Newspaper Spread

For our applications to newspaper next year, we have to design a two page spread on a pre set story. I took this as my opportunity to think "what if?" and challenge myself to design this like I would want the paper to look like next year. So, I spent time looking at fonts and such and trying to make this the best I could make it. I love all the colors on it. I tried to make a spectrum look for the picture area and I think it turned out well. One thing I tried that I think turned out well is putting the folio's (page numbers) on the sides of the pages as opposed to the bottom. I think visually this changes things completely and gives the spread a very different look. I also just happened to find a quote that worked perfectly for this design.

(click the image to make it bigger. It is tough to get a good idea of the spread without seeing it blown up much larger)

-Cory

Currently Listening To: Deas Vail, "Birds and Cages"

Water Bottle Label Designs

Lately, I feel like all I have been posting lots, and lots, and lots of t-shirt related things. So, I have been meaning to post these designs for about a week now. We were tasked in Graphic Design with designing labels for the district wide water bottles that are sold. I like all three of these designs a lot. My personal favorite is number 2. Let me know what you think.

(I have lots of stuff I need to be posting here over the next few days. Some t-shirt designs/updates, a newspaper spread, and some other misc. stuff. Keep me honest!)

-Cory

Design 1

Design 2

Design 3

Currently Listening To: Copeland, "You Are My Sunshine"

Revisions!

Today I got done everything I wanted to change and worked out all the kinks in one design. Overall (as far as this project goes) today was a very productive day. I even finished another design for the shirt! So, again, I open my work up to criticism like I did the last time. Let me know what you all think on everything.

-Cory

Front

Back

Design 2 (Front)

Design 2 (Back)

Pictureless Update on the T-Shirt Design

First off, let me start with thanking everyone for the criticism on the design! I really appreciate input from everyone and have taken what everyone said into consideration. I tried my best to address all people who commented in my last post in the comment section if you want to check that out. Here is the run down on what I am thinking for changes from the original design:

-Color scheme will be changing a little bit. I made the design just based on a random color scheme that I liked and after talking to the person that wants the t-shirt made, I'm going to change the actual shirt color (background) to a smoky grey color. Most likely this just means the green will be going away. I'm up for other ideas as to if the yellow needs to be changed to a different color as well.

-The main design has seen some moderate changes. I got rid of the cross at the bottom below the text and centered the road. I also added some mountains directly on top of and touching the Denver text (at the wonderful advice of many people).

-I have many, many different versions of text with different styles of mountains on it. I may post more than one version with differing mountain styles, so I would love to know what people like the best. I'm going democratic with this design.

I also will most likely start another design, just to give some choices. I hate to say as a designer, "here is one design and this is the one that needs to be published". Choice is good. That will be done and posted most likely by the end of the week.

Again, thanks everyone for your input on my design work. When I originally started this, I figured it would just be a good way to visually see my work in a different way. I didn't expect it to allow me to help filter my designs and make them better. The updated design will probably be posted by tomorrow or Wednesday.

-Cory

Mission Trip T-Shirt Design (Critique Wanted)

About two weeks ago, my cousin tasked me with designing the t-shirt for his summer mission trip for Denver. I was thinking about what to do for the design and finally decided to go back to an old (unpublished) t-shirt design I did for a friend. I modified it quite a bit (it was the Frosh t-shirt if you recognize it, never was made). I think it has turned out really well so far. I may have to change the yellow to a different color to make it a tad more readable, but other than that I really love the color scheme.

Advice, changes, criticisms (positive and negative) are all very welcome and wanted. Let me know what you think. Since this is a design for somebody else and not just for me, I want it to the be the best I can make it.

-Cory

Front

Back (design 1)

Back (design 2)

Grizzly Bear and Phoenix

Today, I hit a wall in newspaper. I was getting so bored that I had to revert to an old favorite as far as graphic design stuff. I did a couple more photo illustrations for Grizzly Bear and Phoenix. These two bands had my #4 and #1 favorite albums of '09 respectively, so I figure they deserve the illustration treatment. I must say, whenever I return to these I can tell I am gradually improving as a designer. Comparing these two I just did and other ones I have done recently, I can see a difference between the ones I did a few months ago. I have a few logos and a pretty sweet water bottle design I have done in graphic design this week, so be looking for those in the next few days/week.

-Cory

Currently Listening To: The Myriad, "With Arrows, With Poise"

Scatter Background

There isn't much to say about this one. I just used my scatter brushes (I know I know, I use these all the time) to make a quick background for my computer at school. I just like how much detail these brushes put in. All the colors on the black background stand out really well.

-Cory

(If you go here, you can see a lot better)

Currently Listening To: John Mayer, "Battle Studies"

Best Images of the Year (That Were Done By Me)

This is the blog post I have been wanting to do for a really long time. I feel like in the past year, I have come a very long way from where I started. This year, I essentially taught myself how to use Photoshop and increased my proficiency at InDesign. I also think it is funny to look back at all the different types of projects I have given myself. Anybody who has followed this blog has seen me gradually go from phase to phase to phase. I feel like this post is interesting because you can easily see all of these phases and the design tendencies I have. So, without further ado, here are the images/designs/cd covers/illustrations/everything that I am proud of in the last year.

Because I can't really decide how to organize this, I'm going in chronological order

Winning FCA T-Shirt Design

Aaron Gillespie of Underoath

Ed Breckenridge of Thrice

Spencer Chamberlain of Underoath

T Shirt design I did for a friend (never was actually made)

Paramore Concert Poster

Underoath Concert Poster

Edited Image of my Jumping Stupidity (picture courtesy of my friend Raquel)

Banksy "Flowers" Photo Illustration

Tree (Brushes) Design

Greg Hill of Mute Math

Mute Math "Armistice" Alternate Album Cover

Spoon "Transference" Alternate Album Cover

So, there it is. There is my year in review as far as design goes. I know a ton of people don't read this, but I appreciate those who do. Hopefully as this new year goes on I will be able to post a lot more.

-Cory