VBFS with many changes

The Venice Beach Freak Show Poster has taken on a new look to add depth and inter-connectivity from the areas.  Text in the lower right box has been re-arranged, the banner has added details and shadows and circles are now expansive with bursts.
The turtle, frog and calf all have been updated with added detail.

RDS First Shot

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With our target audience of 18-25 year olds (college students) we are looking to


This first image is of a neuclear power plant that looks like it is giving off scary illuminated doses of radiation.  We are going with the slogan of "When  You're Toast" and variations of.  This image was going to work with a "reset" or "extra life" button like on a video game and the RDS identification (or just letters) below it.

While this layout is a possibility, we are looking at something a little bit more closer to "dorm". 

The Venice Beach FreakShow Progress/Updated

The Venice Beach Freak Show ad has undergone some changes that should make it more appealing.

Color for the entire background was added as well as color changes for specific items.

All text was aligned using grid lines. Text in boxes are right or left justified according to the left/right position of each box on the page.
All text stretching was removed and  replaced with spacing between letters.

The banner has gone through some changes including color. shading-lighting contrasts, and a slightly weathered appearance.



The gold/bronze color has be extended to the circular info areas that address admission cost.  The new look give the appearance of currency.

RDS Project 18-25 yr ' Word Bank 5 03 11

Oops, this got posted on kevinkdigital blog along with the other RDS post.


Understanding that my target group is usually more receptive to copy with 1-5 words (instead of 40-100 words), each word must be as powerful as a sentence or paragraph, and have the ability to help create thought (start a thought process).

For this campaign, any visuals (images) will be used to support the strength of the few words used.

Word Bank(s)
Disaster, catastrophe, melt down, Fiasco, Elmore, accident, mishap

Nueclear disaster, nuke, Fry, Fried, crisp, Toast

Recovery, rescue, save, resolve, make safe, resume, return, restore, refresh, repair, reconfigure, Neutralize, counteract, defuse, deactivate

Lesser negatives, No, don't, avoid, Prevent, Anti, Un, stop, prohibit, obstruct, halt, cease

After, Post

Additional word research would be text abbreviations.

Today the inspiration of a video game button came to me.  I will develop it,

VBFS , designed with that "safe angle" in mind

The latest in the "Fabulously Freakish" Venice Beach Freak Show is still using a compound grid (but reconfiguired)  and is targeting "local adults that would not ordinarly go to the freakshow". 

 This current design is using the illustrations as the attraction with text inclosed in boxes giving structure and order for our target adults  that do not like to "go outside the box".  The pastell colors used, offer a "safe, non-threatening feeling for our target audience.

The illustration of the "turtle" actually creates the illusion of breaking through it's sphere and enters those "safe" structured text boxes.  With the text in the right hand box, it describs the turtle "sunning itself on California beaches (doesen't everyone want that) and an inviting "Welcome" in yellow text.

The Venice Beach FreakShow Progress

After the first critique I went to work on creating the multi-head/legged animals as illustrations.  I have created both a turtle and a frog that I like.  Of course a big part of the project is placement of the pieces and text to create movement and flow.

Currently I have a one nearly completed version that I am working on the color(s) set with.



First draft with illustrations



In the Second version I am trying to create a "banner" to be included as part of the presentation.



Second Draft



The banner is laid flat and of a canvas texture with stitching around the outside edges.  The slogan runs vertically to catch the viewer's attention.  From there to catch more interesting information, one must turn the page to read.  For all those that won't put the effort in to turn the page, there is a Venice Beach and freakshow at the bottom of the vertical page layout.



The Freaky Progress of the Freakshow Project

Mesmorizing Draft (black and white version)

For the Venice Beach Freak Show, the first presentation included pictures  of animals and skeletons from the freak show.  A collage of three photos were used on top of a "mesmorizing circular movement background".  It was first created in color and later converted to black and white (as per project instructions).
In all honesty, I think the color version  captures more excitment than the black and white version.
While I am still having problems uploading any files (have tried AI, Photoshop, JPeg, FNG)  to the blog, I just managed to get this photo up now (4/22/11).

I tried to give it a 70's feel using the two fonts (including Comic Sans)

 The critique suggested that I illustrate the attractions (animals) to create something more in tune with my creative abilities.  Looks like that is what I will be doing.

Venice Beach FS Slogans

With the understanding that my previous slogans read like paragraphs, I went back to the drawing board to create a few more.

- Odd Beyond Belief

- Odd, No Doubt

- Peculiar but COOL

- One of a kinds X 10

- Look Ma, Two Heads

- Wow, Two Heads Are ...

- Oooh, Look At That!

- Look at Dat, Look at Dat

- SEE It To Believe It!

- Look But Don't Touch !


So, I am looking for feedback from this list, what do you like.

Venice Beach Freak Show (Choose Your Message)

What will you expect?

We all have expectations of things, events and places.
Even though we may have plenty of  information available to us, often times we come up with a quick judgment  about something.

The Venice Beach Freak Show lends itself to just that.  It in itself is a presentation that is a contradiction.  One example of this is how the term "freak" is used to identify the term  "different".  The word "freak" has a negative connotation and typically many people will make their decision based on that word.

Walking down Venice Beach you will encounter a colorful giant mural.  There is a large two headed skeleton that is waving, that grabs your attention and almost seems to poke fun at it all. 

Also outside is a man (a "barker" or pitch man").  In listening to him, we are invited to come and see the first display (still outside and no charge).
 It is a 9"x16" plastic tub with water and a couple of rocks and two live turtles.  What makes it interesting is that the turtles have extra appendages and heads.  They are fully functional and do what turtles do while kept in In fact if you had never seen a turtle before, you would have accepted the notion that all turtles look like that.

Yes, a live dog with 5 legs

In talking with the owners, it seems that their real intent is to show the differences that go on around us and  to hopefully gain people's acceptance of the many miracles that occur in nature that we rarely see.

Inside there are many displays that give examples of  some genetically different life forms, along with some live performers that do their best to show you that things can be

very different than what we expect to be typical.

Bad Ad Gone Better Working Draft

The Fekkai ad is now being created from the final rough (from rough set #5).

 This working draft is a start from scratch.  While it would be easier to scan and past all the text (from the original ad), the process of learning would be lost.
So, at this stage we have some grid areas (on separate layers) that have blocks of text, the vertical logo and locations, a sample of product, and the "introduction line".
Aligning the text blocks will create a flow in itself, so looking at the shape of each block as well as its relationship to the other blocks is very important.

Image to go here... not uploading tonight

Bad Ad Gone Better (Sample of Rough Set #3)

This is a redesign of Fakkai's color care ad (samples from Rough Set #3)
The ad now features a larger model with a focus on just her hair (no dress).  The three text pieces working on a horizontal flow pattern with a play on words using the word "Behind" to tie in "The Man" and "The Salons".

Sample of Rough Set 3 

 

(Vertical logo)

Sample of Rough Set 3        (Horizontal logo)

                                                 The product is close to the model's hair and is in a higher position above the other two text areas.

The Original ad featured far too many cute slogans to make to make this version workable.  "The Man Behind" slogan was kept and incorporates the word "Behind" to tie in the Fekkai text and the Salon text.  Intro to Fekkai remains at top of page and is layered on top of model (showing importance).  Negative space allows reader to start at model's hair and into the intro/luxury text.  Following the hair line will take the reader to the text areas below.  Salon locations seem to work best in proximity of the logo.

Bad Ad Gone Better (Sample of Rough Set #2)

This is a redesign on the Fekkai Hair Care ad.
A picture of Fekkai has been positioned behind the model to tie in with one of his slogans "The MAN Behind the WOMEN".
The hair if the model (similar to web site model's hair flow) directs the visual flow of the viewer toward the text at the left.                                         
                                                      

Rough Set 2 (1of 6)

Class critique suggests that man's picture competes with woman's picture and that the text can be better arranged.

Roughs (set 3) should address these concerns.

Bad Ad Gone Better

 These are some of the FEKKAI ads redone.

The original ad highlights the model as if it were a dress ad.  It also hid the product into the lower left hand corner diminishing the effectiveness of the ad.

The new drafts clearly highlight the model and her hair.  She is no longer full length, but she now has function and purpose.
The model actually separates the informational text (of Fekkai and his Salons) from the product to be advertised.  Viewers can be with Fekkai or go straight to the product.

Draft 1

Draft 9

Draft 8

 The Fekkai logo (name in script) has been lowered vertically and the hand of the model points or touches it.  The bottom of her dress points to one of Fekkai's sayings.

The product is now on the right side of the model in a prominent part of the page (as we read from L to R/ Top to Bottom).

Negative space is in the upper right and text blocks can be adjusted to create more.
The new design now has better flow.

I like this ad!
It is clean and simple.  I has clean white erasers that point to the text, simple colors (beige, white, and black), different lighting on similar colored objects (for color contrast and depth), subtle shadows that also ad depth. 

The composition is nicely aid out with open corners, and the brand name at the lower right corner (the last place we read-in western style reading). 
High praise for the Large Readable Text! 
Kudos to the person that underlined the SPF info and has placed "100% Fragrance Free" in a clear uncluttered area. 

Later I'll have to go back and read the text, for right now I'm good with the visual and what it is "supposed" to represent.

Bad Ad 1

This is bad ad 1.  As I visually came across this ad, I thought it was for a dress designer.  The picture of the girl in the long flowing dress, and the sweeping left arm (nicely pointing to the small print text) lead me to think "I guess she likes that dress ( and the bored dress designer pictured in the left corner).

  Imagine my surprise when I actually came across the words "hair" and checked out the less than prominent hair style on the model.  Upon reading the slogans "THE MAN BEHIND THE WOMEN" and "WEAR YOUR HAIR" leads me to think he might have a cult following, but then again what do I know about high fashion.    
More important than the product hiding in the lower left corner was the model's shadow that pointed me in the direction to change the page of the magazine...which I did.

Why Ad 1

I have come back to school to learn more effective communication skills that will help me express ideas (to those people that want to hear them).  Of course there will be those that are resistant to listening  regardless how skillfully information is presented, and I accept that.