Magazine Cover Design

Version 2: 

Original Event Poster

Fonts: Copperplate Gothic Bold, Arial Bold Italic

Color Palette:

Software: Illustration created first in Illustrator and brought into Photoshop to add effects. Text and organization completed in Photoshop. 

Logo Sketch to Vector

Sketch:

Black and White Vector:

Color Vector:

Logo Comparison

1. What are the major differences in these two versions?

The first logo’s graphic element dominates the design while the text, very small in comparison, provides a smaller secondary element. In the second logo, the text, now large and bold, is more easily visible and on par with the size of the graphic.

2. What design issue caused a change in the final artwork?

The text on the first logo is not as noticeable as one would desire; the redesign in the second logo remedies this. The logo now clearly advertises ‘The Mix Show’ as opposed to focusing on the seemingly random graphic. 

CareerLocker

Computer programmers write code in order to have computers perform various tasks for anything from accounting and billing functions to computer-aided design machine controls. People or organizations hire programmers and it is their job to complete whatever program is required. One must have at least a bachelor’s degree and be fluent in various programming languages. Careers in programming involve coding, design, development, and maintenance of computer systems and software. This requires knowledge of operating systems, programming languages, and various software. There are work opportunities with both large corporations as well as smaller businesses. The median salary is roughly $81,000 in California.

Computer engineers plan and design computing equipment. They study information about the computing needs of a business and recommend the type of hardware and software that best fits their needs. In addition, computer engineers are required to solve various mathematical problems and prepare reports detailing how computer problems can be solved. One must have at least a bachelor’s degree (many have a master’s), as well as be well versed in implementing computer systems and software and providing technical assistance. The median salary of computer engineers in California is roughly $110,000.

Software engineers design and develop computer software systems. They develop simpler ways to design complex computer software programs in order to streamline the task at hand. In addition to software design based on principles of computer science, engineering, and mathematics, they must also be able to estimate the time and expense of developing any particular program. One must have at least a bachelor’s degree (many have a master’s). The median salary of software engineers in California is roughly $107,000. 

I would be interested in these computer science related jobs because I think it's mentally engaging and, in general, fun to work with and program computers. The use of design elements necessary for some jobs is also something that I like. 

Hand Lettering

Perspective Illustration

Three-Point Perspective Illustration of my room

Helvetica - The Movie

Helvetica was created at the Haas Type Foundry in Switzerland in 1957. Originally, the font was called Neue Haas Grotesk, meaning the New Haas Typeface. This was changed to Helvetica, the Latin translation of “The Swiss Typeface.” Helvetica brought the Swiss design style, consisting of angular and simple shapes, to the world.

Some design styles discussed in the film include illustrated type, grunge typography, modernism, and the use of restrictions.

I found the film’s focus on the evolution of typefaces relevant in contextualizing the fonts that are popularly used in design today (the switch to digital design in particular). The analysis of negative space and letter spacing in typeface design was also something I hadn’t considered much before. I’ll be keeping this in mind when choosing and using fonts in my designs. Lastly, the widespread use of Helvetica in itself is something I hadn’t noticed before. As one designer said in the film, Helvetica is like off-white paint in that nobody notices that it’s there even though it’s almost everywhere we look.

Wim Crouwel was born in the Netherlands in 1928. He began his career as a expressionist painter and quickly transitioned to designing posters. He was one of the original founders of the design studio Total Design and worked there for much of his career. In addition to posters, Crouwel also worked designing catalogues, magazines, and typefaces. 

Biography and examples of his work on posters and typefaces throughout his career:
http://www.iconofgraphics.com/Wim-Crouwel/

  

Erik Spiekermann, born in 1947, is a type and graphic designer from Germany. He started his career working as a freelance designer in London and later founded his design company, MetaDesign. Spiekermann later founded FontShop, the first company to distribute mail-order digital fonts.

Biography and examples of his typeface design and works:

http://courses.washington.edu/des209/downloads/Pecha%20Kucha%20presentations/PK_Spiekermann_E.pdf

Neville Brody, born in 1957, is an English graphic designer and typographer. He first became well known by designing record covers. By 1988, a book chronicling his work was published; it became the best selling graphic design book. Today, he continues to work in graphic design with his design company, Research Studios. 

Short biography and examples of his work on his design company’s site:

http://www.researchstudios.com/neville-brody/

Massimo Vignelli was born in 1931 in Milan, Italy. He works as not only a graphic designer, but also in furniture, house ware, and showroom design. His work is mainly modernist and utilizes a combination of geometric shapes. He opened the Vignelli Center For Design Studies in New York. It functions as an art exhibition space, classrooms, and offices. 

Biography and examples of his work, both graphical and other categories:

http://www.moma.org/collection/artist.php?artist_id=6155

Color Theory - Part C

The primary colors of pigment are blue, yellow, and red, while the primary colors of light are blue, green, and red. Pigment-generated colors are subtractive: combining the primary colors results in a dark shade. Light-generated colors are additive, so combining the primary colors results in white. Mixing together two primary colors creates secondary colors. For example, orange, a secondary color, is the combination of red and yellow. Tertiary colors are created when a secondary color wheel is included when mixing. Different hues of violet, for example, are achieved when red and blue are then mixed with a third color. Additionally, color can affect our perception based on what a given color is personally, culturally, or generally related to. Some colors convey a sense of excitement or creativity (red and purple, respectively), which can influence one’s opinion of a design or logo comprised of such colors. Some, such as holiday colors, have additional cultural connotations (black and orange for Halloween, red and green for Christmas) while others (green and earth tones) are associated globally with nature. Other colors can affect a given color as well by virtue of their contrast. Surrounding colors will determine the intensity of a given color.

   Grey Scale

   Monochromatic

   Complementary