RockBlog

Over the past few years I have been noticing sexy girls placed with a product to try to sell it. Obviously, sex sells, but I have been noticing more of this than ever before. In some commercials I have seen a girl just holding an object, and expecting that that is all the consumer needs to buy the object. An example is when Paris Hilton did a commercial for Burger King. All she did was stand in a bikini washing a car occasionally takign a bite out of a burger. What does Paris Hilton have to do with Burger King or eating hamburgers? The URl for this commercial is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P82hABWq1To

Recently, especially over winter break, I have noticed that digital billboards are becoming very popular in larger city areas. Up in Duluth we have a couple on Central Entrance going towards the mall. However, down in the cities there are digital billboards streaming across the western suburbs and the MPLS/STpaul area. They are not only showing advertisements, but also clips of the news, weather reports and recent headlines . I am sure everyone has seen these, but a website on some pictures is :
http://www.yesco.com/cmsimages/gam-nyny.jpg

..:: While enjoying an Art Hop/Walk in Rochester, MN, I noticed an artist, Nicholas Conbere, who combined print making, digital techniques and drawing in order to communicate on landscape and scenery. He included in his very detailed work film and sound as an exhibited piece. I loved how he put the viewer in the position of one watching the 'drawing' happening as a small flying plane transports the viewer from one emerging scene to the next::..
*not bad for Rochester, MN*

In class I had talked about how my sister had worked for a color forecasting company, so i thought i would share her website with all of you. It is called the painted hand and it is pretty interesting. I will leave it to you to explore, but she talks about colors and other visual forces that she encounters in Manhattan.
http://www.thepaintedhand.typepad.com/
I will try to track down the the color forecasting site, but for now enjoy this one.

Something that I have noticed recently in visual culture is the growing number of animated ads on the internet. When your mouse scrolls over the ad it expands and plays a small video clip. I first noticed these kind of ads a while back, but they are becoming much more apparent now on internet sites. One example would be AOLs Moviefone. If you scroll over the movie ad in the top right corner it will expand and a trailer will play.

http://movies.aol.com/

With the recent hype of the iphone and its "hands on"/"fingers on" user interface, our culture seems to like to promote a type of digital interface you can really interact with. I noticed with the iphone how your fingers lead you to where you want to go, right on the screen. I also have seen videos of a few prototype devices that also let you interact with the device "hands on." The device was a coffee table type computer interface that let you transfer your photos from your camera, via bluetooth and view them right on this glass coffee table. There was capability to enlarge, move, rotate and organize these photos all with your fingers. Interesting to watch to say the least.

One of the many things that I have noticed when it comes to trends in visual culture is the fact that all technology is becoming much more fashionable. I believe this is because technology has in a way reached a plateau until we can control things with our brains or reach another level past the touch screen. For example, the MacBook Air is a very nice computer, the high-end version being one of the best on the market, but what makes this so interesting is the fact it is so sleek looking. It is less than an inch thick (.76") so when one is to pull this bad boy out of his or her backpack, they will be the hippest, coolest person in the room. The same is with any phone or new technology now.

Considering the fact that visual culture is taking over the world, I find it difficult to ignore the "trimspa" trends, but on occasion i find myself taking a moment to criticize the details of poor design. Whether it is professional or student work posted around campus i admit to being cruel in my own mind. The most interesting thing, i think, i have been paying attention to lately is the weight and finish of paper. As i mentioned in class, i bought a geology textbook that took full advantage of a very modern, sleek design by using a smooth matte paper. In many cases the paper can compliment the design, but in others it can be distracting.
This seems to be the only video on youtube with a comparison of paper finishes—it is a little vague but it works:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X145nelmgw

It's hard not to notice anything in visual culture since advertising and other visual forces constantly surround us and are very much a part of our daily lives. In class, I mentioned how everything you see on the screen and in print is very utopian and somewhat dreamlike, in a different reality. Advertisers&graphic designers are trying to give the impression of an escape to a happy, perfect world if you buy their products. People in this profession now have the technology to really put someone in that escaping, nostalgic, utopian mindset. The colors and sounds are specifically what I've noticed in this advertising. The hues have been desaturated, and then somehow amped up to look almost jewel-toned and technicolor. It makes the setting look like a fairytale or an exotic place. Then combine that with a soothing sound or a fresh, new song, and they've made this realm of perfect bliss that only exists only if you buy the product.

I couldn't find the example I was thinking of in class on youtube, but I found another that kind of gets to my point.

Over the past couple of years the use of green and blue screens in film has become much more popular. In the series of films Harry Potter and 300 there's a surplus of false reality, which is all thanks to technology and a result of our world going in a digital direction. In films such as these, the viewer is fully immersed into a reality that otherwise would never exit, which ultimately creates a new sense of place and self. Our digital age allows for more wonderful possibilities.

After watching a lot of television over winter break, I have noticed that quite a few of the new car commercials are going with new, futuristic styles that really tend to catch the viewers attentions. The commercials are usually very clean and sleek; often fast paced. This specific commercials is based of the new Transformers movie. Once again; future based. The cars and transforming and providing an idea of how maybe the car itself is made.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB9RFlSVos0

What I've recently noticed in todays visual culture is that we tend to want to buy everything new, we want to be fashionable, we want the newest, sleekest, most powerful and most advanced model of everything. I talked about how commercials focus on the newness of the product, the speed, the design. This commercial refers to how in todays consumer culture, we are always throwing out the old and bringing in the new. I feel like this commercial has a much deeper meaning and message than it was intended to have. To me the commercial is hardly about the car, it's about our culture and how we are never happy with what we have, we are always wanting more. That is exactly what these companies want us to think, and that's how they sell products.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=DaTDVU19oOU

In class we talked about things that we have recently notice in the world of art. When I was back home in Fargo I said that I noticed art such as painting, drawing, etc. on unconventional canvasses like jeans. It was really cool to see art still transforming and always changing, you never know what they're going to come up with next. I also noticed, but forgot to share in class, how crazy talented some people are with chalk now, it's insane, they draw these huge murals on the streets and it looks three dimensional. I just find it really cool how talented some people really are and how we don't always have to rely on technology to create beautiful things.

one very talented artist Julian Beever and his work--

http://www.impactlab.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=7567

Some standout visual culture I noticed over break was definitely the laser advertisements in a public place. While at an outdoor mall in Mexico, the lasers created a display of moving advertisements on the overhead arch and side walls. I really feel this type of display reflects our world in technology and our need for constant visual stimulation and movement. The average person is getting bored with the same old posters and this is a new way to catch some eyes. I did find some laser graffiti (which is where this all began), but unfortunately, I could not find a page showing the exact mall location in which I viewed it.

http://holamun2.com/wp-content/ uploads/2007/02/lasergraf.jpg

Enjoy!

Here is another example I think illustrates the utopian, escape idea. In this Zune commercial, you can pick any wild destination to travel to and have the experience of a lifetime, all at the touch of your finger...literally. The colors are amped up and intense. There are even kangaroos hopping around museums... I guess that's exciting for some people.... it's like technicolor time travel experience to all exotic destinations of the world. You can see it on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0ZWXIf1Jq8

When working throughout the winter break I have noticed several different letterheads for various companies. I have noticed a trend of letterheads begoming more elegant, sophisticated and simplified. The one that I recently have scene was from a company who specializes in design making and logo making for other companies. Their letterhead was full of small squares layerd on top of one another in various shaped of purple. I do not recall the compaines name, but I thought that it was a great example of these new letterheads.
www.esectorsolutions.com/.../.esp.identity/

Recently I noticed a growing amount of handwritten typography. The Vis Lab had a poster last semester with a piece of notebook paper filled with handwritten type and small sketches. The rough handwritten style is casual and fun. It grabs your attention when looking at an ad because it is different.

The band Flight of the Conchords has promotional material that is hand drawn. This is not a great example but it does have some handwritten type.
http://www.hbo.com/conchords/index.html

As discussed in class, I have noticed that advertisements for Target have become more appealing for consumers. I had mentioned the idea they now have of the coupon flipbook that is distributed every so often. I found a clip of someone flipping through one of these coupon books. (Keep in mind it is not the greatest clip but it provides an image for anyone not familiar) http://seedsofgrowth.com/target-flipbook-coupons

Target also has interesting magazine advertisements. I believe that they are successful in the fact that they catch a reader’s attention by the use of repetition in the image. The same goes for the television advertisements. Here is a clip of a commercial I found on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPah6p04ZDQ

On a recent trip to Las Vegas over winter break, I saw an emerging trend of oversized advertisement. Everything in Las Vegas has an advertisement on it, including the busses and even the building. The hotels and casinos have huge billboard style graphics that exceed 15 stories. These advertisements are impossible to ignore and can even be seen from the airplane when your flying into the city.

http://www.wide-formatimaging.com/print/Wide-Format-Imaging/Building-Wraps--The-Skys-the-Limit/2$2252

One big thing I noticed recently has had to do with my own endeavors. I'm going over a few business card layouts and settled with one, but am still looking around. I've gotten a few cards from people, and have been noticing the layout of each. Some are pure, powerful text, others are more graphics based. Aside from that, the size of the card is also very appealing. There is the standard size, and then the 'moo' card which I displayed in class. It is about half the size of a business card.

Here is where you can have a look at what a 'moo' card is!
http://www.moo.com/

Fashion check! companies are designing such crazy and unique artwork on clothing now. Two brands that have caught the age groups between 15 and 30 are ZooYork and Famous Stars and Straps. Both brands always catch my eye when looking for inspiration in all the art I produce. Though there are many other companies producing sweet looking designs I enjoy ZooYork and Famous Stars and Straps.

http://www.famoussas.com/index2.html

http://zooyork.com/product/

YouTube has become a cultural Mecca for artists as well as all types of other professions wishing to promote themselves. Getting "discovered" is becoming exceedingly difficult for artists and musicians, and YouTube has proven itself to be a worthy outlet for such shameless self promotion. This link is to an artist named Phil Hansen that I came across while cruising the tube world. He creates works of art, usually portraiture, and then destroys them. The process and final piece is documented via video camera and posted to YouTube. Check it out, I've spent hours glued to these videos.

As I started to watch tv again over break I noticed how much advertising there was on the tv. And since I primarily watched football during my tv time, I noticed how many companies would be backing a team. I was saying that a team will get to the point where they will have a corporate 'middle name'. "We now present Super Bowl 42, presented by Planters, Cadillac, and

Over the last month or so I have become very aware of the various ads and designs that constantly surround my everyday life. It is amazing how many different ways that information is now given to the public. Check out some of the You Tube links for these cool new ads that are now being found all too often in busy public areas such as bathrooms, night clubs, and subways. Digital ads are in your face everywhere you go, making them hard to avoid and some are just so cool one can’t help but interact and interpret.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5Lr6yW9QbQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxM7Q2F5b7o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXQRU-6XXlY

I was recently sent a link to a burger king commercial. It’s pretty cool. I think the new burger king advertising campaigns are working very well because they are so funny and ridiculous. It’s hard not to laugh at the king!

http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001XDUth87A46cFY8wK-zHRvgdipn5UBYxoWDg1VoiBD_ZeiiSFYGbiu-h-H9ESaT-05Bssg32yisKQXBcyFnMXn9wlIF1EGNhrh65jQrFVoUTIytP9ufOwyuxWfFY6_nWm

I also found this “cool commercial� on you tube. It is not known right away what the commercial is advertising but the science involved keeps you in amazement and wondering what is going to happen at the end of it all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSvEgGKsiJA

The world has gone green. Organic and recycled material are buzz words used to sell you crap you don't need--at least it's made from recycled yogurt cups and organic soybeans.

It is astounding how many hacks can get crappy design into the mainstream. In the link below, halfway down the page, the text overlaps and becomes unreadable. Just as bad, most of the page is a dead end jpeg thats extremely low res. Gross.

http://premier-magazines.com/

The things I've noticed involving visual culture are the ways in which we incorporate colors with genres in society. As we discussed in class, color clothing forecasting exists to influences trends in society. This is a very interesting website to visit.http://www.apparelsearch.com/Fashion/Forecasting/color_trends_forecasting.htm

The things I've noticed involving visual culture are the ways in which we incorporate colors with genres in society. As we discussed in class, color clothing forecasting exists to influences trends in society. This is a very interesting website to visit.