Dreamworks allowed Shrek characters to pose alongside models for some fashion spreads in VMan’s Magazine back in April…a decision they later regretted. Apparently the spreads turned out a little more sexy than they thought they were going to be. So what do you think? Are these spreads just far too juxtaposed, or impressively creative? You can read the full article here.
Maybe this goes without saying, but I think the images you choose to convey your piece will be the most important part of this project. This made me think about National Geographic. While I don’t think they have the most amazing layout and design, they have such awesome photographs you can’t help but be in awe. Choose stories that you know you can use awesome photographs or illustrations with!
What do you want to convey to future employers, consumers, and people on the street? Your logo, even if you’re saying you don’t know what you want in life, is going to have to convey something about you. Come on, you’re more interesting than you think. Figure out that one thing about you, then incorporate it. A good letterhead design creates an identity. This is a letterhead for the retail music group Musica. When they thought about creating their letterhead, they knew they wanted to include their slogan: “A World Awaits,” and they wanted something that would not detract from the colorfulness of the store. Then they just sort of went for it. For more awesome letterhead designs that will either inspire you, or make you feel bad about your own design, click here.
This is a logo for Rising Sun Sushi, but what do you really see? Yeah, I see it too. While I was trying to find some logos to inspire everyone, I stumbled across a list on Ranquit.com of “Consensus Top Ranked Worst Logos Ever.” Most of them are pretty funny, and some of them are not so great. Why you knocking on Google’s logo, Ranquit? But overall, the list makes you wonder how anyone could have put these logos out in the public and not realized what they looked like. The lesson to be learned: look at your logo. Get other people to look at your logo. Try to think if it could at all be taken in the wrong way…there are some nasty minds out there. Enjoy!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F85Tz9bk4s&feature=fvst[/youtube]
A lot of people have been posting tutorials about Photoshop, but I am doing most of my poster project on Illustrator. I wanted to post this tutorial not because I think we should all make Twitter birds on our posters, but because you can learn a lot from this tutorial about how to make small shapes and use the pen tool. When you know the right tool to use, Illustrator is really not that hard of a program. I hope this tutorial helps all of you put the design in your head to paper (or computer!)
If a company has an effective symbol, it will translate across languages and cultures. I remember Professor Harper giving the example of the Red Cross and how no matter where you go, you should be able to recognize their posters. This got me wondering what kind of advertising they do in other countries. I found this website showing ads for the Red Cross from India, Mexico, Canada, etc. They’ve definitely been a lot more creative then I expected. For more click here.
Professor Harper reminded us Thursday that we should keep our poster projects simple. Simplicity conveys the message more clearly, and if the image is really striking, commits it to memory. I think these at&t ads do a really good job at that. The images are of hands and phone, that’s it. Yes, the painting is intricate and probably takes more skill than I have, but the overall concept is not difficult. You could even do it (too bad they came up with it first).
Wanna see more? click here
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdyGO729fw0[/youtube]
Normally we see type as a 2D image on a page, however, this individual saw the potential to use type as moving art. In this video, YouTube user StuntPogoNick takes type, then shifts, spins, and overlaps it to the song “Novacaine Stain” by Modest Mouse, creating the illusion of 3D.
I remember seeing this image for the first time a few years back. A friend had made his own stenciled spray paint version of this striking, almost angry looking, masculine face. I asked him what it was about and the only thing he told me was that it is the OBEY image. Looking for a more in-depth answer, I typed “Obey” into google that evening. It turns out the image has no point beyond making people wonder what the point is. The creator of OBEY, Shepard Fairey, says the image, which happens to be a representation of Andre the Giant, is an experiment in the field of phenomenology, or “the process of letting things manifest themselves.” I find it amazing how an image with no meaning has continued to spread. If you look around where you live, chances are you will eventually find an OBEY image, or maybe you’ve seen another one of Fairey’s works. What started as one sticker, has branched out into a whole OBEY brand. Using mainly black, red, and white, Fairey creates iconic images that comment on leaders and events going on in the world today.
