Clandestine Operations

Posted: 05.04.2008 @ 16:52

This message will self-destruct in... just kidding. ;-)

Word in the undergound has it that the codename for coolness is Yellow Brick.  There are some seriously interesting things emanating from the clear-cased computers and LED-infused briefcases at YBDC that are taking design for the Silicon Valley into new, uncharted fields of design, but it's all soooooo secret!  Not a word is to be spoken about new clients, new contracts, or even new hardware, but the images rolling off the presses promise to be of grand influence!!!  So, inform your operatives that the rendezvous point is YBDC for all things supremely smashing, and get ready to jam the frequencies of competing intelligence.  Subverting all tradiition is the mission, #99!

2007 is Burnin' Up!

Posted: 06.25.2007 @ 00:45

Summer is here, and it's a hot one.  Not just in weather, but for YBDC's commisions and business.  We're seeing new websites, logos, and design consulting like never before -- even as the staff has stayed small.  What we're wondering is if we can accommodate this growth without hiring some more help!

As always, it's shaping up to look like the success we're experiencing is producing some more great art for our portfolio.  We just need a minute to breathe, do some yoga, and then post it all so you can get your fix of the GREAT eye candy we're serving up on a regular basis to you fans out there.  If you just can't wait, head over to Alacrity Engineering for a sample from our latest project and client -- a logo and a compact website!

Ohmmmmm.....

Winter is Here!

Posted: 12.27.2006 @ 13:25

With the arrival of Hanukkah and Christmas this year, the San Francisco Bay Area has seen some chilly, wet, and blustery weather, which means that old man Winter has finally arrived.  He has brought with him some exciting new projects for YBDC, which will take our continually-expanding Portfolio to new heights!

The first, which has already been completed, is a Flash animation produced for client ZF Micro Solutions, advertising their winter closure and wishing all their worldwide customers happy holidays in several languages.  Ski on over to this snowy addition in the "Promotional" section of the Portfolio. The second exciting project is a commission for a new website, to be called Sotto Voce, meaning "whispered voice" in Italian.  Organized by Zeb Feldman, it will be the digital interface for a salon of intellectuals that will be discussing issues important to modern life, society, art, and politics.  Utilizing PHP and blog technology, it iwll be the most ambitious and comprehensive design solution that YBDC has executed thus far.

Put on your coats and scarves, and stay tuned!

Fashion Passion

Posted: 12.06.2006 @ 17:18

A new addition to the Portfolio:  fashion sketches.

Natural media will always be superior in many ways to digital work, and it's where most of us start in our careers as designers, anyway. I've posted a few of the many sketches from my back-catalog of work when I was interested in fashion illustration.  They're fun and light-hearted, and provide an interesting look at where I began.

Flash Banner for ZF!

Posted: 12.03.2006 @ 12:45

ZF Micro Solutions turned to Yellow Brick this month with two Flash banner advertisment briefs - one for an online magazine and one for its own website. The first was completed yesterday and submitted to Spanish e-Zine ElectronicosOnline.com, giving both client ZF and designer YBDC international market exposure! The second, a more intricate banner to be placed as a splash on the front page of ZF's website, is currently under production and shows exciting development of YBDC's Flash and ActionScript services!

For a view of the first banner produced for ZF Micro Solutions, see our Portfolio, or view it in its temporary placement on the front page at ZF Micro Solutions.  (We are still awaiting production and posting at ElectronicosOnline.com.)

New Client: ZF Micro Solutions

Posted: 11.22.2006 @ 19:05

YBDC would like to proudly announce that ZF Micro Solutions, a cutting-edge chip development firm in the Silicon Valley, has procured our services to maintain and update its web presence!  A technology company well-known in the embedded systems market, ZF is poised to enter a new era of success and its internet site needs an update and a new model for delivering technology-rich content to its clients, buyers, and end users.  YBDC was commissioned to accomplish this task, so look forward to a new entry in the expanding portfolio of Yellow Brick!

Visit http://www.ZFMicro.com/ for a look at where the site stands.  Special thanks to CEO David Feldman for his continued efforts in working with YBDC!

Descriptions are In!

Posted: 11.22.2006 @ 18:43

Woah! Thanksgiving is upon us already! Well, there is a lot to be thankful for here at YBDC - especially the fact that we have completed the descriptions for all of the items now in our Portfolio (except for the "Retouching" section. Though not sprinkled with hyperlinks to help round out the discussions, they are nevertheless good reading, and will inform you of the process and ideas behind our work. Go on over and have a look-see! Meanwhile, Happy Thanksgiving!!!

More Treats, No Tricks

Posted: 10.31.2006 @ 15:39

Happy Halloween, everyone!  As a special Hallow's Eve surprise, we're giving you some eye candy to supplement your sweet tooth for design; there is now more for you to browse through in the Illustration and Branding sections of the Portfolio!

It's nice that pixel art has made a comeback, because that's how I started out using computers for graphic design.  Yes, on my family's Packard Bell 486SX-33 PC!  I made some interesting T-shirt logos and started pixel painting long before it was fashionable.  And remember those hand-held scanners that you rolled steadily over the page?  Yes, I used one as a base for some of my mixed media art projects, as well as a base for illustrations.  Oh, the good ol' days!

Stay tuned for updates to the descriptions of the Portfolio pieces.  And everyone be safe out there trick-or-treating -- make sure you brush after eating your candy!

Web + Retouching = Closer!

Posted: 10.30.2006 @ 23:07

Despite waking up feeling awful this morning, I plodded along and posted more items in the Web and Retouching sections.  Lots of old HTML and rollover images to experience!  Archived sites and erased blemishes! Oh, the joy!

Well, OK, but it all is interesting.  And there is more to come.  I'll go have some honey-lemon tea to fight off this scratchy throat and save my Branding and Illustration updates until tomorrow.  Or tonight, at the very least.  Stay healthy out there -- wear your coats in this colder weather!

Print and Promotional!

Posted: 10.29.2006 @ 23:07

The last few days have been a marathon of compiling, updating, surveying, editing, and preparing a host of new items for my online Portfolio.  Digging in the depths of my old archives, I have brought forth what will become the largest-ever repository of my work, both professional and personal.  It is a daunting task, and the volume on this end looks almost unwieldy; on your end, it becomes a visual candy store!

Tonight has seen the first session of updates, which builds up the Print section, and brings to completion the Promotional section of the Portfolio.  Highlights include a professional résumé I designed for NYC artist Michael Ricardo Andreev, as well as a Promotional Package I created for him to be used in the Fall season of 2003.

This new week will see daily updates in every section of the Portfolio, and then subsequent completion of the descriptions for each item that is posted; "post now, describe later," is my temporary mantra.  So, get crackin', and have a look!

Album Covers Galore!

Posted: 10.23.2006 @ 17:15

Today I posted about 15 more album covers that plumped up the Packaging portion of my Portfolio.  Check them out.  They aren't my best work, but entertaining nonetheless, and always brought the receiver joy (most of them are gifts -- some are University assignments).  It looks to be a flailing area of the market, however, as the need for album covers no longer exists when everyone is just downloading digital files.  Bummer.  Thanks a lot, Apple.

Until then, I'll keep burning CDs, and creating works of art to go with them.  I'm sure there will always be a remnant that keeps the album cover alive.  I know!  The Hippies!!!

"Packaging" Updates!

Posted: 10.22.2006 @ 21:15

Head on over to my Portfolio and check out the updates I've added!  The majority are older pieces I've done for University assignments, as well as self-commissioned ones.  In addition, they are mostly audio CD cover art, which is one of my favorite types of design projects.  What designer doesn't like to design covers for his favorite tunes?  More updates in all the Portfolio categories are to follow, so keep coming back for more.  Note: If you are interested in downloadable files from my albums, send me an e-mail; popularity might demand new pages for music!

Why I HATE Microsoft

Posted: 10.21.2006 @ 20:40

If you are a web developer, all I have to say is PNG's in Internet Explorer and you will know what I mean.  Yeah, most of this site makes use of graphics in PNG format, and in rollovers, at that.  OK, so I was with a friend who was using Internet Explorer 6.0, and saw my site looking like trash!  I couldn't believe it!  So, I had to go back in and do some major surgery on my code to invoke the filter for displaying the alpha channels as transparent in all the PNGs.  As you can see, there is still a bit of an issue in some of the background images.  Changing my CSS file is not worth the trouble to get those few working, so I'll be happy with it and hope all of you surfers out there will make sure to update your web browsers -- or stop using IE all together!  (I recommend Mozilla's Firefox -- it works like a dream and they invented tabbed browsing first!)

For all you designers and developers out there, Bob Osola has created an amazingly simple description and solution for this problem at his site.  Check it out:  PNG in Windows IE.

Hello, World!

Posted: 09.10.2006 @ 14:46

Stay tuned for all the latest from YBDC!  There are many things that will be posted in the future for your viewing pleasure:  a porfolio, résumé, and information regarding the Yellow Brick business ethic and its founding principles.  In addition, you will learn just who YBDC is, and the designer behind it all.  I hope you will return often to stay informed on the evolution of this newest design house.