Liz McMillen

SPACE

2008-05-07T13:46:00.002-04:00

This is an illustration for Pocket Sized magazine. The theme of this issue was "space." I think the illustration has great movement. I like the contrast between black and white, it keeps it simple but energetic. All the different pieces flow well together without being too busy. It's dark and mysterious, but exciting and alluring.

2008-05-07T13:40:00.001-04:00

Yes, this is how i feel after sitting at the computer all night working on finishing up all my projects.

Forever Plaid

2008-05-07T13:29:00.004-04:00

PRINT magazine this month has an article about how everything in Scotland is plastered in plaid, from food packaging, to billboards, to people. Many of the images shown in the article are of traditional tartan plaid.

I really liked this variation, it's an ad promoting Glascow, Scotland for the 2014 Commonwealth games. I think the plaid on top is a fresh take on a classic Scottish image and the logo below even incorporates plaid without being terribly cliche.

Colt 45

2008-05-07T13:24:00.002-04:00

You'll have to click on this image to view it larger, and even then it's still kind of difficult to see all the details.

It is a brown paper bag with graffiti-like illustration to for none other than Colt 45. The brand is seeking new ways to promote it's image and appeal to a younger, hipper crowd. I think using a brown paper bag is genius! A reminder to designers to always explore different mediums but never forget something so simple and clever.

New Typeface

2008-05-07T13:19:00.003-04:00

This is BLACK SLABBLATH, a new typeface from Stefan Kjartansson releases this past February. The article says
"it began as an experiment to push the maximum amount of black into white space, yet still carve each character judiciously from its initial block." -PRINT magazine, June 2008

i particularly enjoy the bold geometry and i think it's playful, almost like blocks or legos the way the letterforms fit together.

Paragraphs?

2008-05-07T13:13:00.003-04:00

This layout isn't anything particularly special, but there is an element that I really enjoy: the paragraph breaks. You may have to click on the image and view it larger to see what i'm talking about.

Rather than using a traditional return, the paragraphs are separated by a double backslash. The backslashes are red to provide high contrast to the thick, black ink of the text. I think it stands out nicely and is a creative way to represent paragraph breaks.

student work

2008-04-08T15:56:00.002-04:00

speaking of student work...here's the winning piece for print's annual student cover competition. looks great! i seem to remember seeing loopy, swirly patterns like that a lot of places over the past year.

Shocking

2008-04-01T14:38:00.002-04:00

This is a typographic illustration by an artist named Travis Sterns. His goal with this project was to "develop new characters that express the way we talk and would make it easier for others to understand our stories.

The other important thing he says is "you have to be aggressive with your designs." I think that's great advice for any designer...don't be afraid of your own creativity.

body box

2008-04-01T14:23:00.002-04:00

since we've been working on box designs in class this particular piece caught my eye. it's actually packaging for an invitation for a "heart art" event.

i think the image on the right is the top bottom front and back unfolded...pretty cool idea for an invite.

Od d

2008-03-13T12:52:00.002-05:00

This is from How magazines' most recent design annual. It's in invitation for something called ODD SPACES. I really enjoy how the designer used a simple but eloquent space in his typography to illustrate the title of the show. I'll never cease to be amazed at how the simplest solutions are the most sophisticated and astounding.

AlphaBits

2008-03-06T12:55:00.002-05:00

This piece was inspiration for one of my Pretzel Letter Package designs. I think it's the cover of a child's book to learn the alphabet. I like how the letters overlap, it's very energetic...perfect for kids. I will play around more with color and vary the opacity of my letters, as well as fine tune the typography.

Pantone Ad

2008-02-25T21:27:00.002-05:00

bad-ass

Juxtapose Showstoppper

2008-02-17T16:45:00.002-05:00

This is an image from JUXTAPOSE magazine. The image is entitled "Expressive Deviant Phonology" by Lucy McLauchlan. It was inspired by musical sounds and artists drawings. The musical inspiration comes through very clearly, her lines have a wonderful movement about them, almost as if they are sounds or melodies. The repetition of the faces moves your eye throughout the piece seemlessly over and over again. I really enjoy this one!

Point of View?

2008-02-11T15:12:00.000-05:00

This is a photograph from Madrid's PhotoEspana show 2006. The series captures and abstracts natural landscapes. Clearly, this image stands out because it is upside down. I supposed it's not a difficult concept, to turn the camera upside down, or the print for exhibit purposes for that matter, but I find this particularly intriguing anyway. As you gaze at the image, you first wonder if maybe it's a reflection into a lake, but then you see the road, but just a glimpse of it. The tree takes up most of the canvas so there isn't much else information to go on, there almost isn't a clear perspective for the viewer, it's disorienting.

BKLYN

2008-02-10T20:25:00.000-05:00

this is a poster for the musical BKLYN. i think it's pretty amazing in how much it says without actually "saying" very much. the designers used a few key elements that convey a lot of information. placement of the poster on a chain link fence in the background gives it an urban feel, rips in the poster suggest decay or destruction, bold, stark letter forms beg your attention, and the heart is clearly iconic of NY.

Identity system

2008-02-04T10:47:00.000-05:00

I chose this out of the Print magazine's Regional Design Annual from this summer. It's an identity system for some company. I didn't get the gist of what kind of company it is because the type is just too small to read, but the design is very appealing to me. Not only do I really like the warm colors, I like how simple the design is. It's very charming and a true testament to the "less is more" theory.

BIGG SUCCESS

2008-01-31T20:27:00.000-05:00

this is a blog some of my friends are launching as a new business endeavor. I designed their business cards and the current header...now that I know more about layer styles I'm definitely going to play around some more with the type. I only used the default bevel and emboss in this sample, I think I'll experiment with some more layer style options!

http://biggsuccess.com/

Embossed?

2007-05-02T14:18:00.000-04:00

This is a really interesting piece because the feet on this page are actually raised up over the page...i think that's referred to as embossed, please correct me if I'm wrong.
It really helps convey the meaning of the ad...like baby's footprints in plaster that your grandmother hangs on the wall.

This also stresses how important it is to have a good relationship with your printer to know just how fancy you can get with your work.

Purple

2007-05-02T14:15:00.000-04:00

I like the way the letters butt up to the edge of the solid purple box...I used this element as inspiration for my CenterStage project.

The Grid

2007-05-02T12:31:00.000-04:00

it's kind of hard to see from the scan, but they've got the guides from the ominous grid actually printed on this particular page...I think it's clever to take such a basic design element and illustrate it. It makes you take a moment to step back and reconsider the fundamentals.

2007-04-11T15:22:00.000-04:00

New victorian engravers script from House 33...looks like something by Herb Lubalin with extended, fancy swashes

2007-04-05T15:26:00.000-04:00

Here are some really cool uses of typography from this months Print magazine.

2007-04-02T14:27:00.000-04:00

This is a layout in JPG magazine. I really dig the black and white, minimal text, and sparseness. I love the shadow mirroring the actual image on the opposite page.

2007-03-14T21:46:00.000-04:00

2007-03-08T18:30:00.000-05:00

2007-03-08T18:11:00.000-05:00

Here is the logo and business card I created for the fictitious design firm, Emily Dickinson Design Group. I used a sans serif font for less clutter to imitate the writing style of E.D. The colors are and forms are simple, clean and contemporary.

Menu Ideas

2007-02-28T20:34:00.000-05:00

Here's an idea for a cover for our new food menu. I like using the monkey from our logo...I think it's a nice, playful element to include, but muted colors keep it in line with our general image.

Wine School!

2007-02-20T09:35:00.000-05:00

Here's another ad I did for Boltini...my boss wanted something that looked "classroomy" so I photographed our chalkboard and used it as a background. I found and downloaded a font called "chalkie" on typenow.net. Is that breaking the rules?

Save the Chief

2007-02-20T09:25:00.000-05:00

http://savethechief.blogspot.com/

2007-02-03T15:38:00.000-05:00

Vertical for Hospitality mag

2007-02-03T15:36:00.000-05:00

Horizontal for Hospitality Mag

The Black Party @ Boltini Lounge

2007-01-25T20:12:00.000-05:00

Come out to celebrate (or mourn) the imminent smoking ban in Champaign at The Black Party at Boltini on Sunday, January 28, 9pm Party-throwing powerhouses sonia+andy are hosting and promise a veritable circus of clubland fetish, including surprise performances throughout the evening, and C-Us' dopest DJs Mertz & Chris O will be spinning dirty electro, funk and house in the sunken dancefloor. get your drink on with $3 Jack Daniels Mixed drinks all night lonw! Guests are encouraged to wear black, leather, rubber, or fetish.,,,with a circus twist, if you wish. You can't avoid the smoking ban in Champaign, but you certainly can still get down before it hits!

As always, NO COVER!

Cool poster

2007-01-23T22:18:00.000-05:00

William Gibson: "All Tomorrow's Parties"
Christopher Morlan, designer
Jeremy Stout, instructor
Academy of Art University
(San Fran)

"A promotional poster for William Gibson's novel, All Tomorrow's Parties. Deconstructed photos of San Fransisco's Bay Bridge provide the geometries while precariously suspended type supplies the tension of an uncertain future."

-CMYK (n0.35)

It's almost disorienting to look at close up...just imagine driving by the billboard...

Layout

2007-01-23T21:54:00.000-05:00

A layout from CMYK magazine...I really dig the graphics on the title page, simple but eloquent.

First Post

2007-01-17T13:29:00.000-05:00

blah blah