Designer: Climent Canal (Idea & design), Sebastián Baptista (Animation)
Link: http://vimeo.com/18669276
I love typography, and this video just inspires me. Both from the typographic side and from a simple concept side. From now on I’m gonna make things better.
Carter Sans - Matthew Carter
Designer: Matthew Carter
Link: http://ilovetypography.com/2011/01/28/moma-on-the-money/#more-10367
I quite like this new typeface by type designer Matthew Carter. It’s a sans face, but with slight hints of serifs by using a minute curve at the corners of the letterforms. I like to subtlety of the line variations that just suggests a humanist form. I especially like the contrast between the straight and curved line use. For example on the uppercase ‘r’ where it comes out on the bottom outer side of the counter very straight and then switches to a regular curve. Very well designed typeface overall.
Design Army Strip - Design Army
Designer: Design Army
Link: http://www.appliedartsmag.com/winners_design.php
The concept of this design is very well done by incorporating the classic design of a deck of playing cards, and altering the images to create more visual interest. The use of a monochromatic palate works in the favour of this piece to create visual unity throughout the whole design. Even with the very busy patterns and elements within the king and queen’s clothing, the design is still balanced and directs focus at the most important element which is the title in the centre of the card. By using the white space around the text, it creates a contrast between the busyness of the patterns and draws the eyes towards the text. Also the use of repetition and variation within the clothes of the king and queen create a dynamic visual element to the piece.
Twinning Tea - Chris Yoon, Jess Gerjets, Peter Smith
Twinning Tea - Chris Yoon, Jess Gerjets, Peter Smith
Designer: Chris Yoon, Jess Gerjets, Peter Smith
Link: http://www.thedieline.com/blog/2011/6/20/student-spotlighttwinings-tea.html
First off, I loved this package design right away because I adore bold, vibrant colours. Aside from that, it really is a clever design. The charicaturistic idea of using prominent british figures to brand the tea is great. I especially like the tea bags themselves that each come with a different saying on them. It reminds me of a fortune cookie or something and I feel would give individuality to the brand as well as making the customers feel personal to it.
LG - Young and Rubicam, NY
Designer: Young and Rubicam, NY – Design Agency
Link: http://www.clioawards.com/winners/winners.cfm?medium_id=2
Michael Austin - Hatch
Designer: Hatch – Design Agency
Link: http://www.hatchsf.com/
I’m really still on the fence about this wine branding. I like the overall feel of the bottles and the labels and think they are quite stunning, however I think the typography could have been done better. The information (which is fairly important on something like a wine bottle) is more difficult to find. Also, the graphical style of all the labels is consistant, but I would have liked to see a more consistent colour scheme to really tie the brand together.
Negative Space - Noma Bar
Designer: Noma Bar
Link: http://www.dutchuncle.co.uk/illustrators/noma-bar/portfolios/portfolio
These two pieces are a very interesting illustration of what can be accomplished by using negative space to an advantage. A lot of people tend to see things in positive shapes and don’t necessarily consider the negative space created within. Noma clearly designed these pieces with negative space in mind. Along with the figures created within the negative spaces of the black silhouettes, I really like the overall negative space of the work. By using a lot of empty area around the important information in the design it draws attention to what the viewer is supposed to see first.
Battle Royale - Izumi Evers
Designer: Izumi Evers
Link: http://admin.bookcoverarchive.com/book/battle_royale
This design is a very well done and simple book cover for the novel Battle Royale. The use of distinct contrast by only using black and red creates a dynamic visual appeal. By only using the two colours, there is a great use of negative and positive space as the viewer sees in the negative space between the two figures, where a gun in created through proximity. The repetitive element of the plane shapes at the top of the cover is much more dynamic than if there was simply one plane shape. The typography in the name of the novel creates a very rushed look, which accents the two stationary figures underneath it. The use of empty space around the black elements strengthens the strong contrast between the visual elements.
Claritin - Protect Yourself
Designer: Unknown
Link: Unknown
The concept here is protecting yourself from the allergens that may affect you is a strong concept, but the design here is lacking. It is void of any type of visual grouping, there is no clear direction in the visual elements, and the strongest element on the page is the bright yellow wall in the background, which has nothing to do with the concept or design. Since our minds are used to seeing people in the full form, but having the person in the design cut off at the shoulder, your eye is drawn from the hand upwards expecting to see a face, which then simply leads your eye off the page. There is very little contrast, both in size and colour, between the brand name in the upper right hand corner and any other element in the design, which makes it very difficult to find. This design would be strengthened by using a much more limited colour palate and also by either including the full human figure, or removing it completely as it is not necessary for the viewer to understand the concept. Also, by increasing the size and colour of the brand logo and tagline, it would increase the effectiveness of the ad.
