Robin Hood: Man in Tux

So!  Since our current assignment is mainly centered around a logo, I figured that I would post an award winning logo this week and talk about it in a very professional way.  This is not going to happen.  I'm going to droll all over this logo and basically geek out on it.  I LOVE THIS LOGO!  It was made for a Nottingham, England-based jazz band.  The logo references Nottingham's legendary bowman, Robin Hood, while also referencing the jazz aspect.  I love how simple and brilliant this is!  Robin Hood has been a favorite legend of mine ever since I was very very little, and this is just so amazing!  Ok...I think I'm done.

*squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!*

A Pirate's Life for Me!

 As any long time blog followers might know, one of the first blogs I did was on the 826 Valencia Pirate Supply Store.  Well, since today is Talk Like a Pirate Day, I figured it was well worth a revisit.  The award winning packaging design for this, and other pirate products, was designed by Office, a San Francisco based design firm.   All of the designs done for the Pirate Supply Store have a wonderful sense of humor to them and I love the concept of all of the products.  The best part?  Online shopping is available and all proceeds go to fund 826 Valencia's writing programs.  So, me hearties, FILL YOUR HOLDS WITH BOOTY! It's for a good cause, after all.

"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark..."

"Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,

And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,

I will be brief." -Hamlet Act 2, scene 2,

I am a huge Shakespeare fan, having acted in many of his plays, including Hamlet.  In fact, I delivered the above line (the irony of which is that, after saying this, the character goes on for a few more pages).  This poster for a production put on by the Saratoga Shakespeare Company was designed by Palio, a design firm out of Saratoga Springs, NY.  It is utterly brilliant.  For those who aren't familiar with the play, the main character, Hamlet, slowly descends into madness as the play progresses.  This poster conveys that quite well.  The man is covering his face, yet one eye stares out.  Hiding, yet seeking.  Looking at this, you know nothing happy is going to come of this.  I love it.

The poster comes courtesy of the Graphis website.

Oh, Canada...

I seriously love this logo because it has almost no right to be as brilliant as it is.  The logo was made by the MacLaren McCann firm, which is based out of Calgary, a providence of Alberta, Canada.  The logo was created for Murray Piano Services.  It has no right to be this brilliant because it is so simple.  It's not flashy or innovative or groundbreaking.  It is, quite simply, five piano keys from a point of view that you rarely see them, and they resemble an M.  I love this logo because it has no right to be this brilliant.  Gotta love Canadian ingenuity. 

The photo is courtesy of the Graphis website.

BAM! POW! WOW!

This magazine cover caught my eye...which is exactly what it was supposed to do.  Like the Psychedelic design style it is modeled after, its purpose is to grab your attention violently by the throat.  The jagged edges and vibrating colors grab the eye and almost force it to look.  While I am not saying that this is a spot-on reference to the Psychedelic style of graphic design, it definitely shares a similar desire to be noticed and seen.

On the road again...again...

It used to be that the weekends were made up of mom and dad announcing an impromptu road trip, huge smiles on faces and picnic baskets in hand...or at least that's how the ads portrayed it.  According to my dad, there were times like that for him, but they weren't all that often.  However, in today's world of fast-paced living, having to be able to be reached wherever you are via cellphone, and hectic schedules, the weekend road trip is almost non-existent.  The Dodge Journey will change all that...or so they are claiming with this ad.  The design of the ad is American Kitsch, mostly because of the casual hand-written font.  Kitsch was the time period of those bygone road trips.  It is a call back to those simpler times, and is appealing to the children who remember those trips so well.  Clever.

Welcome...to Jurassic Park! [insert theme music]

Just a few days ago, I got the chance to see Jurassic Park on the big screen.  It's kind of sad how I keep forgetting how incredibly amazing that movie is!  In addition to remembering how awesome the movie is, I realized the colossal amount of graphic design that is found in it.  Jurassic Park is not a real place (more is the pity) or a real business.  For this theme park to feel real and for the movie to work, an entire corporate identity package had to be made up.  Logos, pamphlets, fliers, t-shirts, and an entire gift shop worth of merchandise all had to be designed!  The best part about it is that I never would have noticed had I not taken Graphic Design History, which is honestly the way it should be.  The identity of Jurassic Park is so solid and believable that it goes unnoticed.  In addition to being a successful element of the movie, I would even venture to say that the Jurassic Park corporate identity is successful in the real world too.  In any corporate identity package, the ultimate goal has to be overall recognition.  People see your logo, and they recognize it as yours.  Jurassic Park is recognizable the world over, not only because of the proliferation of the movie franchise, but also because it is a unique and recognizable brand.  Now if only they could perfect the park itself...

Takes a Lickin' and Keeps On Tickin'

Many people don't realize that graphic design is around us everyday, and oftentimes we take it for granted.  This is my watch.  It's a Timex.  The weird shape is because it clips onto my belt-loop instead of going around my wrist.  The purpose of a watch is to tell you the time and to do so in a clear manner that allows you to glance at it and immediately know the time.  The typeface of the numbers has to be clear enough for that.  The numbers and the writing around the edge are all written in a way that allows for instant readability.

In case of fire, read sign.

The Swiss movement gave birth to a new concept of simplicity in design.  Even now, we still see examples of the Swiss mentality in modern day design.  I tried researching the history of this fire extinguisher sign (yes it is technically a sticker, but I'm calling it a sign), but I was unable to come up with much aside of a major distributor.  While I am unsure of whether or not this sign (which I found in a gas station, by the by) was designed during the height of the Swiss movement, I do think it is a very good example of the Swiss style.  Clean, straight lines and angles and the use of a modified Helvetica typeface are all characteristic of the Swiss style.  The design works really well because, although stacked type is usually a no-no in the graphic design world, it makes your eye follow the arrow down to the extinguisher below.  In an emergency, simplicity is what you will want in order to communicate with someone in a state of panic.  This works and, doubtless, has saved lives.  My hat is off to the designer, whoever you are.

Back in my day...

Mountain Dew Throwback is a version of Mountain Dew that is made with sugar, instead of artificial sweeteners, and it contains fewer preservatives.  So, when you drink Throwback, you are drinking healthy...er.  Aside of tasting good, though, Throwback is also a great example of American Kitsch...or at least the can is.  You have the cartoon character coupled with the "hand painted" style of lettering.  It serves to remind us of the good old days....even if some of us weren't alive back then.  The design of the can almost supersedes the structure.  The structural design of the can is very much modern, but the art and design of the label takes the can back to older times.

WIPC: International Edition

This is an ad for Korean Air, taken from the back of a Canadian magazine.  Welcome to the international edition of my blog!  Anyway, the ad is focusing on the international connectivity aspect that the airline provides to it's passengers, and it does so through the visual example of a Ferris Wheel.  The central support of the wheel is labeled with the central hub of the airline, and each support strut coming off of the center connects to a chair, each of which are labeled with a possible destination.  In this form, every location is connected to every other location.  The travel limits and multiple flight transfers seemingly melt away in this display of connectivity communicated through a archetypal form.

Don't Try This at Home...

Some of you might remember a question that I brought up in class a few weeks ago about a design I had seen on the side of a semi.  Well, I got a second shot at taking the picture.  So, I would like to apologize for the quality of this shot.  It was raining and I was driving, which is just so wonderfully road-responsible of me, I know.  I Picnik-ed the heck out of this pic, but it still comes out looking pretty low quality, so I pulled the logo off of the official website for side-by-side reference.  UNFI (United Natural Foods, Inc.) is, as you can guess by the name, a international distributor of natural food stuffs.  I really was attracted to their logo because of how different elements play off of each other.  The logo is green, which fits the health food theme, and the gradient of the leaves is carried over to the dot above the "i."  I also like how the natural curvature of the leaves follows the curve of the name.  Also, the logo looks like an oil painting, not a digitally designed piece of art, which gives it a much earthier and more natural feel.  Overall, it was worth the risk to get the shot.

"Now is the winter of our discontent..."

I will be the first to tell you that I am a bit of a theatre junkie (That's right, I said theatre not theater.  I kick it old school).  A few years ago, I attended the Illinois Shakespeare Festival and saw a production of Richard III that completely blew my mind.  I decided I had to get a t-shirt, and, to my delight, they were equally as mind blowing.  I love how the bloody tally marks are not immediately apparent.  At first, it looks like it just says "Richard," but then you see that the blood is in three stripes, and it becomes "Richard III."  The violence of this design is matched by the violent story of Richard III, and serves as a reminder of the villain in this play.  He may be the third to be crowned King Richard, but that name is based on blood.

I'm Lovin' It...right?

This poster, found in a local Micky D's, is actually a very sneakily done bit of graphic design suggestion.  That happy meal is nestled in with a bunch of apples, which are very healthy for you, and...well gosh darn it if the box isn't red just like an apple.  Even though, in your conscious mind, you know a standard happy meal isn't anywhere near the neighborhood of healthy, the color similarity in the box and the apples makes that happy meal look very desirable.  Yes, this poster is advertising for "healthier" alternatives to the happy meal, but I think we all know what this poster is really trying to push.  Sneaky, Mr. McDonald...verrrrrrrry sneaky.

Atomic Fitness (or "How I Stopped Exercizing and Learned to Love the Bomb")

Evolve Fitness Club is found in the downtown Champaign area.  I like their logo because it is a good amalgamation of picture and type.  The "e" acts for the nucleus of the atom and the rest of the word flows off of the "e."  It is a simple design that fits the name very well without being to cumbersome or too focused on the gimmick of the name.  In my mind, it is a good example of graphic design.

Simplicity in Name and Form

There are several gas stations around town, a few of which are Circle Ks.  Their logo is a terrific example of Graphic Design, simply because the name doesn't need to be written out below the logo.  The logo speaks for itself.  It's a simple, easy, and fun design.

Oh...and happy Talk Like a Pirate Day. :)

[Insert Clever Title Here]

 

I was heading to downtown Champaign to do a little light shopping at Dallas & Co. when I saw this sign on the side of a building on Lincoln.  At first, I thought it was a really good example of integration of image and type, however when I looked at it up close, I saw that the lines of the house and the type lines weren't...well...lined up.  I still think it is a good example, but maybe it is an example of how little details make a big difference.  For me, once I saw that the elements didn't line up, that was all I saw.  It made the whole logo look sort of cheap and rushed.  I am not innocent in cutting corners here and there, but seeing this made me wonder whether cutting corners is ever really a good idea when it comes to the commercial world.

I Parked by the Bunny

About a month ago, I got the chance to go to Indianapolis, IN with a couple of friends of mine and attend Gen-Con, which is a national gamers convention.  It was a nerd and geek convention.  It was awesome!  Anyway, being that we were in a strange town and might not remember where we had parked in the very vast parking garage we had chosen, we decided that it would be wise to take a picture of the sign close by as a landmark.  This is the level and section we were in...and the interesting thing was, each section had a different animal attached to it, and each level a different color.  Each animal was designed very simply, using only enough contour and shape to make it recognizable as the animal it was.  The brilliant part about this method is how well it sticks in your mind.  You may not remember a number and a letter, but you will most certainly remember a color and animal.  Turns out that later in the evening when we went back to the car, we were able to remember where without looking at the picture.  I would say this is an amazing example of successful graphic design.

A Fond Farewell to Another School Year Gone By... (a note to my GDS 120 class)

4/28/11 TeeFury shirt of the day

shirt.woot  #1 shirt on the charts as of 4/28/11

Well, here we all are again.  The end of the semester, the end of the school year...maybe, for some, the end of Parkland.  It's never more apparent to you the things you enjoy and the things you have grown to look forward to, until you feel them slipping away.  As it turns out, this class has been the highlight of my week.  Each and every one of you in there has been amazing in your attitudes and work production.  I have never more felt outclassed, nor have I ever been more okay with getting outclassed, than I was in this class.  One of my regrets in this class is that I wasn't able to work with everyone.  I wish I could take time and right something sappy and insightful about every individual, but, sadly, my attention span will not allow for that.  I feel like I have really grown over the semester, both in my artistic ability, my creativity, and that whole "getting work done on time" responsibility factor thing.  My appreciation goes out to all y'all, especially Larry, for allowing me to try and do whatever my little ADD brain would spit out.  If I gave you the impression this semester that I'm impulsive, weird, and just slightly off my nut, it's because I am.  Any impression of normalcy that you perceived was erroneous and should be discounted.  I'll be taking Larry's Graphic Design History class in the fall, and I would hope to see some of you there.  I plan on keeping this blog going with postings of all the cool stuff I find on the internet and other places, and I might even start posting stuff I make.  I invite you all to follow along, keep your ear to the door of the padded cell, and check in now and then.

As this is my last post, I leave you with two t-shirt designs.  I started the semester with t-shirt designs, so it only seems fitting I should end with them.  I also leave you with a song that, to me, has come to be associated with the ending of something grand and fun that has in one way or another impacted my life to its bettering.  Some of you may recognize it (those of you who don't REALLY need to spend more time on the internet and video games) as the ending song from the game Portal.  Enjoy.

Back to the shirts...

Hello, once again, and welcome back to my weekly graphic design blog.  So this week I was having some trouble coming up with a very profound lesson, as I have produced the last two weeks, and so I am back to the old standard of t-shirt critique.  This little beauty is a reference to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, but all you cool people knew that already, right?  It's designed with the feeling of an old flyer or billboard, or maybe even an advert in the paper.  It's a simple and fun design that leaves no real ambiguity as to what it is referring to.  Also, if you haven't seen this movie, I would heartily suggest doing so.