Apple is famous for products that fuse exquisite design and well-considered functionality. Considering that, the typography used in iOS 7 demos seems an oddly superficial, cosmetic approach to graphic design, more concerned with style than functionality. The design employs lighter weights of Helvetica Neue liberally throughout the user interface. The apparent intention of the graphic design is to use the typography to augment the overall light, crisp appearance of the OS. The type use does do that.
But is it effective? That remains to be seen. …continued
There was considerable anticipation for the unveiling of Apple’s iOS 7 mobile operating system. In design circles, there was interest in how the appearance would change, now that Sir Jonathan Ive is responsible for the graphic design of Apple software. It was widely reported that Ive was strongly opposed to so-called skeuomorphic affect prevalent in Apple software, particularly iOS– illustrated add-ons like the leather look and stitching of Apple’s calendars, or the illustrated green felt of the iOS Game Center.
It’s one thing to be opposed to something; it’s another thing entirely to create a viable alternative. …continued
The fine folks at Buck were responsible for that fantastic Intent video that kicked off Apple’s WWDC 2013. The Blue Cross Blue Shield of California spot above is more evidence of their awesome prowess.
More lettering by yours truly. I spent and hour or so on this and Illustrator crashed. I hadn’t saved. Spent another hour rebuilding and then shared with my client. It wasn’t quite right. It was only then that I realized that it reminded me of Chik-fil-A. Maybe not a good thing?
This morning, I watched the keynote presentation from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference via Apple TV. The assembled developers, media and Apple faithful were there to witness in person new products and software coming from Apple. Like Apple keynotes past, their was excitement for software improvements and product launches that Apple has in store for its developers and consumers.
Here are some thoughts on the WWDC keynote:
I enjoy creating characters. This marketing genius is Dana Eiffel; I created Dana as part of the development for a video for my friends at Google. We agreed that the cartoon could be perceived as trivializing the video’s subject matter. Dana’s disappointment mirrors my own. I stopped working on the drawing before I created her desk and computer monitor.
One of the fun things about working on this drawing was learning to use the Astute Graphics drawing plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator. The Dynamic Sketch tool allows a kind of cartoon inking that varies the line width of the vectors that you draw. I did a sketch of the character on paper and then drew it in Illustrator using the sketch below as an underlying reference. Another thing Dynamic sketch allows is intelligent joining of strokes– so intersecting strokes (like those drawn so show the wisps of hair) are connected and the extra portions of the stroke are automatically deleted.
When it’s appropriate, I love drawing letters for projects. This sample is for a project I’m working on with an old friend. I’d like to think that it’s kind of Saul Bass-y. For the record, it takes work to make something look playful and random. But there is a fun aspect to it, too.
Red Wedding? Holy shit.
…continued
Winter Postponed on Memorial Day
“My whole week has been off. It wasn’t the 3 day weekend, it was the absence of a new Game of Thrones episode.#winteriscoming” I posted that claim on Twitter on Wednesday. It’s the truth. I really missed my GoT fix. I didn’t even have the Bluth family to make things right (we’re saving our Arrested Development marathon for when our friend Lara visits next week). As for Game of Thrones, everything is taking far too long in Westeros. Jaime Lannister’s redemption odyssey seemed headed for Kings Landing, only to be waylayed by Liberace and Matt Damon in a banana hammock. Three things need to happen before season’s end (this is conjecture– no spoilers): Catelyn Stark must get one of her kids back (the leading candidate is Arya); Theon Greyjoy needs to die and/or reveal his torturer’s identity (the guess-who-I-am game has been overplayed); and the Kingslayer needs to bed his white knight.
…continued
