A collection of posters about design – created for a “What Is Design” contest – is a fun, humorous and insightful look into the minds of artists.

And You Can Take That to the Bank – Juanma Teixido

(image via: juanmateixido)

“Design is to make a synthesis of needs + information + colors in order to create something greater than the sum of its parts (and you can take that to the bank).” This poster, which won first prize, succinctly sums up what many of the other contest entrants were trying to say – and looks great, too.

Thinking Made Visual – ck/ck

(image via: ckck)

“Design is thinking made visual.” This quote by graphic designer Saul Bass, who created a number of the most recognizable logos in the world, is illustrated here in a simple but effective composition.

So Simple and So Complicated – Horacio Lorente

(image via: rockstudios)

Another quote by an iconic artist, Paul Rand, is brought to life through the power of graphic design. “Design is the method of putting form and content together… just as art, has multiple definitions… there is no single definition. Can be art. Can be aesthetics. Is so simple, that’s why it’s so complicated.”

Capturing the Elusive – Tony Price

(image via: tonyxprice)

“Design is capturing what is most elusive.” So writes designer Tony Price – and what, exactly, is that elusive element? It could be said that it’s that ‘J’ne sais quoi’, that special undefinable quality that gives design power. It’s something that some artists have, and some don’t.

Huge Watercolor Numbers on a Poster – Drew Kora

(image via: gravitymachine)

“Graphic design is huge water-colour numbers on a poster. It is? Yes, it is. How so? Because I just ‘designed’ it.” Just as fine art can be anything you want it to be, graphic design is design purely because someone said so.

De-sign – Juanma Teixido

(image via: juanmateixido)

“What is graphic design? To remove a sign from its original location and then blame it on the client.” Designer Juanma Teixido takes the word “design” and deconstructs it to a literal meaning, finding a way to connect it back to the original subject.

Creativity, Skills & Awesomeness – Ancient Wisdom Productions

(image via: ancientwisdom)

Creativity and skills are undeniable elements of good graphic design, but they’re not everything. To produce really standout design, you clearly need an equal amount of ‘awesomeness’ as well.

More Than a Sassy Typeface – Trev Stair

(image via: trigger25)

“Graphic design is more than a sassy typeface”. It may seem obvious, but some budding designers don’t seem to be aware of this fact.

Makes Information Less Boring – Marcus Olovsson

(image via: marcusolovsson)

“Graphic design makes information less boring.” Anyone who has ever tried to decipher data without the help of charts and graphics can attest to that.

Visual Balancing Act – Ben Cardy

(image via: benbacardi)

When combining color, typography, lines, shapes and other elements of design, getting them to come together successfully is a visual balancing act. One small thing out of place, and the overall design doesn’t work.

Visual Discipline – Timoni Grone

(image via: timoni)

Some people say that fine art is emotional, while design is informational. This poster by Timoni Grone illustrates the difference.

Order Out of Chaos – Janne Remes

(image via: vatoslocosjkl)

Like the previous poster, this simple and clean concept emphasizes the ability of design to provide clarity.

Here Before Pixels – Alejo

(image via: ale_dg)

Many people strongly associate graphic design with computers – but the truth is, it has been around a lot longer. This poster – “Graphic design was here before pixels” – doesn’t exactly answer the question “What is graphic design?” but it does make an important observation.

Getting the Mix Right – Elizabeth Mitchell

(image via: pixelfish)

Just as in chemistry, graphic design is all about getting the mix right. But instead of chemicals, designers are working with complex cocktails of shapes, lines, negative space, colors, typography, composition and other elements.

Eye Music – Pintovsky

(image via: pintovsky)

Visual communications and music have more in common than you might think – things like composition, rhythm and flow. When design works, it’s like a symphony – just as pleasing to the eye as well-crafted music is to the ear.

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I just looked on Etsy and I reached my goal of having 100 positive feedbacks!!  Woohoo!!!!!!!


http://www.etsy.com/people/DancingPen/feedback

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extra large 3' x 4' banner for elizabeth's bridal shower. elizabeth and dominic's love story began while studying abroad in russia.

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Alessandro Paiva is a graphic/packaging designer from Belo Horizonte, Brazil. He likes to think outside the box and reinforces that it's always important to think about sustainability. Lets have a chat with him!

1.Hi Alessandro Welcome to Think Smart Designs, it's an honor to have you here. Tell us a little bit about yourself.Where you come from,your education and what made you get into design.

I'm from Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. I'm a college graduated in advertising, but have been working as a graphic designer since 2001. I got into design occasionally. I worked as an intern in some advertising agencies, doing art direction and copy writing, but graphic design was more interesting and fun, so, all of a sudden, I became a designer.

2. I see you have a lot of packaging featured on your website.Is that what you are specialized on or you also work on some other fields as of print and web?Anything new you have been working on?

Initially, I did only print, but in 2006 I started working in a design office called Coral Design, specialized in packaging, although there were print too. At that office, we used to work mainly with the dairy industry, designing packaging for milk, butter, cheese, yogurt etc. We also worked with mineral waters, juices, candies, cosmetics, sauces, sodas and a lot more. So, there was no way I could get away from packaging. Right now I'm working with print, brands and will start a long project for a new cosmetic company from Finland. For this company, I've designed the logo and will start the packaging part. About web, I've never done any work but my website, that's why it is very very very simple. Webdesign is too complicated and I don't dare trying that!

3.. How do to come up with your ideas? Tell us a little bit about your brain storm and working process. How do you come up with concept?

Well, I always say that references are the fuel for creativity. Even if the designer is the most gifted one, he has to see what is out there in the design world. When you see lots of design works, you stimulate your creativity. You can check out design books, magazines, websites and/ or blogs and get images or stuff that will certainly help you later. Everyday, I take a tour on my favorite websites and blogs and collect images that can help me and inspire me on my current or future works.

About the brain storm, we have to respect the clients requests and wishes. They know their company much better that anyone else. Having that in mind, we have to check everything (designwise) related to those clients, such as competitors, audience, market etc, than, later, come up with the brain storming. No idea can be discarded. We have to think hard and do not accept fast conclusions. Everything has to be well thought and planned. So, doing that way, the best and innovative things will come out. If any difficulties come up, "take a look" at the images that you've collected, books, websites etc and try to get more creative. If that still doesn't help, don't worry. Go home and rest. The next day you may have a nice fresh idea that comes up.

4. How comprehensive would you say your knowledge of design is? Do you think your designs always hit the target audience you are designing for?

Today there are so many things in design. Knowing a bit of everything is ok, but I try to specialize myself in few areas: print, banding and packaging. As for the target audience, I believe I've never had a problem. Before starting any design work, there are some other professionals that help to build a design plan, which consists on: surveys, market analysis, audience profile etc. Having that, it's time to create. This whole process helps me to make the right design, even if it's not the most beautiful or creative one. Actually, most of the time I'm facing projects which creativity is not related to innovative shapes or graphics, but to what the audience really want to see and buy.

5.Are you always 100% happy with your designs?

Not everytime we can do what we want to do. This is how market works. I live in a traditional country, where people are not very receptive to different things. Brazilians like to see others using something first. If that works, than they'll start using too. Innovation can be a risk under those circumstances. So let's say I'm 85% happy. If part of those 15% hits the target and sells a lot, I forgive it (lol)!

6.How much time does it take to come up with a new packaging design ? do you work well under pressure?

Depends on the project. A TetraPak or some juice label design can take o short time. On the other hand, the shape of a bottle or a box for a cologne can take a lot more. It depends on the material, prototype tests etc. About the pressure... it's wonderful to work with enough time, so we can think and rethink our designs. Unfortunately it's not always like that. But I can't complain. My clients are very understanding and know that a project needs a certain time to be well done.

7.Have you been it situations where problems have arisen between

you and the designer due to a lack of understanding from either party?

Well, I work in a different partnership. In some studios where I worked for, there was a creative director to guide me in some projects. Other studios I was the creative director. Yes, most of the time we (me and the other part) had different opinions, but, in the end, there were no hard feelings and we always end up with a reasonable conclusion.

8. Do you market yourself to a particular type of client such as high end design, more towards low cost, or to put an emphasis on any environmental stance you might have?

Usually I try not to refuse a client because of its size or proposal. It will depend on my availability, interest in the job etc.

9. If you could change anything in general about designers, what would it be?

Tough question... I cannot change other peoples minds when design is the subject. I could advise them to go crazy on their designs, but always focusing the market and its reality.

10.Are there any designers or designs out there that inspire you?

The historical artists inspire me a lot. I can quote Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Ingres, Van Gogh, Dali and a lot more. Those painters made history with their experiences with shapes, colors, boldness, particular techniques, personality etc.

11.How you you feel about sustainability? Do you always think about it when creating a new packaging?

Certainly! Right now I'm part of a commission called "MP Sustentável" (Ministério Público Sustentável, wich means Public Ministry Sustainable). Besides doing the print for the campaigns, I also discuss with others the effectiveness of the program and try to propose solutions for eventual problems.

12.What has been your most challenging project to date and why?

It's about to happen. This cosmetic company from Finland will have stores in Vancouver, Toronto, London, Stockholm and Helsinki. Different places, different cultures, different suppliers and the hardest part: very distant from Brazil. But I'm very excited about this project and hope It will be a huge success.

13.where can we find you online?

You can visit my website www.alessandropaiva.com (I have to work on that) or send me an e-mail to contato@alessandropaiva.com.

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Jobisintown.de is a German online recruitment website. They have made these amazing advertisements with the slogan “Life’s too short for the wrong job”. Over the years they have come up with several other print adverts that have the same idea of real person operating the machine. This campaign has won many awards.

Company: Jobsintown.de
Agency: Scholz & Friends, Berlin
Country: Germany

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We all know that your marketing brochure is the next best thing to your business card. But, it doesn’t have to be plain and boring to look professional.You can play with different kinds of type and experiment with folds. Here are some examples to get inspiration from these stunning brochure samples.- Enjoy

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