Visual inspiration

I found this image in the August issue of Creative Review magazine. I really like the way the design studio, 2x4, fills the space with these larger than life cutouts for a fashion exhibition back in 2004. At first glance, I thought this image was of a bustling sidewalk in some major metropolitan city because of the way each figure is staggered. One image overlaps another giving the illusion of depth.

Another attribute I like is how the designers used the negative white space as a design element to outline each figure. I think of kewpie dolls or paper cutouts when I see it. It helps re-enforce the idea of 2-d objects interacting within a 3d space. That's pretty cool I say.

Werd! I remember seeing these ads all over Soho this summer. These are my favorite! And not just because I'm a carnivor. Ha! This image was also in the August issue of CR. Anyways, when I first saw these ads, on walls all around Broome Street and 6th Ave, I thought "hmm these remind me of old propaganda posters from the 1930s." And sure enough that's what the team from Crispin, Porter & Bogusky were trying to emulate in their designs. I love the type treatments. Everything is indicative to the WPA era from the minimal composition detail which gives you just enough visual information to explain the form, to almost heroic arrangement of the prominent figure or key visual. Those hard hats are too much! Is that style even around these days? The use of perspective is wonderful too! I'm a huge fan of authenticity. This is the way to take a concept/theme and carry it out from start to finish.

Alright, the scan doesn't really do justice to image, but you get the general idea.

When I look at this glass I imagine it's going to shatter if I stare too long! There's barely a hint of the glass. It's almost as if the brandy is floating in space. Mmmm I don't think a bottle of Old E can pull off the same type of response as this image. Words like elegance, pure, and sexy come to mind. The essence of a blue light are what reminds us of the form. Yeah I think the lighting is superb!