Beautiful and clever 🙂 Well done!
Category: Print
H&M gets a new look
I think you’ll all remember H&M Rel Estate’s logo that I worked on a few months back. So, now you can get excited for their new identity system! I’ve been working with them on a presentation folder, letterhead, envelope, and business card, so I thought it’d be a great time to show you all what we’ve got!
First, the letterhead:
The website that H&M had built around the same time as I was finishing their logo had this really great dark wood grain as a background, so I incorporated that with the green gradient we were already using in the logo. I also gave them the stripe theme to convey their forward momentum as the company evolves and grows, but also as they help their clients move forward on selling and buying properties. Above you see the front on the left, and the back on the right.
Secondly, the envelope:
At the top is the envelope unfolded so you can see how the stripes fold all the way around, and the bottom is just the front of the envelope. Each piece has the opportunity to bear one of the three logos. This one will first be printed with the commercial real estate logo that you see on the letterhead above.
Next we have the presentation folder:
Again, going with the wood grain background and stripes. This one will be printed with the construction services logo first. Here it’s all unfolded, so the front is on the right, the back is on the left, and the inside pockets with the logo and contact info are at the bottom and upside down.
Lastly, we have the business card:
This one will actually be a hard plastic card, rather than the traditional cardstock, and will have either raised plastic, or spot UVÂ over the logo to make it stand out more against the wood grain background. I think this will especially memorable as it’ll have a totally different tactile experience from your typical business card.
So that’s H&M’s new identity system. What do you think? Leave your comments below!
Until Next Time,
-RachelAnn
Looking For Awesome Gifts That Give Back?
Just found this gem – Ugmonk, a t-shirt (and other things) company that not only has SUPER cute shirts and such, but is also giving you 10% off for the holidays AND feeding a hungry child with each purchase. The typography and cleverness of these items makes me a teeny bit jealous, like “why didn’t I come up with that?” jealous. So go support a hungry kid and get something well made in return!
Until Next Time,
RachelAnn
Freelancing – Trust Falling By Myself
Since receiving my rejection from the master’s program I applied to, I’ve been thinking a lot about what my next step is going to be. Do I try to find another full time job? Do I just wait around and get a throw away job until I can re-apply for the Fall? Or do I go against everything my logical brain is screaming at me and follow the tug that’s been in that other corner of my brain (you know that corner- the one that comes up with schemes and thinks the world is made of rainbows and sunshine) and just start freelancing full time?
At this point I’ve almost gained enough courage to go for it. It’s sort of like a trust fall, except I’m the only one that’s going to catch me, and if I end up flat on my back with the wind knocked out of me, I won’t be the only one suffering. I’ll have my husband and dog starving, and my creditors knocking on my parents’ door asking where their money is for the education I am so brilliantly not utilizing.
But then, it’s not as if I am totally devoid of people willing to pay me for my design work. I have a couple of clients who have sort of been waiting in the wings for me to have the time to devote to their needs, and I’ve had offers from others to start freelancing for them. It’s just such a scary prospect to say, “here’s how much money I need to make” and then go out and find people to fill in those gaps. With a full-time job it was simple. Get up, go to work, do your job, get paid. No problem. This….this is serious. Get up, oh no clients – no work, no job, don’t get paid.
However, there is a lot of information out there about how to do this (believe me I’ve read a ton of it.) Yet, nothing I read has ever been able to convince me to just start falling, trusting myself to make a big arm basket and not drop myself in the dirt.
In my search, I came across this book: Design Is A Job. It’s only $9 as an e-book, and I plan on getting it. I’ll post a review after I read it, and let you all know if it’s worth your time. From the description, and the little bit of it I read in the chapter previews, I think it will be.
Any way, there’s a peek inside my brain, and what’s happening in the life of RachelAnn Design. I hope to get back to posting fun things to look at, and stuff I’m working on soon, so keep coming back!
Until Next Time,
-RachelAnn
Happy Election Day!
I hope everyone has done their civic duty and gone out to vote! No matter your party affiliation, or who you voted for, I know we can all enjoy a little patriotic, election-themed design today so scroll on!
First up some super cute wooden toys from Uncommon Goods, perfect for getting the kids involved and educated about why elections and voting are important.
Secondly a series of vintage feeling, but modern day posters for Lincoln 2012 from Scott Erickson. My favorite is the one in the middle. I really love the typeface, and the message there, but to be honest they are all pretty great.
Next up, a color lithograph made in 1888. I love the sort of gilded border and the wave in the text. You can buy it at Imagekind.
I found this one on an Irish election literature blog. I love the farm and industry imagery here and the color contrast they went with. They also had a great poster for this candidate that rhymed, which is something candidates don’t do enough of any more 🙂
And lastly a couple of things for the home, or for that election night party: Coasters from Ruff House Art, and stitched throw pillows from the JFK Library.
Until Next Time,
-RachelAnn
Favorites from Pinterest
If you haven’t been over to the Pinterest boards in a while, here’s a little refresher on some of my favorite pins over the last few months.
On the Design board, which is where I put anything design related from furniture design, to print and digital pieces, I’ve got 2 lovelies.
I love what the color and modern lines are doing to contrast that antique beauty.
& this one
Some really beautiful type here.
From the “For the Love of Ampersands” board we’ve got these:
I’ve seen a lot of this happening lately – images and symbols carved out of (or into depending on how you look at it?) black and white nature scenes.
& this one
I can’t decide if this is even real, but I wouldn’t put it past mother nature.
Go see more cool stuff on pinterest!
Until next time,
RachelAnn
Mother’s Day Contest
Seems like the Mother’s Day cards were pretty popular. So, I’ve decided to run a little contest. Here’s how it works:
1. Like RachelAnn Design on facebook.
2. Share the contest post with your friends on facebook.
3. Follow @RachelAnnDesign on twitter
4. Follow at least one of my pin boards on Pinterest.
5. For each of these actions you get one entry into the raffle for a FREE customized, printed, and mailed Mother’s Day card. You pick which of the 5 designs you like best, I customize the inside for you, I send it to your mom.
The rules:
If you’ve already liked and followed RachelAnn Design on facebook, twitter and pinterest, you’ve already got three entries! Cards will only be sent within the continental U.S. Enter by 5/7/12 at 11:59 EST to be considered for the drawing. Winner will be announced on 5/8/12, at which point you will send me your return address (for the front of the envelope so your mom knows it came from you) and the address to send the card to. If unclaimed by 5/8/12 at 10pm EST winner will be re-drawn.
The designs:
Here are your options for cards.
1. Home Is Where Your Mom Is (with customized state shape on front and inside, best for those living in a different state, inside can be done between area codes in same state as well)
2. You’re the Best (with custom signature from you)
3. You’re My Favorite Mom (with custom signature from you)
4. In the Wild (with custom signature from you)
5. You Rock (with custom signature from you, can be made in black and red, black and pink, or black, red and pink)
Good Luck!
Until Next Time,
RachelAnn
Happy Mother’s Day!
I actually got my Mother’s Day gifts purchased and in the mail way ahead of schedule this year, which is awesome. I purchased from Etsy which saves me a lot of time not having to mess with the shipping myself, and now all I have to do is send the cards and call on the 13th! Hooray!
So, as promised, here are the two cards I am sending. One to my mother, and one to his. If you’d like them personalized for yourself hit me up on twitter or facebook, or post a comment below. I’d love make your mom’s Mother’s Day awesome too 🙂
Until Next Time,
RachelAnn
The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss
I ran across this article on Brain Pickings about a book published in 1995 called “The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss.” I was really amazed to see that his style and aesthetic were so much a part of him that he could make this scene look like it was edited out of One Fish Two Fish, or How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I mean just look at this:
Dr. Seuss, or Ted Geisel, always was the master of making a children’s book seem even more pertinent when read by an adult, so I guess it shouldn’t come as such a surprise that his illustrations have such a story and message. My favorite from the post was this one.
It’s so easy to look at it and believe it is another one of his whimsical nonsensical characters, yet if you really look (or read the caption on Brain Pickings) you see it isn’t. It makes me want to go back through all of my favorite Seuss stories and take a good look at what each character really means. What does the Cat’s giant striped hat mean? Why does the Lorax have a bushy orange mustache but no neck? I bet if we looked, and thought about it we’d see more.
I think this should be the case with any art. You should see something more, or feel something more every time you look at it. The message should be clear, but also complex. That way when you look at it again 10 minutes from now, or 3 years from now, you’ll still have a connection and something new to reflect on. Almost as if art should allow you to gain the artists perspective, but to also overlay your experiences and your perspective on top to create something new every time you look at the piece. You should come back after those 3 years with new experiences and perspective to give you a new appreciation for what the artist is saying. That’s how art becomes timeless.
What I love so much about this “secret art” is just what I said before – it is so him. It is obvious that this came straight out of wherever creativity comes from without any kind of filter.
Here’s Maurice Sendak’s take:
There was certainly nothing cookie-cutter, bland, or trendy about Ted Geisel. These works abound in nuttiness, ‘political incorrectness,’and lots and lots of cats. In short, you have entered Seussville, where questions and doubts are left at the door with the coo-coo something-or-other. Enjoy yourself.
Until Next Time,
-RachelAnn
UNLESS
I promised you a post, and I’m through breaking blog promises, which we all know are the most sacred of the promises.
I designed and framed this for my sister in law for Christmas.
If you don’t recognize the quote, it’s from Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax. It has been her favorite book since forever and since we were trying to do simple gifts this year (and simple to mail to Texas) I thought this would be a nice little trinket. I made it in yellow and gray to match her decorations, and gave it a cute little frame. All in all I think it was effective.
I bring this up because I just went to see The Lorax in theaters. It was really bright and happy and fun, and I think the animators/illustrators did an amazing job. I also think that the quote itself is always worth a re-iteration.
I was never a big Dr. Seuss fan, not until I got older actually. I think I probably read One Fish Two Fish and Green Eggs and Ham once or twice as a kid, but it wasn’t until a high school teacher read us Oh The Places You’ll Go that I really started to see the value in his rhymes.
Maybe you’re tired of the environmental message or the down with big business spiel that the Lorax always gets pegged with (or maybe you’re not), but I think the really important part of this book/film is exactly that quote. It makes you feel something, or me at least. And it makes me think. It makes me think about what I complain about that I do nothing to change. It makes me think about what I care about, and what injustice I see. It makes me think about what I can do to help.
Maybe that injustice does include big business and the damage to the environment. It often does for me, but I can relate this even to my business. If I don’t have enough clients, sitting in my living room watching Downton Abbey isn’t going to change that. If I don’t have the skills I want or need, where can I go and what can I do to get them? It’s about being proactive I guess.
Find what it is for you.
Because – unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot (about whatever it might be), nothing is going to get better. It’s not.
Until Next Time,
-RachelAnn
