Illustrator Renderings

Check out these USB designs I did for Burton. There are some illustrator renderings and marker sketches.

http://www.daapspace.daap.uc.edu/files/download/abendam/pX1ah0lx4zajQEV9Ql4CKyI3FUqqSKQm7TEkwEmsBCtkkfIoydpTDmSNnmussBCA

In the process of visualizing these concepts I learned:

-to show more contrast than is realistic just so the printouts read clearly from far away

-scanning in marker renderings can have mixed results

-but marker rendering is deffinatly faster than photoshop rendering, no time wasted on "ctrl Z"

Kort Neumann

Kort creates an interesting collage of drawings. His dynamic composition and textured background give added emotion to these car renderings.

Check out more at:
http://www.coroflot.com/public/individual_work.asp?individual_id=236855

Technology for Thought

Following the trend of most technologies, projectors are getting smaller and smaller. These little guys are popping up in cell phones and in portable pocket projectors. The signifigance of these innovations is potentially huge. Projections can replace screens, keyboards, even the buttons on the ATM. This all adds up to material savings and potentially cost savings.

An even smaller technology, the memristor, seems like the stuff of sci-fi fantasy. A memristor allows your computer to remember what is stored in memory when turned off. Your machine will not need to be booted up and will be more energy efficient. Just think, someday you'll be telling your grandchildren about when computers took a whole sixty seconds to boot up.

Fiber technology seems to be all the rage lately. This Eleksen fabric keyboard uses switching and sensing fibers to recieve the input. The keyboard becomes a bag for a small laptop or mouse. The power to make hardware--- soft is mind blowing!

Tease Me

Along with the critics' reviews, a movie trailer may make or break a movie's success. It is a first impression. It is a balance between revealing enough to interest and withholding enough to tease. Here are some trailers that take different approaches.

The trailer for I am Legend tells a story from the beginning to--- what may seem like the ending. Is there enough unknown to tease? This approach may be due to the movie's remake status. I think the technique works well for a plot driven movie.

The trailer for Darjeeling Limited takes snippets of the movie and pastes them together in a new order. Scenes are even intermingled with one another. This trailer is a prime example of combining things in a new way in order to highlight the strengths of a piece. And good music doesn't hurt. Seeing a trailer like this makes me think, 'this movie has a lot of good scenes, I just hope I haven't seen them all in the trailer.'

A design teaser should be careful not to give away all the top work so the viewer can be further impressed when they look at the portfolio rather than feeling like they have seen it all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4B7FW8b5qI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO1bYukdvLI

View My Teaser and Portfolio

View my teaser (a digital copy of the postcard size print) at:
http://www.daapspace.daap.uc.edu/files/download/abendam/uabsIC6Ry3xgjCrub0U0fLmZ_7zZ21FA-yEsI8wNKOJlgQwY6NkiEuiCCI8N5q1V

View my updated portfolio at:
http://www.daapspace.daap.uc.edu/files/download/abendam/uabsIC6Ry3xgjCrub0U0fBVLZma2dsVDqS27uBYymN6_yCUOWhOurNd6uEX4wG6e

Comment on My Portfolio

I'd love to hear comments on my portfolio at:
http://www.uc.edu/propractice/ind_design/Abend_Alicia_10.pdf

Here are some concerns I have, but feel free to comment on anything...

-Does my graphic add personality, or is it just distracting?
-Does the font add to or take away from the portfolio?
-How can I make the soccer bag project better?
-Should I keep the jewelry design project in my portfolio or not?

Thanks for your help!

Clean Branding

The "people against dirty" have made their message so clear it has become obvious: cleaning products should be clean. You can't argue with that! Their fresh and approachable packaging has made it fun and easy for anyone to be "clean." We trust method because they tell it like it is. This brand demonstrates that if you have a message that can be explained with one simple tag-line, people know you believe in what you are talking about, period... and they will believe it too.

New Media Portfolios

Getting your name out there as much as possible seems to be the key to landing a great design job. There are many tools that can be used effectively in addition to the standard print or PDF portfolio. Blogs and personal websites, even networking sites like Facebook or LinkedIn have become standard ways to see and be seen. A YouTube portfolio can be an impactful teaser and definitely shows off your mad software skills. Here is a nice example of what can be done by adding the element of time to your work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvAdHMaSweM&feature=related

This sophisticated graffiti showed up on the wall of a Chicago underpass shortly after election day. Props to the anonymous artist.

Hello World

Hopefully my future musings will amuse you including this-- an introduction to me. I am an Industrial Design student at the University of Cincinnati. I read somewhere that Cincinnati has fewer sunny days per year than Seattle, but I spend many of my days working under the fluorescent lights of DAAP. When not in school I've had a chance to work at GE Consumer and Industrial in Louisville, KY, Fitch in Columbus, OH, and Webb Scarlett deVlam in Chicago.

And now, some personal aspirations for the quarter ahead:

-1- I hope to immerse myself in the design world more often whether it be through design blogs, magazines, or discussion.

-2- I plan to be more efficient with my work so there is more time to play. I work best in short intervals broken up by trips to the fridge, a run around the block, or more exciting social adventures. Sitting down with a plan before I start to work is also key.

-3- I also desire to make my sketch style more exciting and dynamic, but not sloppy. STEP1 is to get a clipboard and paper together. STEP2 is practice with a purpose. STEP3 which comes before after and during STEP2 is to observe and emulate other sketching styles I admire.