Designer’s Eye is a series of articles in which I offer a graphic designer’s view of the world.

The Birds and the Bees

This series of commercials was created for Sherwin-Williams paint store by the animators at Buck. They used paint swatches to create a fantastic world full of magic and color. I was impressed by the creativity and beauty created by the artists. I thoroughly enjoyed the first commerical and was pleasantly surprised when the second one came along. The spot also features uplifting melodies to accompany the beautiful images. Check out the videos below if you need a refreshing break in your day!

Sherwin-Williams Commercial Featuring Birds

Sherwin-Williams Commercial Featuring Bees

Designer’s Eye is a series of articles in which I offer a graphic designer’s view of the world.

Projects LARGE, small, and in between

Sometimes people aren’t quite sure what a graphic designer does. I have a pet project that I work on every year that illustrates the scope and variety of the work I produce as a designer.

The Graphic Excellence Awards, administered by a trade association, Printing Industries of the Gulf Coast, is an annual competition for printers. Early on in the project, the client and I meet to decide the overall theme for the evening and we decide what promotional items are needed.

Sometimes the theme is based on the venue. This year the gala was held at the beautiful Crystal Ballroom of the Rice Hotel, so we selected an image with cascading jewels to use in the pieces I was to design. My objective was to create an image and concept versatile enough to be used in all of the materials the project required.

The first piece I designed was the “Call for Entries” mailer and entry form. Printers fill out the form and submit printed samples of their work for the competition. I also designed an advertisement for placement in the trade publication and provided web-friendly artwork for posting on the client’s website.

As entries for the competition began to arrive, I designed an event invitation to be printed and mailed to association members and the printing community. After all the entries were in and the judging was complete, I assembled a PowerPoint presentation featuring photos of each winning entry. The presentation provides entertainment and is the highlight of the gala.

I designed a certificate that was printed, framed, and presented to the winning companies. I prepared trophy art for the top awards and submitted artwork to the awards shop. As we approached the day of the event, I designed a program that outlined the events of the evening and also recognized the many sponsors. I also created signage for use during the event.

There are many ways a graphic designer can help you communicate clearly and effectively with your audience. Not every project has a scope this wide, but a designer can help you understand the choices and select the products that will work best for you!

Designer’s Eye is a series of articles in which I offer a graphic designer’s view of the world.

Let there be light!

Ten years ago, we moved into a house that has a very large front door with an ornate leaded-glass panel. Though it was not our taste, we received many compliments from friends and visitors about the door. After years of slamming and dog-jumping, the glass panel began to bow outward. Each knock or visit from the mail carrier caused me considerable anxiety and dread.

In a rare proactive moment, I decided to have the door repaired before it became a crisis situation. Naturally, I turned to the Internet, and after a quick search found Freebird Glass, in Cypress, Texas. I was fascinated by the beautiful photographs of work they’d done in churches and homes in our area. It’s also a family business that has been passed from father to son. Scott Eaton, the owner of Freebird Glass, convinced me that this door was one of a kind and worth salvaging. I was eager to have these talented craftsmen restore my door to its former splendor.

The workman, Nick, came to remove the glass panel. Because of the size and complexity of the job, the panel had to be taken to the workshop to be restored. After removing the panel, Nick placed a sheet of plywood in the center of the door. I was surprised and a little bit saddened by the sudden darkness in the front hallway. The inability to see our visitors (before opening the door) was also a bit disturbing.

After two weeks, I got the call. The glass was ready to install. The next day Nick arrived to place the finished piece back into the door. My first glance at the door took my breath away. Each bevel sparkled in the morning sun, and the effect was spectacular.

Now I’m in love with the door. Somehow, the act of having an item rebuilt brought me a certain pride and newfound appreciation. So often, we find that we must replace instead of restore. But I’ve learned that there’s great satisfaction in making the effort to bring something beautiful back to life.