Post #12: NYC Marathon Poster Series

Post #11: Michigan Tourism

This image is a print ad piece to promote Michigan tourism. This piece was done by a student at my primary school, Kendall College of Art and Design. The function of the piece is to promote Michigan as a tourism state and show a bit of the beauty of the landscape as a draw to the consumer. The style is really great because the dock is leading your eye up into the lake and then to the text. The typoography is pretty good, for the "driveway" phrase they used a nice laidback font to hint to the audience that this is a place of relaxation. I was attracted to the work because it's just executed very nice and it really portrays a peaceful and calming setting. Which most people traveling into Michigan are looking for.

Post #10: Right Poster

This image is of a poster design to emphasize a person's freedom. I found this poster design at my school. One of our graphic studio classes did this as a project. The function of the piece is to get across the message to the audience of a person's freedom (being turned upside down). The style is unique in that the landscape portion is flipped upside down with the message "broadcasting" from the tower. The typography feels pretty good. Its a very thick and heavy font that they chose but it does help emphasize the importance of the message their trying to get across. The work was well executed. I like that they stuck with a very clean color palette. I was attracted to the piece for the fact that I just couldn't turn away without reading every line of it, which with an audience it the point.

Post #9: Tea Article

Post #8: Chick fil A billboard

This image is of a billboard for the restaurant chain Chick-fil-a. The billboard serves as a humorous advertisement for company. I found this image online, but I always loved this campaign that Chick-fil-a does. The style of the work is a 3-D ad with a very clean simple design. The cows are trying to encourage the eating of chicken and not beef haha. The typography is a dripping, slopping hand drawn font, that works very well with the theme. I was attracted to the piece because I really love the whole overall campaign that the company runs. So this is just one of many billboards that go together. The boards are always eye catching because of the 3-dimensional cows that are always present.

Post #7: Book Cover

This image is a book cover design that was done by a graphic design grad student. The cover serves as a promotional and image representation of the book itself. I found this design on the website of the graphic designer. The style of the design is a very free flowing design. The line of flowers leads your eye through the design very well. The colors are absolutely amazing and vibrant. The typography works really well. The word "color" in white type works great overlaid with the flowers. The viewer can't see every edge to the letter but it's enough that they are recognizable. The design is very clean and fresh looking. The work is done very well, this person definitely has had formal training in design.

Post #6: Band Poster

This week I chose to post an imageof a poster for the band "Not Applicable". The function of the piece serves a promotional purpose but also as a reminder of the event (date and location). I found the image while doing some research for a local band here in Michigan. The style of the design is very clean and bright. They use very bright solid strips of color on a white background, with a very "art nouveau" sort of design running through the center (wandering vine-like lines). The typography is a clean sans-serif font, just straight to the point. The quality of the work is rather good. For some reason I envision a college age student creating this, not really sure just a gut instinct. I was first attracted to the piece because it just automatically caught my attention and I just couldn't help but feel good looking at it. The warm colors really give it a warm and fresh appearance. The one aspect that I might have to do something about is the typography along the bottom. Since its running over different colored strips and even white it really loses its presense in the piece.

Post #5: Target Print Ad

This week I chose a Target print ad from the New Yorker that Target exclusively sponsored. The function of the ad is to appeal to the heart strings of readers by using NYC's Empire State Building, which even before 9/11 its was a trademark of the U.S. I originally saw the ad in the issue of the New Yorker that one of my professors had and I found the image online. The style of the design is relatively minimalistic. I love the combination of the almost hand drawn looking building contrasted to the harsh edges to the target symbols encompassing it. I also really like dark black into gray background and the subtle stars. There is no typograhy on this ad, the target symbol in the corner is enough of a statement for Target. Their symbol is recognizable nationwide, so that alone speaks for itself. The artwork is of really good quality. Target is one of the few nationwide chain stores that really has their advertising top notch. They spare no expense and realize the importance of it in the market. I was attracted to the piece because of its simple yet powerful message. Saying a million things without saying a word. My eye really caught that red jumping off the page on that black background, striking.

Post #4: Scion Billboard

This is a billboard advertisment for the 2006 Scion. The theme of the billboard is obviously geared toward Halloween. The function of the billboard ad is to get your product visual out there to the masses, while appealing to a person's slightly humorous side. I found this ad online while do some research on outdoor advertising. The style of the ad is very clean and straight-forward. I found it to be very eye-catching and just humorous to imagine seeing a car like this driving down the road. I also enjoy the way they divided up the space, a lot of ads can have trouble visually with that. The typography is a very simple sans serif and they did a little word play with the "Trick and Treat", which is cute. The piece exemplifies a good amount of quality in the artwork. Car companies generally put quite a bit of money into advertising. I was attracted to the piece because of the playful way they incorporated the season and its rather trendy car advertising layout.

Post #3: Wedding Invitation

This is a wedding invitation I found online while looking for ideas. The invitation's purpose is to formally announce the union of two individuals as well as usually inviting the guests to witness the event. Letting them know date, time and any other pertinent information. The style of the design is very relaxed and comfortable. The invitation is geared towards a tropical or beach type wedding so the style really evokes that. The typography fits very well into the theme. The mix of the italic and the script, to make the individuals names stand out, works very well together in the overall theme. The work has a good degree of quality to it, done by someone who has studied the elements of design. I was attracted to the piece because of the warm and casual feel to it. The same feeling you get when you think of the beach.

Post #2: Mountain Dew Print Ad

The image I chose this week is a print ad for Diet Mountain Dew. It serves as a promotional print advertisement for the Diet Mountain Dew product. I originally found it in a magazine but then found the image file online to post. The style of the design is rather simplistic with quite a it of empty space. They used a very eye catching color (that also reminds the reader of the product) that initially attracts the reader and then they draw you into the image of the sad puppy named Lucky. The tag line is what really sticks with you and creates a sense of humor about the ad; "Don't be fooled by a name". The typography is simple and subtle but it works great for the piece, nothing too overpowering. The artwork is definitely high quality and I wouldn't expect anything less from the Pepsi Company. I was initially attracted to the piece because of the color and once you read the tag line the humor factor really sticks with you. It was a really refreshing and innovative print ad to see.

Post #1: Endless Summer

This image is a movie poster and dvd jacket insert for the movie Endless Summer produced in 1966. The image served as a means of advertising for the film release but has also been somewhat of a hit in the 90's-present. I've seen it many times over again, but I most recently saw it in a Hollister clothing store on the dvd cover. The style of the design is rather psychedelic with the color choices but also rather uncluttered compared to many of the same era. The figures are represented in a rather destructed manner, but thats part of the charm of it. The typography is a very clean chunky font, it is very weight heavy on the image but it works. The work displays a great amount of thought, especially when your trying to encompass an entire movie in one image. I was first attracted to the piece because of the loud, bold coloring. I also love the overall composition and layout to the image. there is no way to look at the image and not instantly feel the warmth of summer.