Digital Rain
I close my eyes, and when I open them I find this little scene was all but a dream; instead, a close-up of an old pair of jeans.
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| Digital Rain wdsiemer |
Monday, December 31, 2012
Digital Rain
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Mayan Doomsday
If I had time I would have posted a photo of this week's temperature as scheduled and not 999 degrees or meteorite showers, etc. Etc.
Update: There!
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Instagram Will Own Your Photos
Instagram says it now has the right to sell your photos
In its first big policy shift since Facebook bought the photo-sharing site, Instagram claims the right to sell users' photos without payment or notification. Oh, and there's no way to opt out.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
Pantone Color of The Year (Emerald)
This was announced a while back, but I wanted to include it on The Sketchpad for archival sake.
Pantone Color of The Year (Emerald)
---FROM THE ARCHIVES---
Pantone Color of The Year (Emerald)
---FROM THE ARCHIVES---
Color of the Year for 2012: Tangerine Tango
Color of the Year for 2012: Tangerine Tango
Dec. 8, 2012
2012's shade, PANTONE® 17-1463 Tangerine Tango, is a reddish orange shade, described by the brand as "vivacious" and "enticing."
Dec. 8, 2012
2012's shade, PANTONE® 17-1463 Tangerine Tango, is a reddish orange shade, described by the brand as "vivacious" and "enticing."
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| In this image courtesy of Pantone, the color swatch for Pantone's Tangerine Tango is shown. The world doesn't need more gray, and the blues are covered, too. What consumer products need is a jolt, a shot of energy and boldness, all of which comes from Tangerine Tango, the reddish-orange hue that Pantone has picked as its top color for 2012. (AP Photo/Pantone) |
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Mr. Potato Head Wall
Mr. Potato Head Vector
By creating Mr. Potato Head as a vector; I am able to print each component separately as a removable wall graphic, so you can piece together your own creation.
By creating Mr. Potato Head as a vector; I am able to print each component separately as a removable wall graphic, so you can piece together your own creation.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Angry Birds
I was wondering if a cheat sheet like this existed...
Behold, The Winning Swipe For Every Level Of Angry Birds
Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Dirty Keyboard
Will there be a time when physical keyboards are no longer relevant?
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| Ancient? Not yet. wdsiemer |
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Same Image / Different Results
An interesting part of maintaining a blog and supplying "free" graphics is the fact that the same image gets used in different ways. Some people/companies have contacted me about using my images like my Obama Gay Pride emblem, and Cincinnati Skyline silhouette; while others just found the image and ran with it.
When I create my images, I personalize (alter) them in a subtle way to determine if I was the original artist. I've seen the skyline included in at least three designs including a billboard. Listermann Brewing contacted me, and created an awesome graphic from the skyline, while Cincinnati Resident Spouse Association used it as an element in their logo.
I've always enjoyed the idea of re-purposing one image for multiple causes--it shows originality and creativity. Artists can express one idea in millions of different ways.
The following text:
This year I've been going to dinner outings and book clubs with the Resident Spouse Association, a support/social group for fellow residency spouses and a ready-made place to find new friends in a new city, plus ones who completely understand the craziness of this stage of life.
The person who used to host a website for the group moved away, so they started a blog in its place - and I got to personalize it from the generic template. We didn't have any kind of logo, so I started by finding a free-use silhouette of the Cincinnati skyline to create an identity, but then I was stumped about where to go with colors... And that's where the pinspiration came in. I love the colors in this photo, fun and vibrant but not too girly (which I sometimes have a tendency toward), plus two of them are in the hospitals' logos so quite fitting!
When I create my images, I personalize (alter) them in a subtle way to determine if I was the original artist. I've seen the skyline included in at least three designs including a billboard. Listermann Brewing contacted me, and created an awesome graphic from the skyline, while Cincinnati Resident Spouse Association used it as an element in their logo.
I've always enjoyed the idea of re-purposing one image for multiple causes--it shows originality and creativity. Artists can express one idea in millions of different ways.
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| Listermann Brewing |
The following text:
This year I've been going to dinner outings and book clubs with the Resident Spouse Association, a support/social group for fellow residency spouses and a ready-made place to find new friends in a new city, plus ones who completely understand the craziness of this stage of life.
The person who used to host a website for the group moved away, so they started a blog in its place - and I got to personalize it from the generic template. We didn't have any kind of logo, so I started by finding a free-use silhouette of the Cincinnati skyline to create an identity, but then I was stumped about where to go with colors... And that's where the pinspiration came in. I love the colors in this photo, fun and vibrant but not too girly (which I sometimes have a tendency toward), plus two of them are in the hospitals' logos so quite fitting!
Don't forget to bring a towel
A recent character I streamlined for Cintas... Remind you of anyone? Anyone want to get high? :)
Monday, November 19, 2012
Texas Secession
I could go on a rant of why a Texas secession isn't a realistic idea, but it doesn't warrant my valuable time. I get it--made your point...
Do it, Texas! I dare you. :)
Texas Secession Petition
Do it, Texas! I dare you. :)
Texas Secession Petition
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| As a point it sounds good, but it makes a lot less sense when you look at the actual details of what a Texas secession would involve. |
Friday, November 16, 2012
Goodbye Hostess (Repost)
A re-post from The Sketchpad on Jan. 12, 2012: Goodbye Hostess...
Gold Twinkies | William D. SIEMER II
Twinkies maker Hostess seeks bankruptcy protection
As a kid, me and my mom would sometimes go to the local Hostess store to get some produce, bread, and a box of Hostess snacks. It eventually shut down, followed by the other location, the company filed for bankruptcy in 2004, changed its name to Hostess Brands in 2009, and now filed for bankruptcy once again early in 2012.
Supposedly Twinkies last forever, so hold on to them like gold to see if their value increases over time because Hostess profits sure need to...
As a kid, me and my mom would sometimes go to the local Hostess store to get some produce, bread, and a box of Hostess snacks. It eventually shut down, followed by the other location, the company filed for bankruptcy in 2004, changed its name to Hostess Brands in 2009, and now filed for bankruptcy once again early in 2012.
Supposedly Twinkies last forever, so hold on to them like gold to see if their value increases over time because Hostess profits sure need to...
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| Twinkies: Good as gold wdsiemer ii |
Don't blame me, I wasted my vote on Roseanne
Phrases we've heard a lot (sort of...)
Don't blame me, I wasted my vote on Roseanne.
I didn't post one thing about politics on facebook, but people decided to unfriend me, call me an idiot, and my family practically disown me. Whatever.
Note: Wow, my monitor at work is so off that I couldn't tell how bad the Photoshop work looked until I got home.
Don't blame me, I wasted my vote on Roseanne.
I didn't post one thing about politics on facebook, but people decided to unfriend me, call me an idiot, and my family practically disown me. Whatever.
Note: Wow, my monitor at work is so off that I couldn't tell how bad the Photoshop work looked until I got home.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Updated Resume
Not that anyone followed The Sketchpad anyway, but in case you were wondering where I've been...
We sold our business, and I am staying on as a Graphic Designer/Creative Consultant. The transition was smooth for the most part, but the updating of equipment, networks, and archives have been time-consuming and tedious. However, it was all for the best.
We are updated with new workstations/networks running Windows 7/MAC 64-Bit and Adobe CS6, and are using new printing materials. Exciting times, but has also been stressful.
Hopefully, I can get back to the blog with new ideas and updates.
-Will
Monday, November 5, 2012
Friday, November 2, 2012
President Obama
We have had our share of anti-Obama sign request, so it was quite the relief to get a project from the official Obama campaign for his rally at UC. I believe society should embrace the positives of the candidate they support over demeaning their opposition. I try to stay silent on politics to avoid conflict with others who like to explain why I'm wrong. (Photo by Brent Cole)
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
My Skeleton
My Skeleton
A graphical experiment... On the left is a diagram of the skeletal system. On the right is my photograph illustrated with the bones manipulated to appear as an x-ray. May be inaccurate as it was a test.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Little Nemo
Not the fish...
Seeing the Google Doodle today with an animation/illustration of Little Nemo inspired by Winsor McCay's comic, I was reminded of the Little Nemo Nintendo game I used to rent from the local video store.
Friday, October 12, 2012
FASTSIGNS Vehicle Wrap
This was my first real attempt at setting up and printing a full vehicle wrap and perforated vinyl. The challenge was not having a proper vehicle template and modifying the art file to create one seamless wrap of the icons around the vehicle. I learned a lot along the way, and feel next time I could do it better (re-position the stock imagery) and more time-efficient (it took several hours to set up, but I didn't have a lot of RAM on my computer either).
Note: Sorry, we don't have a great store camera either...
Note: Sorry, we don't have a great store camera either...
The Costs of Logos
The next time you're worried that the few hundred dollars you're paying a good designer for an effective logo is too much, keep some of these in mind... Logo Rebranding Costs
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Wendy's New Logo
Figured this one was coming... The Sketchpad Archive
How long before Wendy is rebranded to be hip like Colonel Sanders? I guess being animated made her pretty cool. I like my red-headed sister the old-fashioned way she is. 01/08/11
How long before Wendy is rebranded to be hip like Colonel Sanders? I guess being animated made her pretty cool. I like my red-headed sister the old-fashioned way she is. 01/08/11
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| Wendy's New Logo |
Friday, October 5, 2012
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Ford Fusion
Back when I first saw the concept for the new Ford Fusion I right away thought of Aston Martin. I don't know cars all that well, but I guess I was correct in my design assumption.
http://wdsiemer.blogspot.com/2012/01/2013-ford-fusion.html
http://wdsiemer.blogspot.com/2012/01/2013-ford-fusion.html
Friday, September 21, 2012
Friday, September 14, 2012
NKU
The guy I work with made this the other day, and now it appears on NKU's front page of its website.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Logo Chart
Improve your logo design: 20 pro tips and tricks!
Is there a perfect process for a logo design? Leading designers explain how best to organise your workflow to create brilliant marques.
