Welcome to Heartbreak

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Um, if you didn't know...I love Kanye. So much, in fact, that I need your help. I have such undying devotion for him and his work (as a producer, mostly) that I have a hard time figuring out if some of the stuff is really genius or if I worship it just because it's Yeezy. Whether a lover or a hater, you have to admit that there is no shortage of creativity when it comes to West.

He recently released an unofficial music video for the song "Welcome to Heartbreak." 

This is one of my favorite songs on the new album — others: Heartless, Robocop and See You In My Nightmares — because it shows a darker, more humble (gasp!) side of West. I've always been a fan of his flashy neon style, which he has combined with an interesting pixelated effect in this video. It's like the Homecoming video, but on acid. When I started watching Heartbreak, I thought my internet was cutting out. So sneaky, that Kanye. He probably WANTED me to curse at the computer. Once I realized that was the desired effect, I thought it looked a little elementary. However, the more I watch it the more I appreciate the intricacy of the transitions. My final consensus: this video is hot, but should have been used for a more upbeat song, like "Paranoid." What do you think; genius or garbage?

ps: Kanye has a design blog too. It's meant to be.

RIP Rosie

This week I gave my magazine history presentation on McCall's magazine. McCall's seems to be the Madonna of magazines, and has had multiple attempts at reinvention throughout the past century. One successful redesign occurred in the mid-50's with the addition of Otto Storch as Art Director. Storch was a pioneer in the technique of combining typography and visuals to create one cohesive message. This is especially effective in his "Forty-Winks Reducing Plan" design.

We see typography like this in almost every magazine spread nowadays, but back then Storch was exacto-ing words and letters out of stories and warping them BY HAND. Impressive.

Another not-so-successful redesign occurred in 2001. McCall's combined with ROSIE O'DONNELL(?) to create "Rosie" magazine. It lasted a year. 

Not that I even need to ask, but here I go..."Why did it fail?" The Onion ran this hysterical sidebar regarding the fold. 

Max Wanger Photography

Max Wanger is a photographer in New York whose work I originally heard of on one of my favorite blogs, A Cup of Jo. He photographed Joanna's engagement photos, and they are fabulous. I love the unique angles and the way he washes out the color in some of the photos, while over-saturating others.  Plus, couples smiling at each other or swinging on swings is way cuter than those "prom-pose-#5-by-the-creek" travesties I see in the newspaper every weekend. 

AceJet Update: 'Arry Pottah

It seems these book redesigns are all over the blogosphere (I lose a little self-respect every time I use this word, but I've gotten over it seeing as how no other word better embodies just what the "blogosphere" is...so deal) this week, and for good reason. AceJet recently expressed his hatred for the content of the Harry Potter books but his love for the new cover designs by M.S. Corley. Even better, Corley did this FOR FUN. Give me that kind of motivation, a free Saturday, some caffeine and there will probably be a graphic redesign of my entire bookshelf. 

As much as I appreciate this new graphic interpretation of the series, it looks a little too Northwest Native American for my taste. The house screen pictured above is an example of this region's flat and graphic traditional design. Although I know Corley is trying to get as far away from magic and illustration as possible, I think these covers lack the whimsy and mystery embodied in the text.  Do you like how far-removed they are from the original? Discuss.

VOX Designs

Pictured above is my redesigned Vox cover before they changed it to gold. I agree with the final decision to go with gold simply because it's a more universally understood color for a candy wrapper and the purple may have printed a bit too dark on the newsprint. Visually, however, I like the purple and the richer brown (but then again, I definitely prefer dark chocolate to milk chocolate so maybe that's just my stomach talking.)

Above is my first department spread of the semester. It was a little strange going from feature spreads and covers to departments simply because there is a lot less creative freedom when doing department pages. I tried to have some fun with good ol' Abe nonetheless, and I think  a 200th birthday is definitely deserving of a party hat.

When I arrived at the VOX office last week to work on my departments, I discovered I got a whole HALF a page for the book section! I had to improvise and use a stock photo instead of using my original Abe illustration (below). The headline included in the illustration below would have had to be cropped anyway, so it all worked out in the end. The new text-wrapped photo makes what may have been an otherwise uninteresting topic (sorry Mr. Lincoln) seem more fun and appropriate for the VOX audience. 

I enjoy working on the department pages. Though there are more regulations it is fun to try and make do with what you're given and create something visually appealing. 

The back of book section is the other page of my department, and this page is even more limited in creativity. I get to choose the "On The Job" photo (I chose this one because it features a boot, so there's no doubt about what this man does for a living), the spot color and which quote gets the mugshot. Exciting stuff. 

Love is in the air

How beautiful are these photographs from Etsy seller irenesuchocki? I bet she used these.

Found Typography II

The only thing better than a brick wall is a brick wall with grass lettering.