MK12. the presentation.

I actually had heard of and done some look into MK12 before I was assigned them. It was actually an interesting moment for me, because I had not heard of too many studios in Kansas City; so I was excited to receive one that I knew a little about. After I went more in-depth in the studio, I realized that they have had quite a few well-known clients or commercial pieces. The Common video that they directed was actually one of the few videos that I remember from growing up. I remember the video not fulling making sense to me, but I thought it was a interesting concept. I understood the video better later, but still find it interesting that it made such an impact on me in the past; could have been the world's way of telling me that one day I would work in the design field.

MK12 is "a design and filmmaking collective with acclaim in both commercial and artistic arenas." They enjoy testing the barriers "between narrative structure and experimental storytelling though juxtapositions of live action, graphic design, nostalgic influence and new technologies." Their work has won awards in different categories. They were established in 2000 and are currently, based out of Kansas City, MO. They teamed up with The Ebeling Group, a Los Angeles based production company in 2003 and still continue to do work in their name. MK12 has done work for the film industry with Quantum of Solace(2008),The Kite Runner(2007), and Stranger Than Fiction(2006). They have also done with with international film festivals, exhibitions, and music videos for Hot Hot Heat, Common, Jack White and Alicia Keys.


the links.
home
the about+ CV
demo reel
honda
most recent video
common go
quantum of solace
the ebeling group

anat cohen. the texture adventure.

fluid/strong/nature

rough/woody texture.

fluidity.

overlaid two images.

overlay with sax, eye, notes.

pattern, small attempt at rhythm.

pattern with some fluidity.

liquidity, text, nature.

liquidity, text, nature.

I still need to do some more research into the bird/nest/mother vibe and the relation to her music. I did some searching, but more is needed before going into explorations.

pictures from trip to Folly Theater.

brick/side on stage.

on stage.

seats.

ceiling.

notes from the trip.

audience = foot&car

1900 Curtis was the architect for the building

Folly is the oldest theater in KC

was a vaudeville+burlesque theater

wants a younger audience, but still needs older

old school dressing rooms

seats are red plush+wood

lots of circles

box seats are very close to stage

posters will face Marriott Hotel+parking garage

ghost light+light bulb

ghost history at the Folly

use month abbreviation on poster

keep name one of large+dominant

keep poster simple to point

make the poster "pop"

3/4 of the audience are simply fans of the musician

1/4 of the audience are series subscribers

tender buttons. first layouts + type.

the first attempts with the abstract layouts.
starting with the last two poems, which will be the most abstract pages.

what changed.

I worked more with the layouts and figured out the best leading for the size of the poem body text. I think I found the best size for the first few page layouts for the traditional poem part of the book. All of the poems are currently broken up by the specific spacing of thoughts, based on fragmented phrases or breaths while speaking.

what is next.

I need to start working more with the abstract layouts and hierarchy. In general, I still need to add page numbers, as well as figure out whether the pages are going to be back to back. Binding is something to also figure out exactly. The cover will be the last thing to figure.

anat cohen. the first ideas.

the words.

emotional, romantic, lively/energetic, smooth, fluid, warm

images to focus on.
family/nest, bird/sound, clarinet, nature, beauty, eyes, hair, love/romance

images of first ideas below.
welcome to my crude drawing sketches, vonnegut style.

MORE IN CLASS RESEARCHING...

quotes from articles about her music.

from imnworld.
"bacchanalian riot of Cohen in person, whirling on the stage, curls flying, unleashing clarinet notes in formally elegant torrents" 
"cascading, wheeling, ecstatic celebration"

from allaboutjazz.
"unconventionally configured ensemble"
"everything she plays with deep scholarship and a profound quality of soul"

from npr.
"clarinet sound: dry and woody, a little rough but not too much"

quotes from her website about her.
"A musical world traveler who likes to mix things up " NYT
"… I was delighted by the liquid runs and rich, woody tone" Washington Post

Big Think Series Article Response

image + article is located here

I feel that the article tackles a question that often presents itself in hybrid subjects, especially when they are new creations from one or more recently established areas. Graphic Design as a whole has not been the career that we necessarily associate it with today for that long. Just like all the other computer related careers, a good chunk of the public things that anything associated with computers is the same. I have met quite a few people who just smile at me when I say that I am going to school for graphic design; most of the time, I think they just don’t really know what that entails, and instead of asking, they tell themselves some random answer that takes them through the day.

I feel that in any career, there are people who want to continue to just learn new skills simply to present, portray or explore more in depth; those are the ones that start to create these hybrid areas. There are also the people that just want to keep things exactly as they are, not add too much different, just enough to keep it a bit unknown, but follow the same straight line that they always have. Although I do love my consistency, with the world seeming to ever-change, we cannot simply label anything as simply one way or another; there are always the sub-categories, hybrids that are slowly emerging that we should talk hold of before all that we do becomes outdated. I would not call a graphic designer the same as a motion graphic designer; I would say that we are definitely cousins and part of the designer family.

Now, on the argument to whether it is motion graphics, animation or branding; I agree with the author of the article. Although, there is one area in which all parts come together, normally there is more of one area that the next. There is no direct line showing the difference between simply motion graphics, animation and branding; each situation is different and requires a closer look to see which category it would fall under. Many people yes, are quick to draw but, I feel that it is closer to a gray field than a simply black or white.

tender buttons. the iterations.

basis for traditional page, title + body copy style with Garamond Family.

title: bold

body: light display

basis for traditional page, size with Garamond Family.

title: 10pt

body: light display 10.5pt

 leading option1.

 leading option2.

 leading option3.

leading options4.

 leading option5.

leading option6.

"is there a bus?"

anat cohen. the basics.

full mood board.

initial descriptive words close-up.

colors close-up.

texture close-up.

type close-up.

the research prior to mood board.

-plays tenor saxophone & clarinet

-born in Tel Aviv, Isreal

-has 2 siblings, both are musicians = saxophone & trumpet

-bandleader & well-known composer

-winner of music awards

-jazz journalist association named her clarinetist of the year 2007-2011

-played tenor saxophone in Israeli Air Force Band during/for her mandatory Israeli Military Service

-moved to US in 1996 for Berklee College of Music in Boston

tender buttons. the initials.

the reading.

"typography at its best is a visual form of language linking timelessness and time"

"typography is just that: idealized writing"

"typography is to literature as musical performance is to composition: an essential ac of interpretation, full of endless opportunities for insight or obtuseness"

"can be used to manipulate behavior and emotions"

"typography at its best is a slow performing art, worthy of the same informed appreciation that we sometimes give to musical performances, and capable of giving similar nourishment and pleasure in return"

the concept.
moving from an idea that is solid to more of an hypothetical or unknown. the breakdown of what we can accept as a physical item to what can only be spoken about and not always understood. one can explain and show what “a chair” is, but one cannot easily explain and show what “more” is. this is the same concept that can be used to trying to understand the poems. although, at first the poems may appear to be simple, there is more that goes into them than what meets the eye. thus, the actual form of the booklet/book/poem collection will slowly breakdown.

the poems.

“objects”

“a chair”

“a piano”

“a box”

“a cloth”

“a new cup and saucer”

“a carafe, that is a blind glass”

“a fire”

 “a method of a cloak”

“a time to eat”

“a frightful release”

 “in between”

“nothing elegant”

 “more”
“objects”

the typefaces.

main type: serif, or something close to typewriter, maybe Courier New.
titles of poems: san serif, maybe Helvetica LT Std, Helvetica Neue, or Akzidenz-Grotesk.













the layouts.

option1 for first poem.

option2 for first poem.

last poem option1.

last poem option2.

last poem option3.

last poem option4.

the moral.

Kidwell is right. I think too much.

narrative: found motion graphic video inspiration2

F5 ETHOS from F5 on Vimeo.

F5 ETHOS (click here for the video)
created by F5 (click here to learn more about the fest)

The first aspect of the video that really hit me, was the intent of F5. I really believe in the exploration of the world outside of your direct bubble, as well as encouraging those around and similar to yourself. The group is focused on pushing one another up without creating obligations and staying not for profit. Whenever for profit companies, schools or whatever other organizations are directly related to a conference, there is always an undertone of what must or should be done going along with the objective statement of the group. So, since this conference had none, it was just based around the growth and discovery of those individuals attending the conference.

I really liked the use of colors, continual background texture and illustrated shapes. It was also nice how all of the pieces in the animation kept building off one another, either entering the screen or leaving. The overall feel I got from the video was that a lot was going to be packed into the conference and it was more of a you get what you put in. The voice over went with the video and was a nice addition to add to the video; helped to make the conference more of a friendly environment, a bit like personally inviting you.

narrative: found motion graphic video inspiration

Skoda - Curriculum Vitae from weareflink on Vimeo.

Skoda - Curriculum Vitae (click to watch the video)

created by weareflink (click to learn more about the company)

A good percent of the reason that I initially loved this video was based off the initial connections that I had to the overall story and memories associated with it; the video reminded me of my brother. I'm close to my brother, and he is also one of my main supporters. We have had discussions in general about writing a CV, and this does that as well as well as visually shows the main character’s CV.

What I got from the video was the fact that his CV came to life, showing me that you can do more than just “wow” someone with your words, but you can transport them into a new/unknown world. Everything in the main story is made from the paper copy of the CV, which is awesome, as you are supposed to use your CV to help market or explain yourself to potential bosses or companies. The video also brought in a childhood tie to building and freely creating new worlds, as I remember doing as a child. Yes, there still is creating as an adult, but the video portrayed a carefree happiness, that I remember having as a child.

Mainly, the inspiration that I pulled from it is the ability to create new worlds, as well as transport others into the world that you create. The music I thought really fit well with the video too and positively added to the story. It helped to reinforce the fact that the main character had been on a journey that lead him to all of the experience on his CV. It also helped to push the video along with the beat and lyrics of the song.