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.