Tag: graphic

Another New Theme

Posted on Posted in Design, Grid Systems, TypographyTagged , , , , , , , , , 6 Comments

So I thought about it for a while and I was growing tired of the look of the site. The theme was based on an Upstart Blogger theme that is great, but I was in a rush and it really didn’t come out looking how I envisioned it. So once I decided that it needed to change my initial thought was to create a whole new theme from scratch using Sandbox. I designed the theme is Photoshop and started to implement it into the Sandbox platform but I ran into the same problems as I did on my last theme quest. After some frustrating hours, I came to the conclusion that it would take too long for me to create a theme from scratch, I just don’t have that kind of patience. So I ended that and began focusing on finding a theme that was very simple, easy to customize and was built on some kind of grid system. Let me tell you, it wasn’t easy.

After some searching I finally found Marber by Apt Studio. It’s based on Romek Marber’s 1961 grid for Penguin Books, which is a huge plus, and when I looked at the CSS it was all clean and easy to understand. In no time I was on my way to creating a theme that I think represents my style as well as the content of this blog. I wanted a simple, clean design that payed homage to the modernist era and I think I accomplished. What ya think?

I’m going to be tweaking it in the next few days so pardon me if the site is down for quick changes. I haven’t tested how it looks on a PC so if those of you who do use a PC could give me some feedback that would be great.

I want to thank the folks at Apt Studio for creating such a wonderful theme. It might not be a theme with the most “eye candy” but it sure has a lot of underlining meaning to the form and structure that makes it so valuable. You can read a bit of the background to the theme here.

Here are some features:

  • A simple, two-column theme.
  • Six colour schemes, easily changed via the backend.
  • Three layouts, for 800px width, 1000px width, and fully fluid, again easily switched via the admin panel.
  • Widgetized sidebar.
  • WP 2.3+ only – includes tags.
  • Typographically set to a baseline grid.
  • Author comment highlighting.
  • Cross-browser compatible, with subtly different layouts for Mozilla, Webkit and IE browsers.
  • Integrated microformats.
  • Fully valid XHTML and CSS.
  • Integrated WordPress.com stats (with no smiley!).
  • Custom 404 page.

       

I Love Typography Wallpaper

Posted on Posted in Design, Grid Systems, Typography, WallpapersTagged , , , , , , , 2 Comments

I Love Typography Wallpaper

Here’s an early holiday present for all readers out there. I initially made this for the superb type blog, I Love Typography, but I ended up making a different one for them. I still love how this came out so I wanted to share it with everyone. It’s sort of a homage to typography, with meanings of some familiar type terms at the bottom, and I initially used the grid as a design tool but then decided to make it part of the design itself. It’s only available in 1920×1200 because if I resize it, the grid gets funky. Head over to the Wallpaper section to download this dope ass wallpaper.

Hope you guys enjoy it. Happy holidays.        

Wim Crouwel Flickr Group

Posted on Posted in Design, Grid Systems, TypographyTagged , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Wim Crouwel Flickr Group

If you enjoy Wim Crouwel’s work as much as I do then head over to the new Wim Crouwel Flickr Group I created and join up! The group was created to bring all of his work together in one place for everyone to enjoy. So if you have any work of his or photos of any publications that feature his work, add them to already growing collection. The group is only a day old and we already have an excellent collection.
       

Intervista: Xavier Encinas

Posted on Posted in IntervistaTagged , , , , , , , , , , 4 Comments

Xavier Encinas 1

peter&wendy is a graphic design studio based in Paris that was founded by Xavier Encinas and Cécilia Michaud. They value close relationships with their clients and approach each project with a unique process. The studio produces a mixture of graphic projects in print, publishing and identity. Xavier Encinas took a moment to answer a few questions for AisleOne.

How long have you been designing?
Well I‘ve been designing from almost 10 years now. I started designing a website for some music I was playing with. We needed something to communicate; I was the one good with computers so I started to make a simple one. I enjoyed it so I decided to do more. I discovered print 3 years ago. It was a revelation for me. To be able to do such great “real??? things. The touch of the paper, the colours, the effects… all of it.

Who or what turned you on to graphic design?
The work of Michael C. Place and The Designers Republic really gave the inspiration to go on designing for print. I was very attracted by the modern and shiny way of TDR’s design and also the power of the simplicity in Build’s work.

Who or what are your influences??
My early print work was really influenced by Build and TDR. Now my design is very grid and type oriented. I admire the swiss graphic design and pioneers like Müller-Brockmann, Max Bill, Max Hubert, Wim Crouwel… today I try to get rid off all this history to find my own way.

What is your favorite typeface??
Helvetica

Xavier Encinas 2

What is your favorite color palette to work with?
Black & white, sometimes grey and pink.??

Can you explain your creative process from brief to completion?
When a new project comes to us, the first step, of course, is to understand the brief but then try to conceptualize the project as a whole. I take the time to try all of the ideas I have and experiment with different ways of executing them, before I put them on paper. Sometimes my first idea is the good one, sometimes it is not… our design is very grid-oriented so the grid helps to organize all of the elements of the design, in a way that is easy to understand.

Do you use a grid system when designing and how do you feel about them?
Grid is my way of design. For me it’s a fundamental basis for all my design from poster to business card and books. In a sense it’s a very safe environment but also very rough path. It’s always challenging to design using a grid because the need to accept to be free. For me form needs to serve the message.

Who do you feel is currently doing innovative work?
I don’t know really. I believe more in sincere design than in innovating design. For the past 50 years nothing really new appears on the graphic design field. It’s only old and fundamental design put in the “todays way???. The design technique are changing so are the designs but this doesn’t means its new. In the field of print design innovation could come from the production specifications : new material, new effect… but Helvetica is still Helvetica…

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on several projects for a UK film maker CS Leigh (http://www.myspace.com/museumfilm): Limited CD packaging, 1 posters, 2 books. Also working on my wedding invitation: A1 poster + A5 invitation.

Xavier Encinas 3

What is your favorite color?
Black and pink.

What is your favorite album?
There are so many album I love… Can’t say anyone in particular. I listen to jazz, hip-hop and some electro. These days my playlist included:
Patricia Baber – Verse
Stacey Kent – Breakfast on the morning tram
Jaocb Young – Evening falls
Common – Fiding Forever
Kanye West – Graduation
Nils Peter Molvaer – Khmer
Arve Henriksen – Strjon

What is your favorite movie?
Lost in translation from Sofia Coppola. This movie is just perfect. I never went to Japan (I will next year) but the feelings the 2 actors shares are so authentic and pure. It’s beautiful. The direction of photography is perfect too. I could watch this movie hundred times… I did it, anyway.

Intervista is a series of interviews conducted for AisleOne with some of todays top talents in graphic design.