Design & Graphics Forum Activity 1: User Name

[Blue Velvet]

MacRumors design and graphics forum

activity 1: user name



• rgb jpg, max 80kb file size
• posted only as an attached file, not linked off-site

• 800 pixels wide x 600 pixels high
• solid and unpatterned white #ffffff background, with on top...

• your exact MacRumors user name, intact, set on a maximum of three lines
• plain type only

• in any combination of fonts, weights, sizes, styles, characters and punctuation you like
• any number of solid colours you like, one colour per character, glyph or shape

• no illustrations, no patterns, no gradients, no drop shadows or glows or other effects
• plain solid type only
• two pieces of artwork max, in one post or two

• all artwork is copyright of you and you alone
• thread opens 1 december 2007 :)





.

[Blue Velvet]

Thread now open.

This is the first of a series of bi-monthly activities that are purely meant for the enjoyment of all... to experiment, learn, create, discuss, and to have some fun with design. I've called them activities because that is what they are; namely, short briefs to play with. ;)

The idea of assignments was requested by a number of forum members in the Design & Graphics Forum: your suggestions and comments (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=320558) thread, so I've looked at how we can make this easy without too much hassle. Less time talking, more time with your Mac.

Activity 2 is already planned, it will use what you've created in this thread. The following activities, number 3 onwards, will all be suggested by you, the members of MacRumors.

Instead of a lengthy process of threads and polls to decide on topics, I'm going to ask people to PM suggestions for activities directly to me. I shall then choose the most interesting one, write up the brief, and credit the suggestion to whoever suggested it.

As with all things here, nothing is yet poured in stone, so we'll see how this all pans out over the next 3-4 months, and make changes to the process as we go along. :)

Anyway, Activity 1 is now on. Let's see your type, then. :D

[SwiftLives]

Thought I'd play with some negative space. I love suggesting elements though design and having the viewer complete it in his/her mind.

Although, in all honesty, the "L" is failing to please me.

[CanadaRAM]

Here's mine.

[LeviG]

On the first one I'm not sure I'm happy with colour choice and the choice of font for the L but it will do, not going to spend too long looking for the right font as knowing me it would never get finished :D

Pretty sure it fits into the rules

Second one is meant to be more of a stylised/symbol/tribal type of design, to give me a different option later down the line if I want/need it :D

[irmongoose]

Looking forward to the next one.



irmongoose

[Lau]

Short and sweet. Like me, obviously. <cackles>

Kerning advice taken, have obsessed over it for so long I can't see it any more. :o

[Skyburning]

Eh, I know it's awful, but I had a minute. Hope it's within the rules.

[zeedee-h]

just playin about

[chaosbunny]

Just a very quick take on it. I love Hobgobbles one btw!

93063

[decksnap]

I'll play. Nothing earth shattering. I assume this builds to something in the next phase?

[MacBoobsPro]

My effort. Based on my personal identity.

[DJMastaWes]

My effort. Based on my personal identity.
I like that!

mine:

[G5Unit]

Not really much, but I wanted to keep it simple[:

[murdock25]

here's mine

[OwlsAndApples]

ooh, it's gone all blurry on me. Ah well :o

[psychofreak]

http://grapefruit.quickshareit.com/share/picture1374d4.png

[bluetooth]

Some nice typographic inspiration in this thread.

[Jaffa Cake]

My contributions – I don't know if using Zapf Dingbats is cheating but I thought it would be a little different. ;)

[irishgrizzly]

Kept it simple :)

[Aperture]

I'm glad that a thread like this is finally being opened!

Mine are rather simple but I like them.

[JasonElise1983]

i must say. I love where this is starting. Start with the basics. Can't wait to see how all of this unfolds.

-JE

[xUKHCx]

Not much to work with, liking JasonElise1983 and MacboobsPro.

Hey BV where is yours

Wasn't sure which colour to choose.

93170 93171

[Cooknn]

Bending the plain solid type only rule just a bit :o Digging the vertical design by JasonElise1983.

[shecky]

needed a break from annoying sunday night client work:

[Cooknn]

needed a break from annoying sunday night client work:Can I get a Spock mind meld (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnW6x7UUokg) from you guys? Some excellent creativity here!

[shecky]

Can I get a Spock mind meld (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnW6x7UUokg) from you guys? Some excellent creativity here!

surely....



:::::::::::::::::::::theneedsofthemanyoutweightheneedsofthefew::::::::::::::::::::




melded.

[Toppa G's]

Here's what I came up with on a whim.

[JasonElise1983]

Wasn't sure which colour to choose.

93170 93171


I like the Blue one....love how simple it is too. very nice.

-JE

[xUKHCx]

I like the Blue one....love how simple it is too. very nice.

-JE

Cheers, I prefer the blue one too. Although it is simple I did actually put quite a bit of thought into to so that the angle of trailing x would point to the corner of the background and adjusted the positioning so that it looked good while doing so.

Can't claim to have any more insight than that but I am by no means a graphic designer, far from it (chemical engineering student). But it is always the little touches like that, that I put in. Perhaps i'm weird but I take a slight sense of pride when I hand in a report with these touches, even though I know that these little things will not get picked up on or even extra credit given.

[Blue Velvet]

Hey BV where is yours


I'll get round to it soon; there's no closing date. I like what I'm seeing so far from everyone, and I like seeing others join in too. :)

Don't forget; if you have suggestions for the 3rd assignment, to start on Apr 1st, please PM me with ideas.

[Z.Beeblebrox]

Haven't decided on color yet...

[irishgrizzly]

2nd try.

[tobefirst]

Here's my first. If I get a chance to do a second, I will.

Minion Std Black, custom kerning, destruction of the ligature (which I usually love, but liked better without it).

[ezekielrage_99]

I'm really glad no one has used Comic Sans, I really thought someone would have stolen my work in progress....

[xUKHCx]

I'm really glad no one has used Comic Sans, I really thought someone would have stolen my work in progress....

I actually choose that straight away just to see how bad it looks, it is good to remind yourself how bad it is from time to time.

Although my University own fonts (that they spent a huge amount of money on) aren't the greatest either, in fact I think they are shocking.

[ChicoWeb]

*Tada*

[xUKHCx]

*Tada*

Might be my dyslexia but I read it as chipoweb rather than chicoweb.

[ezekielrage_99]

I actually choose that straight away just to see how bad it looks, it is good to remind yourself how bad it is from time to time.


I've had a client hand me a logo all in comic sans, 3 lens flare, an ugly "not so subtle" drop shadow and with a very nice rainbow gradient fill....

It still makes me laugh because they ended up using that logo on their web site because the director of the company created it and was not willing to change it at all.

[xUKHCx]

I've had a client hand me a logo all in comic sans, 3 lens flare, an ugly "not so subtle" drop shadow and with a very nice rainbow gradient fill....

It still makes me laugh because they ended up using that logo on their web site.

link :D

[ezekielrage_99]

link :D

The company a few years ago was bought out by a larger company so they are now using the parent company's branding. I'll look around my Mac at home and see if I can find the logo, it really was quality MS Paint at it's best.

[tominated]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2271/2085814904_da3496fda2_o.jpg
It's a bit shoddy, so don't bag it out

[designet]

93338

[ezekielrage_99]

Here's mine :cool:

And no use of Comic Sans...

[Jim Campbell]

But it is always the little touches like that, that I put in. Perhaps i'm weird but I take a slight sense of pride when I hand in a report with these touches, even though I know that these little things will not get picked up on or even extra credit given.

Good type operates on an almost subconscious level. I've shown people the same page of a CV, essentially laid out identically, one in Word and one in InDesign

The only difference between the two was that the InDesign one had been given some typographical attention - ligatures, sympathetic leading, H&Js corrected manually, ugly kerning pairs fixed, and so on.

Without exception, people would pick the InDesign page, but no-one could ever articulate why.

Cheers

Jim

[Jim Campbell]

And, for all my fine talk, I'm not feeling very inspired tonight ... I do like this font, though ...

Cheers!

Jim

[adrianblaine]

Nothing special, but it was fun to do something other than work...

[bwanac]

I like pretty colours. :P

[jng]

not particularly creative...this is when I wish I had a longer username...

[Emulsion]

...I love calculus...

[xUKHCx]

...I love calculus...

but not rules :p

• solid and unpatterned white #ffffff background, with on top...
• no illustrations, no patterns, no gradients, no drop shadows or glows or other effects

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Ok... I have no idea where this is going, but I'll play... :)

93654
Click for attached full 800 x 600 version

[klymr]

but not rules :p

Quite a few people haven't been playing by the rules. It also says to make it 800x600, but a few have made them smaller.

[prs986]

here ya go

[Emulsion]

I sorry Sir..... I sorry sir.... Won't happen again Sir.....

[chedda]

Peas

[Jim Campbell]

Same basic idea as last time, but liking this one better ...

[wheezy]

This one feels like an elementary school project:

93753

You never specified a language :)

93754

[LeviG]

This one feels like an elementary school project:

93753


wouldn't that fall into this :p


• no illustrations, no patterns, no gradients, no drop shadows or glows or other effects

[r.j.s]

Mine ...

[xUKHCx]

Mine ...

what font is that?

[r.j.s]

what font is that?

It's my personal handwriting that I had converted into a font.

[xUKHCx]

It's my personal handwriting that I had converted into a font.

bugger thought as much, unless of course you would like to share.

[r.j.s]

The ttf is attached, just rename the extension back to .ttf and you'll be good.

[xUKHCx]

The ttf is attached, just rename the extension back to .ttf and you'll be good.

Cheers for that, mucho respect.

[r.j.s]

The only thing I dont like about it is that the font size must be huge in order to be readable, like 48 in my font = 12 in any other.

[r.j.s]

Edited. here is one that is naturally bigger.

[wheezy]

wouldn't that fall into this :p

Not the assignment as much as my first version, writing my name with different adjectives about my name :)

I'm excited about these projects yes I am.

[onlinemoniker]

An attempt...

[JasonElise1983]

An attempt...

courier? nice..don't see it used a lot anymore

[onlinemoniker]

courier? nice..don't see it used a lot anymore

yes sir... it has a nostalgic tinge to it for me. :D

[onlinemoniker]

A second attempt... the second of these with some effects. :p

[Blue Velvet]

...the second of these with some effects. :p

<sharp intake of breath> :p

80's flashback with Mistral there. Interesting to also see who can follow a brief around here... ;)

I'll do mine when I've got some time off work.

[Peace]

Ok folks don't laugh.I just got CS3 and I know nothing about it but I'm starting today..:o

[ezekielrage_99]

yes sir... it has a nostalgic tinge to it for me. :D

That's why I'm a big fan of these fonts (http://www.typography.com/fonts/index.php), the classics never go out of style.

[tobefirst]

Ok folks don't laugh.I just got CS3 and I know nothing about it but I'm starting today..:o

Lesson 1: Things can NEVER be too simple. Never.


You passed.

[MacBoobsPro]

Ok folks don't laugh.I just got CS3 and I know nothing about it but I'm starting today..:o

If you close the kerning (spacing) between the A C & E it will look very professional. At the moment it kind of says PEA C E. Just do it by eye and not too much, just so the word looks balanced. Because the C has lots of negative space round it you may need to kern a bit more than the rest.

Just me thinking out loud :)

[stevep]

I know it says plain type only, but....

[Blue Velvet]

I know it says plain type only, but....

But that's the kind of thing that's good; thinking of type as shapes. Nice one.

[monke]

A quick one I threw together. Cool thread! :)
94421

[lfielder06]

here is mine

[CanadaRAM]

A quick one I threw together. Cool thread! :)
94421

LOL. Why do I flash on the opening sequence to "Hey Hey We're the Monkees!" with one of them falling off the ... tightrope or whatever they were supposed to be on?

O dear. 80% of the audience has no idea what I meant. Did I just date myself (again)?

[iro*iro]

...i've only used photoshop for cropping pictures so this is my first "creation."

[LeviG]

...i've only used photoshop for cropping pictures so this is my first "creation."

cough cough - 2 pieces of art :p
two pieces of artwork max, in one post or two

[ad551]

My attempt... :)

[iro*iro]

cough cough - 2 pieces of art :p

sure, but i counted it as one creation since it was a project... sorry man, it was late :o edited!

[simie]

Here is mine

[Peace]

These are all great. Sorry to be off topic BV but I need to say I've done web design since the 80's and never used CS.. After buying CS3 ( very expensive ) this stuff rocks!!

I'm giving myself a 1 year course. Afterwards look out world!!

[decksnap]

These are all great. Sorry to be off topic BV but I need to say I've done web design since the 80's and never used CS.. After buying CS3 ( very expensive ) this stuff rocks!!

I'm giving myself a 1 year course. Afterwards look out world!!

If you're just learning now... I highly recommend Fireworks over Photoshop.


Also- where is this activity going? like (when) does it end?

[Peace]

If you're just learning now... I highly recommend Fireworks over Photoshop.


Also- where is this activity going? like (when) does it end?

Oh I'm learning Fireworks too but I like Ps because I do a lot of photography and it helps a LOT.

Looks to me like a life-long expedition. It never ends.

[decksnap]

Oh I'm learning Fireworks too but I like Ps because I do a lot of photography and it helps a LOT.

Looks to me like a life-long expedition. It never ends.

Yes... use Photoshop for photo editing of course, but learn fireworks for web design, mockups, buttons, graphics, etc.

[Peace]

Yes... use Photoshop for photo editing of course, but learn fireworks for web design, mockups, buttons, graphics, etc.

Oh I've been doing that for quit a while.17 years to be exact. I just used Windows based tools. CS3 is a step above from what I've seen so far.
I was retired during my stint with Mr. Asbestos but now I'm actively back in practice.

Illustrator is a good tool for web content also.

[cst1973]

I've been lurking here forever and finally registered just for this - I am so, so bored at work today - it's my last day before the christmas break so I deserve some fun and games :)

[JasonElise1983]

i would also really like to know when this is ending and activity 2 begins. Need something to do before the holiday's come.

-JE

[Blue Velvet]

It doesn't end; they're open-ended... next one will start 1st Feb and will incorporate what has been done here.

[iBlue]

i suck.

94922 . . . 94923

[jive]

Hurrah for me.
http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=95039&d=1198264369

[mariahlullaby]

Here's mine....since the name is inspired by Mariah Carey, so's the font :)

[Mistershark]

Just played around with GIMP today for the first time since October. :o

[HMoth84]

Thought I'd throw my electric hat into the ring :)

[LimeiBook86]

Although mine is sort of simple and less interesting than most of the cool designs already posted I thought I'd play anyway. :) :D

[psycoswimmer]

I saved it as low quality on accident instead of high, and didn't save the original. And I'm too lazy to re-do it. So imagine its a solid color. :)

[klymr]

Here is the document that caused Leopard to go on an acid trip. I found a bug while saving from AI to PS to .jpg. It made my dock go bye bye and lots of weird stuff to happen. Anyway, here is my humble submission.

[apsterling]

Here's mine!

[iGav]

The former is a homage to perhaps the most pervasive/prevalent (depending on your opinion) character and usage idiosyncrasy of Helvetica, playfully exaggerating the use of overly negative leading, often to the point where it obfuscates legibility yet not readability, which in this case is provided by the use of negative space from the original text, which itself is in conflict to Helvetica's intended usage.

The latter a subtle reworking of Neue Helvetica 25 Ultra Light, transforming Helvetica from it's famed unified weight of individual characters, into continuous strokes forms, and in the process stripping Helvetica of much of it neutrality, yet continuing to maintain its familiar form.

[benpatient]

here's my first go.

[toaster_oven]

nice thread.

Here's my attempt:

96009

one more:

96012

[Z.Beeblebrox]

That last one reads "Roaster Oven" because of the stylized "t". Just a thought.

[toaster_oven]

That last one reads "Roaster Oven" because of the stylized "t". Just a thought.

yeah - I probably shouldn't have cropped it.

the first one says "to a stern"... maybe I should take a graphic design course one of these days so that I actually know what I'm doing.

-to

[one3]

Here is one using the number connotation of my username and using just the 'period' :)

[tobefirst]

Here is one using the number connotation of my username and using just the 'period' :)

What font is that?! It's amazing! (;

[JasonElise1983]

it looks like FuturaBT Heavy...but i could be wrong.

-JE

[Belly-laughs]

belly-up…

[one3]

What font is that?! It's amazing! (;

Hahahaha - yup - that's some high end typography you are looking at :) spend hours getting the tracking between each period just right ;)

[SwiftLives]

Here is one using the number connotation of my username and using just the 'period' :)

I wholeheartedly approve of that.

[Claytoniss]

little bit of C&C inspiration...

[toaster_oven]

Here is one using the number connotation of my username and using just the 'period' :)

I like this a lot - brilliant!

-to

[digitalnicotine]

I just happened upon this today, and I must say I am quite impressed with the skills displayed here! onethree, I love it! Okay, I'm off to try and create one too! Thanks for creating this fun, BV.

Edit: Okay here is mine.

[MmSuperMario]

Heres Mine. I don't know how to explain it, I just know I liked how it turned out.

[Z.Beeblebrox]

Hmm, seems to be missing something...
• your exact MacRumors user name, intact, set on a maximum of three lines

[TenPoundMonkey]

cool thread....
some thoughts:

[tobefirst]

I'm excited to see what part 2 of this little assignment is going to be. Less than 2 days to go!

[Ish]

Here's my try. It's a bit plain, even though I like plain. It makes me wish I had a longer username!


EDIT: Wot! no attachment? I know I said it was plain but this is ridiculous. Call it white on white!

Would you delete this please and I'll try again!

This is my try:

[monke]

cool thread....
some thoughts:

Love the second one.
Looks great. :)

[carbon14]

Neat thread. I think I just made it in time.
Trying to convey half-life/decay.

[digitalnicotine]

clever interpretation, carbon. :)

[Markleshark]

Why not... Better late than never...

[dpaanlka]

Here I am.

102352

[Shotglass]

I hope this is within the rules

[Wee Beastie]

When I grow up I want to be a graphic designer!

I have a soft spot for Futura (at home now--don't have access to all the varieties of Futura that I do at work) if only for the question mark. How fun is the Futura question mark?:)

[NickD]

Not my exact username, but it's close enough :)

[iCheddar]

They're both quite alike, but meh.

[MindBrain]

Hey just noticed this thread, here's my entry

[nfocus design]

Here is mine.

[IgnatiusTheKing]

killing time at work...

[Z.Beeblebrox]

nfocus design, verrrry nice work.

[jwt]

My first time using AI.

[Topher15]

Threw this together quickly...

[Karpfish]

Let's get some more interesting things going

[anim8or]

I wanna play.... i have a thing for braggadocio just now..... just personally... not in my work.

[Melrose]

Currently in love with GeoSans Lite, and it shows..

[macworkerbee]

Wow, this looks like so much fun. I'll see if I can bang one out in the next couple of days. Great work everyone!

[rockdog]

fonts I don't get to use much (and there's a reason for it =)

[Rt&Dzine]

I did the logo 'cause I wanted to do the CD cover.

[yoyo5280]

Heres mine, Very simple. I prefer the Greyscale I made it on keynote! :)
http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=151368&stc=1&d=1231028885 I have a soft spot for helvectia and gill sans. :)

[TheZimm]

Here's mine:

Zym