Big, Bold, and a Disaster

Usually when you're designing a layout or putting together a graphic the rule is to stay away from chunky, thick, bold black -unless a title. In the following two  pieces these designers didn't hold back from presenting a giant music note looking "S" to a one way street "I".

The Siren Call
The format is clean and crisp with a three column grid. The margins show good white pace to fit with the black and grey style. The top header is displays the catch to get the audience to read the article with an italicized font style.
The big "S" needs to be called out for being a large design flaw and looking like a giant music note. Extra point for the creativity in having the top loop dot the "I" in "siren", otherwise we'd have no idea what we were reading. If the font of the "s" wasn't the same as the rest of the letters it wouldn't be so clear as to what someone would be reading. The only thing that does help with the big "S" is that its an eye sore or catcher. When flipping through the pages of a magazine this is something that would make me stop and look. A giant bold letter "S".
The rest of the text and the page is minimalistic with a standard article about Emma Watson. The design tactic used with the text-wrap along the giant "S" was a cleaver point to sway text along as the article is read.

Christ|na Jones 
A unique resume that makes you stop while flipping through a handful of other resumes. A bold line down -almost-the center of the page is the catcher. The giant "I" actually leads as a guide to read the resume. Text on both the left and right helps to read how we read right to left. As you read this resume you will notice yourself turning your head to the right to successfully complete.
A design layout of two column grid in black and grey style, no color is the formatting.
The subheads of her resume "skills" and "work experience" need kerning as well as could her last name as the header. There looks to be extra spacing in between "work" and "experience.
With this resume it could've been a more centered design if she had used the 'T" in Christina instead of the "I". The "T" would have given a bold statement along with the bolded line down the page. The top of the "T' could have been a bold banner for her contact information to sit on top of.

Both of these designs show class and can be easily read. The Emma Watson article can be tougher to read than the resume just do to not really being able to read what the title is without staring at it for ten seconds. Christina Jones resume isn't terrible with the drawn out "I" but there is a feeling of there could be more.

The Mermaid Resume
The resume for Genna Munoz conducts an underwater-beachy feel to it. The graphic in the top right corner of bubbles is smart for someone flipping through resumes. It's not typical to see that on a standard resume. The pop of color of the water and mermaid tale in the bottom right flows the readers eyes from one side of the page to the other. This makes for an easy read from left to right. The font is a little odd and doesn't give as a relaxed feel as what the graphics depict. Some sections have a bit more details than others and it throws the balance of a little bit. The 2 column grid style helps to organize the text for readers.

Genna's Artwork

Resume Project

The mermaid tale on this resume helps it to stand out against other. As well if you were to just flip through a pile bubbles aren't something you see on a typical resume. You can tell that Genna is fun and has an interest in ocean/ocean life. 

Flyer Project 

This Flyer tells it's reader about a call to action against social media influencers. It's minimalistic but can come across as a not finished look. The flyer is dark and has an emotional approach. The girl in the photo with her phone looks sad.

Brochure Project

This themed brochure has a very fun and summery vibe to it. There underlay blue tone on the inside really relates with water. The bottom banner with the photos reaches to the audience with the versatile activities the Outer Harbor provides. 

Postcard Project

It's easy to tell that Genna is proud of her heritage from the very first glance of this postcard. The Scottish Gaelic text is unique. For some it may cause them to use a translator of some kind, but we have the internet for that. The green dress she seems to be wearing also makes a connection with the large grasslands and hills the Scotland has. 

Logo Project

The rose logo displays a classic feel along side a typewriter text. The hand drawn aspect makes it create and one of a kind. It's appealing in both color and black and grey. It shows the this business has a classic touch.

Business Card Project

These business cards show complete opposites on each side but as a whole have the same color scheme and theme. The red line used in the logo is clever when separating text on the informational side. Adding in the social media tag was a nice tough. Target audiences are usually wanting to see someones work before getting to close to a business.

It's All About the Brand

Communication. It can describe millions of things in the universe; talking, seeing,  and hearing. Communication is an interaction between a giver and a receiver. Everyone is subject to receive whether they know it or not. In the working world you have client relations that rely on communication. Sending on a text is communication. The ways that you interpret something physically, virtually, or emotionally are going to be different from the person sitting next to you.

Visual communication is the universes strongest form of communication. As we grow from infant to child we watch what other young children do and want to be able to do that. "If Sally can do the monkey bars than so can I, right?" is our mindset as children and it grows as we become adults. We see it most on social media through brand influencers promoting themselves or a product. It's all about the brand. According to dictionary.com, branding is " a type of product manufactured by a particular company under a particular name."

Let's look at Caralyn Miranda Koch a Buffalo native Instagram content creator who has pushed her modeling career into being an influencer and promotes plus size clothing and properly fitting undergarments. Making this type of content reaches out to women, mostly those who are not societies "norm". Her showing the proper way for a bra to fit is huge for some women and can make them feel more confident and special to themselves. Caralyn shows clothing options for plus size women with Try It On Confessionals and Fit Tip Tuesdays. She's helping to make women feel empowered and take back control of their own bodies. 

High-end fashion, well fashion in general is based off of branding. What's latest on the runway or what's the current trend. Everyone knows the iconic MK logo from Michael Kors. Every handbag that is purchased from this brand features the MK logo in either a key-chain version attached to the handbag or as a print on the actual handbag itself. It's  well-known by trend and popularity. Michael Kors is known as luxury but also offers affordability to some markets. The iconic MK can give homage to founder of the brand founder Michael Kors himself. 

The most extravagant brand known world-wide is Lady Gaga. An international superstar who is known for her insane and diverse fashion sense, is also for her creative fans. Gaga is someone who is accepting of everyone and represents herself as not one to judge anyone and to share kindness and love. She is all about expression of yourself and not hiding who you are. Gaga uses her music for many of her fans to use as an escape or guide. She has shown her actions to prove she is influential by her fashion sense, lyrics and in music, and public presence. Lady Gaga was born and raised in New York, New York. She has many associations including Haus of Gaga, Born This Way foundation, Haus Laboratories makeup and advocacy in the LGBT community.