Futura

I chose to write about Futura because I have always enjoyed seeing geometric sans-serif fonts in the wild. Such as in films, posters, album covers. I feel a certain affinity for them.

A well known example of Futura's usage these days would be by American Film Director Wes Anderson. Mr. Anderson consistently uses Futura Bold in his films.

Wes Anderson's use of Futura Bold in Royal Tenenbaums:

These images are compliments of marksimonson.com

Another use of Futura in popular culture would be Stanley Kubrick's use of Futura Extra Bold in his films such as Eyes Wide Shut:

These images are compliments of Kit.Blog

Kubrick also used Futura in the title secence and poster art for 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Futura was also the first typeface ever on the moon.

Geo-metric fonts like Futura thought great for stand alone titles such as show above are known for their uselessness as a body font.

Five anatomical terms I find in Futura:

1. Counter.

2. Stem.

3. Arm.

4. Leg.

5. Cross Bar.

LP4 & ST 37 - 7" Split

I just got these back in the mail and thought I would share them on my blog.

This was a 7" record design I did for a local band back in Houston by the name of LP4 and another band from Austin called ST 37. I did not design the center label though.

The initial design was screened individually with a split fountain effect at I Heart You Productions.


Some of the different versions.


The marble vinyl.

Experimental Versions of IBM Logo

Experiment using the Pucker Tool in Illustrator.

Experiment using the Swirl Tool in Illustrator.

Find + Share - Example of Contemporary or Historic Graphic Design

For my example of contemporary or historic graphic design I have chosen contemporary designer Si Scott and his recent tour poster for the band The Enemy.

I found this image via Si Scott's Behance Network portfolio page located here.

I chose this particular designer because I have always admired his ability to use what a pears to be a limited visual identity or style that defines his work as his own in so many forms and for such a wide range of clientele quite successfully.

The design principals that I see in Mr. Scott piece are the following:

• Alignment – The typography of the band name, location of the tour, and date it is occurring are all aligned to the right. Another example is the locations of the dates, venue, and contact information being center aligned.


• Asymmetry – There is a dynamic equilibrium between the typography on the left and the design of the UK on the right.


• Continuation – The line in particular of this piece could either start at the left aligned type or off page but it appears as if it could go on forever past the top right corner of the page.


• Proximity – The information portrayed for each city inside the designed map of England is framed away by one another and help enforce the viewers ability to navigate the image.


• Positive & Negative Space – There is quite a bit of this going on in this particular piece so I will focus on one example. The outline of England is separated from the ornamental line design that creates a white space and allows the viewer to make out the image better.


• Compound Shape – The ornamental line elements are overlapping one another.


• Repetition – There are a lot of repeating and similar forms. In particular the ornamental line design at most end points there is a similar form used.

Paul Rand Retrospective

Paul Rand goes over the language of form

For Paul Rand's posthumous induction into The One Club Hall of Fame, Imaginary Forces created this short film, combining original animation with a videotaped interview of Rand himself, that encapsulated his unique and timeless contribution to the design community.

Why Graphic Design?, Reading, and Video Responce

Why Graphic Design?

I made the decision to study graphic design roughly a year or so ago. I had focused on painting and doing gallery shows for several years only to find myself illustrating with paint rather than really painting. I started illustrating primarily working on gig posters for local and national bands but discovered I wanted to be able to do more than just illustrate designs. Graphic design has always seemed so endless and capable of absorbing everything in the world around me into it be it a photograph or a scrap of written work. I was also very fortunate to have good friends who were already working as designers and illustrators who I met with weekly to crit and discus various forms of art. This encouraged me strongly to make the jump into Graphic Design and pursue this dream. I call it a dream because prior to this I spent much of my time as a business major working as a licensed insurance agent. I knew it was not the path for me when I would bring my art supplies to the office to work on posters instead ;)

Response to Type and Image, Meggs, Page viii

I think everything and everything we have ever done or witnessed as human beings makes up the whole of us as people and thus forms the core of inspiration in which we create visual forms. For example the article cites these as diverse elements, signs, symbols, words, and pictures being assembled into the message. Meggs, is explaining that graphic design exists to enrich the experience of the viewer. “At a time when Western nations are evolving from industrial to information cultures, a comprehensive understanding of our communicative forms and graphic design becomes increasingly critical.” This statement makes me very excited to be here.

Response to Graphic Design Sources, Hiebert, p 9-10

I have to admit before this article I didn’t think of graphic design as primarily a form of interface design. I understand connection between users and products of course but not in such a light. My immediate first thought went straight to the “current usage”. I can really appreciate the paragraph on style and how it can become a crutch. I found while illustrating posters some clients weren’t open to new ideas to me so much as they were looking for recreations of prior work they liked. This gave me very little room to grow. This article has been a good reminder that even though we enjoy learning design, we should have a respect for difficulty that makes what we’re working hard to become matter.

Response to Stefan Sagmeister Interview

“Work your ass off. Do as much as possible. Figure out what you really like and get good at it.”

This is my favorite Sagmeister quote. I actually have this taped to my desktop computer at home. I think he has a very intresting perspective on design and has produced some really fascinating work. His style of making the process visible in the final product I believe is a very honest way to work. Making every step of the design process as important as the final product. That poster he did for the AIGA in which he had his intern or secretary I forget cut the words into his skin. I remember seeing an interview when he mentioned that whenever he sun tan’s it stands out haha. The level to which he dedicates himself to his work is very inspiring.