5 Awesome Designs

1. Obama's Logo
Obama is all about HOPE and CHANGE, which this logo embodies. The circle shape of the logo itself represents UNITY and LIFE. The smaller circle in the center is the sun that alludes to Obama being the "Start of a new day" and the "light at the end of a dark tunnel." The red, white, and blue alludes to the American flag and shows Obama as for the country in spite of the controversy surrounding his race.

2. Environmental Ad
This poster was made in Japan and was meant specifically for the Japanese people, which explains the sushi. I love how the ad's main message, to be more environmentally conscious and aware, is not in-your-face or commanding but instead it embodies the general passive and docile temperament of Japanese people. Subtlety is powerful. You are what you eat. Pollution into the ocean, the source of Japan's livelihood, is tantamount to pollution of your body.

3. I Love Japan Poster
This poster makes an allusion to the famous "I love New York" ads. It is executed well because although the idea isn't original, the execution is very creative, well-done, and appropriate for Japan. Using elements that are best representative of the country for people abroad, the ad further differentiates itself from its Asian neighbors by incorporating Japanese text. Whereas the text in the New York ads are big and bold, the text here is so small that it is barely readable, a technique that once again reflects the essence of Japanese culture. Smaller is better.

4. H2O Product Design
The design rightly captures the translucent and ethereal quality of water. The simplicity of the design and the minimal use of color also reflect this sentiment. The type reads vertically down the bottle, which is a more effective than having it horizontally across because it makes everything more lucid and clear and also simulates a sense of height and depth. The top design beautifully highlights water's importance and superior distinction by mimicking the outcome of mixing water with oil.

5. Independent Film Posters
I like the simple color scheme and the hand motion that gestures a camera, which shows independent film to be a little sister to mainstream blockbusters. The sophistication of the general layout and the varied font sizes makes it look like media/newspaper headlines, totally dispelling the notion that independent cinema is low-budget and therefore inferior. The series represents whites, females, and minority races, showing that this event is for everyone and giving it a very urban mood.

5 Crummy Designs

1. Slumdog Millionaire was by far the best film I've seen so far this past year. As for the movie poster, what a letdown. The story chronicles the life of a young boy born and raised in the most abject conditions in India, whose only motive to appear as a contestant on the Hindi version of 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' is to hopefully reunite with his childhood love. What I did like was the poster's varied color scheme and the splotchy and almost haphazard way that its strewn all over the page does alludes to the busy city and pays tribute to India's colorful culture and of course Bollywood. I don't know why an image of Latika running is placed in the center. Its always Jamal whose chasing after her. The photo placements of the two characters don't make sense. Also, the cut and pasted question and answer screen from the game show is too literal. Yes, the movie on the surface is about a guy who wins a whole bunch of rupees on TV, but the real story and what makes the movie so riveting is the love story between the two protagonists. There's not a lot of space on the page to showcase every theme and nuance of the film so it should have just focused on the most important thing, which is love. Sniffle. Or at least allude to the game show in a more subtle way. The text "What does it take to find a lost love" really heightens the cheese factor, which underestimates the sincerity of the film and unfairly links it to all the other horrible romance dramas with predictable and superficial storylines. The movie is SO GOOD. Ignore the poster, just go by word of mouth.

2. Oreck Vacuum Cleaner Logo
In comparison to the Dyson logo, which gives a modern and sleek interpretation of technological innovation and progress, the Oreck logo makes its product look inferior. It says little about the company and its vacuum cleaners other than, "We haven't come out with any new models since 1985. Don't buy me." At a time when Oreck faces stiff competition from rival companies, the only way to come out on top is to constantly create and introduce new and more effective vacuum cleaners. Its natural for people to want new things. And new things are expected to work better than the older models. Oreck's logo is washed-out, out-moded, and old-fashioned and makes the company and its product seem obsolete.

3. CW website
Why Green? The website reminds me of lemons or grass. I know its popular and now profitable to be more eco-friendly but I doubt that the CW had that in mind when designing the logo and site. It's probably just a sad attempt to differentiate itself from other networks, to look more modern and youthful to complement the shows it features, shows that are mostly popular among teens. The blank neon green sidebars make the entire site look awkward.

4. King Taco Logo
At first glance, the logo could work for the King Taco chain. Its comical illustration adds to the greasy, fast-food, but oh-so-delicious essence of the fast-food restaurant. It works because there is no logical connection between the logo and King Taco burritos other than the character's crown and the King Taco text on its apron. Its the absurdity and tackiness of the character that gives the chain its reputation as a hole-in-the-wall Mexican eatery. The logo itself is obviously hideous. Why is King Taco holding a butcher knife? Why is his left hand up in the air? The 60s type makes no sense. Paradoxically, it works because it communicates King Taco's affordability and Mexican origins.

5. Special K
It's understood that the 'K' in 'Special K' refers to Kellog's, but no one pays attention to that or cares where the cereal comes from. All they see it as is the cereal's healthy quality and low calorie option, which the log and type fail to communicate. The word 'special' also has no relation to the large K. The type and colors used are boring and bland.