This is the first installment of our Design of the Week feature. It’s a post where we will pick one of our designs to find out if it works or not, and why. A kind of troubleshooting after the fact. At the same time we will be learning a few principles of Layout, Typography, Beauty, Balance, etc.

At first glance this looks like a beautiful composition. I would say it is! It has simplicity, symmetry and Continue reading “Design of the Week (Tabou Combo)” »

This is a lesson in simplicity. I believe in making everything as simple and easy as possible. Not only because simple flows naturally, but because simple is beautiful. One does not have to explain it; it goes straight to the core of our being. Simple does not go against the grain and complicate things unnecessarily. The truth is also simple. Continue reading “A Lesson in Simplicity – No gray” »

I love Vintage Movie Posters. Their beauty and style are unmatched by today’s graphic compositions. I completely agree with whomever said that the designers of our times are just technicians (in computer graphics). But, the designers and sign makers of the 40s, 50s and 60s, were first and foremost, artists. In the true sense of the word!

For today’s study, we will consider two posters of the movie “A Streetcar Named Desire“. First the popular American version, then the German version.

American version. Here we have a beautiful poster. Rather unconventional but nevertheless beautiful. On this side of the Atlantic, it’s a Classic. I kind of like it for the controlled balance it exudes. But, let’s study it thoroughly, to see if there is anything we can learn from a Layout point of view.

Let us start with the top part. It stands in strong contrast against the bottom part, for being mostly graphic. We have a brushed red rectangle and a scene from the picture. In this frame, there are two distinct areas which are almost diametrically opposed: the picture with the gray background vs. the white space. We also have a block of text vs. the picture itself. We could even go so far as to say that the text relates directly to the man, while the woman is interposing. Even though it may not seem so at first glance, this top part has very good balance.

Continue reading “Studying Vintage Movie Posters” »

Gen de nouvèl (osnon zen) on moun tande ki fè ou reflechi anpil. (Nou gen on gwo chans: frè ak sè nou yo gendwa sere ou moso manje, men yo pa p sere ou moso pawòl. Kidonk, se pa okazyon pou on moun reflechi ki manke.) Lòtrejou, etan m chita nan klinik kay doktè ap tann tou pa m, gen on madanm ki vin antre epi li koumanse ap pale: “Bagay sa a rive twò lwen atò. Pou moun yo tonbe ap kidnape atò machann kann kale! Ki kote pou fanmi malere a jwenn lajan pou yo al tire l. Mwen menm, m pale fanmi m yo dèyè a, si you ladan yo ta kite yo kidnape l, li tou chire, paske m pa p gen lajan pou m voye tire l, m pa p gen senk ti wòch, alewè pou m ta jwenn konbyen mil dola …” Continue reading “Soti Nan Kaptè Tonbe Nan Kidnapè” »

Akòz on tous pongongon ki te mete m kouche semenn pase a, m pa t gen chans pou m te suiv okenn nouvèl Ayiti menm. Lè m vin resi pran lari nan dimanch pou m fè on virewon, m santi m on jan etranj, konmsi m te gentan dekonnekte ak nouvèl yo…

Gen on sitwayen ki di: “CPP a 2 a zewo sou Prezidan an: apre Erik Pyè, yo pran Ti Bòb tou!” Nan kè m, m di: Nou mele! On dezyèm reponn: “Ti Rene pa bay Continue reading “Ou Kwè Yo Konn Lajan?” »

As I said in an earlier post, I am aggressively learning everything I can about Creative Graphic Design. It takes dedication and time, but at least I know exactly where I want to go. As a beginning artist, I must balance a few important and distinct elements of what I call “my graphic journey”.

Learning Graphic Design itself

I am not a graduate of any graphic design school, and neither have I had any specific classes in this particular field. As a consequence, I must learn everything myself. I must read everything I can find on the subject, in print or online. I have to learn about the basic elements of design: color, shape, type, function, balance Continue reading “Learning Graphic Design” »

This is Jessie, the Cutest German Shepherd ever! She is the one who made it all happen. Thanks to her, Lakay Graphics and Bagay Lakay came into existence.

Continue reading “The Cutest” »