STREET Art!

Shepard Fairey and his "Obey Giant" campaign along with Bansky and his anonymous, yet clever graffiti art have revolutionized the world of street art. I became familiar with Shepard Fairey through one of his many documentaries, and who hasn't heard of infamous Bansky?! I've seen Shepard Fairey's art in several locations from Paris, France to Boston, Mass; however, I haven't been fortunate enough to encounter a true life Bansky in person yet.

I am happy to say that our very own Portsmouth, NH sees the need for creativity and inspiration and has embraced the movement of street art. The Portsmouth Museum of Art recently started a movement called "STREET AKA MUSEUM" which features five street artists and their work among our very own beloved Portsmouth architecture and buildings. Along with these brilliant and vibrant painted additions, Portsmouth also had its very own flash dance on Sunday, May 5th. It's movements and culture like this that makes me proud to be a resident of this vibrant and lively art filled town!

Below are some snap shots I took of the ongoing artwork from this movement. Check out these great artists websites as well. bumblebee |  Herakut |  Shark Toof |  Alexandros Vasmoulakis |  Andreas Von Chrzanowski

The Sketchbook Project 2012

I'm thrilled to be a part of The Sketchbook Project 2012. I signed up for my sketchbook last week and it already arrived in the mail! Art House Co-op gives each artist/participant a choice between dozens of themes, I chose "Along the line". I have until January 2012 to sketch my heart out and send my sketchbook away for the tour. I'll be sure to share a page or two once I get the pencil moving.

http://arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject

A Move Towards Technology.

The move to technology and web is as much of an exciting exploration and learning experience as it is an internal struggle for me. Today's society is heavily reliant on technology in most aspects of our daily lives and routines. Technology constantly has me plugged in either to my laptop, desktop, iPad and or smart phone. Information and communication are constantly at my fingertips, which is stimulating and enriching. However, as I mentioned in a previous post, I miss down-time that allows my mind to wander, the concept of being unreachable from time to time, as well as the nostalgia that comes with print: pencil on paper, feeling the texture and weight of paper (newsprint, greeting cards, magazines etc).

Along with seeing the technology based transitions in my personal life, I have also witnessed such transitions in my professional life. I have been out of school for a mere 4 years and in those four years of working in the design industry I have witnessed multiple clients forgoing print collateral for web driven technology and campaigns. This transition has given me the opportunity to learn more about designing for web and mobile applications; however, I must admit that there are some days when I strongly miss even the most mundane aspects of print design such as press checks, shipping and physical deliverables.

I can't begin to imagine the changes that we will see in the future and the changes that the next generation will witness in the evolution of technology. I am excited for what the future holds and am also happy to have known some of the days before the digital age.

To Tweet or Not to Tweet...

To tweet or not to tweet? This has been the growing question since Twitter was launched in 2006. I admit, I was hesitant and slow to give into the current social networking craze myself. A lot of controversy remains surrounding Twitter and five years later there are still a numerous amount of pessimists who argue that 140 character status updates are useless and mind-numbing. I once viewed Twitter as an outlet for obnoxious celebrities and egotistical individuals; however, once I gave into the notion I was able to see Twitter for what it really is. Twitter is what you make of it, plain and simple.

Twitter isn't about how many people follow you (unless you are using it for advertising purposes), it's about who you follow and why. There are endless uses for Twitter from gaining knowledge, researching, staying connected, following trends, being inspired, seeking out deals, advertising and so much more. If you are an individual who cares about what celebrities say and do on an hourly basis, then Twitter is for you. If you are an individual who wants to stay up to date on current trends for a certain industry, then Twitter is for you too. If you have a company that you would like to promote and advertise, then Twitter is also for you. The list goes on and on. A growing number of individuals and businesses are giving into today's social networking norm through Twitter and I encourage everyone to give it a try and to not miss out on its many benefits.

For anyone who is interested, here is an interview that I heard on NPR with one of Twitter's co-founders. I found this interview to be very informative and interesting. Twitter's Biz Stone on Starting a Revolution: http://www.wbur.org/npr/133775340/twitters-biz-stone-on-starting-a-revolution

StephNEdesign on Twitter.

2011 Superbowl Hype

The yearly debate about which Superbowl commercial exceeds the others in concept and creativity is here yet again. The commercials seem to get more air time and recognition than the teams and players themselves. However, I am somewhat ashamed to admit that even though the Steelers are technically my home team, I was more excited about the commercials than the score. I may have somewhat of a biased opinion when it comes to my favorite Superbowl commercial, but I do wholeheartedly believe that the Star Wars Volkswagen commercial surpasses the others in concept and creativity. The art direction, sequence and overall look and feel of the commercial spoke to me as being cleanly thought out and executed. This commercial was created by Craig Melchiano, a 1995 Penn State Graphic Design graduate. I have never had the pleasure of meeting Craig but I can say that Craig has made Penn State and the Design Department proud! Well done!

As for my least favorite commercials of the night I must say that Pepsi Max's immature violence and Sleepy's racy content were not my favorites. I'd love to hear your opinions!

Star Wars Volkswagen Commercial

FFFFOUND!

If you haven't discovered FFFFOUND.com yet I highly recommend checking it out! Warning: FFFFOUND.com does have the potential to consume an enormous amount of your time as you become entranced in the creativity that others are sharing and posting. FFFFOUND.com is merely a resource for users to share their favorite images from the internet; however, it is also a great resource for inspiration. I recently rediscovered this website's ability to captivate my attention for hours on end during a 12 hour car ride home from visiting my family in Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving. Below are a few of my recent favorites. Enjoy!

Richard Avedon, MFA Boston

After living in the Boston area for a little over three years, I finally had the opportunity to visit the Museum of Fine Arts this past weekend. Like many museums, the MFA is filled with an overwhelming amount of art from various time periods and styles. While I appreciate all forms of art, there was one artist who made an immense impression on me, Richard Avedon.

Avedon's work was on exhibit during my visit and his photography spoke to me. I have seen his work on many occasions; however, seeing his photographs on exhibit in their purist forms was absolutely breathtaking. Avedon is a fashion photographer whose work has been published mainly in Vouge and Harper's Bazaar. He revolutionized fashion photography by capturing his subjects (mostly women) in glamorous clothing, poses and surroundings. The content and compositions of his photos are pure art. Avedon has a unique ability to capture moments and movement in still frames that portray beautiful stories. One of the most notable qualities of his work is that he began his career before Photoshop and was able to conceptualize such interesting compositions without the aid of today's technology.

Below are a few of my favorite Avedon photographs. If you have the opportunity to visit the MFA before January 17th, 2011 I highly recommend spending some quality time in the Foster Gallery with Avedon's work.

The Devil is in the Details

An idiom that I believe all designers (graphic designers, web designers, fashion designers, interior designers and the like) are familiar with is, “The Devil is in the Details.”

I can’t recall the first time that I heard this expression. However, it is forever instilled in my mind.

As I previously mentioned, I began drawing in detail at a young age and my education taught me to appreciate such attention and thoughtfulness.

To this day I love to explore details that others place into their work, whether it is the depth and texture of brush strokes in a painting, the hidden objects in logo design, well thought out web design concepts, my neighbor’s landscaping or my dingy office lighting, all of the many intriguing details that surround us in everyday life.

Details don’t have to be intricate. There is something extremely beautiful about subtle detail as well. Details to me signify passion, interest, knowledge and a love for ones work.

Pencil vs Mouse

Over the years technology has without a doubt transformed most aspects of our daily lives. However, recently I've been feeling the effects of technology interfering with my passion and ability to illustrate by hand. Although technology makes my job undoubtedly more productive and streamline, in some cases I can sense it hindering my creativity, imagination and freehand.

I discovered my love for drawing at a very young age. My mom frequently reminisces about my ability to entertain myself for hours when I was young. I would sit alone at the kitchen table and create my version of "Where's Waldo" illustrations by incorporating my family, friends, and pets into the detailed sketches. Throughout high-school and college I always had a sketchbook nearby, constantly doodling and jotting down images from my imagination. I miss those days!

Today my sketchbook, pencils, pens, sharpies and colored pencils, for the most part, have been replaced by a mouse, Adobe Creative Suite CS5, a scanner and a Wacom Tablet. There are days when I feel the rush of creativity at work; however, it isn't the same freedom and feeling you get from the nostalgic sound and feel of dragging a pencil on paper. Last week I made it a point to purchase a brand new sketchbook and am now making a resolution to dedicate more time for my abandoned passion and hobby.

(I asked my mom to dig up some of those old sketches, hopefully I will be able to post one or two in the near future.)

Design Evolution

Every design develops from a process, involving research, brainstorming, and trial and error. To me one of the most interesting design evolutions is that of brand identity. It always fascinates me to see where a logo started and how it has evolved over the years in order to conform to trends, style, and the growth of its brand or company. However, not all logos change over time, there are some logos that will forever remain classic (such as Coca Cola). While there is controversy in the design world debating whether or not brand reformation is beneficial and ethical, my opinion is that it depends greatly on the unique situation and brand. Some of the most well known examples of logo evolutions are shown below. However, some of these evolutions have many more steps than what I am showing. One of my favorite examples of brand development is from my alma mater, Penn State. When the new lion illustration was introduced in 2001 the majority of Penn State fans, students and alumni were not pleased. This failed attempt at a logo change resulted in Penn State going back to their logo roots four years later in 2005.

The Fine Lines of Advertising

I love the nostalgic quality of billboards and how they only provide a brief moment to capture their audience's attention. Billboards are good old fashioned print design at its best. However, many designers miss their mark with billboards and either don't captivate attention in their moment of opportunity, or do capture it but leave viewers questioning the message as they drive by.

I love the concept and aesthetic cleanliness of Pom's recent ad campaign; however, one of their billboard designs has left me  feeling uneasy on several occasions, whiling driving North on 93. I personally feel that suicide and imagery of  a noose is a very heavy and touchy subject; a subject that is excessive when comparing it to the health benefits of a fruit juice. While Pom's goal was to present edgy marketing and to capture attention regardless of the viewer's emotion, Pom has gone overboard with this one.

Collaborative Power

The design industry requires designers to be creative, sharp, witty, conceptual, communicative, knowledgeable and up to speed on current events. One of the many things that I love about this field is the willingness and ability of designers to come together as a community, for both design and humanity. There are numerous design competitions/exhibitions out there, but the ones that intrigue me the most are those with a cause and those that are striving to open our society's eyes for the greater good.

A fellow Penn State Design alumna, Leif Steiner, and one of his colleague's, Josh Higgins, are founders of an ingenious creative fund-raiser. Their project brings designers together in order to benefit victims of the the 2010 Haiti Earthquake. Artists and Designers donate limited edition posters to The Haiti Poster Project, the posters are then sold online and all proceeds are given to Doctors Without Borders. Leif Steiner also organized a similar fund-raiser for Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The Hurricane Poster Project donated all proceeds  to The Red Cross in order to help aid in the Hurricane Relief.

The most recent design competition that instantly caught my attention was GREENPEACE's effort to rebrand BP. This competition is not raising money for a cause; however, it is raising attention and awareness to the already ill fated oil company. The winning logo will be used internationally in a campaign against the oil company. The winning designer will have the opportunity to work with a top graphic designer in order to refine their logo for the campaign.

Along with the attention and concern for current events, design competitions and exhibitions similar to the three mentioned above, are always a fascinating venue in order to see how unique and contrasting designers thoughts and styles are. Unfortunately, I have yet to find the time to design for any of these mentioned exhibits; however, I plan to set some time aside soon from my 9-5 and extracurricular activities in order to participate in an exhibit that speaks to me.

Conformists vs Nonconformists

As graphic designers I feel that we have a responsibility to not only communicate to our appropriate audiences, but to also create visually captivating aesthetics that improve our environment. There will always be styles and trends in the design industry; however, the challenge in our careers is to not conform to the craze, but instead interpret our clients’ needs in a timeless and beautiful fashion. So many designers make the mistake of getting caught up in the current trends for no relevant or conceptual reason. One of the most noticeable examples today is the logo design for the 2012 London Olympic Games. While current teenage fashion is reminiscent of the 80′s bold graphics and flashy colors and patterns, this is a noticeable style that will rapidly become outdated (once again). The logo, with it’s bright colors and choppy, geometric numbers, seems completely irrelevant to the Olympic games, yet oddly brings me back to my youth.

Creative Inspirations: Parisian Art

While in Paris for the marathon the recent Icelandic volcano halted flights in Europe and trapped me in The City of Lights for an additional week of unplanned vacation. During my two week stay in Paris I discovered more inspiration and creative motivation than I thought was possible for such a brief time span. Paris was a breath of fresh air, a much needed extended vacation and a chance to reflect and be inspired. Along with the sights of Paris, the cuisine, the language, the friendly people and the ART have all left me with lifelong impressions that have inspired me to create and long for more travel excursions.

I visited a total of five art museums while in Paris, not to mention the many other tourist locations that were a must-see. Unfortunately the Picasso Museum was closed for renovations while I was in town, but will reopen its doors in 2012. In Paris the museums are organized chronologically, with The Louvre showcasing art from prehistory to the 19th century, The Musee d’Orsay featuring French art from 1848 to 1915 and The Centre Pompidou which houses Musée National d’Art Moderne and showcases modern art that picks up where The Musee d’Orsay left off.  Along with the three museums just mentioned, I toured The Musee Rodin, which houses Auguste Rodin’s infamous sculptures (The Gates of Hell, The Thinker, and The Kiss, to name a few). And last but not least, I toured The Palace of Versailles. Versailles is an architectural masterpiece in itself with vast gardens and countless pieces of commissioned artwork by Louis XIV. Each venue sparked excitement and left me craving more. Some of the most impressionable artists’ whose work I saw were: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Giovanni Bellini, Caravaggio, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh, Édouard Manet, Edgar Degas, Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet, Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and The Guerrilla Girls. Needless to say my cache of inspiration feels full at the moment, the fullest that it has felt since studying art and art history in Italy during my Junior year of college. I promise that someday soon, when I have more time, I will elaborate on my impressions and how much I took away from this experience.

Life Inspirations: The Marathon of Events

The past six months of my life have been overbooked with extracurricular activities; however, the overzealous scheduling was completely by choice. I like to think of myself as an individual who thrives under pressure, by helping others and on staying active. I recently trained for my first marathon with Team In Training and fund-raised for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I ran my first marathon exactly one month ago in Paris and it was an amazingly euphoric experience!

Running is a release for me. I am able to think clearly and remove myself from the rest of the world while my feet are hitting the pavement. My daily runs are therapeutic to say the least. Running 26.2 miles through the streets of Paris was beyond therapeutic, it was absolutely life changing! Seeing the beautiful sights of Paris while running past the infamous Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe,  Avenue des Champs-Elysees , The Louvre, The Siene River, Nortre Dame Cathedral and countless other spectacles was an awe-inspiring experience. The finish line was also high on my list of sights to see! The marathon of events leading up to Paris with training and fund-raising was a welcomed challenge that, along with the marathon itself, provided me with great motivation in my personal as well as professional life. I pushed my mind and body to the limit and limped away with the greatest feeling of success and accomplishment! I just may be able to do anything that I put my mind to!

Hello World!

This will hopefully be the first of many posts! As you very well know, many bloggers utilize their blogs as an outlet to express themselves and share their thoughts with the world. However, I am looking at this blog as a resource for myself. A resource that will help to keep me in touch with graphic design, seek inspiration and stay current on trends, styles and technology. I have a strong passion for art and design and hope that if you are reading my posts, the creativity and excitement I find along the way will spread to you. Let the enlightenment and brainstorming begin!