Mindwarping Graphic Art, A thing with Circles...and the beast that killed Steve Irwin?!?!

MindWarp Business Card

I came across these business cards on a design site this week, and I have to say, I like them quite a bit.

The biggest thing to like about this design is its simplicity; there is minimal content on the card, only three colors to be found and there is very good use of negative (or in this case, blank) space. One of the other pieces I find intriguing is the logo. The M and W are very cleverly fit together into one flowing unit- yet, they are broken apart a bit as well. The one solid line between the uprights almost looks like a bolt of lightning (or something that might warp your mind a bit?)

Truth be told, this company deals with video & audio production and web design services. Their website follows the look of their business card and is instantly captivating with their demo reel.

The logo design, use of color and simplicity of the content is what makes this a good design.

L'INFINITO Graphic Art

This piece is by a graphic artist named Victor Vercesi, and while much of his content isn't necessarily "design" this one caught my eye for a few specific reasons. Those reasons are some of the rules of CRAP, as well as some of the elements of sticky ideas. First up, Contrast. The photo itself is vibrant and contrasty, but there is also contrast in that there are portions of the image shifted around, thus causing some of that sky blue to be where the orange concrete is. And visa-versa. Which takes you to a sticky element- Unexpected. This image really takes you by surprise. It's almost in a surrealistic way, but not quite. It's got that X factor. You don't know what it is, but you're drawn to it. Look at the way the lines draw you to the center- even in the switched areas, the lines still follow that path the middle. There is alignment and movement to it. So its got contrast, its got alignment, and it's unexpected. The only problem is that it's completely abstract. Hey...ya can't win 'em all.





The One and Only - Chevrolet Corvette Stingray!

This. Car. Rocks. Where does one even begin with this car? As if the Corvette hasn't been an A-list model before, this new Stingray model for 2014 completely changes the game. Chevrolet's catch phrase on their website reads "enemy of the same" and I think this is true for the new Stingray. From a strictly exterior design standpoint, it is easy to see that the car has had a complete redesign. And I think this is their best yet. Corvette has always been low sleek and wide with that markable dip in the middle of the body. But in years past, it's featured boring rounded edges and a "stuck in the 90's" body. This has all changed now. Corvette uses the line and a hard edge to accentuate its curves (which are still there, but now more subtle). I noticed a heavy use of a "part triangle" or in some cases, a right angle. The air intake, the rear lights, the rear bumper, the front end, the outline of the cab. The headlights and specifically the tail lights are a feature to point out. The entire flow of the car, follows the look of a stingray in such a "flesh-to-metal" way.
Here's one other thing I noticed. Right behind the front wheel well, at the air intake, where the famous dip in the body is- there are two lines that meet and exchange in, I think, an absolutely genius way. Remember those subtle curves? One of them is the outline of the front quarter pannel, which dips down to meet the windshield and flow to the rear end. But something happens right behind that air intake. The beam of the body is born and makes its way up the door to the rear. At that exchange of those three lines (the third being the intake accent edge) the picture that comes to mind is human muscles that converge and overlap each other. Now does that SAY American Muscle? I'll let you decide.
I'm not sure if new designers were brought in for this project, but Corvette has had some serious European influence. It's looking VERY Ferrari 599ish. And thats a GOOD thing. I think that Corvette has long been a contender for Super Car status; it's got the horsepower to play with the big boys and a top speed that beats out most Porches...but for whatever reason, it's just never gotten there. Maybe it's because they're American born... Maybe it's because they run for under $100k... Whatever the reason, perhaps these new European-influenced design changes will finally get the Corvette accepted into the Super Car club.


Bau Pendant Decoration
This decoration is eye-catching to say the very least. Allow me to quote the site from whence I found it. This is quite interesting. 
"The Bau Pendant is a sculptural, bold hanging lamp with attitude. The eye-catching light designed byVibeke Fonnesberg Schmidt is representative of her fascination with geometric forms. Conceived with precise attention to construction and composition, this piece for Normann Copenhagenpractically commands attention with its Mondrian-inspired primary color palette and unconventional structure."

Unconventional structure...with CIRCLES? Apparently, YES. And it's true. But you know what else you find on this guy? Lines. Every circle that appears sideways...appears as a line to us. Sometimes making squares. Mind = Blown. The use of primary colors, along with the natural wood color keeps this design simple, though it is quite complex.
Simply Complex. Thats all I have to say.