HOW Magazine Project: Fold Effect in Photoshop

This project was all about formatting and layout. I chose to create a replica of the HOW magazine. I focused on a newly learned effect of how to fold your type. It was hard at first, but once I got it down I started to make my own adjustments and add things to the effect to make it better and unique. I learned a lot about formatting because everything had to be similar to the HOW layout and magazine format. That was probably the hardest part - as I used Illustrator instead of InDesign (CS5 --> CS3 conversion difficulties). I hit a mental block in the middle of it, but I think the end result was better than I thought it would be.

More Stuff iLike

So I've been collecting, searching and finding some great art and design. Mostly I've been noticing several styles that I enjoy. One company that is rocking the ad world, and also happen to be in front of me a lot, is Houlihan's.

Houlihans has made some major changes lately. Good ones. They're atmosphere has always been sarcastic and relatable. Their menu, waiter's t-shirts, and emails I receive all have the same tone. Here's one I saved because I thought it was clever. It's so simple, to the point, funny, & sarcastic. The graphics are simple and their logo is incorporated throughout the ad. Good call, Houlihan's.

Something I always find interesting is how a company's logo changes throughout the lifetime of the brand. Companies are constantly switching logos and updating them. Pepsi tried to change theirs. Gap, Burger King, Prudential, etc. Of course, there are also companies who have not changed or changed very little in the past: Coca Cola. Coca Cola is one of the top, if not the top, in brand recognition for the world. Their logo is a graphic in itself. People automatically associate it with one thing: the cola drink. I don't think they're going anywhere for a while - unless someone finds out that it gives you cancer or something... then they'd have a problem!

JCPenny has recently changed their logo. For a while I didn't know if I liked it because it was too clean and simple, but after watching their ad campaigns on TV it seems to work for them. They're trying to be more hip and fashion-minded. They've simplified it by using "JCP". Keeping the red and white of course was good. Here's a before and after:

Right now I'm working on re-creating a logo for the Cure JM Foundation. One of my relatives is suffering from JM and his mom started the organization and is still the creator and organizer. She's raised money for research and awareness as well. I thought it would be cool to play around with what they've created so far. Hopefully by the end of it I will create a logo, illustration, brochure, and website/ad campaign. We'll see how it goes.