My Facebook Infographic

Hi all. I decided go back to my initial concept for the infographic: facebook. Check out the pdf pretty pretty please, (click it to see it up close) and let me know what you think. Thanx for the feedback! :)

Facebook Takeover

Facebook is increasing in popularity and taking over pre-existing social networks around the world. This series of infographics demonstrate Facebook's expansion.

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Parody of Army commercials

This is a parody of the army commercials. I highly respect and am inspired by the real seen on television and on before movies in the theater. At first I found this parody to be in good fun by using the same flashback narrative style to mimic the real army commercials. But as The parody continued, the level of disrespect to the men and women who sacrifice their lives for this country became disturbing. The creator of this video, while a skilled videographer and editer, used the power of visual communication in a direction that breached that fine line between humor and disrespect. While I would assume that the intention was to disrespect, it is easily possible for this video to to be just that.

Amateur special effects for humor

A few coworkers of mine were laughing at something online at work. I soon discovered that this amateur video was the source of all the laughter. It uses special effects to create humor.

How small can Macs get?

An interesting video on the future of MACs ;)

This video's entertaining devise is it's humor.

Infographic or Art

Network connections are displayed in this image to delight the viewer while informing them of the vast reach of Facebook. If an information graphic does not need to give specific information, then I would qualify this as an infographic. This image translates the expanse of facebook better than a never-ending list of countries or a number count into the billions. As art, this infographic is beautiful as is. However as an infographic alone, I would like to see some figures and facts, if nothing more than for assurance that this image is reflecting real data.

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google dont be evil

This is a very intriguing video about the Google takeover.

This is a classic case of an irrisponsible use of visual communication to promote ideas and create trust that is as a thin eggshell cover-up to the deeper truth.

Awesome graphic

This info graphic displays the similarities and differences in religions. It's a clearer example of showing connections through hundreds lines. Like the example in the previous post, it still has a lot of lines that are difficult to follow. But in this information graphic, the words create a baseline and resting place for the eye. With the general understanding that all these things are connected, we can then begin looking into how. The initial image is striking to attract the viewer. Once they are attracted, the words and connections feed their growing curiosity with deeper information. (more about it)

Really?

Is this really supposed to be providing information? I like it as a form of art. But beyond that, I don't see it's purpose. Though if the intention is to show sheer complexity, it's a success.

Mass-produce your own 3D graphs!

Ever want a 3D graph with a pointless white translucent box? How about a 3D graph with columns that block other important information, and have the ability to confuse and shout at the viewer? Well for the low price of $39.95 you can create graphs that are as awkward as this one! This deal won't last--download today!

package design 6 of 6

These lemons are actually bottles with lemon juice. I find the execution be be a sculptural approach. The designer applied the detailed texture of lemons to the container. No other colors were applied to the package in order to maintain the integrity of the lemony yellow bunch. Relief sculpture techniques were used to apply the name of the product to the container. These lemons tell a simple story: "I am as fresh as any other lemon. I carry more juice than your regular lemon. And, it's easier to squeeze juice out of me."

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package design 5 of 6

Sculpting this bottle into the detailed linen threads that it promises to wash linens safely attracts the viewer. When using Trompe L'oeil, a method of creativity I studied in the "Smile in the Mind" book, it is important to 'go all the way' to make the image look as close to the object referenced. In this case, real fabric, or at list a cloth-like fiber material for the surface of the bottles, would have made this concept complete.

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package design 4

These cans transcend the 2D label to give a visual of the tasty goods within. The execution and visual is strong, eye-catching, and successful.

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package design 3 of 6

This book was very beneficial for package design as well, but it developed my concept based thinking the most.

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package design 2 of 6

Here is a page for bread packaging. The design goes beyond the bread to remind shoppers what will go between the bread. The designers of these bread packages recognized that it is rarely about the bread and more about the sandwich.

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package design 1 of 6

This book helped tremendously with my understanding of package design.

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UB Post comic strip

Comics and storyboards can be narratives too. Short three frame comics like this one found in the UB Post can narrates in short spans of time using action to action, or scene to scene to cover longer expanses of time in a short period.

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Types of Transitions

Moment to Moment and Action to Action

Subject to Subject and Scene to scene

Aspect to Aspect and Non Secquitur

These are some transition types that are good to keep in mind when creating a narration.

my favorite words :)

Chicken

(This is the vague answer I give to my nieces when they ask one too many questions, I also enjoy clucking for fun in order to confuse. This is a habit that I believe was inspired by character Chicken-boo from the cartoon TV show Anamaniacs.)

Lmbo rotf

(This is a text abbreviation that stands for,"laughing my but off rolling on the floor." I proudly admit that I am a repeat offender of using such text abbreviations not only on the computer and phone, but also aloud. That's right, I will literally say the letters,"L-M-B-O".)

Yea

(The word yes feels to formal to me unless the setting and conversation warrants it's use.)

Halleluiah

(Blessed or not I always offer the highest praise to my Lord in gratitude for my life as I am always grateful for both correction and grace.)

Jesus

(This name brings hope so I use it often.)

Crystal / Faith / Diamond
(Names that I find beautiful, but hope to choose another name in case my first child is a boy.)

God bless
(A phrase I say often, sometimes in conjunction with other phrases. For instance, rather than saying "wish me luck" I request "pray me blessings.")

Wazuuuup

(A word that was coined by the many parodies of the movie, "I know what you did last summer". This is a word that in its multi-character form is out dated, but for me, it is yet to go out of style.)

Shiznit

(A word that I believe I coined in at 14 years old, though my memory could be foggy, that was one of many words I used to avoid cursing. For example: "That is the shiznit!" Another such word that I picked up from my cousin is "fezica"; in a sentence, "What the fezica!?"

UB Mascot Vote

If you are looking for the UB Mascot image with which I was comparing the Uncle Sam voting campaign, it was originally here. The link became corrupt. I apologize for the inconvenience. I will re-post the image once I locate another poster.

Uncle Sam Wants YOU!

Here's a call to action that we are all familiar with. Uncle Sam looks you straight in the eye with a serious stare to let you know that he is relying on you. He points directly at you to make the message personal. And he says in a bold heavy font to reflect his stern tone of voice, "I WANT YOU FOR U.S. ARMY." And before you can turn to walk away with this message resonating in your mind, he also says softer--almost subliminally,-- "NEAREST RECRUITING STATION." Definitely a strong message.

This is your brain on drugs...campaign

Do we all remember this commercial word by word scene by scene? I sure never forgot it.

There was supposed to be a poster too but I am yet to find it. If you find it, please post it as a comment. Thanks!

Nine And A Half Minutes campaign

The CDC has a great campaign to fight AIDs called Nine And A Half Minutes. They even provide the code for the campaign images on their website so it can be promoted by anyone. Here are a couple of examples:

I find this first one to be the most powerful.

Truth...?

Dear Truth Campaign,

What happened to you? You disappeared, so I looked up your website and must reiterate: what in the world happened? I used to be inspired by your commercials. Your campaigns were always so socking and thought provoking. And your point was always easy to understand. But your website was full of a bunch of gobbleygook! You have a whole page for t-shirts that give no obvious message. And those random games--what was the point? Knowing the former glory from which you have obviously fallen, I will give you the benefit of a doubt that there is some enlightening truth or revealing point at the heart of this mess. Whatever the point was supposed to be, apparently it is way too far removed from the final product. I will be sure to warn my classmates to learn from your mistake.

Sincerely,

Andrea

Blogger-droid App

Thanks Rich! This is perfect! Now I can blog anywhere my phone is! Yay!

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The Power of Association

I looked long and hard through my trusty concept text book, "Smile in the Mind", and found no technique that can explain the success of books like the one's above. Sin and Syntax, as you have discovered, uses sin and goodness to deliver grammar rules seductively. This New Testament Bible (on the top right) is compared to and contrasted to both sports and sports principles. (The concept in this case is even stronger since it is common for scripture to be explained in parables to make topics more relate-able.) Political cartoons (bottom image) are a very popular and successful technique to visually express politics.

All of these book, and ones like them, allow a more interesting topic or style to carry an otherwise difficult to grasp idea. This conceptual technique, which I will refer to as 'the power of association', could be applied to a variety of dense topics. The only caution for this technique is an over comparison. Too strong a comparison may begin to distract or confuse the initial main idea. (Sin and Syntax can come off that way at times.) I hope the opportunity presents itself for me to try out the power of association in a future assignment. Where else have you notice this technique? Do you happen to know what it's called?

Juggling life and design is difficult. Either they have to be kept completely separate, or molded together. At this point I don't know which direction to move in.

When a designer spends hours creating a promotional peace at work-- hours that could have been devoted to supporting ailing family members, settling disputes at home, or even coming to terms with personal battles-- one can question the vanity of designing. The two lifestyles are in conflict with each other. Each need time and neither can be neglected.

When an attempt is made to combine life and design, a new issue presents itself: no down
time. When combined, every moment is an opportunity to accomplish something, document an event, conceptualize a mission. Without a moments peace, lots can be accomplished free from conflicts of interest, but stress will remain high. But regardless, stress is present. It comes down to a preference of steady stress, or a guilt-filled break from one while working on the other.

I digress: where do you find your balance?

Verbal Definition

A definition of "Busyness" as written in the, "Buried by Busy" Relevant magazine article:

Get up early. Go to bed late. Attack the inbox. Make lists. Relate. Send texts. Keep up with friends. Don't miss opportunities. Make it to the end. Accomplish. Plan. Go fast. Work it. Shoot for the moon. Don't be last. Run. God. Don't eat that. Lead the meeting. Cover the shift. Go to class. Mish-mash. "Gotta tweet that, share that, digg that."

Forget that.

Busyness is a modern status symbol, the currency of social capital. We lament this situation and yet still brag about it--even while it overwhelms us.

This definition and explanation is successful because it goes beyond telling the literal definition of busy and offers a personal understanding of what busy actually feels like. It lists several unrelated tasks with no space and game plan in between to recreate that familiar overwhelming feeling. The last two sentences also go a bit farther (as a transition into the article) to explain the plight of the hate and love relationship of busyness.

Visual Definition

This photograph, the opening image to a Relevant magazine article, is a literal visual of being buried by busy. This image translates each of the many sticky-notes without needing to be read because their positioning shows them taking over the man.

Is anyone else as nervous as I am with the new UB website? (http://www.ubalt.edu/admissions/) After three years, I am finally getting a handle on this one. The links are more concerning than anything else. Navigation is huge, especially for those like myself who manage a department's website and have to be knee deep in it's quarks all week. While it's not complete yet, the main interface seems very vague and, since first level links are on the top and left-hand side, I worry that the link locations won't remain consistently placed with each click. But perhaps I am worrying too much. I have confidence that UB's web architecture designers will surprise and delight us all.

Free Exchange

I awoke in a cold sweat when I realized I was yet to blog. Shaken and full of thoughts, I approached my computer, and began to type. Then I stopped to think:

Why am I giving away ideas for free anyway?

There was a time when ideas were precious and valued. Ideas collected in books, conversations converted to plays, and emotions captured as poetry could be printed, sold, and (more or less) capitalized on as a source of income. Images painted, photographed, sketched, and digitized used to be swiftly protected. Now images are being shared freely and without much concern to for who has that image and what they use it for. In the same way, blogs are delivering not only information, but pure patentable ideas.

How many books could have been written, rather than page by page of blog. How many artists wouldn't be struggling (as much) if there wasn't already a massive pile of accessible free-for-all images? The downside to this free sharing of images, writing, and ideas is that a lot of wonderful and interesting things may be lost in a sea of websites; things that might otherwise have been documented and distributed more visibly. Also, less attention may be given to blogs and online images since people click to the next web page faster than they will run to switch books.

On the other hand, blogs and image sharing allow for an online communication between writer/artist and viewer; communication that wasn't as possible, if at all, in the past. I do worry that there is not as much social impact from a blog and image sharing than there is from a book signing, a published book, or an exhibition.

All of these things aside, the hope is that blogs and image sharing compliment published books and exhibited art, and never to attempt replace it.

Forks & Food Photography

Never-mind the burnt end of the fry and the rancid quality of the meat. This fork has been positioned to resemble a pitchfork. Since when does food that says, "I've been hanging out in the barn" been appetizing?





This smooth and flawless fork takes a back seat in it's visibility to the primary topic: the veggies! This fork serves bright salad greens, a detailed yellow pepper, and a juicy ripe tomato to the viewer, saying, "your fresh perfected salad is served."

The Good, the Bad, and the Faded

There is a difference between good food photography, bad food photography and faded food photography. Each sends out a different message.



This burger photo, for example, is poor photography not because it is revolting, but because it is faded and dated. This faded burger image says, "I was doused with sauce about 60 years ago and I belong in a old dinner menu on the side of route 66."


This burger is in vivid color, but that is no matter because the burger itself sends a negative message. This burger says, "My bread was run over by a truck, and my meat and cheese were up-choked by the last unsuspecting person to order me". This burger, while it may taste wonderfully, looks like it was thrown together in an unappealing manor.


This is a great example of good food photography. Sure it could benefit from a bit more depth and contrast, but overall it is neatly constructed with care, and is in vivid color. This burger says, "My maker spent quality time constructing me and grilling me to perfection. I am a burger worthy of your five dollar bill. And if you think my looks are amazing, wait until you taste me!"

Bad food photo for this and any article

This apple looks obscenely fake and the person in the photo is cropprd at an akward location just above a nasty mole which should have been cropped out. The other inages in the photo are out of focus and don't even allude to any object in particular. Though this photo was intended to illustrate the potential danger of razers in halloween trick or treating snacks with its shiney non-suspicious apple and the dark ominous background, but it is simply too vague to send this or any direct message other than pure indecision.

The Power of Design

Consider this: visual communication has the power to persuade thoughts, desires, actions, and over time, shape society. What effect has it already had? TV commercials make our mouths water for a burger as the slow motion of sizzle makes cholesterol the last thought in our minds. A billboard of the latest Lexus or BMW gives us a yearning for luxury and adventure. Even the enhanced sound of an ice cold Cola fizzing open and pouring into a glass will make us forget that beverage can also be used as drain cleaner. Why are these visual and audio messages so enticing? Well, often times they are selling more than food or cars. More than likely, they are selling a lifestyle, a feeling, or a dream. Of course, much of this power lies in the hands of designers. (No pressure or anything.) How will your design influence the world?