Creature Mark
The objective of Creature Marks was to graphically interpret an animal using fundamental elements of design and to communicate a set number of unique physical, behavioral, and personality traits. Explore ways to retain meanings and qualities of a natural form while translating it into a graphic language.
Research
I started by finding photos of my chosen animal, a lady bug. I chose a Ladybug because of their unique red and black pattern on their dome shaped shell, which is not only beautiful but striking . Next, I did research on Ladybugs in order to make a list of their physical characteristics and demeanor.
•Elegant•Bold •Bright •Lucky
•Polka dots •Tiny •Vibrant
Sketching
When doing sketching something that was important for me to capture was the dome like shell and the spherical symmetry on the pattern of the ladybug. I wanted to represent the beauty and the recognizable physical traits of the ladybug but also simplify it and really break down it's circular geometry.
Digital iterations
Translating my physical sketches into Adobe Illustrator led to an enhancement in the geometric shape of the lady bug. Bringing the lady bug into Illustrator allowed for it's organic and beautiful geometric shape to come to life. It allowed for the layers and circularness of the ladybug to really stand out. I then experimented with the small details within the ladybug like it's spots and antennae.
Final
Typographic Composition Experiment
This next phase of the project was to include an interpretive phrase to communicate the meaning within a defined set of limitations connecting the image. This phase pushed me to explore with type compositionally and challenged me to portray the Lady bug in a beautiful and fun way, the type of feeling you get when you spot a tiny Lady Bug on a blade of grass. The composition is meant to reflect the Fibonacci Proportion because the eye follows the curve to the focal point - the pattern of the ladybug shell.
Fonts: Bely Display Regular
Bodoni 72 Book
Spot the Beauty, Embrace the Luck
Spot the Beauty, embrace the Luck
Final Interpretive phrase design
The final typographic composition is a graphic representation of a grass or flower like scenery made from line and type. The type and shape interacting creates movement and a realistic scene for the Lady Bug. Adding moments where the type is curved or has a transparent fill adds to the suspense of finding a small ladybug and the "luck" and "beauty" that comes with it.
