Transcript
Page 1: Graphic design – taking inspiration

Graphic Design – Taking Inspiration

There are some basic concepts that apply to website design regardless of the client, specifics, industry,

etc. Surprisingly enough, if you stop and think about it, most of these concepts relate to almost any kind

of ‘art’ or design created for a marketing purpose, whether web or print. Basically, the concepts involve

being artistic while maintaining the focus on designing for a marketable purpose. This often involves

maximizing the space available, but without cramming it – maximizing the impact, not the content or

imagery! It’s best to have the focus on a single element in the design and, if circumstances permit, have

an auxiliary design based on the central focus.

Here are some amazing designs that have served their purpose

through history and why they worked!

Nirvana’s Nevermind album art made history, for a few simple

reasons.

1. The concept is innovative, original and unheard of. To me, it

conveys the idea of people bringing their kids into a world where they

drown while being baited by money. Maybe deeper than they

intended, but it works.

2. The design is uncluttered. Just the artist name on the bottom in a nice font, and an underwater

wavy effect added to the font of the album name. Perfectly done.

3. Apart from words, even the design is fairly uncluttered and aesthetically pleasing, testimonial to the

fact that sometimes less is better!

Page 2: Graphic design – taking inspiration

Ah, The Goldfinch. On first look it seems as though the book is tearing – that’s just the perfection of the

design.

1. The book looks like it’s tearing. That alone automatically draws your hand to

it when you’re walking through Barnes & Noble! If it draws your hand to it,

you will probably lift it up when you realize that the cover is just meticulous

artwork!

2. The cover is relatively empty apart from the focus – the bit of the opening in

the paper where the Goldfinch is visible.

3. The effects used go well. The entire homemade, meaningful feel about the

cover just works flawlessly, sending the message, “you can’t see much here;

open up and you can”.

Perhaps one of the most meaningful posters of all time, this one is a winner from

every angle.

1. How you choose to interpret the splitting of the body into blood

red petals is up to you, but the sheer artistic nature of it draws

eyes and keeps them long enough to make a significant and

memorable impact.

2. Standard rules were followed – limited wording, restricted to the

bottom, and a central focus without too many jarring ideas on a

single page.

3. The contrast of the red against the black and white draws a stark

and significant connection. Using this in graphic design can be

immensely helpful to draw a reader or viewer’s attention to or

away from a specific aspect.

Sometimes, the web designers can break their heads on these kinds

of things, but the answers are really just right in front of you. You can

get inspiration from so many places and things if you look around – again, something us graphic designers

have very little time to do in between coffee breaks and staring at the computer screen!


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