Author Topic: The graphic designer thread (Read 2269 times)

Himu · « **on:** May 18, 2011, 10:49:58 PM »

we have lots of designers here and fuck if we don't need all the help we can get.

I'm currently working on my website homepage.

It's for my portfolio and business.

Influences: Mirror's Edge, Mad Men, and

America

The navigation of the entire site will go on the right of the stripe. The red stripe will be on all pages, but the jumping figure will only be on home page.

Thoughts? Improvements? Criticisms? Impressions?

LET'S DO THIS.

JINFASH, SCENESTER

Should I keep "digital media expert?" that's the title my professor in school gave me as she said YOU NEED TO ADVERTISE YOURSELF. Good move? Bad?

etiolate · « **Reply #1 on:** May 18, 2011, 11:09:19 PM »

I've been working on designing my book cover, sending CG my shitty attempts. I have no sense of typography at all. I find myself making titles that look eerily like something from Franzen's books.

MyNameIsMethodis · « **Reply #2 on:** May 18, 2011, 11:10:06 PM »

doing the mad men style as a black dude makes itl ook racist

Himu · « **Reply #3 on:** May 18, 2011, 11:11:23 PM »

Quote from: etiolate on May 18, 2011, 11:09:19 PM

I've been working on designing my book cover, sending CG my shitty attempts. I have no sense of typography at all. I find myself making titles that look eerily like something from Franzen's books.

post it here!

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #4 on:** May 18, 2011, 11:14:01 PM »

I think it's cool, you didn't really need to make him as curvy though. A more abstract figure would've done perfectly. Certainly would've been more flattering lol.

I also don't object to the "EXPERT" title, it's a tough market, you either go big or go home.

I support this thread, by the way. I'd love to post some of my recent work if it wasn't bastardized by the many horrible horrible client requests. I wanna distance myself from it :'(

Himu · « **Reply #5 on:** May 18, 2011, 11:15:31 PM »

you're talking about the curve on the abs? Yeah, I'll flatten that out.

Right shoe needs some work, pants are a bit pixelated despite using pen.

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #6 on:** May 18, 2011, 11:18:11 PM »

Yeah, flatten the abdomen, and the bent leg could use less details (maybe lose the second shadow/folded line? I don't know)

MyNameIsMethodis · « **Reply #7 on:** May 18, 2011, 11:20:31 PM »

i think the bottom of the shoes need a tan sole to them because they look kinda funky without it

Himu · « **Reply #8 on:** May 18, 2011, 11:21:39 PM »

good tip methodis

etiolate · « **Reply #9 on:** May 18, 2011, 11:51:35 PM »

My first mockup:

After many revisions and a new concept:

The offs are forever off.

Himu · « **Reply #10 on:** May 18, 2011, 11:59:39 PM »

Have you taken a photoshop class? Etiolate? I think the font in the second one is fine, aside from the gradient and the erratic lettering spacing and alignment. I think taking a simple class could help you out.

Quote from: Shah Rukh Khan on May 18, 2011, 11:14:01 PM

I think it's cool, you didn't really need to make him as curvy though. A more abstract figure would've done perfectly. Certainly would've been more flattering lol.

I also don't object to the "EXPERT" title, it's a tough market, you either go big or go home.

I support this thread, by the way. I'd love to post some of my recent work if it wasn't bastardized by the many horrible horrible client requests. I wanna distance myself from it :'(

Clients suck, don't they?

etiolate · « **Reply #11 on:** May 19, 2011, 12:10:32 AM »

I got no time for a class. I am having CG do me a cover. I was going for a metallic look to go with the sign, as though the letters were pressed into the sign.

Beezy · « **Reply #12 on:** May 19, 2011, 12:13:38 AM »

His clothes suck. Go full Mad Men and give him a suit.

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #13 on:** May 19, 2011, 12:17:01 AM »

Or give him a blazer, tighten his jeans, and throw in white horn rimmed shades for good measure!

Beezy · « **Reply #14 on:** May 19, 2011, 12:17:41 AM »

Himu · « **Reply #15 on:** May 19, 2011, 12:31:11 AM »

I like the clothes. They just need some tinkering. Mainly the shoes.

Himu · « **Reply #16 on:** May 19, 2011, 12:55:01 AM »

Updated, niccas.

lennedsay · « **Reply #17 on:** May 19, 2011, 01:47:48 AM »

Beezy

Best book I've read in years. YEARS.

Himu · « **Reply #18 on:** May 19, 2011, 01:50:16 AM »

where can i buy this book?

also coding this site is a bitch for some reason.

lennedsay · « **Reply #19 on:** May 19, 2011, 01:57:50 AM »

Amazon, Urban Outfitters, B&N, etc.

I was going to post my favorite page, but they're all pretty great.

Edit: A gif perhaps? Not of the entire book, but a few extra pages.

Beezy · « **Reply #20 on:** May 19, 2011, 02:00:46 AM »

Quote from: lennedsay on May 19, 2011, 01:47:48 AM

Beezy

Best book I've read in years. YEARS.

I have to get it.

http://www.amazon.com/All-My-Friends-Are-Dead/dp/0811874559/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c

lennedsay · « **Reply #21 on:** May 19, 2011, 02:01:55 AM »

Better buy a new pair of pants while you're at it, because mine were toast after I read it...

Not really

Skidmark · « **Reply #22 on:** May 19, 2011, 02:02:48 AM »

I don't like the colors but I like the strip.

Use these:
http://kuler.adobe.com
http://www.colourlovers.com/
http://www.aviary.com/online/color-swatches?lang=en

Color, font, size, spacing and positioning should be most of the work, its what makes the difference.
Try to make a template of what you have without the dude, then just try different fonts, colors, positions, sizes etc.. till you find the best combo. Once you are done with that then go back and see what you can do about the dude.

some fonts:
http://blog.iconspedia.com/fonts/10-free-fonts-for-logo-design-31/
http://www.designzzz.com/excellent-fonts-logo-design/
http://www.designyourway.net/blog/resources/20-great-free-fonts-for-logo-designs/

I would have helped you by picking some but im sleepy and not feeling creative

Himu · « **Reply #23 on:** May 19, 2011, 02:10:11 AM »

What's wrong with the colors and font and how would you improve them?

I'm actually in the process of coding and putting the site together right now, but I'd like the input.

Himu · « **Reply #24 on:** May 19, 2011, 02:13:04 AM »

Great font suggestions. Fonts are my weakest link.

Skidmark · « **Reply #25 on:** May 19, 2011, 02:23:03 AM »

I know it looks like shit but just painted over it. I prefer those colors more: They have more of a solid feel to it. but I couldn't do much about the logo and that box, I think something a little bit different would be better.

don't have photoshop or I would have done something about the font/logo. I used: http://pixlr.com/editor/

also, I am not sure if you have saved your work with all the layers, but if you did, you can use some of the body parts from this pic, to give him a better form, mostly lower body, dat ass:

I think it will look better if he is more fit.

Bebpo · « **Reply #26 on:** May 19, 2011, 02:29:21 AM »

I didn't know you were a graphic designer, Himuro? That picture in the OP is really good. Are you interested in getting into videogame graphic design?

Himu · « **Reply #27 on:** May 19, 2011, 02:31:24 AM »

I'll do anything so long as someone fucking pays me a salary.

lennedsay · « **Reply #28 on:** May 19, 2011, 02:40:11 AM »

Hey himu, I like the concept and I know you prefer the 60's feel, but just in case you haven't taken the 80's into consideration, I whipped something up for you to check out and change how you want.

Oh, and I used Microsoft Paint. Not sure if you've ever heard of it, but it's pretty great - you should try it out!

lennedsay · « **Reply #29 on:** May 19, 2011, 02:51:33 AM »

I knew you wouldn't like it...

FINE! Be that way. That's the last time you get free consulting from me.

The Sceneman · « **Reply #30 on:** May 19, 2011, 02:52:49 AM »

good shit Himuro. Here's some of my work

Issue 1 of Sceneman magazine: (photography by yours truly)

One of those vector pen tool things (self portrait)

another self portrait project we did in class, I was trying to emulate one of those rap album covers (fyi Devon St is where I live, and thats the khronic smoke right there)

T-Short · « **Reply #31 on:** May 19, 2011, 03:00:20 AM »

Quote from: Stringer Bell on May 18, 2011, 10:49:58 PM

we have lots of designers here and fuck if we don't need all the help we can get.

I'm currently working on my website homepage.

(Image removed from quote.)

It's for my portfolio and business.

Influences: Mirror's Edge, Mad Men, and America

The navigation of the entire site will go on the right of the stripe. The red stripe will be on all pages, but the jumping figure will only be on home page.

Thoughts? Improvements? Criticisms? Impressions?

LET'S DO THIS.

JINFASH, SCENESTER

Should I keep "digital media expert?" that's the title my professor in school gave me as she said YOU NEED TO ADVERTISE YOURSELF. Good move? Bad?

Jumping dood is a-ok, stripe works, but the typography is bad. If you want your title to be "digital media expert", why have you disassociated "expert" from the other two words? Right now it reads "GARRETT DANIELS, EXPERT" with a little box in a noncomplementing color that proclaims "digital media". Clean this up plz

Bebpo · « **Reply #32 on:** May 19, 2011, 03:01:41 AM »

Quote from: The Sceneman on May 19, 2011, 02:52:49 AM

(Image removed from quote.)

Win

The Sceneman · « **Reply #33 on:** May 19, 2011, 03:05:42 AM »

my favourite part is the Skifree monster. My friend spent 3 hours putting his head on the Governator's body in MS paint during 2003

chronovore · « **Reply #34 on:** May 19, 2011, 03:25:09 AM »

Wild.

CrystalGemini · « **Reply #35 on:** May 19, 2011, 04:27:00 AM »

Quote from: etiolate on May 19, 2011, 12:10:32 AM

I got no time for a class. I am having CG do me a cover. I was going for a metallic look to go with the sign, as though the letters were pressed into the sign.

I am no graphic designer.

Jus' doin' what I can to help mah man.

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #36 on:** May 19, 2011, 08:34:43 AM »

Quote from: lennedsay on May 19, 2011, 02:40:11 AM

Hey himu, I like the concept and I know you prefer the 60's feel, but just in case you haven't taken the 80's into consideration, I whipped something up for you to check out and change how you want.

(Image removed from quote.)

Oh, and I used Microsoft Paint. Not sure if you've ever heard of it, but it's pretty great - you should try it out!

Awesome

MS Paint > Illustrator

Himu · « **Reply #37 on:** May 19, 2011, 11:33:30 AM »

Skidmark:

I REALLY like those colors more too. Those would be pretty easy to set up as I have every single body part drawn as an individual layer. I only worry about the gradients, because I really like the gradients. I guess I could always re-pen.

Hyoushi:

Thanks for the input on the logo, will fix.

Lenn:

Haha, 80's style just isn't what I'm going for. I like my art to be a mix between 60's pop art movement, abstract art, Soviet polotical rhetoric posters, and impressionism.

Scene:

That fucking poster is amazing. I think you'd do better having your self portrait done in illustrator. The pixelation from the photoshop doc isn't a good look.

Crystal Gemini: You're so dedicated

Pretty good!

Himu · « **Reply #38 on:** May 19, 2011, 12:23:42 PM »

Himu · « **Reply #39 on:** May 19, 2011, 01:04:27 PM »

Eh, got rid of the square but the black shoes aren't working for me.

I think this is fine for now. I'm going to start coding it. Thanks!

Arbys Roast Beef Sandwich · « **Reply #40 on:** May 19, 2011, 04:07:24 PM »

get rid of the gradient on the shoes and find a better font for your name.

duckman2000 · « **Reply #41 on:** May 20, 2011, 06:03:48 AM »

Yeah, pretty much. Generally, the self-promotional stuff amongst (and between) "graphic designers" has inflated like mad over the past few years. I guess it is because everyone with a cracked copy of CS labels themselves graphic designers so dudes feel compelled to stick out, but I can't imagine that it really works for anyone.

By the way, what does the navigation look like?

rodi · « **Reply #42 on:** May 20, 2011, 06:40:54 AM »

Quote from: CrystalGemini on May 19, 2011, 04:27:00 AM

Quote from: etiolate on May 19, 2011, 12:10:32 AM
I got no time for a class. I am having CG do me a cover. I was going for a metallic look to go with the sign, as though the letters were pressed into the sign.

I am no graphic designer.

Jus' doin' what I can to help mah man.

Hahaha, yours is so much better

Himu · « **Reply #43 on:** May 20, 2011, 05:39:27 PM »

Okay, while it's a work in progress, I could really use some input. www.garrettdaniels.com Does it scroll? It's not supposed to. I'm trying to format it for all devices and browsers? Is it iphone compatible? I need thoughts and input before I continue. Tell me what browser you're using and what resolution you're running.

Thanks.

Arbys Roast Beef Sandwich · « **Reply #44 on:** May 20, 2011, 05:47:25 PM »

Get rid of the <p> tags inside your divs, himumu. Otherwise it looks fine and won't have any scrollbars barring anyone still on Polish resolutions (640x480).

Himu · « **Reply #45 on:** May 20, 2011, 05:49:08 PM »

I want the red stripe to to hit right when someone's browser height ends without making any scrolling. Tips on how to do that? THe red stripe should cover the entire height. Anything otherwise is shit.

Arbys Roast Beef Sandwich · « **Reply #46 on:** May 20, 2011, 05:59:40 PM »

easy way: get rid of the background on all three slices, save 'em all as a transparent PNG and just create a background image for the body selector with a white offset and center it via CSS.

Something like:

body {
background: url("images/bg.gif") repeat-y scroll center center transparent;
font-family: "Trebuchet MS",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;
font-size: 100%;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}

with a 1px tall background: http://i.imgur.com/yiekJ.gif

This is assuming the layout stays the same an all pages of course.

Himu · « **Reply #47 on:** May 20, 2011, 06:09:53 PM »

The entire site will use the three divs. But only the home page will use the dude on it. I tried making the images bgs instead of images but it was impossible to make the site aligned that way.

Himu · « **Reply #48 on:** May 20, 2011, 06:18:02 PM »

Though I guess this is pretty simple.

Make the bg transparent on all the images, make the bg white on all three divs. Center via css, and put the strip 1px as the bg image in the middle div.

Simple.

Himu · « **Reply #49 on:** May 20, 2011, 07:55:37 PM »

K. Got rid of <p> tags, et al. I can deal without infinite strip and I'm overall satisfied with the whole design. Uploaded other pages, updated title. Currently finishing other projects that I may want to put on the portfolio but I should be "done" this weekend. EXCITE.

Check it: www.garrettdaniels.com

Now I'm done working for the day. Gonna play some xbox and hit the club later tonight. *logs off computer*

Himu · « **Reply #50 on:** September 23, 2011, 01:46:09 AM »

Thoughts on these cereal boxes. They're my prime samples in my resume for how I operate within the confines of print and packaging:

I'm applying to google, hence lots of pressure.

duckman2000 · « **Reply #51 on:** September 23, 2011, 03:11:11 AM »

That looks very baseline, and the typography and really the whole look seems really strict and formal for being a "nature" product. And I don't think the colors in the brand logo feel very natural, but I guess I don't know what the target is. It just doesn't look right.

Is that an actual cereal box design?

T-Short · « **Reply #52 on:** September 23, 2011, 03:17:50 AM »

Is the fact that you're applying to Google the reason that you've used the googlish primary colors on the logo?

Anyway. First one looks like the attack of the killer spoon from the sky. If you're trying to show how you operate within the confines of print and packaging, I'd question using a full color photograph covering an entire piece of packaging that will most likely be paperboard printed with a relatively low screen density. The same goes for the smooth gradients and shadows on the second one, there is a chance of these looking like ass in print.

You obviously need to do some manual kerning work on your NATURE logo, overlaps on N -> A and T -> U need to go and the space between A and T needs tweaking, especially since you put those two in the most illuminated colors which will annoy the eye even more.

Dunno if you used a stock image for the bottom one, but the way you shopped the milk splash in is not what I'd describe as seamless. Especially the lower right point of the splash, it has a higher whitepoint than anywhere else on the bowl, makes it stand out.

duckman2000 · « **Reply #53 on:** September 23, 2011, 03:26:32 AM »

It doesn't help that cereal box designs generally are some of the most meticulously thought-through designs around. You're competing against everything else on the shelf, but it still needs to look sensible for what it is.

And I'm not sure about using what ifs in a work portfolio, but that's just me. Unless it's actually a Post product, but that can't be right.

chronovore · « **Reply #54 on:** September 23, 2011, 10:48:39 AM »

Hyoushi speaks truf.

tiesto · « **Reply #55 on:** September 23, 2011, 11:20:25 AM »

I like the jumping dude, but there's just too much going on with the typography... different fonts, upper/lowercase switch... also the font makes your name look like "Garrelt".

Himu · « **Reply #56 on:** September 23, 2011, 02:18:39 PM »

Thanks for the tips! I need to get some typography books. Typography is my greatest weakness.

Quote from: duckman2000 on September 23, 2011, 03:26:32 AM

It doesn't help that cereal box designs generally are some of the most meticulously thought-through designs around. You're competing against everything else on the shelf, but it still needs to look sensible for what it is.

And I'm not sure about using what ifs in a work portfolio, but that's just me. Unless it's actually a Post product, but that can't be right.

My professors taught me the power of what if's because they show what you can do with an already established brand or label.

Quote from: Hyoushi on September 23, 2011, 03:17:50 AM

Is the fact that you're applying to Google the reason that you've used the googlish primary colors on the logo?

No! I did those months ago.

duckman2000 · « **Reply #57 on:** September 23, 2011, 02:56:27 PM »

Quote from: Stringer Bell on September 23, 2011, 02:18:39 PM

My professors taught me the power of what if's because they show what you can do with an already established brand or label.

Eh, standards must have changed since I was active then. Using personal pieces in a portfolio is one thing, but the firms I've been with would almost certainly rather hire a guy based on good small level real work than on fake big brand work. But then I haven't worked in studio environments for some time so what do I know. What I do know is that if you're going to go with the fake stuff, it should probably be done according to the graphic profile/identity guidelines of the brand you're emulating. None of those seem to fit with the Post product line.

News:

Author Topic: The graphic designer thread (Read 2269 times)