creative briefing

Like visiting your old high school. Like looking back at your photo albums. Like cleaning out your closet. It’s always great to revisit the past and see where everything started. There’s just something about dousing yourself in memories of what used to be that suddenly makes what is make so much sense. And for a moment, you catch yourself feeling like a kid again - and enjoying every moment of it.

For me, it started with drawing. Before marketing, entrepreneurship, web design, the internet even - there was just drawing. Unfortunately I sort of fell out of it midway through highschool and traded in my 2B pencil for a mouse, keyboard, and 56k dial-up connection. It was a natural evolution for me, but still, it’s always fun to get back to the basics.

A few weeks ago, in preparation for the much-anticipated Game 4 of the Raptors vs. Magics NBA playoff game (which we scored tickets to), my girlfriend and I got the kooky idea of making a sign. Not just any sign though, a legendary sign. For me, it was a chance to dust off the old artist wings I put away so long ago and really get back into what has essentially shaped me into who I am today.

We took pictures along the way and because I’ve always been fascinated at “the making of” processes, I thought I would share them with you. And plus, we were both fairly proud of our work at the end of the day, so we thought it’d be something worth showing off a bit. :)

Enjoy! Drawings by yours truly, coloring by the lovely and talented Cheryl.

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I came across a website today off my Facebook mini feed called I Met the Walrus. It is a microsite for an animated short film based on 14-year-old Jerry Levitan who, in 1969, snuck into John Lennon’s hotel room and interviewed him during his in-bed-for-peace phase. The film has already been nominated for a handful of awards, including an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

I watched the trailer, which is available on the site, and the art work really struck me. The film is completely animated in a sketchbook art style to the spoken words of the interview. For anyone who knows Lennon’s reputation as somewhat of a literary magician in his time, you’ll know you’re in for some seriously deep imagery. The flash-based website is done in the very same style as well, with quirky but unobtrusive animations dispersed around the site. The imagery is definitely odd but filled with meaning - almost as if Lennon had written the creative brief for the site himself. Even if you’re not a Beatles or Lennon fan, you should check out the site for some kick-ass art and animation.

Props to Dungeon for the great site work and James Braithwaite, Alex Kurina, and Josh Raskin for the art and animation.

My passion for design still stems from my love for drawing. Check out these great anime renditions of everyone’s favourite cartoon characters (courtesy of Space Coyote).