Crap Detector!

Frank's Rad How-To! Whoo!

One of my favorite illustrators right now is Frank Chimero. He just recently posted a This is How We Do tutorial of his working process. Check it out his illustrator skills (really look at the part about how he keeps his HAND in the process).

You also should look at his work and buy stuff to thank him for sharing his knowledge.

A Website about Corporate Identity

This site is applicable to tomorrow's lecture: Chapter 20 / Corporate Identity and Visual Systems.

Link: A Website about Corporate Identity.

Graphic Design History: The Rest of Chapter 19 Questions

above image: The Nauga created by George Lois

Hey! I didn't forget! You are responsible for knowing the answers to these questions for your final:

12. What was Brownjohn, Chermayeff and Geismar?

13. What was Yale's role in Graphic Design education?

14. List three designer's who have taught at Yale.

15. Who was appointed director in 1950?

16. Who was Cipe Pineles?

17. What was she the first to do?

18. Who was Leo Lionni?

19. Know about the editorial design revolution

20. Who is Otto Storch?

Graphic Design History Creative Project

Please pick one topic (designer, movement, happening...) that we have covered (or will cover) in Graphic Design History this semester.

Your creative project will be equal to one test (300 points). In other words, it is 1/3 of your grade.

This has the potential to be a portfolio piece. If you choose to do a poster, do a series (at least three). If you choose to make a postcard, create a set (at least 15). If you choose to make an editorial spread, make an artist's book (several spreads). If you choose to make a packaging project, create a system of packaging (at least 3-5 pieces).

If you have your own wild, amazing idea...let me know! the sky is the limit on this!

Are you catching my drift? This is a big, involved project. If you want to write a paper (12 pages, fully cited) you may opt for this route as well.

Due Dates:
Wednesday, March 26: Proposals due via email
Wednesday, April 2nd: Progress posted on flickr and added to the MSU group
Wednesday, April 9th: More progress posted on flickr
Wednesday, April 16th: Projects due and displayed!

Graphic Design History: Herb Lubalin

Today we are going to focus on Herb Lubalin.

Here are some questions that should be included with your other study guide questions:

1. How did Herb Lubalin think about typography?
2. List three publications that Herb Lubalin created.
3. What were they about?
4. List five things about Herb Lubalin's work.
5. List two typefaces that he designed.
6. Name three areas of design that he worked in.
7. Who was Ralph Ginsburg?

Intermediate Computing: Reinterpreting A Cliché

Imagery seen too frequently is often not seen at all. This is the case with overused design symbols and everyday objects. Overuse renders them ineffective, and they lose their power to communicate. It is the function of the designer to revitalize these cliched symbols and objects by interpreting them in individual and personal ways. The following twelve examples of typically chiched objects will be reinterpreted.
Heart
Stars
Clouds
Sun
Rose
Apples
Key
Nuts and Bolts
Eye
Trees
Mouth
Light Bulb

SPECIFICATIONS:
size: each final image will be 4x6
color: black and white
medium: no limit, but final must be in photoshop and/or illustrator
NOTE: We will be placing the final 12 images into indesign and creating a small booklet using this program

DUE DATES:
Monday, March 24th: Brainstorm and Sketches
Monday, March 31st: All thumbnails and mind maps due / workday
Wednesday, April 2nd: Group Pre-Crit on all images. Please print out all images
Monday, April 7th: In-design Tutorial / Start laying out book
Wednesday, April 9th: Books Due

Lights! Camera! Type!

andrew passed along a few links that are relevant to the graphic design history lecture yesterday. Check out Great Scenes from TV and Film, Told Using Only Typography (and Sound) and a ton of movie title sequences for you to devour.

oh! and here is the saul bass site I was talking about in class that you might like to thumb through: notcoming.com | Titles Designed by Saul Bass!

Graphic Design History: Chapter 19 Questions: Part One

1. What is the difference between european and american modern design?

2. What was unique and exciting about Paul Rand?

3. Who was he influenced by?

4. Who is Alvin Lustig?

5. What magazine was he the visual design research director of?

6. Who is Alex Steinweiss?

7. Who is Bradbury Thompson

8. Tell me about his Westvaco work. What made it unique?

9. Who is Saul Bass?

10. Name two directors that he worked with extensively

11. How did he revolutionize the movies?

Print Production: Brad! You Win!

Congratulations to Brad Henderson! His poster was picked by the women's studies department at Mississippi State to represent Vanita Gupta's upcoming lecture.

They loved it! They loved it!

Word from Women's Studies is that they were impressed by all of the posters.

Good Job Print Production!

more details on the Vanita Gupta talk:
Vanita Gupta, nationally known civil rights lawyer and the counsel for the Tulia 38 is coming to campus next Monday, March 24, 7pm in Lee Hall auditorium! To learn more about Tulia, watch this short video "Scenes from the Drug War":
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/tulia-texas-scenes-from-the-drug-war/3893405366

Spring Break is Over: Here is a Cool Blog to Drown Your Sorrows In

I have been enjoying grain edit immensely. You should too.

From their about section: Grain edit is focused on classic design work from the 1950s-1970s and contemporary designers that draw inspiration from that time period.

Site content includes interviews, articles, designers’ libraries as well as examples of rare design annuals, type specimens, Ephemera, posters and vintage kids books from our bookshelves.

Grain edit is based in Oakland, California and is operated by a guy who works way too many hours and loves orange juice.