Photography Final

This was a simple, or seemingly simple, photo touch-up. Using the clone, patch and spot healing tools mostly I was able to make the image appear less destroyed. The easiest part was retouching the face and jacket of the woman. However, when I had to make the area between the two people, I had a very difficult time because of lack of information in the original picture. I'm not quite satisfied with the touch-up because of some clarity issues, but I believe it looks okay.

This design was created using form, as demonstrated by the varying subjects and background, and also, movement with the smoke, as well as variety. The illusion of this surreal design is created with wacky proportions and odd emphasis.

The assignment for the design was to create a surrealist design using the tools found in Photoshop. I made this project my own by, excluding the hands and smoke, using all my own pictures. I burned the hand to darken it and change the original picture. I used the blur tool to change the flow of the smoke. I burned the background to make the hands with ducks come forward. I burned under the duck on the fingers to make it appear that it was actually standing there. I used a mask and the paint tool to blend in the swimming duck on the hands.

I really struggled trying to come up with an idea for this design. However, when I started looking through my old photographs, I knew I wanted to do something using them. I think the ducks were more of a tribute to a friend of mine who has a slight obsession with ducks, as well as giving a nod to my mother's obsession with wanting a duck. The smoking duck was supposed to make that duck seem older, while the one who is swimming is supposed to appear young, almost like a baby who has to be nurtured. 

In the Design Of...

NEVILLE BRODY was born April 23, 1957 in London, England. He graduated from the London College of Printing and Hornsey College of Art. Brody is a graphic designer best known for his typography. His work can be seen in The Face and Arena magazines. He also designed record covers for Cabaret Voltaire and Depeche Mode.

Because of his work with typography, I chose to make the background using text of varying styles seen in his work. I searched for a large font , similar to the ones that he designs. I divided the text to add blocks of color to individual letters. I also changed the scale and direction of the letters, also inspired by his work. The very background in black to keep to a simplistic, but abstract design.

Band of History!

A Different Sort of Package

Every since my mom bought these tissue boxes last summer, I've really liked the design from Kleenex. The design really appeals to me because the color is bright and vibrant. I also love how if you get six individual boxes, you can make it into half a lime slice. 

The design itself is strong because it is unique. The color makes it have a summer time feel and it appeals to all ages. The design, while very visually appealing, is also very practical.

To see the article, click here. 

Kick Butts Day

This poster features a picture of smoke intertwined with words about what happens to your body when you smoke. The words that are larger are the company's slogan. This creates emphasis on the important words. The movement of the smoke helps move your eye across the page. The background includes a pattern of "smoking kills".

This poster was designed for Kick Butts Day, a day to raise awareness of the issue of smoking and its effects on kids (and adults). I made it my own by adding the text around the image and layering it on top.

When making this poster, I knew that I wanted to use smoke. I also wanted to list off some of the health effects of smoking. By combining them, I was able to make an eye-catching design that has a strong message to it. I knew by making the more important words in the slogan bigger and brighter, it would help get my message across.

Johnny Rotten!

"You should never, ever be understood completely."

This poster is of Johnny Rotten, the lead singer of the Sex Pistols and Public Image Limited. The quote I chose to use is from his book "Rotten: No Blacks No Irish No Dogs". I used an image of Rotten with disappearing lines to help the meaning of the quote pull through. I used the colors to offset the bold black and white image. I wanted to use a love of variety to make it stand out.

The assignment was to create a poster based on ....to be completed soon...

Last Two Emotion Designs

Exploring Other Designers

While searching the web, I came across the Canadian company Emdoubleyu Design. As I looked at all the different things they do (posters, logos, etc.) I found myself intrigued with the messages behind their designs. This one piece in particular caught my attention. I love how they disguise an ear as a rock. Their use of balance really pushes your eye to the ear and the bikers. The poster flows very well with the background mountains as well. The fact that this is in support of something really adds to why I like it. If you want to check out all of the incredible artwork from this company, click here.

Emotions

The image on the left is representing the word "pumped". It uses bold colors to convey the meaning of the word. The pattern of the design helps to provide motion and energy to the piece. The image on the right is representing the word "longing". The color blue is normally associated with sadness, so it fit here. The word itself is going into the background but stays bold to represent something that you can't have but desperately want. There are eyes are eyes in the background for a pattern to add a hidden layer to the piece. The large eye helps to push the strong sense of the word.


The assignment for the design was to convey emotions using text. I made this my own by using the pencil tool, as well as the text tool, to create images relating to my subjects. Everything on the page, minus the fill in the background, is made using text. I believe the images help enhance the meaning as well as provide a subject to relate to.


When I started "pumped", I immediately knew that I wanted to do a fist to convey excitement and power. I adjusted the opacity of the image to give it life and added bright, bold colors in the background to add to the upbeat air of the image. With "longing" I wanted it to be somber. The blue seemed natural, as did the crying eye. When I fiddled with the word itself, I found that the eye and the "L" seemed to have a similar shape, so it became connected. I chose to flip the text on the eye on the outermost part to create lashes.

Design Book Color

Design Book Pattern

Design Book Gradient

Design Book Cover

Logos Logos Logos

The logo on the left is my first and middle name with a picture of the Even Star, a necklace found in the Lord of the Rings movies. I chose to do this design because I love LOTR. I used green in the image because green is my favorite color.

The logo on the right is for www.angryyoungandpoor.com a website that has punk music, clothing, hair dyes, etc. They didn't have any logo minus their name and it was difficult to know what the store is about. So, I designed a poster-like logo that has two members of a well-known punk band, The Casualties, on it. This shows who this website traditionally appeals to. It shows that it's about punks and music. The website name is on either side of the picture.

In the name logo, I used negative space to focus the image towards the middle and bring attention to the flow of the logo. I chose to have negative space in the Even Star to to make it a little more difficult to understand which also aids the meaning behind it.

In the AYP logo, I used negative space to create my poster-like feel. This brought the people forward, creating more of an emphasis on them. I also chose to not have full color on the people to aid the poster feel.

The hardest part of making my logos honestly was just what to design for both. I felt stuck at several times while making them. However, I like my finished product.

Line Design

First time using Illustrator.


My "Line Design" focuses on using line to create movement. The balance between the dark on the bottom leads through the wavy lines. This leads into the black swirls (the focal point)which again pulls it back down into the wavy lines. The splotches of white help balance the negative space. 


The assignment was to only use the "stroke" setting (not the fill) to build technique and learn how to use Illustrator. It was also to learn how to replicate a drawing tool. I made it my own by looking for none standard brush styles. I did not want it to just be a solid black or white line. I then played with the warp tools to manipulate the images and make them appear much more unique.


When I began the work, I knew that I wanted to start on a black background to make more of an impact. I did this by laying strokes on top of each other. I decided to use the wavy lines because they used line-weight variation which made the thicker part of the lines look fuller. This looked perfect to lead into something so I decided to make a black swirling mass to help balance out the white. The flow of the mass contains both black and white which I thought would not overpower the white wavy line.