Arabesque

This is an image from Arabesque: Graphic Design from the Arab World and Persia. Although I don't think this is advertising anything (the book just says that it's an experimental work under photography, Photoshop, and freehand), it really stood out to me. The artist, Ibrahim Eslam, is from Egypt, and that is clearly where he got the majority of his inspiration. The head is really similar to the mummies of ancient Egypt, which I've always been fascinated by. There are numerous other elements in the image, including what looks to me like a human heart (hanging beneath the head), as well as gears, pulleys, and wires. It's almost like the artist is trying to mix old and new with living and dead, and in my opinion, it just makes for a very striking piece.

The Metal Underground

I found these band logos in Lord of the Logos: Designing the Metal Underground by Christophe Szpajdel (I think). The first is for a band called Acherontia Styx, and the second is for a band called Apparitia (I think...the text is a little hard to read because of the typeface). They really fit into logos typically used by metal bands--hard-to-read type that's kind of goth-looking in nature. I like the top logo way more than the bottom one just because of the use of the death's-head moth motif...the second one just looks like it has a weird face on its back. I just think they're kind of different while still managing to follow traditional metal band logos.

AARGH!

This is a page I scanned from Comic Art Propaganda by Fredrik Stromberg. It's from a section about AARGH!, which stands for Artists Against Rampant Government Homophobia, which was formed as a reaction against a piece of anti-gay legislation passed in the 1980s in Britain. This legislation basically stated that nothing promoting homosexuality would be published intentionally--so of course a bunch of comic-book artists formed a group to purposely defy that law. Published as an anthology, AARGH! features work from many well-known and successful artists, and the page I scanned featured a number of different works. I really like that a group of artists would come together to decisively to protest a piece of legislation they didn't like, and that their work is still relevant today. It's a quick glimpse at the anthology they published, but it's really interesting getting to see all the different artwork and how everything comes together in the book.

Logo Design

This image is from Graphis Logo Design, edited by B. Martin Pedersen. The book doesn't have a whole lot of written information, but instead lists all these different logos and designs used by companies. This page really stood out to me because of the huge range of designs. Each of these logos is a different company and are done by different designers, but I think they are all pretty successful. For the most part, they're simple, but some have a little pop of something else that makes them stand apart. My favorites are the fourth and fifth ones. The fourth one is by Okan Usta for the Sinefekt Post Production Company, and looks like a voodoo doll with pins stuck in it--it's kind of funny. The fifth one is by MBA for White Hat Creative. It took me a minute to see it, but the image is of the top of what looks to be a white Stetson hat. I just thought it was really cleverly done and works really well.

Women in Chinese Graphic Design

This ad is from Chinese Graphic Design in the Twentieth Century by Scott Minick and Jiao Ping. I chose this particular image because it was listed in a section about how women were beginning to be represented in graphic design in the 30s in China. Prior to then, women were often depicted as vulnerable and dependent. During the 30s, though, they began to be shown as having courage, resilience, and strength, and also showed women having more active social and sporting lives. I thought this ad in particular really shows that off, because this woman appears to be wearing some kind of military dress, and also seems to have some of the inner strength the book mentions. I'm not sure what it's advertising, but it does appear to be a good design, and I'm certain that it really grabbed attention when it first came out in 1946.

Alibris

This is a logo for the online company Alibris, from Logo Design That Works by Lisa Silver. This is a company that sells books online. This logo was actually designed by Pentagram, and the company wanted to create a logo that "looked modern and fresh but also hearkened back to classic book design." According to the book, they were inspired by the letterpress books of the 1950s. This logo looks as though it could have been designed on a letterpress, and I'm a big fan of it. Using the Bodoni typeface also helps, because I think it's one of those that can be used in modern typographic designs and logos despite the fact that it's so old. Overall, it's just really a well-done logo.

Menu Design

I thought this was really cool. I got these images from Menu Design 5 by Judi Radice. The picture on the left is the menu for a restaurant called Inn of the Anasazi in Santa Fe, and the one on the left is the restaurant itself. I really like how the menu contains motifs commonly seen in the Santa Fe area, and that the walls also contain those same elements. According to the book, all the images are replications of authentic Anasazi cave paintings found in the area, and natural fabrics and pottery pieces were used as well. The graphic design elements are really nice, and I like how it all gives the place a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Typographic Logos

I got these logos from Trademarks of the '60s and '70s by Tyler Blik. The top logo is for National Presto Industries, Inc. (which manufactured domestic electric cooking devices), and the bottom one is for Five-Y Manufacting Company (which manufactured riding power lawn mowers). Both showcase the typographic slogans often seen during this era, and both reflect, to some extent, the psychedelic-esque type that conforms to a shape. I liked them because they're kind of cute and, while they don't completely reflect what they're selling, they're easy to understand.

Art Deco Ads

This is an ad I got from Advertising Art in the Art Deco Style by Theodore Menten. I believe these are fashion ads for Formenti, and the one at the top left is an ad for a comb (it's a little hard to see, but she's holding it in her left hand). There really isn't a lot of information beyond that in the book, but I liked these ads because they're definitely art deco style but are a little different from what you might typically see--the women are stylized, but there isn't any of the flowing hair detail or swirls most commonly associated with art deco. It'd be nice to be able to see them in color to compare them to other art deco ads.

Noggy

I thought this was pretty interesting. This is an exampe of a redesign for Noggy chocolate, found in Recycling and Redesigning Logos. This chocolate is extremely popular in Coloumbia, and according to the book, is often used as a form of change if a shopkeeper doesn't have any spare pennies, and no one complains about it. Because this chocolate is so popular and seen/used so often, a catchy design was needed. The logo was an integral part of the design, so the designers worked hard to keep it as part of hte prodcut image. It's a very colorful logo, but it's also clean and well-done. It draws the eye very well.

Hunters & Gatherers

I think this is the front page of a website for Hunters & Gatherers, which sells clothing. I found this in Recycling and Redesigning Logos. I like the illustrative designs on the page, which is what drew me to the design in the first place. I like the way the stance of the larger woman is also somewhat echoed in the smaller image, and because there is not a lot of clutter on the page, they both stand out. I thought it was pretty cool.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

This isn't an ad, per say, but it does show the logo for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York in a variety of ways. I found this in Recycling and Redesigning Logos. I think the image in the back is a sheet of stationery, and the images in the front are business cards and informational cards. I like the color scheme and how the red, blue, and green colors look good both together and separately. It's a very sleek design and it definitely catches your attention.

Icefall Lodge

This is an ad for the Icefall Lodge, which I believe is in British Columbia. I found this in Recycling and Redesigning Logos. The ad's pretty simple, and I think that was what drew me to it. It's just a couple of icy cliffs with a skiier standing in between them. The logo almost disappears against the white of the cliffs, and because it's so small you focus on the image first and the logo second. This kind of seems opposite from what you would normally expect from an ad, but Ithink it works very well here.

Coca-Cola

This is an ad for (obviously) Coke, found in Recycling and Redesigning Logos. I thought it was just really cute, because it mixes the traditional glass Coke bottle with a more modern paper cup and straw. Coke ads seem to usually be pretty standard--the logo hasn't changed in years. But this one stood out to me because of the way you see the bottle in the cup. It's just kind of funny.

Pumas

This is an ad for Pumas shoes that I found in Recycling and Redesigning Logos. What was interesting about this ad to me is how it's hard to tell that it even is an ad for Pumas. This particular section of the book also talks about how logos can be redesigned, and the company that manufactures Pumas doesn't always make it obvious that they're trying to sell shoes--the book even states that "this company allows designers to to be 'promiscuous' with [the logo], emblazoning it on shoes, apparel, and accessories in all manner and derivations..." Definitely an interesting path to take.

Come On In

This is an ad for the FFun Motor Group, which is one sector of the larger FFun Enterprises. From what I can tell from the website, they sell cars. I found this ad in Recycling and Redesigning Logos, and just thought it was funny. Although the ad is mostly white and you can't see the entire car, the bright orange welcome mat makes for a nice touch, especially since it doesn't just say "Welcome". It says "Come on in," which comes across as a much friendlier greeting. It's a pretty simple ad, but it draws people in.