School of Art, Design and Media at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Originality in graphic design or identity design can be a problem if designers constantly look at works in the same field. A good graphic designer looks outside of their graphic design bubble for inspiration. That’s why I look at all sources of design for inspiration and creativity. Take a look at Fashion, Art, buildings and architecture, history, nature, street art and other forms of design that are influenced by people/creativity to refresh yourself.

A very good example of creativity outside of graphic design is the School of Art, Design and Media building at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Build in 2006, it’s major architectural features are not meant to be architectural at all. The master plan for the school’s campus (originally designed by Kenzo Tange in 1986) left the corner of the school as green landscape. CPG Corporation, multi-disciplinary design consultancy’s design expanded on the plans but planned to follow it’s original purpose. They wanted the landscape to play a vital role in the design of the building, called a “non-building” which they very well did.

Large windows allow for people to observe the school's nightlife

The large windows were built to allow a connectivity with the surrounding landscape, as well as for a visual to the inside of the building from day to night.

Mahammad Ali poses for Esquire in this contreversial photoshoot

Esquire is one of my favorite reads, they stay atop men’s fashion, new products and have creative and some debatable material. Much more than now, content for the men’s magazine in the 60′s and 70′s featured controversial topics of the day, involving racism, feminism and the Vietnam War. Boxing during that era launched fighters into iconic status. None more iconic than Muhammad Ali. Aside from being the greatest boxer of all-time, formerly known Cassius Clay was a magnet for controversy. Ali’s conversion to Islam in 1964 deemed it necessary to negate his involvement in the Vietnam War in 1967. His religious beliefs and personal opposition to the Vietnam War led to an arrest on draft evasion charges. He served no jail time, but was stripped of his Heavyweight Championship title and had his boxing license suspended. He would not fight professionally for 4 years.

Designer and current icon in his own right, George Lois, featured Muhammad Ali a total of 3 times on the Esquire covers, forever changing the art of cover art. Muhammad Ali’s stand against the Vietnam war painted him as the classic martyr, suffering and dying for his beliefs. The true brilliance landed on Lois, who with a single image and a single concept was able to capture the struggle of Ali in April’s 1968 cover.

A 10 year span marked the age of George Lois’ iconic Esquire covers. From 1962 to 1972, Lois created and designed imagery, capturing the essense of the controversial decade of the 60′s. He made his mark on political views and changed graphical and conceptual advertising imagery forever. Viewed as one of the greatest adsmen of our time, George Lois has been honored by having his work featured at MoMA, exhibition “George Lois: The Esquire Covers.”

"Smarter Planet" icons for IBM current advertising campaign

Yesterday I posted some ads that were very reminiscent of Paul Rand’s work for IBM in the 70′s. Today, their current “Smarter Planet” campaign takes a bit here and a bit there from the old ads and also implements these very creative smarter planet icons to represent the markets in which IBM can help your business, whether a public company or government funded agency.

IBM ad executed in Paul Rand's classic Swiss style

I stumbled upon these great ads from IBM on Popular Behavior, thought I should share them with you. If you guys remember my article on the Eye Bee M poster by Paul Rand and Lenscrafter’s not so clever bite, then these Paul Rand-esque ads will really appeal to you (if you’re into graphic design).

My jaw dropped at first sight, as I thought they we’re undiscovered work by Rand. The new line of ads are a few from a much larger set for IBM’s “smarter planet” campaign. Some more below.

Helvetica is everywhere and with good reason.

A key for creating contemporary or minimalistic design can rely on the use of the right typeface. Most importantly is the right/strong concept of course. But in terms of font use, it must be bold, have neutral lines and have the versatility to be featured or sit in the background. Despite the controversy, and as much as it does get, the font of choice for many professional designers is Helvetica. Early on I very much disliked Helvetica, I was taught to by professors to do so, but I have come around. It’s a great typeface and has been featured in many posters and logo designs upon it’s creation in 1957 by Max Miedinger and Eduard Hoffman. Both set out to create a font to compete in the Swiss style of design market and what they designed turned out to be one of the most successful typefaces of all time. View some good examples of Helvetica in use below.

Chicago Transit Authority

Helvetica in Chicago's CTA identity design system

Excellent logo and poster designs utilizing Helvetica

Husqvarna logo

3M logo design

Tupperware logo design

Helvetica the film poster

Pan Am Posters

Vintage Pan Am posters by Chermayeff & Geismer 1971

Helvetica has it’s own movie, countless poster designs, advertisements, logos and identity designs. Helvetica is clean and if used right, upscale and sophisticated. It makes for good design. The best you can do is give it a chance, without being clouded by everyone’s opinion.

Reconstructing & redesigning Breezy Creative Design

I have been extremely busy and finally have a chance to post something. If you are a returning visitor, you are viewing a redesigned website, much better in my opinion than the last layout. It is a simple 2 column, easy to navigative site, compared to the previous 3 column. If you are not familiar with Breezy Creative Design, it is a design studio and blog run by me, William Perez, Chicago graphic designer.

The redesign has been in the works for quite a while now, but took time to implement due to my busy schedule. New design projects have also kept me quite busy, that and my own personal identity design project.

As promised in a March article, in which I posted 4 design concepts for the Breezy Creative Design logo (currently in use), the new logo is in. I am finally happy and feel the new brandmark really captures the essense of my business and me. I am very excited about the identity and can’t wait to post the project images on the portfolio page. Stay tuned as I will be posting soon, as well as some other design projects.