Boring content is hard to enhance.
You're the Cat's Meow
The verbal structure of this phrase points all emphasis onto the meow of the cat. It begs more understanding of exactly what that meow is. What does it mean? What does it look like? Because such importance has been placed upon it verbally it makes sense to translate that verbal importance to an idealized visual. And once we see an idealized meow, it follows that the cat doing the meowing is also theatricized—not just any regular cat, but a cat befitting a larger-than-life meow.
It Ain’t Over till the Fat Lady Sings
A trebel cleff that doubles as a lady is far more visually interesting than a literal lady. It says two things (music + femininity) at the same time in a unique way. Colorfully collaging the musical staff gives personality to the lines, while its placement suggests she is expressively singing. And, of course, this trebel cleff must be rendered in a less-than-slender manner.
Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them Do Unto You
A pristine sentiment that translates in a visually pristine way is a proper translation. This is all about reciprocity, and what better thing to give and receive than love. Appropriate symbols and directionality create this motion while helping to round out the forms of the people in question.
The Lesser of 2 Evils
During the brainstorming process symbols for both “less” and “evil” felt as if they shared a common visual style. Bold, simplistic, line-art shapes (even thought they carried independent meaning) had similarities of rendering. The mathematical symbol for “lesser than” felt most recognizable during this exploration. With this as an anchor careful observation revealed that the pentagram (a symbol of evil) created a perfect fit. With some selective emphasis both these symbols could be seen in a direct relationship.
Anarchy in the UK
When you think of Punk and The Sex Pistols; images probably come to mind of underground collaged flyers rendered with a messy, scribbled, haphazard aesthetic. You wouldn’t be wrong, but that is also the problem-—it’s established and already done, by everyone. Punk is rebellious, jarring, provocative, and shocking. Hopefully this is too, but in a new way. Neo-Punk?
Double or Nothing
Two peas in a pod, double vision, and siamese twins were the initial winning notions for this. Having just finished a “properly” designed piece it occured to me that I rarely create anything irreverent or off-the-wall. With so much “appropriateness” I wanted to explore the oddly unexpected. Siamese twins fit that vibe. Something about them—but what? Connected twins symbolized the idea of doubling, but were still missing the contrasting absence of nothing. With some tweaking of the base idea a much more eccentric visual was made. To enhance the oddity an old, vintage photo was used in the stylings of Ripley’s Believe it or Not.
Talk Your Ear Off
I’m fascinated by the liberties that European design and illustration take with rendering. Disproportionate features, elongated limbs, impossible bodily contortions, and surreal placements. Often this artistic license comes across as downright odd, but usually in a beautifully expressionistic way. Once again this approach is one that I don’t naturally and immediately operate in, but sure wish to.
Jack the Ripper
In September 1888 a gloating letter arrived at a London news agency that took credit for, and revelled in, the string of gruesome murders that paralyzed the Sherlock-Holmes-era city with fear. It began with “Dear Boss…” and came to be known as The Dear Boss letter. A particularly haunting passage went: “…I shan’t quit ripping them..”, and was signed “Yours truly, Jack The Ripper”. Shadowy back-alley silhouette came to mind, but that is cliché, so I wanted to create a less-expected monster.
Pink Floyd
A poignant lyric from the iconic album and song: Wish You Were Here, for me this passage captures the essence of longing for a return to a time before disconnection. Did you change? Did they change? Are you right? Are they wrong? Something’s broken now. You can see what they used to be, and you sure wish it could be how it was before—but it’s just not. An open-ended image that connects to the phrase draws you into pondering your own life stories. Are you the right one in the relationship, or the broken one? And if you are broken, are you the one that created the mess or the one left wounded?
