Wordy Ads

The above is an ad for the Proton Exora that was featured in an issue of The Sun. Just looking at it it has too many words, explanations, elaborations and whatnot. This ad also best describes many print ads for different companies around Malaysia; at least it is from what I see. Simply put, text based information crammed into a print ad taking over the main role of visuals.

This design module for many Malaysian ads or any ads at all is quite ineffective. Advertising's main game is to sell a product but does it by drawing your interest, by tickling your feelings and make you desire. Once an ad has hooked your interest then it's job is done; it just has to show you where to find any additional information via websites or service centers location. After all, if one is interested in something, they will be motivated to find out more about it on their own, making all those facts and figures not just a waste but weakening the advertising effort as well.

Another thing is that the ad above is not that attractive. The thing about text is that one would actually have to be imaginative to have it have an impact; like reading a book. That's why typography is so important in advertising design as well, bland text just won't do. Ads need to sell quick and sell hard and that's where attractive visuals do well over boring old text; removing the need for any imaginative effort and screams out "look at me, I'm awesome and you know it".

What you do with things

There is potential for art everywhere, on any surface with any tool. Something as simple as a toothpick htat can be turned into a work of art, if only we can see how it could.

This is an elegant sculpture made of cut up toothpicks that are arranged and glues together to make up a smooth and interesting angles and curves.

I suppose this can be seen as a sculpture made of toothpicks in raw form. Unbroken and in its' fullest, the toothpicks are melded together to form a star or energy burst.

Shrinking in size, this is a bridge made out of a single toothpick. The toothpick is cut, carved and shaped with delicate skill to build what resembles the Golden Gate Bridge.
Adding some color to the work, this little alien is carved out from a toothpick.

What these few examples show is that it does not matter what tools we have. We can have the most expensive paints, highest quality pencils or the best design software, but if we don't know what to do with it it remains useless. An active imagination is needed to see the potential for art.

Environmental Sculptures

An environmental sculpture is when the environment and the sculpture work as one to create an overall artistic experience for the audience. Environmental factors are such as the source, intensity and direction of lighting, existing elements of the environment that the audience will interact with and space and atmosphere. Careful planning is required to scout the area where the artist wants to work. When it is finally planned out, the artist will make his/her sculpture at the desired area, the sculpture and environment complimenting each other which only together becomes an artistic experience.

Another meaning for it is the usage of natural elements of our environment such as wood, vines, leafs and seashells to create a sculpture. Using natural resources to make the sculpture in nature can be an eco-friendly artwork.


This sculpture is made by Joshua Allen Harris. It is made by sewing together a bunch of garbage bags and attached to areas where air is expelled around an urban area. An example of using the environment to bring a sculpture to life.

These heart shaped sculptures are made with what looks like vines and tree branches. They are made by Trevor Leat.

This sculpture made by Andy Goldsworthy looks like it was made by stacking a assortment of stones together. Must have took a long time to do it. He mentions that the sculpture and environment combined are to show the process of decay. In this case, the work of art has a significant meaning behind it, not just something to look at.

Reference:
[Image] http://www.leatrigg.co.uk/trevor_leat.html
[Image] http://mcparlandp.wordpress.com/2011/02/23/environmental-influences-2/
[Text] http://www.bethgalston.com/env_sculpt.html

Japanese Product Design

I find Japanese to be one of the most creative people in the world. They dress in funky outfits, build giant Gundam figures on the streets and have some pretty weird products like Bilk (milk + beer). Also considered crazy by most of the world, they certainly prove to be a pool of creativity. Guess to be creative you have to be a little nuts.

Here are some really wonderful product designs.

This is actually a notepad.

Multiple emoticon packaging of nuts.

Cute matchstick boxes.

What better way to show it's fruit juice than to actually make the box resemble the fruit.

This just shows that there is no actual end to the design of a certain product type. A simple box can be transformed into so many kinds of art. Even matchsticks that people just use and throw away can be pleasing to the eyes. This has certainly raised the bar in product aesthetics to the point that one would even consider whether to throw the packaging away or keep it.

Reference:

[Image]http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/inspiration/japanese-product-packaging-design/

Outdoor Advertising

Outdoor advertising is the act of placing ads in a public environment where the message can reach a wide audience. These are large scale ads such as billboards, public transportation vehicles such as buses or their stations, images on buildings or in the general path of the public such as staircases, floor and elevators.

The nature of outdoor ads provide the creative minds behind the advertising campaign a huge canvas to work with. The goal of any advertising is to first draw as much attention as possible, to get people to notice the message that is being sent. This allows the creative department of an advertising agency to go that extra mile and make wonderful designs or large scale creative work that makes people stop and stare in awe.

An everyday billboard turned into a huge submarine telescope.

Kinko's whiteout makes a zebra crossing for pedestrians.

Just an ordinary flight of stairs. Just don't step on it like you would on that poor kid.

These are some examples of really creative use of the ready made environment and make it part of the ad. They are interesting to look at and they sort of serve as a decoration for what otherwise would be quite a dull sight.

Reference:

[Image] http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/70-creative-advertisements-that-makes-you-look-twice/