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.

Adobe stock photo - mask

Adobe Stock Photos - mask
Provider: Photodisk by Getty Images
Price: $89.99
File size: 52 KB
File dimensions: 500x341 pixels, 6.9" x 4.7"
File resolution: 72ppi

I searched Adobe stock photos for a mask associated with pearls. The ad I'm reworking is for a store called Pearls & More so I wanted something that might look good in black and white. This was one of the few images that I thought might print well.
Unity is established by proximity with the pearl being tucked inside the shell. Emphasis is placed on the pearl with contrast in value. The eye being drawn to the white light reflection. Balance is symmetrical. I like symmetrical balance. There's no explaining!

Adobe stock photo - photograph

Adobe Stock Photos, photograph
Price: $149
Provider: Image source
File size: 26 KB
File dimensions: 640 x 425 pixels, 8.9" x 5.9"
Resolution 72 ppi

I was looking for a photo that would make pearls appeal to younger women. I myself tend to associate pearls with older women or elegant dressware. I found this photo showed pearls in a sexy overtone. I really liked the lighting and the cropping and the overall dramatic look of the photo.
Unity in the composition is established by repetition of texture seen in the smoothness of the pearls and the woman's skin. The focal point seems to be her mouth biting the pearls. The emphasis created by the red lips. Balance is asymmetrical created by color - the stark black vs. the pale image. Does anyone have different ideas about unity and balance? If so, I'd be interested in hearing them. Thanks!

Helvetica

Helvetica Film Program Handout
Parkland College

This is surprisingly an interesting film. I expected to see animated letters dancing across the screen. Instead I viewed an engaging film that touched on a font that has enveloped our world - its development and the passion it arouses in those who believe it is the ultimate font, to those who feel its oppressive and symbolic of government control. The film had a lot of funny moments that helped to keep the viewer's attention. I find it amazing that there are people so adamant about something that I've always taken for granted. I am also amazed at how much a single font has permeated our lives. The film showed the font's presence all over the world on everything - road signs, tax forms, clothes lines, business signs and logos, packaging... I found myself studying everything in print on my way home to see if it was Helvetica. It was.
As for the program, I ran down the list of principles we've touched on so far and this is what I see. Unity is established in the use of a single font and in the grouping of text. The focal point is the title of the movie created by contrast of font size and value. Balance is achieved by a grid. Rhythm is established by the spacing between paragraphs and the spacing between columns. The larger column seems to have a fairly regular beat while the smaller column seems to burst in spurts from the straight edge alignment similar to the graphic metre seen on the front of large stereo systems.

The GIANT marker!

Art Directors Annual 85, p. 96
Fed Ex, Chuck Tso, Promotional Advertising

Fed Ex wanted an innovative idea to announce its new online office supply store. Oversized sculptures were placed in high-traffic outdoor locations to play off the environment. The yellow highlighter was placed on a curb of a no parking zone; an over-sized bottle of white out on a cross-walk, and an over-sized desk lamp over a bench where people sit to read.
Unity is found in the continuous yellow color seen on the curb and the marker. Emphasis is established by the oversized scale of the replicated marker. Directional clues are also noticed when your eye follows the yellow curb to the marker. Balance is asymmetrcal by position since the marker is leaning. I love the advertising ploys that make you look twice because it's an everyday item in an unexpected place (or size)!

Take The Challenge!

Art Directors Annual 85, pp 48-49
Virgin Digital, Rodrigo Butori, Poster and Billboard

Virgin Digital wanted to create a poster that would engage people and keep them staring at the ad for a long time. This piece contains more than 75 visual metaphors of musical artists and bands. The design challenged people to see how many musical references they could find. The ad worked better than expected when it hit the web because dozens of blogs, websites, and online communities spontaneously promoted it by embracing the challenge.
Unity is seen by proximity, by repetition of shapes (round objects) and orientation (buildings), by use of similar hues used throughout the design, and repeatedl splashes of bright red. The focal point is the prince in the foreground established by contrast in value with his bright red clothes and by direction since he's at the "front" of the picture. From the prince, your eyes follow the street to the "back" of the picture. The prince is also emhasized by isolation with more physical space surrounding him versus the other images in the composition. The design is symmetrically balanced with the street in the center on the vertical axis. Rhythm is seen in the repeated vertical lines of the buildings and in the repeated shape of the bent limbs of the people "in motion".