Beginning and End

        An element  of graphic design that has caught my eye would have to be a certain comparison.  Mainly, when you compare the beginning ok skill and technology,  to the end. While it's easy to look at the wider range of design throughout the ages, I feel it's important to acknowledge design changes across small amounts of time. How small am I talking about? Well, as always, let's look  ahead.

      So, as we know, the artist can improve over time. So long as they keep learning, and practicing what they do, you will see a massive change in skill. This might be seen as a change in one's art style, or an increase of content. Granted, this isn't to say skills will always improve. That's always going the be up to opinion, or could have a third-party involved like injury. Still, it is something to keep an eye on throughout an artist's life.

      What I really want is to focus on however, is how one can use a specific tool. For this discussion, let's turn our attention to the Gameboy.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia. 

       In the early days of the Gameboy, the games were pretty simple to understand. Games like Tetris were easy to program in, meanwhile games like Super Mario Land were essentially heavy demakes of games like Super Mario Bros. However, as the technology of the Gameboy began to be mastered, and well-learned, things improved. We had games like Pokemon Red and Blue, which featured multiple, collectable characters with their own stats We also had the Wario Land trilogy, based off of the original Mario land, but with a new set of mechanics, better sprites, and refined controls.

    So all in all, I would say it's fun to watch styles from beginning to end. See how one can change, and improve, whilst working with what they have. It can, in turn, inspire others to follow suit, and learn more about design. With all of that being said, thank you for reading, and stay tuned!

 

Beginnings

     

      So, to get the elephant out of the room first, yes it's weird that I'm doing this after I did Conclusions. However, considering people usually think about the goal first, they usually think about how to get their later. The beginning step is still the first obstacle one needs to overcome however. It's not just having an idea and presenting it, it's making sure to start off right. How do we learn about these characters, or has this been done before? Well, let's find out here!

       Now, in terms of a first chapter or episode, you'll want to give a good first impression. Setting a theme for the show, having the characters show their personalities,  etc. Now, you might not have the best beginning,  but can still tell a great story going forward. Great, but don't forget to at least try with a first impression. Be it a chapter, small video, or season, put your best foot forward.

     When it comes to beginning a project though, It's a bit different.  It's not just having an idea, it's planning it out, testing with audiences, getting licenses, etc. Acto accordingly,  and get through the first part before doing anything else. Don't put the cart before the horse,  ambition is good, but keep it under control.

      So, there you have it. Plan your beginnings well, and make sure they go over well. You only get one chance at a first impression after all. 

Exaggeration

     Exaggeration can be a fun tool in graphic design. Now, I'm not talking about misleading clients, or handing out bad promises. What I am talking about is exaggerating images, scenarios, and just  seeing how far your can go. We all want to convey emotions somehow, and the best way to do that sometimes is to really go at it. How does exaggeration work? well let's find out.

       This topic came to my mind while I was watching playthroughs of an excellent indie game called Pizza Tower.

Image courtesy of Pizza De Tour on Steam.

         One of the main aspects that make this game so good is the expressions on the main character's face. Not just any expressions, exaggerated expressiosns! When the character is angry, his face stretches beyond what  it should. When the character is happy, his smile goes beyond the cheeks of his face. This is an animation style done before,  but it really shows how good exaggerated expressions can be done.

          Now, it doesn't work exaggerating expressions all the time. In moments you want things to be serious, you might want to keep yourself restricted. However, exaggerating how a person moves, and how they talk can help express the emotions you want. Especially if the story is silent, and you can't talk things out. At the end of the day, exaggerating emotions is a balancing act to receive the end product you want.

       The point I want to make here, is don't be afraid to exaggerate movements sometimes. If you want to draw running, make the character's legs loop in a circle. If you wanna make an impact seem bigger, add an explosion to it. Exaggerating features and elements is a good way to help your work stand out. With all of that said, thank you for reading, and stay tuned!

The Key Ingredient

      For every recipe, you will find an important ingredient that ties it all together.  It could be the ingredient the recipe is named after, the ingredient that holds it together, as long as it's important in some form. In another sense, there are ingredients that I would argue should be kept out of recipes. Flavors that don't mesh well, or could just make the food inedible. Like all things I talk about, this applies, to graphic design. So, let's talk about it.

       To start us off, let's dive into what makes a specific piece work the most. It could be the shape of an image, a character related to the product, etc. For an example, let's look at the Simpsons.

Image courtesy  of IMDB

      While not the main appeal, part of the reason it gets your attention is the yellow skin. It was eye-catching, and without it, it's possible the show would never have become as popular as it is now.

      However, what's something that could ruin a product if put in? Well, I thought about this, and I figured a good answer would be making Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone a musical.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia. 

        Keep in mind, I'm speaking of the movie version. However, knowing the context, and how whimsical that film already is, I feel songs might have made it a bit too kiddy. Not to mention, if you did that for the first movies it could cause a strange ripple effect that involves the rest of the franchise. Where does the tone go from here, do we add song numbers in other movies, it just makes things a mess. So, in this sense, musical theatrics isn't a needed ingredient in the Harry Potter series.

        So now we know about ingredients, which ones work, and which ones don't. I know there will be those who have differing opinions than me, so feel free to experiment! Part of the fun of cooking and baking is trying to find what works and what doesn't, and graphic design is no different. Go and find test the recipe for your designs, and see if it needs anything added, or taken away. With that said, thank you for reading, and stay tuned!