dorijacobson-blog

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Vikings (movie): https://vimeo.com/54945792

I think that this title sequence is really strong for many reasons. There are short, face-paced cuts that echo the mood and energy of the film. I like the dark feel to the film and the low saturation images and film.

Lost (show): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWsGuiu07MA

I like the minimalistic approach the directors of Lost took for the title sequence. I think that the mystery and black and white run gives the viewers a sneak peak into what the show is like. I also thought that the blurry font toward the beginning of the tittle sequence helped the viewers understand what the show might be like and about

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https://halfandathird.com

The photograph above is an ad from East Passyunk about Beer Craft Day. I chose to speak about it because I think it has a strong design. The design all fits into a beer glass and the Beer Craft Day logo is large and at the top to grab the viewers attention. The ad is easy to read/follow and the information is incredibly clear. I really liked how the designer chose to add a small map of East Passyunk and wrote where the beer would be located. 

The website link above is a modern design company who focuses on entertainment. I chose to showcase their website because first of all, I love their logo. I think that the choice of font is strong and their design works well too. Their website echoes their brand which is especially important for a design company. Overall, I think they've done an excellent job and I would most likely purchase something from them 

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Activity Follow Up

I really enjoyed meeting with the junior and senior Graphic Design students; I found it helpful as it gave us the opportunity to ask numerous questions and really understand what our life would look like within the next few years. 

I thought that talking about extracurricular activity opportunities was the most beneficial. In high school, I was very involved with my graphic design community– I was apart of many clubs/organizations and spearheaded numerous projects. I know that you have to earn your spot in such prestigious clubs such as the Graphics Group, so it was helpful to hear about some of the smaller things I could get myself involved in. 

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I flipped through many books at the Hagerty Library– some on typography, some on book design, some on product design, and lastly, some on package design. I favored certain elements of design from one book and other elements from other books but what I notice was that even though the photographs above come from different books, they all have a common thread: the typography. 

I found that I'm very fond of typographic solutions that include a san serif font, bold graphics, continuity, and in terms of color: black, white, and shades/tints of orange. 

When I was searching for books to look at, I found that the ones I chose all had graphic spines; I think its important to have attention grabbing spines because its normally what grabs the viewers attention first.

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National Constitution Center Visit

The entrance to the National Constitution Center included large glass doors that introduced me to a large and open space. There were extraordinarily high ceilings and there were a lot of windows which allowed a great amount of light to circulate the space, giving an airy feel/presence. 

I think that the website does a good job of echoing this experience. The background is white which automatically gives a clean and airy feel. Also, their use of a san serif font for everything other than specific exhibit’s posters gives the website a very grounded feel. Lastly, I felt that like the actual space, the website was very organized and concise; it had a rectangular scrolling box when you first entered that told you which exhibits were up and then you could scroll down to find additional information. 

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The History of East Passyunk

East Passyunk is a lively neighborhood located in South Philadelphia that predates Center City and almost everything else in Philadelphia. With boundaries of Broad to Sixth and Washington to Snyder, the population of 26,500 people is predominantly white, although significant numbers of Hispanics and Asians live there. According to “South Philadelphia,” the neighborhood began thriving because so many immigrants were coming. They literally got off the boat at the Delaware River by Washington Street and settled nearby.

And now? The avenue has gotten trendy. Known for its personality, visitors find eclectic boutiques, coffee shops, vintage clothing stores, pubs, excellent Mexican, Japanese, and Italian—not to mention the across-the-street cheesesteak rivals, Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks.

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The first designer’s work I looked at is one that has been around for a while. Paula Scher in renowned in her field and well known for her cutthroat personality and infamous designs. The five works above I chose of hers all use a san serif font yet they all have entirely different purposes and messages. Also, Scher uses a wide variety of colors to showcase her designs and portray specific moods and/or feelings. 

The second designers work I chose to look at is from Istanbul and is at the beginning of his career. Salih Kucukaga does a lot of package design. I found that his work is somewhat uniform in the sense that he uses very similar fonts, colors, and type styles. I like the simplicity and “air” in his work.

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The eleven photographs above are from all different fashion designers, all made for different purposes, yet all somehow retain a common thread– their structure, attention to positive and negative space, framing, and bold yet minimal style. These elements all represent what I am most attracted to when it comes to most medias of art.

I’m really interested in the element of  black and white design. I like how there isn't necessarily color to guide the design but rather composition and structure. I have very severe obsessive compulsive disorder and have always been really drawn to cleanliness, straight lines, and bold figures.

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For our design excursion, we chose to visit the village of East Passyunk. It was quite run down and there weren't many design elements thats I was necessarily fond of, but what I did notice was that the village had a lot of quaint character. 

I like the logo, Fond, posted above. I think that the font choice is strong– the serif gives the logo an airy feel. Also, the color chosen in very light and I think is quite parallel to the meaning of the word itself. 

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I chose Zahav, a traditional Mediterranean restaurant in Philadelphia, because of its traditional yet modern and classy design. You enter its website where traditional music greets you. An olive green logo complements the bright and beautiful colored foods. 

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I was most impressed with Mastercard’s decision to re-design their logo. 

As one of the fundamental names among payment platforms for the past several decades, the company made the right decision by sticking with the iconic colored circles (red and orange) overlapping each other. They got rid of the comb effect where the two circles merge, and replaces it with a darker orange color. I also think it was smart that they posted the word, “MasterCard,” below the logo rather than on top of it because it allows it to read more legitimately and it also allows it to be more flexible in terms of where the logo is placed and how it is used. 

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Photographer: Ed Kashi

Source: National Geographic

What I find so interesting about this photograph is the perspective at which it was shot. It makes the viewer feel as if they're following his footsteps; almost like a still from a movie. 

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Photographer: Ami Vitali

Source: National Geographic 

The aspect of this photograph that initially drew me to it was how the woman and the branch sticking out from the ground looked as if they were “one.” I think that in and of itself comments on the strong relationship the woman and nature have; she relies on it and in some ways, it relies on her. I also like the framing of this photograph. I think that it was smart of the photographer, Ami Vitali, to place her subject in the center of the frame. It isolates her, giving her in someways, more importance– she’s not just a sidepiece; she's one with nature. 

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Photographer: Salvador Dali

Source: National Geographic

Seeing the contact sheet for this shoot is what really got my attention. It showed me that a contact sheet is more than just an array of photographs - it offers insight into the methods of profound images. By clearly showing the sequence of frames and the marks of the editing process on each sheet, it does more than unearth the faults and ambivalence within the images taken; it brings a surprise to the process of choosing a photo. 

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Photographer: Paula Bronstein

Source: Getty Images

What really strikes a cord with me about this photograph is how this Afghan  refuge is standing agains a bullet ridden wall. The marks on her face mimic the destruction of the wall, giving the photograph more depth and meaning. 

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Photographer: Cay Lang

Source: Google

I am both impressed and inspired by Cay Lang’s idea to press naked body’s against a piece of glass. I like how the subject is very “your face” while the piece of glass almost creates a barrier between the viewer and the subject.

I also like how the photographer or art director chose to stage the body not entirely pressed against the glass making it so that the body goes “deeper than” or past the glass.

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Photographer: Tom Stoddartlowres

Source: Google

I am absolutely mortified when I look at this photograph. The photographer, Tom Stoddartlowres, captured its essence so well. 

This little boy has clearly been deprived of food; his bones are visible through his skin and his body is all shriveled up. The choice that the photographer made to include the little boys entire body and only show the mans bottom half, walking away, drives home the idea of this horrifying scene. Also, the angle at which this photograph was shot– from above– demeans the little boy because the viewer is “looking down on him.”