LOVE/HATE

/HATE/

http://real-ale-reviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/bays-breaker1-1024x660.jpg

The packaging of this ale is something that really bothers me. The cold blue and silver colours create something quite sterile and uninviting, whilst the background cheapens the design. The typeface used for the Bays logo would look better if other colours had been employed, but the other text used again creates a look that is cheap and unappealing. 

http://www.me-me-me.tv/images/2011/09/Katie-magazine.jpg

I'm sure the reasons for me hating this are obvious, and really, I'm not sure it should even be classed as a piece of Graphic Design. Katie Price's magazine was never going to look upmarket and classy, as obviously her target audience is, erm, not, but there appears to have been no thought put into creating this cover. The colour is saccharine, the cover is overcrowded and the typeface used is cheap, and completely devoid of any graphical taste. 

/LOVE/

http://i-donline.com/magazine/the-pick-me-up-issue/

i-D is one of my favourite magazines, and the art direction is one of the main reasons why. The simple format and design of the front cover means that the strong image isn't overloaded with unnecessary and distracting information, and the little information they do present is there to contribute to the theme and concept of the magazine. The i-D logo is fun and witty, and the use of the winking smiley is a trademark and recurring theme in the magazine. 

http://www.mattsmoviereviews.net/movie-posters-black-swan.html

These alternative Black Swan posters were created by design studio La Boca, and I think they are possibly my favourite set of posters ever. Influenced by Czech and Russian posters of the 1960's/70's, the set of posters uses only red, black and white to create something striking and unusual, whilst the visual of the ballet dancer and the black swan is both a clever and beautiful design. Film posters are one of my favourite forms of Graphic Design, especially ones such as this, where an alternative style is explored.

http://www.designworklife.com/2009/07/29/hello-letterpress-delicacies/

Letterpress printing is one of the things I cannot wait to do on my time on the course, and this is one of the reasons why. The intricacies of these cards, and the classic victorian styling combined with the soft hues create something that looks precious and beautiful.