Elaine's Bagels

Published on November 2009, Squid Ink Advertising Agency released an advertisement for a bagel chain in Michigan known as Elaine’s Bagels. Serving locals in various cities around Michigan, Elaine’s Bagels, offers a wide variety of alternatives to help anyone start the day. The advertisement used for the company shows an onion bagel positioned on its side, with two ends of it resembling an onion top and bottom, with a thin base layer similar to an onion on the bagel. By creating this image it, states that the bagels are so fresh that they are a great combination of fresh onion and bagels all rolled into one. Although I would have made the background a little lighter in color, because it’s a little too similar to the color of bagel, this can lead to the bagel almost disappearing into the background. However, the bagel itself doesn’t really fall to the color of the background, as the centered area is a lighter brown color, similar to a tan. The design itself is very simple, and does get the message across very well to where it reads easily, that the bagels from Elaine’s Bagels are to be the freshest bagels.

Vessel

Twenty One Pilots is an American indie rock band. The duo group released their 2013 album called Vessel through an American record label called Fueled By Ramen. The cover shows two men standing next to each other with a minimal background. Conceptualized by the two musicians, they wanted to create a more personal and meaningful album cover. With that the two men on the album cover, are in fact the grandfathers of the musicians. The album title Vessel is a representation of the body, and how this outer shell is what can set us free, from thinking of only the physical. This album cover can be easily accessible for anyone, as anyone is able to see the release of the album through various music sources like itunes, Sound Cloud, or Spotify. This allows for the albums cover, and the bands popularity to increase. I think the simplicity of the cover was a good idea, because it highlights the two men in the center image. The top layer along the bottom crosses over the two figures as a way of shielding in and disguising various parts of the two men. This could be interpreted as the physical shell that one of the singers, Joseph spoke on, stating it as a reference that the outer shell dies we are set free, and that’s what lives on.

As a big fan of Saturday Night Live on NBC, I could not be more excited for the app release for the hit show filled with hilarious skits from wonderfully talented actors, comedians, and guest Hosts and Musicians. The app has an easy ready to use user interface, allowing for a more friendly user experience. The categories offered allow for anyone to easily access the selected skits from their favorite Saturday Night Live (SNL) cast member, to those individuals favorite time period. As SNL has been around for decades, the show has had many hosts and cast members, so precise categories are extremely valuable in the app function. One issue I’ve noticed in the app is that there is a difficulty in accessing a full screen mode for a video that I wish to watch. This can create future conflicts. As this is a technology based item, its portable and can be easily accessible from anyone’s smart phone, tablet and desktop/laptop. Saturday Night Live has a wide range of viewers, due to its comedic skits, and for how long the show has been on, so as some viewers may be older, the only issue that may occur, is for those specific individuals that don’t have access to a computer or smart phone. After using the SNL app, I was very pleased with it’s efficiency, and function, in being able to search any skit I wanted.

Iron & Wine

The Folk band Iron and Wine has released multiple albums. Lead singer Sam Beam has taken it upon himself to design the cover art for multiple released albums under Iron & Wine. Singer Sam Beam wanted to create a harmonious link between the music and the cover art for his albums. The picture above is the cover art he did for the release of Iron & Wine album Our Endless Numbered Days, title based on one of the albums lyrics. In this image you see a self-portrait of artist Sam Beam lying in a grass covered field. The brush strokes are similar in thickness, and are stylized along with the center figure being Sam Beam. By creating brush strokes similar in a vivid movement creates movement allowing for the viewer to move freely along the cover. In addition to movement the lines create a sense of harmony, linking humans to nature. Sam Beam completed this self-portrait as a way of creating a tangible environment he imagined for the song and the message of the album. As this is a cover art piece, it’s easily portable based on its ability to be seen on a CD to various online music sources. This allows for anyone to be able to see the artwork of the album. I think the depiction of the cover art of this album looks incredibly beautiful. The brush strokes of this stylized depiction of his self-portrait, and the grass in the back. The thick lines that create the figure and background are similar in thickness; this creates a sense of harmony between humans and nature, illustrating a kind and positive message. Although this album cover is incredibly beautiful and unique, perhaps the only difference I would have made would be increasing the thickness of the text on the cover. With using a natural cursive text, if not used properly it could create a rather illegible appearance. Overall this album cover is extremely beautiful and brings a smile to my face, it upholds a level of uniqueness that can be found in the sound of Sam Beams voice to the acoustic and soothing sound of the instruments.

Alert

Alert is a newsletter that is published and distributed four times a year. This newsletter is sent to supporters of Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontiéres [MSF]. This is a nonprofit group that delivers emergency medical assistance to victims of war and disastrous events from around the world.

            On the cover you see a man standing in the aftermath of an attack on a MSF hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, in this cover the man is standing with his head hung low staring at the rubble along his feet. The flames that still wrap around the edges of various pieces of debris are saturated in such a way that it matches the color of the text written on the cover. By selecting this level of red, it demonstrates the willpower and anger that the MSF, and it's supporters feel towards the numerous injustices that occur around the world. The top portion of the page is covered in red with indents that outline the title Alert. This image demonstrates the side of war and injustice that many people don't see. Newsletters like these give a voice and help to those in need.  

Peachtree Publishers

Peachtree Publishers is an independently owned literary publishing house. With specialties in children, picture, and young adult books, Peachtree Publishers send out magazine newsletters about their upcoming books to be published, as well as brief bios on the authors and book synopsis.

Illustrated by Mike Lawrence, this cover demonstrates a cartoon characterization of a young woman that represents the lead character of a new young adult novel called The Incredible of Cinnamon Girl. Compositing various elements, this cover contains a variation of colors, and design styles resembling comic books from the 1950s. Up close you are able to see the illustrator has incorporated an artistic style referred to as Ben-Day Technique. This technique was widely used among artists during the pop art movement. This technique involved dots that were spaced out equally along the entire page.

The characters face on the cover was zoomed in and half of her face is edited off the page. By vertically cropping her face down the middle, this has given the impression to the viewer that there is more to be seen. Creating an image that doesn’t fully explain itself creating a certain level of curiosity to the audience.

Bootlegger's Brewery

Found in Fullerton, CA Bootlegger’s Brewery is a popular destination for after work beers and relaxed outdoor setting. Bootlegger’s serves many locals in the Orange County area. Throughout the year Bootlegger’s Brewery will release several different seasonal, and limited released beers that vary along the color and style spectrum making sure that everyone will find a beer to their liking.

            Amongst the limited released beers, one caught my attention. Bootlegger’s Plum Riot was created to serve individuals that enjoyed a sweet mixture of beer and fruits. This Belgian Double, is a dark, malty tasting beer that captures the sweet aroma and tastes of Plums. Available in a bottle and keg, this allows for a vast availability for the consumer. The unique design of the label cover, allows for anyone to pick out the Plum Riot Bootlegger’s beer amongst a vast array of alcoholic beverages.

            On the cover of the Plum Riot bottle you see a large characterization of a plum with flared nostrils, arched eyebrows, and a large grimace demonstrating an angry face. On the front section of the teeth you see the Plum Riot beer label in a large black lettering with a yellow background.  The background of the label is a deeper turquoise color; the main imagery of the Plum is very intriguing with its design, although the background color should have been a little different. The blue and purple are a little too close to one another so the design gets just a little lost in the background color. Although the background color should have been a different color the text and placement is great, its overall a well executed beer logo.