new york magazine ‘high priority’
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‘High Priority’ is a section of New York Magazine devoted to weekly local entertainment events. The frontispiece relies on experimental typography within a fixed layout to highlight the events described in subsequent pages.
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chasing a dream in the galรกpagos
San Diego Book Awards 2010 Best Travel Book, Chasing a Dream in the Galรกpagos is a travel memoir written by Bette Blaydes Pegas. The author specifically requested that a photo of the blue-footed booby, a Galรกpagos island native, be featured on the front cover. An aged map motif created background texture, with the warm color providing a rich counter for the blue-toned bird image. The contrasting spine was used as a nod to the cloth-bound folios of Darwin's era.
$14.95
“It is the fate of most voyagers, no sooner to discover what is most interesting in any locality, than they are hurried from it.” —Charles Darwin Action is the flip side of dreaming. In her new memoir, Bette Blaydes Pegas travels beyond the Galápagos into a world she’s only dreamed about — a world of saying “yes” to adventure and “no” to self-doubt and fear. With her cousin and two adult daughters she enters a universe of Giant Tortoises, salt-crested Marine Iguanas, and crimson-throated Magnificent Frigatebirds. She follows the tail-drawn sand etchings of Land Iguanas, struggles to comprehend the mysteries of natural selection, and confronts other tourists who desecrate a sea lion shelter in gross defiance of park regulations. Her odyssey is a time for family bonding, a search for Charles Darwin, a reminder of the fierce competition for natural resources, and proof that a brave, unknown side of herself was just waiting for its own personal evolution.
Chasing a Dream in the Galápagos
Travel/Nature/Memoir
Chasing a Dream in the Galápagos A Personal Evolution
Travel with Bette Blaydes Pegas to the extraordinary Galápagos. You’ll be glad you did! —Robert Vavra, renowned photographer and author
Bette Blaydes Pegas is a writer-editor who fulfilled her life’s dream by visiting the islands Charles Darwin made famous. Her desire to see a finch that makes its own tools and to walk among noble creatures that exist nowhere else inspired her journey. The author lives in El Cajon, California, with her historian husband, Art. She is currently working on a collection of short stories.
SUNBELT PUBLICATIONS San Diego, California
ChasingADreamCover.indd 1
Bette Blaydes Pegas
Arranging this voyage for Bette and her family was a joy. Now others can journey with her in the pages of this beautifully written book. This memoir not only transports readers to these precious islands, but also into the heart of a woman who defied her fears and made her dream come true. —Judy Martin, president, Latin American Reservation Center (LARC)
Bette Blaydes Pegas
2/8/09 5:34:44 PM
The book was featured in the gift shop of the San Diego Natural History Museum to celebrate the 150 th anniversary of the publication of Darwin's On the Origin of Species. Coordinating posters were also created for promoting appearances and book signings by the author.
BettePegasPoster20x30OL.indd 1
9/25/10 8:54 AM
rhythm poetry & spoken word gallery
Rhythm Poetry Gallery is a performance venue catering to spoken word artists. The logotype is based on an electrocardiogram to make reference to the rhythm of the heartbeat and to the effect of music on the pulse. The background pattern incorporates an excerpt from Saul Williams’ Twice the First Time into a city grid-like structure. Colors were chosen to reflect the urban setting of the venue and the history of the art form, as well as to make subtle reference to a more indigenous, ancient culture. A stationery system was developed to further this aesthetic, along with various marketing materials, such as exterior venue signage, event flyers, and matchbooks.
Several avenues were explored in an attempt to illustrate rhythm via percussion, pattern, and repetition until the heartbeat was used as inspiration. Research into EKGs and seismographs eventually informed the pattern the ascenders and descenders follow.
and as heart beats bring percussions fallen trees bring reprocussions
cityslumsmuteourdrums
city slums have never been where our drums are from our daughters and sons become
offbeatslaves heartbeats to city streets
brokenheartsbecomebreakbeats
cityslumsmuteourdrums but and our drums become humdrums
but and our drums become humdrums
for niggas to rhyme on top
offbeatslaves heartbeats to city streets
city slums have never been where our drums are from our daughters and sons become
when hearts get broker and heart beats stop
cities play upon our souls like broken drums redrum the essence of creation like city slums
cities play upon our souls like broken drums redrum the essence of creation like city slums cuz just the place where
and as heart beats bring percussions fallen trees bring reprocussions
cuz just the place where
offbeatslaves heartbeats to city streets
brokenheartsbecomebreakbeats
for niggas to rhyme on top
when hearts get broker and heart beats stop
cityslumsmuteourdrums but and our drums become humdrums
when hearts get broker and heart beats stop
offbeatheartbeats
slaves to city streets cuz just the place where
when hearts get broker and heart beats stop
brokenheartsbecomebreakbeats
for niggas to rhyme on top
city slums have never been where our drums are from our daughters and sons become but and our drums become humdrums
for niggas to rhyme on top
brokenheartsbecomebreakbeats
cityslumsmuteourdrums
and as heart beats bring percussions fallen trees bring reprocussions
city slums have never been where our drums are from our daughters and sons become
cities play upon our souls like broken drums redrum the essence of creation like city slums
cities play upon our souls like broken drums redrum the essence of creation like city slums
cuz just the place where
and as heart beats bring percussions fallen trees bring reprocussions
The stationery system makes use of the city grid pattern to organize the pertinent information and to tie all the components together. All pieces incorporate tints of brown on light gray stock.
Rhythm Poetry Gallery occupies a small urban space, and its signage needed to reflect the local flavor as well as offer a taste of the venue itself.
autobiographical book
This autobiographical book makes use of macro and micro story lines to draw a parallel between a lengthy account of the Boston Tea Party and a tumultuous personal relationship. Macro was printed on one side, and micro on the other, of this 25 panel accordion‑fold book. Gold finials and dowels were used as end pieces to evoke the decor of the period. To reflect the American Revolution-era theme of the macro copy, the book was printed on Astroparche Aged, and makes use of woodcut‑effect images, 18th century typefaces (or modern reinterpretations of them), and common typesetting styles of the period.
Russet and dark teal were used throughout the book as a play on red, white, and blue. When printed on the Astroparche, these colors gave the appearance of having originally been red and blue, respectively, and aided in aging the piece appropriately. Century Old Style was used for body copy, with Times New Roman in all capitals, and Porcelain as accent type. Body copy was set in variations of a two-column structure, with fine tool lines in the gutters, evoking the style of the period. In addition, copy flows across both concave and convex folds, leading the reader from one end of the book to the other.
Cover pages employ the same layout on each side, leading into the rest of the book, with the year of the event bleeding onto the next page. The first sentence of body copy also peeks out at the top of the cover, piquing the interest of the reader. All photographs used throughout are family portraits and snapshots. To blend them into the 18th century aesthetic, each image was processed to resemble woodcut illustrations of the day.
portrait photography
Fine art photography, specifically portrait photography, has been a personal interest for nearly ten years. From formal studio work to more candid, journalistic photographs, people – and what a single frame can say about them – have informed the work. Black and white portrait work explored line, shape, shadow, and contrast. Dramatic lighting and unusual angles helped to define the subjects and add visual interest to each frame. A more recent color series explored the topic of women and identity, as expressed through appearance and environment. Consistent compositions, especially with the subjects’ poses, allow the clothing and environment to tell the story more clearly.
Earlier portraits in the identity series were less constrained in how each subject was framed, but the concept was the same: each woman was self-styled for the shoot and chose an area of her home she felt most herself in. The resulting images spoke volumes about each subject.
robert f. kennedy ‘hope’ poster series
This series of three posters was inspired by The Graphic Imperative, an exhibition of socially conscious poster art, and designed to feature a quote by Robert F. Kennedy. Each poster made use of different imagery from the quote, and a logotype of the word ‘hope.’ Experimental typographic methods were used to design the logo, giving the series an edgy, free-form aesthetic, while also evoking the seriousness of social justice issues. The quote text was set using Trajan Pro reversed against a colored background in order to highlight the importance of the speaker and the issue. This text was also converted to a pattern, which acts as a tint of the background color, lending texture and visual interest to the series when viewed from near or far.
The logotype evolved out of an extensive experimental process that included the use of tape, string, and various non‑traditional writing implements – such as plant clippings, plastic straws, and aluminum foil – dipped in ink. A few samples from each medium were chosen to be refined and were then scanned and edited. Legibility, originality, and meaning were all considered in the selection process.
Each poster in the series uses a different background color, reinforcing of the imagery featured. The blue, orange, and green hues were chosen to be inviting to the viewer, and to reference a global palette and the global nature of the issue at hand.
digital photography
Digital photographic manipulation has long been a personal fine art pursuit, ranging from composite images, to color exploration, to extensive retouching. Each piece and each component therein is processed to preserve pixel depth, while enhancing the images according to the needs of the design. Except in cases of vintage image retouching, all component photographs were taken using a digital SLR or 35mm film camera.
An exceptionally damaged photograph was a great candidate for retouching. Not only was the original folded, torn, and written on, but the digital copy had been corrupted and shifted tones in the center. All these issues were painstakingly corrected, with special attention to preserving the original softness of the portrait. It was also imperative that the corrections not distort the subjects’ features. Once the photograph was retouched, colors were chosen to reflect the period in which the original image was taken. Special consideration was given to keeping the color as soft as possible, in order to preserve the aged look of the photograph and keep it from appearing noticeably recolored.
greenlight planet friendly auto care
GreenLight is a line of eco-conscious car care products, following the premise that automobile enthusiasts can still be environmentalists. The company logo was designed to incorporate a traffic light signaling ‘go,’ and a recognizable symbol for the expanding green movement. This duality is also reflected in the brand name. The fresh, bright greens and oranges used are exaggerated versions of common natural colors, and were chosen to denote a partnership between nature and technology. These colors appeal to a younger demographic, and also stand out on the shelf next to the predominantly dark red, blue, and black competitor brands. The use of Eurostyle and Eras as primary typefaces assists in projecting a fresh, young image, and each product is titled with a play on words to make the brand more memorable. Each product is made from natural or recycled materials, and the packaging is printed with soy-based inks on recycled, unbleached papers.
gentle cleansing for bruised knuckles. for when you don’t want to get out those corrosive hand cleaners or just don’t have a lot of time to clean up. won’t leave you smelling too girly either!
The packaging system consists of a wide bellyband of recycled paper, incorporating a bright green field on the back and an orange tire tread motif along the bottom. The tire tread not only adds texture and visual interest, but helps to make the line more recognizable as automobile products. The product names are set vertically to make optimal use of the vertical orientation of each piece.
The key ingredient or component of each product is represented on the right side of each package using the signature colors, and, at times, one additional color. The image bleeds onto the front and back surfaces to lead the consumer around to all sides of the package.
treble* magazine
Treble* magazine was created for music enthusiasts in their teens to early 30s. It used bright, fresh colors, sans serif and distressed typefaces, casual language, and funky styling to appeal to this particular audience. Layouts were dense in images and/or copy, and employed a yearbook-like feel, adding to the appeal for younger readers. Scrapbook effects, like torn paper textures for pops of color, or collage headlines, lend to the casual, independent feel. Subjects covered by the publication include music festivals, indie musicians, up and coming artists, and music-related news features.
In this feature on a recent music festival, the opening spread is filled with full color photographs of the event and the participating musicians. The body copy begins here and carries over onto the following spread, which is more text-heavy and uses only a spot color. Images are processed in such a way as to exaggerate their halftone quality, keeping the publication from appearing too polished. The end of the section copy is signaled by the distressed asterisk from the masthead. Quotation marks used in pull quotes are also distressed characters.
la jolla athenaeum ‘night owls’
The La Jolla Athenaeum is a music and arts membership library. Its Night Owls committee hosts bimonthly events featuring art exhibitions and live music to attract “young urbanites” to the library.
latin nights
Each event has a unique theme based on the evening’s musical guest(s) and exhibiting artist(s), and each postcard illustrates this theme through use of color and texture, image and typography.
Formerly known as The A List, the Athenaeum group rebranded in 2014 as The Night Owls, with a playful nod to the library’s namesake, Athena. The new logo gets its start from an ancient Greek coin stamped with Athena’s owl, and incorporates the Athenaeum’s rotunda logo as the dot on the ‘i’.
latin nights
Events have a wide variety of themes, but promotional postcards are unified by the owl logo (formerly The A List logo) and by use of a footer to communicate vital event details.
Rock Paper Scissors Members’ Choice 08.26.10-Rock Paper ScissorsOL.indd 1
7/29/10 7:23:01 PM
11.04.10-Paint by Numbers_v3.1OL.indd 1
10/13/10 9:07 PM
acknowledgements
cameras:
models:
special thanks to:
Minolta SRT-101
MĂŚve Bandruid
Michelle Barnett
Nikon D50
Lea Dennis
Gary Benzel
Ronald Diaz
Kim Brauer
stock images:
Bronwen Keller
Alexander Burr
deviantArt
Teresa Mercsak
Tim Butler
iStockphoto
Krista Nielsen
Craig Carlson
Shutterstock
Kimberly Swanberg
Lori Clabaugh
stock.xchng magazine copy: RollingStone.com
Dave Crutz Jan Crutz Hillarie Diaz Kat Draper Tess Heimbach Angela Lynch Rosemary Rae Kellie Schroeder Kim Stringfellow Camille Tallon Katie Walders Maura Walters David Wing