Can't Shoot Me Down

I love the cover for the design. It is simple but extremely deep in content.... This is a cover on Esquire from 1968, when Muhammad Ali was under a lot of heat. He protested going to Vietnam because his religion doesn’t believe in violence and he didn’t feel as if he needed to go either (Ironically he was a boxer, which is one of the most violent sports to date, but back to the main story). The picture is that much more epic when you know that he is posing as St Sebastian. Saint Sebastian was a Christian and a Martyr that was perceived to have been killed by the arrows.

The similarity is with Ali because he was stripped of his title in boxing and was persecuted by Americans because he was not being patriotic and not going to Vietnam. He was scolded and looked upon as if he really betrayed America.

Back in 1968, this was probably a controversial picture because of his decisions. The photo is a great way. The picture is visually striking and would catch the eyes of people who would be passing this. The artistic design and balance on the shot is perfectly centered on the cover.

Clash Between Fast Food Titans

Mmmmmmmmm, gotta love McDonalds. Loved it as a child and nothing has changed to this day other then not ordering Happy Meals. When it comes to having a logo that stands out, the red and yellow is unofficially symbolized with McDonalds. Even with a green background, the M stands along. But if I was to pick between McDonalds and Burger King when it comes to logo designs, hands down BK wins.

As we know from class earlier in the year, red and yellow are the best colors to use when aggressively going towards a target market geared towards food. What catches my attention about BK is the logo design.

The words Burger King are inside of two buns, which I find to not only be the most clever, but the most effective fast food ad. I interpret it as being smart and showing how a lot of the ingredients can be found inside of the buns. BK uses both red and yellow, ALONG with blue, which is another respected color in the psychological world. In business, blue is trusted, and sense BK is a business, it doesn't hurt for the logo to have not only attractive colors (Red and Yellow), but trustworthy colors as well.

I think I will forever love McDonalds, but when it comes to logo designs, Burger King wins every time with me.

O Ads Where Are Thou?

Is this an ad for lost children or lonely children?

Actually the ad is for a family law firm that was published in the yellow pages. Now I know that the yellow pages aren’t exactly the top of the line ads, but some kind of thought should take place when doing an ad.

When it comes to the type, I feel as if there are too many sizes for one ad (I count 4, maybe 5 depending on how you read them) along with too many different fonts as well.

I hate the photo, just hate it. Has nothing to do whatsoever about what service the firm provides. The photo is so big that it makes the rest of the ad revolve around it, which makes it more clunkery (See I’m making up words for the silliness I see). Switch the picture so that it doesn’t take up the whole ad.

If I didn’t have to, I would not have put all the text on there because I don’t think all of it is necessary. With that said, I would organize the information or make it at least more readable for the viewers. The wrong things are highlighted if you ask me. Divorce & Custody is highlighted but the name of the law firm and its consultants is the same font as the regular, lengthy text.

In Summary, change the photo, make the text more readable, get the message across in a simple, yet professional look. Even the yellow pages would appreciate that.

What Is You're Type Saying

"Environmental typography." Find three different examples of letter forms in the world around you and discuss the visual differences between your findings. Examples can include interesting signage, advertisements, billboards, magazine designs,websites etc. Describe why you chose your examples and be sure to cite where you found the examples.

You have to get your message across one way or another. Why not make sure that it is going to be interpreted in the right way? That is the interesting thing about type! One has to think outside the box but also be able to connect with their specific target audience. Mastering this simple thing known as type could be extremely beneficial in helping brand your product, so lets take a look at a few examples.

CREATIVE RECREATION

Creative Recreation is one of my favorite clothing companies. From the research that I've done, it's target audience is directed at ages 18-28. The brand does an excellent job in my opinion in the type they use on their clothes and shoes because it comes off as serious, but not too serious. The Arial type combined with the letter R being flipped around makes the type stand out from other brands.

Polo By Ralph Lauren

Polo is targeted as an upscale brand and the regular Arial is a safe bet because it can be interpreted in one of two ways, as either basic or sophisticated. Of course, Polo has the look of the sophisticated type because of logo that is connected with the Brand. I've realized that Arial and Times New Roman are safe fonts because even in school these two are used when turning in papers and assignments..... Interesting

What about the kids? Where's Your Type?

POKEMON!!!! Gotta Catch Em All!?!?!?

Gotta Love this classic logo for me. I remember when I collected these once popular trading card in elementary and middle school. This Japanese created font that uses bold and multiple colors oozes out fun and screams for children to run to mom and dad begging for cards. The bright colors combined with the exciting font makes this an easy winner with children all over the world.

Don't you just love what type can do to your image and brand?

All White Everything

In Western Culture, white is a pure color that symbolizes a virgin, which also explains why most Brides where it at weddings. White can also translate into kindness and innocence. In most pictures that have pictures of Jesus, he is wearing white. That is because Jesus, the son of God, could do no wrong and because he also was the purest human on earth. Now if Jesus was to appear in Chinese culture, he might just be mistaken as the Angel of Death.

That’s because white symbolizes death in Chinese culture and is worn (and then burned) at funerals. The interpretation of white between two cultures has provides two completely opposite meanings as one symbolizes death and the other symbolizes new life.

In Chinese culture, white, black or blue are used when burying a person. If there are many relatives, a white piece of cloth is used to link the hearse to family members behind. The order of the funeral procession follows the status of the family members. A white piece of cloth is tied to vehicles accompanying the hearse, or a white piece of paper can be pasted on their windshields. The loss of a loved one means that family and friends will begin the process of mourning, which last 49 days, and the white clothes will appear showing that one has died. (http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_chinaway/2004-03/03/content_46092.htm) This is the Chinese process of mourning.

In America, Black symbolizes death the best, a color that is on the opposite side of the color spectrum from white. White in America shines brightest and is known for being an elegant, beautiful color. I've discussed how the color is used in marriages and the connection between Jesus, but white is also bringing a whole different meaning in this day in age. White is now being connected with status and also is known as a popular color. There are even 'All-White-Parties' where the biggest and most loved celebrities come out.

Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs is known for throwing outlandish all white parties where people dress with only the finest threads that include just one color. This is a time to celebrate with others that have that high status is America.

The two differences are miles and miles apart, just like the location between the two areas in the world. If you don't know things like this, I would recommend that you look up information before heading over there so that the cross cultural differences don't make you stand out of place.

Light It Up!

Dance dance

Dance Dance Revolution? Friday night life at a bar? Something about this image just gets me excited. The left side begins darker and moving over to the right side the colors become brighter. The lighting is so animated with the monocramtic pink that makes the picture so radient. The hook at the top left side seems like it is attempting to remove the black and illuminate the pink. This is avery well put together effect of color.

Evaluating A Graphic Design

Graphic Design needs to have a combination of creativity along with appeal in order for it to be successful to me. In this flier done by one of my fraternity brothers, he uses an images and builds around the young women. I find it to be very appealing because he uses a concept from a movie (Sin City) and combines it with the colors of the fraternity (Crimson and Creme). He also ads a few circular figures to the image in a spray life fashion. The title of the party combined with the image helps with the visual appeal of the art. There is a lot going on in the background of the photo, but not enough to distract people from the most important things (name, location etc).

Is this really the best the NCAA has to offer?

After the 64-team tournament has been narrowed down to the final 2, only Butler & Duke prevailed. Butler has gone through a tough schedule to get to the final game of the season, but the same cannot be said for Duke. How is it that the third best number one seed got to the National Championship? Easy, the people who made the bracket wanted to see Duke back on top!

Duke, coming out of the South Region, Cal, a depleted Purdue team, and a Baylor team that really wasn't deserving of a number 3 seed. The number 2 seed was a weak Villanova team that was under .500 in their last 10 games. Yes upsets do happen, but there is no way why Nova should have been anything above a 4 seed with their performance.

But Duke did what no other 1 seed did, they played their game, were focused on the job they had at hand with their opponents and won. They had the easiest road to the Championship game, and they simply took the straight route.

Butler has proven that they are a force to be reckoned with as they upset the 1 seeded Syracuse and beat a tired Kansas State team that had little gas left in the tank after their instant classic double overtime victory over Xavier. Butler should thank UNI and Tennessee for defeating Kansas and Ohio State, making their run easier.

I will not take anything away from what Butler has done, they have been playing outstanding on both ends of the floor and are executing the assignment that the coaching staff have given them.

In tonight's title game fight, it will between Butler & Duke, one more deserving because of their road to the National Championship, but that doesn't matter. Who will show up tonight? Can the home team pull out the improbable win (Butler) or Duke seal the deal as they cruised to the title game? We shall see, but I put my Easter Eggs in the basket of Butler. Go Bulldogs

March Madness

March is a great time of year. The sun rays appear from the cloudy sky, the snow we fondly love in Wisconsin fades away, and the return of grass is evident. Even though we love all these things, when I think of March, I think of the Madness that the NCAA brings to us.

Whether it is complaining about who got "snubbed" or who "bubble got busted", the drama that plays out on the court is well worth the wait. The top contenders losing to the small schools, the buzzer beaters, or the high-blood pressure that arises from watching your favorite team losing.

NCAA- O what would March be without you!