graphic Design - Rudy Vanderlans

4. Subscription to PSDTUTS+ (badass tutorials and stuff for adv Ps madness!)

5. Livescribe 1GB Pulse Smartpen (APA-00001)

6. Iron Fists: Branding the 20th-Century Totalitarian State - Steven Heller

7. Ray Gun: Out of Control - Marvin Scott Jarrett

8. Tres Logos - Robert Klanten

9. Canon 430EX Speedlite Flash for Canon Pro1, Pro 90, G Series and all EOS SLR Cameras - Canon Cameras US

10. Necronomicon I & II (this has been on my list for about ten years)

I'll be happy if I get any two off this list, feel free to buy me any of these, trust me you will feel great that you did.

What is your designer Xmas list for 2009? I'd love to see what you guys think is the hot item for your home studio.

screenprint

Does anyone know how to do a screenprint of a web page on the MAC? The alt/printscreen option is only available on PC's...at least the keys are.

The Nabokov Collection

John Gall is the art director for Vintage and Anchor Books. He redesign Vladimir Nabokov's book covers which I think is a really new and clever way of showing book covers and maybe a fresh idea for our poster project.

"Nabokov was a passionate butterfly collector, a theme that has cropped up on some of his past covers. My idea was also a play on this concept. Each cover consists of a photograph of a specimen box, the kind used by collectors like Nabokov to display insects. Each box would be filled with paper, ephemera, and insect pins, selected to somehow evoke the book's content. And to make it more interesting for readers — and less daunting for me — I thought it would be fun to ask a group of talented designers to help create the boxes.
Here's who I asked: Chip Kidd, Carol Carson, Jason Fulford and Tamara Shopsin, Megan Wilson and Duncan Hannah, Rodrigo Corral, Martin Venezky, Charles Wilkin, Helen Yentus and Jason Booher, Peter Mendelsund, Sam Potts, Dave Eggers, Paul Sahre, Stephen Doyle, Carin Goldberg, Michael Bierut, Barbara de Wilde, and Marian Bantjes. The results are shown here. I hope you enjoy them." by John Gall

Living Classrooms Letterhead

I spent the weekend working on letterheads for Living Classrooms but can't seem to find a layout that I am really sold on. Here are my top four. Right now I am leaning towards "a." Any thoughts would be much appreciated! Thanks.

Here is the envelope and business card design.

ahp getting close

I stripped down ahp to its bare essentials. I was wondering about whether the envelope works. I feel its unique and enforces the organization mission, as well as maintains the consistency. Any thoughts?

questions

Good Evening everyone,

For mounting a dark blue, or navy blue against black, would you recommend popping it with foam core? If so, would the foam core be mounted on the Letraset with spray-mount as well?

I had planned to have this done over the weekend, but Kinko's printed two exact blues in different shades, so now I get to play that game...

Thanks,
Chris

Just thought I would post a picture of that steampunk computer while it's fresh in my mind.

Private Journals - Ken Carbone

How many of us have those personal little books that designers and artist have and that look like little treasures that they always carried with them? I always try to start one but I have never finished one. They always look colorful and filled with sketches and images, ideas, collages, words and pictures.

Here in this link, Ken Carbone and his private journals Ken Carbone from Carbone Smolan, a design and branding agency in New York show how he's continued keeping a journal for some 15 years, but those books are not just personal diaries they are really inspiration for his design practice. The side benefit, he says, is that the habit has now trained him to pay closer attention to his environment--to slow down enough to really see what's around him.

I will start working on one, but this time I fill it to the end!

DVD Covers

Hey, completely forgot to post these after class, but these are two different attempts at Photoshopping the cover. Any thoughts on which is working better is appreciated!

Thanks.

Great Book

Hey Gang,
I was in Barnes & Noble the other day and saw this great book in hardcover called Fingerprint: The Art of Using Handmade Elements in Graphic Design . It's right up my alley in terms of the revelation I had recently and is only $23.10 on Amazon. I instantly added that to my Christmas wish-list. I probably would have bought it on the spot, but Barnes & Noble's book was kinf of beat-up and they were asking $35.00 for it.

Make It Better

Here is a link to an article featured in Monday's New York Times about the development of environmentally-friendly materials such as soy-based polyurethane and formaldehyde-free adhesives. The author profiles Stella, a children's bath toy that is made of Renuva, a soy-based polyurethane. Stella is an example of a designer using a environmentally-friendly material to improve product design. Simple Shoes is another company who is re-inventing their products, they just introduced a collection of biodegradable footwear. I know that price is usually a big concern, but something to think while designing your next project.

I'll try this again...

http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/video_workshop/

Adobe tutorials

I was shown this site awhile ago...very useful.

Question about Caddyshack

A golf cup is normally 4 1/4 inches in diameter....big enough for you to reach in and grab your golf ball out after you drill a putt. The PVC pipe I have for the DVD package prototype is much smaller in diameter, but big enough for the golf ball to fit through cleanly. Problem is it's not big enough for anyone to reach into to grab the ball out...you'd actually have to flip the package over briefly to dump the ball out. My estimation is that I'd have to get about a 3 inch diameter pipe to accomodate reaching a forefinger and thumb into the hole to extract the golf ball. While a bigger pipe would also potentially solve the "scale of the gopher" issue, it also would cause an issue in that the golf ball wouldn't hide the entire gopher illustration.

I'm also concerned about how much space a larger pipe would command on the front of the DVD package...with a ball rattling around in it.

I'd appreciate any thoughts on whether I should stick with the pipe I have or go for something bigger. I think I was fine up until realizing the scale of the ball is off in relation to the hole, but I'm not sure how much that matters with a "surprise" (the golf ball) that probably will be used and won't ever go back in the hole once extracted.

20 Photoshop Tips

I learned most of these a few years ago, they help with my work flow and save a bunch of time, which is important because who wants to be working in Photoshop all the time? (me)

I hope you guys find them useful.

Spec Work > BOO!

I have very strong feelings on spec work. It sucks.

I have thought about this issue a great deal and I recently read an article in CA's photography annual about the state of design that you should all read. Basically the issues is this: there is no certification for graphic design like there is for architecture, industrial design and interior design. According to the article there are thousands of design programs at universities across the country, for these other fields in design, there are a couple hundred—combined. So colleges are creating programs, allowing almost anyone to enter (the money factor) with or without what it takes to contribute successfully to the fieled of graphic design. The job market gets flooded each year at graduation time with a huge population of under-qualified designers, all looking for a job or taking any job they can get and usually, under-cutting quality designers and firms. In the end, nobody wins because the work is usually poor, thus leaving a blemish on the face of quality designers, good designers who do good design are ignored and the client ends up looking bad and wasting money.

Don't think UB isn't also guilty of this trend. I anguish over the work of some classmates in the program and I can't believe what they hand in. Many of these students do not have what it takes and sadly they end up with a graduate degree in a field they do not understand or are prepared to contribute successfully. I personally think the program suffers greatly from this, it cheapens the degree in my opinion and that sucks too.

So, what does this all have to do with spec work? Simply, thousand of people pumped into the industry each year, on top of the thousands who are already struggling, limited jobs and a corporate greed system that takes advantage of graphic designers. If there was some sort of certification system, perhaps schools would cut back on the cash cow of false hopes they label a design program.

It is easy to eliminate spec work, don't do it and the results will trickle down.

I have a lot more to contribute to this issue, I'm glad it was brought up. See you all in class.

PS- I barely proofed this, so please excuse any mistakes, I gotta run.

Office 2010 Trailer

WATCH THIS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUawhjxLS2I

Its the the Office 2010 Trailer. Map and PC aren't the only ones coming out of the box.

Spec Work

I happened to be looking for some poster inspiration from the AIGA archives and noticed a link to an article on the AIGA's position on spec work. I haven't had much luck with spec work myself (It usually leads to work I am not satisfied with and didn't get paid for). But I have noticed an alarming trend in a number of creative fields to use online contests to solicit spec work.

Threadless (which I heart by the way) asks illustrators and designers to compete for a chance to have their designs printed. Zuda is owned by DC Comics and has comic book creators competing monthly for a chance at publication. The best part is: If you win you get to sign over all rights to your work to DC.

Recently, I was introduced to a site called, crowdSPRING, where clients can post design projects and have designers compete for the work by submitting their designs if they are fortunate enough to "win" they will be paid for the work. Looking at the site I have to admit some of the projects are tempting, but I have to remind myself that no good can come of it.

I am glad that the AIGA includes this kind of spec work in their position statement, and I hope it is a passing trend...

My Poster Direction

Hey Gang,

I left some comments on other entries regarding this, but I'll be illsutrating my poster, or at least the majority of it. I've been very intrigued by the art-deco look but in conversation with Amy last night, mimicking the old constructivist posters might be more suitable for the agression of my director, Oliver Stone. I have some cool books to bring in for tonight's class...and they may actually spark something in you all when we pass them around for show and tell. I think the biggest thrill I'm getting from alot of these old posters is the use of space. especially in the books tonight, you'll see that even the negative space is an object in some posters. Here are two quick examples of contructivist-style posters I found on-line.

Movie Poster Design

I have been having a hard time getting started on my director series of posters--I am hoping to have something next week. In the meantime, here is a web site that features some of the movie posters of 2008. I especially like the posters that use a hand-made element, such as an illustration or hand-drawn typography.

New Materials: Here is a blog post I stumbled across this morning, classic film posters recreated using Legos.

OK, Baltimore, stop throwing your weight around

Thanks, everyone, for your thoughtful (and speedy) feedback on the latest round of TBR revisions. I agree that contrast is the main issue. The all-Jenson versions were the most integrated of the ones I posted previously, and all commenters agreed #2 worked best—but insufficient contrast is a problem even with bold/light weights.

I'm continuing to explore various solutions with this—italics, different san-serifs, different typefaces altogether. Unfortunately the same contrast issue crops up w/other oldstyle faces. I'm attached to the Jenson but would replace it if doing so would solve the contrast problem; so far the alternatives aren't an improvement. Haven't found a sans-serif that's working either.

So, here's my latest shot at this: flipping, as shown, so the lighter weight is used for "Baltimore" and the heavier weight for "view." These are the same weights I used earlier, but this feels more balanced to me. In the earlier versions, "view" was getting lost at the end of the long, heavy line of text. Here it stands out, and the contrast in weight is more apparent with the lighter weight being used for the first and longer word. (Or so I think. If I'm deluding myself on this point, let me know.) "Baltimore" is still taking enough of the line that no one will miss it, and the play on words comes across more clearly with the emphasis on "view."

Second opinions welcome... thanks again for the earlier input.

Cool Book Redesigns

If you don;t get The Daily Heller, I would like to share with you his post today. He features these great book redesigns aimed at re-branding some classics as "cool" so younger audiences develop interest. I want to own them myself even though I already have copies, they are great. Animal Farm is just fantastic. The illustrative style is simple, yet very interesting. On rethinking my 3 Poster series I have been pursuing this approach, simple illustrative style, compelling, fresh and maybe a little rock 'n roll influence. There is another point I want to make about these great covers, they all could work as just posters and I think that is very important for book cover design and DVD packaging design. Does the message come across quickly and elegantly? It better.

Packaging Design Ethics

I don't know why I keep on posting these ethical topics, but here's some food for thought . . . I found this article in TIME magazine that talks about companies doing the most marketing on their most unhealthy cereals. I thought about two things: (1) Damn, I love Lucky Charms, but (according to the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity) I should find other sources of magically delicious foods. (2) The design of the packaging and websites along with the production of the commercials are critical components of the marketing for those cereals. With that in mind, UB's MFA program covers those areas, and I always hear professors say how rewarding package design is. So if we consider a career in package design, whether it be cereal or cigarettes, at what point does the "you can't be designing ish like that" light kick on? It seems everything you eat and look at gives you cancer or makes you unhealthy. Do the designers take blame on some level?? I mean, I know I want to have kids soon and these may be some issues I have to face. And maybe one day, I will be designing cereal boxes, who knows? I know most things are ok in moderation, but who wants to be the dad that designs the cereal box of the cereal that contributes to child obesity across America? Where do aspirations and ethics meet?

HOLY SHIT

Let me repost...Hey Bland, turn to RGB in Photoshop...geezus, that much i know.

Update and epiphany

I've turned the corner on Flagship and hopefully with the other projects after a pep-talk with a friend who took this class last Fall.

First Flagship:
I chose a high-contrast midnight blue and a nice yellow-gold. Blue signifies strength, intelligence and peace, and the yellow-gold adds feelings of happiness and joy. I also like the contrast of cold and warm. This has worked much better in my revised pieces as well.

Other stuff:
During last week's class I set my stuff out without looking at anyone else's work and thought, "this looks like crap". After the class I decided from now on I need to critique my work like I do other people's, prior to class. I think part of my frustration is that I'm still learning Photoshop on the fly. I asked my friend to go out to lunch on Friday and she slapped some sense into me. "Do what you do well" was her message. "Other people know Photoshop well, so that's what they're working in. You are good in something else, so use that." She drew comparisons to successful designers, who are able to produce brilliant work doing what they know. With all this in mind, I have a fresh concept for the posters. For now it's a secret until I am sure I can make it work.

Solar Eclipse

Hi gang, this isn't the lighting effect tutorial I was speaking of in class regarding Kristin's project, but I actually think this works better. The one I was thinking of requires a membership to NAPP to watch (it's a QT video).Give it a shot and make your new skills work for you. I can't wait to see it.

baltimore review, once again with feeling

Following last night's suggestions in crit, here are several new versions of the Baltimore Review logo. These are the best of a couple dozen I tried. Among those not posted here are some using the colon option Amy suggested, and others that emphasize the r to show the demarcation between the two words. I haven't dismissed those options, and I'll post 'em if you like, but I do not think they work as well.

From top to bottom:

(1) Jenson graduated from bold to semi to Roman to light.

(2) Jenson bold/light.

(3) Jenson semibold/Candara.

(4) Jenson bold/Candara.

(5) Jenson semibold/Helvetica light.

Also revisited other oldstyle typefaces—Caslon, Garamond, and Goudy—but I think those introduce some competition between the e's since the bar is horizontal, whereas the diagonal crossbar clearly differentiates the first e from the second.

I have other thoughts on these, but would also like to hear yours.

Thanks again to Mariana for steering me in this direction.

11 Paradox of graphic design

After our small talk on class about how designers can look to others as egocentric people with egocentric aptitude in their work or personality, I was thinking that maybe that can also be a part on how we designers deal with subjects like rejection, envy, and plagiarism. Here is the eleventh paradox of graphic design.

01: There’s no such thing as bad clients (well maybe I can disagree a little bit here) only bad designers. We love to blame our clients for poor work. When projects go sour, it’s always the clients — never us — who are at fault.

02: The best way to learn how to become a better graphic designer is to become a client. It’s only by commissioning graphic designers that we discover that most of us are not very good at articulating what we do and how we work.

03: If we want to educate our clients about design, we must first educate ourselves about our clients.

04: If we want to make money as a graphic designer, we must concentrate on the work, not the money. This is not to say that designers shouldn’t be properly paid for their work, or that designers shouldn't be financially savvy (clients usually are). But the designer’s primary motive has to be the quality of the design and not the size of the fee. When the focus is on the money, the work is usually poor.

05: For designers, verbal skills are as important as visual skills. Since graphic design should be self-explanatory, designers might be forgiven for thinking that the need to provide a verbal rationale for their work is unimportant. Surely the work should succeed on its own merits without requiring a designer’s advocacy? True. Except there never was a client who didn’t want an explanation for every aspect of every piece of creative work they commissioned. If we can’t talk about our work in a clear, rational and objective way — free from all jargon — then we can’t be surprised when we meet with rejection.

06: Ideas usually fail not because they're bad ideas, but because they're badly presented. The ability to present an idea is as important as the idea itself. The thing we need to remember when presenting work to clients is that they are terrified at the prospect of what we are going to show them.

07: “I’m a professional: I know best.” The only designers who use this argument are unprofessional designers. Designers often say, “No one tells a doctor what to do, so why is it OK to tell me what to do?” But the myth of professional omnipotence has been debunked. We no longer accept that doctors, lawyers and plumbers have a monopoly on knowledge. We are all armed with information downloaded from the internet. Anyone who uses the “I’m a professional therefore you must accept what I say” argument has lost the argument.

08: “All the good jobs go to other designers.” Not true: in fact, nearly all jobs start off as neither good nor bad. We are deluded if we think only other people get good jobs and we only get the rubble. Truth is, nearly all jobs start off the same, and our responses as designers determine the success or failure of each job. There are no good or bad projects in design, only good or bad responses. Good projects are made not found.

09: The best way to run a studio is to be domineering and forceful. In fact, the opposite is true. Designers who run studios or lead teams often think they have to lead from the front. They think they have to dominate. They think they have to take credit for everything. In fact, the opposite is true. Good leaders of design teams lead from behind. They put themselves last and allow others to shine. When designers are allowed to shine, they shine more brightly.

10: If we believe in nothing, we shouldn’t wonder why no one believes in us. In a world with no principles, people respect those who have principles. Impersonating a doormat is a poor way to be an effective graphic designer. In fact, standing up for what we believe in — ethics, morality, professional standards, even aesthetic preferences — is the only way to produce meaningful work. Of course we won’t win every time, but we will win more often than the designer who doesn't believe in anything.

11: When a client says the words — “you have complete creative freedom,” they never mean complete creative freedom. Whatever you show them, they will find a problem with. Happens every time.