What's the Story?

Well, we are already well into 2010 and I haven't posted in quite awhile. Last year was very busy, thankfully. Looking ahead, I can only hope that this year is even more promising. With the state of the economy being so-so, it is easy to feel a little down about it. Whenever I feel down, I combat those feelings with some color, as color has been proven to affect moods.

I love color! Especially color stories! So here is my color story for this year broken down into seasons. The colors I've chosen for this year's color story represent change, struggle and optimism. I think we've all been dealing with change in our government/society, struggle with the economy and hoping things get better soon.

Keep it Simple

With the ever growing worry about the economy and corporate spending, less is more seems to be the new trend. As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, you don't have to sacrifice good design and aesthetics while working with a low budget. A good designer knows how to make the most of any budget. A good designer also knows where to scale back and also what is absolutely necessary for a successful piece.

The sign in the photo above is for a newly renovated apartment community. They had a limited budget for a new sign since they were spending the majority of their budget on interior renovations. In order to make the most of their budget, the existing sign structure was refurbished and salvaged for the new sign. The photo below shows the old sign.

By using simple materials, an existing structure, and a fresh new panel design, the sign looks more expensive than it was. In order to save cost on lighting, the sign panel is a bright brushed aluminum and the letter faces have a reflective surface. Simple details such as the dimensional letters, the aluminum surround on the cap, and the spaced off main panel, give the sign a more complex look and richer feel. Again, good design can be affordable. You just have to find the right designer.

House Industries

Check out these beautifully simple specimens of House Industries Letters & Ligatures show at the Subliminal Gallery in LA. The show opened on November 8th and will be up until December 5th. It is an "exhibition of prints, patterns, installations and sculptures based on House Industries’ 15-year excursion into the alphabetical world." I ran across these photos on the House Industries blog, so I can't take credit for them. I only wish I could go to the show.

These installations are perfect examples of how sometimes the simplest (an least expensive) materials combined with fabulous typography can make for excellent displays!