Here is my first portfolio redo, based on Greg's critique during class 2/3. This non-smoking PSA is targeted at adults ages 40-60, who would remember the popular American Express campaign from 1976, "Don't Leave Home without It" (your American Express card), which used Karl Malden. The low-res image is a major problem with this PSA. Unfortunately, I've been unable to secure a high-res version of the image of actor Karl Malden, so the main image remains "fuzzy." (I looked through magazines and even Malden's autobiography.) Posterizing the image didn't sharpen it. I enlarged and changed the font of the headline from Helvetica to a scarier font called Horrorfind. The cigarette pack is generic to avoid focusing on any one cigarette company, and it is pink/salmon in color to represent women smokers, since a big target of cigarette companies is women.
Virginia - I see a few things I'd like to comment on, besides the low resolution issue. However, let's get that out of the way first:
ReplyDelete1. Resolution: If you want this in your print portfolio, you have to address this issue - and I believe the only answer (because you've tried increasing the res in Photoshop) is to either redraw the whole figure as a vector illustration, OR make the whole figure more blurry... see concept change next...
2. Karl Malden was your first concept, however I question the limited scope of that concept. Truthfully, I didn't really remember who originally said the phrase "Don't leave home..." and I am the right age. So, even if your audience is of a certain age, there is no guarantee that they will make the connection. Have you considered how you might increase the audience for this by making the image something that would be meaningful in and of itself? One thought would be to make the image a ghost-like apparition coming back to haunt us with this message. If you were to remove the eyes from the face (which currently reads more like a mask-like image on a live person than a dead person because of those eyes) and really blur and "ghost" the figure behind the hand holding the cigarette case... I think you'd still be supporting your message and in a way for a wider audience. Check out this online tutorial:
https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A0LEVjJC5tdUqFQAizsnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTB0ZjNuMHJ1BHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1lIUzAwM18x?p=photoshop+ghost+and+smoke+tutorials&tnr=21&vid=B4AD97F85E61C4A7BDA4B4AD97F85E61C4A7BDA4&l=537&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DUN.608004603196998637%26pid%3D15.1&sigi=11rgpe7ph&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DSTASyZIvELQ&sigr=11a5g2qkv&tt=b&tit=Smoke+Portrait+Effect+-+Photoshop+Tutorial&sigt=11apkto2o&back=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fyhs%2Fsearch%3Fp%3DPhotshop%2Bghost%2Band%2Bsmoke%2Btutorials%26ei%3DUTF-8%26hsimp%3Dyhs-001%26hspart%3Dmozilla&sigb=13eqijo6e&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001
3. You have a color palette that emphasizes b/w with touches of a warmer color for type and cigarette pack. This warmer color comes forward, and I wonder if you are using this to full effect? The cigarette pack is blank because you don't want to be specific with the brand... but, what else can you put on the pack? In my opinion, here is an opportunity to be clever with either additional type, or rewritten current type to fit into this spot. It really begs to be used somehow.
4. The small logo in lower right is just a detail, but it does throw off the restricted color palette that you have purposefully created. Should it, could it, be b/w also?
5. Lastly, I find it interesting that this is the 1st project you've chosen to work on. Does this mean you think this piece is one of the best 3? If so, I question it because of your stated goals for the next step in your life... this subject matter doesn't seem to speak to spiritual communities particularly, does it? I'm curious about your thinking here.
This IS a piece, however, that will be memorable because of the disturbing analogy you are making - so I'm not suggesting it be dropped from your portfolio, just wondering where, and when, it might fit into it.
Thanks V.
Thank you, Coni, for your valuable critique. You’ve given me quite a challenge. This piece was among the three that received highest marks from my classmates during their review of my work on 2/3. That is why I started with it. The other two pieces are a website for the Civilian Conservation Corps (a historical piece) and the brochure I designed as a pocket watch for my local (Templeton) historical society. None of my pieces focus on a religious subject, but any campaign to stop smoking is important to faith-based communities; it is a justice issue (clean lungs and clean air).
DeleteI, too, am curious about my decision to reach out to faith-based communities as a freelance graphic designer, when I have no examples of my work in this area since entering MWCC. I served in the Lutheran church as a communication specialist for decades, creating numerous brochures, magazines, newsletters, press releases and posters, and photographing everything from pastors blessing animals to retreats to service projects. I know how faith-based communities operate and how to meet their communication needs. This is how I serve God, since God has given me these skills. I thought that this should be my focus again, now that I have increased my skills. However, I have chosen to create projects of an historical nature when given the opportunity at MWCC.
I would love to see the original version along with your revision so that we may compare the changes. I might have more comments if both were posted.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Coni that it would be interesting to see something on the cigarette package (her #3 comment). It could create a clever tie-in with the rest of the poster.
Virginia, I wonder if you might be considering going in the direction of historical pursuits in the future as another option? I remember several of your projects had historical themes. Or are you sure you want to go in the direction of faith-based communities? I'm just curious. Both would be interesting.
One change I might suggest is to enlarge the guy and have him run off the page on the right and top. Doing so might allow more emphasis on the main headline and create more movement in the elements on the page. It's just a thought.
Thanks, Sue, for your comments; I'll play with the enlarging Karl Malden, but I want to honor white space. The only change from the original version is the headline; the letters are now larger and "creepy," which I had never thought of originally, but I like. As for direction, I thought that reaching out to both faith-based communities and historical groups would increase my chances for work. I am part of both now, especially after all the projects I've done for my local historical society. While I have no examples from MWCC of work that is faith-based, I do have positive references from bishops with whom I have worked. The 10 pieces the class suggested for my portfolio include five historical pieces; historical research is my passion right now. Should I create a faith-based piece before the end of the semester for my portfolio? What am I not seeing?
Delete