Concept Themes

Warmth

Shock Value

Mischief

Human Element

Obscurity

Caprice

Nostalgia 

Practicality

Variety

Vector V. Bitmap (Raster)

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Two types of images appear throughout our lives daily, but we never take the chance to stop and think about the image. Well there are two different types of images, Vector and Bitmap (or Raster) images. To some there are no noticeable difference, but the realty is that there are many. Looking at the example below we can see how the raster image includes defined pixels, while the vector image does not have the same issue.

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DryIcons.com

The two images displayed are vector images. I thought it would be better to display based from realism and another that uses more digital enhancement. Vectors are any scalable shapes—line, objects, and fills—that keeps their proportions and quality when sized up or down. Both images use these objects. For example, the the first image uses heavy amounts of fill, and lines to contain the fill—which are used in the first image to give the basketball player shading. 

Bitmap, or raster, images consists of pixel information, where every pixel is assigned a RGB or CMYK value. This can create smoother and more detailed images for photos and paintings. However, when scaled appear distorted. The first image serves as the perfect of how distorted raster images can become. The second is the normal appearance of a bitmap image at its normal size. Although bitmap images are resolution dependent, they can handle effects easier that vector images can.

Let me tell you my type...

Typography, although it seems very dull and an unusual art to some, is the extension of all design, and typefaces give a design a mood/atmosphere. A film that helped me reach this conclusion was the film Helvetica—a full length documentary about the typeface we commonly see and have not acknowledged, Helvetica.

Helvetica was developed by Max Meidinger in Switzerland in 1957 (Typophile). It has been fifty-three years, and yet, the simple and clear-cut typeface is found quite often. Living in New York all my life, I never thought about the typeface used in all the public transit signs. Helvetica has become the common typeface used by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), who seems to have adopted it. In the underground labyrinth or New York subway system, Helvetica directs you to your destination with its simple and legible style. 

The lack of décor and complexity of helvetica helps provide some companies with a level of prestige, such as  American Airlines, and BMW, whom have used the typeface in their logos. Other companies, such as The North Face and Panasonic, also take advantage of Its simplicity by providing a direct and neutral feel. The consumers of some of these BMW, for example, may be higher middle-class and therefore the no frills and less creative aspect of the typeface help appeal to that type of customer. On the other hand, companies, such as Panasonic, target the masses through helvetica's simple, direct, and neutral style. 

Little do we know, Helvetica is very common and one of my personal favorites. It appears at street corners, our favorite retail departments, and throughout daily life. With its many ways to type are the many ways to communicate and convey a message. Using helvetica is a bit more aesthetically pleasing than the average typeface.

The Importance of a Home Cooked Meal

Fired cheese, salami,
and Mangu (mashed plantains) 

Let me start by saying that I am a “mama’s boy.” Being here at Quinnipiac University makes me not only think about how much I miss her, but also how amazing her cooking is. Being at Quinnipiac, the only meal I looked forward to was a bacon cheeseburger and a snickers ice cream bar. She’d call everyday wondering how things were and ask what I was eating. I’d smirk and say, “guess.” She was worried for me, but don’t get me wrong I tried cooking in commons (as a freshman), and I tried going to Spanish restaurants sophomore year. That’s when I realized there is nothing better than Mami’s rice and beans or platanos (plantains) and salami.

I can remember waking up early Sunday mornings, the smell of fried salami and cheese throughout the apartment, watching bits of oil burst out the pan as a new slices of salami or cheese were being replaced. I’d wait at the table salivating for the first bite of plantains. My father would soon sit by me as my mother shouted for my brother to come to the table for breakfast. It never seemed to get old. Every Sunday was mashed plantains (mangu) with cheese and salami, and till this day it never ceases to amaze me of how I haven’t gotten tired of the exact same meal every Sunday.

"La Bandera"

Unlike Sunday’s breakfast, Dinner was always a pleasant surprise followed by a special treat. Mami would turn on the kitchen television, switched it to her favorite soap opera, and was off to making magic on the stove. Before mami could call for us, we were already gathering around the table in anticipation. The result was Dominican Republic’s traditional dish named “la bandera” which included rice, beans, plantains, salad, and meat. Once we devoured dinner, we were ready for dessert, flan (custard).

Well after dessert was done, we talked and shared how each of our days went. This sometimes led to enlightening advice or heated debates, but bonding nonetheless.  The home cooked meals led to the bonding, which instilled strong family values and lessons to carry on as life progresses.