by Lara Serbin | Aug 12, 2014 | Architectural Planning, Architecture, Blog, Collaboration, Graphics, Interiors, Planning, Uncategorized
When designing anything it must be functional and meaningful. The photo below is a stop shot. That’s when I make whoever is driving stop the car so I can take a photo. The architect probably used this 1960’s CMU pattern on many of their buildings back in the day. But someone creative added the sweet colors so it caught my eye. Is it meaningful? Yes, it keeps the rain out of the inside of the building and heavily armed knights charging the wall with x-calibers.
It is easy to get caught up in design especially architecture and forget that people are actually going to use your design after you leave your new building or whatever you designed. The photos below are from the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. I like this exhibit because it reminds the visitor of playing with cars. I always like when collections of any kind are showcased. To make it more meaningful and fun they could design a ramp and let you race cars. The orange track has the cars permanently mounted. Cool but too static and boring.
You need to look at the problem from a different angle or a different outfit. Stepping back is a good way to do this. Changing into flip flops and shorts could work too. Ask a friend for their perspective.
The Collections Cafe in Seattle is a great example of meaningful design. Forgive me for not listing the designer, whoever you are… Can I be you? You rock! Suspended accordions, vintage transistor radios, and creepy yard sale poodle statues are all part of Dale Chihuly’s private collection. Hence the name of the Cafe. Crazy I know! It was a sequential understanding of one artist’s work. First you start in the dark gallery where the glass art is the main focus. Then you have lunch at this cozy cafe and absorb visual clues of Chihuly’s inspirations for his work. I could imagine him looking around at flea markets in hopes of finding another fishing lure for his extensive collection.
The menu design is wonderful too with a continuation of shapes and color. The whole design package is a design win!
by Lara Serbin | Jul 11, 2014 | Blog, Collaboration, Graphics, Uncategorized
There I was watching our final brochure getting printed out at lightening speed today. This brochure is the second try at coming up with a brochure for Buckeye Main Street Coalition. We are a group that volunteers our time to make Down Town Historic Buckeye look better. We want new and current businesses to thrive on Buckeye Main Street.
This is a big ass printer at a place called http://www.lithotechaz.com/ in downtown Phoenix. Shelly Butler, with Forms Management is a Buckeye girl who helped us find the right place to print this vertical accordian style double sided brochure. The place was on Grand Avenue and 27th Avenue which is pretty industrial place. So I found out that Grand Avenue really has an end point today. It ends at Indian School Road. Now you can all sleep.
Everything looked so sharp and the colors were really deep. I did notice the sky could have been blended a bit better because the cowboy photo was not quite tall enough. So only you and I know. Next printing I guess. No one will care except for me. Even the horse hair is so crazy sharp.
So one side has photos of fun things to do in Buckeye like go to a demolition derby, get a burger at Cafe 25:35, go to a car show, buy some jeans at Saba’s Western Store and have 99 cent tacos at La Placita Cafe. Then on the flip side is the map with location dots. We tried to squeeze everyone on there. If you are not on there just call me up and we will put you on there for the next printing.
There are so many printing options. I think as being the graphic designer it helps to go and watch how it is actually printed. By visiting a print house it is a great way to learn about new finishes, colors and formats. There were so many exciting projects going on at once at Lithotech today. There is a lot that happens behind the scenes. It is isn’t as easy as design a brochure and poof it magically appears at your doorstep as a folded brochure. There are many steps to the finished product. Right now our brochure is probably waiting to get the bleeded edges cut off and then folded.
by Lara Serbin | Mar 21, 2014 | Architecture, Blog, Collaboration, Uncategorized
A business friend of mine Julie Sullivan with Dominion Real Estate Partners started Tomorrow’s Winners a youth empowerment program 5 years ago. She invited me to tell my story on how I became an architect at this event today at Buckeye High School.
Heith Reade
Heith Reade with BMO Harris Bank spoke first. All the girls loved his organized and confident message. He had a power point and he connected well with the young women.
Lydia Evanson
Next up was Lydia Evanson with LME Creative Human Resources. The cool thing about her presentation is how she invited the students to come up to the stage and do a career shout out. Lydia and Heith are both business friends from the Buckeye Valley Chamber and The Rotary Club of Buckeye.
Lara Serbin
I was the last speaker today. I felt really relaxed with the huge power point behind me. Forget the need for a laser pointer. I just pointed with my arm. I was impressed with the questions they asked at the end. Most of the questions were regarding why I chose architecture and some of the challenges along the way. I had about 10 questions! A record for me. I have the privilege of speaking again to Youngker High School in Buckeye tomorrow.
A special thanks to Julie Sullivan for giving me this great opportunity and Pat Rovey of the Buckeye Women’s Club for saying those nice things about the cook book cover I designed.
Lara Serbin
by Lara Serbin | Jan 15, 2014 | Blog, Collaboration, Commercial Architecture, Graphics, Planning
The view from the double swinging aluminum doors of the Chase Bank in Historic Buckeye is quite spectacular. Everything inside is a typical Chase interior except when you glance out the front doors which looks onto the rustic aged super graphics painted on the brick of the historic San Linda two story building. The rustic brick cropped image beyond the glass doors is such a stark contrast to the sleek commercial interior. You know you are in the heart of Historic Buckeye.
I was dropping off a stack of the brand new maps of Historic Buckeye. I had some banking to do and after I was done I shared the map with teller Blanca Villareal. She became very friendly as she explained, “I have lived in Buckeye since I was 10 years old.” She was excited that something had been done like this for Buckeye. The Buckeye she remembers was a robust down town full of activity and buzz. The flier made her feel hopeful for the future. She thought the maps would be a great item to give to a new client opening up an account. Blanca has noticed that more people are buying homes and opening new accounts in Buckeye. Derek Stephens, a third generation Buckeye local and personal banker for this particular Chase branch was happy to see the fliers. He opened up the flier and his whole face lit up, “This is awesome! I love the photo of Hobo Joe!”.
[print_gllr id=1403]
This map was a group effort designed and printed by the Buckeye Main Street Coalition. I am very proud indeed to be a member of this group. Our group combines the unique skills and vantage points of both public and private sectors to revitalize down town historic Buckeye commercial district. Through a gradual process that begins with small steps, sustainable improvements are being achieved.
Haiku for the week:
A Reflection On:
Hellbent dilema
or lofty grace following.
Stay up dancing too.
-Lara Serbin
by Lara Serbin | Jan 6, 2014 | Architectural Planning, Blog, Graphics, Planning
Last month I had the irresistible inspiration to design a custom flier for the local businesses in Historic Buckeye, Arizona. The project was first started at a Main Street Coalition mixer when the local business owners voiced a concern for a flier of some kind to attract more Main Street activity. Back in October I really had no idea what our team would come up with. I always keep a file of graphic examples I collect from my travels sometimes a well thought out menu, a smart city guide map, or a vintage travel postcard. The idea has to hit me and then I know I am ready to work.
The graphic on left is the final artwork that I completed for the Historic Buckeye Flier. The postcard on the right was a treasure I picked up while driving with my family along the Olympic Coast last summer *had to buy a plush flying squirrel for Lily too*. See, one never knows when the stuff you save will become useful. The Olympic postcard sits on my bulletin board at my desk. I especially like how the mountains and everything are not outlined with a profile line to contain the color. It reminds me of Gustave Baumann color woodcuts. Now that is an art form I would like to try some day. First I have to master wood carving or at least carving into vinyl.
The image on the left is the first pass at rendering the Historic Main Street in Buckeye earlier in 2013. It is very basic, I was not even up to detailing the rims of the Model A at that time. The image on the right shows my expanded experience in just 2 months. I really like the subtractive nature of the white. I also liked how crooked the window panes are. For the flier, I tightened the shapes up considerably. But what a difference of spending some time to learn something new. It is all about repetition of the commands and being patient.
The black and white photo on the left is The Ware Building constructed in 1910 on the southeast corner of 4th Street and Monroe Avenue in Historic Buckeye. The graphic on the right is for anyone who wanted to see a zoom up on the window reflections. See the Model A?
There will be more on the flier itself in an upcoming post, this graphic is just a piece of the flier. The first 2 thousand are being printed right now. This is an important collaboration among Buckeye Main Street Coalition members, City of Buckeye stake holders and local business owners. I thank them for taking this step towards encouraging more activity for this new year!
You’re really going to like this: a weekly haiku.
Our World…
Pluck sleep as it sees
Eyes must alternate on grass
Violet dreaming.
-Lara Serbin
