Colour Palettes

Print Ads

I'm such a fan of this ad.  Created for Washington apples, I think it's very effective in sending its message.  The physical appearance of the woman is completely overshadowed by the apple, which, I'm sure, is just as the designers intended. 

This ad from McDonalds easily shows the impact fast food is having upon younger generations. It leaves a lasting impression.  I will not easily be able to get this image out of my head...

This ad is immensely effective.  Also morbidly funny!

Five Website Designs

www.modcloth.com

This is an online store called ModCloth. I like shopping here because all of the information is very easy to find. Three cheers for no hassle shopping!

www.elfwood.com

This website is called Elfwood, an online fantasy art forum.  I like its eclectic charm.

www.britishmuseum.org

This website from the British Museum is so well organized.

www.nin.com

I love band websites.  This is the official website for Nine Inch Nails.

www.evanescence.com

This is the website for Evanescence, one of my favorite bands.  I love any design that is based on music.  Guess I'm a bit bias.  

Symbol designs

Everyone is aware of the gender symbols.  They have long been used and long been understood.  

This symbol is known globally as "swimming".  The lack of text and easy-to-understand symbolism makes this clear to anyone. 

T.V. commercials

This commercial from Ford just makes me happy. I've always wanted to drive on the edges of buildings.

I've always loved ipod ads, motion or still, they're just so attractive to look at!

This commercial by Sprint is so cool! I love the use of flashlight animation.

Magazine Cover

I love Paste magazine covers.  The artistry always seems to surprise me.  True, it is the typical "celebrity in the center of the page" layout, but it's just done so well!

Book Jacket

This book jacket is absolutely beautiful.  The simplicity and elegance make me want to open the cover and see what joys lie within.  I particularly love the text, as I am a big script fan.

Motion Graphics

This video, entitled Dollface, is a very good example of what we can now do with digital media. It looks almost flawless, and sends a good message to boot.

The title sequence for Spiderman show a more practical, everyday use of motion graphics. It draws the viewer's interest, and actively engages you in the film.

CD sleeve

This is the cover of the CD sleeve for Coldplay's "X and Y".  The cover is both intriguing and pleasing to look at.  I like the shift from a monochromatic to an all-encompassing color scheme.
This is the CD cover for Nine Inch Nail's "The Slip" album.  I think it is a very powerful image, and the power palette is used very well.

Logos

The world wildlife fund logo is easily recognizable.  It's also so cute!

The Harajuku Lovers brand is one of my favorites.  The cute logo reflects the style of the brand and is pleasing to look at by itself.  

This is the logo for Chanel.  The simplicity of it lends a certain elegance to the design.  The continuity of the two 'C's makes a very obvious focal point.

Typographical Self Portrait Project

Five Typefaces That I Like

Typefaces are everywhere. Think about it: ads, information, campaigns, menus, television...EVERYWHERE. As a student in design, it is to go without saying that there are certain typefaces I prefer over others.

Lucida Calligraphy, for example, has long been a favorite of mine. The script style is very aesthetically pleasing. There isn't a lot of space between each letter, helping to guide the eye through the information, despite the sans serif style. Monotype Corsiva is similar to Lucida Calligraphy in that it is script; however, it is much smaller and has a lighter stroke.  This lends itself well to the more delicate type of information one would like to convey. 

Sylfaen is very direct and to the point. It is a serif typeface. The stroke is not overly bold, but is thick enough to keep the viewer from being confused. The kerning of the text is not excessive, also aiding in the travel of the eye through the text.  

While there are many typefaces I love, there are some that I simply cannot stand. One of these typefaces is Times New Roman. After 13 years of being forced to type everything in this font I can't take it anymore. It is true that it is a easy-to-read type, most likely due to the serif style, but its overuse has left me with only a sense of boredom and dislike.  Another typeface I do not enjoy is Trajan. It is on every movie poster and cover known to man. It may have been good when it was first used, but by this time no one wants to look at it anymore! The tracking of Trajan displeases me.  

First Writing Assignment: 5 great designers

I have always loved this poster.  Designed by Milton Glaser, this poster is amazing in its simplicity.  The complex colors combined with the silhouette balance the work.  I love how the figure is bled into the right margin: it intrigues me and makes me want to know what the rest of the picture looks like.  I think this works very well and is a pleasing image. 

This is a magazine cover for Brownbook Palestine.  This cover is intriguing, as the information is inside the figure.  The eye travels first to the image of the girl, then to the text.  I like this because it is unique.  In most art, text dominates the image; however, in this piece it is obviously not the case.

I absolutely adore this.  This is European Pepsi packaging by Jessy Kaczmarek.  This is very effective because it downplays the "bad rap" that sodas often get.  The limited color palette make the logo stand out and be the focal point.  The logo is also in the center, with the other designs surrounding it, making this a "bullseye composition".  Who could resist drinking a Pepsi when it is so adorably packaged?  Certainly not me!

I have always been a fan of the ipod ads.  Who doesn't love dancing silhouettes on a backdrop of crazy colors?  I couldn't really find a specific designer: the closet I could get was Jonathan Ive, the head of Apple's design team.  These ads are effective by being very attention-grabbing and enjoyable to watch.  I want to know what they have that makes the dancing figures so cool.  A successful design, in my opinion.

This ad, designed by the MacLaren McCann advertising agency is immensely effective.  The missing element immediately sparks my interest: I, the viewer, want to see what this poster is about.  I enjoy the color palette, and the information is presented in a concise and witty manner.  I enjoy this ad because it doesn't have anything excessive: it draws my attention, gives me the info., and doesn't detract from the message it is purveying.  

Why I want to be a graphic designer!

I have always admired art.  Throughout my life I have been a victim of chronic doodling, usually in the margins of my notebooks in high school.  Never did I even imagine that I could be an artist.  I missed out on art courses in high school, choosing to go the music route instead; however, when it came time to choose a major, I knew that music wasn't it.  I had to step back and really look at my passions and what I felt I would be happy with doing for the rest of my life. That was when I really started researching graphic design.  What I found astonished me: it was a way for me to connect with the artistic world I loved, while offering enough job security to satisfy my parents.  I started seriously looking at the work of graphic artists and quickly became excited about pursuing a career in the same field.  Now I find that I cannot look at a magazine ad or billboard without examining the artistic components and giving it my critique.  I eagerly await the day when it will be others looking at my work.