In a world of Pixels!

Pixel Art is another form of digital illustration. It is done in (raster) format, drawing pixel by pixel, anti-aliasing by hand and dithering, (See Wikipedia for more info). I love pixel art because it has a sense of techno, computer, geek like fashion to it. It was used alot back when computers first came out because it was efficient in the way of memory usage, and fast loading for games, computer icons etc. Some of the uses have died out due to 3D upgrade and enhancement of video games, and graphic programs, but to me, it's still a livley and great illustration style.

Wikipedia Says... "Pixel art is commonly divided in two subcategories: isometric and non-isometric.."

non isometric

isometric

Visit the Wikipedia page here.

(They know more about it than I do, I just think it's pretty.)

A picture from Supermaxibazar

Check out Supermaxibazar and eBoy for more eye candy.

Project: Advertising Campaign
Client: Coca Cola
Agency: McCann Erickson, Ireland

Pixel art still has its uses, and it is very effective. For example, this advertising campaign for Coca Cola. I think it's successfull because pixel art attracts the same or similar target market, it's fun, artistic, and bubbly. (I mean, who doesn't love that?)

Habbo Hotel
When I was a ten years old, I discovered Habbo Hotel, an amazing world of pixel art. It is a social network site where you create your "pixel" character and walk around, chat to others, or even buy furniture for your very own room. You can explore different cafés, go swimming, go to the theatre. It's practically another world.

Click on image to visit Habbo Hotel

Pixel art is beautiful, and it takes alot of time and effort into creating a detailed masterpeice just like any other illustration.

Pixel Art - Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixel_art
date accessed: 28 Jul 2009

eBoy Blog
http://hello.eboy.com/eboy/
date accessed: 28 Jul 2009

Supermaxibazar
http://www.supermaxibazar.com
date accessed: 28 Jul 2009

HabboHotel
http://www.habbohotel.com
date accessed: 28 Jul 2009

Graham Rounthwaite

Graham Rounthwaite is a well known fashion illustrator, and art director from London. This is the artist I chose for my Style & Technique assignment.

His drawings are emotive, and full of attitude. The way he incorporates the type is also full of attitude, with the whole "marker" graffiti look to it all.

I love the line work, almost like a nervous hand. Often the background of his pictures have alot of texture and grunge to it, while the hero of the illustration is detailed but clean, almost in a manga/japanese style.

Rounthwaite also uses shadows in his pictures, giving a dark/alleyway look to the scene.

The models are often wearing streetwear style fashion, with alot of attitude. He often draws the models with an accesory/accesories such as, cigarettes, bottle, jewellery etc. I love his work.

Graham Rounthwaite Studio
http://www.grahamrounthwaite.com/
Date Accessed: 26 Jul 2009

Graham Rounthwaite Illustration
http://www.art-dept.com/illustration/rounthwaite/index.html
Date Accessed: 26 Jul 2009

Outside the box

Let's start with an exciting fun video.

As designers, artists, creatives, we are always encouraged to constantly think, outside the box. This digital illustration/animation is great. It encourages us, as designers, to go beyond thinking outside the box.

outside the box from Joseph Pelling on Vimeo.

I love how they start as being posh professionals, to jumping around, screaming and going wild. He highlights the fact that there are so many ideas out there, you just have to chuck them out there no matter how wild it might be, so then you can pick the best one. The Illustration style, the line work and colour all have that hand rendered look to it, which is what gives them more of a character and life.

Robert Crumb is in the Woods from Joseph Pelling on Vimeo.

Joseph Pelling also created this video, working alongside two Illustrators. It's great to see illustrations put to life with animation. This looks like a successful collaborative peice in my opinion.

Marc Johns

Marc Johns is a funny character. I love his illustrations because they have such a heavanly simplicity to them and his writing has so much humour/personality which adds to the character of his illustrations. His illustrations are mostly hand drawn, with a short line of text, keeping in with his well known style. I get a real sense of "kiddishness" which makes me smile when looking through his illustrations.

cubic zironia with antlers by marc johns

His illustrations remind me of me, in a way. Above, is one in a photo of his "antlers" series. I often collect things, sometimes it's almost like I have an obsession with something, buttons, barcodes, packaging, floppy disks etc. Once I collect them, I always get random ideas on what they can be used for, or where can I find more. I can see Marc Johns obsession with antlers, lightning bolts, beards etc. I always wonder what's going to be next.

gumball machine with antlers by marc johns

His work often consists of line work and watercolour fill in, which creates great texture.

a beard shaped like france by marc johns

He explores his "obsessions" in such a humerous way that you just have to laugh.

aesthetics of long underwear by marc johns

A great artist, it reminds me that Illustration is design. It's all about the idea. He highlights what is in his mind, there is also a sense of absurdity, with him combining those random items/objects. Great work Marc Johns!

Marc Johns
http://marcjohns.com
date accessed: 27 Jul 09

Digital Illustration

Illustration is drawing something, creating a picture to send a message, or emotion.

There are so many different illustration styles out there, they can be sketches, simple, pencil marks, or even paintings, detailed pictures, mixed media, etc. There are endless possibilities, (Just like XtendoCord®). Illustration is often used in design to great effect.

There are many components in illustration, such as line work, colour, texture, shape etc. I'm sure you all know what they mean so lets not blabber aye!—

Raster Illustration: Raster illustrations are usually produced in a raster graphics program such as Adobe Photoshop®. Graphics tablet* used to produce detailed and hand rendered look.

*visit www.wacom.com to explore graphics tablets.

Vector Illustration: Vector Illustrations can be blown up to any size. Created using a vector program such as Adobe Illustrator®. This program is good as it gives you great precision and smoothness in creating an illustration. Singstars illustration are made in the vector style. It is great because you can create realistic appearance in your illustrations.

Vector illustrations I have done for style & technique brief.

Chris Miles Art Blog

http://www.chrismiles.net/blog/files/category-how-i-work.html

Date Accessed: Sun Jul 26

The Design Blog

The Brief: (in a nutshell)

Write a blog, clearly, coherantly, without spelling & grammatical errors, including references, and no copying, unless referenced. Blog must contain 10-15 posts related to design, APA referencing to be used. blog must relate back to design history or media design, be opinionated, collect observations and resources.

As apart of my Digital Media (Advanced) course that I am doing at Natcoll Design Technology, this is one of my briefs (above—duh!) We are suppose to upload it to our college intranet AKA Utopia, but I hate it, don't know how to post comments on others, poor layout/flow, so i'm trusting blogger to help me out on this one!

[also, i've deleted my non—design related posts out of this blog and now this is just another design blog, and i'm going to focus more on writing more coherently, grammatically correct blah blah, for all my future posts (pfft, let's see how long that lasts).]

Good Luck To You All

Pizza Hut Rebrand

Ew. was it really a good idea to change the famous name from Pizza Hut to "The Hut"? I suppose they are expanding there menu, and removing the word pizza gives them more room to expand. Last I heard, Pizza Hut was going broke and shutting down completely. I was surprised because it's such a well known world wide franchise. This is the end of Pizza Hut and Hello to The Hut. What do you guys think? A bad marketing decision, or the start of a new era?

Uniqlo Calendar

Havn't blogged in a while. Been super busy.

& going insane..... o.O

Found this awesome calendar whilst searching for Infographics, I like.

Dick Smith Rebrand

Driving past the mall, I noticed Dicksmith Electronics have rebranded!

Goodbye, DICK && Hello, dick.

Whoa, a brand new look for Dick Smith Electronics, the old one was so classic, and was well known, but it has had it's time. The new logo is so much more slick and technological. I'm not too sure about the tagline, "Talk to the Techxperts" for some reason it hasn't stuck to me yet. Anyway, I think it's a good rebrand, now the stores merchandising and interior is also alot more modern and I can already feel the fresh new brand of dicksmith.

Apple Website Ad

Apple has come up with a very interesting website ad concept, takes over the new york times website!

Be sure to check out more, because theyve created a series!