Pop Art

Saw an interesting entry about polipop & paintings, an exhibit about politics intersecting with pop art. What comes to mind is the popular Obama portrait:

Pop art is an interesting medium in which politics can be expressed and commented on. Propaganda art is also a genre that has garnered popular interest. Very cool commentary on how art effects and interacts with popular culture and current events.

Print

http://www.bmoreart.com/2012/04/photos-from-bma-print-fair.html

Saw this about print art and thought it was interesting. While searching for graphic design and print art, I came across "Print" magazine. There was a "print in motion winner" seen here:

http://imprint.printmag.com/film2/print-in-motion-winner-medusa-in-fragments/

I thought it was very interesting use of type and motion.

Film & Title Design

I found this while perusing the internet. I never really stopped to think about how heavily design is involved in the title sequences of shows and movies. That being said, they really are integral to the media. I love all the sequences shown in the video. Mad Men's, of course, is clean and abstract. Blue Valentine is out of focus and ethereal. Tone is so important, not just in these sequences but, I think, in design everywhere. Very cool video.

Layers

I was listening to Beach House when I started thinking about how, in music, so much of the complexity comes from layers of sound. I know this may sound obvious, but I started thinking about how pretty much every aspect of our environment, including design, depends on layers. Visual layers that build to make something eye-catching. I was also thinking of the Master Work due for Color Theory, which necessitates layers of different color paper.

Cool Commercial

 

I really like this video promoting Nature Valley's promote the parks project. I think the tree shadows transforming into the upc is very clever and I love the clean look - it goes well with Nature Valley's advertising presence.

info dump - proj 4

The Need for Design

I was thinking today what the world would be like without design. All of the fonts would be the same, signs and ads would be bland and to-the-point. The world would be black and white. Anyway, it was something I was thinking about as I was driving to class, looking at the different signs and bumperstickers on the backs of cars. Design creates the world around us in a way. A visual means of communication, which is so vital and necessary to people. Just some thoughts.

Are Internet Memes Art?

An interesting video about what constitutes art.

here

I would say any expression of self is art, whether it be written or visual. As for internet memes, I would say that it isn't art because it's not expressing an aspect of the creator. However, I see the video's point, it is made to evoke certain feelings. I still have trouble calling memes art, however.

Portraits

http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrickjoust/6255769612/in/set-72157611470203647#/

I really love Patrick Joust's street photography. I think portraits are about catching an honest moment, and he does that really well. I think in design, that honesty is important, too, so the reader can relate to your brand and feel welcomed by it.

Animation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI3shBXlqsw&feature=player_embedded

Very cool animation. Would like to learn how to do this.

Quirky and Squishy

http://www.bmoreart.com/

The Zig-Zag exhibition in Baltimore focuses on the act of drawing as a political statement. Meredith Pingree's works are described as "quirky and squishy," while other artists also look and examine form and construction. It's interesting because it's a form of design I haven't yet worked with, since I haven't done 3D yet. It's an art form I'd like to explore, mostly because of how abstract the works can be to warrant such adjectives as quirky and squishy.

Tongue in Cheek

Here are a few funny ads that use clever images to show they have a sense of humor while selling the product effectively

Love This

This ad looks stunning. The machinery of the bird is detailed and realistic. It also contrasts nicely with the naturalness of the flower. The type and font is understated in subtle - they draw the viewer in with the image first and then the logo and message.

Similar

Here's an ad similar to mine. I need to figure out how to make the shadows appropriate and realistic. Interesting ad, again with text small and to the side, with focus on the image.

Bad Girls

Thinking more about the Yoko Ono/John Lennon photo and the use of gender in model positioning. Of course, a lot of people have talked about the absurd (at times) positions female models are photographed in. Then I thought of the recent movie/TV promoting an edgier, more realistic side of women, like in Bridesmaids and the show Girls. Here's promotional photos of these:

Considering, again, playing with gender in my ad/s.

An Interesting Photography Series

Found this in Time mag online:

A series focused on those with mental and physical disabilities. Very beautiful images. Done by Denis Darzacq. Link here: http://lightbox.time.com/2012/04/13/act/#14

Play on words

I still need to come up with a good slogan for my ads. I'm not sure if it should be the same for both or different. This is an example of a clever play on words, with the use of the concept "boxing it up" demonstrated by the yellow "box" as well.

Illustration/Photo

I also like the use of illustration with a photographic backdrop

Not many colors are used, but the overlap and the texture looks very cool, as well as the placement of the text.

Texture

I really like this cover because of the illustrated texture of the ad. Bold textures, as well as colors, would appeal to Rolling Stone's demographic, I think. This is taken from a music blog, so the edginess in the font and textured/collage-like image is something to keep in mind.

Separation

Here's an ad that isn't entirely an image, but an image with a strip of white for text on the bottom

I like the separation of the text because it draws the eye to the logo and the product of the advertisement. Considering this for my Time ad because of its clean look.

Clever

This is a clever ad for a concrete company, which is a hard product to make interesting.

It shows that the company has a sense of humor and, as I've been seeing a lot of, the focus is on the image and less on the font/type.

Black & White

Here's another ad that caught my eye, more because of the white and black contrast than the idea.

I'm not sure why the hair is obscuring the face - to cause focus on the paper cutout in the dress? Again, clean and bold with contrast.

Another Ad

This ad caught my eye

mostly because of the condensation, the helmet looks otherwise like a perfect promo shot, and the placement of the font. The logo is understated, which I've seen a lot of & makes me worry a bit if I'm going in the right direction with my Rolling Stone ad.

Good Ads

Here's an ad I found when I googled "best print ads"

It takes an idea familiar to most, if not all, people and spins it on its head. Again, the logo is understated as well as the "imagine" in the top right corner. I think the idea is clever, though it's not my favorite ad to look at.

What makes an image stick in your mind

Like this Rolling Stone cover of John Lennon and Yoko Ono

I've been noticing the use of black in the ads/posters I've been talking about and am interested in using it for my print ads as well. Before now, I hadn't considered using it on a model to contrast with the environment, but vice versa. This image sticks in my mind because of not only color contrast, but the playfulness and vulnerability of gender. We're accustomed to seeing women naked, or near naked, in print, but here Yoko Ono is fully clothed. That's why I want to play with gender in my Time ad, since many men are traditionally thought of as the traveling business person.

Paris Is Burning

I was thinking about the poster from the documentary Paris is Burning:

I like the striking photograph against the black and the bold font. The red in her lips matches the red in the font. Small details make the poster. I think with the Rolling  Stone ad I want to be similarly edgy, but clean. I want a bold image involving the logo that would stick in a person's mind, and make them curious about the product. Especially since the product is theoretically new, a bold statement is necessary.

Print Advertising & iPod

I've been thinking about the success of the ipod print ads

The signature look is clean and bold, with black silhouettes against different bright colors. And the iPod, with it's understated logo, color matches the iPod, whose features you can see. The listener is secondary to the iPod. It's also fun with each model in a dance pose. Although my logo will be featured in Rolling Stone's ad, maybe I should be more understated in the ad for Time.

Logo Illustration Hybrid

So, for my project I'm thinking of doing an illustrated logo with a photo of a model. I'm thinking I'll have to layer the logo onto a surface to make it look realistic like in the ad above. I also want the model to be engaged with the logo like in the ad above.

Time Magazine

Time magazine has a mix of casual and bold portraits. I'm thinking the advertisement in Time should reflect this aesthetic by being less bold than the Rolling Stone ad and more geared to an adult professional than a young music lover as the key demographic to keep in mind.

Rolling Stone Magazine

Here are some covers of Rolling Stone magazine. A lot of the photos are in-your-face, expressive and somewhat adversarial. I'm a bit worried that my advertisement might contrast with this, although that might work since it would stand out against all of the other ads that are trying to emulate this aesthetic. At the same time, I don't want to bore the viewers. Something to think about.

Positioning in Ads

These are two examples of different poses that could be used for an ad that convey very different reactions from the reader/viewer. The pose above is a yoga pose, conveying calm and feeling at peace whereas the image below holds sexual connotations. Both were found when searching for "relaxation." I think for my ad I'll photograph an image with the model half in the yoga pose, with a leg dangling out to express relaxation and being at ease. I also want to make the image more interesting and less contained.

Movement Visual Interest

In this picture, the birds add to the movement of the off-center, tilted head of the model. I like the picture, and might add an element in the advertisement with comparable movement, though I'm not sure what that element would be. The squares/tiles also add to the sense of calm that comes from the birds as well.

Conveying an Emotion

I want to focus on the emotion of being relaxed and connected for the Denwa advertisement.

These images demonstrate those emotions I want to focus on. The stones and the lines & circles work together as visual elements to appeal to the reader's sense of symmetry and peace. Possibly, I'll add similar visual elements, specifically the lines in my envelope design, to the advertisements.

Big Hair

I'm trying to think of parts of the advertisement  that could attract attention from Rolling Stone readers. This picture grabbed my attention because of the big hair on the model. Maybe I could play with that in order to cause readers to empathize with and want to be the model in the advertisement using Denwa phones. The clothing is also important, maybe heels and a flowy dress, contrasting elements to compliment the sharp, clean look of Denwa.

One Element

I was working on my project, and I came up with an element of lines. It changes the look of the card and could, potentially, be incorporated into the identity of the brand. It's just interesting how one element can make an image infinitely more interesting. Take the CD covers for Death Cab, below, for example. The red string on the bird changes the entire piece, just as the colored circles change the middle cover, and the white lights change the bottom. It's fascinating how one element makes such a difference. I just hope I find the right one for my project.

Everything's Visual

Going off the idea of how people are so visual, it's really striking how many things are visual, when you think about it. Even CD covers - they brand the artist and their identity. Even as a CD cover changes, there are still common threads with the covers conveying the consistency of the band's identity. Take Death Cab for Cutie:

The font is pretty much the same throughout and the style of the cover art remains a bit ethereal and simple.

Brand, Identity, Logo

Today I went to a lecture about brand promotion for small businesses, or any business for that matter. The lecturer talked about brand, identity, and logo. Identity being your presence as a business and the brand being the promise to the consumer. She emphasized how people are visual and the importance of proper manipulation of social media - how it needs to be consistent with your identity to fulfill your brand "promise" of who you are as a company. It just reminds me of how similar visual arts is to writing. Writing needs consistency as well. You need to focus on the central idea throughout your response, just as graphic design for a company needs to focus on the central idea of that company. Here's an example she used - the polar bears for Coca-Cola, which was used to promote the drink year-round instead of as just a summer drink.

A Suggestion

I'm working with an element that suggests technology and it seems that a lot of design is composed of suggestions, or visual suggestions, for ideas. For example,

Although, I don't like the business card so much, the addition of lines, one element, conveys the idea of a microphone.

Dark vs Light

I was working on my business card and was playing with white vs gray vs black/darker colors. Every time I use a block of dark color, it looks like it's shrinking against the white background and the white color looks expansive. I like white as a clean color, though I guess the issue with that is that it can get dirty easily. Black and greys look technical and modern. So, some thoughts to consider for my project.

Transparency

I was in a doctor's office when I saw large pieces of artwork on the wall. The work was abstract and used transparency - the effect was pretty striking. I don't know if I'll necessarily use this element for my own project, but I really enjoyed the aesthetic. According to this article:
http://gdbasics.com/index.php?s=transparency
transparency suggests clarity and directness.
Here's an example of transparency in business cards:

I don't like the entire card being transparent, but I like transparency in colors and the faded, transparent effect.

Clean Design Continued

I found a link to some very clean designs for business cards. The changes in the design are always subtle, like a change in color. There's also some very neat background designs.  Here's a few that I liked best:

http://cardobserver.com/gallery/fuse
http://cardobserver.com/gallery/elemental-architecture

I was thinking of using an all-white background like many of these. I also like the use of line in Jacob Ward's business card. I like the use of weight at the bottom, there's a great deal of space and the eye settles comfortably at the bottom. I'm going to think about this as I design, since I'm struggling a bit with spatial cues.

Clean, Not Simple

I was thinking about what Willie said about clean design. I kept saying it was "simple," but it's actually complex. It's similar to writing a research paper or news article. You need to cut out the extraneous, which can be hard. It's easier to dump everything you know in one piece, whether it be visual or written. The skill is taking what you absolutely need to convey precisely what you want to convey. Here's an article about clean design:
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2007/03/26/keep-it-simple-stupid-showcase-of-simple-and-clean-designs/

KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid!

Adding elements

I was thinking of remixes today, and how they are similar to design in that if you add a few different elements, you can make the song very different, if not completely. For example, "Breathe Me" by Sia by itself is a very dramatic, sad song.

Add a baseline and some other elements, though, and it can be a dance song.

Same thing with remakes of songs.

You can take a core idea or concept, and really make it your own. Same in design.

MixTape Covers

I was listening to Gorilla vs. Bear - a mix they made on their site - and started thinking about mixtape covers. There's a lot of excellent art found in music. I showed Madonna's CD from Graphic Therapy earlier. Here's the cover for the feb. mix at GvsB:

I like the silhouette and the blurred background. It's simple, with text on the top left and right only, although I think the text would look cool on the bottom, against the black background.
Anyway, here are some more mixtape covers that are pretty cool:

Both of these have a splatter effect that I like. The logo at the bottom looks kind of 80's to me, probably because of the extended lines, wings and neon colors. I don't like the logo that much, but I love the photo. The top tape is opposite for me, Not a huge fan of the photo, but I like the logo, although I think it could look neater, but it goes with the theme of the piece.
I also love the illustration in Big Krit's cover art:

The blue, purples, and grays - along with the yellow - look great. And I love the dichotomy used in the illustration itself.