Journey: The Videogame Appreciation Post

Journey Appreciation Post

Over this past weekend I watched a "Let's Play" version of the video game Journey. I heard a lot about it when it first came out last year and was curious. The game isn't that long it tops out at about three hours of play, but makes up for its short time with vivid details. I mean this game is a design masterpiece. It's so beautiful and I highly recommend watching someone else play, that way you can enjoy all the sumptuous details. 

The image above is an actual point in the game where you slide across waves of sand. It's gorgeous attention to detail never misses a beat and makes Journey come across more as a visual art rather than a game. What makes Journey stand out against its competition is that you play as a silent robed figure traveling across a seemingly never ending desert to climb to the top of the mountain that always appears to loom on the horizon. Journey thrives on its attention to detail. As a person goes through the game, the landscape changes and adapts. It gives the game an overall organic appearance that feels lost in other digital games. 

Another aspect that truly revolutionizes this game is the overall story. The never ending Journey is a larger metaphor for life. Your playable character is a quiet figure that knows little about the world around it at the beginning of the game. As they travel and learn they grow until they reach their enlightenment, or death at the very top of the mountain. Journey is a game with no words, just beautiful accompaniment and the best part is you can play with others, but never know who they are. Your character appears so small against its expansive background and having someone to travel with almost sets you at ease against the loneliness of silence. 

All in all Journey transcends the game category and evolves into an experience of life and the beauty of this other post apocalyptic world. I hope one day that I can actually play it myself and enjoy the gameplay part of this visual story. 

How to Cut Your Hair and Take Risks in Design

How to Cut Your Hair and Take Risks in Design

After five years of growing out my hair, I cut it all off the previous weekend. Here are some facts about my prior mindset to the drastic cut. First, I had never cut my hair shorter than right in the middle of my neck. Second, I had no clue how my hair would react to the short length with it being so curly and third, I had cut seven inches off my hair earlier in the summer and saw no difference in the appearance. So I knew it was time for a huge change. I wanted to look different. My life experiences had changed me internally now that I turned twenty, but I wanted an external representation of this alteration. As I walked to the hair salon, my nerves grew more and more afraid of change. Yet I kept walking, and figured that this hair risk can easily correlate to the risk any designer takes in their designs. 

Sometimes going off the easy road is scary and taking risks can lead to terrible disasters, but those chances can make all the difference in a good design. By taking a chance a design can be escalated to a whole new level of art and comprehension. The Design world is filled with risk takers that have success and mistakes, but they learn from both. I needed to overcome my fear to push myself more in design. This contemplation made my walk easier, my footing lighter. Once I sat in the barber's chair, I was ready. It was so liberating to feel the weight of the last five years fall from my head. Not only did I take a risk and succeed, I also closed a chapter in my life and welcomed the new experiences to come. 

Response to Cassie Sterbenz's Question

Response to Cassie Sterbenz's Question

I think it's good to do a little of both. People recognize Coca Cola because of the longevity of the logo's use. Although, they also constantly have various different types of can designs coming out or in use. I mean not only do the sizes differ, but many of the cans have different looks that provide the old logo with some freshness. Unlike Pepsi, that tends to update every so often. I think they do it to connect with the younger generation and sometimes it's cool, but audiences usually don't respond well to change. Especially, the last change Pepsi's logo went through. 

Response to Haley Sosnoff's Post

Response to Haley Sosnoff's Post 

I whole heartedly agree. This type plus mason jar makes a great combination and looks well polished. The colors add to the overall effect of the advertisement as well. Another great aspect is the vintage of the logo combined with vintage nature of mason jars and the background. 

Comments on Ben Newark's Post

Comments on Ben Newark's Blog Post 

Ben Newark's Blog

I loved the fact that Ben decided to critique the new version of DC's character Lobo. Design can go in two directions and can either be good or bad. I like that Ben chose to look at the bad and comment on the loss of the original character's zest. Which from the look of his new design, he does not even connect with the man Ben described. 

The Start of Project 2

The Start of Project 2

To be honest, I'm actually really looking forward to this project. I've always been interested in grids and proper hierarchy. So I'm glad I get to learn about it! One of the main reasons I feel like being a design major fits me so well is my unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Over the last year I truly grew to understand my love to learn. Not only did I learn new things in college, but I tried new things and began to teach myself various other skills. In design we have to deal with so many different clients and forms, that I feel like you always have to learn something new to create that great final product. Some other jobs you can only learn so much about a specific subject, but in design you learn more than just design you have to thoroughly understand the subject of what or whoever your creating something for. 

My curiosity of things is constantly expanding. I'm always trying to learn or understand. I also love to evolve the opinions I already have with new knowledge. Right now I currently have various skills I'm trying to teach myself on the side. They include: playing the ukulele, cooking, knitting, becoming ambidextrous, and maybe practicing whistling or learning grammar better. My desire to learn never stops. That's why I'm glad for my manual of choice. I chose the Owl Mug Wrap directions. 

I already love knitting, so having an understanding of crochet would be cool too! Not only could I make these directions look aesthetically a lot more easier to process for the viewer's eye, but I can try my hand at crochet. I love crafting! So it kind of kills two birds with one stone. Also, it'd definitely give me better photos for the final piece. Although the important thing is the grid I'll be making, rather than the photos. I think photos are important, too though in the aspect that its what catches the viewer's eye first. 

Anyway for those interested, we can learn how to crochet together. I'm teaching myself through mainly online tutorials and this is one I found last night that seems really informal on the beginning process. 

Hope everyone has as much fun with their second project as I am!

Comments on Aimee Robert's Post

Aimee Robert's Brew Day Post

Comments on Aimee Robert's Post on Brew Day: Pale Ale loaded with Cascade and Amarillo Hops

Aimee's picture post on brewing ale was really cool to look at. Not only were the pictures interesting, but the process to make the ale looked like a lot of fun. Plus, the rewards must be great in the end. Too bad I don't turn twenty-one until next summer! 

Comments on Adam Henderson's Post

Adam Henderson's First Project

I loved the clean lines aspect of Adam's designs. It was cool to see the abstract lettering within his final photos. Also, the book he made himself was pretty legit too. Overall, I really like Adam's work for how much different it is from my own. 

Comments on Grace Pritchett's Project Post

Grace Pritchett's Project Comments

Overall, I really love Grace's final piece. It turned out great. Not only was it fun to ready and highly appetizing, it was something that applied specifically to her life. I also loved how the cover looks like a cookbook you'd see in the 1950's. Great job Grace! 

Rugrats Appreciation Post

 

Rugrats Appreciation Post

Recently, I've been rewatching the very popular 90's cartoon Rugrats. It may feel dated for some, but I find the show infinitely more endearing as an adult. The characters are well done and their designs connect to their personalities. Chuckie is afraid of everything and his hair and other aspects of his appearance connect to this. As a kid, I always enjoyed the backgrounds and bright colors. It made the Rugrats world more interesting and eye catching. 

Another aspect about the show that makes the cartoon timeless is the plots and use of backgrounds or outside forces. They also create engaging stories out of everyday occurrences. Also, they capture the essence of certain parts of life, like fall or moral lessons.

Rugrats is not only a timeless show, but something all ages can enjoy. Some episodes have made me laugh harder as an adult rather than a child. The great design of the characters, the well-thought out plots, and the expanding audience levels gives evidence on why the show was so popular.

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Appreciation Post

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Appreciation Post


My Little Pony Friendship is Magic is a television program based upon the Hasbro toy franchise My Little Pony. Although the show was primarily produced to sell merchandise the show has become a phenomenon the last three years. The show was first introduced in fall of 2010 and has since aired over three seasons with the fourth starting later this fall. Over time the show became a hit and has a fan base of not only young girls, but teens and adults of both gender. What makes the show so successful is the witty, well done plot lines and the gorgeous animation. Also, the six primary characters nicknamed the "mane" six are well-rounded. They have faults and weaknesses as well as talents and strengths. When all six are together they make a great group. Their strengths and faults complimenting each other. 

This show has grown in the last few years with it's great attention to its audience. They were able to make a show mainly aimed at little girls enjoyable for adults. The art is beautifully detailed, the backgrounds stunning, and the plot is progressive and shows how the characters have grown throughout the seasons. Some even have changed. Also, at the end of the episodes the characters write to the ruler of the land what they learned tha weak, be it a lesson or the meaning of friendship. I recommend My Little Pony Friendship is Magic for adults and children alike, along with animation and cartoon lovers. If you haven't given the show a chase, do. It starts off slow, but develops well after two to three episodes. In conclusion, this show is great.