A Series of Brilliance...

[<3]

The new remakes of the Batman series have had the best [literally] poster campaigns.  Check out the always brilliant "Dark Knight" ones here.

Christmas Decorations

 [silvered glittered nutcracker]

[decorative branches used for a make-shift christmas tree]

[up close hot of purple ornaments]

Imitation is the sincerest form of Flattery

[show magazine cover by henry wolf]

[harper's bazaar magazine cover by henry wolf]

Text = Image

[men in black 3 movie poster]

I love how simple this concept is and even more so on how effective it is when executed.  I've played with this concept in a project [shown below-everything besides the negative space & black shirt are text] and it is a tidies vision to take on, but I really think if done well it works excellently! 

[can you guess who this is suppose to represent?]

Innovative Design

[architect brochure]

[architect brochure]

[brochure]

[brochure]

[brochure]

[brochure]

Love

Watch this video and then tell me how old you think that "girl" is.  Overall the commercial sells everything nicely, the ring, proposal, setting, etc.  But minus the fact that the actress looks like she is 12 years old, it ruins the entire piece. 

Package Design

[tea box package design]

In Class Exercise

[flavor: beer-cola, similar to root-beer but more beer flavor]

[name:"barbiquity"]

[can design: medium would be tin or some sort of other heavy metal, with a handle]

Project 3 Feedback

[idea 1: using lipstick as the medium]

[idea 2: blood substance & red roses as the medium]

These are my two very rough concepts that I've briefly digitized. I would love any feedback that anyone has. One issue I'm stuck on, is for my 1st idea, what would I do for the related 2 other posters (so as to make them related but different)? So if you have any ideas feel free to post it.  

Designers Intuition

[1] Intuition alone does not dictate effective solutions/executions. But rather it is a supportive factor.

[2] Intuition requires nurturing in order to be a productive component to the design process.

[3] Designer must not analyze the insight before testing them out.  It is useful to experiment an idea even if it seems impractical.

[4] Expect the unexpected and be open to anything.

[5] Do not prejudge or abandon instinctive ideas.

Christopher Wilson

[photography of a soldier blinded & scarred by a bomb explosion]

[car advertisement for Fiat 500 Pop]

[surfer in costa rica or Swami's Surf Co.]

[lifestyle imagery for Natura Brazil]

[extreme surfers in northern california for Swami's Surf Co.]

Christopher Wilson is a brilliantly, talented photographer.  His images are beyond captivating and I found his work truly inspiring.  I found his work in the latest "Communications" magazine and was struck.  To see more of his work visit here.

Newly Improved

[newly designed website]

I wish I had a snapshot of their old website, but it was horrible.  Now that they have

"made it" and are pretty well known their site has really improved.  I love the color scheme along with the clean, modern look they have executed.  The typography/logo is also a personal favorite as well.  All over really happy with the look they have branded themselves with.  

Professional Packaging

[cool die cuts]

[intriguing design concept]

[interesting idea]

[closer look]

For those of you who are going through the process of getting your professional package together 

(e.i. Senior Projects) here are a couple of business card designs I found really inspirational 

and basically just awesome.  

Champagne & Candles

[Laurent-Perrier...my favorite champagne in the world]

[extra perk is that their packaging is b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l]

+

[up close view of package design]

[product]

[front & side view of package]

I'm a sucker for really pretty packaging.  Seriously it could be filled with air but if the cover/packaging is pretty I'll buy it.  Yes, I do judge books by their cover. Plus what could be better than pink champagne and crisp white candles...I'll tell you nothing!

Pretty Packaging

 

[beer logo]

 

I thought this packaging was really fun, especially with Halloween right around the corner.  

Who knew ghost liked to drink beer?

Helping Hand

I work with a wonderful non-profit organization called Support for the Kids.  One of the many charities we do is for underprivileged children and their families.  "As you can imagine, the need for basic items for hundreds of kids and their families is overwhelming this year."  I know as students we aren't always flowing with extra funds, but any type of of donation would be greatly appreciated!  

Below is a list of basic items that the families we help are in need of.  (A good way to provide for a large amount of families is to spread a dollar.  So we recommend buying some of these items at a dollar store) 

 

shampoo

conditioner

toothpaste

toothbrushes

deoderant

laundry detergent

cleanser

dish soap

combs

brushes

q-tips

body lotion

body soap

chapstick

disposable razors

gloves

warm hats
canned food

 

Also, gift certificates to: walmart, target, payless shoes, marshall's, tjmaxx, ross, gas, grocery stores,

 

We also can use new towels, blankets, hoodies and small appliances like: blenders, pots and pans, toaster ovens, microwaves and crock pots.  These items - (great prices at j.c.penny's and kohl's)  

 

i will start collecting the first of november. i can meet you anywhere with your donation. i hope to have a donated office space in wlv, so donations can be dropped off there as well.. 

 

"We (a bunch of volunteers) sort, divide and count items. We fill small laundry baskets with all of the above items and hand them directly to families in need.  These families are picked by a social worker, principal or teacher.

home visits are required to verify the need."

If anyone decides to donate feel free to bring it to me during class.  Or if you'd rather donate your time please feel free to contact me for date/time/location details.

 

ANY donation is greatly needed and appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for your consideration.

 

www.supportforthekids.org

 

Mr. Henry Wolf Ladies & Gentlemen

[henry wolf]

                 [harper's bazaar december 1958 cover]                   [show april 1963 cover]

                        [harper's bazaar cover]                           [show august 1962 cover]

Henry Wolf – Design Hero

     One of my favorite and go-to designers is Mr. Henry Wolf.  Wolf was born in 1925, in Vienna Austria.  Like many designers, he was skilled at many aspects of art such as: photography, art directing, teaching, and of course graphic design.  He is most notoriously known for being the art director and editorial designer at the following magazine companies: Show, Harper’s Bazaar (1958), and Esquire (1952). It was fellow graphic designer, Alex Brodovitch who literally handed down his art director position to Wolf in 1958. Some of his covers are literally the most outstanding pieces of work and should be viewed by all graphic designers.  A few of them I have posted to give an idea of the kind of talent this man possessed. 

     Having worked with such famous photographers as: Art Kane, Melvin Sokolsky, and Richard Avedon, not only led Wolf to open up his own photography studio in New York but also further launched these men’s careers.  Wolf was also a master at ad campaigns and directed advertisement campaigns for: Coca-Cola, Alka Seltzer, De Beers, Saks Fifth Avenue, IBM, Revlon, Elizabeth Arden, Gillette, Xerox, and Buick.  He won such awards like: the medal of the American Institute of Graphic Arts for Lifetime Achievement (1976), Induction into the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame and the Royal Society of Arts (1980), the Herb Lubalin Award from the Society of Publication Designer (1989), and a Doctor of Fine Arts by the Parsons School of Design (1996).  In addition, Wolf taught graphic design at the School of Visual Arts and Parsons School of Design.  

     Wolf’s work is along the lines of surrealist/expressionist.  The way he plays with typography is truly something to be studied, and the way he fills his space is truly inspiring.  I always see myself going back to him and other designers during this time period for inspiration in my own work. He has a style that really represents the 50's and 60's, from the color, typography, design, and everything else is so true to these generations.  Four major themes that show up in his work consistently are "art, love, time, and money."  Which are timeless themes that any designer at some point in his/her career focuses on.  A few of my favorite pieces of his, are the cover for Show Magazine with Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy’s faces making up the American flag.  The idea behind it is obvious that this family is the new America.  And the execution of having their faces make up the flag is brilliant.  It takes on a humorous tone and the colors are subdued enough to take this issue more seriously but still attract all varieties of people because during this time the majority of the country admired and wanted to be the Kennedys.  Another favorite piece of mine is his cover for the last Harper's Bazaar cover shown.  The way he styles the title of the magazines is very interesting.  Typically, for designers this is a "no, no" you don't alter, destroy or  change the read of the title.  However, I think in this instance we see Wolf do a very unique manipulation to the word "Bazaar" and it works.  I'd even go further to say that it's comical and goes well with the rest of the issue.  Unfortunately in 2005 Wolf died in New York and this world lost one of the most talented graphic designers.

Bibliography

Glaser, Milton.  “Henry Wolf.”  2011.  September 21, 2011.  <http://www.aiga.org/medalist-henrywolf/>.

 “Henry Wolf – Graphic Designer.”  2009.  September 21, 2011.  <http://www.revelinnewyork.com/blog/11/03/2009/henry-wolf-graphic-designer

Rope Design

[rope]

[designing logo]

[logo]

[final package]

I thought this logo was really unique and inspiring.  The actual logo itself is made from rope

and then photographed and used as the logo for this beer company.  Just a very out of the box way 

of branding.