APPAREL + POSTER
Get ready for this year’s Earth Week at Truman State University! For the graphic, I used the idea of the Earth among leaf-sprouting sound waves. Take a look at the resulting T-shirt and poster designs.
Graphic
T-shirt
Poster
INSPIRATION
It is amazing how creativity can be channeled to make a difference!
POSTER
I designed this poster to advertise the upcoming movie screening of “The Day My God Died” on Truman’s campus. My intent was to create abstract and raw imagery to mimic the film’s theme of sex trafficking.
Continue reading to view the movie trailer. Read the rest of this entry »
INSPIRATION
Milton Glaser was awarded a Medal in Arts and Humanities for ”a lifetime devoted to improving the way people communicate through innovation in graphic design, and for memorable visual artifacts that challenge contemporary artists and delight all Americans.”
“I wish my mother was alive to see this,” Milton Glaser told me about receiving the 2009 National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama last Thursday (the first time for a graphic designer). He was one of twelve to receive the honor for their outstanding achievements and support of the arts. The medals were presented by the president and Mrs. Michele Obama in an East Room ceremony at the White House.
Click here to read the rest of the Steven Heller article.
CAPSTONE PROJECT
I am currently in the process of developing an annual report for Beanstalk. Targeting present and potential shareholders, the report speaks about Beanstalk’s philosophy, mission, services, and financial updates.
However, for Beanstalk to be a successful fast food restaurant for children, the company must be kid-approved. (For the optimal experience, kids must want to eat healthy in order to want to eat at Beanstalk.) I strongly believe that even the annual report can be an access point for the shareholder’s kids to build brand acceptance. As a result, the annual report has a secondary function as an illustrated story and sticker book.
The story of Jac & the Beanstalk is retold to fictitiously explain the origin of Beanstalk as a magical, fairytale land that a little carrot boy Jac discovered from a beanstalk outside of his bedroom window.
To view an in-progress pdf, please click here.
(Please note: I am still in the process of developing stickers for this report. Stay tuned!)
INSPIRATION
Earlier this week our AIGA student group hosted a film screening of Art & Copy, accompanied by a Q&A with its film editor Philip Owens. I was really pleased with the event. We were able to fill the room with a wide range of students, branching out beyond graphic design students to the Communication and Business majors. The film went beyond my expectations and Philip Owens provided us with wonderful insight.
The film talked about successful visual “messaging” by speaking of how advertising can transform brands for the better. As stated by the film, “You can be more than just a car company. More than just a pet food company…You can speak honestly and use this profession to do that.” In turn, I believe that as designers, we have a responsibility to our society to design honestly. To help corporations become more. To improve the content of our visual culture.
Some ways to become more include:
CAPSTONE PROJECT
As a continuation of my senior capstone project, I am designing an identity system for my healthy fast food restaurant. In order to express that the restaurant is both budget-friendly and child-targeted, I used a style that mimicked the charm of crayon drawings.
BROCHURE
Earlier this week, I found out that my Connect: Your Grandparents and the Information Age piece placed Silver in the Student Brochure Category. Check out some of the other work accepted into the 2009 Kansas City Addy Awards!
INSPIRATION
Next Monday, our AIGA student group will be sponsoring a film screening of Art & Copy. It is quite exciting what you can do if you only ask. Several months ago, we applied for and received university funding to make this event a reality. Film editor Philip Owens will be flying in to Kirksville to present the film. He has been involved with clients from Brad Pitt to Obama. It will be interesting to see what insights he has to bring to our campus community.
WHY OUR GROUP CHOSE TO SHOW THIS FILM
For better and for worse, advertising infiltrates our modern society, becoming an important factor in the fiber of our culture and point of reference. Sometimes perceived as white noise, advertising can manipulate consumers into acting according to the wishes of corporations. In fact, it has been stated that about 98% of today’s advertising is trash.
The film Art & Copy explores the other 2%. It speaks of the great creative minds that have convinced brands (and society) to become more. In the words of the film’s director Doug Pray, “Art & Copy inspires artists and writers to strive to make more meaningful, more entertaining, or more socially uplifting ads.” The film reveals the work that resulted from the creative revolution of the 1960s; it reveals the work that was created to rise above the association of mediocrity or manipulation. In the documentary, creatives such as George Lois, Mary Wells, Dan Wieden, Lee Clow, and Hal Riney explain their motivations and inspirations for campaigns such as “Just Do It,” “I Love NY,” “Where’s the Beef?,” “Got Milk,” and “Think Different.” Art & Copy explores the connection between communication, art, commerce, and human emotion in an effort to make a difference.
For more about information about our event information, please visit: http://concept.typepad.com/concept/2010/02/art-copy-screening.html.
INSPIRATION
Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the St. Louis AIGA Student Conference and show my portfolio to professionals. I also was able to hear a talk by Andre and Dan of Never Sleep. It was quite inspiring to hear about their transition from their student to professional lives. I had received their book last April from participating in the Practice Sessions at the National Student Conference in Dallas. It was extremely amazing to finally meet them!
JUST FOR FUN + INSPIRATION
PHOTOGRAPHY
As a quick exercise for my photography class, we applied the concept of a still life to a grouping of chairs. We placed the chairs in everyday “sitting” places in which the chairs do not belong. We set up each still life as a group, but then we each shot our own photography. Here are my resulting images:
BRANDING INSPIRATION
Interestingly enough, Studio 360 underwent the challenge of redesigning Valentine’s Day … everything from the hearts, to the roses, to the chocolates, to the expensive dinners, to Cupid.
Is it possible to redesign the timeless cultural icons of a national holiday? To read more about their process and final solution, visit their blog entry. In keeping with the age of social media, their new brand even has meaning when applied to Facebook!