Baby with Razor

A baby with a razor!!! The image is shocking and eye catching. This baby is extra angelic looking because of the limited and subtle color palette and white dress. 

"Gillette Safety Razor" is the next picture element that catches the eye. The text is yellow and large. Because all other elements are significantly lower key, it's easy for the subconscious to make the connection that Gillette safety razors are so safe a baby can shave itself. 

Repeating color and complementary color is used to promote a feeling of unity and contrast within the design. Although there are different alignments, they are successful because of their proximity. In this ad, words are used as a framing device. 

Overall, this image is easy to ready because the eye receives organized cues. The design is not so simple that the eye gets bored. I find the work to be successful primarily because of its shock value. Marketers are always creating gimmicks. The fragility of babies does not seem to get old  and is a universally understood message. 

Cut and Paste: Revised

       

New                                    Old

For this revision, I changed the font of "Cut and Paste" and deleted the logo on the upper left corner. This eliminated two unnecessary elements. I also experimented with changing the size of the dogs. I'm not sure if that was beneficial, so I left them the same size. 

Red Cross

I get a kick out of vintage posters because of their lack of subtlety. Marketing used to be so honest.

Join the American Red Cross because it's a patriotic thing to do. Three colors comprise this poster. The woman is wearing the shades of red, white, and blue found on the American flag. Also, the shade of red on the cross is emphasized. After viewing this poster, the viewer is supposed to see an implied blue whenever they see a the red cross symbol.

Another use of blue is in the background. This muted blue contains a scene of particular tragedy. Women and children are in a flooded neighborhood. When I see this, I feel guilty that there are Americans living in such awful conditions.

Overall, there is good contrast between the bright and then muted colors. Size is contrasted as well between the subjects in the foreground and background. Colors are repeated. There is a neat and consistent center alignment. Proximity is considered. The woman and text are popped forward from the background.

Overall this poster is very effective. I would like to go back in time and see if this poster was as equally effective in its time.

Cut and Paste

I'm pretty pleased with this ad. Contrast is obvious with color and also with font. Repetition is accomplished with the scotty dog and color. Consistency is kept with font. Alignment of words is left and set on guides. Words are separated into thirds and placed on the top, center, and bottom of the page. This creates a proximity relationship. C(ontrast)-R(epitition)-A(llignment)-P(roximity) was considered. Robin Williams' book was very helpful in doing this exercise. 

New Logo for Ad

Here is a reworked logo for use on my art exhibit ad. It's a combination of other (simplified versions) logos. 

Organ Repossession has been Legalized!

I love this poster because of its playfulness. 

This is an advertisement for Repo Man: The Genetic Opera. Industrialization, futurism, and the gothic lifestyle are visual themes in the movie and in the poster. The image, color theme, and bold lettering make these visual themes. Overall the mood of this poster is somewhat cold and automated. 

The element of reflection is powerful. Although the reflection is not exact (this creates visual interest), repetition is evident. Color and font are mainly on a checkerboard theme. Shapes are on a strict reflection basis. 

Font differences are minimal but evident. There is a slight conflict created and the viewer feels uneasy and a bit visually overwhelmed. In this case, I feel the viewer should feel overwhelmed. The eye is easily guided through this poster. The eye starts at the largest words, "Repo Man," and then goes up to the top of the page to read what is being said about repo man. The down pointing arrows help to direct the eye as well. The arrows and the similar reversed shape bellow them frame repo man and divide the poster into uneven thirds.

It's the details in this poster that make it work. Some letters are backwards to restate the idea of reflection. Repoman changes color when he is reflected. 

While some might find this poster overdone or overwhelming, I am excited by it. 

Can o Cat

 I tried to eliminate everything unnecessary. If you know you want a can of cat, than you will buy this. Otherwise, there is not much here to try to persuade you.