designerdlog

MF 0403

just finished up another issue of mental_floss last week, so i thought i would post up some spreads.

2nd set of Alabama Theatre logos

Great comments, I'd really like to explore Stephanie's idea of a modern 'A' with ornament over it or cutting into it, but I think I've gotten too close to the end of the semester to spend a lot of time redesigning the logo when I've got so much else to do.

I made the type larger, drastically reduced the kern spacing, and tried to tie the ornamentation to the 'A' together. I want the logo to feel like there is a lot going on, because Victorian design is decorative to the point of silliness, but after reading the earlier comments I think that I needed to take all those shapes and tie them together, and to give the title more importance. Due to time running out I think I'm going to stop playing with color and just go with this more golden scheme.

-Andy

Help Wanted

Just wanted to put the word out that we are looking to hire artist #4 here at Details Communications. If any of you are interested or know someone that is please let me know!! graham@detailscom.com

Most of you know what we do here, but if you are not familiar ....
www.detailscom.com.

Its a GREAT work environment. I have been here a year (April 13!) and love my job, love the work,and love my coworkers. Let me know if anyone here has any leads. We would like to hire by june 1. thanks friends.

Alabama Theatre

Hello!

My senior thesis revolves around the Alabama Theatre's anachronistic quality. The Alabama currently is a venue using its movie palace or opera house feel as a novelty setting for bands, and things like dance recitals. Sloss furnaces works in the same way, by being an old building that feels very unique as a venue for modern bands and events. Sloss and the Alabama just happen to be at the opposite ends of the spectrum ;)

Occassionaly the Alabama will have a play performed there, but my thesis project revolves around the Alabama having a regular season on plays, to better take advantage of what the theatre has got going for it. The place is a very nice theatre, so I don't see why they don't show more plays there in reality, I'd be interested in seeing one there just for sake of seeing a play at the Alabama.

The logo is intended to have the decorative victorian sense with the ornament and the 'A,' while the name of the theatre is intended to represent the modern in its sans serif type, and that it overwrites the A. I'm still experimenting with colors, becuase I don't want to be told at the review that it reminds someone of Alabama football (big red 'A'). I had really wanted to use a big red 'A' and make the ornament black, but thats not really an option.

Also, I'm more concerned with it getting across the personality and anachronism of the theatre, than communicating that it is a theatre. I love that the Alabama and Sloss show bands there, and I purposefully avoided making an Alabama Theatre logo that limits it to being a place for movies or plays.

P.S. Thanks for giving us a place for out of class criticism

-Andy

again

thanks angie and slo for the comments. greatly helped.
so i had this long talk with richard and he says that he is ok with the green if it is unified with the rest of the mark and doesn't make the flower stem stand out so much. i definately want this to be fresh. (not like a dead flower which is what i thougth he was guiding me toward. oo sometimes i just dont' know what he's trying to tell me, but i believe i heard the words "take the green out", i don't know.) :)

slo,
the restaurant has a sit down part of it but there is a lot of hustle and bustle with takeout and the bar part of it etc. so i think the energy is appropriate. if it was a day spa or formal restaurant, something more soothing and tranquil would fit. zen.
adding the mark to any letterform is disasterous because the word mandai is unusual and it would be hard to read (but if it was a recognisable word like "china" or "asia", something that is in the general public knowledge i wouldn't have a problem adding stuff to the letterforms) i just don't want to add to the confusion of a possibly confusing word considering its not in the english dictionary.

the flowers are based off of orchids which is anywhere tropical but rare. i got the idea from this famous orchid garden (actually called mandai gardens) in singapore. in case u don't know, there are many different breeds of orchids so someone could say "orchid" and it could have a completely different shape and scale as another "orchid." i don't know why im telling you this except that i really love the rare flower and have been learning about them. :) (and that there is really no form that is orchid-like because there are so many) so this is an orchid but maybe i should try to make the large flower look more like an orchid-breed that doesn't look like a flower that is supposed to be on a lei?

as for not having the stem, i don't want it to go toward a really girly flower-power like thing, and i wanted it to be reminiscent of chinese brush painting. for it to capture the energy of it. also i liked the progression and movement of the arch and the flowers, even if it does point out into space. i want it to flow somewhere not leave you stuck in it.

so this is the progress for now.

angie and slo, please don't get sick of commenting :)
anyone else, feel free to chime in!

ps. we have 4 weekends left till presentation!
may 5th whoever is in town should come!

ps. to angie

angie, i need some help from you, NY gal. :) i need an address and telephone number for the restaurant. where would be a cool street to put it on? not that it matters THAT much but i want it to be perfect :) thanks.