This is by Roland Tiangco, a Brooklyn designer. I just thought this was very clever, different and original.

These are by Andy Gilmore. He's a New York illustrator, designer and musician. He’s inspired by technology and geometry. Some of these look like spirographs, they're very cool, almost hypnotic. There’s motion to these and look complex. With the others I love the way he plays with the colors. His work looks futuristic and out there. I like it.

Illustrators inspire me, I think because because I really suck at it. These are by UK illustrator Emily Golden Twomey. I first saw her work a while back when she was still a student and even then I thought her work was great. I find her work so playful and airy. She’s inspired by the likes of Aubrey Beardsley, Edward Gorey and Kay Nielson, who I also like.

I found this Swedish designer, Niklas Lundberg, whose work I think is really interesting. He combines print, illustration, photography and creates some amazing work. The bottom images he created by bringing in stocked images then he hand draws the rest and then traces this. It is very out there. And what is most amazing is that he’s self taught, no schooling! The illustrate image intricate and yet clean and cool. The images with the hair is weird and odd, and the digital image is just as interesting.

In doing research for our class project on graphic design pioneers, I came upon book covers, illustrations from the 50’s and 60’s. I really like these, I’d forgotten how cool this period was, the simplicity and clarity. This is probably one of my favorite periods, not only with graphic design but with art, architecture, product design, etc.

Surreal Ads & Photography

These ads, from Germany, are for Volkswagen’s Blue Motion.  It uses Dali-esque and Magritte-esque art to get across on the car’s low gas consumption.   Not only are they very witty, it has great attention to detail.  For the Dali ad, I especially like the withered “shell” beneath the tree and the ants carrying gas. 

These images are from Toronto photographer, Liz Wolfe.  These too are funny and thought provoking  The colors are bright and dynamic and grabs your attention.  When you give them a second look realize its not what it seems. 

These ads are from Amnesty International and appeared around European countries a while back.  The tagline is “It’s not happening here but it is happening now.”  I thought these ads are very powerful and certainly get the message across.  By making them appear as if its happening right there at home, at a bus stop, right where they live, it brings home the message.  I do not know if these ads would work here?

I saw this ad at a bus stop near my home and thought this very interesting.  It's in Spanish and reads "Our children shouldn't see as Goya as just another brand of beans.  Want Art?  Ask for More."    I rarely see anything culturally related in Spanish around Pasadena so I thought this very cool and different.  And low and behold it's by the same people from the cereal add I posted couple of weeks ago, Americans for the Arts.  I went to their website and they even have part of their website in Spanish.  And I found this other ad there (in English) - all to promote the arts and art education in schools.  I like this - there is definitely not enough of this in schools.

Holga Pics

These were taken with a Holga camera.  This is a cool little camera.  Its non-digital, its chunky and big compared to cameras out there today and you have no idea what your pics will look like until they come back from the photo lab.  These were all taken in my backyard.  I love the soft dreamy look you get, very cool.  The camera itself looks like a child's toy, made of plastic, uses 120 film and is very affordable.

The Arts for Breakfast

I am all for the arts for kids so when I found this I thought this hilarious.  This is Public Service Announcement from the Americas for the Arts Council promoting arts education for children.  It was made to encourage children get a daily serving of the arts.  Not only is it funny but very original and sure to get kid's attention.

I've been looking at European ads and there are many out there that are interesting and humorous.  They are much more entertaining than what we have here.  The top image is from Germany and the other is a MTV ad from Spain.  The ad says: "To love is to give others what we have inside.  Take, this snot is for you."