Drawing Lines

I love the first track of James' upcoming album. Draw a Line in the Sand (and watch us wipe it away).

This week, my project has been designing a look for this album that works as an unconventionally packaged CD, translates to standard vinyl size and also could be rearranged as a show poster. I am really inspired by vintage books covers and "vintage inspired" contemporary typefaces. (I found some here!)

The album is an exciting collection of raucous, spirited, sing-along/shout-along protest songs.

Here is the in-progress cover:

The design wraps around so that there are two flaps making up the back cover wherein the disc itself shall rest.

I am kind of excited about these fonts. They are newly designed from the co-op linked above, available for a name your price deal. 

Ok, well, I'll be the first to admit that I have a long way to go. Of course, I am aware that trying to complete a project a week is ambitious. But I'm still on it!

Leaning

I'm one week into the semester and already overloaded with amazing projects. I love what I do! I have a three part printing/letterpress project that I have started but not completely fleshed out. The first part is to create a design in which you "say something" using words or a phrase, no imagery allowed. It's not just about putting any old words down; It's about making a statement.

The statement I am making might not mean anything to most people, but it would strike a chord with people involved in 21st Century Socialism as found in progressive parts of South America; Mink'a is a Quechua word and a concept that has existed for centuries. Mink'a is community, it is a way of life. Members gather to complete tasks that benefit the whole community. It is considered each individual's obligation and has to be fulfilled to earn water and voting rights.

From now on, I want to really think about everything I do as a potential portfolio piece and think about what I want to communicate with my portfolio. I want to be able to send it to activist groups, community organizers, groups like SOA Watch, Adbusters and ZNet (I know, ambitious, right?) and for them to see that I get it. You know? I want it to be a left-leaning portfolio.

Because the thing is, I'm not out to get a job in a flashy corporate office. I will do whatever local, mom and pop freelancing I can. But my bigger goal is to work for the causes that need good designers.

Posters

Boy, have I been busy! With my job and school and parenting, I'm spread pretty thin and we're only a week into the semester.

In one of my classes, the first assignment was to design 4 posters in one week. Not so bad, huh? Each poster is about a different font of our choosing. Anything. But here's the catch: The fonts featured in our posters are the only ones we can use all semester! No trading or sharing. My four fonts are all I get. So I chose (I hope) wisely and went with two really strong sans serifs and one great serif plus a total novelty odd-ball to have a little something in my bag of tricks.

Want to see what I have so far? Ok, now these are untweaked, but you should be able to see where I'm going with them. The purpose of this class is to broaden one's portfolio by giving us a chance to try new styles and ideas out.

I know the text is illegibly small. S'tch-k because it's better to see it as a shape of text for assessing the overall design. Which is your favorite? Is there one that just makes no sense or makes you mad or turns you off?

They aren't due until Tuesday, so any feedback you give really could help improve my chances of a good grade as I have time to change things!

How To Impersonate Andy Warhol

We are each doing a brochure on the topic of our choice. Our designs have to be based on a grid system. What do you think of my topic?

cover

inside spread

back page

HOW TO IMPERSONATE ANDY WARHOL:

The Look:

Andy Warhol was an artist obsessed with celebrity and beauty. He not only wanted to portray American icons, he aspired to be one. His look was suitably iconic. 

To get the Warhol look, try a boldly striped shirt under a leather jacket and some dark glasses. For more of an evening look, pair a white oxford with a skinny tie or a turtleneck under a blazer. Wear black cigarette pants or shabby jeans. Top it all off with a silver wig.

The Mannerisms:

A gay man, Warhol’s friends in the 

early 1960s criticized him for being “too swishy.” His dyslexia and his 

difficulty with verbal communication led him to develop his signature style of expression.

He had a generic, non-specific enthusiasm for just about anything, often communicating with little more than  simple expressions such as “Wow” or “Oh, great.” 

The Props:

“When I got my first television set, I stopped caring so much about 

having close relationships.”

Warhol was enamoured of technology because it was a way to detach himself from emotional drama. He wanted to watch drama, but not be involved in it. 

Carry a camera or a tape recorder to experience similar detachment.  

The Muse:

Like all great celebrities, Warhol knew how to look good in pictures and it’s a lot easier to look great in a picture when you have a beautiful girl on your arm. 

In Edie Sedgwick, Warhol created a doppelgänger, but he had other muses such as chanteuse Nico and drag queen Candy Darling to inspire him as well.

If you want to be authentic in your impersonation, make sure you have a glamorous girl at your side. 

Book Covers

Remember when I posted my sketches for these? I am pretty happy with how they turned out. Ok, I am thrilled with them. I love them and am satisfied with my 99/100 on this project. My sister Emma let me photograph her. Pretty, yes?

Homework

In my Graphic Design 1 class, our first project is all about varieties of contrast: size, form, direction, anomaly, texture, etc. We have to come up with 9 designs involving only elements of type to express relationships of contrast and present them next Monday. All of our work has to be done on paper first so that we go to the computer with fully developed design ideas. Here's a peek at my sketchbook:

I'm over halfway there with my designs. Just re-drawing them so they are perfect because I'm ready to get to work on the computer! You guys, this stuff is FUN!

College

I recently made the decision to go back and finish my degree. This is a really exciting, big step in my life. I am so ready to start this new chapter, the Graphic Design Student Chapter. It will be a huge adjustment, going back to school after such a long break-- I will be twenty seven this month and I haven't been to a college class in over five years! And this time around, I will be juggling classes, children, being a wife and keeping up this home. At least I don't have to worry about all the deadlines and injuries associated with my job as a copper-smith last time I was in school.

James fully supports my decision to go back and finish. :)