Online Tutorial for Distressed Type

This is an example of distressed type created in Illustrator with a live trace. A background image is converted to a texture and placed behind a letter outline. The extraneous background is cut using pathfinder. And the result is a new letter image with the texture embedded. For a free tutorial, go to http://www.illustratortechniques.com/distressedtype.html.

Analogous Harmony

Society of Illustrators 47th Annual of American Illustration, p306
Sandra Dionisi, illustration

This design is an example of analogous harmony. Unity is established through repetition in shapes and color. Emphasis is by contrast in shape and value with the lighter colored hand shape being the focal point. The balance appears to be mathematical with a grid of color blocks. Legato rhythm is found in the "swaying" leaves. There is some depth created by overlap and atmosphere.
The design was created for an article about wars being fought over water. The artist's definition is "If water is life, the human hand represents a choice between drawing on that life or wiping it out." I find this to be a very thought-provoking design. To me, it states that mankind is responsible for the environment and our encroachment on our natural resources is having dire consequences.

Triadic Harmony

Society Of Illustrators 47th Annual of American Illustration, p299
National Endowment for the Arts, Ivan Chermayeff

This design shows an example of triadic color harmony of red, yellow, and blue with a little pizzaz of violet added in. Unity is achieved by proximity of the elements and repetition of colors, shapes, and orientations of elements. Emphasis is created by contrast in color - the words being placed on colored backgrounds while the rest of the composition has a black background. Asymmetrical balance is created by color placement. The repetition of the lines and circles creates a staccato rhythm. The overall design has a nice energetic feel created by the bright, intense colors and crisp simple shapes. It makes jazz look pretty snappy!

Example of Depth by Overlap

Typography 27, 2006, p70
School of Visual Arts, Ed Benguiat, Logo

This design has a very intricate example of depth created by overlap. The letters S, V, and A seem to weave in and out of each other, one on top of the other. Unity is easily seen by proximity. Emphasis is stressed by color with the vibrant red standing out against the dark blue background. Balance is symmetrical. My favorite part of this design is the fact you can turn it upside down and it still reads the same!

Example of Depth by Perspective

Typography 27, 2006, p197
School of Visual Arts, Ryan Feerer, student project

This design shows depth created by 3-point perspective. Unity is created by continuity with words stringing together through space. Emphasis is made through contrast in value with the stark white standing out on the black background. Asymmetrical balance is by position. I'm not sure if this design has rhythm. The only hint of rhythm I see is perhaps in the length of each "leg" of type. The suggestion of an alternating rhythm established by a long leg/short leg repetition.

Rhythm on my mind

Typography 27, 2006, p70
IBM, Eric Cai Shi Wei, poster

This design is an eye-catching example of alternating rhythm. It makes me feel like I'm looking in someone' s window through the blinds. Unity is established overwhelmingly by repetition but the background has that sneaky intellectual unity of society's association of IBM. Balance is asymmetrical, established by shapes including the line of text and small gray box in the upper left corner. Emphasis is through contrast in value, the focal point being the line of text with a lighter weight font vs the heavy solid lines. This design also shows depth by overlap - the lines attempting to hide the symbols.

Adobe stock photo - illustration

Adobe Stock Photos, illustration
Provider: Photodisk by Getty Images
Price: $89.99
File size: 52 KB
File dimensions: 500 x 341 pixels, 6.9" x 4.7"
Resolution: 72ppi

I searched for an illustration associated with pearls. My aim was to find one that wasn't cartoonish. This was one of the few illustrations that met that criteria. I haven't quite figured out who might use this illustration. It reminds me of those boring slide shows that employees are sometimes forced to watch dealing with issues like communication skills, sexual harassment, safety in the lab.... Its redeeming quality is that it does actually portray pearls on a younger woman in a casual environment.
Unity is seen by repetition of greens and browns throughout the design. The focal point is the woman's face. I think emphasis is established by contrast in color. The woman's skintone and the white teeth and pearls stand out in the duller tones of the rest of the design. What do you think? Balance is asymmetrical by size. With the larger figure of the centrally-placed woman being balanced by the smaller shapes in the background.