Posts: 232
Name: Joni
Location: In a state of confusion
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OK WK - Here's my opinion - and please remember - Art is subjective and I've always said - if this is your passion - follow your heart!
I don't know if you'll get me - I'm older and I look at art with a more ethereal view. The first two I do not like at all. However, the first one does have style and you did an excellent job on your technique. But, I would definately make the text stand out more. I wouldn't put a stroke around the text I would do some 3d effect and/or drop shadow. The other thing I noticed was the background design looks grainy - if you look at the white splotches or the very light blue ones you will see a pattern - I don't know if you did this on purpose but it looks like it's almost too transparent. I would fill that in with more color pixels or make the resolution higher - not sure cause I don't how you did it.
The DA logo - I would make the artwork inside the lettering have more contrast in colors - maybe some brigther or more vibrant color along with some dark color to give a clearer look about it. It's difficult to see what the image is and what it stands for. When doing these types of logos, the public want things spelled out for them - this way they don't have to try and figure out what it is that they are looking at. So I would make that design inside the letters much clearer. The font itself I'm not too crazy about but again I don't know what the company represents. It's edgy and that can be good depending on who is looking to buy the product.
It might be better in future for you to explain what the designs were created for then I could give you an opinion based on what I know about the "viewing audience" they pertain to. As a graphic artist you have to give the client and his/her audience what THEY want - not what YOUR idea of it is.
The 4th one - I like the color and the design but it's too dark to see. It needs more contrast on the foreground objects. The blue sky part looks splotchy - I don't know if it looks that way when printed but it definately looks splotchy here. Almost as if you took a sponge tool and painted out some mistakes. On the lettering for 2-Hammer - I can't even understand what the letters underneath are. So you need to make those much clearer maybe use a different font and take the contrast up again.
The bottom banner - is this part of what you wanted critiqued? I haven't seen anyone else comment on it but to me it seems silly. If you are a man who likes the things you noted below the words MANLY STUFF. Then I would make a completely different design. One that appeals to grown-ups. This banner image looks like something for a child. The font for MANLY STUFF doesn't work at all for me either - it's not discernable and it's important for people to be able to read what it's saying - this font doesn't do a good job of that.
Hope you don't take offense - just giving you my opinion. I do a lot of print design for various types of businesses. I have some experience in marketing and I definately have a discriminating eye for art. I am always continuing my education and currently taking some advanced courses in design. I can tell you that my teachers love my designs and they all say the same thing - that I definitely think outside the box and have a very unique approach to how I go about creating my designs.
So basically that means my opinion here means NOTHING!!!  Like I said follow your heart (but always give the client what they want too!)
I see a lot of potential in you. I think you have a good solid style that's a bit on the edgy side. It looks to me like you have a good grasp on your Photoshop tools and you're not afraid to take chances. That's a very good thing in this business. I also think you are much more advanced than I was when I when I started doing graphic design.
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Smartness runs in my family. When I went to school I was so smart my teacher was in my class for five years!
Last edited by Mystical Pippin; 08-17-2009 at 08:49 PM..
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