Product illustration: Final

There are several things I had good practice for finishing this project. First was changing the colors of the bag to match the bridge towers by using magic wand to select and use a color mask (the original bag photo was light red and lime green). Second was the vertical cables on the bridge fading into the distance--something I was very puzzled about for a while. I ended up drawing lines with the shape tool and converting them to a mask over a black-to-transparent gradient layer, then copying the layer, offsetting and changing the mask for the second row of cables. Also, something I didn't plan originally was to add the drop shadow to the pieces to give a more paper cut-out feel, giving the illustration more depth.

I'm very proud of this one!

Detail below (click for larger image):

Product illustration: Proof

Previously, I have posted on the inspiration and concept of this design for my product illustration. The above are some thumbnails of images I was playing around with to get the composition down. I liked the first because it is a unique view of the bridge, but it leaves little room for copy and the product isn't featured well. The middle thumbnail (my mom and i wouldn't actually be in the illustration, we were just in the bridge reference photo) was a different view, but I didn't like how the bridge tower placement ended up with the figure. The last one fixes this problem by creating continuity with the figure and towers, and it solves the problem with copy in the first image. So, I took the third and did a mock-up of the illustration.

This shows the overall style I would use in the final version--illustrated except for the product. The final will have more line details and shading/highlights in the illustration; also the left side of the figure will be a continuation of the right. I may also add some bushes just in front of the figure so it doesn't seem like he's floating, and the style of the copy might change.

Product illustration: Concept

See brief and inspiration. I looked on the Timbuk2 website for inspiration on ideas or themes to include in the ad and found that the company has a lot of pride of being from San Fransisco, still having a factory there, and giving back to their local community. So, I took some of those themes and decided the composition would be a person standing in front of and facing the Golden Gate bridge while wearing a Timbuk2 bag. The tagline is "Born, bred, and here to stay" and "After 20 years, our custom bags are still manufactured in the heart of San Fransisco" (this is modified text from the Timbuk2 About Us website page).

Because I can decide these sorts of things (haha), the ad would appear in San Fransisco Magazine.

 

References: Personal photographs from a family vacation to San Fransisco.

 

 Personal reference photo for person.

Created on the Timbuk2 website for designing a custom bag.

Product illustration: Inspiration

I wasn't thrilled to do the product illustration, mostly because I have kind of a beef with using my skills to promote something like pointless consumerism and/or self-image problems (clothing/beauty ads). But, once I decided to do a TimBuk2 messenger bag, a quality product I love and made by a not-so-evil company, I warmed up to the idea. (Needless to say, I'm very socially aware.)

While researching advertisements for inspiration on my own product illustration, I came across these examples. The first is by Joe Saputo, and is a style I really like. Showing the design lines and/or insides of the product is really cool for a high tech product. In this case, the style emphasizes design and therefore high quality and engineering to the buyer, so the illustration is very effective for those types of products.

 

But, I don't plan on doing a high-tech product, so I looked for other styles. This next ad features a photograph of a product with some illustrated designs and copy, by Nate Williams. I think it's effective because it still allows the product to be the focus while containing interesting elements from illustration.

 

 This next one, although for a beer advertisement, has a similar style that has a product photo within an illustration. Seems like more fun to draw. By Bunky Hurter. This style also lets the illustrator skip out on drawing the product! Might seem like cheating but it also side-steps the issue of the illustrator portraying or stylizing the product in a way that the client or viewer does not find appealing. Very important.

 

This last one I just thought was so wonky and crazy, I had to include it. By Andy Lackow.

Product illustration: Brief

Client: Timbuk2 (San Fransisco, CA)

Project: Product Illustration

Specifications: Choose a product that you own or would like to own, but make sure it is small enough to be photographed on a table top. The required elements for the finished magazine ad are: an original illustration created by you, a simple headline, and your client's logo. Your final design must show an understanding of unity, emphasis and balance. When appropriate, utilize rhythm and depth as well.

Reproduction: The illustration will be printed as a magazine beauty shot (full-page ad).

Justification: I first encountered Timbuk2 bags in Seattle, where they are very popular and somewhat of a fad. However, after borrowing someone's while going out to the field, I fell in love with its great design, quality materials, and practicality. The classic messenger bag is fully waterproof (good for Seattle, of course), extremely durable, easy to adjust and open without taking it off, and includes features such as reflective clips and second side strap which are excellent for safe and easy biking. Soon I had my own gold-black-gold bag, which I've used daily for several years.