Chuck Green's Design Likes
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Week after week, month after month, there is a seemingly endless supply of wonderful new designs to be found online. Here are my latest finds.

Be well, Chuck
 
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This CAN'T be computer graphics. It is.

Alex Roman (a pseudonym of Jorge Seva) uses software tools such as 3DS Max, Vray, Photoshop, AfterEffects, and Adobe Premiere to produce amazing computer graphic renderings. If you're like me, you'll look at his work and think, "That cannot be computer graphics." It is. If you haven't seen this, you're in for a treat.

Thanks to my son Jeff Green for pointing us to it.

Here > Alex Roman's The Third & The Seventh...

Here > An interview with the designer including images of the computer graphics framework...

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An inkling of innovations to come

If you lived near Mainz, Germany in the 1450s, you may have heard of the machine Johannes Gutenberg was working on. I doubt Gutenberg had an inkling of how profoundly his printing press would effect mankind.

Today we are witnessing a similar phenomenon. Just down the proverbial road, great innovation is taking place. Yet we are so inundated with advancements, I think we tend to miss the advancements that move into our line of sight in a more subtle way.

Inkling (below) is one of the many new ideas born out of the development of the iPad. It proposes a new way of producing and navigating textbooks. I have no idea if it will be one of the ideas that catches on, but it's exciting to watch it sprout.

Which leads me to a point I continually remind myself of--don't miss this opportunity. All of these new technologies, devices, and ideas are new to ALL of us. I, you, we can contribute to their advancement. We have an opportunity, like none of those before us, to change the world for good. Pretty exciting.

Here > Inkling for the iPad...

Here > A press release about another quiet step...

Here > A little perspective...

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The state of illustration software in 2010

Earlier in the year I created a list of current desktop publishing software, here is the same type of list--this time for illustration software. As with the DTP software list, if I have missed something, please comment here and I'll add it.

And again, a note to the purists: Don't freak on me--this is merely a reference list, I'm not making any judgment of quality or suitability for any purpose.

Here > Adobe Fireworks...

Here > Adobe Illustrator...

Here > ACD Canvas...

Here > Alchemy...

Here > CorelDRAW...

Here > Inkscape...

Here > Serif DrawPlus...

Here > Xara Designer Pro 6...

Here > My desktop publishing software list from earlier in the year...

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Recent Tweets from http://twitter.com/ideabook

Haha... the history of graphic design... http://ht.ly/2IGUs

Interesting: Perception of fonts: Perceived personality traits and uses http://ht.ly/2Hd3h

Illustrator Alex Gross has a new solo exhibit at Jonathan LeVine Gallery http://ht.ly/2DC5T

Where did album art begin? http://ht.ly/2DtDH Thank to John McWade for the link http://ht.ly/2DtBn



The use of symbolism in graphic design

When I think of graphic design I don't normally think of heraldry. (Heraldry, as one definition puts it, is the "the art or science of blazoning or describing in proper terms coats of arms.")

It sounds like a rather archaic subject but when you take a closer look you see how strong the ties are between the many forms of heraldry and the design of logos and other symbolic imagery today.

What I will share here are a few of the many interesting resources stumbled across as I researched the connection.

Here > An illustrated atlas of French and English heraldic terms...

Here > Many listings lead to a detailed illustration and explanation...

Here > About the origins of heraldry...

Here > Here is an interesting interview with Charles V. Mugno, director, Heraldic Services and Support Division at the Institute of Heraldry...

Here > The activities of the Institute of Heraldry include "the research, design, development, standardization, quality control, and other services relating to official symbolic items--seals, decorations, medals, insignia, badges, flags, and other items awarded to or authorized for official wear or display by government personnel and agencies..."

Here > The symbolic significance of one seemingly simple graphic element, the fleur de lis...

Here > A few examples of how heraldry is used in fashion design...

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From the Ideabook.com Design Store



Witness design rejuvenation

A deck of playing cards could be easily be pigeon-holed as a tired, old product. But watch how the designers of this site and the featured deck of cards make playing cards a 2011 product. Powerful stuff.

Here > First, the deck--image 1...

Here > Image 2...

Here > Image 3...

Here > And now the page dedicated to presenting it...

Here > More deck designs. I don't even play cards and I want a deck...

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Meet illustrator Marc Burckhardt

With Marc Burckhardt, the line blurs between illustrator and artist. The crackle surface is explained in a 2004 3x3Magazine article which reveals, "He applies a Raku glaze, then immerses the painting into a blazing trash can full of smoking eucalyptus leaves, pecans, and newspaper. The heat causes the glaze to crack and the smoke penetrates the cracks."

Here > Example 1...

Here > Example 2...

Here > Example 3...

Here > Interesting post from his Drawger blog about the creation of a Texas Monthly cover...

Here > The 3x3Magazine article (1.3MB PDF)...

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About the briefing

I try to remain as objective as possible about the information I share here. Unless otherwise stated, I receive no compensation from the organizations and people mentioned except for occasional product samples. Comments? Suggestions? Write me at [email protected]

Chuck Green