Book Covers

First task, think of one of your favorite books of all time (after middle school) and find the book cover online. 

This is the cover for the first novel in The Walking Dead novel series, and I think that the cover properly captures the mood of the book. When a person reads the book, one will find that it is primarily about three characters who attempt to survive a barren world overrun by the walking dead. The cover's darker shades conveys how the book speaks of the darker tones of humanity, morals, and survival.

Second task, go to  http://bookcoverarchive.com/  It has hundreds of book covers

I like this cover because of the motion blur effect of the text. It creates a focal point in the center since the text looks like it's diverging from the middle. There seems to be some alignment and proximity incorporated into it, but not too much. The author and the title a separated, but that's about it. There aren't any images incorporated into it.

 This cover was eye-catching to me in another way. Another way as in I don't really think it fits the idea of the book. I read the Iliad, and I know it is about the Trojan War, and not the invasion of Normandy, so the use of a photo depicting the latter is very questionable. There might be an effect to it, but it is very misleading, so I don't think it's good in terms of displaying a first impression of the book.

I thought this was eye-catching because the image seems to help convey the general idea of the title: Reason Not To Join The Military. The image of a soldier without his limbs would absolutely convince me that the military is not a place I would want to be since I would be appalled by the idea of the same happening to me.

So I said that I really liked this book cover, so it's no surprise that it catches my eye. It does that because it has an incredibly dark background, both literally, and thematically. There's also 3 silhouettes of people, which creates a sort of mystery to them, and makes you wonder who they are and why they're there.

I also found this one eye-catching because of the font the title is written in. The font looks as if it was written by a person because of the inconsistency and lack of order, which makes me think about what the overall message of the book will be about. It seems to have a very dark tone primarily because of the way the word "dead" is written in. It looks rather depressing.

One thing all these book covers have in common is that they make use of images and font type to help convey the meaning of the book, and give off a first impression of what the book will be about. In some cases, the image and the text will compliment each other and will further emphasize the meaning of the book.

Before and After

Logo Reflection

I think the greatest challenge of this project was trying to keep the design as simple as possible, but still having it display the meaning behind the club. If I included too much, it would be too complex to be a logo, but if I didn't include much at all, the logo would barely represent the club at all. The difficulty was finding the balance between both. I broke this challenge by using simple images of chess pieces and their positions to convey a sense of importance in the game. I recognized that all pieces were important, but their positions were determined by what others said were the most vital and powerful. These few images and positions in the logo helped me solve the problem of balancing simplicity with representation.

My logo:

Logo Presentation Board:

I'd say one of the most successful aspects about my design was how I was able to create a compact design that allowed my to convey the club well. I also think that the blur effect was a successful aspect of the logo because it helps create a focal point, which helps show importance of certain pieces.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that one of the biggest challenges was illustrator itself. It apparently doesn't like me very much, but that's okay because the feeling is mutual. Unless I need it.

Stuff n' Thangs over Break

This is the visual embodiment of what I did over the Mid-Winter break for 90% of the time: absolutely nothing. Doing nothing is surprisingly easier siad than done. You would think it's fun to do nothing especially after doing work and such, but it is not. It kills you. It drives you nuts. At some point of doing nothing, even working seems to be appealing. You try to look for something to do, but you have nothing. That is when you sit on your bed and stare at the ceiling for hours on end, stopping (or starting) only to eat, sleep, and use the bathroom. It is not fun. Your mind goes blank, and you eventually become apart of the bed since you've sat lied there for so long.

I mean it's not like that's all I did. It was what I did for the first 7 days. I did hang out with friends and family for the other two days - for the 1%. After days of doing nothing you could imagine how relieved I was. I could do stuff at last... thangs. I tried to make those two days count and did a lot; I watched a movie, went bowling, which nearly took my thumb off, and just talked with friends and family.

(If you didn't get the reference)

An Exhibit I MET (GD hw)

 

One exhibit I saw at the Metropolitan Museum of art that evoked some sort of reaction from me was this (the bottom revolver):

Colt Single-Action Army Revolver; "Peacemaker"

 

When one sees a gun, they don't really see it as art. And neither do I, but this particular piece of craftsmanship is the exception. I just love the design of this firearm. I feel that the color of the steel compliments the color of the wooden grip. The length of the barrel is also proportionally pleasing to the size of the entire revolver. The geometry of the firearm just makes me happy for some reason. I found this piece in the Arms and Armor Department of the Museum, and this piece was surrounded by different types of firearms and weaponry dating from the Renaissance to the late 1800's. Observing all these weapons made me think about how big of a jump warfare took when gunpowder was introduced. Even so, weapons took a long time to load, but the revolver takes substantially less time to load, aim and fire. It's just incredible how a single piece of incredible engineering can change the world forever (and look incredibly good while doing so).

Types of Typefaces

1) Script

2) Found on a coca-cola bottle - used as a brand word mark

3) The word mark makes the product look distinct, but simple. It is easily recognizable yet simple, which makes it appropriate

1) Modern
2)Found on a mint can - used as a brand word mark
3) I don't think it's too appropriate to use because it seems too basic; it doesn't really stand out, but at the same time, it's not inappropriate.

1) Sans Serif
2) Found on my sketchbook
3) As something that's supposed to advertise a book in which one draws, it doesn't seem appropriate. It looks too bland

 

1) Old style

2) Found on a bottle of vitamins

3) This is supposed to be just a bottle of vitamins, so I don't think the type face should have to stand out too much, so old style is an appropriate typeface.

1) Slab serif
2) Found on a five dollar bill
3) I don't really find this inappropriate since the job of the typeface is to be clear and legible

1) Decorative
2) Found on an old and long forgotten video game CD that I too forgot existed until I saw it lying around my apartment
3) This is appropriate because it is supposed to convey the idea that the game is fun, which a decorative typeface certainly does

Millennium Chess Club/Team

The Chess Club:
At Millennium, anybody may join the chess club. There is no specified amount of experience a person must have before entering. A person who does not have any experience may join and any pro may join. The club may be place for a person to perfect themselves as a chess player, of for a person who just wants to have fun. The Chess Club at Millennium also contains a Chess Team, which any member of the club may join. The Chess Team competes with teams from other schools in tournaments. When the students compete, they may compete in one of a few categories, depending on their rating (you do not need a rating to compete since there is a section for those who are not rated).

Questions I have asked:

1) When if you think of chess, what are the first images that come to your mind?
2) Using up to five adjectives, how would you describe the chess club at MHS?
3) What is the club's main purpose or goal?
4) Which chess piece do you feel is most important in the game?
5) What are the key principles or ideas of chess?

Answers I've received from a Chess player from the club who was seemingly reluctant to answer my questions:
1) A Chess board and chess peices
2)Competitive exhilarating fun rewarding wonderful
3)The goal is not to win but to do so and still get better. My priority is to get better, winning not so much the priority
4)I favor the queen but the king is the most important. If I had to choose, I would choose the queen.
5) Victory, Strategy, Foresight, and meaningful moves (make every move have a purpose)

Answers I've received from the head of the club:
1) I think of Chess Pieces--first and foremost the Knight. The Knight is the most iconic of the 6 different types of Chess Pieces (Bishop, King, Knight, Pawn, Queen, Rook). Within the design framework of the Tournament Standard "Staunton Design" Chess Set, the Knight is the piece that has the greatest detail, is the most representational (rather than Abstract), and can be said to have the fewest elements of symmetry. Along with the Knight, the Rook (aka the "Castle") is a strong image, that is among the first to come to mind. Rooks are particularly associated with the Endgame phase of the game, and their orthogonal movement is very straightforward and easy to visualize. So, I visualize Rooks in the context of an Endgame Tableau.
2)  Convivial, Competitive, Instructive, Fascinating, and Helpful.
3)  The main purpose of the MHS Chess Club is promote Chess skills and an appreciation of the rich cultural traditions associated with Chess by having students engage in various forms of intentional practice and study, such as partaking in Chess Lessons (to learn new concepts and strategies), attending Chess Club meetings, solving Chess puzzles and tactics, and participating in Chess tournaments.

    The main goal of the MHS Chess Club is imbue the MHS students with a deep understanding, appreciation and passion for Chess, so that they will gain a lifelong enthusiasm for Chess, and by so doing, spread the beneficial aspects of "Chess Culture. 

4)  The King, by definition, is the most important piece in the game of Chess. The objective of Chess is to Checkmate the King; the game immediately ends in a victory when a King is Checkmated. Threats against the King take absolute precedence over any other factors in the position. All Chess tactics and strategies are ultimately in service to Checkmating the opponent's King (or safeguarding one's own). As such, the King is beyond any trade value--All other pieces can be exchanged, traded, or even sacrificed as part of one's strategy. In other words, to a greater or lesser extent, Queens, Rooks, Bishops, Knights, and Pawns are all ultimately expendable....while the King is not.

     That said, the King is a rather impotent, vulnerable piece. In terms of the most important piece for obtaining practical success in Chess games, I would say that is the Queen. Skillful, incisive and subtle handling of the Queen is, in my opinion, the "Touchstone" of talent among the top players.

5)  Some of the key principles in Chess are to develop one's pieces with efficiency and timeliness, to fight for space in the Center, to endeavor keep one's king safe, and to gain material through captures and advantageous exchanges. In turn, advantages that exist in the realm of Time ("Tempi" --useful development, Space (control of territory on the Chessboard, especially in the Center, and around the respective Kings), and Force (creation of situations where one's piece are of greater [practical] value, are more mobile, and more dynamic) can be transformed into concrete, lasting advantages, and ultimately leveraged into a decisive advantage.

     Some of the key ideas of Chess is that it is a game of both skill and competitiveness, that one should strive to achieve harmony, coordination, dynamic activity and balance among one's Chess Pieces, and that successful players often are required to go outside of their "Comfort Zone".