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Leaflets - 4 types using different portraits
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Well, I have to admit, I was very fortunate with this project. 

I was able to provide the concept, which came quickly.
Take the photography on site, obtaining about 20 portraits.
Then design it all together to match the concept. 

The client wanted a design that was eye-catching, but straight-forward to help emphasise the “ordinary people” aspect. It was also important to keep the print production costs down, so the job was made two colour - cyan and black. Every little helps.

On the back burner (no pun intended) for a VERY long time. Months. In the end, I’m quite happy with the image, and I’ve stayed pretty true to the visual I had in my mind, and that’s a plus. Sometimes adding more can destroy the image, this one has had a long enough gestation to be content with now…. Officially laid to rest. :)

On a side note, I really dig the white-red-(kinda) beige combo. It reminds me of the BAR Honda F1 team - now they had really nice design I thought - futuristic and tasteful.

The nice thing about this kind of thing, is that you never really run out of source material…. Just as long as there’s a half decent design at the end of the process… At the very least it gives material for practice, and that is no bad thing.

That’s the only way things seem to get done. By really trying. Putting as much effort in as possible, until the time comes that either inspiration sets in, or another way becomes obvious, or for some reason the problem just disappears in some way.

I think the worst thing is if one gives up, no matter how tempting. A task can be put aside or attention can be diverted someplace else, and that would seem like circumventing the problem – giving up, but it’s just getting to a solution by a different route.

Must. Not. Give. Up.

:)

There are some things in life that are really lovely… Rain in London is one of them I think.

:)

Personality. That seems to be the thing that’s the most difficult to capture in a photo. Actually, I maybe should say that it’s what most difficult to capture in my photos.

It’s almost like taking portraits is kinda cheating, because you get to “use” the subject’s personality. But at the same time, there are some really wonderful portrait photos out there, that show both personality from the subject and great skill in capturing that moment.

On the other hand, maybe you can learn how to develop and capture that personality through photos… Like design work - when learning the craft of it, maybe it’s a case of experimenting until your own particular feel starts coming through….

Anyhow, here’s a picture. :)

Sara Mitra at the National Theatre in London. Great singer, with a lot of personality, a nice relaxed vocal style…. I think she’s heading for big things.

It’s pretty amazing how fast time passes…. Here we are now with Wordpress version 2.5, and a good couple of months since my last posting.

Well the good news is that  haven’t been idle, I’ve been working. I won’t bore anyone with the details (this time) but I’ll post a picture instead… I’m really enjoying photography, and I feel that I’m starting to make baby steps. :) We had snow in London, in April! Amazing!

Aaron

I’m starting to enjoy photography quite a lot.

I like how even mundane things are interesting when you really look at them. And good cropping helps focus the eye… It’s a bit like designing, but before the shutter button is pressed….

:)

There’s something very Liberating about permanent marker pens…

WIP: Stage 2…..

Final image. Love Thang. Heh. :)

It seems that the process is basically the same in design and writing (at least this kind of writing). Aim at the goal and have at it. The process I use works through organisation, research, etcetera almost on the fly. I see it as a cloud of conclusion. A general feel. Once it is reproduced it is possible to be satisfied with the design.

When I’m designing, I usually get a feel for what the outcome should be. It’s not always specific, but it is conclusion. There’s normally one element in the design that is mandatory to use, or that I know fits right - and that element allows me to take course to a final outcome.

I perceive that many Graphic Designers worry that their process is not transparent enough, or that for some reason the work ther produce is baseless… I am beginning to believe that it doesn’t matter. Or let me rephrase that - As each person’s brain works slightly differently, so then our method of processing, creation and completion differs. Perhaps one designer gets through all his work by using his eye rather than a specific rule of thirds, but the end result happens to look right - is it so bad that he used his eye rather than a rule? Of course it could be said that if a rule was used then the chances of “getting it right” would go up. Then again, not necessarily for that designer.

And so we straddle the fence between process and passion. For some the process is their passion. For others, there is all passion and no set process. For me, Aaron Chambers, the process is a Cloud of Conclusion, a feel, a vibe that my instinct tells me is right for the project.

This Cloud of Conclusion is what helps me make good artwork quickly.

Happy New Year everyone. I hope this year concludes positively, and ushers in a new year of joy.