Sub/Conscious Meanderings » graphic design

Type Thursday 14: Uncanny Chronicle

Arlo — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:40:39 +0000

Here’s some custom type I did for a friend’s ‘zine. So much fun!

Quirky ‘Zine masthead

Broken Promise

Arlo — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:54:54 +0000

I swore I’d never do it—that I’d never need to do it. But I did…and I liked it. There’s something immediately tangible about programming that design doesn’t seem to have, although technically web development falls under the graphic design discipline. Plus there’s the fulfillment of my obsession with detail and organization. I wrote my new website from scratch excepting the javascript; I can’t seem to wrap my head around the language yet. But reading CSS or HTML makes sense to me. (A total admission of my geekhood) Overall it was an enjoyable process, and I hope to get paid to do some more web work.

Daphne finally gets an italic

Arlo — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 22:58:26 +0000

It’s been a long time coming, but Daphne is finally getting an italic. I’ve been making adjustments to the roman and finally had time to work out a preliminary design for the italic. It’s still really rough, but worth posting about.

At the portfolio review this last week, a friend of mine asked me to try and post a little more often regarding typeface design to catalogue my process, so periodically I hope to update with a new pdf of each of the styles I’m currently developing. Overall I’m happy with the flavor, but need to work out the details.

Download a pdf.

Graphic Design on Reality TV…Really?

Arlo — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 20:12:53 +0000

After reading another blog about the upcoming show, I was appalled by the severe lack of design finesse professing to search out America’s top designer. So…I wrote a quick email expressing my distaste.

I find it intriguing that a reality show supposedly searching for “America’s Top Graphic Designer” has little concern for how it represents itself visually and yet expects to attract the aforementioned top designer. The identity is, at best, sophomoric, with a weak concept and definitely not an “out-of-the-box” execution.

For an industry that prides itself on allowing for clear, simple communication, the website does not provide a complete picture of the competition itself. For example, who are the sponsors and why would the winner want to work for them? How much of the $50,000 is cash vs. prizes?

Cheryle R. Reynolds, the founder and producer, is not even a registered member of the American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA), the largest professional association for graphic designers in the United States. Her 20 years of experience in the industry have definitely not instructed her where to find the best designers, as primary and “cutting edge” design centers like Chicago, Minneapolis, Seattle and San Francisco are not included in the audition locations.

The most compelling concern is that “America’s Top Graphic Designers” already have amazing careers and would in no way submit themselves to any kind of farcical and inaccurate depiction of their treasured profession. The mere idea of this show is offensive and will only demean and dilute the value of excellent graphic design.

Arrival

Arlo — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:50:12 +0000

Daphne is finally here! I was able to get the exhibition put together over the weekend and it’s finally being displayed in the HFAC. Relief is such an inadequate word to describe how I feel. I just hope that the response will be positive. For those who aren’t able to attend, here are a few pictures of the exhibition. Enjoy.