Math?

I am not attempting to give anyone a math lesson, so don't click away and fight that eight grade panic that we all get before a geometry test. I wanted to post this geometry sketch and calculations on here because I wanted to recognize the design that this image portrays. Its unusual for me to think that math can have any appealing values to it at all, but when researching geometry (because futura is a geometric typeface) I came across this simple yet defined calculation. Much of the work done in the era of Edward Johnson and Herbert Bayer looked very similar to this one and I thought that was very interesting. Maybe, just maybe, math isn't the terror that I thought it to be.

Project 3 Trials: Pt II

Adding to the last post, I have made this layout in order to break away from the usual text on a spread. However, the challenge I face is designing a spread where the design doesn't take away from the typographic aspects of my assigned typeface (futura). In other words, I don't want to take the spotlight away from the type. For this project, this may be the hardest challenge for me. Finding the balance between design and focus on type is crucial, and this factor can either make or break any advertisement.

Project 3 Trials

In regards to project three, I find myself in a rut of sorts. For me, its kinda hard to design a full layout just using the type and letting that dictate the entire mood for the project. I feel that if I try and combine words and numbers together, I'll just be mirroring our project 2 layouts. I made this layout in attempts to move away from the redundancy, I am still in the process for designing a more unique layout.

Evolution of Ads

Watching Mad Men and coming across a website that compiled some advertisements from the era of which Mad Men is set (1960s), got me thinking about how our advertisements really reflect the social atmosphere of that time. This ad, clearly showing the perceived male dominance of that era, would never have passed in today. Its interesting to know that from looking at an ad, we can identify what the living conditions of that time may be like. Now looking at the layout from a strictly artistic standpoint, I feel that the use of a black and white image rather than color adds to the seductiveness that the woman is trying to portray. I feel that with color, the image would reveal to much to the audience, and what I mean by this is that taking away a sensory object such as color enables the audience to almost "fill in the blanks". In this case, we can imagine her to have a certain shade of hair or tone of skin. To me, this makes the ad more appealing. Adding to this, the font seems to push the sexuality. The text seems to invite while at the same time being assertive. Artistically, this layout is appealing. Morally, not so much.

Gill Sans

Looking at this type specimen featured in the rare book room, my first impression was how simple it was compared to the Helvetica type specimen that we were shown in our project three brief. Upon further looking into it though, I realized that with simplicity, the specimen also has a range of small technical values that make it interesting. I like the fact that the bordering sentences on the edge of the layout is not what attracts your attention first, even though its in red. In addition, I like the contrast of font size as the text in the middle goes down. This layout is something I look at as using the core principles of type to predict its design. Its not too complex which is refreshing in todays world, where more is not enough.

Layouts

For project three, this is one of my layouts. I intend to add some color to it, but for now its in black and white so I can see if it still looks good. As we were talking in class, a piece should look good in both color and black and white because the color shouldn't make the design, rather it should rely on the core elements of the shapes and lines that you combine to make the piece. With this layout, I tried to make a design that had geometric units because that reflected my typeface(futura) which also uses geometric elements.

Type Specimens

While working on our latest type specimen project, I came across a pretty distracting challenge: How to create a piece without going to far away from the principles of the type. I was having trouble using the design of the actual typeface dictate my layout and visual makeup. Rather, I was creating layouts that had images with the typeface as a secondary visual aspect. Looking at type specimens such as this one made me rethink my work. I needed to create something that made the typeface the focal point and let that, in turn, make the design of the page.

Symphonies

Recently I was walking around Haight Ashbury and I came across this promotional poster for a local show. It struck me as interesting because the typography used in it was simple yet it used space and image placement to make it more eye catching. The combination of stroke weights and letter spacing in between lines makes it much more satisfying to look at. It also used a cool montage that completely makes sense when you read the name of the symphony. Its interesting to see how even though theres a bunch of text on the page, the words that matter the most are the ones set in bold. Therefore, those are the ones that seem to catch your eye first.

Simple yet intricate

When it comes to designing a logo, the challenge isn't in creating a design, but rather creating something that is simple enough for people to understand yet be different and multi-dimensional so people will remember it. For me, Sabre has created a design and logo that sets them apart. Sabre uses a simple sans serif type but instead of a regular A in their name they use a triangle. In doing so, the name becomes multi-dimensional and the meaning of their name does not get confused. Some how, its easy to make a connection that the triangle stands in place of the A. "Sabre" has artistic appeal with the sense of minimalism. As for their actual logo, the diagonal lines, its amazing that a set of lines can look so cool. I can't tell if its my perception of Sabre (thinking the company is pretty rad) that makes those set of lines cool or that I just appreciate how simple the design is. If that same logo was used for a coffee company would I still think its cool?

technology and interactivity

With the technology boom that is happening in the prime time of our lives, its easy to adjust with new forms of technology that may be produced. The generation gap between us and our parents is so clear when it comes to technology. It seems that any new technical product that comes out (ipods, computers, tablets), we can pick up and know how to use it right away. However, our parents and the people of their generation cannot do this so naturally. Throughout the city, I am beginning to see a presence of electronic billboards at bus stops. Some feature games that you can play, or some interactivity that draws you in. Just the other week in downtown I saw an e-board that let you explore the depths of the ocean and look at different marine life (promoting the Aquarium of the Bay). Technology has become so mixed within our daily lives and its beginning to become infused with more and more aspects, such as advertising. Its interesting to think about how much technology will rule our lives in the future and what new technology is gonna create the gap that we have now (between us and our parents per say) that will separate our generation and the next.

1984 by George Orwell

I was always aware of the ever present advertising "big brother" that was everywhere we looked and is such an integral yet overlooked part of our lives. Based on an article titled, "Cutting Through Advertising" featured on CBS, studies have shown that consumers are exposed to around 5,000 ads daily compared to just 500 daily in the 1970s. Now being an advertisement major I enjoy the art and ideas that flow through ads, however I also debate the fact of how much advertising is too much and when can we draw the line on marketing to consumers. When visiting Time Square I realized that they really push the envelope when it comes to trying to get your attention. Comparatively, San Francisco seems like chump bait when it comes to advertising. In Times Square, its the most interesting ad that gets your attention and ultimately beats out the rest of the competition. Unfortunately, every company or organization knows this basic marketing principle, and they exploit it to the T. This ultimately leads to a plaza of flashing boards, bright text, slogans, logos, and changing billboards all fighting for the 30 seconds you'll spend looking at an ad. Its a sight to see, its 10pm and the sky is still lit with the glow of flashing signs.

Old School Cool

While doing my research on the typographic period of the late 19th century to the early 20th century, I came across a lot of interesting artwork. For most, I was surprised to find that the artistic appeal in some of the work created some years back could still appeal to the audience of modern day. Out of all the images I've looked at for my project, I would have to say the one featured here is the most appealing to me. The simplicity in design of the text matched with the four gentleman combine to create a composition that uses so little to make it seem modern. How the guys are dressed and are standing play a big part in it too, its the old school cool. What really hits that home is when you read the actual text after analyzing the design. It sparks this sense of revolution and change, that old school cool.

Lit Quake

I noticed this ad in the labyrinth of Kalmanovitz and I thought it was interesting because an object, the thought bubble, was used as a "Q" in Quake. I liked it because it served a duel purpose, serving as a letter and symbolizing the principle of the festival. It made the text a lot more dynamic and more meaningful. Its not often text is fused with objects such as the thought bubble to display the message in a clear way and yet add a sense of a abstractness to it. The sans serif font adds to the simplicity of the message while still giving off a modern, somewhat minimalist view.

The Cahones

After doing some research on one of the cooler dudes that I'm doing research on, John Heartfield, I realized that there is a connection between his work and some of the political cartoons that are so common in our newspapers today. Although Heartfield uses photo montage instead of cartoon drawings, the goal of the two forms are the same and that is to portray an overall message through image to provoke feelings that may not be obtainable by type. With political art forms like these, its a lot easier to let the audience interpret what they think the pieces mean rather than telling them what it means. This makes political art (and art pertaining to economics, social tendencies, etc.) more dynamic and easier to become involved with. Heartfield had some courage creating political propaganda against Hitler and for that i have nicknamed Heartfield as John "the cahones" Heartfield.

Somethin Somethin

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2jAzUI/www.rsvlts.com/2012/07/19/35-brilliant-advertisements/ Attached is a link to a page with some ads that are definitely out of the ordinary compared to what we see today. As the population is being exposed to more and more ads, they have learned to overlook the ordinary. To respond to this, ad firms need to become more creative and think outside of the box to bring back the consumers attention. The series of ads featured in the link definitely achieve that. I find it extremely interesting that there seems to be an infinite number of ways to get someones attention and make them become interested in what your selling. Sometimes all you have to do is change your sales pitch and adjust accordingly.