by Annie | Feb 10, 2011 | Game Design, Illustration Station
As I’ve been mentioning again and again in my blog lately, we’ve been working very hard on our final game project concepts. And at this point, we’re ready to introduce the world to Chip, the protagonist in our game. In the image above, Chip is the yellow blockheaded guy on the left. The concept and mechanics are still being hammered out, but we need all the feedback we can get. Whether or not you’re an artist or game designer, we want to hear from you. How does Chip look? How does the environment look? What do you think of the colors, shapes, lines, spacing, style, etc.? What stands out? What caught your eye first? We realize the importance of the look and feel of a game in attracting and maintaining players, so we’d love any and all feedback. Please comment below or send me your thoughts....
by Annie | Jul 30, 2010 | Illustration Station
The best part of life is without a doubt the people who are there with you along the journey. And that’s definitely true for my experience thus far at VFS. Every class at VFS is given a number, based on the iteration of that program. Our class is Game Design 18, or GD18. Immediately, we took to the brand, creating a Facebook page to share experiences and inside jokes. We haven’t ordered any GD18 t-shirts just yet, but I’m sure we’ll be designing those shortly. This tight-knit group of like-minded individuals was definitely on my mind as I brainstormed ideas for my 2-point vehicle design assignment. The result: Dumb and Dumber meets...
by Annie | Apr 15, 2010 | Illustration Station
Ever get bored of seeing the same old black-and-white stripes on the products you buy? Sure those random bars and numbers mean something to some warehouse worker somewhere, but let’s face it – barcodes can take up some valuable real estate on product packaging. So, instead of the typical rectangular barcode, why not spice it up a bit? Take a gander at these creative barcodes that will have you looking twice at that product you’re about to put back on the...
by Annie | Mar 23, 2010 | Illustration Station
No, this is not a shameless plug for my favorite fast food restaurant, though if it does make you crave Chipotle’s juicy marinated meat, fresh guacamole and salsa, and steamy tortillas, so be it. Conversation can be somewhat difficult for me when eating at Chipotle, since my mouth is constantly stuffed to its maximum capacity. Thus, most of my time is spent looking around, admiring the scenery, and preparing my next perfect bite. During a recent visit to Chipotle, as I was savoring a giant mouthful of goodness, I noticed the graphics on Chipotle’s napkins. What a great means of communication! These graphic instructions provide crucial eating tips while saving paper....
by Annie | Dec 3, 2009 | Illustration Station
I learned to spell the word silhouette in third grade. It probably coincided with some story in reading class and thus popped up in the weekly spelling list. Since then, I’ve always been drawn to silhouette designs. Simple, elegant, and to the point. An effective silhouette highlights unique features without random clutter, helping the viewer appreciate lines and shapes. The stark image communicates the message clearly so that even simple designs can leave a lasting impression. No need for shading, gradients, or textures; just clean design. How to create an effective silhouette design: 1. An easy way to create a silhouette is to use the pen tool in Illustrator or Photoshop to trace an image or photograph. 2. Choose shapes and figures that are unique and interesting. Keep in mind that you don’t have to use the entire person/object. 3. Make sure the silhouette is easily recognizable, unless you’re going for a Rorschach effect. 4. Less is more. Silhouettes stand out because they’re simple. When in doubt, take it...
