Full Throttle: Part 2

I received an update on this project recently. After considering the original design, the customer forwarded an illustration of what image/style they specifically desired. After hours of work on the original submission, I wanted to see how I might be able to alter my illustration to better fit their idea. After some trial and error, I simplified the design and roughened the stroke on each and every shape that makes-up the motorcycle. The effects made the illustration look more hand-drawn and still allowed for personalization (difficult to see on this posted image). No confirmation yet on whether the client approved of this version or not, but the Creative Director I'm working with said it would work. 

Key Concepts

After a couple different versions, this is the end result of the design of a Realtor's magazine ad. Initially the client was looking for some ideas and the Creative Director and I developed 3 solid designs to present (see below). After a few days of inspection, the customer came back with a rethought design. Above is the final ad.

Sheepish in Wolves Clothing

I'd never volunteered to participate in a photo shoot, but this was my last project at this job and I wanted something to remember this one. We (the photographer and the co-art director) hired two hockey players and reserved time on a local rink to get some great shots for our high school sports catalog. After about 45 minutes of taking product shots it was time to have a little fun with the time we had left. So I put on the mascot costume and had to take a few minutes to get used to working with oversized feet on the ice (definitely not made for that). I took a few turns as goaltender (thankfully using soft foam pucks) then getting checked into the boards. Only thing I was really worried about was loosing a couple toes. Thankfully that didn't happen and I made sure to keep a couple raw images to remember the project.

Full Throttle

I love those projects that I can really get into. This one didn't start that way, but it helped when things went right. A friend who I've worked with before requested I do a motorcycle illustration for something he was working on and I jumped at the chance to work on something unique. He said not "cartoony" and not too detailed, but something he could later dismantle and change the color if he wanted to. This took a few hours, but like I said, it helps if you enjoy what you are working on and things seem to be "going well" (like shapes seeming to fit together well, colors and shading turn out good, etc.) as you're working. Haven't received word back from him yet, but I'm hoping it's something he can use. We'll see.

Blast From The Past

After seeing one of Minute Maid's recent TV ads, I thought I'd post one of my designs/illustrations that I produced in college. This was a promotional poster done for the Central Minnesota Arts Board back in 1997/98. I was never paid for the work, which is never good, especially for a college student, but I was just starting to experiment with computer graphics and design (as you can probably tell) and was just excited to hear that they chose my idea to produce. At that time, that was enough.

COMET Advertisement

After finishing the trailer graphics (see previous post), the sales staff needed a flyer to attract customers (mostly schools) to schedule a presentation. Attempting to remain within budget and because the trailer had just been completed, no shots had been taken for publication. It might not have been the best weather (raining), but I grabbed the company's digital camera and took various photos from outside and inside, making attempts to shoot from angles that would make the trailer appear larger than it is. I even recruited a coworker for demonstration purposes. Due to the poor lighting at the time, Photoshop was used to clean and brighten-up the images that I chose to use.

COMET Graphics

A caravan of trailers were purchased as part of a plan to streamline the presentation process for the company's sales staff. Eager to tackle this project, I worked on some concepts (bottom) by acquiring images from the manufacturer and using various Photoshop tools to mock-up designs and present them to the company. A reduction in the project's budget meant some simplifications to the original design, but I modified the design to a version that pleased everyone involved (top).  Illustrator and InDesign were also used in the transfer of any complex image files to the installer.

Catalog Referee

To continue the sports theme for a School Spirit catalog, I developed and illustrated this referee character. Inspired by an old sports reference book which visually illustrated each of the referee's hand signals, I created various symbols for quick shipping (shown), a guarantee, customer questions and others. 

Tradeshow Button

As part of a promotional campaign for distribution at an annual tradeshow, I attempted to design all the requested information onto one 3'' button. With a website address, catalog logo, phone number, as well as the name, year and theme of the tradeshow, it seemed like it might get a little crowded. But using the longest line of information more as a border (andersonsevents.com) it freed-up some space for the rest. 

Trucks

These trucks were a quick return on a request for a realistic, but simple-looking illustration. This is an example that sometimes it's easier (for me) to sketch an idea first, then recreate it in Illustrator.

Bears Don't Wear Shoes

After a deciding on which photo to use, there was still an issue with this mascot. The costume was nearly complete but the feet were not available at the time of the shoot. I used Photoshop to clone existing parts of the costume, dodge and burn tools to add or subtract highlights and shadows, and color hue and saturation adjustments to match the "new" fur to the existing surroundings. Shadowing effects were then used to simulate the legs overlapping the new feet. 

Return Postcard

A business reply postcard meant to communicate how the customer (schools) can use funds to purchase products and supply or request additional information by tearing off, filling out, and sending in the questionnaire.

Product Diagram

A design that is meant to show how a group of products related and operated with one another. Check out more of my illustrations and page concepts on www.variquest.com

Sketches

A sketch from an early drawing class in college when I thought I would go into illustration (rather than Graphic Design).

Lumberjack

After illustrating a list of standard mascots, I attempted to incorporate a different character into the lineup. This design wasn't produced, but thought the file was worth holding onto.

Product Instructions

Travel Illustrations and Symbols

Varitronics Logo

Company wanted to update their original logo (bottom) to a more modern design (top) to accompany it's new product line logo. This meant incorporating similar characteristics while producing a design that is strong and looking as though it predated the existing logo.

Product Line Art

This line art was produced in Adobe Illustrator and is to be used for various uses, most likely for fax communications and solicitations to customers. Since it was not for a technical use, more emphasis was directed more toward visual perspective.

Prom Catalog Frame Layout

Always looking for something to make certain layouts and products stand out, I attempted some overlapping effects and a transparency to some of the copy backgrounds.