I've begun a new design, taking the idea of "A billion acts of green" to create another metaphor. The main idea that ought to be represented is that the acts of many, though small, are great when considered as a whole. Thinking of the hand, which is representative of human action, I almost automatically decided to make it a tree, which could then be multiplied into a forest, a vast forest. I envisioned a sea of green comprised of hands reaching upwards to look like such a forest stretching into the distance over mountains with a bright sky overhead. I think I more or less accomplished that, but the overall graphic affect might not have come together as I had hoped. Someone's first reaction was, "I think it's weird." To her, it looked like a poster for some creepy zombie movie. And, it does. Ugh, after a lot of work in Photoshop, it's a vast army of the dead rising. So now what? I tried to kill that affect somewhat:

...no it's still pretty much a massive crowd of zombies. Actually, I think that crop, losing the foreground (the green hills), made it even worse. Well, even if I don't think of a way to get rid of that image enough to bring the forest out 90% of the time, I'll still submit it. I had thought of giving the near "trees" brown trunks, but it didn't seem to work too well. Yeah, the hands are just...kinda creepy. I was going for a doodly sort of style but...oh well. Keep trying. This Threadless Challenge ends Monday I think, and I don't really have any time to make a whole other design so, I guess this is it for the Earth Day contest.

Well, I just couldn't leave it alone and tried to fix the type. Now it's definitely not confusing, but the space doesn't seem as natural. Still, I think this is the one to submit, finally.

Ok, here's the submission (this is slide 1 of 3). I can't think of anyway to resolve the wording problem short of redoing the type maybe, but it would lose its spontaneity and I don't think it's too bad. Looks alright on a shirt. As this one wasn't very matched to the typical or identifiable Threadless style, I think for the next one, not only will I really try to work out the concept well, but I'll make a sincere effort to channel the style. I'm not sure if I'm even capable, as I've sat down to work thinking that I would do just that, but it just comes out in my own style despite. Discipline I guess.

Here's the first attempt. I started with just the apple and ants image, but then it became this bigger woodcut styled square. Not exactly typical Threadless style, but it could work. The main concern with it is that people read "Eart Day now" and then maybe "all together" when I wanted "Earth Day, all together now," but it's obvious why that happened. I'm think of making the two phrases different colors, though I prefer the all black, and it's sort of neat that it could be read both ways: "Eath Day Now, all together" or "Earth Day, all together now." Maybe that's not a good confusion, but if the color change just isn't working, it'll have to do. Or...I might be better off without the big woodcut addition and redoing the words.

Clean or sketchy? Precise line-work or "naive art" style doodle? Try both?

This is neat. I wonder if I could work with a real apple and use photography? It would be pretty bold, as I've only really rarely seen photographic designs on Threadless. Ok, so maybe not, but it's good to think outside that box...

Idea 1

Ok, I have an idea. I don't think its THE idea, but its a start. I plan to submit as many as I can and it shouldn't take too long to make, so I should use it as a warm up to get started. The concept is pretty sound I think and the look should be good. The challenge calls for an expression of "Acts of Green" with an emphasis on the collective effort of people worldwide, "A Billion Acts of Green." The idea is to have an apple, colored to look like the planet, being supported/carried by a large group of ants, and to have one or two standing off to the side as if having just taken a step back to see the bigger picture, to see what they all can accomplish together. The problem, I think, is that even though ants are well known for their collective effort, they also have a characterization as insignificant. Even though we know that they accomplish surprising things as a group, do people want to consider themselves as tiny insects, part of some sort of colony? Maybe not. But, it's worth a shot, should be fun, and it'll get me started.

Threadless T shirt design | Challenge 1: Earth Day | Deadline: April 1st

It's time to get organized. I have an objective and a shorter deadline than most at the moment, but I have something to aim for. The point is, however, to make the best effort I can, which doesn't mean just thinking until an idea pops into my, forcing it on paper, Photoshopping it, and submitting it. The challenge is to consider the design in the round, to consider how it's going to be received, let it be informed by its context (that is, the design precedents on Threadless), see what works and try to create a style that fits in exactly but retains my own style. The first thing to address, I think, is what medium do I want to use to begin with. It will of course end up in Photoshop and maybe Illustrator, but I want it to start on real paper first. My first inclination: pen and ink, with water color. I've seen water color on Threadless before, and successfully, so it might be the best way. The unmistakable mark of real media can be preferred, I think, and as I am not skilled enough with Photoshop or Illustrator to create the designs I want from scratch, I have to start, again, on paper.

Finally

Finally I feel that I have something to write about, something with the need for enough continuous thought, that I think I will find this useful. It is far from my usual practice to neglect an assignment, but I felt prohibited before and less so now. The semester did not start very well for me, and thought I had determined to not let it effect my work, in certain, and unexpected ways, it has. I don't like to issue disclaimers or excuses, but I thought I should give some acknowledgment, and of course accept the consequences of having begun so late. Hopefully, however, I can make it an all the more productive blog, something I certainly need practice at, but again, I do finally feel the need for it.