It caught my eye...

I know this week's show and tell was supposed to be about something we came across in passing, but I just had to share something I came across online this week. I've been researching different types of binding techniques and I stumbled upon this fabulous find. The designer is Amy Hays of Origin Designs in Boulder, CO and she partnered with Gail Watson of Birdwood Press for the bookbinding. The design is so dramatic as one doesn't typically expect a product portfolio to be bound by wood! It's a perfect solution to communicate the fact that PULLDB works primarily with the outdoor retail industry.

You can view the inside pages here.

Usage

My daughter and I were talking this afternoon. I was telling her not to use God's name in vain. That she should say "Oh my gosh" or "Oh my goodness" instead. She chimed in, "What I can't say OMG!?!" All I could do was shake my head. I know one day people will look back at my feelings on the subject and chuckle at how "backward" I am, but I don't think I'll ever be able to accept taking text language and expressing it verbally. Another pet peeve of mine is the "I ♥ You" being spoke as "I Heart You." Argh! It's like a fingernail on a chalkboard! Despite my grumblings though, I have to accept the fact that language is constantly evolving, and what we see as proper English now, will not be the same generations down the line. Even in my thirty-three years of life, I've noticed the trend of speaking acronyms becoming more and more prominent. Regardless, FUBR will always be one that is an exception to my nitpicky rule because it's hilarious! One just has to decide if it's beyond repair or beyond relief...


Image source: http://www.brighthub.com/internet/web-development/articles/93820.aspx

Bits & Pieces

Before I picked up Zinsser's book, I was vaguely aware of my habit of writing in the passive voice rather than the active voice. I had heard the terms before, but they never had any real meaning to me until he demonstrated the difference between the two voices. It's funny though, because I realized then that the reason I write like this may very well have been from growing up with an electro-chemical engineer for a father. Of course, my case was compounded by the fact that his native language is Danish. In addition to that, I grew up reading all the classics novelists--one of whom was Jane Austen. Anyhow, Allen Downy, a Professor of Computer Science at the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering in Needham Massachusets had some thoughts on the subject, and he details what the style guides from some of the top journals in science had to say on it.

http://allendowney.com/essays/passive.html

Image source: http://www.masternewmedia.org/news/2008/05/29/social_media_vs_email_which.htmPeople

Cool Calendars

This is a letterpress calendar for AIGA Portland. It is good for 11 years, and the image to the left is a box full of all the various number wheels for each month. What fascinates me about this particular design though is how engaging it is. I don't know how easily the wheels move, but if it were in front of me, I'd be itching to spin it. However, 11 years is a long time. I think I would get bored of it after the first 6-9 months.

I also came across a related design, although it isn't exactly a calendar. It's a poster for a conference. I thought the design lends itself quite nicely to a calendar. I like the bold, yet light colored letters for the days of the week. They draw your attention ina quiet reserved manner.

Regardless of whether or not this design has to do with calendars, look at how successful the design is. The title jumps out so clearly, and then is drawn down to the days detailing the activities. Then, after studying the design for a few, the subtleties emerge. First the binder clips at the top, which I thought was a humorous touch. Then the little face profile at the end of the tape underneath the clip, then to the one at the other end of the tape. I can only speak for myself here, but I am extremely unobservant, so I didn't see the faces for quite some time. When I did though, it was such a pleasant surprise!

Design that Wows

This poster is definitely an example to a design that works. It's very simple, but it speaks volumes. The words at the bottom read "I am true. I am pure. I believe in replenishing mind, body, and spirit. I drink ZICO Pure Premium Coconut Water...The Ultimate Hydration Drink" I'll spare you the rest since it's really only the first few lines that are relevant to my analysis.

The imagery alone speaks of the pure and true nature of the product. The fact that the guy is in the water screams "hydration." Beyond the imagery though, the layout is very successful. There is a very strong diagonal flow that is extremely appealing and dramatic. The birds in the upper left corner are what pull it off. Without them, it wouldn't balance as well. The sun rising on the right side adds another diagonal pull, which is what initially grabs your attention. Then you are drawn to the guy, and then to the bottle shots.

I have to say that the thing I find to be the most clever aspect of the design is how the guy is being used as the "i" in the logo. His image mirrors the shape in the logo so perfectly, that reading the name of the product is completely seamless. I must admit, I wouldn't mind trying this product now just because I like the design so much!

The A-typical Student's University

I tend to think of fashion designers as a-typical, simply because they can come up with some of the most outrageous creations imaginable. Obviously a fashion school would also have to express "cutting edge" and "creative" in order to appeal to aspiring designers. After all, these words describe what it takes to come up with a new trend. So what fashion student is going to want to go to a school that doesn't visually express these keywords? I researched a little about which fashion schools are the best in the field. One of the schools' website which I find to communicate the "cutting edge" and "creative" particularly well, is that of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Antwerp). Immediately upon seeing the images, the prospective student is struck by the obvious creative freedom students have with their projects. The website also looks a lot like an event card, further appealing to the audience.

In Your Face Packaging

I've been keeping an eye out for packaging that would "jump off the shelf" at me. I thought this was going to be an easy task, but it seems this isn't quite the case. Or I may just have been looking in the wrong places. However while at the beauty store today, while searching for something other than shampoo, a this particular line did indeed grab my attention.

Obviously the bright orange was probably the largest contributor to engaging me, but it wasn't the only orange packaging along that wall. I think what made this one so particularly successful is the simplicity of it's design. The simple text with a hint of imagery allows the bright orange to do its job. The other orange packaging around the area was way too busy to have the same effect (forgive me, in retrospect, I should have taken a picture of those as well).

I also happen to like the design quite a bit. Not only is it intelligent in its approach to draw you in, but the concept is very creative. It's such a simple idea and clearly communicates the idea of slick and straight. I can almost picture how one's hair will look after using this product.