I was impressed by the power of Chaz Maviyane-Davies’ designs. He says that “Creating an alternate vision as my expression in a pervading regressive body politic has never been easy, but design is my weapon and therein lies the challenge I call "Creative Defiance." This is similar to the idea that “words are the weapon of the powerless.” His poster on the 7th Article in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is, I feel, a great example of his philosophy. This article states that everyone is equal before the law. Maviyane-Davies used scales, a traditional symbol of the law, but hung them on the horns of a water buffalo. My first reaction was that they didn’t belong there, but then I realized that was the point of the artwork. Maviyane-Davies is trying to eliminate our prejudices and pre-conceived ideas about right and wrong. It should not matter where the scales of justice are used, only that they are being used everywhere. This image attempts to combat the general conception of Africa as a place of “hatred and brutality, corpses and corruption.” Although that is the main identity western civilization gives the continent, it does not have to be the only one.
I really fell in love with Nagi Noda. I had already seen some of her work- her "hair hats" namely (hats made of of hair that are sculpted to look like animals) and her music videos for Cut Copy and Scissor Sisters but had never seen any of her commercial work. Her website is pretty cool and has lot of images that I spent a while looking through. What I love most about her work is the underlying sense of humor. Her ideas are really kind of bizarre but also beautiful and very Japanese. I was impressed by the fact that she really didn't stick to any one area- she did everything from directing music videos and commercials to doing art installations and even designing a fashion label. I really admire people like her- "all around artists" that dedicate themselves to exploring many areas and do it all so well. What really depressed me however was a note that I read when I clicked on her website saying that she passed away this September at only 34 years of age, "due to complications from an accident that occurred last year". I really feel saddened that this artist who embodied youthful expression and was clearly at an artistic high point in her life is now gone. I'm sure we would have seen many more great things come from her.
All of the posts of this week were really, really interesting to me. All of them caught my attention and in general all the designs and the artists presented were brilliant, in my opinion. Amongst my favorite, I think Jonathan Ellery grabbed my attention a lot. The simplicity of his design is what makes him different from the rest I think. The colors, the white space, the typefaces, everything looks very postmodern and out of the ordinary. Universal Everything has incredible designs, I really enjoyed their website and I think they are masters at what they do, their animations and concepts are totally creative and full of energy. Also, in my opinion I think Bansky is a genius in what he does. The idea of coming up with such original illustrations in such bizarre, still clever places is what makes this artist so good. In addition, I thought Woodtli's work was really good too, specially his Play poster. I think I can relate to his design a lot and the way Swiss designers work, their work being artistic and creative, as well as being very clean and with simple shapes and colors. Last but not least, I think Gestalten Verlag is an amazing publishing company. The books I have seen from them are incredible; the design is totally unique and very elegant, definitely helping visual communication transcend and evolve by being committed to present vital design movements.
Of this closing weeks posts, I really liked the graffiti art, like Banksy, there is something so appealing about the artist as a king of anonymous figure whose inspiration is so profound that they just do the art, there isn't necessarily a monetary component. The freedom of that is inspiring.
Then I also really enjoyed Tom Gauld. His work looked really familiar although I had never know of him as an artist. And then I realized that I must have seen his work in the UTNE reader. His illustrations are simple and complex at the same time. Simple in that there is a childlike quality and complex in the way they sort of pack a punch in the messages which are sort of self critical.
Last, as far as typefaces go I really like your selection this posting, of Frith Kerr and Amelia Noble and also of Rene Knip. These artists have really brought something to the table as far as using typeface in everyday life. Like the photo you included of Knip's cafe table with the lettering as a border along the wall and around the wheels of the bird cafe buffet cart. The Kerr/Noble typeface is also really terrific in its free approach like the beauty and the beast lettering where the 'Y' is like a chalice or goblet. The letters seem to take on a figurative approach very nicely.
"my turn #9"
I really liked the Master of Logo design, Saul Bass. His logo's take on a like of their own they are so associative with our modern life. The image is so simple, brilliant, and natural. Just from the examples that you posted alone it is apparent the impression that he has had on American life. The logo is not just something that “sells” the product to the consumer; it is also something that the graphic artist has “sold” the corporation. Its like the Logo is their cross to bear.
I also really appreciated Piet Zwart's posters and typography. His placement is really advanced and seems influenced by the collage are of Picasso. It twists and turns and is layered in such a collage-esque manner.
Your posts relating the influence of graphic design on consumption and consumerism were really interesting and still ring true of graphic design in advertising today. The allure of the art and the presentation, of typeface, typography, and also photo images, draw in the consumer and it goes beyond the product to this sort of ideal that one wants to possess just like one would want to posses a great piece of art. Some advertising is that strong and seductive.
I think this last set of posts is my favorite. In artwork I love colors that are vibrant and exciting. Contemporary art and especially pop art is my absolute favorite genre. Looking at these posts reminds me of my favorite artfair at Art Basel from the past week, Scope. Both the posts and the fair not only were visually pleasing but gave me a feeling of excitement. Milton Glasers’s exemplifies that art is everywhere and used for everything. Today, art is not just works in a museum but can be incorporated in your everyday life, like on magazines, records, posters advertising for businesses etc…
I have never heard of Eboy, but now being exposed to their work I am really fascinated and attracted to it. The different colors and layers of graphics in one of the piece’s is incredible. I feel that the use of computers in artwork really expanded the career of art. I’m not saying that today’s digital artists are less talented because of they use computers to aid them with their work but digital artists need to learn and master the tricks of the programs they use which can be difficult.
Another post that grabbed my attention is Banksy. Just as my previous post, screwed and humorous art really catches my attention and liking. Its creative use of integrating the location of his art and the image are creative and smart. This weekend at art Basel I saw a women painting a hopscotch board all around the Wynnewood area’s sidewalk. The boxes went past 150. I really enjoy integrated art in everyday life because its reminds me that everyone is different in their ways of expressing their feelings and using their time.
I really like the work by Banksy. Not only is his work aesthetically pleasing, but I also like the idea of the final piece of graffiti being the product of a collaborative process. What Banksy stencils onto the wall can then be manipulated by another artist. I also appreciate the use of irony and satire in his pieces; it adds another dimension to the work. He challenges what people are accustomed to seeing displayed in public. I especially like pieces in which Banksy uses actual pieces of the building, or light posts, or sidewalks. Most people would probably choose to paint on a flat surface of the wall, however, Banksy uses power lines, telephone polls and cameras on buildings to incorporate onto his canvas. For example, in one piece, the power lines that go up the wall serve as a flagpole. The piece that I particularly like is of the boy holding a paintbrush. The “What?” and the paint on the brush and bucket were most likely added at another time. There is also something to be said for the speed at which he produces the work in order to avoid the police.
All the images are very attractive to me. First I want to talk about Jonathan Ellery’s work. His work is pretty simple but always catches my attention a lot. In his three images, the first one and the second one are black and white. Look at the first one, in the two books, he made the“55” “24” and “78” with different typefaces, and leave the rest of the books white color. This simple way give us a lot of space to imagine; it also made the image more clear and clean which makes me want to look at it more. I really like the typeface of “78” he used in the first poster. It looks like very smooth and elegant. You may imagine that the lines composing the “78” like the girls’ hair or something softly. It is very interesting that when you imagine more you will most likely enjoy this poster more and more. In the second poster of him, there are two spots in the right side of each book. He used the way of repeating which makes the readers to remember what he made in this image more effective. After I watch this image, even I close my eyes; the two black spots still appear in my mind. Secondly, I want to talk about the “eagle” image of Universal Everything. When I learned their collaborators are from everywhere in the world, I noticed that their work also melt many different images into one picture. In the “eagle” image, we can see icebergs, trees, smokes and we can also find man’s arms, hamburgers and some things related the technology. Although they are in one image, they match each other very well. That is the reason why I admire the artists from Universal Everything very much.
I love Lissitzky's USSR image most. During 1930's, the USSR was conducting a large scale production campaign, and the significance of this image lies on uniting people together. In this image, the man and the woman share one eye which merges two people into one unit. This image reminded me one piece of advertisement of Levi's jeans. In that poster, a boy and a girl are dancing together, wearing just one jean. They feel comfortable. This advertisement lets us know that Levi's jeans not only fit girls, but also boys. This advertisement is very famous in the whole world and attracts many costumers just by the creative idea. It is possible that the original idea of this advertisement is coming from this Russian picture. What an idea to merge two units into one!
David Carson has always fascinated me as a graphic designer and as a personality. His work is exactly who he is and the fact that he changed the way people looked and thought about design is enormous. Though his work was considered “grunge” and because the newest trend in the 90s, I really think that despite the emotionally charged and intuitive imagery, he was composing and constructing a particular visual idea that stimulated the viewer and forced them to be fully engaged within the canvas. Due to the fact that he disrupts the readability of the type and the image, one must really spend time with it to discover its many layers and multiple meanings.
I think his work greatly relates to Dada, surrealism and punk art, because of its connection to spontaneity and the subconscious. The over-saturation of text and image has also led the way to what many call “Maximalism;” a widely over-used term, but unfortunately is very well understood.
Comment # 10 I feel bombarded by the imagery in the last set of posts, and I’m thankful for it. I’m glad that I’ve been introduced to so many new things in this course. I appreciated taking time to focus a little on graffiti and street art. Banksy is a pioneer for taking things to the limit, and I like the controversy that he has sparked. While I do like stencil work, I must say that I prefer other types of street art. Sure, throwing up quick bombs and stencils gives one a rush and a sense of rebellion, but I feel much more connected to artists who take time to create pieces that are more intricate. There’s a different feeling and type of pride when you share work that is beautiful and emotional and present it on the streets. Here are a few of my favorites: - Swoon is the most amazing female street artist, period! I was so glad to see her work at SCOPE. example of Swoon here - Os Gemeos (the twins) have a wonderful gift for pattern and color schemes. Their work was at Deitch Projects in the convention center. Some of their indoor shows have had boxy heads, very similar to the ones in the Christoph Niemann post! example of Os Gemeos here - Lastly, I recently came across Elbow Toe, whose figure work is getting pretty good. see Elbow Toe here
I was impressed with the Graffiti and Christopher Niemann posts. I believe that graffiti is an underappreciated visual art. Not only that, but at present, if you consider yourself a graffiti artist, society looks down upon that. It is an expression of freedom and unbound creativity. All of the images in the post carry thought-provoking messages and entice the viewer to more than just a passing glance. There are some artists who are definitely taking this style to another level. http://weburbanist.com/2007/09/21/3-amazing-3d-street-artists-urban-graffiti-from-around-the-world/ exemplifies just what is being done with graffiti today. Christopher Niemann’s art caught my attention because of its comic book like style. I am an avid comic book reader and like how, as simplistic as the image may look, through closer review, you can tell just how much detail the artist has put into the image. Niemann’s work reminds me of Brian Bendis, and artist for Marvel comics, pencil drawings. His images also serve as entertainment, which is pleasant.
I was really impressed with Pie Zwart's designs. All the examples presented from his work seem to be really different and creative in terms of how they were conceptually done. His use of typeface, primary colors, geometrical shapes, and repeated word patterns, everything, was very original. In a sense, he reminds me of David Carson's work, especially because of his handling of typefaces and the use of photomontage within his designs.
In addition, I was really interested by the corporate design posts. I think logo design is a very fundamental part in graphic design. It is very interesting to see how a simple logo communicates so many things. The color palettes, the typefaces, layouts etc. in the logos should maintain visual continuity across the particular brand in order to create a recognizable identity of it. Also, I think Paul Rand’s logos are incredibly smart, very simple and rational. I specifically really like his UPS and Enron logos. As well as Rand, Bass’ logos are fantastic, he seems to have created logos for almost every important and well recognized company that there is, no wonder why he is considered to be the master of logo design.
As a fan of comics and illustration, Tom Gauld’s work impressed me the most. I especially love how his illustrations are very simple, however, they look like they took an immense amount of time. In particular, the cover Gauld did for Jose Saramago’s book, Death at Intervals, the figure is very simple lacking much detail in her face and body. However, the line work is extraordinary with textured walls and there is a great use of shading. Gauld also uses shading, or rather chiaroscuro, again for a cover by Jose Saramago in the book, The Double. There is a very strong contrast between black and white and it is very visually appealing. Also this time, Gauld uses color but uses it with a limit. The color blue is only used in the title, in the television, and in the figure’s suit. The color is not overwhelming and adds a nice subtle effect that draws your attention straight to what is necessary. I also especially like the cover Gauld did for Ted Hughes’ work, the Iron Man. The title and author’s name look handwritten and the figures are in a silhouette. The cover looks and feels hand-made which, in my opinion, is a very nice effect.
I most enjoyed learning "Toko"'s design personality, especially seeing as how closely it ties in with my own. The scattered use of shape converging to form typography leaves the eye visually entertained, while putting a message across to any given market. The variation in location (Netherlands to Australia) shows a group of people striving to bring themselves out of their element and "cause" a new design scheme relevant to each project specifically. Modern design groups like Toko have a knack for putting together innovative solutions, but just from surfing on Toko's website, I am finding all sorts of new ideas to inspire me on any project. "The Green Void" takes the concept of figure ground to the next level in print design, popping out entire shapes from the exterior pages and working with what can possibly be seen using a variety of underlying images. Another designer named Francis Koch (www.franciskoch.com), uses original typography to warp or create an existing image. Toko's type philosophy can be seen in Francis's illustrations, which connect type to image in a direct fashion. The text literally becomes the image, and all that remains is a unified visual statement (not simply text vs. image). ~Laura Patricelli
15 comments:
I was impressed by the power of Chaz Maviyane-Davies’ designs. He says that “Creating an alternate vision as my expression in a pervading regressive body politic has never been easy, but design is my weapon and therein lies the challenge I call "Creative Defiance." This is similar to the idea that “words are the weapon of the powerless.” His poster on the 7th Article in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is, I feel, a great example of his philosophy. This article states that everyone is equal before the law. Maviyane-Davies used scales, a traditional symbol of the law, but hung them on the horns of a water buffalo. My first reaction was that they didn’t belong there, but then I realized that was the point of the artwork. Maviyane-Davies is trying to eliminate our prejudices and pre-conceived ideas about right and wrong. It should not matter where the scales of justice are used, only that they are being used everywhere. This image attempts to combat the general conception of Africa as a place of “hatred and brutality, corpses and corruption.” Although that is the main identity western civilization gives the continent, it does not have to be the only one.
I really fell in love with Nagi Noda. I had already seen some of her work- her "hair hats" namely (hats made of of hair that are sculpted to look like animals) and her music videos for Cut Copy and Scissor Sisters but had never seen any of her commercial work. Her website is pretty cool and has lot of images that I spent a while looking through. What I love most about her work is the underlying sense of humor. Her ideas are really kind of bizarre but also beautiful and very Japanese. I was impressed by the fact that she really didn't stick to any one area- she did everything from directing music videos and commercials to doing art installations and even designing a fashion label. I really admire people like her- "all around artists" that dedicate themselves to exploring many areas and do it all so well. What really depressed me however was a note that I read when I clicked on her website saying that she passed away this September at only 34 years of age, "due to complications from an accident that occurred last year". I really feel saddened that this artist who embodied youthful expression and was clearly at an artistic high point in her life is now gone. I'm sure we would have seen many more great things come from her.
All of the posts of this week were really, really interesting to me. All of them caught my attention and in general all the designs and the artists presented were brilliant, in my opinion. Amongst my favorite, I think Jonathan Ellery grabbed my attention a lot. The simplicity of his design is what makes him different from the rest I think. The colors, the white space, the typefaces, everything looks very postmodern and out of the ordinary. Universal Everything has incredible designs, I really enjoyed their website and I think they are masters at what they do, their animations and concepts are totally creative and full of energy. Also, in my opinion I think Bansky is a genius in what he does. The idea of coming up with such original illustrations in such bizarre, still clever places is what makes this artist so good. In addition, I thought Woodtli's work was really good too, specially his Play poster. I think I can relate to his design a lot and the way Swiss designers work, their work being artistic and creative, as well as being very clean and with simple shapes and colors. Last but not least, I think Gestalten Verlag is an amazing publishing company. The books I have seen from them are incredible; the design is totally unique and very elegant, definitely helping visual communication transcend and evolve by being committed to present vital design movements.
"my turn #10"
Of this closing weeks posts, I really liked the graffiti art, like Banksy, there is something so appealing about the artist as a king of anonymous figure whose inspiration is so profound that they just do the art, there isn't necessarily a monetary component. The freedom of that is inspiring.
Then I also really enjoyed Tom Gauld. His work looked really familiar although I had never know of him as an artist. And then I realized that I must have seen his work in the UTNE reader. His illustrations are simple and complex at the same time. Simple in that there is a childlike quality and complex in the way they sort of pack a punch in the messages which are sort of self critical.
Last, as far as typefaces go I really like your selection this posting, of Frith Kerr and Amelia Noble and also of Rene Knip. These artists have really brought something to the table as far as using typeface in everyday life. Like the photo you included of Knip's cafe table with the lettering as a border along the wall and around the wheels of the bird cafe buffet cart. The Kerr/Noble typeface is also really terrific in its free approach like the beauty and the beast lettering where the 'Y' is like a chalice or goblet. The letters seem to take on a figurative approach very nicely.
"my turn #9"
I really liked the Master of Logo design, Saul Bass. His logo's take on a like of their own they are so associative with our modern life. The image is so simple, brilliant, and natural. Just from the examples that you posted alone it is apparent the impression that he has had on American life. The logo is not just something that “sells” the product to the consumer; it is also something that the graphic artist has “sold” the corporation. Its like the Logo is their cross to bear.
I also really appreciated Piet Zwart's posters and typography. His placement is really advanced and seems influenced by the collage are of Picasso. It twists and turns and is layered in such a collage-esque manner.
Your posts relating the influence of graphic design on consumption and consumerism were really interesting and still ring true of graphic design in advertising today. The allure of the art and the presentation, of typeface, typography, and also photo images, draw in the consumer and it goes beyond the product to this sort of ideal that one wants to possess just like one would want to posses a great piece of art. Some advertising is that strong and seductive.
I think this last set of posts is my favorite. In artwork I love colors that are vibrant and exciting. Contemporary art and especially pop art is my absolute favorite genre. Looking at these posts reminds me of my favorite artfair at Art Basel from the past week, Scope. Both the posts and the fair not only were visually pleasing but gave me a feeling of excitement. Milton Glasers’s exemplifies that art is everywhere and used for everything. Today, art is not just works in a museum but can be incorporated in your everyday life, like on magazines, records, posters advertising for businesses etc…
I have never heard of Eboy, but now being exposed to their work I am really fascinated and attracted to it. The different colors and layers of graphics in one of the piece’s is incredible. I feel that the use of computers in artwork really expanded the career of art. I’m not saying that today’s digital artists are less talented because of they use computers to aid them with their work but digital artists need to learn and master the tricks of the programs they use which can be difficult.
Another post that grabbed my attention is Banksy. Just as my previous post, screwed and humorous art really catches my attention and liking. Its creative use of integrating the location of his art and the image are creative and smart. This weekend at art Basel I saw a women painting a hopscotch board all around the Wynnewood area’s sidewalk. The boxes went past 150. I really enjoy integrated art in everyday life because its reminds me that everyone is different in their ways of expressing their feelings and using their time.
I really like the work by Banksy. Not only is his work aesthetically pleasing, but I also like the idea of the final piece of graffiti being the product of a collaborative process. What Banksy stencils onto the wall can then be manipulated by another artist. I also appreciate the use of irony and satire in his pieces; it adds another dimension to the work. He challenges what people are accustomed to seeing displayed in public. I especially like pieces in which Banksy uses actual pieces of the building, or light posts, or sidewalks. Most people would probably choose to paint on a flat surface of the wall, however, Banksy uses power lines, telephone polls and cameras on buildings to incorporate onto his canvas. For example, in one piece, the power lines that go up the wall serve as a flagpole. The piece that I particularly like is of the boy holding a paintbrush. The “What?” and the paint on the brush and bucket were most likely added at another time. There is also something to be said for the speed at which he produces the work in order to avoid the police.
All the images are very attractive to me. First I want to talk about Jonathan Ellery’s work. His work is pretty simple but always catches my attention a lot. In his three images, the first one and the second one are black and white. Look at the first one, in the two books, he made the“55” “24” and “78” with different typefaces, and leave the rest of the books white color. This simple way give us a lot of space to imagine; it also made the image more clear and clean which makes me want to look at it more. I really like the typeface of “78” he used in the first poster. It looks like very smooth and elegant. You may imagine that the lines composing the “78” like the girls’ hair or something softly. It is very interesting that when you imagine more you will most likely enjoy this poster more and more. In the second poster of him, there are two spots in the right side of each book. He used the way of repeating which makes the readers to remember what he made in this image more effective. After I watch this image, even I close my eyes; the two black spots still appear in my mind.
Secondly, I want to talk about the “eagle” image of Universal Everything. When I learned their collaborators are from everywhere in the world, I noticed that their work also melt many different images into one picture. In the “eagle” image, we can see icebergs, trees, smokes and we can also find man’s arms, hamburgers and some things related the technology. Although they are in one image, they match each other very well. That is the reason why I admire the artists from Universal Everything very much.
"Your turn #8"
I love Lissitzky's USSR image most. During 1930's, the USSR was conducting a large scale production campaign, and the significance of this image lies on uniting people together. In this image, the man and the woman share one eye which merges two people into one unit. This image reminded me one piece of advertisement of Levi's jeans. In that poster, a boy and a girl are dancing together, wearing just one jean. They feel comfortable. This advertisement lets us know that Levi's jeans not only fit girls, but also boys. This advertisement is very famous in the whole world and attracts many costumers just by the creative idea. It is possible that the original idea of this advertisement is coming from this Russian picture. What an idea to merge two units into one!
David Carson has always fascinated me as a graphic designer and as a personality. His work is exactly who he is and the fact that he changed the way people looked and thought about design is enormous. Though his work was considered “grunge” and because the newest trend in the 90s, I really think that despite the emotionally charged and intuitive imagery, he was composing and constructing a particular visual idea that stimulated the viewer and forced them to be fully engaged within the canvas. Due to the fact that he disrupts the readability of the type and the image, one must really spend time with it to discover its many layers and multiple meanings.
I think his work greatly relates to Dada, surrealism and punk art, because of its connection to spontaneity and the subconscious. The over-saturation of text and image has also led the way to what many call “Maximalism;” a widely over-used term, but unfortunately is very well understood.
Comment # 10
I feel bombarded by the imagery in the last set of posts, and I’m thankful for it. I’m glad that I’ve been introduced to so many new things in this course.
I appreciated taking time to focus a little on graffiti and street art. Banksy is a pioneer for taking things to the limit, and I like the controversy that he has sparked. While I do like stencil work, I must say that I prefer other types of street art. Sure, throwing up quick bombs and stencils gives one a rush and a sense of rebellion, but I feel much more connected to artists who take time to create pieces that are more intricate. There’s a different feeling and type of pride when you share work that is beautiful and emotional and present it on the streets. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Swoon is the most amazing female street artist, period! I was so glad to see her work at SCOPE.
example of Swoon here
- Os Gemeos (the twins) have a wonderful gift for pattern and color schemes. Their work was at Deitch Projects in the convention center. Some of their indoor shows have had boxy heads, very similar to the ones in the Christoph Niemann post!
example of Os Gemeos here
- Lastly, I recently came across Elbow Toe, whose figure work is getting pretty good.
see Elbow Toe here
Thanks Bridget for bringing a bit of the outside here.
I was impressed with the Graffiti and Christopher Niemann posts. I believe that graffiti is an underappreciated visual art. Not only that, but at present, if you consider yourself a graffiti artist, society looks down upon that. It is an expression of freedom and unbound creativity. All of the images in the post carry thought-provoking messages and entice the viewer to more than just a passing glance. There are some artists who are definitely taking this style to another level. http://weburbanist.com/2007/09/21/3-amazing-3d-street-artists-urban-graffiti-from-around-the-world/ exemplifies just what is being done with graffiti today.
Christopher Niemann’s art caught my attention because of its comic book like style. I am an avid comic book reader and like how, as simplistic as the image may look, through closer review, you can tell just how much detail the artist has put into the image. Niemann’s work reminds me of Brian Bendis, and artist for Marvel comics, pencil drawings. His images also serve as entertainment, which is pleasant.
Your turn #9
I was really impressed with Pie Zwart's designs. All the examples presented from his work seem to be really different and creative in terms of how they were conceptually done. His use of typeface, primary colors, geometrical shapes, and repeated word patterns, everything, was very original. In a sense, he reminds me of David Carson's work, especially because of his handling of typefaces and the use of photomontage within his designs.
In addition, I was really interested by the corporate design posts. I think logo design is a very fundamental part in graphic design. It is very interesting to see how a simple logo communicates so many things. The color palettes, the typefaces, layouts etc. in the logos should maintain visual continuity across the particular brand in order to create a recognizable identity of it. Also, I think Paul Rand’s logos are incredibly smart, very simple and rational. I specifically really like his UPS and Enron logos. As well as Rand, Bass’ logos are fantastic, he seems to have created logos for almost every important and well recognized company that there is, no wonder why he is considered to be the master of logo design.
As a fan of comics and illustration, Tom Gauld’s work impressed me the most. I especially love how his illustrations are very simple, however, they look like they took an immense amount of time. In particular, the cover Gauld did for Jose Saramago’s book, Death at Intervals, the figure is very simple lacking much detail in her face and body. However, the line work is extraordinary with textured walls and there is a great use of shading. Gauld also uses shading, or rather chiaroscuro, again for a cover by Jose Saramago in the book, The Double. There is a very strong contrast between black and white and it is very visually appealing. Also this time, Gauld uses color but uses it with a limit. The color blue is only used in the title, in the television, and in the figure’s suit. The color is not overwhelming and adds a nice subtle effect that draws your attention straight to what is necessary. I also especially like the cover Gauld did for Ted Hughes’ work, the Iron Man. The title and author’s name look handwritten and the figures are in a silhouette. The cover looks and feels hand-made which, in my opinion, is a very nice effect.
I most enjoyed learning "Toko"'s design personality, especially seeing as how closely it ties in with my own. The scattered use of shape converging to form typography leaves the eye visually entertained, while putting a message across to any given market. The variation in location (Netherlands to Australia) shows a group of people striving to bring themselves out of their element and "cause" a new design scheme relevant to each project specifically.
Modern design groups like Toko have a knack for putting together innovative solutions, but just from surfing on Toko's website, I am finding all sorts of new ideas to inspire me on any project. "The Green Void" takes the concept of figure ground to the next level in print design, popping out entire shapes from the exterior pages and working with what can possibly be seen using a variety of underlying images.
Another designer named Francis Koch (www.franciskoch.com), uses original typography to warp or create an existing image. Toko's type philosophy can be seen in Francis's illustrations, which connect type to image in a direct fashion. The text literally becomes the image, and all that remains is a unified visual statement (not simply text vs. image).
~Laura Patricelli
Post a Comment