Global warming Poster critique

[noantsinmypants]

http://www.jeremywisecup.com/misc/bikeglobal.jpg

This is for an international poster competition held in mexico this summer. I was curious what your thoughts on it were. Things i could improve conceptually or visually.


Thanks in advance. And the type will either be in spanish or english. Not sure if that is an issue or not at this time.

[angerisagift]

thats neat. i like it. the type feels kind of wierd to me but whatever i think its a sweet idea. did you ride a real bike over something to make that pattern?

[noantsinmypants]

i took my front wheel from my mountain bike and my roomates. Inked the tires then rolled them around on a roll of paper.

then took a photo and illustrator from there.

[dot]

i like the graphic too, and the simplicity.
on the other hand, the bike treads make me think of things like people mountain biking offroad, tearing up habitat, etc.


if only riding bikes really *would* prevent global warming.
:)

[noantsinmypants]

i dont even wana get on that subject.






considering, im an avid dirt bike rider/racer, as well as montain biking.:cool::D

[dot]

i guess the point is, who is your audience? how sophisticated is it? how much do they already know?

and how do you want to come across as the person who is putting out this message?

questions that every design needs to address, right?

[noantsinmypants]

I see your point. Its a valid one. And yes, i do need to cater to the audience.

[budafist]

This is very artsy. I don't think the message is strong enough.

[desktop]

First off (for me anyway) the whole thing seems like a mess; the text is completely lost amid the tire tracks, and the tracks really make no sense. I had to read your first post to understand what it was suppose to be, which is something the design should convey effectively all on its own.

I apologize if this seems harsh. I certainly do not want it to be taken that way. As a logo designer I've been designing brands (and accompanying slogans) for almost thirty years. In that time I have developed an innate sense of being able to instantly spot a design that works and one that does not. So from my perspective I offer this ....

If the design is to convey the issue of global warming then the bike tracks must illustrate that meaning without an explanation. Just looking at the poster I was confused as to this meaning, until I read your post. Also, I didn't even see the text in the upper half until I'd looked at it several times. The word "bicycle" is completely meaningless in this regard, as it does nothing to help convey the message.

My initial impression of "bikes" is that they are good for the planet, since they use no gas or spew any harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. You mentioned dirt bikes, but then motorcycles are infinitely worse. If your focus is on dirt bikes then you must narrow the meaning of the design to incorporate this. Perhaps a picture of dirt bike tracks that have torn up the ground.

[desktop]

Dear OP: I told you my credentials so that you would know you're getting a critique from someone with experience in this area. However, after reading my above post, I realize I've come across as a bit haughty. I apologize for that.

Bad Llama....

[urstwile]

This calls for llama (http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/llama).

[noantsinmypants]

Thanks for all comments. and i dont take criticism to the heart. There are plenty of people who have been designing for many many more years than i. This is why i ask for opinions.

Well... I guess i wil say that, i didnt want the text in the upper left to be noticable at first. I wanted it to be one of those, where the image grasps your attention, then you would understand the message. The poster doesnt have anything to do with dirtbikes or motorcycles. I was just commenting on the previous comment about *dot*'s post.

Maybe i had you all mis-informed to begin with. The criteria for this was supposed to be gobal warming and how it could be reduced or improved so to speak. Of course i could have went and done something with the earth and stood out in the cliche group of all other global warming designs. but i wanted to target a positive aspect of global warming. Not necessarily point out the bad things that everyone else has already done.

The tire tracks aren't supposed to make sense. It's supposed to represent many of people going which ever way.


@desktop..... Do you suggest a way that i could get the tracks to convey more of global warming?

Maybe this gives a little more insight, maybe not.

[noantsinmypants]

btw. that llama song is F'n awesome! haha.

[desktop]

You said, "The tire tracks aren't supposed to make sense. It's supposed to represent many of people going which ever way." I don't see how this relates to the message of global warming. Global warming is about the destruction of the atmosphere by the ignorance of humans.

Now I could see it being used to illustrate the destruction of our natural resources, although that mantle belongs more appropriately to the motorized version. It's a stretch. Perhaps you could choose a different subject (other than the bike tracks) to help illustrate your message.

[noantsinmypants]

The image is based on a solution to global warming.

Meh. either way. I'll be working on another concept for this same project. There is no limit to the amount of entry's so might as well... eh?

[desktop]

The image is based on a solution to global warming.

Great, but that message would need to be conveyed in the illustration. As it stands that is not what I get from the current one at all. Honestly, when I look at it the first thing that comes to my mind is bike racing.

[noantsinmypants]

your thoughts on how it could be improved?

[desktop]

your thoughts on how it could be improved?

I haven't a clue how you could improve it with the tire tracks. If that's the image you want to use then that's something you'll have to figure out. I was simply saying that the current design (for me anyway) doesn't convey your message. There are better subjects to be used to get a message across about global warming; melting icecaps, loss of wildlife habitat, large overcrowded city stuffed with product-buying-waste-making-grabage-creating people.

[noantsinmypants]

I see. I see. I'll ponder thoughts for a new subject and see what results i can come up with.

[ogpeanut]

I think the small type can be effective because people will be curious to see what it says. This type is too small and obstructed though. I also think the bike tire tracks are cool, but I would also try to organize them a bit so there is a bit more method to it. As is they are just a little too random and messy.
For the Prevent... text try to bring it out just a little more, and maybe even leave some more whit space (green space) to allow the text to clear up.

Cool Concept

[ogpeanut]

I was just thinking that the bike tracks as a whole make it seem like even bikes leave too large a footprint. What if you used a comparison between a single bike tire track (get a road bike with narrow track) and then pose it side by side with a single tire track. The contrast between the large impression of a car tire (maybe even a truck/offroad tire) and the narrow unobtrusive bike tire might make a more pointed statement.

[ogpeanut]

I haven't a clue how you could improve it with the tire tracks. If that's the image you want to use then that's something you'll have to figure out. I was simply saying that the current design (for me anyway) doesn't convey your message. There are better subjects to be used to get a message across about global warming; melting icecaps, loss of wildlife habitat, large overcrowded city stuffed with product-buying-waste-making-grabage-creating people.

The tire tracks actually offer a solution or a call to action that can help global warming. If I see a picture of a glacier melting I think, man that sucks. wtf am I supposed to do about that glacier?

I like the bike angle

[PSPDan]

The tire tracks actually offer a solution or a call to action that can help global warming. If I see a picture of a glacier melting I think, man that sucks. wtf am I supposed to do about that glacier?

I like the bike angle

Amen to that.

This is ok as a concept but at the moment it isn't being portrayed as well as it should be. Also, shouldn't it read "prevent global warming. Cycle" rather than "Prevent global warming. Bicycle". Or was the word bicycle not intended to be a verb?

[rudydee]

I love the concept, really clever.

I just wish that the type hit me harder. too small if hanging on wall. for an ad in a mag, fine

I would have had the tire treads running over the words "prevent global warming" in a larger font and keep "bicycle" alone.

Otherwise, I dig the way you think.