New Printing Rules @ Digital Aquarium

There are sign in sheets for both printers, with each individual being allowed to print 45 minutes each. After one's shift, if an individual would like to print again, he/she would have to place his/her name at the bottom of the list.

Easy, simple, respectable. Just thought I shared it with the rest of you guys. ;)

Happy printing, and 2 days til Portfolio! :)

One of My Last Pieces for Typography

My last project for typography, where we had to do a poster design to go along with a DVD cover for a nonprofit organization. *phew* That was a mouthful.

I know I am known amongst my peers that I am an illustrator/cartoonist by heart. To see that most of the elements were type for this project made me very pleased. Especially when I was able to mount it for critique....it's so nice...definitely gettin' a copy for room to hang up. LOL :) Just want to expand my range of handling design, both type and illustration/cartoons. :)

Hope you guys enjoy, and good luck continuing to do your portfolios!

Cyan Update: We're Back on Schedule!

Yes, Digital Aquarium today has restocked on cyan inks for the printers, and I got word from the supervisor that they should have plenty for the rest of the week! So guys, start printing! :D

And also, be courteous to others while waiting to print, or while you're printing. It'll smooth out the tension. ;)

Godspeed! Peace!

Semester Project: Reflections

(I think Brandi has started a trend...one that I think is interesting for others to post on their blogs. :) )

This semester has been the most gut-checking and emotional semester I've ever been. However, it was for the better. I had no idea what to expect this semester, not just for myself, but for others in Stan's class as well. Even for meeting up with people outside of our class. All in all, I can say it has made me a better designer and a stronger fighter. Pushing designs and taking on different challenges within this group made me more mature in decision making. So I am thankful for all the critiques, comments on the blogs, and even the chats on the side.

As the semester is coming to a close, my hope and desire is that we continue to push each other to become better designers and artists. That we continue to network and engage in each others' projects. We have a strong core of designers, and I'm sure any firm would welcome our integrity any day. Or even to the point of creating our own firm someday. It can happen. With that, I hope people will continue to blog designs and projects, to showcase to colleagues and potential clients.

In closing, I again thank everyone for helping me get better, for telling me like it is (you guys remember the first critiques for my client - :D ), and for pushing me. Good luck on the portfolio, and I hope we stay in touch. Peace!

ATTENTION: Out of Cyan!

Today, while printing at the Digital Aquarium, one of the printers needed to be restocked in cyan ink. As it turns out, the Digital Aquarium is out of cyan ink to restock the printers.

With that said, print as soon as you are able at D.A., or make plans to print at another place. I don't know if they will get any more cyan ink cartridges before Portfolio Review...but I am not going to wait to find out.

Just thought I would let others know. And the one I was using still has cyan in there, so that's good to go. For now.

If anything changes, I will definitely let you guys know.

Mat Cutting Tips

Utrecht posted tips on mat cutting (just checked my e-mail). It's located right under the section "Tips for Keeping a "Green" Studio". Scroll down and you're good to go.

While it focuses on framing, I think you could use the same tactics (but altering it to the specific needs for mounting) to cut mount boards.

I wish I would've thought of using a mat cutter to do my boards earlier in the semester...it would be a skill worth investing my time of practice for sure. :/

Hope this helps someone out there! :)

You Can Now Divorce...By Texting?!

I was definitely stunned by this. Quite interesting that you can now divorce someone with text...What a way to open up a door to new opportunities through texting...that shouldn't be open.

Chairs

I attended the gallery showing for Chairs tonight at GSU's Art Gallery. It was constructed by Drawing/Painting graduate Jessica Scott-Felder. And let me just say, if you haven't see the drawings, you must see it. And for everyone who missed her performance (yes she had a very interesting performance) missed it. Patti was there, so she knows what I'm talking about.

After Jessica's performance, Patti grabbed my attention about the book that was compiled:


The cover quickly grabbed my attention, just like Jessica's performance. I was really amazed with the quality of the pages displaying her artwork. Plus, I'm a sucker for black and white! As long as it's used in a well thought out concept (gotta know how to use positive and negative shapes). Check her book out if you like, it's really nice. :) Need to get a copy when I can get a chance.

It's very inspirational to see others create a book, have it published and showcase it to others. Hopefully I will have a volume of comics to sell in a book within the next year or so. :) Any takers? LOL

Have a great weekend guys, good luck mounting!

Semester Project: Rollin' Up My Sleeve!

This is my design for the sleeve, so far. To be honest, it took me a long while just to think of an interesting pattern for this project. And after a three hour sleep for the night, I just got up and started drawing.

As for the right flap, that's one idea of having the numbers punched or marked so people can come to redeem a free drink. Another idea, just need to construct this, is to create a maze. That way, instead of just throwing it away, the customer could have fun after they're finished drinking. Or even during it. :)

Still constructing this, so if there's any suggestions or advice, please let me know! Thanks!

Semester Project: Website Interaction Works!

I am happy to announce the Flash interaction for the website project is working! :D After several failed attempts, I was able to get help from Paige Taylor, and I'm satisfied with the results! :) Now to just work on the added content for Portfolio Review.

Thanks again Paige for helping me, I truly appreciate it! :)

I Promised Heath

Heath and I were talking about typography projects last night in class..and when I told him about my calendar project, he mentioned about posting them on the blog. And I told him I would. And now, I did. :)

The numbers in the background are binary code to spell "Tech Junkie" twice on each line. It takes seven numbers (I am not kidding) to create one letter or character. So that's why you see so many numbers in the background like that, as well as how the layout was constructed.

Hope you guys enjoy the compositions. :)

Semester Project: hAD To Do It

Yes, I had to do another annoying pun for my ads. :D Anyways, I changed the background color for the ads, and it's definitely different from the ones at critique. Much more welcoming.

So, I'm ready to print these babies. Joy! :)

New Logo For The Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions organization changed their logo, and I must say, I really like the new look for it. More fierce and showing power in those muscles.

Thought I share this...at 3 o'clock in the morning. LOL :D

It...Is...Finished....

I can say I'm done with the typography self portrait. Now to start another one! :D

.......after the semester is over. : / LOL

Life Drawing 1

While I am going for the BFA Graphic Design program, I still practice what I enjoy: drawing. And in order for me to get better, I have to draw life, on a regular basis. I admit, I haven't been doing that mostly this semester. However, through soul searching, my crave for life drawing and studying anatomy crept back into my soul.

So to balance both graphic design and drawing, I take time to step away the screen, not to just protect my eye sight...but to also increase my observational skills and logic skills through calculating the joints and mass of the human figure. As you will see, I have been working on hands and fingers. That's still a problem for me to just draw off the top of my head, and I want to get better. The more I draw them, the better I'll get at them as second nature.







How does life drawing help me in graphic design you ask? As I mentioned, it's the logical side: Drawing life is not easy, and it takes lot of time to problem solve the obstacle. Same thing with graphic design, lots of problem solving in type and composition layout. Also coming up with new concept if the first ideas don't work.

So that's what I'm doing now in my time of taking a break from my projects. Going into another medium, push those skills, then get back into the fire of graphic design.

Enjoy!

Semester Project: My Third Specialty Piece Candidate..

And I do the best I can when I hit the number 3, seeing "Tres" does mean three in Spanish. ;) :)

I wanted to redesign the website layout for Indie Coffee | Books, seeing that...well...have a look for yourself:


As you can see, (and if you really want to view the site in person), the design and layout is bland, boring, and not engaging. I'll skip my fully-loaded charged rant for another day, or off the blog. It's that explosive for me to point the flaws on this current design...

So..as anyone would normally say, "If you don't like it, do something about!" And I have:


So...much....better! Not saying I have all the nuts and bolts in place, but I have no doubt that this design is a whole lot better! Yeah, I'm that confident.

My plan is to continue pushing the layout in Illustrator, then take it into Flash and connect the links so it could be interactive. Hopefully I can get a prototype to be usable by Monday night on the blog.

Anyways, I hope everyone has a good weekend, and if anyone has any suggestions or advice, I would be happy to hear them! Thanks! :)

Funny The Way It Is

This is new single from the Dave Matthews Band, Funny The Way It Is, on their new upcoming album Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King. It's quite an interesting song, contrasting the joys and sorrows. Such as, "Somebodies going hungry, and someone else is eating out" or "One kid walks ten miles to school, an other's dropping out". And that he goes on to say "No right or wrong." As it was meant to be this way or something, just how the earth spins with these different scenarios at the same time.

Anyways, while I am happy to see that they're releasing their new album, it's sad to see that one of the members is not here today to share the success. LeRoi Moore, the saxophone player, died almost a year ago due to a tractor accident. He was a very skilled musician, able to play other woodwind instruments besides the saxophone to add flavor to the composition.

If nothing else, Dave Matthews Band is the one band I know that is diverse in culture, and yet they play as one. Not overriding each other, just having a great time and giving a great show. Like design, they know how to balance the elements, and communicate it without the extra baggage.



Rest in peace LeRoi. Miss ya.

Semester Project: Promotional Design

So after our brainstorming session, I tried working on a sleeve and bookmarks for Indie. Not that I want them to be my final pieces...I still feel like I want to redesign the website. The sleeve and bookmark directions I'm still in question, and these are not the main direction. I'm just fiddling around right now until something inspires me to a greater direction and purpose.

If anyone has any suggestions or advice, I would be happy to hear them! :)

Almost There

Some more tweaking to do for the shirt, some shadow work around the nose and eye areas, and I'm gonna call it done for my portfolio submission. Cheers! :)

Typical

I know the Spirit did not get good reviews at the box office Winter 2008...but what was interesting was the design work for the posters and the advertising when the film was released in theaters.

So the picture you see here is the actual DVD cover for the film. Whether than pushing the level of design for the layout and composition, it just went for a look that is uninteresting. I'm just wondering why Eva Mendes' character is the only one caught in motion, while everyone else is in a static position. No consistency...or no relevant need for contrast and tension.

It really does capture the movie essence in a nutshell (saw the film in December). It leaves with the notion of going for something else. Or to say, "Could it had been better than this?" And the answer is yes...yes it could.

Rant over.

Michael J. Fox's Book

I saw this book today at Barnes & Noble, looking to see what I could find in the aisles...just when I was about to walk out, I noticed the cover. I looked at the front and the back cover, and I was just excited over the typeface used for the design. As well as the negative spaces and the capture of Michael on the front cover. The typeface is a bit cartoony, something that I enjoy a lot!

The back cover (couldn't find an image, sorry) just had a long insert from the book. I that was interesting, something I don't see often. Maybe have to try that for another book cover design later on. :)

Just wanted to share what I discovered today. :)

Semester Project: Continuing to Push

Thanks to everyone who offered their critiques and suggestions last night, as well as on this blog! I truly appreciate it. :)

So I started reworking on the 8.5x11 ad last night, so there are a few changes to the composition.

(Before Critique)

(After Critique)

I always had a problem with the white copy as a paragraph, and I didn't know where to place it in this ad. After hearing some suggestions, I tried reworking it, and I am happy where it's located now. I also enlarged the female (just her, didn't enlarge the vehicles), and rearranged the placement of the car and airplane. So now I have more room to play with negative space.

As for the colors, I'm still going to have to play around and try some things. I'm still gonna keep the colors for the characters' shirts, the consistency of them wearing warm colors against a cool background. I will try to work with the background color, and see of what I could. Seeing that I have white type, I don't want to lose it against a light color...so we'll see.

Any suggestions or advice for the new direction is appreciate it. :) Have a great weekend!

Pushing My Self Portrait More

As I mentioned earlier on my blog, I wanted to push my self portrait more. To see what other things I could add, or try. And to show you what I have accomplished, I provided the comparison:

What I turned in for critique (without the words circling my head)

What I have right now

I started adding the neck into the portrait, as well as the shirt, so that it could connect with the neck. I still have a lot of ground to cover before the portfolio review, so I am doing what I can amongst my current projects for class. As well as re-editing a few other projects (almost done with those).

Semester Project: hAD Enough?

*Phew* I can't think of any more wacky or adnoying puns. : / LOL Then again, where there's a will, there's an ad. :) :D

Anyways, here are the final drafts for my ads (for now). I feel like I can push the illustrations more after critique. I always feel that way honestly when I draw and color characters.

As for the copy and the type, I am open to more suggestions and advice for critique and before it. Thanks!

ADd Another One To The Rafters!!!

My team won last night in the NCAA Championship. The UNC (University of North Carolina) Tar Heels defeated the Michigan State Spartans, with quick action and urgency.

It's definitely a great moment, seeing that my dad graduated from UNC. I remember in 2005 when UNC won against Illinois, watching the game with him. High-fiving on different plays, keeping towards the edge of our seats...and going nuts when UNC won that year.

I was not able to watch it with him in the same room this year, seeing my home is a good distance from Atlanta. However, we were able to laugh and cheer about the victory over the phone after the game.

Now to go get a UNC hat/t-shirt! LOL :)

Just wanted to spread some joy on my blog today. And now, back to our regular scheduled program. ;)

Semester Project: Just Keep ADding, Just Keep ADding

So my 5.5x5.5 is making her debut today. For what I have so far. I felt like I needed to add more illustrations for her (compared to the other two)...but I think it's fine where it is illustrative-wise, seeing I'm trying to show her interest in sports. My problem I am having is her copy, I think she has too much to say just to get her point across...even though she doesn't have much to showcase compared to the other ads. I am going to try playing around with the copy some more, just to make it feel more legit.



For this ad: I want to first say thanks Stan for the concern of the copy. I started to see what you pointed out. So with that said, I changed the copy, and I plan to change some of the illustrations to make it more clear and consistent.

I tried with these two copies, talking about her interest in travel (though her taste buds are doing the pacing). I know airplanes can showcase travel, and other elements outside of the ones I currently have. What do you guys think of the new copies? Any particular ones you like over the other? I'm thinking the bottom one just might be the final one to go with.

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated! Thanks!

Semester Project: Ad 3 Progression

I'm thinking that I need to push some objects over the right. I'm gonna try to make some more decisions on this and the rest of them.

Semester Project: Ad-gression

The layout for the 8.5x11 ad. The paragraph will appear under "Discover Your Taste. Discover Yourself." tag line.

Any advice or suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

Semester Project: There is Ad in HeADache.

This ad is not finished per se...but it's the layout for some text, the tagline, the logo, and the address for the client. I do plan to add some more extras in the ad to compliment the character's interest in music.

If there are any suggestions, let me know.

The other ads will showcase sometime Sunday.