Journal 20: Package Design

I found that this package design really called out to me. More so, I think it screamed at me, which is the perfect effect for an energy drink. The metallic colors stand out really well on a shelf and the huge type only contributes more to the effect. The mixture of the metallic white and cool blue along with the name Summit, give this drink a nice mountain theme. The cool colors suggest ice and snow, conveying the idea that this drink is cold and refreshing, a common theme amongst beverages. I would pick this energy drink against any others on the shelf, I just hope it tastes as good as it looks.

Journal 19: Papyrus

I am going to be completely honest here when I say that I do not like the Papyrus typeface. It stands out, which can be a good thing, but not in most cases. While my roommate was doing laundry I saw some Papyrus on the back of one of his NAU shirts. I was kind of surprised to see it there. It seems that the typeface can only be used in certain situations. On the Avatar case it seems to work fairly well. I notice that Papyrus shows up on things that are new age spiritual, like massage places and this particular movie which has that kind of inner energy vibe to it. The fact that there is only one word on the cover that is in Papyrus makes it more bearable.

Journal 18: Type

Journal 17: Handwritten Text

I found it really difficult at first to find an advertisement with handwritten text. After that I realized that it was only because I was not looking hard enough. When I glanced down at my homework list on a Post It note everything clicked. The idea of script text gives a very personal touch to anything it is applied to. In this advertisement, it is talking about the qualities of the car being advertised. When handwritten text is applied, it gives off the feeling that the information being conveyed is coming from a personal source like a friend or family member. People are more likely to listen to the opinion of someone close to them than strict advertisements. With the use of Post It notes, the ad conveys the idea of receiving information about this vehicle from a friendly and reliable source.

Journal 16: Graffiti

I found this on the Berlin Wall when visiting the East Side Gallery. The image shows the skyline of Berlin with several iconic buildings. However it is more of a political statement. One the left side of the skyline the West side is being portrayed with its nice tall iconic buildings. The East side however shows large run down industrial buildings billowing smoke out into the sky.

The whole image shows the contrast between how life was in the West versus how people in the East suffered from the rule of the DDR. There are many makings on the East Side gallery which convey the same idea, but I stumbled onto this one because it was the least obvious. I had to look at it for a bit to understand the meaning behind it and I believe that a lot of graffiti is similar in that respect.

Journal 14: Picture Story

There once was a place that had prime real estate...

...Until some idiots took over and made the people irate...

...They taxed them in fortunes, and cut the scholarly portions...

...Then gave them all weapons, just to see what would happen......But the people rebelled, and the villains were expelled.

Journal 13: 10 Must Haves

1) Any form of writing utensil has been the staple of language and art since the beginning of time. Without these nifty little devices we would still be stuck in the stone ages. Although our world has gone digital, we still use them every day.

2) Another must have item is the light bulb. as humans, we have a natural distaste for the dark. To think of a world without the light bulb would be rather hard to imagine these days. I mean, we even use them when it it daylight outside.

3) Ah yes, my favorite invention of all time: the camera. Since I first picked one up I have been amazed by these things. As I grew up, my fascination with cameras expanded. If my DSLR was a bit more practical, or my point and shoot was better, I would go nowhere without a camera.

4) It must be 2011 because I cannot live without this damn thing. Not that I am a text-a-holic but because of everything else it is capable of doing. With access to the internet at any given time it is like carrying a dictionary, encyclopedia, phone book, map, translator, camera, calendar, calculator, etc. with you at all times. A web connected cell phone is like having all of the knowledge of the world in your pocket waiting to be used at a minutes notice. It also makes phone calls too, which I guess is pretty cool!

5) This thing is my baby. I absolutely love to drive! Although I do not get to do as much driving up here in Flagstaff, the car is something that has allowed me to move up here in the first place. The invention of the automobile brought the country together very quickly. It enables us to travel our own directions and at our own leisure. The car is a staple in the founding of American culture.

6) I am not sure how I would live without my Post-It notes. These little things keep me in check at all times. Whether it is a to-do list, homework for the week, or some even that I need to remember, these guys never let me forget.

7) There is really know concise way of explaining why the computer is so amazing. Instant access to any information you could possibly ever need, the digital storage of media which used to be analog, and the digital rendering of media are among the main reasons the computer have influenced my life. As an inspiring graphic designer and photographer, the computer in the most essential tool I can have at my disposal.

8) As a student, the jump drive has become something I cannot live without. It allows me to take my in class work back to my computer and vise versa. It greatly increases the speed at which I can get my projects done. Also, it is a good way to keep back ups of all my work.

9) Another invention a student can not go without is the printer. This allows us to turn our digital media back into a form of analog media which is the best way to have a hard copy. As a graphic design major this is another essential tool to have as many times we are required to create print advertisements, menus, flyers, posters, etc.

10) Many people have agreed that duct tape is one of the greatest intentions and I must agree. If almost any of the previous items were to break, chances are duct tape could help solve the problem.