Archive for the ‘Graphics’ Category
Less Is More on Retractable Banners
All too often businesses attempt to ram as much information as possible on a retractable banner stand or billboard. While the impulse to provide consumers with as much information as possible is understandable, it can make an advertisement ineffective and convoluted. When designing a large format banner, you should communicate with as little info as [...]
Know Your Type: Avant Garde
The New York counter-culture magazine Avant Garde only ran from 1968 to 1971, but in its scant 14 issues, it had a profound effect on the world of media and advertising, and most of that influence came from its arresting logo. Designed by Herb Lubalin, the Avant Garde logo was so popular and influential, it [...]
Know Your Type: Futura
Futura is a geometric sans-serif typeface designed by Paul Renner in 1927. Its dynamic, powerful forms have made it a favorite of not just designers, but also filmmakers like Stanley Kubrick and Wes Anderson, who has used Futura exclusively for the titles and credit sequences in all his live action films. Futura can even be [...]
Know Your Type: Helvetica Part II
Helvetica was originally developed under the name Neue Haas Grotesk in 1957 at the Haas Type Foundry of Münchenstein, Switzerland. Initially, typographer Max Miedinger created Neue Haas Grotesk to compete with Akzidenz-Grotesk, today an all but forgotten sans-serif that, at the time, was very popular–one of the first sans-serifs to be widely used. Miedinger wanted [...]
Know Your Type: Helvetica Part I
Few typefaces have become as ingrained with our society as Helvetica. If you know what to look for, you’ll see it almost everywhere. The New York Subway System uses Helvetica almost exclusively. Many U.S. street signs are set in Helvetica. So is U.S. currency. If you’re reading this post on an iPhone right now, your [...]
Popular Print Designers
If you’re making large format graphics or creating signage or posters for display on retractable banner stands for a trade show, commercial or retail environment, you may be interested in finding some design inspiration in today’s most popular print designers. While most design is done digitally these days, created and made to be seen on [...]
Distressed Graphics
Graphic design goes through a lot of trends, from the minimalism of the ’60s to the over-edited graphic flourishes of the ‘90s, but one trend that seems to be stubbornly staying put is the use of textures to artificially distressed print graphics. The distressed look became popular in the ‘80s, when the Do-It-Yourself ethos of [...]
Misadventures in Color
Many banners we see are well made and eye-catching, but there are some common mistakes we unfortunately see a lot of. Typically a bright, colorful banner is a great way to get someone’s attention. If you are using colored text however, make sure you follow the Gestalt Grouping Principal. Let’s unpack this simple principal. Gestalt [...]
Online Color Palette Generators
One of the most important aspects of printing and design for large format banners is color. Color schemes attract attention, get your message seen and remain memorable as a brand and identity to potential customers and clients. Choosing which colors you will use to represent your company is very important. You want something strong and [...]
How To Replicate a Screen-Printed Look Digitally
Last week we discussed photo editing for large format banners and how a well processed, level adjusted and color-corrected photo can draw much more attention and leave a lasting impression over raw, unedited and unfinished photos. If you aren’t using photos as much as you’re relying on type and graphics to convey your message, however, [...]