Research and Inspiration #20

For this assignment, the last assignment of the year, I must crate/redesign a logo for a social issue, illustrate a portrait of a person or animal that is associated with the issue, and then design a poster. I have no solid ideas on the issue, but I'll just go with what I feel is huge and then go on from there....

I like this one because it helped with the war effort during World War Two. The slogan is cool, but I am not sure I want that portrait on the poster.

I like this one because its simplicity and the colors. The red suggests the world is falling apart and the blue shows what we are lying to each other about.

I like this one because I am all about peace....okay not really. I am against the war in the Middle East, bullying, and, most of the time, violence.

I think this is my favorite. I am in a family with a tradition of Naval officers (except my dad and my uncle) and my swim coach just came back from Afghanistan, he is also in the armed services. I am actually liking this because its every where and people will recognize it at the drop of a hat.

Shepard Fairey

Frank "Shepard Fairey" (born February 15, 1970) is an American contemporary graphic designer and illustrator. He first became known for his "Andre the Giant Has a Posse" (…OBEY…) sticker campaign, in which he appropriated images from the comedic supermarket tabloid Weekly World News. His work became more widely known in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, specifically his Barack Obama "Hope" poster. The Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston calls him one of today's best known and most influential street artists.




Examples of his work...

Color Psychology

Research and Inspiration #19

For this assignment, I have to make another logo and a business card. The companies that I have to choose from is Azul Salon and Spa, Ted's How Wings, and The Candy Shop. With two colors only, I choose The Candy Shop because of my sweet tooth!

I like all of these logos, authentic and fun. I kinda want it to scream "Old School Candy Store"! Like the ones you see in small towns that you visit, like Helen, GA, The Highlands, NC, or even Savannah, GA.

For a card, I want it to be horizontal, I don't get why people like it vertical. Small, pocket sized, but memorable enough so you know what it looks like. Maybe the background should be a bright color so it pops out anywhere, saying "Take Me".

Letterhead ideas:

 This one is okay, but a little too formal for a candy shop.

 Better....but a little to sparkly. Its a candy shop, but the viewers are going to be adults most likely. 

This is good. A little color, not too much, but still says "I am a company that you should trust in".

Envelope Ideas:

 I like this. Small graphics in the corner, some color, and emphasis on the faded logo.

 This is also good for a candy store, especially a small one that wants people to invest.

Yawn, there is nothing that makes me want to open this. What will make it pop and look unique from the rest of the junk mail?

Stationary Package

Stationary Package: the printed pieces that a company utilizes for communication purposes (letterhead, envelope, business cards, etc...)


*When establishing a business, it is important that all communications are well coordinated and that the message of the organization is presented consistently*


Basic stationary package includes:

• Business card
• Letterhead 
• Envelope

Business Card: When you hand someone your business card, they will form an immediate opinion about your company. It says something about your company--its mission, culture, and goals. 

-Everything from the COLORS, FONTS, the TEXTURE, SHADE, and GLOSS OF THE PAPER you print on says something about you.

Includes...

• Logo 
• Company name
• Employee name 
• Employee's title 
• Phone number 
• Email address 
• Company address 
• Web address 

*Visual hierarchy is very important!!*

Design tips:

• Must be 2" x 3.5" (fits in a wallet size)
• Margins about 1/4" (0.25) or 1/8" (0.125)
• Horizontal OR vertical orientation
• Check for accuracy
• Check for unity...continuity among other pieces

Letterhead- A printed piece of paper used to send letters, memos, etc.

• Generic to the company
• Make sure there is plenty of blank space for actual text! 2/3 to 3/4 of it~ (A watermark is okay to include in a large size)

Typically includes...

• logo BIG AND PROMINENT!
• company name
• company address
• phone number
• fax number
• web address

Design tips:

• In the United States, it must be 8.5 x 11
• Must be vertical/portrait orientation
• Must leave room to write the letter, memo, etc. Big empty space in the middle!
• Check for accuracy
• Check for unity...continuity among other pieces

Envelope- The packaging that contains the letter/form when being mailed

• Standard #10 envelope 
• Expensive to print all the way to the edges of an envelope

Typically includes...

• logo
• company name
• company address

Design Tips:

• Must be 9.5" x 4.125"
• Horizontal or vertical orientation
• Must leave room for recipient's address and stamp
• Check for accuracy
• Check for unity and continuity among other pieces

Visual Organization

Visual Organization: Directing the audience through a design.


IMPORTANT PARTS

1. Eye Movement: Controlling eye movement within the composition is a matter of directing the natural scanning tendency of the viewer's eye. The eye tends to gravitate towards areas of complexity first. In portraits, the eye typically goes to the face. Light areas of a composition will attract the eye, especially when adjacent to a dark area. Diagonal lines or edges will guide eye movement.
2. Optical Center: The spot where the eye tends to enter the page. It is slightly above the center to the left a little bit (human tendency). No matter how colorful everything else is, your eye will always fall on the optical center. It takes a compelling image to pull your sight away from the optical center.
3. Z Pattern: Our visual pattern makes a sweep of the page in a "Z" pattern. Effective page design maps a viewer's route through the information. The designer's objective is to lead the viewer's eye to the important elements or information.

The job of a graphic designer is to guide people throughout the work while making a visual statement.


FONT RULES

1. No more than 2 fonts total that complement each other in one composition
2. Don't use all upper caps
3. Chose the right font (fits theme & tone)
4. Don't over use fancy or over-complicated fonts. No need to confuse the audience.
5. Helpful site --> www.typography.com/email/2010-03/index.htm

VISUAL HIERARCHY

1. The designer's goal is to lead the viewers' eyes to the important information.
2. Visual hierarchy will establish focal points based on its importance.
3. Establish your order of elements to help the viewer absorb information provided by design.
4. What do you want your viewer to see first? Make sure the audience sees the name of the company, then what they are.

THE GRID 

1. A way of organizing content on a page, using any combination of margins, guide lines, rows, and columns. 
2. Instituted by modernism! Can assist the audience by breaking info into manageable chunks and establishing relationships between text and images. 
3. A grid consists of a distinct set of aligned-based relationships that act as guides for distributing elements across a format. Every design is different; therefore every design will require a different grid structure, one that addresses the particular elements within the design. 
4. A grid is used to help clarify the message being communicated messages and to unify the elements.

Research and Inspiration #18

We have to make wordmarks for fake companies (St. Henri Hotel, In Focus Photography, or Mimi's Flower Shoppe).

 I like this one not just because I like the car (well I do). I like the simplicity and the color suggests a sporty off-roading car like the Wrangler. 

 I like the swirly lettering, although the coloring won't be good for the fake companies that I have to choose from.

 I am allowed two colors, but I like how popular this is. Too bad I can't copy it but that won't be good for serious companies and audiences.

 I like the  background coloring and then the white. I don't really like the "F" but it might be a good idea for this assignment.

As much as I like the coloring and simplicity on this, I am not allowed to use black and two other colors. Plus this is a little too... sporty for say a flower shop. But either way...yay terps!