I usually check out Gene's work when I have a little downtime between projects. This one was particularly dear to me, as I developed my interest in graphic design in the 70's as I was approaching the end of my high school career. I have an older brother who is also in the same field, and my growing up years were filled with his art all over our parent's house, he would be roughly the same age as Gene.
I remember this era of design, as it was the essence of the idea that was distilled and presented. I feel fortunate to have had this as one of my formative inspirations for my work as a designer. I think that keeping to the essence of the message is the only way to present information. Many of my pieces over the years would resemble the Oly ads, a simple but concise headline with an appropriate but usually witty photograph.
Additionally, many of my professors and mentors during my college years were working ad and marketing people. It was great to be able to plug-in to the actual working scene. Many of us were trained in the same idiom and produced similar styles of work.
Styles change and we all move along, but it's nice to see artwork from this time again, as it has a certain quality we haven't seen before or since.
Submitted by geozinger on Fri, 02/10/2012 - 14:26.
I was a senior in HS that year, and had already read David Olgivy's "Confessions of an Advertising Man", which was a seminal influence on my lifelong interest in ads -- and by extension, the graphics used to seduce consumers.
I remember the influence of counterculture comics on advertising, especially the work of Gilbert Shelton (Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers) and R. Crumb (Keep on Truckin', Mr. Natural, Fritz the Cat, etc.), whose graphical influence can be clearly seen in three examples Gene included: "Beans" and the two Levis ads.
As for the logos? Ugh. I understand the technical limitations of the time, but there also seems to have been a dearth of creative thinking -- at least as far as the examples used are concerned. They are blunt, and although some have some "punch", they all lack real style. That may be why I cannot think of a single logo designed around that time that still exists in its original form.
My interest in graphics began in those years, started sprouting over the next decade, then burst into bloom when desktop publishing became a reality and I could produce my dreams all by myself.
That helps explain why I have been a registered member here for more than 12 years now, and keep coming back every week for more of "Scanning Around With Gene".
Thank you sir! May I have another?
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Sanity is a relative concept.
If you don't believe me,
let me introduce my relatives.
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advertising in 1989
WOW how things have changed
I usually check out Gene's
I usually check out Gene's work when I have a little downtime between projects. This one was particularly dear to me, as I developed my interest in graphic design in the 70's as I was approaching the end of my high school career. I have an older brother who is also in the same field, and my growing up years were filled with his art all over our parent's house, he would be roughly the same age as Gene.
I remember this era of design, as it was the essence of the idea that was distilled and presented. I feel fortunate to have had this as one of my formative inspirations for my work as a designer. I think that keeping to the essence of the message is the only way to present information. Many of my pieces over the years would resemble the Oly ads, a simple but concise headline with an appropriate but usually witty photograph.
Additionally, many of my professors and mentors during my college years were working ad and marketing people. It was great to be able to plug-in to the actual working scene. Many of us were trained in the same idiom and produced similar styles of work.
Styles change and we all move along, but it's nice to see artwork from this time again, as it has a certain quality we haven't seen before or since.
1970. Wow.
I was a senior in HS that year, and had already read David Olgivy's "Confessions of an Advertising Man", which was a seminal influence on my lifelong interest in ads -- and by extension, the graphics used to seduce consumers.
I remember the influence of counterculture comics on advertising, especially the work of Gilbert Shelton (Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers) and R. Crumb (Keep on Truckin', Mr. Natural, Fritz the Cat, etc.), whose graphical influence can be clearly seen in three examples Gene included: "Beans" and the two Levis ads.
As for the logos? Ugh. I understand the technical limitations of the time, but there also seems to have been a dearth of creative thinking -- at least as far as the examples used are concerned. They are blunt, and although some have some "punch", they all lack real style. That may be why I cannot think of a single logo designed around that time that still exists in its original form.
My interest in graphics began in those years, started sprouting over the next decade, then burst into bloom when desktop publishing became a reality and I could produce my dreams all by myself.
That helps explain why I have been a registered member here for more than 12 years now, and keep coming back every week for more of "Scanning Around With Gene".
Thank you sir! May I have another?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sanity is a relative concept.
If you don't believe me,
let me introduce my relatives.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Thank Gene!
Always enjoy your taking me on trips down memory lane. Cheers!