PROJECT #8: Vancouver Design

Post Projects is a Vancouver based graphic art and design studio founded by Alex Nelson and Beau House. PP designs for local and international clients in the areas of identity & branding, print media, and interactive development. I discovered the studio through Behance, where they had posted the identity and packaging work produced for Revolver, a local brew bar located on Cambie street. 

What initially attracted me to the project was the font choice of the logo. It is bold, sharp, and timelessly classic.  I really like mix of extreme thicks and thins on a serif font. It speaks equally as high fashion and kitsch.

I also like that the interplay of fat and thin line is used throughout the identity, especially on the menu board. The items and prices are immediately legible, and any additional information is there but is kept at such a small font that it doesn't clutter the design. The use of materials and colours is also very effective. The transparent board allows the rustic decor to show through, and the white printing provides a sharp, eye catching contrast.

This project shows that through careful use of type, colour and materials, a simple design can speak volumes about the quality, atmosphere and values of a brand.

PROJECT #7: Essay Proposal - Tadanori Yokoo

The figure I have chosen to research is Tadanori Yokoo, who is one of Japan’s most successful and internationally recognized designers, and is a influential figure of Japanese pop art. Yokoo is a multi-faceted artist, working in design, printmaking, installation, and illustration for over 50 years before famously retiring in 1981 to pursue painting after seeing a Picasso retrospective at the MOMA. His work is instantly recognizable and distinctive, incorporating elements of psychedelia, kitsch, science fiction, mysticism, pop art, and a mix of highbrow and lowbrow Japanese aesthetics, from the Ukiyo-e to manga. Despite the disparity of his resources, Yokoo’s work remains precisely constructed, mystical yet also deeply personal, often communicating his experience through the lens of popular culture, and the use of universal iconography.

I am interested in Yokoo because many of his influences parallel to my own, but also because of the influence he has had upon other renowned artists, such as John Lennon and Yoko Ono; or pop art monoliths Yayoi Kusama and Takashi Murakami. I enjoy Yokoo’s work for many aspects: the usage of mixed media with clean screen printed graphics, the appropriation of popular and kitsch culture, the visual richness, the bold composition, the fearless use of colour and the vague sense of unease that permeates much of his work. Tadanori Yokoo’s work is incredibly interesting and complex, and I will enjoy the opportunity to learn more about his legacy.

PROJECT #6: This is one of the Greats.

 

PROJECT #5: Bauhaus Scavenger Hunt

PROJECT #4: Constructivism Poster

For my Constructivist poster I chose to address the decriminalization of marijuana in BC by creating a mock poster for the organization Sensible BC. I felt the subject would be a nice companion to my ready-made, plus with legalization of recreational marijuana in Washington and Colorado and the contemporary discussion around medical marijuana, I felt it was an increasingly relevant topic.

During my research I discovered interesting information about the plant, its history, its global legality and statistics concerning its usage in Western countries. I summarized my research into key facts weighing the costs of current legal practices versus benefits of decriminalizing marijuana. I wanted to appeal to the rational, factual elements of the issue and avoid discussing the plant or the culture that surrounds it.

In my thumbnails, I experimented with various layouts, imagery and content. I felt the first two options were too text heavy, and that the imagery was either irrelevant or too complex to have immediate impact. I felt the last design was the strongest: it had the vertical dynamism of Constructivism, simple but strongly communicated imagery, and plenty of space and variety for text. My final version retains similarities to my thumbnail, but through the process of actually creating the poster I was able to make important changes that improved the balance, energy and visual impact.

Clockwise from top left: El Lissitzky "Architecture of VKhUTEMAS" (1927), M. Dlugach "The third lottery of SPAJ" (1930), Gustav Klutsis "Let's Create Great Works" (1930), Gustav Klutsis "Under the Banner of Lenin for Socialist Construction" (1930).

For my mood board I selected posters that shared similar imagery, composition and copy layout that I wanted to achieve with my poster. I used the colours in my images as the basis for the colour in my piece. I also selected a variety of fonts (fat, tall, square, geometric) that mimicked constructivist styles to be used in my poster. Finally I included the images I would use in the final product.

Resources:

1. Handcuffed Hands
2. Joint
3. Kremlin
4. Propoganda

PROJECT #3: Ready-Made

Pho Cart, Lettuce Ghost Mocha J (2013)

INSPIRATION: Swoosh Art

Swoosh Art is an anonymous art project recently launched in January 2013. In the series, the iconic Nike swoosh, logo and tagline "Just Do It" are superimposed into classical paintings and sculptures, in lurid or subtle colours. The swoosh looks visceral and stark contrasted against the soft flesh of the classical figure, yet there is an undeniable cohesion in the flow and movement of the compositions. The odd combination reveals a fundamental set of principles shared between classical art and modern design.

La Mort de Marat (1793) by Jacques-Louis David

The First Mourning (1888) by William-Adolphe Bouguereau

Samson and Delilah (1878) Alexandre Cabanel

Hercules and Lichas (1796) by Antonio Canova

Historia (Allegory of History) [1892] by Nikolaos Gysis

Ruth (1835) by Francesco Hayez

Tasso In the Prison (1853) by Louis Gallait

PROJECT #2: Art Nouveau Soap Box

For my Art Nouveau Soap Box, I chose to base the brand and the design on a dragonfly (or the libellule in French, a reference to the European origins of the style). Much of Art Nouveau work was inspired from nature, so I thought it was fitting to organize my design around the same principles. The dragonfly was a popular motif in the movement, and is considered a symbol for "pure water", which I felt was fitting for soap. I drew much of my inspiration for colour and form from the art nouveau jewellery, particularly that of René Lalique, a designer who created intricate, vibrant and decadent pieces. 

Dragon Fly Woman by René Lalique |  Art Nouveau Dragonfly Brooch by Elizabeth Bonte

I felt a traditional rectangular box would be unsuitable for the subject, so I chose to create a box that was curvilinear in its shape, and would open organically. By making the wings as the clasp to open the box, I was able to add an additional sculptural element to the packaging, that would reference my original idea of a dragonfly landing on water. The packaging would be a atypical for a mass produced product, but I wanted to create a luxury product for a more bourgeois, upperclass consumer.

Resources:

1. Box Template
2. Dragonfly Wings
3. Font: NouveauFLF by Casady & Greene

PROJECT 1: Victorian Matchbox

For my matchbox, I took inspiration from the following examples:

In my design I wanted to mimic the Victorian decadence of the third design, using the limited colour palette of the first two. I also used the classic Victorian matchbook design style of the a cartouche or oval in the centre, with an animal to identify the brand. The font I chose was Mesquite Std, which is a bold, decorative slab font that would be easily readable on a small box. I chose to leave out any other identifying copy, because the contents of the box would be recognized by its size and brand.

Resources: 

1. French Borders
2. Snake Vector
3. Victorian Wallpaper Pattern
4. Font: Mesquite Std

INSPIRATION: #0000FF

Happy New Year  (2013) by Roseanna Afrika M

Le KAB de L’Usine Posters (2010) by Todeschini Mamie  

Ultimate Sweatshirt Design (2012) by MILKBBI (aka Justin Wallis)