Cassandre Project Update 2

Since my last project update, I have altered the design of the pages, continued researching and colllecting images, and located good links to include in the reference/links page.

The new design of the home page is based on the same Cassandre poster as my first idea, but is a little more abstract in its representation of it than the first design. First of all, I changed the layout from a primarily vertical to a horizontal orientation in order to create a design that fits onto the computer screen eliminating the need to scroll to view all content located on the screen. I have also changed the heading to a more Art Deco typeface in order to emphasize Cassandre's involvement with Art Deco.

Instead of trying to show a literal interpretation of one of his works as I tried to do in the first design, I decided to go with a design that is still based on one of his Nord Express posters, just done in a way that is a more abstract and implied representation. I thought having the more basic backdrop would make it possible to incorporate the text onto the page without making the piece too chaotic. Form the home page, I incorporated the navigation into the page by arranging the text according to the lines of perspective in the piece, which continues the idea of movement and forward motion that is such an important element in Cassandre's poster. I also kept the same color scheme as my original design, although it is not the color scheme of his original poster which used red instead of yellow as the accent color (I don’t know that I have a good explanation as to why I used yellow instead of red except that I like it better).

The design for most of the pages linked to the home page is a variation of the home design, incorporating the same elements except for the black “train.” The other difference is that the linked pages are vertical in orientation, yet the same width as the home page. I thought this would work nicely due to the large amounts of text that these other pages will contain. The gallery page will vertically list the images and analysis and may also include a linked page where the viewer can scroll through zoomed versions of the images in a horizontal format (see example at http://www.citrinitas.com/history_of_viscom/images/modernism/cassandre.html). The timeline will be similar to the gallery in that the information will be vertically listed, yet will be linked to a page that lists the information horizontally.

Clinique Packaging Design Reflects Arts and Crafts as well as Art Nouveau

Over spring break I had to buy some makeup, and being the packrat that I am, I didn't want to throw away the boxes the makeup came in because I kind of collect interesting packaging design (especially when I know that a big part of the price I had to pay for a product goes into the product's unique packaging).

Since these package designs recently caught my eye, I thought I would try to discuss what were some of the boxes' design influences. Some of these influences seem to include Ukiyo-e, Art Nouveau, and possibly William Morris in the design of the floral background. The typography of the design is much more modern in its representation.

The use of flowers as ornament relates to both the William Morris Arts and Crafts and the Art Nouveau movements. Although William Morris would have created a more symmetrical, organized floral design, the fact that nature is the subject matter is at least relatable to Morris and his design. What is perhaps a stronger comparison, is the relationship of the design to Japanese Ukiyo-e prints and European Art Nouveau prints. First of all, the use of flat areas of color and bold, textural lines lend reference to such found in Ukiyo-e and Japanese prints. These same elements also relate to what is seen in the works of the later Art Nouveau poster designers who created more stylized and less detailed imagery, similar to this pattern.

The typography used in the package design is directly related to the modern developments of sans serif typefaces. "CLINIQUE" is done in a typeface that is a sans serif type yet suggests a serif. The rest of the type is very modern and includes one of the most famous typefaces, Helvetica.