ADVE-CORE2291 Design Lab 1: Project 2 Illustrator techniques
The premise of this project was to redraw the coca cola script type. This was done in an effort to refamiliarize ourselves with Adobe Illustrator and refine our technical skills. Most of the project focused on the use of the pen tool and path manipulation. One aspect of the project that was new to me was the use of the shape builder tool, which I look forward to making use of in future projects.
Illustrator Techniques - Coca Cola Script
Aligning the pixel based tracing image, and setting up swatches
Left: This is the rough outline of the path before it is manipulated with the direct selection tool. On the right is the final result.
To plot each letter I made use of the box method. Imagining a box around each ellipse placing points with the pen tool at the apex of the curves, or wherever the curve meets the outline of the box.
When manipulating the curves I held down the shift key to keep my handles perfectly horizontal or vertical. This will aid in the clean and crisp look of the Coca Cola type.
Making use of type on a path to create the "trade mark registered" text on the tail of the large "C".
Final script type before the use of the shape builder tool.
Making use of the ellipse tool to create the circle behind the Coca cola script type, as well as the gradient. Along with an alternative red text type.
Pattern Elements - Theme
My pattern is based around the holiday of Dia de los Muertos. The holiday has always been a fascinating subject to me, I think it's a unique way of appreciating the time we were able to spend with those who have passed away. While the overall subject matter of Dia de los Muertos may be a bit bleak the mainstay of the holiday stays the same. It is first and foremost a celebration of life. I wanted to incorporate this aspect of the holiday in my pattern through the use of vivid colors and iconic Dia de los Muertos imagery.
Visual Exploration
As stated above I wanted to represent the holiday as a whole through iconic symbolism. So when researching I was drawn to the most emblematic elements of the holiday, makeup, sugar skulls, and flowers that represent the dead. The flower-esque/ organic patterns and shapes that decorate the sugar skulls reminded me of the flowing script type of Coca Cola.
Pattern Sketches
I wanted the pattern on skull one to be more emblematic of the sugar skulls associated with Dia de Los Meurtos. As for skull two, I aim to have it be more representative of traditional calavera makeup. I like the idea of incorporating both the red cockscomb and the cempasuchil, as they typically adorn shrines to the dead.
Progress on Pattern Elements
I started by breaking down the skulls into simple shapes that could then be constructed to make the respective sugar skulls.
For the flowers I created an assortment of different petals that could then be arranged to represent the organic shape and feel of the actual flowers.
Overall I used the color scheme from both of the flowers as I felt it helped tie in the decorative parts of the skull with the flowers.
Final Pattern Elements
These are the pattern elements. For the final patterns I was unhappy with the black outlines so I changed theme to colors that fit the color schemes of the respective skulls.
Progress on the Pattern
For the first pattern I messed around with my elements making use of Illustrator's built in pattern builder. After some experimentation I found the hexagonal pattern to work best with my elements.
As for the second pattern I just arranged my elements in a way that I found visually appealing. My goal was to achieve a pattern with a focus on bilateral symmetry.
Final Patterns
Final Presentation Board
