Example of Good Design

I really think this is a good example of design. This poster endorsing MICA artists uses words and shapes to convey its message. The image mimics the sections of the brain and uses words to describe the mind of a MICA artist. I like the use of color in this piece also. I think that this poster is very well thought out. It's concept is eye-catching and draws a lot of attention to itself (in a good way).

Well-Branded: Chick-fil-A

I think that Chick-fil-A's brand is most memorable because of it's use of the cows. The use of cows intends to set the Chick-fil-A product a part from the dozens of other burger joints (McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, etc). The company uses the cows in sandwich boards in most if not all of their ad campaigns. The brand is seen in playful yet unique way because the cows encourage consumers to "eat mor chikin" instead of beef.

Good Logo: PBDS 501

Well I maybe a little partial because I absolutely LOVE Starbucks but I really like their logo. It is really simple and even though it doesn't give you a feeling about coffee, it is very identifiable. It isn't too busy but it is visually appealing. The colors work well together. The logo is an advertisement in itself because when people walk around with the Starbucks cup, other recognize it right away.

Go Loco for Logos!

Everyone can identify with this logo. Nickelodeon used the slime as a logo and it became a brand within the station. Even though its just an orange splat, it definitely appeals to its kid audience.

The Golden Arches. The McDonald's brand is defined by that golden M. I think that color also works in this logo. If the M wasn't golden, I'm not sure that it would still have the same effect. As simple as this logo is, it is recognizable around the world.



These logos don't really work for me...

Though this logo is very recognizable, it is kind of bland to me. It doesn't really scream a television station to me. Fortunately for ABC, the brand isn't dependent on the logo.

This logo doesn't work for me because I think that it doesn't go with the company. Maybe I'm missing the concept but every time I see these commercials, I never get the logo and why there is an orange lion.

Color: The Good with the Bad

This is an example of good use of color. I like how the photo is black and white other than the sweat dripping on his face. I think that this concept from Gatorade is creative and their use of color enhances the product.

Ads/coupons like this always make me upset. This ads use of color always seems so cheap and corny looking to me. The colors don't makes sense together. I guess they were trying to catch the audiences attention but they got my attention for a totally different reason.

Night and Day: The Difference Photoshop Makes...

This is an original picture of a lotus flower. This seems to be a picture that was taken at night. Through the wonders of photoshop....

This is now the same photo in the daylight. Here's what I did....

1. First I placed the photo in a 7X9 document in Photoshop. 

2. Then, I rasterized the photo.

3.Then I played with the "Adjustment" option through contrast. By using the "Magic Wand" tool, I selected the sky. (You may need to go to "Select" and "Similar "to get the whole sky).

4. Then, I used the "auto color" option to make the sky more blue. You may also need to adjust the "Hue/Color Saturation" option to scrub more blue into the sky.

5. Then, I moved onti the trees in the background. Again, I used the Magic Wand tool to select the trees.

6. Then, I played with the Color Balance to make the trees appear green. 

7. Then, I used the Auto color to make the green stand out even more.

I think that it was cool that even though in theory these two images are the same, they both give you a different feeling. The images are "night" and "day," excuse the pun. I think that it is nice that Photoshop can be used to enhance photos. When done for good, Photoshop can be a very useful and artistic tool.

Folded and now look!: Pop up books

I know the concept is a little juvenile (I am a big kid at heart), but I think that pop-up books are a good example of using folded paper for a purpose. The fact that this piece that I have posted even sparks my interest makes it a pretty successful piece. This book in particular took a lot of thought and work to make sure that all of the surfaces are shown and are visually appealing. These types of books have been in all of our childhoods and continue to put smiles on kids faces.

Grids

This spread from Travel magazine shows the use of a 2-column grid. The title and the subheadings are all aligned with each other. Each column is also aligned with the images in the spread. I think this is a very clean and well-organized piece.

You've been Photoshopped!

This is a cute yet a little creepy example of using Photoshop. The concept is very creative and the detail is well-done. I don't know but something about this image is just weird but I like it!

Well-done Magazine Layout

I'm not exactly sure what magazine this is from but I liked it. I like the way that you get the feel of what the article is about just from the layout and the colors. It has an urban feel that makes the meaning of the article pop without even having to read the text. The article is very organized. The way the text wraps around the images adds a nice touch. I like how the most prevalent quotes are contrasted from the other text through color and typeface.

InDesign helps!

Indesign has really helped me with my projects in 502. I like how 501 teaches you how to complete certain tasks while 502 gives you  stylistic support. I think that as I grow in 501, 502 and throughout the Pub. Design program, I will come to appreciate Indesign a lot more. My projects in 502 are a lot more organized and well-formatted thanks to Indesign. There are some growing pains but overall I have had a great experience!

What TYPE of???

I like this ad. It looks familiar but it wasn't until now that I understand the concept. Every detail in this ad uses the appropriate letter. I also think that this typeface fits the feeling of the message. I'm not sure what this is an ad for. I think it was a part of a blog. I love the idea of this piece.

This is an ad for the Sydney Opera House in Australia. I love how the typography works in this ad as well as the color choices.Even though this ad is clearly an image, the message is still being carried by the words.

Creative Concepts

This ad from Nivea has a creative concept. I think this is an ad for anti-cellulite cream or something. This plays off the concept that some couches have dimples in relation to the "imperfections" that cellulite on someone's body can show. This ad was very clever.

This is an anti-drunk driving ad from Guinness beer. The caption reads, "The more you drink, the slower you react. Please drink responsibly." I like this ad because it actually shows the effects of drunk driving. A regular stop sign really looks like this when you are drunk behind the wheel. This ad is creative in a way that makes you think and realize that driving under the influence is dangerous.

My first experiences with InDesign

I can definitely tell that this type of software is ideal for design purposes. I like InDesign but I know I will like it even more when I master it. In these intro classes, it seems very over-whelming with all of the buttons and gadgets that are plastered on the screen. I used it recently totally by myself in the Design Lab and I was ok until I saw other people around me doing masterpieces! In a way, it was intimidating seeing all of the other people actually knowing what they are doing. On the same token, I am inspired and confident that I will be able to use InDesign with ease in the future. I just hope that it will be in the NEAR future! I think it is just a matter of getting more comfortable and familiar with the software.

Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Design

This poster for the movie, "The Butterfly Effect" is an example of symmetrical design. The butterfly itself is a very symmetrical insect so it would make sense for the poster to be reminiscent of a butterfly. I found it harder to find images of symmetrical design because maybe people find asymmetrical design more interesting.

This Nike ad caught my eye because of the contrast in color and the contrast of the text versus the image. In most cases, color carries more weight but in this ad the  black and white image carries more weight than the text.  This also makes sense because images carry more weight than text, regardless of color. Your eye goes to the image first and coincides with the message of the ad. 

CRAP!

This flyer for a MICA event has elements of CRAP in it. Contrast is shown on many levels in this flyer. There is a contrast of color, size and weight in the typefaces and arrows against the black background. There is also contrast in the types of typefaces in the text. The yellow, red and blue arrows show repetition. This repetitious border draws the eye into the context of the flyer. All of the words on the flyer are aligned vertically in the center. This flyer also shows proximity. It is easier to achieve proximity in this case because it is not a big flyer. The small space keeps everything related; short, sweet and to the point. 

Figure/Ground

Familiar logo right?

Now look closer. Do you see the arrow between the "E" and the "x"? One of my teachers in high school pointed this out to me. Now, I know it actually has a name, figure/ground. The letters act as the figure and the arrow is the ground but it also acts as an image in itself. You will never look at another FedEx truck the same way, will you?

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly...

The following two examples are ads from magazines. The two ads have few words but they get their messages across without confusing the reader/viewer.

This ad from Car and Driver magazine really caught my eye. For the concept and the message to be so simple, the design aspect is very original and detailed. I like how Suzuki shows their brand to be above the rest.  It shows the competitive nature of the car industry in a visually appealing way. Good job, Suzuki!

This ad by Hillshire Farm makes the product do all of the advertising. This is a good example of graphic design because of the use of imagery. The product is likened to a magnet, attracting all of the different flavors and ingredients. This ad uses a limited amount of text but the message is strong.

Now for the not so good. Though I am a writer at heart, I believe the next two examples are extremely wordy and/or the designs could be a lot better.

This two-page ad from Weather Tech (sorry for the bad merging) is very wordy. The designers of this ad were trying to include a letter from CEO and a very busy picture. The white font is hard to read through the photo. For the lengthy amount of text with this ad, I think another picture or a more solid background would be more appropriate.


 

This ad for Pearl Izumi shoes was featured in Runner's World magazine some years back. I found this ad to be very interesting. Like many of you, the heading grabbed my attention. Before I get into the content, the ad is very wordy. Magazine ads are meant to catch your eye. If you are like me, pictures and designs always catch my attention. I think that the content of the ad is very morbid. Though the ad was memorable, I think that the company's vision was missed. The consumer will remember the "dead bodies" aspect before they even think about buying the shoes.  A little creepy.