You The Designer

Free Vector Infographic Elements

Patrick Jude Ilagan — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:30:42 +0000

Hello creatives! Our featured freebie for this week is a nice collection of vector infographic elements perfect for your next design projects!

Making data visually enticing but also very informative is one thing that designers should bear in mind when designing an infograph. For today we are giving you guys a high quality collection of infographic elements that you can use for your projects. The elements are editable to your specific needs.

Download this amazing set of vector badges by tweeting or sharing it to your friends over Facebook. Just click the button below and follow the instructions in the pop up window. (Email subscribers, please visit the actual post page to download.)

Share us your thoughts and suggestions by leaving a comment below. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus. And for more design related stories, you can subscribe to our blog using our RSS Feeds. Lastly, please do check out our print templates page and download our amazing set of blank print templates to aide you in your future projects. Stay awesome everyone!

The Quote Illustration Project by Tang Yau Hoong

Kerby Rosanes — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:25 +0000

As creatives, most of us has been inspired by the words of famous persons that influence our career, lifestyle and even our perspective in life. These quotes motivate us from time to time to the extent that we even print and post some of them whether on our desks, workstations or hang them on walls as posters.

Malaysia-based graphic designer, Tang Yau Hoong utilize the idea of creating posters out of our favorite quotes. His project called “The Quote Illustration Project” showcases a series of posters featuring some popular quotes interpreted through simple but meaningful illustrations accompanied by good choice of typography.

We got the chance to talk to Tang and ask him few questions about this particular project and his creative process. Check out the short interview below:

YTD: Hi Tang! How are you and how’s Malaysia?

TANG: Hi! I’m fine. Thank you. It is hot here.

YTD: Give us a little background about your work in graphic design.

TANG: I am a 28 years old visual artist/ illustrator/ graphic designer from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I hope to make graphics that spark the viewer. As a graphic designer I try to convey messages visually. I like simplistic works and will always try to make my illustrations as simple as possible. Having said that, I do not limit myself to certain style or medium and I always try to create something fresh and express my idea in a creative way.

YTD: One of the many interesting projects you’ve done that amazes us is “The Quote Illustration Project”. How did you come up with the idea of combining famous quotes with your illustrations?

TANG: Most of them are old illustrations that I redrew to match the style I was looking for and the meaning of the corresponding quote. One day, I was browsing these old designs again and thought of giving them new lifes so here is the result. The only unpublished illustration is Steve Jobs which triggered the project.

YTD: Can you share us your creative process? From where did you start?

TANG: There is nothing secret. Basically I do a lot of thinking, sketching and brainstorming to get new ideas. To me, a good idea is the result of evolution.

YTD: What are the tools you used?

TANG: I use graphic tablet for final artwork. Before that I do a lot of sketching and doodling in my sketchbook for brainstorming.

YTD: Which of them is your most favorite?

TANG: At the moment my personal favorite is “Light painter”.

YTD: Is there any other famous quote in your mind you hope to illustrate in the future?

TANG: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”
But I’m not sure if I am going to illustrate this one.

YTD: Are there prints, merchandise and other products from those illustrations? Where can we get some?

TANG: Some of my work including the quote project are available as art prints on my shop.

YTD: Any future plans for the project?

TANG: I might continue to make more quote illustrations and see how it goes. There is no planning at the moment yet.

Check out Tang’s website for more information or his Behance portfolio to see more of his cool projects.

SEE ALSO: Hilarious Posters for Photographers

Share us your thoughts and suggestions by leaving a message below. Find You The Designer on Facebook, Twitter,Pinterest and Google Plus for more updates. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for the latest design inspirations, stories and freebies. Speaking of freebies, check out our free print templates page for your print design needs. Stay awesome everyone!

“The World Between” Animated Posters by Simi Zeko

Kerby Rosanes — Thu, 16 May 2013 02:20:02 +0000

We usually think of colorful illustrations or beautiful photography when it comes to poster design. However, typography used as a major design element is now a common trend in designing posters today. With a smart choice of colors and typeface, a clean and simple typography poster can be more effective than those packed with photos and illustrations. YTD’s latest featured project is another experiment using typography as a major poster design element combined with animation.

Meet Simi Zeko, a graphic design student from Falmouth University in United Kingdom. His work get noticed just recently after publishing his project online called “The World Between” Animated Posters. This university project involved the creation of a series of animated posters as an introduction shown between events at The World Between (Museum of Circles). The smart choice of combining poster design with animation made this project a “breathe of fresh air” when it comes to designing typography posters.

You The Designer got the chance to talk to Simi Zeko about his work, background notes and the creative process behind this project. Check out the short interview below:

YTD: Hi Simi! How are you and how’s UK?

SIMI: I’m great thanks. I’m just about to finish my second year of studying Graphic Design at Falmouth University. It’s been an amazing experience so far and I’m looking forward to my final year.

YTD: Give us a little background as your work as a Graphic Design student.

SIMI: As a designer I love solving problems and telling stories. I try not to put a limit on what an outcome can be. So far my time as a Graphic Design student as been focused on trying something new with every project. Whether it’s learning how to use new tools or exploring the disciplines of graphic design.

YTD: How did you come up with the idea of combining type with animation?

SIMI: The brief offered the choice of either branding a museum of the circus, or to create a piece of moving image to be shown to audiences between events at the same museum. The outcome I chose had to be typographically focused either way.

I had never done anything related to motion graphics before, so I jumped at the opportunity.

YTD: Can you share with us your creative process? From where did you start?

SIMI: After deciding to pursue a moving image outcome, it became clear that I still needed to do a little branding. The circus museum needed a name and logo. I also needed to identify my audience and how best to communicate to them. After researching the circus’s glory days and the popular circuses of today, I decided that the museum’s audience would be families with young children. I needed to create something that would remind the adults about their childhood circus experiences and paint a picture of wonder for the young generation.

The function of the video developed into something designed to enhance the excitement in the atmosphere, by giving the museum a boastful and inviting typographic introduction. The name ‘The World Between’ came from the concept of a world outside the ordinary where anything could happen, you could always be surprised and amazed. The poster’s copy is also rooted in this world between worlds, inspired by ringmaster dialogue and the words on old circus posters.

With the museum named and an objective in sight, I was ready to start designing my outcome. I wanted something with that classic circus feel, but with a slightly more contemporary visual style. After coming up with a range of ideas for the video I decided to go in the direction of using moving circus posters to tell the museum’s story. As I wrote the copy and the idea developed, the visual elements of the posters became based on showmanship. The circus stage, the makeup and costumes that create the show. The type would be dressed up as if it was about to perform and be animated as if presenting itself with a lively flair. I began sketching lots of different layouts for each poster until I was satisfied with them. I also created a reference sheet to tell me which words should be decorated and how different parts of each poster should be animated.

YTD: How did you select the right typography to use in this particular project?

SIMI: I started by looking at letterforms on old circus posters. Looking for repeated features and opportunities for appropriation. I ended up looking for a typeface that had a strong sense of showmanship. Laudanum offered a great balance of tall condensed letters as well as exciting shapes and serifs. Corki and Nevis were chosen as opposites to give the posters some visual variety.

YTD: What are the tools you used?

SIMI: After roughly designing each poster on paper I took them into Adobe Illustrator for further development. When I was pleased with them I imported the posters into After Effects to animate them. It was fun learning how to use the software.

YTD: Which of them is your most favorite?

SIMI: That’s a tough question. I think I’m going to go with the poster with the list of circus acts, because I spent the most time designing and animating it. As the poster with the most type, it was quite a challenge working on how the list would be set, but it was the most satisfying one to finish.

YTD: Any future plans for the project?

SIMI: No future plans for this project right now. But I’d love to do something similar with moving type again. Maybe ultra colourful animated type for an 80’s sci-fi film, who knows?

Check out more information about Simi Zeko and his awesome projects by visiting his Behance portfolio.

You! Be Inspired! – Cat Heroes by Jenny Parks

Cadence Wu — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:53:39 +0000

From thousands of GIF images to viral YouTube videos, it is no doubt that cats are one of the most celebrated animals over the Internet. No wonder that the works of California based illustrator, Jenny Parks got viral not just by illustrating cute cats but re-imagining them as superheroes and other popular characters.

Catvengers

The idea of transforming people to cats brought her a bit of Internet fame after illustrating “Doctor Mew“, cat versions of the characters from the sci-fi series, “Doctor Who”. Jenny has a BFA in Illustration and a graduate degree in Science Illustration, who is now based in San Francisco as a freelance illustrator making her own name in animal art and making a living by drawing cute and fuzzy creatures.

Her cat heroes include characters form Batman and The Avengers. Some of the super-cats were even renamed such as Iron Cat, Hulkitty, Captain Catmerica, Purrlock Holmes, Catniss, etc. Check out some of Jenny’s cat heroes below. Enjoy!

Hulkitty

Captain Catmerica

Iron Cat

Thor

Lokitty

Daryl Dixon | Walking Dead

Sam and Dean | Supernatural

The Fur Rises

Purrlock Holmes

Hairy Pawter

Catniss

Doctor Mew

Which of the cat heroes is your most favorite? Check out Jenny’s official website for more information about her awesome illustration work.

Some Mother’s Advice as Typography Posters

Cadence Wu — Sun, 12 May 2013 13:00:48 +0000

What’s the greatest advice your mom gave you? Mothers all over the world gave wisdoms and life lessons to their children as they grow up. In today’s celebration of Mother’s Day, the creative folks from Wieden+Kennedy collaborated with P&G in their “Thank You, Mom.” social campaign, gathering everyone’s #momswisdom via Facebook and Twitter and transform these quotes into beautiful and sweet typography posters showcasing nice fonts and cute illustrations.

Which poster is your most favorite? Check out more of them on P&G’s Pinterest board or on Facebook.

Share us your thoughts and suggestions by leaving a message below. Find You The Designer on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus for more updates. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for the latest design inspirations, stories and freebies. Speaking of freebies, check out our free print templates page for your print design needs. Stay awesome everyone!

Hitler Reacts to the new Adobe Creative Cloud

Patrick Jude Ilagan — Sat, 11 May 2013 15:00:03 +0000

Adobe recently unveiled their newest offering at Adobe Max. While the announcement about the Adobe Creative Cloud has gotten a lot of mixed emotions from the creative community, there is one guy who is not too happy about the news.

The news that Adobe will stop selling perpetual licenses for their products to move on to subscription plans has risen not just a few eyebrows, but a whole lot of Internet rage as well. Of course the Internet has become creative when it comes to expressing their rage about different things. One particular rage expressing meme is the “Hitler Reacts To” which is an excerpt from the German movie “Downfall” has been used time and time again from Twitter crashing down to the mortgage crisis in the U.S. YouTube user EvilEdison created a version of Hitler Reacts To video about the Adobe Creative Cloud, be warned that the video below uses strong language.

Despite it’s absurdity the video sure brings up some really important points against the Creative Cloud like pricing, compatibility and practicality. One scary probability that the video has pointed out is that what if Adobe decided to jack up the subscription prices from the $50 to a whooping $500 per month. But despite all his rage and his threats Hitler ultimately gives up because he acknowledges that Adobe products are great and invaluable.

What is your opinion about the new Adobe Creative Cloud? Do you think the pricing plans of the Creative Cloud is fair? Tell us your thoughts at the comment section below! Follow us out in Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+ also do subscribe to get your latest dose of design news, tutorials and creative advertising ideas for inspiration.

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