Website

www.rickysam.com

Logo Critiqe

Boyle River Outdoor Education needs a new identity, they have asked me to create something adventurous and exhilirating!

Starting with the logo:

I want something that sums up "The Boyle".

The unique selling point is alpine, keywords are mountain, river, challenging, problem solving, alpine, river, outdoor education. Ill try be breif...

Here is what i've come up with.

01. Alpine River Experience: First concept, tying in mountain and river, using a waterdop as the main shape.

02. Adventurous Leader: Symbol of the two mountains from the original logo, giving a more cutting edge adventurous stylisation to it. The larger mountain represents the "leader."

03: Solvig Building: Represents blocks of a puzzle, or a problem needing to be solved ie. How many triangles are in the logo? Also represents building, strong character building.

04: Waterscape: It's a waterscape. Representing Lewis Pass, with the mountains and the river.

Thanks for feedback if you give some!

Ok. Not design related. But funny

Apple: Option+ Shortcuts!

Apple Keyboard Shortcuts!


New, more interesting posts coming soon, been über busy.
You know how it is.

PEACE

Critique Me

I have chosen to create a brand identity for a radically new customer reward scheme for my elective brief.

Target Audience: Web savvy, familiar with earning rewards based on what they spend there time and money on. I am going for a more high end/mainstream commercial target.

The Major Product/Brand: A loyalty card where customers can gain points by using there card, join groups on the website to gain extra points etc.

First logo: Merjing Rings
This logo represents two things merging together, as two different groups merge together for points in the loyalty card game. Thought of other things that merge together (Boy + Girl) Cyan+ Magenta.

Second Logo: Merj initiative
This logo came from combining different triangles, it creates the letter M, and what I think is a clear solid logo.

Third Logo: Merjiangle
Merged shapes. Creates a almost 3d look, and movement. It represents what gets put in, comes back around. Different groups, and connection.

Fourth Logo: Merjic
The initial design I had was very cubic, but had nothing special to it. This one, has an odd 3D look, where you can create different feelings to it, a button, a cube, a jewel (for treasure). Web savvy audience, button, points, and group.

I am so stuck on picking the right logo, which one do you guys like the best? I have already spent a long time refining them, but am open to any super cool suggestions! :) Please help! Need to pick one ASAP!

Illustration meets Design

This is a design blog, the last few posts have been about illustration. Theres always a constant battle between art and design, What is art? What is design? Now after my endless blogging on illustration, i'm confused, is illustration art or design? I have come to the conclusion that it is both! or neither... or... I'm wrong.

British Airways Advertisement

There is so much to illustration, and it's almost hard to say what is good and what is bad. Personally, I think I can tell what is a bad illustration, something that doesn't look like it has much effort to it, or any unique quality to it. I don't like Microsoft clip art at all, it lacks.... beauty.

Microsoft Clip Art

Illustration is also applied to packaging to create a unique peice. The whole line detail, hand made type gives an organic, eco friendly feel.

Artea on The Dieline.com

Japanese Matches on The Dieline.com

Booths Cheese on The Dieline.com by Blue Tagg

Also used in advertising campaigns, great effect and beautiful styles.

Sony PSP 3000 Advert Campaign Illustration

Vodafone London Advertising Campaign

I think being a good illustrator is a key asset to any design business.

Abduzeedo
http://abduzeedo.com/when-illustration-meets-typograpy
Date Accessed: 28 Jul 2009

The Die Line
http://www.thedieline.com/
Date Accessed: 28 Jul 2009

PokeStudio
http://www.pokedstudio.com
Date Accessed: 28 Jul 2009

McCord Web Design
http://www.mccordweb.com/e-newsletters/2005/may-05.html
Date Accessed: 28 Jul 2009

Rod Hunt Illustration
http://rodhunt.blogspot.com/
Date Accessed: 28 Jul 2009

Deanne Cheuk

Deanne Cheuk is one of the most talented creatives out there, she does a great combination of mixed media and combines them into beautiful illustrations.

Mushroom Girls 01 for Abahouse

I can see an influence of Art Nouvea in her work, with the femmenine curvaceous shapes and line work. She also uses layers and detail creating great depth and a beautiful aesthetic peice.

Deanne Cheuk

I love the background drip/watercolour wash effect. It has a dense purple/outer space look to it that kind of reminds me of the Mac OSX Leopard Aurora with a little bit more grunge.

Illustration by Deanne Cheuk

Deanne Cheuk is not only an amazing Illustrator she is also an art director/designer. She has worked for the most well known brands out there including Levis, MTV, Dell, and more.

Illustration by Deanne Cheuk

Deanne Cheuk is multi-talented. She works in print, illustration, art, even fashion. She has worked with David Carson, Doug Aitken, and others.

Short Backstory on Deanne Cheuk

Deanne Cheuk
http://deannecheuk.squarespace.com
Date Accessed: 28 Jul 2009

Tyler Stout

Tyler Stout is an illustrator from Washingon, USA. He creates such amazing detailed beautiful peices. His illustrations are commonly posters for movies/tv shows, but he also does advertising.

24x36 on sheet of metal /
Commissioned by The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
5 Color Screenprint: Printed by D&L Screenprinting

It's quite cool to see his work, because growing up I remember watching "Robocop", and Arnold Schwarzenegger being an Iconic movie star, not a governor. I love the limited colour palette he uses, which adds alot to the emotion/feel to his illustrations.

24x36 / 5 Color Screenprint with metallic inks on Cream Paper
Commissioned by The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

I love the detail, he makes the characters in his illustration recognisable, with fine detailed linework and contrast.

18x24 / 4 color screenprint / Signed and Numbered
Commissioned by Flight of the Conchords for their April 19tj show at Kent State

Tyler Sout has even created illustrations for New Zealands very own Flight of the Conchords. Just take a look at the beautiful texture and detail. Again with the limited colour pallete, here leaving a more clean, fresh feel of what truly represents New Zealand. He also uses the scaling of objects/characters very well, allowing for great composition and focal points throughout his illustrations.

tstout.com - welcome
tstout.com
date accessed: 28 Jul 2009

Hand Lettering

This post is dedicated to hand lettering because I think it plays a huge part in illustration, combining the two of them making it into a more understandable peice.

PLATS collaborations with Emily Robertson

Hand lettering is basically drawn/written words/type, produced to look hand-made. It gives it the illustrative x-factor.

PLATS collaborations with Emily Robertson

In general, illustrative type is just like typography, you have to apply the same rules.

by Bosque

Hand lettering goes very well with illustrations, as you can produce similar curves, shapes, style as your illustration, and put the same effects on it.

by Mark Cameron

Design Related - Portfolio - Sophia Augusta
http://designrelated.com/portfolio/SophiaAugusta
Date Accessed: 28 Jul 2009

Bosque | estudio.taller
http://holabosque.com.ar
Date Accessed: 28 Jul 2009

ShareSomeCandy
http://www.sharesomecandy.com
Date Accessed: 28 Jul 2009

Creative Illustration

Camellie is an illustrator, based in the UK. Her work reminds me of how much I love illustration, and how artistic and creative it can be.

Yoink! | hand drawn with ink pens & digitally coloured.
by camellie

Her process includes hand drawing everything first, with ink and pen, then adding colour digitally. Alot of illustration requires the raw skill in being able to illustrate (by hand).

"All I want For Christmas Is..." | hand drawn with ink pens & digitally coloured.
by camellie

I love the curves, line work, shape, and colour she uses in her artwork. The busyness is also an element that makes for a more interesting illustration peice. You have to look closley to see everything and the more you look, the more you discover. Beautiful.

sunshine | Rotring Isograph pens on canvas | 40x50 cm
by camellie

The line detail work on black and white reminds me a little bit like the Natcoll campaign for 2007 — 2008? I love that style, perhaps that's what dragged me into Natcoll.

animaniancs | ink pens & digitally coloured

Oh look! Natcoll Colours! (sort of)! Anyway, her work is amazing so check out her website!

Camellie
http://www.camellie.com/
date accessed: 28 Jul 2009