Task 4: Book Review Graphic design the new basics

Graphic design the new basics

Graphic design the new basics by Ellen Lupton and Jennifer Cole Phillips, takes a fresh look at today’s visual language.
It explains the key concepts that inform design work, including point, line, plane, scale, hierarchy, layers and transparency. I recommend this book whether you are an experienced designer or someone just interested in learning more, it serves as a fantastic resource for the fundamentals of good design. It is a great way for students to learn the basic rules of design informed by contemporary media, theory, and software systems. Through visual demonstrations and concise commentary, the book shows how to build interest and complexity around simple relationships between formal elements of two-dimensional design, and explains key concepts of visual language that inform any work of design, from a logo to a web site.

James White

James White

James White is a very talented, experienced designer and visual artist from Nova Scotia, he is 31 years old and has been working as a fulltime graphic designer since 1998. His style is innovative and spectacular. By day he works as a designer for an agency where he creates websites, identities, corporate materials and various print pieces. He uses his time outside work to create his own personal art

“I was the kind of kid that got excited when I would see the NBC Special Presentation logo appear onscreen while watching television, because it inevitably led to Star Wars or Superman. It was that feeling I wanted to capture in my artwork, which led me to a retro-cosmic style directly inspired by network promo animations from the 70s and 80s, namely anything done by NBC.” - James White

“My workflow is rather simple. I wrote a very simple program in Flash that allowed me to create random assortments of shapes that I export to a postscript file so I can edit them in Illustrator. From there I will clean up the exports, add gradients, and use brushes to bend my shapes into unconventional combinations. Then I port them into Photoshop one by one where I can overlap them, lay down colors, lighting effects, textures, etc. “- James White

I love the usage of colour throughout his works they seem almost from another world or time, they are amazing.

“Learn your tools and programs inside and out but always remember that art comes from your mind, not the keyboard or mouse. Think about what you love and draw inspiration from that.”- James White

Andrea kang

Andrea kang

Andrea kang is an artist living and working in providence, Rhode Island. Andrea kang dedicates her time to illustration and character design; she is also a toy designer. The stylised simplicity of Andrea kang’s illustrations and character design is a welcome and refreshing change from the loud and brash ‘throw everything in with the kitchen sink’ style approach. Currently, kang is working as a graphic designer with a local Rhode island- based magazine, ‘Providence’, as well as designing toys, participating in group shows and exhibitions.“With vector you always end up with a more refined image and definitely a more finished and crisper look”

Andrea kang is lending her illustrative skills to a new collaborative project with scarygirl creator, Nathan jurevicius.

I enjoy Andrea kang’s work it’s sweet and simple, with cute toy-like characters. I especially like the illustration with the tree made from owls.

http://www.andreakang.com/

Nathan Jurevicius

Nathan jurevicius

Nathan jurevicius is a freelance illustrator who is widely known for his wonderful online graphic novel and game creation. Born in South Australia he grew up surrounded by art and design. He moved to Melbourne after he graduated with a bachelor in design in 1994, then soon after he set himself up to freelance before moving to London and then Toronto, Canada in 2004. He has worked as a freelance illustrator and artist with many international companies and galleries. When starting an illustration, jurevicius will sketch out the bare bones of his work with pencil and paper first before transferring it to the screen. His most acclaimed project to date is scary girl, a psychedelic, dream-like composition of heartfelt stories and reinterpreted folklore based around a cute but slightly odd little girl and her giant octopus guardian.
I really like Nathan jurevicius’ work it’s interesting and alluring. It draws you into its own world; I love the vibrant colouring and quirky characters.

http://www.nathanj.com.au/

http://www.scarygirl.com/