2.10.2009

Graphics Follow Up

Well, I've put an afternoon's work into being "serious" about the graphics.

Unfortunately, the results reflect that.

I won't post most of them (as they are mostly s***), but I will post something to show my dilemma.

Here is the more "architectural" sidebar from this morning's efforts. (Put up here for contrast.)

Here is the best of my afternoon's efforts.
Yes, it's pretty, but anyone see the problem?
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Putting a brick wall on one's resume is NOT the symbol one wants on one's marketing material. (Might be appropriate for the current economy, but we don't want to dwell on that.)

Everything else suffers from either complete dullness (a column) or doesn't work with my logo (modern graphic vs. traditional logo).

Bleah.
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Later: Ah! This is why ranting a little can have beneficial results. In articulating what is wrong, it can set you on the path to finding what is right.

I think I may have a decent idea.

Stay tuned...
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Even Later: At last, I think I have something with the right symbolism, right shapes, and it works with my logo.
[cue trumpets]
Graduated colors version (I think it'll look even better printed)
Mono colors?

A good day's work.

Tomorrow, working on the text and layout...

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

So... I forwarded this post's link to my friend/co-worker Sarah. She's brilliant, and is often the person I go to when I need feedback to see if my brilliant, creative idea isn't rubbish, or how far I've swung from the mark I was trying to hit. Maybe, hopefully, she'll read these past two posts and have something insightful to post in a comment.

That being said, I *do* like the brick wall, but agree it probably shouldn't be on your resume -- unless you're going to put the broken remnants of it across the bottom to symbolize your ability to "break through" seemingly impenatrable (sp?) barriers.

In college, one teacher handed out several "creative" resumes. I believe I still have them! I'll try to swing by my house this week sometime, find them, scan them and email them to you! *HUG*

Anne C. said...

Thank you, Jen! Hugs right back to you too. I think I may be breaking through this seemingly impenetrable barrier, but I'll put it in the original post as an addenda. :)

Nathan said...

For what they're worth, I have two ideas.

1. Take the Brick wall and transform it to earth tones. Only let it reach part way up the page though. Then have grasses/ivy...whatever, growing off the top and cascading down...like a ruin. (Not sure what that says, but it might look cool.)

2. Replace brick wall with some sort of lattice-work, but (possibly) introduce some Escher-like impossibility.

??

Tania said...

Arches - classic architectural motif, organic, strong. Latticework makes me think of Art Deco/Arts and Crafts movements. Green is a strong color.

The perspective fades/grading is neat too. I like Nathan's ivy idea - any way we could work an ornamental acanthus vine into your lattice work? I'm rambling here, just blabbing out ideas as they come.

Stacey said...

We like this one much better; more reflective of who you are. Speaks of climbing a ladder, success, architecture. JR suggests using the more muted color perhaps greying it up a bit; maybe on the initials too? Can't tell until it's all together on the page.

Anonymous said...

Hi Anne! Sarah here.

I looked at your logo from the previous post and instantly thought Arts & Crafts. (I saw you sort of going that direction with the previous, more botanical sidebars, which further reinforced the idea.) I think that the arches sidebar directly reflects that same aesthetic sensibility, both stylistically and conceptually.

The slant/curve of the bar on the A, and the terminals of the C mimic the arches. You also have the counter of the C -- although not perfectly round -- which mimics the circle (sun? window?). You have the varying stroke weights in logotype and sidebar, which convey a sense of movement (forward!), and also handcraftedness. The horizontal bars at the bottom of your sidebar are directly reflected in the A's serifs. The bars also suggest that we’re moving toward a horizon, but don’t know what’s *beyond* that horizon. I feel a sense of direction, but not a defined destination. I’m being compelled by curiosity -- and I like it.

What I’ve immediately assumed about your creative style is that you’re attracted to neither ultra-traditional nor ultra-modern designs -- perhaps an eclectic mix of many styles from many cultures -- but above all you value detail, functionality, and craftsmanship. If that sounds like you, then I’d say it’s working. :)

I also can’t help but think of the Wizard of Oz’s palace -- you know that huge, green, beautifully Art Deco corridor?! Maybe it says you have a vivid imagination and look at the world with childlike observation -- everything is new, everything is fantastic, everything is fair game to use for inspiration. And the Art Deco-ness again suggests that maybe you don’t rely on a particular style, but draw inspiration from many different styles, movements, and cultures -- but you’ll bring it all together in a clean, even concise way. It says to me that you’re versatile, you’re flexible, and you’re sensitive to the impact of your work in its environment (and vice-versa).

Green is a great choice, because it reinforces all of those concepts, and gives them order.

The brick wall is a nice graphic, but I definitely wouldn’t want to see it on a resume. Since *everything* you put on your resume says something about you (whether you want it to or not), I agree that “brick wall” is not the message you want to send. A crumbling or broken one is probably not a good idea either; I wouldn’t want to get too metaphorical or narrative. If I were reviewing your resume and saw something like that, I might think you made something that looks good, but had failed to develop the concept fully by thinking about it from all angles -- that you hadn’t thought about how your audience would perceive it (which, obviously, you have). And if I (as the hypothetical hiring manager) don’t think you’re capable of being sensitive to your audience, of putting function before form, I won’t call you.

I think the arches say quite a lot -- in their own clean, quiet, and direct language. But, without really knowing you, are any of my assumptions accurate, or close? I'd say that your answer is probably a major determiner of the design's success.

Jeri said...

I really like the arched, art-deco-y looking sidebar with your logo really well, although not from as much of an analytical perspective as Sarah. :)

I do prefer them in full color, rather than monocolor, although they work in monocolor if that's your only option.

Anne C. said...

Sarah, you are right on the money. You correctly pegged my tastes, my approach, my thoughts on the relationship between logo and sidebar, and my intentions.

Thank you so much for your detailed analysis. Essentially, it told me that these are the right graphics because they told you the right things. Woo hoo!

(Thanks also to Jen for calling upon Sarah for her opinion.)

Stacey, the colors look different when printed (for example, the bright green turns into a kelly green, and the kelly green of the logo prints as a forest green). However, I'm not going to make them too muddied, as I prefer brighter colors. (You've seen my house.)

Unknown said...

All analysis (and extremely useful as it was) apart, when I looked at the full color arch and sun, it gave an uplifting sensation and also suggested something in the future. I loved what it conveyed.

Anonymous said...

I can see it, but I sometimes have trouble articulating my thoughts in a concise way, which is one of the many reasons I *heart* Sarah. I almost always agree with her opinion when it comes to design (creating), or evaluating existing design, and she usually sees things a bit "deeper" than I do. :)

I love where you're going with the arches, and can't wait to see the final product!!!

ps -- I totally forgot to look for those resume samples. I'm putting a note in my dayplanner as we speak!