Advanced Aestestics

It might be hard to see this billboard because I was at a stoplight at the time, but ever since this ad came out I've loved it. On the left side, there are two lemons and the caption reads, "If life gives you lemons...." On the right side, there are two large cantaloupes and the caption reads, "trade up." It took me a second but then when I got the message I was laughing out loud. This advertisement is a very interesting spin on breast augmentation/plastic surgery. If you saw the billboard you would also see that the lemons point in random directions and are in shadow; the cantaloupes have attractive lighting and are pointing up the same direction. So many subliminal messages here! The ad is very nicely layed out; extremely symmetrical (except for the fact that the cantaloupes are a lot bigger than the lemons.....a weight difference that is done on purpose and helps bring home the message).

Stitches

I chose to capture this design because I am creating a Goth website mock up in my Graphic Design I class and am looking for specific ideas. This design is on a T-Shirt I won on Halloween (I got runner-up in the costume contest!). Stitches is a Thursday night Goth event at Clark bar in Champaign, Urbana. The music focuses on dark wave and goth rock but not on industrial, electronic or other "dansey" genres.

The design fits well with the personality of Stitches because the picture of the man's face has stitches and is a little grotesque, a little different, usually something one may look away from. The design is cleverly white on black background, which adds pop, so it is hard to look away! It is a simple design with the face being the focal point and the lines of text set tastefully on top and bottom with appropriate typefaces.

Ayria CD Cover

This is the cover of the latest CD I have from the electroclash genre band Ayria. I didn't think much of them when I first found out about the band because they were opening for the band I was really there to see. However, I immediately was taken by their poppy, pretty but slightly angry and smart-alec sound and lyrics. The design of their albums reinforces their desire to be taken seriously in the goth/alternative arena. I am not a huge girly-girl but I have always enjoyed the almost over-stylized intention of the design. The cover fits very well with many of the album's lyrics ("shiny violent killing toys"...meaning guns..taking something serious and making it seem absurdly pretty???).

In a grass-roots, low budget community, either someone in this band or an outside hire is a great designer! The design is very professionally done, showcasing unity through proximity, color and pattern. Even though I read the elements of the design as a full group, Jennifer, the singer is emphasized because she is in front of the pink elements on the right. Secondary emphasis, I believe, is on the rhinestoned "gun" she is holding because it is dead center and slightly elevated, plus in the far background lines literally draw the eye to it. Typography is appropriate for the album because there is no more than two typefaces and the one chosen for the name of the album, "Hearts for Bullets," fits with the tongue-and-cheek theme with its extremely stylized cursive tails.

Hello!

Hi, I am Kelly. I am excited to learn many things in my Graphic Design History class, and hopefully gain some quality inspiration too. Posted will be photos I have taken of things that inspire me.