Words & Image Update

Here is the process for step 3:

I have added text and I wanted to have a couple variations. The biggest thing I wanted to play around with was the credit. This first version below has the credit at the top...

The second version below I moved the name down on the left side. I felt like before the name was too isolated and it was drawing my eye up to an awkward area.

Words and Image Update

The theme of my spread is around the fashion realm. I decided to go with a contemporary image; colorful, but cool toned and not too aggressive.

From this image, the main letter that I would incorporate with it is a 'V'. I went with going with a whole word: "Vital". 

Step 1: 

Balancing out the image and word. My technique was to add a semi-opaque bar across the image. This adds some depth and it prepares the spread for adding text. 

 

Step 2:

Adding headers/titles, placeholder text

 

Words and Images

We have started this project of words and images. I personally enjoy working with type. I think words are very powerful and when paired with the correct image, it is even more so. That is obviously the point of this assignment, though. We have to find images and then do research on the image to get a good sense of what is going on.

What is the mood?
What are the subjects?
Is it making a statement?
Is there color?

Going off of my style and interests, I started looking at historical images.








Then I decided to go with more of a trendy and vibrant/lively topic of fashion.







These images stuck with me specifically because of the magazine spread examples I found online.





I was attracted to the color and I am looking forward to the typefaces I can find to pair with some really fun photographs.

Logo Redesign

In the beginning of this project, I went in to it deciding between PlayStation and Milwaukee Bucks. I went with the Milwaukee Bucks. I decided on that because the PlayStation logo was already pretty simplified. I wasn't sure where else I could go with it, so I didn't bother with creating thumbnails.

Below is the current Bucks logo:

The Bucks have actually only gonna through three logos including the present design; however this update was the only update since 1993. 

New features:

Expanded rack             Growth/greater force than before

Basketball feature in rack

M in neckline              Milwaukee

Typeface                     Urban and rural/cut edges like steel

Green                          Good land

Cream                          Cream city

Blue                             Great lakes

For our project, there are three steps. 

Step 1: Re-create the current logo. Use the same concept, but modernize and update it. 

Step 2: Similar concept, but a different implementation. 

Step 3: Completely different from original concept.

Animal & Text

I wanted to also post the final of the bird I created with a typeface. 

Word Pairs

The pair of words I chose were shattered and united. Below are the best designs from each word.

I struggled with this assignment because I didn't spend as much time on it as I wanted to. I wasn't allowing myself enough time to really engage or get excited about creating. That will be a continual struggle for this class because I am not a designer and I definitely don't have the confidence in each creation to make it well. That is a battle I will have to push through.

Word Association/Illustration

Word: Weight
Elements Used: Heavy/thick strokes and typeface, fade in color (in this case just grey to black), a play on words, leading lines downward, composition

EleFont

Right now I am working on creating a bird out of a typeface. Firstly, the animal I have chosen to create is a bird. I have not decided on which typeface to use, however I do know I will be needing to use regular and bold characteristics. These are also the following letters I am primarily focusing on to make the bird look successful: S, C, V, I and L.

Below are just some examples of typefaces that I was looking at. Since I am creating a bird, I want it to be graceful and organic.

Finally, below is a digital sketch I did in class. Very, very abstract but it is coming along. All the right ideas are there I just need to finalize some details, and again, find the right typeface. I will also still need to figure out what parts of the bird I do not want there. Since my style is more simplistic, I could very well do with a few "main" body parts. I think that would still be enough context for the viewer to tell what it is.

Thumbnails

Below are some sketches I did using letters of the alphabet. All are black and white obviously, and when I completed the first two I had to step back and decide how I wanted them all to fit in. They did not need to be cohesive, however I found myself making conscious decisions on the typeface, the layout/composition and so forth. I wanted them to be somewhat balanced and looking good together as they are viewed from left to right (or top to bottom).

                                               The last one I chose as a final and to turn in.

Letter Design

          I really loved this practice! Each art board came together nicely. It was a little difficult choosing a letterform, however I wanted it to be interesting, so something with curves and more than one line was ideal. Naturally, my process was to turn, flip and duplicate the letter until I found something I desired.

          I knew I wanted to add color. I definitely love black and white and I know the designs would have looked good with that contrast, but now that I look at the color scheme in accordance to the typeface I chose for the letterform, the feelings I get from these designs is are fun/warm/delicious. The way the "W" drips down reminds me of ice cream or whipped cream. I think the colors effectively compliment that feature. 

          I would continue this exercise with other letters; I think this can create really simple and beautiful designs for personal use/wallpaper/logos/etc. 

                                              

                     

My Style

My primary medium is photography. All art speaks to me in some way, however photography is the most enjoyable art form for me when I am creating. Graphic design is something I have always been attracted to, though. Over the years I've figured out that I am actually not that bad at it. I used to be intimidated by it, but I think that is also because I was young and was not quite familiar with the principles of design. I love art because there is no right or wrong. It's freeing. So figuring out my style in design is really just putting into words what I tend to move towards; what I enjoy about design.

As I included in my mood board, three particular elements/techniques stand out to me and speak to me in a way more than the others: Texture, simplicity and layers. Combining those with images that I saw fit, below is what I came up with. It took many tries to come to a conclusion on a layout. And ironically, as one of my words is "simplicity", my mood board only ended up using three images. I think this is great start and I look forward to possibly creating more mood boards as inspiration and reference points.