If only...

I have nothing but good things to say about this book cover.  Not only is the topic of writing interesting to me, but the cover is just fantastic.  The symbology and idea behind this imagery are incredibly deep and meaning full, but also so well executed.  I can just imagine the thought process of the designer, and it absolutely makes me jealous.  This is the type of work that I wish I had thought of. I think the execute is brilliant, they use a small subtle gradient to create depth in the skies holding up some flat imagery.  The text is so well placed in the center, drawing the attention that sort of a statement deserves, and the equal divisions of space by the text and imagery creates for a very sturdy, calm, and strong competition.  You truly do get a sense of a still lake that reflects that statement instead of the what the actual imagery is like you would expect to see.  This is so short simply because I just can't find any small thing to bitch about for three paragraphs.  I love it.. 

BlueWater

            This layout for BlueWater Ropes is I think extremely effective.  It relies heavily on the photographic image to provide a lot of depth, however it does use a few graphic elements to further that perspective.  I think the addition of the semi-macro photo of the rope creates a unique texture and plays a huge role in making this piece visually interesting.  The designer frames the figure of the girl very well with the photo of the rope and the positioning of the text.  However my biggest complaint about the text is the cheesy drop shadows that are placed behind just about everything.  The contrast between the black or white text, when placed right against the photo, should allow the text to sit above the image without any problems with readability. I understand the desire to incorporate the “blue” of BlueWater Ropes, but I think the drop shadow was a poor place to incorporate that element.  I just don’t feel that adds anything to the overall composition.  Furthermore, if the drop shadow is absolutely necessary, make sure that it lines up and that abstract negative spaces aren’t created between the subject and the shadow.  It happens in a few places, but most notably the “g” in 61 g/m. 

            One of my favorite pieces of the layout is the underplayed logo design of BlueWater.  I think their logo, the overhead ripples from a drop of water, is absolutely brilliant.  If I were simply to critique their logo, I wouldn’t know what to say.  I think their logo is so incredibly strong, it’s simple, elegant, and people will recognize that imagery.  It communicates the name of the business in an abstract and not so typical design. 

            I’m not entirely enthralled with the font chosen by BlueWater, however I do think that it serves a purpose being so unique.  That is definitely a font that I can honestly say I have only seen used by BlueWater.  I think that certain characters like the “l” are awkward but I also think that other characters like the “a” are very dynamic and distinct.  I’m glad the company, and designer didn’t resort to a typical typeface however, I think a little bit more consideration to the font could have taken this logo just that much farther.  What would it look like without the little nub of a base stroke on the “l”? I think a simple vertical stroke, still rounded like the others could have been a simple, elegant, more effective choice.  I feel that in some places the dynamics of the font work well, but in others, like the “l” they’re forced. 

            Overall I think the spread is effective.  It has credibility with BlueWater’s long history.  Yet it shows its modern edge of technology in the youth that trusts the rope.  The text is a little sloppy, but the photographic elements are strong enough to overcome those smaller flawed details.  

A little too close for comfort

I had been flipping through my Rock and Ice magazine the other day and I had read this article entitled "Local Color".  The article was great and there were plenty of stunning photos of non-professional climbers pushing themselves to the limit.  It was really inspiring to read about your average joe, 50-year-old, Chris "G-Money" Goplerud trucking through the snow to brush off his project day in and day out and finally pulling down the route he had studied all winter.  It wasn't until nearly three weeks later that I picked up the magazine again to get a hint of that climbing feel, when I came across the cover page to this article again.  I was stunned by its awful typography. Rock and Ice is a very well known and respected magazine, and I find it hard to see how either A. this slipped between the cracks or B. how someone actually thought this was effective typography. (I hope it slipped through the cracks.)  I'm usually not one to speak so negatively about people's work- I try to find the positives and make suggestions on what I feel could be better- but this, being in such a well regarded and usually well designed magazine, surprised me. 

Take a look at the cropped version of the cover page, notice the tension that is created with the condensed leading.  Th

e lack of space between the lines of type create an awkward overlap on several of the characters.  For instance the descender stroke of the "p" in paradise merges with the "f" in further. If the context clues weren't present to make this legible, this would lead  my eyes to read "turther" rather than "further".  There are several places where this overlapping of the characters creates for awkward negative spaces and uneasy tension points.  For example the "p" and "h" of photos combined with the "C" of Colorado's creates for empty triangles of space closed off by the forms of those characters.  A lot of these problems could be solved by just increasing the leading 

to give the characters room to breath.  Better yet, if the designer really had a purpose for the close leading, choose a sans-serif typeface so that the serifs don't complicate things and add to the tension of connecting the letter forms. There are just too many examples to go into and I hope that this was just an h

onest mistake that was rushed to get to print.  

Otherwise the layout isn't horrible, and the rest of the article gets better.  I'm glad I didn't notice this type before I read the article because 

I may have been less enticed to do so.  Let's hope most of Rock and Ice's readers aren't Graphic Design majors as well.  

Scientific, Functional, and Designed to the T

This advertisement by Sierra Designs is, to me, very effective.  The placement of the jacket in the center of the vertical dominant composition creates an ideal focal point.  This focal point guides the viewer to read the smaller text that uses words to spark their curiosity, like “Drizone”. The designer uses more of contextual directional devices than physical attributes to guide your eye.  The different sizes that are used in the title and body of the text emphasize the hierarchy that they’ve established.

            I would consider this layout to be more image dominant; however it’s considerably well balanced and both elements play an integral part in the overall composition. The designer creates a lot of interesting depth with the different graphic elements throughout the piece. The photograph at the bottom establishes a strong base for the composition and provides some visual weight. This weight is reiterated by the photos placement in the virtual space and acts as a middle ground.  The white negative space around the jacket creates for a strong contrast that allows the jacket to really come alive off the page, further emphasizing it as the focal point.  The designer utilizes repetitive topographic elements very well, to again create depth in a relatively flat composition.  All in all I think this is extremely well done and it entices the viewer to learn more about this product.  

Lots of Life

Lots of Life

When reading SustainAble by Arris Sherin I found this annual report for 2006 that was created for Amazon Watch by Design Action Collective.  DAC uses a bright color palette to get your attention.  But once you are brought in by the rainbow of colors you begin to see an incredible amount of life within these images.  The eyes of the woman (or who I am assuming is a woman) are full of energy, age, and happiness.  I feel like the abundance of life that she has within her and the happiness that she finds still even though her home is disappearing reflects perfectly as an allegory for the creatures that live in the Amazon.  Perhaps I’m reading a bit too much into it, but this piece really pulled me deep into it when I first saw it.

            Technically I think it’s very sound.  I like the use of the white Helvetica as a strong stark contrast to the colors immediately around it. However with that said, I don’t like the type over her face, type or other things encroach on faces. I feel like if I were that person in the picture I’d be annoyed with it on my face and swat at it like a fly.    The slightly off center division between the two images allows for the text to take a direct position in the center of the composition, which in addition to the high level of contrast also makes the title very strong.  I think that the placement of the logo in the bottom right corner could not have been any better.  Again the designer utilized the extreme contrast between type and background color to really bring out the type.  Overall I think it's a very well done piece.