XXX

Today's blog post is brought to you by the letter "X". Found this gem of a design at a very funky and funny little shop in downtown Victoria. On first glance I thought to myself "why do they sell pas-----oooooooohhhh....hahahahhahahahhahaa". I think that the design is clever in the way that it is not overtly raunchy or rude by having large cartoony or rude imagery. Instead it is discrete and designed to look like that of any high quality pasta on the shelves of any grocery store. Imagine yourself walking down the pasta aisle at your local grocery store, you wouldn't look twice at this! That's what makes this design so genius! the curvy lines of the type with the soft color of the box and background. Anyway! just thought that this was something funny to share with you in this stressful time. hope to see you all soon....preferably in class!

WINE

I came across this sign walking the streets of downtown victoria. At first i walked by, but it caught my eye and i whipped out my cam and snapped a photo! The logo is so clever and works so well. i love how the logo acts as a bunch of grapes as well as incorporating BC which creates the stem and a grape. its very clean and crisp. great color pallet,easy to read.catches your attention. it is definitely a successful use of graphic design.

Starbucks.

INTRODUCING! the neeeeew starbucks logo! because they need more attention....they don't get enough as it is. It's such a clean cut, refreshing, organic looking design. very crisp. It gives a feeling of fresh, like if you drink this coffee, not only will you be supporting a great organic and green corporation (sarcasm) but you will also contributing to a greener tomorrow! (also most likely sarcasm). I know that I can't necessarily talk shit about this establishment....especially since I am currently sitting in a very comfortable chair, using their internet and sipping an overly priced cup of jo! but oh so delicious... and plus.....the pretty cup :P There seems to be such a confidence that emanates from people holding that Starbucks clad cup. Everyone sitting around me are on their iphones....literally.....if i could take a picture i would. The three people I seem to be sitting in a circle with around a tiny table covered in The Globe, and some other important worldly news outlet, are staring at their screens intently with a slightly furrowed brow. Again I can't complain, especially since I am doing almost the exact same thing, but on my MACBOOK. i seem to fit in alright here:P anyway! enough about the starbucks environment. just thought i would paint you a picture. The design is working great, love the color, love the crisp edges, the sleeve of the cup is a great new design, but I wouldn't necessarily say that it works better or worse than the original designs. Just different. I do like that they are switching it up, maybe they could continue this over and over. generate more attention and more money. then they can finally take over the world. well. that's all for now! from my comfy chair in my starby's cult, see you later. happy striking.

-Nat

ps. so sorry about the rambling. i blame the caffeine. :-D see you guys at the strike!

Beatrice Warde

This weeks blog assignment is to express a quote pulled from an article written by Beatrice Warde. The quote that I chose is "It is sheer magic that I should be able to hold a one-sided conversation by means of black marks on paper with an unknown person halfway across the world." I can't quite put a finger on what makes this statement so beautiful, but it is. I think it is the pure truth in it. That by putting a few marks in a book, you are communicating with someone you don't know, and probably will never meet, and that they will read and take an understanding of your words. It shows the power of type and how by choosing the right or wrong type, you can be seriously impairing the understand and reading experience of the viewer. So that's my interpretation! peace!

ACITEVLEH (sounds more exciting this way)

OMG IT'S EVERYWHERE. quite literally. Wake up in the morning, drive to work in a toyota, stop at a stop sign, get to work and walk past the batteries and cookies. on my break i listen to my ipod, then get home and skype. Just a few of the many instances i have been associating with helvetican products! I think it's pretty neat how these brand logos are all the same typefact and yet act so differently. The skype logo is so cheerful and happy and cute, whereas the energizer logo is very sharp and dynamic and strong. I know that a lot of people feel very strongly about fonts and when they should and should not be used. These examples of the use of helvetica are working quite well i think, they all give off appropriate feelings to their certain product.

my quote is one by william morris, saying "the true secret of happiness is taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life". this quote just seems so beautifully honest and true. we go around through our day just focussed on our work or what's for dinner or whatever, but we rarely take the time to appreciate the little things. i chose to incorporate futurism and dadaism into my layout and think that it works nicely with the colours and dynamic shapes. let me know what you think!

POSTERCHILD

this is my poster child of peter behrens and william morris. this assignment was a little difficult just because of the huge difference between the two artists. i think it represents both styles because william morris is very decorative and detailed, whereas peter behrens is crisp and clean and simple. i decided to leave it very simple except for the two corner framing designs (inspired by william morris) and the font simple and legible (inspired by peter behrens). and the negative space is my contribution to this design. i also didn't put a geometrical border in just for the reason that this piece was inspired by morris and behrens, but very loosely. please let me know what you think :)