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Project 1: Logo Parody
January 31st, 2012

For our First Project, we are going to learn how to use Illustrator to create vector graphics. Most of the time when we think of digital media, we think of images made up of pixels. This is a great way to reproduce and manipulate photographic imagery, but what about clean, smooth lines? This is where vectors come in, because they can be expanded to any size and still stay just a crisp as the original. For this project we are going to take two existing logos, and reproduce them in illustrator. The real trick here will be learning how to use the pen tool, to accurately trace images. Then we will take each logo and transform it into a parody. This is where the conceptual nature of the project comes in. What message do you want your logo to portray? How are you going to change the meaning intended by the original design?

Grading Rubrik

Your final piece will be graded on the following criteria:

Concept – How good it the idea? How clear is the message?
Completeness – Did you finish both logo parodies?
Competency – How well did you use the software?
Composition – Does the overall image hold together?

Logo Parody

Due: Monday, February 13th beginning of class

Concepts

Parody, Satire, Appropriation, Post-modernism, Culture Jamming

Techniques

Scanning, Tracing, Layers, Transformation, Editing

Software

Adobe Illustrator

Definitions:

Parody: A work created to mock, comment on, or poke fun at an original work, its subject, or author, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation.
Satire: human, individual (or corporate) vices, follies, abuses, or shortcomings are held up to censure by means of ridicule, irony or other methods, ideally with the intent to bring about improvement. Although satire is usually meant to be funny, the purpose of satire is not primarily humor in itself so much as an attack on something of which the author strongly disapproves, using the weapon of wit.

Instructions:

Step 1: Selecting logos. Start by choosing two corporate logos you would like to create a parody of.

Step 2: Preliminary Sketching. Using physical pencils and paper, sketch possible ideas for logo parodies. Select the most effective solution.

Step 3: Scanning and Importing. Scan the original logos (or alternatively you can use a digital picture of these logos) and import it into Adobe Illustrator as a template.

Step 4: Tracing. Trace the logos (or parts of the logos) accurately in Adobe Illustrator using the Pen tool. Edit the paths when necessary. Save your file.

Step 5: Parody. Transform the traced logos into a parody of them, using appropriate Adobe Illustrator tools.

Step 6: Presentation. Hand in your work in the digital format specified in class (more details to come).

Project 1: Logo Parody January 31st, 2012