Designing With GRIDS and TYPE

One of the most important skills to learn in graphic design is the common use of a "grid" to organize information.  Here are some links to more info about grids in PRINT and for the WEB

This site is for grids used in web design   http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2007/04/designing-with-grid-based-approach/

And grids for print design is here @http://www.thinkingwithtype.com/contents/grid/

SCREENSHOT Envy

Build an image using SCREENSHOTS and a GRID

Screenshot is "command" + shift + 4

TO DO: 

1. Select and download an image into Illustrator.
2. Create a grid to use in your design..... any size you want..
3. Use screen shots to "dissect" the image and rebuild it using the grid.
4. You do not have to "image trace", just play with the screen shots.

Consider
*what happens to a small screen shot image if you enlarge or stretch it... interesting
* Use the clipping mask feature to "crop" an enlarged image to fit the grid....

Creativity Questions

* How will you use the grid to organize your image?

* How will you make EMPHASIS?

Here are controls for the grid...

 

 

Wonderful Examples of Creative Design (composition)...

Check out the winners of the illustration awards- notice how they: break up the page, have an object of emphasis, and move you through the image...

See the work here @http://www.theaoi.com/awards/archive-winner.php

Another good source is here @ http://designarchives.aiga.org/#/entries/%2Bcolors%3A%22r130g155b64%22/_/grid/relevance/asc/0/48/90

Please collect one example that you like and post the link to the designer's web site on your blog...

I liked Paul Wearing's work....  

see  more about him here @http://paulwearing.co.uk

Adding Type!

The fourth page of your book uses TYPE (letters and numbers) as the only shapes on the page....

Let's explore the tools to use in making type-

The type tool-

Choosing a font-

Type Control pannel-

Choosing type Alignment-

Gradients!

Love 'em! Let's make gradients and even gradients on lines!

Here is a closer look a the gradient control palette....

Here is the swatches palette.....

AND here's a great little movie about placing gradients onto strokes (lines) @ http://tv.adobe.com/watch/learn-illustrator-cs6/gradients-on-strokes/


Here is a fun example of what you could do with the gradient tool! Look how the artist manipulates the tool to get visually amazing results. See more here @ http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/tutorials/adobe-illustrator/create-incredible-subtle-gradients/#1

See more about the artist, Alexandra Zutto here @ http://zuttoworld.com/

     and here @ http://design.tutsplus.com/articles/interview-with-zutto--vector-2367

Creating and Changing Patterns

Here are links to videos further explaining how to create patterns....


Basic ideas- https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/how-to/define-pattern.html

A bit more advanced techniques here @http://tv.adobe.com/watch/learn-illustrator-cs6/creating-a-repeatable-pattern-for-the-web/

And here is a close up of the "Pattern options" pallete-

Finding Inspiration

I'm always looking for other artist's work to get ideas for MY work.... here are some I'd like to share with you...

Aboriginal Art has wonderful use of shapes and dots- each painting has a deep meaning to their people... here is a detail of one example, called Yanjilypiri Jukurrpa (Star Dreaming)1985  I found it on the "Google Art Project" site

See more about it here:

https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/yanjilypiri-jukurrpa-star-dreaming/OwFJq8V1PMI_Aw?projectId=art-project



Another source are "top rated" lists...

here's one for graphic designers.. http://www.creativebloq.com/graphic-design/graphic-designers-follow-behance-1012941

PATRICK SEYMORE's WORK

See more about his work here http://www.123inspiration.com/illustrations-by-patrick-seymour/

and the cool animated video is  here http://cargocollective.com/patrickseymour