Gipsy Kings DVD Amaray Slip art
natobasso (3954 points) | Fri, 2007-08-31 19:20I created this art for Genius Products (all rights reserved by them). Was told to re do the art so it would show up on crowded shelves but also show the gipsy king's long and colorful history.
----
Dirt and Rust
Commenting on this Image is closed.
My biggest concern in this piece is it's almost completely symmetrical. I think maybe making it a bit more dynamic by tilting the guitar, maybe getting the text off-center, etc. could help.
I also think that the background is a little too plain for a gypsy-like design. Maybe adding some texture or more colour would spice things up. Yellow is quite hard to read on red - it might be because the image you posted is quite small, but I can't make out what the small paragraph on the right reads.
I like where this is going, though! I love that you used warm colours, definitely works for me. :)
------------
Perfectly Lost Designs
Good points all. The paragraph to the right is just a review quote for the dvd.
As for the design, I was directed by a non-designer marketing person so you should have seen my initial designs. They were blue with a lot rougher background and a tilted guitar. :)
----
Powerpoint is not a design application
----
Dirt and Rust
In addition to Seraphim's good remarks, I find the text beneath "Live" difficult to read.
Having had English friends who tell fascinating stories about their encounters with the Romany people who were once part of their lives in London, Manchester and the countryside, I would be inclined to play up this connection. I understand the Rom women were especially fond of Staffordshire china. English housewives would save their teacups to trade for exotic things. How about working in some design that somehow blends Eastern European folk art with typical Staffordshire china designs? This could be a background that grades to solid behind the guitar, or maybe even a skin on the guitar itself (in which case, a funky 1950s striped wallpaper (faded, of course) would make an interesting background.
I guess I'm just thinking this is awfully tame for "Gipsey Kings," unless I'm totally missing who they are.
Mara
Marketing's first goal was to have this 'jump off the shelves'. That, to them, meant using red. I should post the design I wanted which was blue and much rougher around the edges, more in keeping with the Gipsy Kings style.
Good comments, as usual, Mara!
----
Powerpoint is not a design application
----
Dirt and Rust
If you know which retailers this product will be shipped to, I recommend going to the stores or outlets and seeing what the competition is doing regarding design and color relative to the location your product will be shelved. I find this approach helps target your competition more accurately and can help you choose a color that "jumps off the shelves" in a more realistic and practical light.
I agree, though the marketing dept at the time (the chance to update this design has long since passed) were like bulls: They could only see red.
Product was going to ALL retailers, Amazon, Target, WalMart, etc. so it's pretty tough to make something 'stand out' from the rest. My take on it was to provide something intriguing rather than trying to say 'pick me'.
Unfortunately, the designer often loses when it comes down to making design design decisions; which I never ever understand.
----
Powerpoint is not a design application
----
Dirt and Rust
Sorry to say but they pretty much sucked all the life out of this design. (I'd love to see your version)
I have a minor in Marketing and use to love watching their mouths drop during in class advertising presentations. Their stupid ass designs were always a hoot. To this day I'm still astonished they weren't required to at least take an introduction to design class as part of their business major.
Here is a funny example of what designer did once when someone in marketing decided to play art director.
http://www.artbackwash.com/2006/07/day-in-life-of-designer.html
*sigh*
Someday, when the Creative Genius Fairy comes, we'll have our revenge on these toads (no offense to toads -- I understand they make nice princes, and possibly, under the right conditions, nice princesses, too, should you happen to be in the market for either).
Mara