I just designed the cover for Mick Guzman Photography’s 2010 Brooklyn Bridge Calendar. Two design directions were presented with three variations for design #2. The third variation was chosen as the final design.
Final Design (Third variation of design two)
Second variation of design two.
Design Two
Design One
© 2009 Ayana Baltrip Balagas and Mick Guzman. All Rights Reserved.
I had the great pleasure of seeing Peter and Benjamin Bratt’s latest movie and collaboration, La Mission this past Saturday, 7 November 2009 at the American Indian Film Festival (See link at the end of this post). I highly recommend that you see this film wherever it is playing. The film actually premiered at this year’s San Francisco International Film Festival in April, and continues to run the film festival circuit. It really needs to get shown in the mainstream theaters; so let’s see if we can make this happen.
I found myself wondering if I connected with the film so much because I lived many aspects covered in the film-La Mission, la cultura, and if that’s the case, how would those who didn’t be able to relate.
My answer: it’s a universal story in many respects. Everyone, if they connect with their human/humane side can find something in this film with which to connect. Peter Bratt is brilliant at drawing his characters in such a sympathetic yet truly human manner. Nobody’s perfect, yet even the flaws in his characters are drawn beautifully.
See the film. Buy the DVD when it comes out, buy the soundtrack when it comes out, buy the t-shirt now, and call Oprah and insist she have the Bratt brothers on her show to discuss the film. Call Ellen Degeneres, George Lopez, and Jay Leno, and insist the same.
Because my blog is primarily about design, I have elected to briefly discuss the poster shown below and comment on the artwork done on the “lowriders/cruisers” featured in the film as well:
The poster, designed by Florencia Garcia, has a graphically strong visual hierarchy, bringing the viewer in from top center by an up close shot of the lead charachter, Che Rivera, played by Benjamin Bratt decorated in his “life medals.” We then are guided down the poster by Che’s downward position of his head and eyes to the film title, rendered beautifully and appropriately (to the subject matter), and a beautiful photo illustration of one of the “lowriders/cruisers.” The artwork on the “cruisers” is riveting. Both the poster and car artwork represent so realistically “The Mission” District here in San Francisco while paying homage to the multitude of incredible artists that came from this neighborhood. The murals are also well represented in the film. Here’s the poster and a short video from this year’s 52nd SF International Film Festival with the film’s renowned cinematographer, Hiro Narita talking briefly about the film. Also, artists Mike McArdle and Jesse Campillo, who did the artwork on many of the “lowriders” seen in the film share their part in creating these incredible masterpieces.
La Mission: http://bit.ly/2Xrl5l
American Indian Film Festival: http://www.aifisf.com/ 6-14 November 2009, San Francisco, CA
Great examples of visual language for social good, politics, etc. More . . .
(via ffffound.com)
I just finished reading Fast Company Magazine’s article on David Adjaye, a London-based architect. He’s quite good designing Denver, Colorado’s Museum of Contemporary Art, and this fall, the Moscow School of Management complex he designed opens. In addition, he has designed the homes of noted actors like Ewan McGregor.
Now he’s slated to design the Museum of African-American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., a $500 million project. Quite an accomplishment for such a young architect (43 yrs.), whose in field where such grand projects often go to people almost twice his senior.
I’m always excited to read about designers who are making such a good name for themselves by their work, especially those who don’t necessarily fit the mold or box we often put people in.
Enjoy the article: bit.ly/1hr3A
Reliving my days as a photographer of so many great musicians. Two of my shots of Jimmy Bosch doing what he does, oh so well. That’s Mitch Frohman in the background. More of my musician shots can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ayanabaltrip/,
© 2009 Ayana Baltrip Balagas-All Rights Reserved
© 2009 Ayana Baltrip Balagas-All Rights Reserved
The studies were part of a typographic assignment from Steve Jones’ typography class at San Francisco State University I took as part of my Master’s curriculum.
Can you guess the letters?
An advertising agency has come up with a campaign to promote a forthcoming food festival – Telegraph
I became aware of this article via two folks on Twitter: Jordie Welles and chetan. A truly interesting graphic approach to advertising.
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Sharing a great find from the mehallo blog. Big thanks to Steve Mehallo
Eggs and Sausage by Jackie Lay
The MMSP 125 students assembled in teams of 2-4 and had to typographically design/illustrate their given sentence. Part of this exercise required the students to collaborate and reach a consensus on the design and design parameters. The concepts that evolved were quite good. The students shared that the collaborative process went smooth in some instances, and not so smooth in others. The other challenge was that the exercise had to be executed by hand. The students did not have to present a slick design, just a clear rendering of the concept.
Nice work all around.
I inadvertently stumbled upon MIT’s Next Lab project’s web site as I was trying to correct an incorrect link a friend sent. What an interesting project. Their mission partly states: “. . . believing that the global dissemination of knowledge will rapidly bring well-being to those who need it most. . .The Next Lab project challenges MIT students to address some of the most pressing problems in the developing world through mobile technologies . . . economic empowerment, health, civic engagement, and education.”
Ayana Airakan-Mance | design : speak