Urgent Critique Required

[Trick54]

Hi Guys.... This is a job for a Childrens Model Agency, I had an open brief as this was a very rushed job. I've put this cover together, but haven't had much time to digest it. Any comments would be appreciated.file:///Volumes/-WIP/-In_Progress/TLD/Proof/Cover.jpg

[Trick54]

New Url.. sorry

http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=coverch8.jpg

[cnic]

I dont know...... I guess I like it? Might first thought was that it seems kind of pale. And its not very exciting. Seems really pale, maybe even sad. I think maybe the red spay paint looks a little creepy..

I dont know........... dont take my word on this.. these are just thoughts.

Overall it seems like it was put together well, I just dont think that its for me.

.

[Trick54]

Thanks for you comments cnic.
Does the Blue spray paint make a difference?:

http://img81.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cover2vt6.jpg

[Kinkaid]

To be honest, the two kids in their underwear/swimsuits is a little creepy- especially for a children's modeling agency. Do you have any other child-appropriate poses?

I like the overall style- I think you can lose the spraypaint alltogether.

[budafist]

The design is very "cool" and contemporary, but I don't think it is appropriate for the subject. Personally I think it should be cool and contemporary, but with a feeling of wholesomeness and innocence. The feeling of this - even with it's bright colouring, is of nostagia, past summers, lost innocence. While child modelling can be a loss of innocence, it's not a positive thing that any agency would want to associate themselves with.

Surely there should be some photography on this!

It should look fun but also polished and corporate. Think of what kind of people use Child Model Agencies.

[Trick54]

Good suggestion about the kids thanks KinKaid. Originally I had the heading with out the spray paint behind, but it seemed to lack something.

[Trick54]

Thanks for the comments budafist. I would love to have photography on the cover, but we are out of time for doing a shoot.

[Kinkaid]

Also- maybe show the age range of the kids they represent. Do they represent babies, toddlers, pre-teens and teens? If all of the above, then they should be on there.

[cnic]

While child modelling can be a loss of innocence, it's not a positive thing that any agency would want to associate themselves with.



Thats sooo wrong.... but your sooo..... sooo.... correct.


.

[1ooScreamingTrees]

Eh - I'm sure it's too late but...

This would look about 50x better if you dropped the spraypaint background completely. Love the illustration though.

[urstwile]

^^^agree completely^^^

[Samakimoto Graphics]

Lovely illo.

^ like 1ooST says.

[tZ]

To be honest with the grunge effects and all the image your portraying is conveying an 'unsafe' nature to me. I don't think I would trust anyone with that design… aimed toward children.

In addition, eveything seems to be arbituary placed without any real reason. It seems like the 'design' uses decor for decors sake rather then rudimentry practices in design that make a piece sucessfull.

I do think the illustration is noce though just needs to intergrated better and perhaps refined with values if possible. All the 'grunge' effects are not helping in least.

[budafist]

To be honest with the grunge effects and all the image your portraying is conveying an 'unsafe' nature to me. I don't think I would trust anyone with that design… aimed toward children.

In addition, eveything seems to be arbituary placed without any real reason. It seems like the 'design' uses decor for decors sake rather then rudimentry practices in design that make a piece sucessfull.

I do think the illustration is noce though just needs to intergrated better and perhaps refined with values if possible. All the 'grunge' effects are not helping in least.

That's what I thought. Grunge and child modelling just don't go. It's a nice illustration, but it's not suitable for the subject.

Child modelling might have come a long way since beauty pagents, but still not to grunge quite yet.

[VLAHAKISA]

Who is the design supposed to appeal to.....parents considering putting their children forward for modelling, or clients who may wish to hire child models?

I would say that the approach for these two target markets would need to be quite different.

[marilynr]

Same question Vlahakisa has.

But one more quick thing...

What's the age group?

If you're appealing to teens, then this might work better than if it's for small children (say under 13). As a parent myself...mmm...I'm not sure that I would sign my kid up for this.

This is a very trendy look now and I like it over all. But I see it as album art for a band more so than for a kids' thing.

[Trick54]

Thanks everyone for your comments....much appreciated.
Cheers

[nele]

Dark red and that new blue spray-paint needs to go. Everything else looks OK.

I would just drop shadow on the original text and remove the spray-paint completely