Thursday, January 29, 2009

New Designer on the Block



We so often hear buzz about up and coming music artists, actors, politicians, and other public figures, but rarely do we hear buzz about up and coming graphic designers. It always struck me as odd that most people don't really care about who designs posters and other forms of media, especially the ones that stand out as innovative or unique. The clutter today is immense and we are surely not expected to critically examine everything we see, but I feel like the real talent in today's industry deserve due credit for their work. 

Steve Goodin is one of these individuals.  He is a sensational artist who uses perspective, color, and typography to create something truly original and ahead of the times. The way in which Goodin uses photographic elements and text is brilliant in my opinion.  It challenges the mind and the eye, both critical aspects to the arts of graphic design AND attention-getting. At first glance, the design aspect is rather overpowering, but i think that in order to get attention these days, there needs to be a "wow" factor. The elements require effort to be done on the part of the viewer in order for them to truly receive the intended message, but this ensures extra time spent negotiating with the material, and perhaps greater chances for retention.

Even though there is a great deal of symmetry to this poster, there is still a great deal of dynamics. This is largely in part due to the combination of bold and regular weight type, the use of perspective, and "motion". This example I posted above is certainly a departure from music posters we might have seen thirty, twenty, or even ten years ago.  Technology has really served as a tool without boundaries.  Steve Goodin is an explorer of this vast, new territory.

Lastly, I just want to give you links to the coolest Motorola commercials I have EVER seen! Steve Goodin created these for the Motorola Attila and the Niagara, which I don't even think I've seen out on the market yet. However, once these commercials air on television, I think they will receive positive feedback.  But until then, what do YOU think?

1 comment:

Dwiveck said...

I like how Goodin used the variations of light, regular and bold in the typeface family. He used them just right to emphasize the main points (he played up the PINK in PINKPARTY) and separate words without spaces (such as LIVEPERFORMANCESBY).

Of course, he also had to use the @ symbol, which has become integrated in our current culture due to the the widespread growth of the internet.

Also, I think the fact that the information is given in black and white lets the complex and colorful graphics (which are probably there to hint at the kind of atmosphere there will be at the party) to stand out.