Process: Random Posters Thus Far

Here is what my posters currently look like mid-process. I know the text on the bottom left of the reddish/brown one is not working and in general it's pretty busy, but for now it's just creating a shape of some sort. I need to simplify.

The letters on the other one were done with potato stamps that I made and then scanned. I unintentionally took the long route with that... instead of just stamping them on paper in the orientation that I wanted, I stamped the individual letters and then on screen I made the words and positioned them on the page. That took quite some time. But I think I like where it's going, so no worries!

Feedback is welcome!

Inspiration: Counterform Compositions Revisted!!!

If this doesn't remind you of Tricia's class, I don't know what will! This is the perfect synthesis of Ashley's Sonic Form Project and Tricia's counterforms. Pretty cool:
http://zaumbrown.blogspot.com/2008/03/helvetica-gary-hustwit-blu-ray-limited.html

Inspiration: Communication Arts

Here's the last page of the latest Communication Arts magazine. It's all about typography trends and the upper right corner talks about the daily drop cap!

Inspiration: Bad Typography, Good Design

Let's get the bad out of the way first:

In "Out & About Magazine," (the logo for which has unfortunately awkward letter spacing and tensioned-filled overlaps... it's a shame because their ampersand is really nice), I found these two ads on one page:

In looking at the Stone Balloon's logo, I was reminded of Robyn's opinion of Home Grown's Logo, because it doesn't quite do justice to the really well designed interior. Plus, the Stone Balloon logo is stretched vertically in the ad (you can see it in the grapes) which detracts from the professional and well-thought-out appearance the restaurant is striving for.

Below that is an ad for a "Graphic Web Design" company that isn't working. There are three entirely separate elements: the sharpie-esque writing, the eye, and the grey rectangle. Especially for a design company, this logo could do major damage to their reputation and hinder their gaining new clients. 

Now, here's the good: 

I bought a snack/protein bar the other day from a company called "Kind Snacks" 

https://kindsnacks.com/ 

Though I don't love the rainbow motif, the layout is clean, clear, and logical. All the important aspects/distinguishing characteristics of their company are listed right on the front, drawing you in, and then continue to the back of the wrapper, creating a physical representation of just how many things make them special... you literally have to rotate the product to see the whole list. It's also great because I follow a vegan diet and all the major details I look for are right on the front of the package in white letters against a solid black background, not in small print hidden under a flap of plastic.

New Radial Poster & Different Versions of Dilatational Poster(s)

Green Drop Cap

I was inspired for this drop cap by one of my favorite child book author/illustrators: Tommie Depaola
http://www.tomie.com/
One of my favorite of his books was one that chronicled his childhood and Irish heritage through humorous anecdotes and illustrations. In the book he described the importance of potatoes, or "praities" to Irish cuisine/daily life.
So, with St. Patrick's day being the inspiration behind the green Drop Cap, I thought it would be appropriate to make a few different stamps out of potatoes and use them to create some "P" letterforms. I'd never done this before but I had heard that people do this, so I gave it a shot! Here are the results:

Inspiration 3/9

http://sheepshank.org/

http://blogshank.com/extras/childrens_book_illustration.html
You can download his whole book for free. Love the illustrations and the hand-done type, but not thrilled with the lack-luster font face chosen for the text inside the book. I think the idea of the serifs work, but the font itself is too formal or something because it separates from the illustrations:

Edited Radial Poster

Inspiration 3/7

I want this:
http://shop.ilovetypography.com/product/keep-it-simple

Dilatational Posters

They're not completely done, but here are the rough versions:

Here's a process photo for the handwritten band name on the first poster. I used white plaka:

One of the Dilatational Posters

I've tried a few different designs and wasn't really feeling any of them. So today I've been working on one that I think I'll hold onto. I did an illustration of a wax seal with the band's name in it, and handwrote the rest of the copy. I still have to write out the thanks to sponsors part. Here's where the poster's at for now:

Here's some process photos of my sketches, ETC.:

G is for Glass

Here are my experiments for the 3D drop cap. First I tried using vintage jewelry from my grandmother to make a "V" (V for vintage). I liked how the V's shape and the way it hung resembled one big necklace itself, but simultaneously I really didn't like the way it just hung there and had to be suspended with thumbtacks, and it became boring. So, I tried something else. Below are the various configurations of glass bottles that I stacked to make a G. The current letter is in progress because I need more clear glass material... 

Also, the corner of one of the bottles cracked so I have to fix it...

Here's a detail of some marbles I added. I haven't cleaned up the glue yet: