Untitled

Luggage (Process)

I did this illustration for the Media Kit of our Map Micro-guide WanderPh. People have been asking me before to make a process post, so here it is. I numbered the process based on the images in the post. It’s really easy to do. :)

I always start with a sketch. Since Tumblr only allows 10 images, I decided not to include it. :/

THE STEPS

1. The Final illustration. The idea was to show the luggage with the different things you’ll need if you want to travel around the metro. I also included images of our portraits.

2. Textures. I used two different textures for this illustration. I created and scanned both myself. The top texture was created with an airbrush. It’s an "over-spray" from the stencil. The second texture was created using graphite over watercolor paper. I scanned both textures and apply them using layer effects on Photoshop.

3. I did the vectors on AI (Adobe Illustrator) first. I created them individually before putting them together. I used a specific set of color swatches for this.

4. The final vector illustration.

5. I then copy paste or import the vectors to Photoshop. This is where I apply the textures, brush strokes and spatters. I didn’t use a lot of layers in this particular illustration because the work was very simple. The layers aren’t even properly labeled. Haha. I don’t usually work this way, but this was really rush so I didn’t have time to label them. It’s a valid excuse. Haha.

6. I used the airbrushed textures sparingly. I used it as the shadow in this illo.

7. To add contrast, I adjusted the levels of selected areas in the illustration.

8. I applied dodge and burn effects in the different parts of the illustration with custom brushes (I made).

9. After everything is done, I saved the file as jpeg and opened it again in Photoshop this time using VSCO presets. I don’t really do this a lot, but I found out that it adds very interesting color effects to my illustration. 

10. The final colorized illustration.

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Yey! Hope that helped. :)

I’m so in love with Dieter Ram.

Look how beautiful his products are.

I learned about him not 15 minutes ago and my ideas about design are already changing.

These are his 10 rules of design that I’m going to print out and forever reference.

Good design:

Is innovative- The possibilities for progression are not, by any means, exhausted. Technological development is always offering new opportunities for original designs. But imaginative design always develops in tandem with improving technology, and can never be an end in itself.

Makes a product useful- A product is bought to be used. It has to satisfy not only functional, but also psychological and aesthetic criteria. Good design emphasizes the usefulness of a product whilst disregarding anything that could detract from it.

Is aesthetic- The aesthetic quality of a product is integral to its usefulness because products are used every day and have an effect on people and their well-being. Only well-executed objects can be beautiful.

Makes a product understandable- It clarifies the product’s structure. Better still, it can make the product clearly express its function by making use of the user’s intuition. At best, it is self-explanatory.

Is unobtrusive- Products fulfilling a purpose are like tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained, to leave room for the user’s self-expression.

Is honest- It does not make a product appear more innovative, powerful or valuable than it really is. It does not attempt to manipulate the consumer with promises that cannot be kept.

Is long-lasting- It avoids being fashionable and therefore never appears antiquated. Unlike fashionable design, it lasts many years – even in today’s throwaway society.

Is thorough down to the last detail- Nothing must be arbitrary or left to chance. Care and accuracy in the design process show respect towards the consumer.

Is environmentally friendly- Design makes an important contribution to the preservation of the environment. It conserves resources and minimizes physical and visual pollution throughout the lifecycle of the product.

Is as little design as possible- Less, but better – because it concentrates on the essential aspects, and the products are not burdened with non-essentials. Back to purity, back to simplicity.

Featured video for this week is a short animation “Let’s Go Get Lost” by Calango - small design studio in Amsterdam, specializing in Motion- and Graphic Design.