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Logos: What Makes a Good Design? - Part II

November 5, 2009 – 8:31 pm

The Logo Journey Continues
In our last article, we examined several logo designs that were, by most conventional standards, unsuccessful. Your graphic design education is a continuing process and learning the basics of graphic design can help you to be more effective in creativity and avoid mistakes in design.

In Part 2 of this series, we'll take a look at concepts that aren't necessarily bad, but have missed hitting the target. We'll investigate these logo designs and see what could have been done to improve them.
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And now, let's bring on the logos:

http://zedomax.com/blog/

When Max was 9 years-old, he scribbled a logo on a piece of paper. It was a design for an imaginary company he made up. It formed the word "Zedomax" and was done in a very stylized way. If you use your imagination, it almost looks like a mountain range or peak.

When Max grew up and started a website named Zedomax, he decided that his old scribble would be an excellent basis for the company logo.

Here's the original logo produced by Max when he was just a kid:

Is it bad logo design or a cool way to incorporate the name "Zedomax" into an interesting form? The idea is actually a good one, but perhaps the logo could have been less stylized and a little more readable.

But in a way, the logo fits the website and the character of its editor/writer. It's a fun website full of articles on "how to" projects, DIY articles, stories about gadgets, science, toys and lots of neat stuff. I like the website. The logo? I can live with it.

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http://www.sunkist.com/products/licensed_products.aspx
Sunkist is a company that has made its reputation for producing fresh fruit products, juices, and soft drinks.

The brand labeling for its fruit products is pretty straightforward. The name "Sunkist" is emblazoned upon the package, usually with a photo of fruit behind the easy to read Sunkist font.

When Sunkist decided to remake its logo for its soft drinks, the type was stylized so much that the logo seemed to read "Sinkist." The fault was in the design of the font. The "u" and the "n" run into each other and seem to form the letter "i."

Many companies try to incorporate a distinctive font into their logos. Some work, some do not. But in the case of the Sunkist soft drink logo, the graphic designers who created it may have to confess their "sins" as in "Sinkist."
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http://animal.discovery.com/
Animal Planet is a Discovery Channel television show. It features everything an animal fan could wish for.

Animal lovers are typically warm and fuzzy types that enjoy the world around them. The new logo that was designed for the television show seems to go in the opposite direction-- it's stodgier and less friendly.

In this iteration, it's about as warm and fuzzy as a cold winter's day. The design is totally made up of text, which isn't necessarily wrong -- the logo seems to fail in its concept -- animal planet.

Where are the animals? Where is the planet? It is understood that the people behind this logo probably wanted to mature the image of Animal Planet, but the direction they took is questionable.

Consider the original logo for Animal Planet:
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Yes, it's a bit too literal, but it did put the message across.

What We've Learned So Far
Learning from your mistakes is good, but learning from the mistakes of others can be better because it can save you a lot of heartache and wasted effort in trying to reinvent the wheel.

The examples we've seen so far are flawed in their design, but they have served as our teachers. So in the long run, we can be grateful that we have learned some valuable lessons. While education through observation is an important element in understanding design, your graphic design education can also be advanced through classes at a graphic design college or online learning center.

Next Week...
We'll pick some logo designs that represent some of the best out there. Also, we'll have a special surprise for next week. Stay tuned for more information!

By admin Posted in Adobe Photoshop, Best of Promotional Design, Best of the Best Designs, Best of the Best Designs, Design Careers, Design Project Management, Design Tools & Utilities, Funny and Humor, Graphic Design, Graphic Design 101, Graphic Design Effects, Graphic Design Tutorials, Logo Design Tutorials, best of brochure design 2 Comments

Logos: What Makes a Good Design? - Part I

November 4, 2009 – 2:25 am

Logo Design Isn't Always Easy
Designing a logo can sometimes be mystifying, but that doesn't mean it can't be done. At times a logo design just works, even though it may seem rather unremarkable. Other designs should work but they don't.

When Things Go Terribly Wrong
The examples in this article demonstrate what can happen when attention to detail, presentation or judgment becomes hazy during the creative process.

Some of the logo designs are outright funny, while others make you scratch your head and say, "What happened?"

The truth of the matter is that logo design is done by humans, and humans can make mistakes. Being a professional graphic designer doesn't mean you'll be immune to mistakes, but being a professional means you can keep them at a minimum.

The following examples show some weaknesses in execution and concept. But as it is in all things art, this is entirely open for debate.

Instituto de Estudos Orientais
This is a logo created for the Institute of Oriental Studies in Brazil. The first time you view this logo, your mind will probably be struggling to decode and process what you see.

This is a classic example of how a perfectly legitimate idea for a logo, in this case an Asian pagoda in front of a rising sun, can turn into a nightmare or hilarious mistake because the design wasn't carefully critiqued.

This logo has become somewhat of a legend on the Internet. The site where this logo was discovered is currently "under construction." Our guess is that it probably crashed due to the overload of sudden traffic on the website.

To understand what happened in the design of this logo, view the individual parts:

After seeing the logo elements separately, it sort of makes sense why this mistake happened. The mind gets attuned to what it wants to see, not necessarily what really appears.
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http://www.london2012.com/
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The next Summer Olympics takes place in London, 2012. The logo for this special occasion is baffling to many people in graphic design.

If it is supposed to depict the Summer Olympics, why are the elements so disconnected from the theme?
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Remove the text from the graphic and it resembles Asian calligraphy or pieces of a puzzle rather than a clear symbol representing the Olympic Games:

This logo for the summer Olympic Games has drawn some controversy. Some find the logo entirely lacking as far as proper design elements, while others see it as a bold departure from traditional design.

The bottom line will probably be this: Is the logo marketable?
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http://www.sherwin-williams.com/

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The logo for Sherwin-Williams paints is unpleasant at best and quite scary at worst. The concept behind the logo is to depict its products as covering the world's needs for paint.

But the use of the Earth-graphic with red liquid oozing over the surface seems to send an unintentional message that may be subliminally disturbing.

The flowing viscous liquid motif is usually used in connection with horror movies, detective novels, or science-fiction stories.
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This logo is an example of how popular icons in a logo's design can be deadly, so to speak, if used improperly.

If the Sherwin-Williams paint logo makes you feel uneasy, it is probably due to the how this sort of graphic has traditionally been used:

Next Time...
We'll show three more examples of logo designs that may have missed the mark and hopefully, they will give you enough ideas on what not to do on your next projects.

By admin Posted in Design Education, Graphic Design, Graphic Design 101, Lists, Logo Design Tutorials, Web Design No Comments

Great Ideas for Package Designs - Part II

October 30, 2009 – 6:00 am

Package Design: The Two Second Commercial
If you pay a visit to your local supermarket and view the thousands of items sitting on shelves, each product is vying to gain your attention through its package design. Hence each package acts as a two second commercial.

The following designs excel in attracting your eye, but also serve a real world purpose by packaging the products effectively.

Literal Interpretation of a Product

Here is an entertaining example of how to use an idea in a totally literal sense. The television series Six Feet Under is a drama about a fictional family and their funeral parlor business. Six Feet Under is a common euphemism for death. The DVD boxed set of the television show resembles a grave plot.
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The Unseen Bean

What better way to show off a product then to package it in a transparent container? In this case the product is coffee beans. The amusing play on words in combination with a view of the product is effective, and functional.
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The Simpsons DVD Boxed Set

D'oh! What do you do when you have a pop culture icon on your hands? Sometimes the obvious is the best solution. In this case using the image of Homer Simpson is the best way to package a boxed DVD set of the television show. Other packaging designs in this series use other characters in the show as well.
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Waitrose Herbs

Here is another example of the use of packaging to demonstrate and show off the contents. The product in these bags gives the viewer a sense that the herbs are accessible and fresh--just as you would find them at a farmers market.

Packaging 101 and Beyond
What comes first in packaging, functionality or design? This question is akin to asking if the chicken or the egg came first.

One thing we do know is that functionality and design are dependent upon each other. Package design can embrace both elements with the final result demonstrating a seamless melding of the two.

Your graphic design education encompasses many techniques and methods regarding design. But one important element that must not be overlooked is the aspect of experimentation.

By admin Posted in Best of the Best Designs, Colors and Design, Graphic Design, Graphic Design 101, Graphic Design Tutorials No Comments

Great Ideas for Package Designs - Part I

October 29, 2009 – 2:00 am

See, Learn, and Get Inspired
Designing a package can be quite challenging when trying to think of unique ways to present a product. The following examples show how graphic designers think outside the packaging box by using creative techniques that are novel in approach, and also quite functional by design.

Otokoyama Sake

A simple design can be more eye-catching then a busy one. In this example, the ideas of using different fonts and placing the text off-center is all that is needed to create a functional, and elegant motif.
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Fixa

Here are good examples of how form follows function. In this case we are talking about humble kitchen accessories such as knives, cheese shavers, and vegetable peelers. These package designs have taken the phrase, "One picture is worth a thousand words" quite literally.
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Waitrose Infused Olive Oil

Foodies are quite familiar with infused oils--oils that have a hint of flavor from foods, herbs or spices. In this design the artist presents the idea so clearly through the graphic that there is no need for additional text describing the infused essence.
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Pet Food

Taking an approach of cute or whimsy in the design of a package can sometimes score a bullseye for the graphic designer, and client. These designs immediately bring a smile to your face, while also showing the purpose of the contents quite effectively.

Next Time
We'll have some more examples of creative packaging designs and see what can be done when design and function work hand-in-hand with each other. Until then, keep on designing!

By admin Posted in Adobe Photoshop, Best of the Best Designs, Best of the Best Designs, Design Careers, Design Education, Design News, Design Project Management, Design Tools & Utilities, Drawing and Sketching, Graphic Design, Graphic Design 101, Graphic Design Resources, Graphic Design Tutorials 2 Comments

Graphic Design Education and Your Career

October 23, 2009 – 6:36 pm

Talent + Education = Graphic Designer
Talent is always a big consideration for employers who are seeking individuals to fill positions, but the world of graphics, illustration, and art has changed dramatically with the use of computer design software and computer hardware.

Publishing houses, graphic design firms and other related businesses need people who are up-to-date in the latest graphic design methods and technology.

For entry level work and some higher-level design positions, design firms usually require a minimum of a bachelor's degree.

Typical courses for a graphic design degree cover topics such as design principles, computer design software, layout and design, and graphics.

Associate's degrees and certificates in graphic design are available at two-year community colleges, junior colleges, and graphic design colleges.

The curriculum for an associate or certificate in graphic design usually concentrates on the technical aspects of design work. Positions available for this level of education qualify you for some entry level jobs in graphic design or as an assistant to a graphic designer.

What Else Is Required?
Individuals who want to work as graphic designers should have good communication skills, the ability to multitask effectively, work effectively under pressure, and have a good eye for design, and detail.

Because the world of design is in constant change, companies who hire graphic designers need people who understand the current trends of design and where it may lead to in the future.

Where Do You Start?
Graphic design colleges are specifically geared toward education in the liberal arts and can help students to learn and use many of the tools required to enter this job field.

If you are considering a career as a graphic designer or want to increase your skills in this field of work, graphic design schools are available to help you achieve these goals.

By admin Posted in Design Education 7 Comments

Camera Tricks for Non-Photographers - Part II

October 22, 2009 – 2:39 am

Make Your Own Filters and Special Effects
In our last camera tricks session we covered some basic techniques related to camera operation, lens usage, and camera settings to achieve different image effects without the use of Photoshop.

This time around we will still achieve in-camera effects but with the use of homemade lens filters and accessories that you can use at a moment's notice.

Some of the following images show the final effect, while others represent the typical effect that can be realized.

Bluer Skies

An easy solution is to use a pair of polarized sunglasses. Merely place one of the sun glass lenses in front of the camera lens. Look through the camera viewfinder or LCD display while rotating your sunglasses. The sky's color will gradually change to a deeper blue. Once you see the level of saturation you are satisfied with, snap your picture and you're done.
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Get Hosed with a Pantyhose Diffusion Filter

Ask your girlfriend or female acquaintance for any pantyhose they are planning to dispose of. Once you get a pair, simply cut a swatch out that is large enough in size to wrap itself around and in front of a camera lens. The result is an unusually soft diffusion effect. Using different colored pantyhose modifies the image according to the hue used.
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Wire Mesh Star Filter

Go to your local hardware store or garden supply house and ask a sales rep to cut and sell you one square foot of wire mesh screen. Use a soup can or other round object to trace a circle large enough to cover the front of your lens. Any specular highlights or bright light sources will be surrounded by a four point star effect.
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Clear Focus Diffusion Effect

For this effect to work, all you need to do is to smear some Vaseline jelly in a donut shaped pattern around your clear filter lens or piece of glass. The middle is clear while the rest of the "donut" shape is covered with a thin film of the lubricant. To increase the effect of diffusion, use more petroleum jelly or make the clear center area smaller.
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Experiment and Have Fun
Photoshop and other image manipulation programs are great at enhancing, transforming or augmenting photos. But the use of in-camera effects has its place in helping graphic artists and designers to achieve unique special effects that are simple and quick to implement.

The bottom line is to have fun with these effects and keep them in mind on your next photo shoot. You may find them to be very helpful for that special mood that you are trying to achieve.

By admin Posted in Best of the Best Designs, Design Careers, Design Project Management, Design Tools & Utilities, Graphic Design, Graphic Design 101, Graphic Design Effects, Graphic Design Resources, Graphic Design Tutorials 1 Comment

Really Cool Photoshop Effects Part III

October 16, 2009 – 4:22 am

In our hat of magic Photoshop tricks, we've pulled out a few more items that we thought you might be interested in.

These effects and their related tutorials (click on the bold text or the image) are really fun to try out. They incorporate functions of Photoshop such as layering, transparency, blending, and other methods.

It will be hard to put some of these tutorials down after you see the rendered images. You'll want to experiment with these techniques to see what else you can create.

Have fun!

Mosaic: Photo with Lots of Photos Effect
This really nice effect isn't obvious upon first inspection. It looks like a photo that has been processed with a simple Photoshop mosaic effect.

But if you look closely, you'll find that the mosaic pattern is comprised of a matrix of many smaller photos.

This is a great idea for portraits. You can emphasize different aspects of the person such as family, friends, or hobbies.

Energy Sphere Effect
Let's face it, anyone who has ever played the video game Street Fighter has secretly wished for the power to throw a couple of energy spheres at unsuspecting bad guys.

Or perhaps even more importantly -- to show off in front of your friends.

However, unless you are Ryu, you won't be able to.

But this neat effect can make you the envy at your workplace or school when you show them your awesome powers with the help of this Photoshop technique.

The energy sphere effect may come in handy one day on future projects too...but using it to transform yourself into a superhero is more fun.

Reflective Bubble Effect
Here's another sphere effect but with a different purpose altogether.

In this PS trick, you can place an image of the subject on the reflection of a bubble.

Or if you are really ambitious, you can place them on a series of bubbles.

This effect may be a nice one to use for an advertisement or poster project.

Old School Photo Collage
Remember when you were in elementary school and you had to make a photo collage during arts and crafts time?

It was fun, but here's a PS effect that takes collage to the next several levels.

In this tutorial you'll use blend modes, layering techniques, transparency, and filters.

The various ideas you can produce out of this effect are virtually limitless.

It can be used in a variety of ways from commercial applications to personal projects...and you don't have to use glue and scissors!

Sin City Graphic Novel Effect
Fans of Sin City or those who want to produce an edgy graphic novel styled image can turn to this tutorial.

The speech bubble really seals the deal on this concept.

Throw in a little Pulp Fiction music and you're all set to try this effect.

By admin Posted in Adobe Photoshop, Best of the Best Designs, Best of the Best Designs, Design Careers, Design Project Management, Graphic Design, Graphic Design 101, Graphic Design Effects, Graphic Design Resources, Graphic Design Tutorials 1 Comment

Camera Tricks for Non-Photographers Part I

October 14, 2009 – 5:49 pm

1986 B.P. (Before Photoshop)
Photoshop is a fun program and can be used to turn plain photographs into unusual or improved versions. But before Photoshop arrived, photographers were using in-camera effects to put some pop into their images.

What Is an In-Camera Effect?
This means the manipulation of a photographic image through the use of special lighting, shutter speeds, depth of field, lenses, filters, colored gels, props, or materials while the picture is being shot.
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Why Use In-Camera Effects?
In some cases, you simply don't have the time to use Photoshop to alter the image, especially if you are under a tight deadline.

Other times, believe it or not, an in-camera effect is easier to produce than using Photoshop. This means you can experiment with various set ups while taking the photos. At the end of the session, you just pick the best one.

Another reason to use in-camera effects is to familiarize yourself with the operation and different settings of your camera.

The knowledge you gain from using in-camera effects helps you to be a better photographer, which means less time fixing mistakes after shooting photos.

The Tricks
The following methods are easy to do and with a little practice you'll be producing some pretty good images for your next graphic design project.

These in-camera techniques work with most cameras, but some digital cameras won't allow you to manually override your shutter speeds, f-stops, and other settings.

If this is the case, you can either find a camera that lets you do this, or just skip these effects until you can find a camera that is more flexible.

So here we go.

Depth of Field
This is one of the simplest tricks to add drama or interest to a photograph. Depth of field refers to the amount of sharpness or focus that is available in a scene.

Generally speaking, when you use the zoom feature of your camera for close ups, the specific area that you are focusing on will remain sharp, while the background and/or foreground is thrown out of focus.

Manually changing your f-stop or lens aperture has the same effect. The smaller the f-stop number is, the shallower your focus will be. So a setting of f/2.0 will have less depth of focus of a scene than a setting of f/16. The photo below was shot with an f-stop of 5.6 while doing a close up.

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...................The background is out of focus while maintaining focus of the foreground image

Panning Your Camera for Action Shots
This is somewhat similar to the depth of field trick except that motion is used to accentuate a subject instead of using focus.

Let's say you want to take a photograph of a person riding a bicycle. You snap the picture and the scene is frozen in time. It's ok, but it could be better. To enhance the photo, you can pan your camera or follow your subject while it is traveling across from you.

The first step is to adjust your shutter speed to 1/60 or 1/125 of a second. As the subject moves past you, follow and match the subject's motion by panning your camera. As you do this, snap the picture.

This results in the subject being in focus while the background is blurred. The effect gives a sense of motion to the photograph and can be used in any situation when motion needs to be accentuated or demonstrated.

The photographer panned his camera along with the biker. A nice motion effect

Silhouette Effect
This in-camera effect is all about exposure. You've seen this trick in many movies and photographs, but just how did they do it? The technique is simplicity itself. The trick is to take a photo of a subject against a brightly lit background and expose for the background.

The huge difference in light ratio will make the subject go completely dark while the background is exposed properly. This will produce a nice silhouette of the subject. Just make sure that your source of lighting is from behind your subject and not in front of it.

This may take a few shots to get it just right by experimenting with the exposure, but the effect can be stunning if done correctly.

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..............Make sure your source of lighting is from behind the subject for the best effect

Next week we'll show you how to make the sky bluer, produce nice diffused images, and more. See you then!

By admin Posted in Adobe Photoshop, Best of the Best Designs, Best of the Best Designs, Design Careers, Design Project Management, Design Tools & Utilities, Graphic Design, Graphic Design 101, Graphic Design Resources, Graphic Design Tutorials, Photos & Clip Art 1 Comment

Really Cool Photoshop Effects Part II

October 11, 2009 – 11:19 pm

Last time around we selected five cool Photoshop techniques to enhance and transform your images into another reality.

Some were simple and direct, while others needed some expertise and Photoshop skills.

For our second round of PS effects, we've selected some that can be used "as is" or as the basis for creating new ones. Each of the following effects is explained through a tutorial.

To see them, click on the bold text or on the image.

Rock Star Silhouette Effect
Let's face it; many of us have secretly daydreamed about being a rock star or being a member of a band. Come on now, you know it's true.

Well, the prospects of this happening may be slim, but the next best thing you can do is to make a cool rock star poster of yourself.

After this Photoshop trick, you can hang the finished image on your wall and have your friends admire your work. You may even autograph a picture or two.
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Plasma Fantasy Art Effect
Are you a big fan of fantasy novels? Or are you just a big fan of fantasy art?

Here's some Photoshop magic that will literally light up any image you use by encircling the subject in glowing rings.

The technique for this effect is easy to understand and can transform any portrait into an image of wonderment and fantasy.

Alien Invasion Effect
If you'd like to change a dull or uninspired photo of a city into a dramatic apocalyptic scene, look no further than this tutorial written by Craig Henry.

With a few images of common objects, you can Photoshop them into an alien spaceship.

In the case of Craig, he used the front of a car and part of a camera lens to make his spacecraft. Yes, he really did. Use your imagination to see what things you can use for this special effect.
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Watercolor Effect
This effect is quite nice and can turn any photo into a watercolor painting. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to use the median filter, blend mode, and layering to achieve the final result.

It's quick and easy and you'll be able to create instant pieces of watercolor for your personal enjoyment or for your next art project.
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Big Pixel / Halftone Effect
Here's a classic looking effect from the days of Pop Art guru Andy Warhol.

This effect is done by simply making a custom mosaic pattern and overlaying it onto an existing image.

You can experiment with the cell sizes to see which ones work the best for your image.

By admin Posted in Adobe Photoshop, Graphic Design Effects, Graphic Design Resources, Graphic Design Tutorials 3 Comments

Really Cool Photoshop Effects Part 1

October 8, 2009 – 7:28 pm

Photoshop is like a magic hat. Inside it you'll find and discover all sorts of tricks that allow you to manipulate and transform images to another state of being.
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Photoshop can be a little tricky sometimes because of the depth of all its features. But this shouldn't scare anyone away from using this great program. In fact, with a few tricks of the trade, you'll be able to produce some really great images.
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The following are some of our picks for cool Photoshop effects. Each one has a tutorial that takes you step-by-step on how to perform the magic. Try some of them out and be amused and amazed at what can be done. A big thanks to our friends at hongkiat.com for doing all the leg work in rounding up a lot of these effects.
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To see the tutorials, click on the bold text or images below.
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Force Field / Mental Wave
There are lots of steps in this one, and it's obvious that there is a simpler way by just using layering and transparency.
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But the method this person uses is interesting and is a good exercise in using the various tools in PS to achieve this effect.
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Now you can do a force field effect of yourself and send it to all your friends.
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Water Reflection
This is a cool little trick and can be useful for turning a standard looking photograph into an artsy looking one.
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The first part, you already figured out. Copy, flip, and paste. So far so good.
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The rest of the tips in this tutorial show you how to turn that mirror image into a water-like reflection.
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This is a very nice effect.

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Retro Comic Book Effect
Here's a pretty easy one to do. After you use the techniques in this trick, you'll be able to think up lots of ideas for jokes or novel ideas for making unusual portraits.
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Get a couple of friends to pose for you and after you render the image and effect, you can turn your buddies into superheroes.
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Rainbow Effect
You've taken an awesome outdoors shot of nature.
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The sun is shinning, the flowers are in full bloom, the scenery is stunning, and there are great puffs of cotton candy clouds in the sky.
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But it would have been perfect if there was a rainbow in the sky. Not to worry.
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Now you can with this Photoshop trick. Just don't over do it. People will get suspicious.
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Dramatic Lighting
There's nothing like a cloudy or overcast day to shoot good portraits or product shots. The sky acts like a gigantic light tent and provides nice, even lighting all around.
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But if you're taking shots of big structures, the flat lighting makes the image look dull. If you ever need to punch up the lighting in a flat photo, here's the way to do it.
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For the more ambitious, there are graphic design schools and graphic design colleges that can provide professional training in Photoshop.

Next week, we'll show off some more Photoshop tricks so stay tuned. See you then!

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