Not just in Graphic Design Mags

Design doesn't have to be featured in the latest Print or Comm Arts to be considered great. And if that is your only resource of visual information, then I hope you have other influences as a designer...how else will your work stand out?

Now, this may not be far off from things you may find in celebrated industry mags (as the designers who made this stuff more than likely flip through the very same pages themselves) but at least its something a little different (the source, even though not far off as they are design magazines).

I enjoy reading and flipping through Dwell, I.D., and others like GreenSource Magazine. The layouts are all pretty simple, neat, and straight forward, but I enjoy some of the visuals and illustrations they use for the content.

Lets take a look:

Yes, some of them may be quite diagrammatic, but I love the simplicity in the communication. Task: take the content of the article and design visuals that entice the reader, heightening the overall article experience and allow average joe reader to better understand the content. Done.

I think they do a nice job of making the content more approachable to those interested in the subject. You don't have to be an expert for these industry specific magazines and that is what I love about them.

Contemporary Spain

Computer Arts April '10 announces Spain has talent!

Spain is getting some recognition this month, so lets see what they have to offer:

Okay, so if someone put this layout in front of me, taped over the giant "Spain" and the other obviously 'made in Spain' cues, and I just had the visuals to go on... I'm thinking I would have no idea as to country of origin. Although I've not been to Spain, regrettably, it doesn't seem to resonate a spanish vibe in obvious areas (such as distinct color work conveying Brazil or work from Brazilian designers). But, I would say this is really cool stuff. So I will go ahead and agree with Computer Arts. Why? Well lets see. The work just feels young, or youth driven, fresh not in the sense of never seen before, but in energy. The colors are vibrant in some pieces and more calm in others. This contrast in feeling may be linked to the cities of which the work is done in (Work coming from larger, more European influenced Barcelona and Madrid vs. other smaller cities like Valladolid within Spain). The article also speaks of Spanish clients being more demanding (than the US and UK) with their quick deadlines forcing designers to move quickly and apply their smaller budgets wisely within the shorter turnaround times.

I always thought I wanted to do a little work/ travel experience in Spain, so depending on how efficient I feel in my production skills and output times, this may be a good or bad idea. But it is good to know that there is a nice pocket of good looking design out there that somewhat embodies the culture.

Elements of International Style

I guess this is now considered retro. In a recent issue of Digital Arts, I found a nice article about Swiss design/ International style and its simplistic approach and how it is popping up here and there in designer's work. Here are some shots of the work from Rian Hughes who recreates the old Jan Tschicdhold penguin book design for an new retro look (top) and Brandon Shaefer (bottom) who uses simple geometric shapes to bring added meaning to the composition.

just before the corporate identity boom

This article out of the Feb '10 Print shows Print covers from the past. This late modern, geometric, black red and white illustrated cover in particular from 1958 (on right), and the accompanying caption, caught my eye. CBS head Frank Stanton"s quote predicts the boom of corporate identity design saying, "Increasingly. I think that modern corporations are realizing the high cost of impersonality."

Pretty decent foresight and understanding of the future of business and identity systems if you ask me.

what else does it need really?

I really like the simplistic, straight forward design of Garret Gott's piece for Printed Matter and the NY Art Book Fair found in Print Oct09. Simple and Swiss like, it calls attention to itself with the energy of the bold red color and white type contrast (left justified, sans serif). The only images on the poster and t-shirt are rectangular blocks representing books on a shelf. Its overall appearance is neat, clean, and borderline boring. But what is wrong with that? Yes, this design has been done before many times over. What could be more effective in the communication of a book sale in NYC? I think it works. Its red, white and blue (USA/ NYC), simple, readable, to the point. I know the type says "art books" but does the design really say art books? does it need to?

ahhh the romance of kitsch!

Exaggerated facial expressions, strong poses, enticing situations, glamorized products. Hello 50's American advertising. I have to admit, I'm kinda a fan of these illustration ads that embody the kitsch look and feel. There is a playful humor that goes with my viewing of these where I actually chuckle to myself and say something like "yeahhhh...right. amazing." So classy, so elegant and sophisticated the men and women are in these. The men usually take the dominant role, usually stirring up a ruckus from the ladies with their well tailored suits, gentleman caps, and sharp utensils. I know I definitely make that joyous face every time my lady and I are outside cooking bacon in a pan over a hot grill on an all american sunday! Does it get any better than this? What a life!

Images of life at its finest, courtesy of www.plan59.com

Discussion on Olympic Poster Design

Last week on the Colbert Report (episode aired on 2-11-2010) guest David Ross, museum curator, discussed Olympic posters, past and present. He briefly touched on the different visual styles for the olympic games throughout history, and how the heroic figures and powerful imagery has disappeared over time. It is very interesting to hear how corporations have influenced the change in design, taking it into a more corporate identity feel, moving away from the preceding heroic imagery of strength.
link to video

Above is a poster created by Shepard Fairey for the Colbert Report.