creative
200/www.CreativeGaga.com
VOL4/ ISSUE4
Jul/Aug 2014 the enthusiastic creative journal
The art of packaging Akim Melnik
A SPECIALIST IN HOLISTIC APPROACH Samridh Seth
Cover
Buddha by
The experienced appreciate young potential Wise Advise
Kevin Roodhorst
nt e l Ta ase g un c Yo Show
Contents EXHIBIT
GYAAN
08____TrendFeed Inspiring design with potential to be influential.
44____Photoshop Faces/ Vivek Nag Gives a walkthrough on illustrating portraits using the digital canvas.
12____SpendThrift Thoughtfully designed stuff that you can acquire.
48____Nudiac Signs/ Sanket Sanjay Khuntale On how he captured nude body forms to create a project called ‘Nudiacs’.
18____Gujarat Galore/ Jalpa Shah She expresses Gujarat through a creative display font. 20____The Hole Idea/ Vishwajeet Sawant Graphic designer Vishwajeet collaborates with a product designer to display the brand Polo like never before. FIGURES 20____Story Spectacle/ Ashish Subhash Boyne As a budding illustrator, he shares the mantra for a bright freelance career. 24____Experience This/ Samridh Seth Branding designer Samridh Seth on why he calls himself an ‘Experience Designer’ 28____Fresh Outlooks/ Wise Advise Accomplished design experts share their opinions about new age professionals. 32____Complete Package/ Akim Melnik Packaging Designer from Belarus, Akim Melnik, tells us what goes into a good packaging. 36____Digital Dreams/ Kevin Roodhorst Digital artist from The Netherlands, Kevin Roodhorst, talks about his unique style and journey.
GRADUATE SHOWCASE
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54____Unique Character/ Simran Nanda Communication Designer, introduces some out of this world characters. 56____Full Form/ Anisha Raj Adds her own signature as she experiments with forms and mediums. 58____Concept Crux/ Alija Sule Determined designer, believes behind every good design is a good concept. 60____Into the Future/ Giby Joseph Concept Artist on 3D character designing. 62____Pencil Passion/ Prem Sai G S Prem Sai G S’s magic takes shape when pencil hits paper. 64____Scribble This/ Nabeel PM Practice yields perfection believes freelance designer Nabeel PM. DESIGN PLEASURE 68____Wall of Freedom/ Pune Street Art Festival Inkbrushnme tells us of some small things to keep in mind before expressing on a big wall.
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70____No Strings Attached/ Fan Club An exhibition of design overflowing with talent.
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FIGURES_GagaWorthy 01 02 05 06 CUEBLOCKS GENERATIVE IDENTITY SYSTEM. The generative identity system is seen transforming into physical space, where one can rotate and change the logo
every day. creating an unforgettable experience.
can sit on various mediums and surfaces.
03 CUEBLOCKS GENERATIVE IDENTITY. The core idea in branding design needs to be versatile so that it
04 CUEBLOCKS GENERATIVE IDENTITY SYSTEM. Analytical and creating thought are finely balanced in this
A graduate from MIT Institute of Design early last year, Samridh Seth focuses on brand and branding strategy. Having created brand experiences for cultural festivals, IT Companies, education consultancies and many more, there’s no stopping this young talented music-loving soul.
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branding design, where the grid follows the pixel language.
Jul/Aug 2014
Experience This Experience is what people look for in a brand. And it’s that very experience one has to create as a designer. “A good way for a branding exercise is to keep a holistic approach.” says Experience Designer Samridh Seth. “The word experience doesn’t replace strategy, however it makes it explode beyond the traditional approach of defining brands.” he adds. Here, he shares his unique approach that helps his work occupy a niche of its own. Label yourself as an ‘experience designer’. Whether you’re branding, creating an ad or designing a product the aim is to design an experience. Using this word allows one to think in a holistic manner. Branding, for instance, is an experience of a brand, where you create a personality, tell a story, create its environment, its aura and even the way it talks to you which is eventually carried forward to its design in all its strategy and communication mediums. This approach is fascinating and helps a design come out with the best. It’s advisable to adapt this approach.
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It’s not about your style, but your approach. A musician has a style. A player has a style. But as an experience designer style changes according to the project and experience you wish to create. What remains constant in an approach is to put that multi-disciplinary and some eclectic thought during the process. Coz everyone does like a new experience. What remains constant is how you approach it every single time. It works when one puts an eclectic and multi-disciplinary thought during the process. Don’t be afraid to keep scratching your head, learning, adapting or even going off a tangent while circling the core idea in your head >
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FIGURES_MadeInBelarus
Complete
Born in 1977 in Nalchik, Russia, Akim Melnik is a Packaging Designer based in Minsk, Belarus. After studying from the Belarussian Academy of Arts, he went on specialise in packaging design. Having worked in the largest printing house in Belarus, where he developed his skills, he then went on to create his own design studio in 2000.
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PACKAGE The brand name, list of ingredients and description as well. How do you fit all this into a limited space and still make it all look organised and appealing? Well, that’s why we have packaging designers. Akim Melnik, a Packaging Designer from Belarus believes it’s important to keep certain key things in mind to help fulfil the purpose. In a conversation with Creative Gaga, he tells us about his design dogma.
Jul/Aug 2014 01 INDIAN INSTANT COFFEE. A good example of how traditional elements can be incorporated in a design to give it appeal and stand-out factor. 02 JAM. This package design uses colors and illustrations to appeal to its target audience. 03 HELSY TEA. This trademark design for ILKO Corporation Company, exemplifies the balance between emotional and practicality. 04 BERGG BEER. This design for a beer brand keeps in mind the expectations and preferences of the target audience. 02
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CG: Your designs are mostly focused on branding and packaging. What is your design philosophy that makes you as a brand, stand out? AK: To describe the philosophy in words is difficult. It’s like a dream that you’ve had, you remember it, but just cannot describe it. However, there are some things that are always important to be aware of when designing for a product or brand. First is to meet the expectations and preferences of the target audience. Secondly, ergonomics and making sure information on a pack is correctly presented is crucial too. And lastly, you cannot create without knowing what’s already out there. Hence, competent analysis and research of competitive product packaging is a necessary step. Remember, that a good design can sell a bad product, just like a bad design can worsen the selling a good product > 04
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Jul/Aug 2014 01 ENERGY. This design experiments with different shapes rendered in Cinema 4D to infuse energy and action.
Kevin Roodhorst is a 23 year old digital artist from The Netherlands. With many years of experience, he specialises in making promotional and advertising ads using software like Photoshop, Illustrator and Cinema 4D.
02 VISION. The design communicates how a woman focuses on the most important things in life and doesn’t let anything stand in her way.
03 ONLY TIME. This abstract creation uses circles around the woman and a clock to symbolise time.
Digital Dreams
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The Netherlands might be below sea-level, but when it comes to design, it’s right up there! Digital artist, Kevin Roodhorst, believes in developing concepts and working on a central element. Here, he takes us on a tour of his design that has helped bag various international exposure. 03
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GYAAN_DexterArt
A freelance illustrator by profession, Vivek Nag is based in Mumbai and is currently studying Fine Arts from Rachna Sansad. With a diploma in digital painting from FX School, Andheri, he has since then worked as Business Illustrator, Graphic Designer, Concept Artist and Comic Book Colourist. With a strong passion for portraits and comic characters, he wishes to become a tutor of digital painting and concept art as well as a renowned figure in the comic book industry.
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Jul/Aug 2014
photoshoP Faces Gone are the days of drawing portraits using pencils and brushes. Digital is the new canvas and Photoshop is the new tool. Digital Illustrator, Vivek Nag is fascinated by ‘Sadhus’ and here he takes us through the making of a portrait using Photoshop.
01 The first step is to make a rough patchy sketch of the character. It’s best to do this using a chalk brush or special Photoshop brushes which are meant to replicate a traditional look on the digital canvas. The lines mostly trace the shadows and/or contours of the face as seen in the image.
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GRADUATE SHOWCASE
Name: Alija Sule Course: Graphic Design College/Institution: MAEER MIT Institute of Design, Pune. Status: Currently studying at MIT Institute of Design, Alija Sule is a graphic designer. Fascinated by the power to change so much using design, she believes that good design must always be backed by a good concept.
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Concept
CRUX
For her, design and ideas are like two sides of the same coin; they must go together. You need both of them to combine because design cannot exist in isolation. “Design is a medium to communicate, attract and bond with the viewer or user” says Alija. She reiterates that it’s not as easy as picking up a brush and painting what your heart feels. User research along with client and brand understanding are the wind beneath your wings as a designer. Her work marks this fine balance. There is colour and cheer in her designs, just the way she likes it, but applied in moderation according to the target audience. “Design for yourself but most importantly, use the power to solve a problem and make a difference for people out there.” she adds. No idea is silly nor small. It’s all about relevance.
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01 The comfort and warmth of home. Sometimes, best inspirations come from within a pondering mind. This design compilation, combines a self-taken photograph along with a self-written quote to express a concept that is so relatable. 02 Tessellated Pattern. The motifs on most Indian textiles are beautifully tessellated. The identity design does so too likewise. 03 Home page for Aamchi Rickshaw. The power of design is best excercised when it can solve a problem. This website for Aamchi Rickshaw, a dial-anauto service for Pune city, demonstrates that ideology. The colour and design of the website have been inspired by the vibrant kitsch art of Puneri Rickshaws.
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Jul/Aug 2014
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04 ‘This That’ Stationery Design. The stationery also uses bright colours to re-emphasise the playfulness of ‘This That’. 05 ‘This That’ Promotional material. ‘This That’ provides kids with a platter of choices that excites and tempts them. What would the child rather be: smart or cool? Does he/she enjoy playing games with the family or friends? Does the child want the games to be fun or educational? These designs were created to express this wide range of choice and personalities. 06 Spread for Graduate Student Design Showcase. The Design Annual is an assemblage of student projects in the graduating batch. Characterised under two broad categories: Communication and Industrial Design, both were coded with different colours to facilitate easy browsing; green for students of Communication Design and red for students of Industrial Design <
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GRADUATE SHOWCASE
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Jul/Aug 2014 Name: Giby Joseph Course: Graduation College/Institution: Animation and Art School, Goa Status: He currently works as a concept artist in the game industry. He uses desaturated colours and lighting to give a rather rough look to his fantasy and sci-fi characters.
Info the Future He tells us that designing animated characters is restrictive and not as free as designing characters for a book. Their 3D implementation is mainly the reason why. Using Photoshop for his digital paintings, his work attempts to break existing animation mindsets and bring forth a refreshing experience. Uniqueness is imparted in Gibyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work because he chooses to work with a combination of 3D, photos and traditional mediums. 04
01 Born of Fire. This character exploration as part of a personal project, experiments with desaturated colours and subtle lighting to add persona and aura to the character in focus. 02 Robot Walker V 2.0 In a future world, where war and poverty prevails, some people stand up to make a difference. 03 Drunk Pirate. The story follows a drunken pirate and his journey around the world along with his crew. Notice the unfinished texture to the design that enhances the characterisation. 04 Soul of Ice. A rough texture used to depict an illustration of one of the heroes who controls water elemental.
05 The Infected Scientist. Futuristic in appearance, the protagonist designed is determined to find a cure for a world thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s infected with fungal plague <
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